Source: NCSU COLLEGE OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES, 3/20/21

Message from the Director

At NC State Extension, we improve lives and grow North Carolina. While the past year presented extraordinary challenges — from COVID-19 and economic hardships to natural disasters and social and political discord — we never stopped delivering on our promise.

From Murphy to Manteo, including all 100 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee, over 1,000 NC State Extension professionals rose to the occasion, demonstrating unprecedented flexibility for unprecedented times.

When the pandemic took hold, we connected with audiences in new and innovative ways, utilizing tools and technology that transported Extension into homes, businesses and communities. Rural and urban, small and large, high-tech and high-touch.

“Extension meets people where they are, wherever they are.”
                          ~ A. Richard Bonanno

We operated a little differently in 2020, but the business of the day remained unchanged. As did the outcomes. Despite reduced in-person programming, Extension still offered nearly 20,000 educational activities, transitioning programs to virtual platforms and expanding our reach to more than 3 million people through our websites.

Among many meaningful efforts throughout the year, Extension

> Promoted farmworker safety as N.C. agriculture continued to feed concerned citizens;

> Provided overwhelmed parents and teachers with virtual 4-H curriculum;

> Nurtured a new wave of interest in cooking and gardening;

> Helped North Carolina restaurants and shops reopen safely; and

> Stood side-by-side with local communities, supporting them in their time of need.

Along the way, we affirmed that the indomitable spirit and tireless commitment of our faculty and staff are unmatched. Moving forward, we will continue to extend knowledge, enrich lives and support North Carolinians in the ways they need us most.

Because at NC State Extension, we never stopped growing North Carolina, and we never will.

A. Richard Bonanno
Director, NC State Extension Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

To read the full report, click here.