More than 200 MU Extension faculty, staff and council members from across the state attended the MU for You conference March 30-31 in Columbia. The annual event for MU Extension county council members and support staff provides networking and educational opportunities — key to effective programming that empowers communities to address the grand challenges in agriculture, the economy, education and health. (See agenda.)

This year’s participants included 101 county representatives and 62 county support staff members from 85 counties, joined by 21 extension and engagement specialists and 28 MU Extension administrative and educational leaders.

Attendees learned about current extension initiatives from senior program directors and leaders, participated in breakout sessions, toured several on-campus sites and enjoy a dinner program featuring Dan Engemann, Missouri Farm Bureau director of regulatory affairs, and the presentation of county clerical staff awards. MU Extension Truman Awards were also given to long-serving council members Jayla Smith (40 years, Daviess County) and Anita Brace (29 years, Warren County). Both are recognized in UM System President Mun Choi’s blog post about the conference.

“The conference provided a chance for our council members, support staff and stakeholders to learn what we’re doing in all of our program areas and to understand better how the research from the university is working across the state,” said Jodi Squires, interim director of off-campus operations and Urban East regional director. “It’s also a great opportunity for our council members and support staff to network with extension and engagement specialists across the state and the extension administrative and education leaders.”