John Lawrence’s Monday Message from April 17, 2017

Happy ISU Extension and Outreach Week! This year we’re sharing our land grant legacy – of the land, the people, and their stories. It’s the foundation that empowers us, each and every day, to provide education and build partnerships for a strong Iowa. Did you know?

• Iowa State University is NOT built upon the original land that was granted from the Morrill Act.
• Our actual land grant includes more than 200,000 acres – in western Iowa.
• The federal government granted this land to our state so it could be leased or sold to fund a university for Iowans.

We have been identifying the original land grant parcels and the current landowners. However, we want to help all Iowans connect with the legacy that helped to build Iowa State University and paved the way for ISU Extension and Outreach.

The Morrill Act of 1862 provided the grant of land as a funding mechanism for what became the Land Grant Universities. The national Smith-Lever Cooperative Extension Act signed May 8,1914 established a new cooperative relationship between states and the federal government, creating the national Extension System. By that time Iowa’s extension service was eight years old and relationships between counties and what was then Iowa State College were already forming. Several counties already have celebrated their centennial and 21 counties will hit the 100 year mark this year. So, happy ISU Extension and Outreach Week! Take a moment to appreciate the heritage of our great organization and look around at the history that we are making today.

I’ve said it before, and I will keep saying it. ISU Extension and Outreach is strong because we are talented people working together – campus and county; faculty, staff and council members. Our success is because of “we.” We find comprehensive solutions from across programs and disciplines to educate and serve Iowans. We help each other to be successful by sharing information, lending a hand or being a sounding board. The communication and camaraderie make us stronger as we care for our organization and our colleagues. We all can be proud to be part of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach team. Thank you for your dedication and service to Iowans.

— John D. Lawrence
Iowa State University Acting Vice President for Extension and Outreach

P.S. Because so many people decided to “Give mine to EIE” during Annual Conference, we raised $3,363 in one day – a 42 percent increase over last year’s total. Thank you to everyone who contributed or pledged their support for Excellence in Extension. You’ll be hearing more about this campaign that encourages us to invest in ourselves as extension professionals.