Collaborative Leadership: Breaking Silos in Extension Work
Leadership and Administrative Skills
Meagan Diss
Commercial Agriculture Extension Specialist
University of Illinois
Monmouth
Abstract
As agricultural challenges grow increasingly interconnected, Extension professionals must work across disciplines, programs, and communities to deliver meaningful impact. In today’s fast-paced, digitally driven world, it is essential for Extension professionals to continue meeting both internal and external audiences where they are today. Extension and land-grant institutions are a trusted source for research development and innovation. The delivery of those educational materials to communities cannot be remised or in a silo as that is where the impact delivers and changes lives. Removing barriers both internally and externally provides the opportunity for collaboration rather than conflict or misinformation in a busy world. This presentation explores a collaborative leadership framework designed to break down internal silos and produce integrated, community-driven collaboration that strengthens impacts across agriculture, youth education, and natural resource programs.
Beginning with community collaboration, we highlight participatory approaches that empower farmers, youth, educators, agribusinesses, and local partners to co-create solutions that naturally blend agronomy, youth development, and natural resources work. We then explore how AI can serve as a bridge, analyzing cross-program data, streamlining communication, and supporting inclusive teamwork- by enhancing human expertise, not replacing. Leadership strategies for building trust, modeling shared ownership, and promoting cross-training are presented alongside practical applications such as joint workshops, interdisciplinary programming, and multi-domain advisory boards. Attendees will leave with tools to identify themes, illustrate the value of programming, and foster an integrated, innovative Extension role in individual communities.
Authors: Meagan Diss, Jamie Daugherty, Janessa Hill, Sarah Vogel
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Meagan Diss Commercial Agriculture Extension Specialist, University of Illinois, Illinois, 61462
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Jamie Daugherty Florida-Friendly Landscaping & Urban Forestry Agent, UF/IFAS, Florida, 32162
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Janessa Hill Extension Agricultural and Natural Resources Educator, The Ohio State University, Ohio, 44654
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Sarah Vogel Horticulture Extension Educator, University of Illinois, Illinois, 62621