I have often said that extension is
the backbone of the community.
You take the research and applied sciences
and put it in the hands of the people that use it.
That's kind of unique for our country.
Whats been important to me
from extension and what I have gained from extension
is the fact that there is always
resources available to farmers
and being a farmer that has been important.
Since 1914, Purdue Extension
has offered resources and knowledge
to millions of families like the Guernseys
so they may improve their lives and livelihoods
That's 100 years of empowering
Indiana residents,
families,
businesses,
communities,
and farms with practical applications
for expert information and innovations
from Purdue University.
And as we fondly reflect on our first century
we must forge ahead
with initiatives for our next century.
For communities and families
that means encouraging
healthy, productive life styles
in a variety of ways
including nutrition programs
that help women have healthier babies,
pathways to stability for those
struggling with poverty,
and community health coalitions
for Indiana residents
to take charge of their wellness.
I do not know of another
resource besides Purdue Extension
that can give us
the guidance, leadership,
and resources that are needed
to make our coalition,
the Winning With Wellness Coalition,
a successful venture.
As a a director of a child care,
I have the responsibility of the children,
the parents, and the teachers
so I don't always have that ability to go
hunting and find the assistance we need.
So by Purdue Extension being there to
provide a curriculum,
provide education,
to come into our facility and assist us
is just wonderful.
Thanks to Purdue Extension
Indiana remains the back bone of
American agriculture with globabl reach.
We translate world renowned research
into best practices
with hands on training,
leading edge plant sciences,
master gardener programs,
and livestock improvement initiatives.
to responsibly feed our world
for decades to come.
We are also helping Indiana farmers
balance productivity with sustainability.
Conservation is important to us
as a family because
we canoe down the wildcat,
we float down the Wabash
and we eat the food off of this ground,
we drink the water off of this ground,
and we just want to be
responsible because we think we need to be
good stewards of the ground.
Extension has given us the resources
that we can do this
being environmentally responsible
and still be efficient as a farm
Purdue Extension has always been
at the for front of
of building science,
technology, engineering,
and math skills in Indiana's young people.
It simply has a new look today.
Our 4-H Youth Development Program
continues to showcase versatile talents
and skills of youths state wide.
It also inspires them to pursue
tomorrow's careers
through programs such as
rocketry, biotechnology, and robotics.
I, I've always loved any technology.
You know because from first sight I fell in love.
This learning of robotics
in line with the whole STEM science, technology,
engineering, and math
has given him the ability to think critically.
Its given him an ability to trouble shoot things
but at the same time having fun
in a very safe environment.
So that its communities,
families, and businesses may thrive
Indiana must remain globally competitive
rooted in regional collaboration
Purdue Extension's community development
aims to pool the talents,
strengths, and resources
of counties with common goals.
Plus, we help leaders and decision makesrs
make sense of complex economic data
so their choices can help
Indiana grow for the future.
On Local Government is a
vitally important resource for
people like me who work a lot
with budgets, taxes, and local government finances.
Quite frankly there is so many issues
that come up that can be rather complicated.
So the program takes these issues
and then breaks down the topic
into something that's easy to understand,
that's timely, and relevant for
county decision makers.
For 100 years
we've delivered innovative initiatives,
diverse programs, and expert information
and as Purdue Extension evolves
over the next century
our mission will endure,
serve the needs of Indiana residents
and strengthen the communities
they call home for generations to come.
We are going to be facing new obstacles,
new challenges, new problems
that have not been faced before
And not just on a local scale,
but on a global scale.
And Extension is going to help provide
kids and the youth of the generation now
to better equip themselves
and be ready for those
problems and challenges.
Extension in the future
is real important to me because
I plan on farming
and continuing our farm.
And being a small family farm
communication is key to the outside world
and Extension is the best way to communicate
with them and to
bring in new practices, new technologies,
and let the rest of the world know
what is really going on.
If I had it to do over
there is no organization
that I would rather
put my time in on
than my church
and Extension.
I feel that it benefits
the community and the state
and the nation more than
any other organization.