Dear friends,
This year, Extension is marking the 115th anniversary of its founding in 1909, when a state law was passed to “maintain a division of agriculture Extension and home education in the department of agriculture of the University of Minnesota.” Today, we know that program as University of Minnesota Extension.
While many things have changed, Extension’s commitment to serving the people and communities of Minnesota has not. This edition of Source showcases some of the ways that our college continues to innovate and to make an impact through educational programming across our state.
None of Extension’s work would be possible without the support and collaboration of our volunteers, advocates and donors. Last year, more than 35,000 volunteers contributed their time and talents to Extension programs, and more than 2,000 partnerships allowed our organization to reach an even more broad and diverse audience.
Every program and participant has a story to tell about how Extension has made a difference in people’s lives. In this edition of Source, you will see just a few of them.
Thank you for all that you do for Extension, whether that includes advocacy, financial support, volunteering or simply sharing your story of how Extension has made a difference.
I hope you enjoy reading these stories and that they inspire you to become even more connected to Extension.
Bev Durgan, Dean