OSU Extension Educator Presents at Kiwanis Meeting
OSU Extension Educator, Lorrissa Dunfee provided the program at the June 15 Barnesville Kiwanis meeting. She was introduced by member Anita Rogers.
Dunfee shared the history of the formation of The Ohio State University (OSU) and its extension service, as well as specific offerings at the Belmont County OSU Extension office.
The Cooperative Extension Service was created by the US Congress under the Smith-Lever Act in 1914. “The Cooperative Extension is an educational partnership between the US Department of Agriculture and the nation’s land-grant universities,” Dunfee said.
The US land-grant system of universities was created through the Morel Act of 1862. Of the 106 land-grant institutions, Ohio has two: The Ohio State University and Central State, a predominantly African American college.
Founded in 1870, the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College became the first land-grant university in Ohio. Then in 1878, it was renamed The Ohio State University. The university focused on farming and mechanical disciplines. Dunfee shared that there are 12,000 courses in 16 different colleges. “There are over 400 different degrees offered by OSU, and there are more than 65,000 students.”
OSU Extension is present in all 88 counties as part of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Like the university, the Extension provides education and information to its communities. “The Extension links individuals, communities and businesses to research and development resources,” Dunfee said. She added that OSU Extension works in collaboration with various community partners.
Early Extension efforts were to facilitate community conversations while focusing on the future. In 1961, more than 60,000 Ohioans participated in the conversation. “The conversations across the state were to see what the future looked like for Extension and what needs needed to be addressed,” Dunfee said.
Last year, “the Belmont Extension invited approximately 80 community partners, individuals, and farmers to our futuring luncheon where we talked about what the future looks like in Belmont County.” One identified need from the conversation was adding a community engagement coordinator.
The OSU Extension Belmont includes the following staff:
- Megan Blanchard — Extension educator, 4-H youth development
- Lorrissa Dunfee — Extension educator, family and consumer sciences
- Sarah Galavich — Program assistant, 4-H youth development
- Dan Lima — Extension educator, agriculture and natural resources
- Juanita Ramsey — Office associate
According to the OSU Extension Belmont website, “We work with families and children, farmers and business owners, community leaders and elected officials to build better lives, better businesses and better communities to make Ohio great.”
For information about the OSU Extension Belmont Office and its current events, visit the website or Facebook page. or call 740-695-1455.
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