July 2 message
Good Afternoon: I hope you have all had a good week and are ready for the Holiday weekend. Summer is a busy time with programming, fair preparations, and budgets. I hope you will find time this summer to enjoy time with family and friends.
In this week's Extension Weekly, Dean Bev Durgan announced some upcoming changes for Extension. Among these changes is the closing of two Regional Offices, Albert Lee and Mora. This change is being made due to current budget challenges and to be sure that Extension is positioned to continue quality programming in the future.
Changes such as these can be upsetting to some, but can also be viewed as opportunities. I was reminded of change this week as I passed the 30 year mark with employment with Extension.
I was hired at a very young age and began work in Lyon County on July 1, 1979. My title at that time was Assistant Agricultural Agent and my responsibilities were primarily 4H. Since that time, titles have changed. I went from Assistant Agricultural Agent to Associate Agent to County Extension Agent to Extension Educator to Cluster Educator to County Extension Director to County Extension Leader to Regional Director. Our Organizational name went from Cooperative Extension to Agricultural Extension to Extension Service to Extension. I lost track of the number of logo's and word marks, but somewhere in my desk drawer are at least four name tags and just as many boxes of business cards with different shapes, colors and names of Extension.
What hasn't changed is the important work that we do. We continue to carry out the Land Grant Mission to provide research based Education to the people of Minnesota. We've been doing that for a century, (70 years longer than I've been employed with Extension). The changes that Extension Administration is making are necessary for Extension to continue to serve the people of Minnesota into the future.
Have a safe and fun Holiday weekend.
Bob