The University of Illinois Extension just released a 10-year strategic plan that commits to serving the state by focusing on food and agriculture as well as the economic, community, environmental and health sectors through partnerships, discovery, technology and workforce excellence. In an interview with News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates, Illinois Extension director Shelly Nickols-Richardson explains how one of the largest Cooperative Extension Systems in the nation tackles so many issues at once. 

 Why does the state need Illinois Extension?

The university’s land-grant mission is fulfilled in part through the transfer of knowledge and research-backed best practices through the work of Illinois Extension. For many people in the state, Illinois Extension may be their only touchstone with the university and so it’s critical that the 700-plus staff — who are located throughout the state — serve as ambassadors for and stewards of the university and ensure that its commitment to teaching, learning and research translation is available to all residents. 

The work that our employees and nearly 5,700 volunteers engage in parlays into confident youth, future community leaders, better fed and nourished residents, innovative agricultural practices, natural resource conservation and health promotion, among many other positive impacts. We have been particularly innovative in urban food and agriculture programs, sustainability, regenerative agriculture and nutrition-assistance programs. We are also leading efforts in natural resources, energy and environmental conservation, and integrated health equity.    

How does Illinois Extension compare with similar offices in other states? 

Currently, Illinois Extension supports over 775 employees, including faculty experts, administrators, county directors, specialists, educators, program coordinators, community outreach workers, and many other essential support staff members. 

Illinois Extension serves all 102 counties through a network of 27 units across three regions, along with several state-level offices. Our structure is similar to others; however, every service is unique to its state’s context and conditions. Most Illinois Extension employees live and work in communities across the state, which helps support local economies.

Like our peers in other states, we are a component of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Illinois Extension receives federal funding that must be matched by state and local appropriations. This requires partnerships and coordination with the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Illinois government agencies, associations, and organizations; our University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus; and county boards, local organizations, businesses, volunteers, and donors. Nationally, the size of each state’s Cooperative Extension System tends to reflect its population density, but other factors also play a role. Funding by state varies, but in general, Illinois Extension is next-to-last in state-supported funding for our region. 

Annually, Illinois Extension receives approximately $10 million from the state, while Michigan State University Extension gets $34 million, and University of Minnesota Extension receives $32 million in state funds annually. On a per capita basis, Illinois Extension is the lowest in the national CES’s north central region, receiving less than a dollar per state resident. For comparison, Minnesota receives $5.63 per person, Iowa gets $5.64, and the per capita dollars range upward from there, with Kansas, South Dakota and North Dakota receiving $9.19, $11.84 and $20.41 per person, respectively. 

Read the rest of the story from University of Illinois News Bureau.