From Nothing to Networked: Building an Onboarding Program for Early‑Career ANR Extension Agents
Early Career Development
Sarah Sharpe
Extension Agent
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Stanardsville
Abstract
Intentional onboarding is a critical factor in employee engagement, professional confidence, and long-term retention. Research shows that high-quality onboarding programs reduce stress, accelerate skill development, and foster a sense of belonging—outcomes that are particularly important for early-career Extension professionals. Despite this, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) had not maintained a coordinated, statewide onboarding program specifically designed for Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Extension agents in several decades. The ANR Extension Agent Onboarding Program was developed to address this gap and enhance early-career agent success. Program goals included reducing the learning curve across diverse ANR subject areas; increasing agent capacity as effective resources for clientele; connecting new agents with peers, specialists, Agricultural Research and Extension Centers (ARECs), and partner agencies; and establishing long-term, collaborative professional relationships within the VCE system. Since the program began in 2023, the program has developed from a one year program to a two year, hybrid (eight in-person, multi- day sessions, then self-paced online modules) covering eight different in-person topics and 10 video recordings. Sessions were peer-taught and discussion-based, with over 75 Extension agents and specialists having served as instructors. While required for new ANR agents, sessions were also open to experienced agents seeking professional development. Twenty-two ANR agents hired within the previous 24 months participated in one or more sessions, with 72% completing a year-end evaluation. Participants reported strong program impacts, including expanded subject knowledge (mean = 4.25/5), increased capacity to serve clientele (4.13/5), strengthened professional relationships (4.69/5), and an increased sense of connection to VCE (4.88/5). Qualitative feedback emphasized improved confidence, reduced isolation, increased collaboration, and greater awareness of Extension resources. This presentation will share program structure, outcomes, lessons learned, future opportunities and challenges, and practical strategies for developing scalable onboarding models that support early-career Extension professionals nationwide.
Authors: Sarah Sharpe, Daniel Goerlich
-
Sarah Sharpe Extension Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 22973
-
Daniel Goerlich Associate Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia, 24060