Unpacking the Past: What Extension's History Can Teach Us Today

You work in technology, an industry that evolves rapidly, — for an organization immersed in tradition. What can we learn and use from the past that bridges the gap between innovation and tradition to stay relevant and effective? The lessons of the past are uncovered in the writings of those who came before, but this session won’t be a flashback to high school history. As we walk through important moments in Extension’s past, we will hear the voices of our past providing lessons for who we are, what we do, and why it matters to today’s Extension professional. This session won’t be boring; it will ask you to consider how your work today aligns with the original mission of Cooperative Extension. Kelsey wrote this of Extension in 1949: “Its fundamental objective is the development of people.” And so it remains today. Whether you lead a team or lead from the field, you will find value in who and what came before us.