A challenge from the new director? No, not exactly. These words appeared in print exactly 100 years ago today in the Knox County Democratic Banner. The words were part of an article written by Kathryn Anderson explaining the process by which counties could secure their own “county agent.”

The article goes on to say that any county that desires an agent may receive an “appropriation of $1,590 from the federal and state governments, $1,200 going to the agent’s salary and $390 toward the maintenance of his own automobile.” A county contribution toward this work could come from commissioners, the local Farm Bureau association, and individual contributions.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the article was the section related to the role of the agent. According to the article, “he is not a man who comes to criticize existing methods and force his own ideas, but is rather a clearing house where all may bring their problems and work them out together.” While the gender specific language of the statement is a bit out of date, the idea is not.

Collaborative problem-solving is at the heart of the contemporary community engagement movement occurring in higher education. When we use an engaged approach, we recognize the value of indigenous knowledge that resides within a community and work with members of that community to co-create solutions.

Granted, there are still many situations where the diffusion of innovation or best practices is the central objective of our work. In these cases we recommend a preferred course of action based on what we know to be true through by way of science. This approach in often used when citizens are not even aware of the problems that could arise from their current practices. But even when dissemination of information or behavior change is the goal, it is important that we share knowledge with respect for our learners and the decisions they make regarding their lives and their livelihoods.

Yes, we want to keep up with the times. But I also believe that there are some enduring values like respectful engagement that transcend the past, present, and future.

Thanks to Bob Joseph, chair of the OARDC Advisory Committee for sharing the information from the Knox Democratic Banner.

Extension’s century-old approach to “listening first” is as relevant today as ever.

At least that is my take-home message from remarks made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during his recent visit to The Ohio State University. Vilsack was here to announce targeted assistance to 11 rural Ohio counties through the USDA StrikeForce Initiative. StrikeForce is a collaborative effort among government agencies to work in partnership with local communities to address local issues arising from chronic poverty. The Ohio counties targeted by the initiative are Adams, Athens, Fayette, Guernsey, Jackson, Lucas, Meigs, Morgan, Pike, Scioto, and Vinton.

During his remarks, Vilsack drove home the importance of an approach utilized by the Cooperative Extension System over a hundred years. Rather than having well-meaning outsiders prescribe what a community needs to achieve prosperity, a more effective strategy involves engaging with people in a community to learn about their dreams, wishes, and desires and helping them obtain the resources they need to realize their goals. In particular, Extension specializes in mobilizing the resources of the land-grant university system and bringing them to bear on issues of local communities. In this model, Extension serves as a two-way expressway between universities and communities that produces a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge.

I also believe that Extension is uniquely positioned to hear what communities are saying. Because many Extension educators live in the counties they are charged to serve, they have first-hand knowledge of the issues affecting the residents of those counties. Our educators live there with the goal of not only making a living, but a life. Furthermore, Extension doesn’t close up shop when grant funds run out or an article is published using data gathered from the community. We are there for the duration.

Vilsack’s remarks also made me wonder how OSU Extension can best support the USDA’s StrikeForce initiative in these counties. How can we leverage our positional advantage and positive reputation in communities to play a meaningful role in sustainable community change?