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Michigan State University Extension assesses future focus

Michigan State University Extension is conducting statewide listening sessions to help direct priority areas of the organization moving forward.

Senior Extension Educator Brad Newman tells Brownfield the process is part of an ongoing effort to assess community needs.

“Listening sessions will include both the public, those that we serve, and our staff,” he explains. “We’re going to have really two different groups running in parallel so that staff can share some of their thoughts and concerns.”

He says additional focus groups and hundreds of interviews are also being conducted with stakeholders to understand what programs and resources could be developed.

“What are the trends and forces shaping business, industry, agriculture, communities?” he says the groups will discuss.  “What the has extension been known for? What could extension be known for?”

Newman says the last needs assessment was conducted in 2017 at the request of USDA to identify issues in the state.

A final report is expected in the spring with the results.