AMES, Iowa Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Week is April 8-13. Iowa’s 100 county extension offices will host activities throughout the week focused on celebrating extension’s presence across the state.

“Our 100 county offices — Pottawattamie County has two — enable us to serve as a 99-county campus, connecting the needs of Iowans with Iowa State University research and resources,” said ISU Vice President for Extension and Outreach John Lawrence.

Extension Week will be observed in Tama County through special activities all week. Bring a sack lunch and stop by the office on Tuesday from noon to one o’clock as we show the video “Limited Space Gardening” to learn about alternative methods of raising your own food. On Wednesday students from all over the county will gather in the office for Government Day activities. Look for the Extension and Outreach booth at the Meskwaki Health Fair on Thursday and join the program “Live Independent” at the Tama Senior Center from 12:30-1:15. Friday will wrap up the week with an open house at the office from 11:00-2:00. Refreshments and door prizes will be part of the celebration. Stop by the office for free garden seeds, soil test kits, and information on gardening. Look for special Facebook posts throughout the week as each special event happens.

“This celebration is one way we say ‘thank you’ to the many volunteers, community leaders, organizations, agencies and other partners who support ISU Extension and Outreach work in Tama County,” said, Cheryl Bruene, Executive Director.

ISU Extension and Outreach engages Iowans in solving today’s problems and planning for tomorrow.

“Our researchers look over the horizon, to find innovations and identify emerging issues, so we can help Iowans prepare for the future. We learn about the challenges Iowans are facing, and then we partner with them to address the challenges,” Lawrence said.

More than 1 million benefit

ISU Extension and Outreach educational programs cover the entire life span, from Iowa’s youngest to oldest residents. Each year more than 1 million people directly benefit from ISU Extension and Outreach educational programs for economic growth, healthy families, thriving communities, and sustainable environments. ISU Extension and Outreach connects with millions more online.

“We connect Iowans with university research and resources, creating more than $897 million of economic impact. We are committed to the land-grant mission of accessibility and research-based education and information. We are listening, learning, and working together with the people of our state to build a strong Iowa,” Lawrence said.

ISU Extension and Outreach is part of the federal Cooperative Extension Service – a network of more than 100 land-grant institutions, including Iowa State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture serving communities and counties across the United States. Every county in Iowa has an elected extension council that decides how to support ISU Extension and Outreach educational programs at the county level.

For more information about ISU Extension and Outreach, visit www.extension.iastate.edu or contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Tama County office.