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ISU Extension Service faces Cuts

bos

bos

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Staff member
Apr 10, 2006
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Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut

Yeah this effects many people I know. Seems to me that extension helps ISU, eesh.
 
B

Bobber

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
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Hudson, Iowa
Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut

This doesn't surprise me. There probably is some merrit to the plan.

Wish the state would do something similar with some of the County Court House and School systems.
 
J

jsb

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Mar 7, 2008
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Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut

Bobber said:
This doesn't surprise me. There probably is some merrit to the plan.

Wish the state would do something similar with some of the County Court House and School systems.
Click to expand...

In general, Iowa probably has too many counties.

I also think that there is no reason why small school districts can't share a superintendent.
 
19Cy78

19Cy78

Member
Mar 31, 2006
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I just pray my dad is one of the 20 left. Like most jobs they wear so many hats, it is not an hourly job, they do this because they love agriculture and helping keep the farmers up to date with information, onsite visits, clubs, volunteerism, this is a massive and deep cut, county fairs are going to look a lot different in the future that's for sure, probably going to be more of district fair. My heart hurts...this sucks.
 
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cloneu

cloneu

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Jul 26, 2007
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Re: ISU Extension Service to be Cut

jsb said:
In general, Iowa probably has too many counties.

I also think that there is no reason why small school districts can't share a superintendent.
Click to expand...

Agree on the county thing, this would seem better if it was cut to 45 or so. Given the small county size in Iowa should be able to do about 1 extension office per 2 counties, give or take a couple.
 
C

CyAg

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2006
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This could actually be a tipping point as far as county and local government goes. This is one of the the first statewide governmental cuts and reorganization on a massive scale.

1. As an overview, Extension provides excellent information, is a fabric of many communities and has done much for ISU. The dedication of many staff, volunteers, etc and their contributions cannot be over emphasized.

2. However, Extension services have been delivered on a model that is 25-50 years old. The last attempt at reorganization was over 20 years ago (I was involved as a policy lobbyist). There were calls to do this then, and it the cuts were not implemented.

3. The basic challenge is at first Extension was the first point for delivery of new technoligies and informaiton. That has changed in so many forms.

4. It was really a question of when, not if.

Just my opinion.
 
ahaselhu

ahaselhu

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2007
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Clarinda, IA
19Cy78 said:
I just pray my dad is one of the 20 left. Like most jobs they wear so many hats, it is not an hourly job, they do this because they love agriculture and helping keep the farmers up to date with information, onsite visits, clubs, volunteerism, this is a massive and deep cut, county fairs are going to look a lot different in the future that's for sure, probably going to be more of district fair. My heart hurts...this sucks.
Click to expand...

My wife is associated with extension. My understanding is that all the directors will be required to reapply for the 20 remaining jobs, since they are moving from county directors to regional directors.
 
Wesley

Wesley

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Apr 12, 2006
70,923
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Omaha
ahaselhu said:
My wife is associated with extension. My understanding is that all the directors will be required to reapply for the 20 remaining jobs, since they are moving from county directors to regional directors.
Click to expand...

Tough time to find a job. My brother graduated from mech engr in seventies and he had one offer to work for a natural gas company. He parlayed that one position to a super great position in DC in INGAA. So, for him, a tough time coming out of school became a great opportunity for him later on. Survive today and move on to better in the future. Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity were in similar bad situations early in life and learned how to move up the totem pole.
 
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bigcyfan82

Active Member
Aug 30, 2008
970
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Des Moines
OFFICIAL NEWS!

County Extension directors were in Ames today for meetings.
My Mother has worked for Pocahontas County Extension for close to 27 Years now, and she told me that they were informed that All extension director jobs will be eliminated. So she's going to retire Jan 31 of 2010.

That's pretty pathetic in my opinion to can someone who has worked for the university for 27 years. and I KNOW that there are other directors who have worked just as long or even longer than she has for the university.
 
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bigcyfan82

Active Member
Aug 30, 2008
970
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28
Des Moines
Yes, let's get back to the original topic!

More news. They are eliminating all extension director positions.
Also, they are making the county directors move to regional directors which will include about 6 counties.

The positions will be open for application beginning next year. for the regional positions.
 
CyForPresident

CyForPresident

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Mar 28, 2006
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Cornlands of Ayuxwa
CyAggie said:
Did it? For some services I am sure it did. But for baseline agriculture, I am not sure.

Time will tell.
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Yes, it did. 4-H, FFA, and county fairs will be severely affected. If Iowa youth can not get interested in agriculture, who will grow anything in the future? 4-H and FFA is how I got to where I am. I would not have gone to ISU if not for FFA.

In terms of the Iowa farmer, not much changes. Most farmers don't rely on local extension any more, all publications can be read online.

The possible loss in Iowa youth interested in agriculture makes this a BAD idea. ISU extension is the envy of the agriculture world. India modeled their extension services after our own. ISU is great in some fields and mediocre in others. Pretty soon ISU will be mediocre in everything.
 
C

CyAg

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2006
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Actually I do not disagree and my success is direct result of FFA and 4H. That is why I said "for some services I am sure it did"

My comments were directed to the second point of whate producers rely for information.
 
C

CyAg

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2006
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Yep, but hte bottom line is can it be done better. I was in the committee meetings in the early 90's when it was discussed going to 20-25 regional offices then.

This is a pressure that has been building.
 
B

Bobber

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
8,880
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Hudson, Iowa
CyAggie said:
Yep, but hte bottom line is can it be done better. I was in the committee meetings in the early 90's when it was discussed going to 20-25 regional offices then.

This is a pressure that has been building.
Click to expand...

I agree. And why do a lot of people thing change is a bad thing?
 
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