The inaugural Extension Council Day on Campus was held on Friday, September 13. Extension council members from across Iowa were able to get a behind-the-scenes look at the extension work happening on Iowa State University's campus and connect with the extension leadership team members and other campus personnel.
The day started at the Jacobson Building and Jack Trice Stadium. ISU President Wendy Wintersteen welcomed the group to campus and spoke on the importance of extension work to the state of Iowa. Council members were invited onto the field and learned about the role extension played in growing the turf at the Horticulture Research Station north of Ames. They also had the opportunity to tour the Cyclone football locker rooms.
After this, council members loaded onto buses to participate in four tour tracks including stops including the tornado simulator, poultry research farm, ISU winery, Student Innovation Center, Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex, and other stops. They learned about extension's research and efforts on campus that translates into outreach and programming throughout the state. Some of this research the use of 3D cement printers for affordable housing, Parkinson's Disease interventions, horticulture research, and STEM education for youth.
Lunch included the opportunity to network with other council members as well as campus staff. Vice President for Extension and Outreach Jason Henderson provided an outlook for extension during his lunch keynote address.
Plans are underway for a 2025 Extension Council Day on Campus. Additional photos of the event can be found on the Extension Council Day on Campus Photo page.
(It was an) excellent opportunity to meet people we had only seen emails from and to put faces to names. (I) very much enjoyed the tour and learning what is happening at ISU! The entire day was a fantastic use of my time!