Cultivating Political Support to Grow Successful Programs
Leadership and Administrative Skills
Ethan Orr
Tucson
Abstract
Extension is the essential component in solving the issues that face our counties and states. County agents are the key to political success and funding at the local, state, and national level. Understanding the political process at the university, local, and state level is foundational to being a successful Extension leader. This seminar explores how and why some Extension systems increased in state support, and what Extension Professionals can do to cultivate support and funding from their state and local governments.
As a case study, In Arizona, extension faculty partnered with state legislative leaders address one of the most critical issues facing the state, water. As a result, the Arizona Extension successfully created $62 million water irrigation program that has worked with county agents to conserve over 36,000 af of water annually. By building success programing and partnerships at the county level the Arizona Extension has become a trusted resource to state policy leaders. As a result, the state legislature has increased baseline funding for Extension by over 102% and has funded $116 in additional funding for land grant programs over the past two years. The county-based principles and tactics that lead to the success in the Arizona and other extension systems can be reproduced in any county and in every state.
Authors: Ethan Orr, Elizabeth Green
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Ethan Orr Associate Director Agriculture Natural Resources and Economic Development, University of Arizona, Arizona, 85721
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Elizabeth Green State Equine Specialist, University of Arizona, Arizona, 85721