Extension ServiceThe power of OSU Extension Service: 2024 biennial report
Thriving together
4-H Cloverbud Nature Expedition Day Camp, Benton County.
Working together to help Oregon thrive
When I was asked to write a few words for this report, my mind flashed back to late July and the question from a slightly bemused and mostly curious hotel clerk. “What is your job?” she asked, eyeing my suit and the dusty boots I was carrying, trying to reconcile the two.
At that point, I’d been in the interim director role for about three months. I had spent the morning visiting with 4-H’ers, Extension employees and community members at a county fair and had just arrived in Portland for a university event that evening.
Being asked to serve in this role for the OSU Extension Service — one of the nation’s leading Extension services by any measure — is truly an honor and a privilege. And what I usually do, when I get a question like that, is talk about the amazing Extension work happening every day across the state and — importantly — the people who make it happen.
OSU Extension, put simply, is people working together to help Oregon thrive.
My job is to support them. One way, of course, is by showing up. That’s the part that takes me from boots to suits and everything in between. Another way is by sharing the stories of the people who make it happen — employees, volunteers and community collaborators.
That’s the best part. And you can do it, too! No suit required.
We hope you’ll join us in sharing the stories of OSU Extension in your community.
With gratitude,
Kristopher M. Elliott
Interim Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement
Interim Director, OSU Extension Service
Kristopher Elliott, interim director of OSU Extension, learns about 4-H exhibits at the Oregon State Fair from 4-H Ambassador Jack Sparks. Read more stories at beav.es/extension-impact.
Volunteers give much to extend our reach and impact — and get back even more
Sherry Sheng started growing plants from seeds when she was 5 years old. She didn’t have anyone to teach her. “It was just trial and error,” she says.
Sheng never lost interest in gardening, so when she retired in 2005, she joined the OSU Extension Master Gardener™ program in Clackamas County, eager to learn about the science of growing plants. In 2006, Sheng came up with an idea to offer research-based information in small, digestible pieces: 10-Minute University, a combination of short sessions taught by Master Gardeners, plus videos and handouts on dozens of gardening topics.
“There’s nothing like experiencing firsthand what research-based information can do in gardening success,” she says. “I learned the answers to so many things that I wondered about. I wanted to spread that joy of doing the right thing and being successful.”
More than 8,000 volunteers statewide extend our capacity to deliver robust and impactful programming. In the Master Gardener and Oregon Naturalist programs alone, volunteers reported 116,408 hours, a value of more than $4 million. And in 4-H, nearly 4,000 volunteers serve as youth leaders and mentors.
“I love the people I’ve gotten to know, the other leaders, the parents and the kids,” says Sherrie Deaton, a 4-H leader in Benton County. “I’m the one gaining from this because I get to do new things and watch kids shine.”
Natalie DaSilva, an Oregon Naturalist in Portland since 2021, says she can’t say enough about what volunteering has meant to her: “I feel like this program has changed my life.”
Sherry Sheng in her garden.
Transcript
Serving Oregon. Here for you.
- What is Extension?
- OSU statewide public service programs
- Fueling a thriving world
- OSU Extension at a glance
What is Extension?
A link: We connect Oregon’s people and communities with the university to share knowledge and co-create solutions.
A partnership: 34 of Oregon’s 36 counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs provide Extension funding through voter-approved taxes or general allocations. This local investment leverages state and federal funds.
A trusted source: We serve through professionals, volunteers and partners in communities across Oregon.
Extension program areas
- 4-H Youth Development
- Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Family and Community Health
- Forestry and Natural Resources
- Juntos
- KidSpirit
- Native American and Tribal Programs
- Open Campus
- Outdoor School
- Oregon Sea Grant
Acknowledging this land
We recognize the impact of Oregon State University’s land grant history on Indigenous communities in Oregon. We recognize that all Extension work occurs on Indigenous homelands and that Indigenous people are valued, contributing members of our community today. And we recognize our responsibility to understand the continuing impact of this shared history and to act in ways that build a better future. In Extension, this includes collaborating with Tribal and Indigenous communities on culturally relevant educational programming, including college access, nutrition education, forest management and more.
We invite you to join us in ongoing reflection, learning and action.
OSU statewide public service programs
OSU Extension Service | Agricultural Experiment Station | Forest Research Laboratory
The OSU Statewides integrate state-of-the-art research with community-based education to address Oregon’s most complex and pressing issues and emerging opportunities.
These programs are largely funded through public dollars. State funding is allocated by the Oregon Legislature as a line item, and it is a critical component in accessing federal, local and other funding sources.
A funding increase from the 2023 legislative session allowed the OSU Statewides to sustain vital programs and fill more than 40 new and vacant priority positions in areas of critical need across Oregon. Looking ahead, we will seek funding to maintain current service levels and build capacity for integrated research and Extension efforts that support economic development, community vitality and workforce readiness.
Fueling a thriving world
Oregon State University’s strategic plan calls for innovative, collaborative work to support widely shared economic, social and environmental prosperity across Oregon and beyond. For OSU Extension and our community collaborators, that’s always been and always will be our mission.
Fire Program marks four years of impactful outreach
Funded by the Oregon Legislature, the program includes six regional specialists who work with federal, state and local partners to support fire-adapted communities and resilient ecosystems. The program has reached thousands of Oregonians through webinars, workshops and publications and has facilitated landscape planning processes.
Grant-funded collaborations build community capacity
OSU Extension and a team from Wasco County landed a $6 million grant for wildfire resistance through the federal bipartisan infrastructure law. With our guidance, the Oregon Community Food Systems Network awarded more than $3 million from the Oregon Legislature to 222 farms, helping them improve the resilience of their land and businesses.
National effort supports youth innovation in food and agriculture
Under a 5-year, $10 million USDA-NIFA grant, Oregon State coordinates a national network of land grant university projects for youth that promote careers in agriculture and food science. OSU is also leading a project to develop a youth climate change curriculum emphasizing climate-smart agriculture and forestry in Pacific Islander and Indigenous communities.
"Learning about leadership taught me to stand up for things I believe are right, to speak up for people who were too afraid to, and to act. That’s what leadership is, and that’s what 4-H taught me.”
Crystal, 4-H member
Outdoor School removes barriers, expands access
Our statewide Outdoor School program, which serves Oregon fifth and sixth graders, was recognized for making local outdoor schools more equitable and accessible with a 2024 Western Extension Directors Association Award of Excellence. Efforts included facility grants, program evaluation tools and professional development.
SNAP-Ed makes learning fun, tasty and culturally relevant
The Portland-area Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education team partnered with Portland Public Schools to pilot three lesson plans to help elementary students learn about three healthy foods — squash, greens and corn — and their significance to Indigenous, African diaspora and Latin American communities. Nearly 18,000 students got to sample foods prepared with locally sourced ingredients in the school cafeteria.
OSU Extension at a glance
100% Extension programming in all 36 Oregon counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
8,000+ Volunteers sharing information and expertise
2,135,000 Visitors accessing OSU Extension resources online
91,900+ Youth involved in 4-H and other OSU Extension programs
598 Extension employees: 55% County-based employees 39% Non county-based 6% Administration
Collaborating to meet local challenges: Community partners, OSU Extension, Federal, state and local entities connect around community needs
OSU Extension funding
OSU Extension funding FY24 funding (actual)
45% State government
27% Integrated research and project-specific grants
20% County government
6% Federal government
1% Oregon State University
1% Philanthropic support
OSU Extension funding FY25 budget (allocated)
36% Agriculture and Natural Resources
15% Program support
12% 4-H Youth Development
10% Administration - assessments
9% Forestry and Natural Resources
7% Family and Community Health
4% Vacancies - unallocated
3% Sea Grant
2% Open Campus
2% Juntos
Excludes Outdoor School (lottery funded)
It's OK to ask for help: New mental health helpline addresses the needs of rural Oregonians
This past summer, an employee at a rural sawmill confided to his supervisor that he was struggling. The supervisor patiently listened and provided him with resources that included the AgriStress Helpline for Oregon, which provides suicide intervention and emotional, behavioral and social support referral information to rural Oregonians. The employee’s outlook immediately improved, and he said he appreciated the AgriStress information.
That’s the goal of the helpline, launched in September 2023 to address Oregon’s rural mental health crisis one person at a time. The helpline is available 24/7 by call or text at 833-897-2474, and those who answer are trained on issues specific to Oregon’s agriculture and natural resource communities.
AgriStress Helpline for Oregon
833-897-2474
(call or text).
The Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 955 in 2023, which provided a one-time general fund appropriation to establish an endowment for OSU Extension to implement and operate the helpline in Oregon. A coalition of 27 agriculture, timber and health care organizations advocated for passage of SB 955. Allison Myers, associate dean in OSU’s College of Health who leads the OSU Extension Family and Community Health program, and Todd Nash, a Wallowa County rancher and past president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, were instrumental in building support for the helpline. Oregon is the first state to operate the AgriStress Helpline in partnership with an Extension service.
Rural men over 49 are considered a high-risk group for suicide. Suicide data by occupation reveal that loggers, commercial fishers, farmers and ranchers are among the occupations with the highest risk.
According to Nash, mental health is a top issue for rural Oregonians. “Suicide is a tough subject,” he says. “It’s affecting our communities. It has huge impacts on families.”As of September 2024, the helpline had provided support and referrals, including crisis interventions, for callers from 21 counties. While call details are confidential, available data show the line is reaching the people it is intended to help, and callers prefer a helpline tailored specifically for them.
The helpline is just one of several OSU Extension programs and initiatives that are collaborating with farmers, families and communities to implement evidence-based strategies that promote mental health and reduce substance use in rural Oregon.
Photo: Todd Nash, a rancher in Wallowa County and past president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, helped advocate for the AgriStress Helpline.
OSU Extension's impact across Oregon
- Sustainable agriculture, food systems and gardening
- Resilient and productive forests and natural ecosystems
- Healthy communities and economies
- Thriving youth, individuals and families
Will Price, an OSU Extension assistant professor of practice in the College of Agricultural Sciences, researches rangeland-based livestock production in Baker and Union counties.
Sustainable agriculture, food systems and gardening
Testing forages for resilience to climate change in Western Oregon
To boost the resilience of their forage systems, farmers need summer forage that will survive extreme conditions. OSU Extension research helped identify the best combination of seeds readily available on the market: sun hemp, cowpeas and mung beans, with warm-season grasses like dwarf pearl millet added to provide biomass and fiber for ruminants.
Creating continuing education resources for Northeast Oregon viticulturists
OSU Extension collaborated with wine industry partners in northeast Oregon to establish VIT TECH in 2021. This educational series highlights new research and sustainable agricultural practices to support the success of the grape industry in one of Oregon’s most unique wine regions.
Alice Fairfield (left), owner of Fairfield Farm in Corvallis, shows her drip irrigation system to Berit Dinsdale, a postdoctoral researcher with OSU Extension. Dinsdale works with agricultural stakeholders to identify gaps in water-related research and education.
Supporting the needs of farmers and ranchers to combat heat, drought
Supported by legislative funding, OSU Extension conducted a statewide assessment of the effects of drought and heat on Oregon agriculture. We found many producers are using the most water-efficient irrigation systems for their operations. Ongoing work supports farmers and ranchers in navigating challenges related to water and water usage, on-farm irrigation infrastructure costs and effective equipment installation.
Providing relevant and timely economic research and analysis
Agricultural producers and policymakers need relevant, up-to-date research and analysis. OSU Extension applied economists focus on agriculture and land resources topics, including the competitiveness of Oregon farms and production costs such as regulatory compliance, wages and wolf depredation. They also recently published an overview of Oregon’s farm sector based on the most recent Census of Agriculture.
“OSU Extension has helped us with multiple projects over the past 10 years. We are grazing cattle in the late fall and early winter to help reduce fuel loads and invasive annual grasses. I’m able to graze my cattle for an additional two months each year while reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire on our public lands allotment. It’s been a great learning opportunity for me as well as a significant economic benefit.”
Sean Cunningham, Co-owner, Cross Ranch, Jordan Valley
Stephen Fitzgerald, retired OSU professor, Extension specialist and director of the OSU Research Forests, teaches a forest thinning class at the Hopkins Demonstration Forest.
Resilient and productive forests and natural ecosystems
Helping Oregon's woodland owners manage their land
Family woodland owners manage 40% of private forestland in Oregon. Our Master Woodland Manager program provides extensive training for volunteers, who then support their peers. Master Woodland Managers advance local networks through education, community science projects and leadership roles in forest landowner organizations.
Partnering to build forest management expertise in Northeast Oregon
A written forest management plan is an essential tool for family woodland owners to improve forest health, reduce fire risk and access financial aid. But consulting foresters were in short supply in northeast Oregon. Extension foresters and agency partners helped recruit and train a group of forest technicians to help write more than 241 plans covering 143,683 acres.
OSU Extension forester Dan Stark instructs a Tree School class on growing redwoods and giant sequoia in Oregon.
Collaborating to develop a first-of-its-kind stream assessment tool
The OSU Sagebrush Habitat Team, which includes Extension researchers, teamed with an interagency group to create a stream assessment tool to address the health of riparian areas within Oregon’s arid rangelands. The tool is used across all sage-grouse conservation plans on private lands in Oregon, totaling more than 600,000 acres.
Helping fishermen meet new guidelines to protect seabirds
To help reduce seabird mortality, Oregon Sea Grant helped fishermen comply with a new federal regulation mandating streamer lines on certain vessels that use longlines to catch groundfish. Sea Grant purchased 90 sets of streamer lines, available for free, and provided information on how to install them.
Shady Place Tree Farm owners Pam and Jock Dalton were named Oregon’s Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year for 2024 by the Oregon Tree Farm System and the Oregon Small Woodlands Association.
“I have been using information from OSU Extension for over 50 years, and Extension agents keep me up to date on the ever-changing aspects of forestry and natural resource management. As a member of the Rickreall Watershed Council and as a director of the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, I have worked regularly with OSU Extension, and they have done a great job in outreach to forest landowners, bringing valuable resources to provide solutions to their problems.”
Jock Dalton, Co-owner, Shady Place Tree Farm, Pedee
Seed to Supper in the Garden, hosted by OSU Extension Master Gardeners, showed new gardeners on a tight budget how to grow food at home.
Healthy communities and economies
Helping Oregonians learn about contaminants in their well water
About one-quarter of Oregonians use private wells as their primary source of water. The OSU Be Well Project leveraged the trusted relationships
of local OSU Extension community educators to inform, assist and motivate well owners to make decisions and take steps to mitigate well-water contamination.
Educating Hispanic-Latinx residents about natural hazards
OSU Extension faculty and staff partnered with Consejo Hispano to co-create inclusive hazard awareness and emergency preparedness materials for the Hispanic-Latinx community in Clatsop County. The team produced videos featuring Spanish-speaking and Latinx community members covering essential topics such as preparing an emergency go-bag and reading a tsunami evacuation map.
Oregon Sea Grant Extension hosts guided tours to help the public know what to look for when buying freshly caught seafood and learn about sustainable Oregon fisheries.
Creating a pipeline of skilled workers to support the local economy
We partnered with multiple organizations to create Malheur Works, which connects the learning needs of high school students with the workforce demands of local businesses. The internship program pairs employers with prospective employees, providing meaningful work experience for young adults while filling a labor gap.
Bridging the state's digital divide
In partnership with University Information and Technology, we launched the Oregon Broadband Equity Coalition to unite organizations across Oregon to address digital access, device availability, internet affordability and digital skills gaps. OBEC aims to bridge the digital divide while positively impacting communities at the local level.
“I have been collaborating with OSU Extension since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, where we partnered with county officials and community volunteers to lead COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts in Lincoln County. I consider myself a ‘connector’ who has helped Extension build trust with Latinx and Mesoamerican Indigenous communities, which has resulted in new community gardens for families in Newport and Lincoln City. Extension’s outreach efforts throughout the years have been fantastic. They are very conscious about how to approach the community both culturally and linguistically."
Alex Llumiquinga, Arcoíris Cultural Program Manager, Olalla Center, Newport
In a KidSpirit summer camp cooking class on the OSU Corvallis campus, kids learn how to work together and prepare a healthy meal.
Thriving youth, individuals and families
Competing at youth robotics world championships
Robotics helps kids build skills in engineering, computer science and teamwork. 4-H teams from Wasco, Washington and Yamhill counties advanced to two international youth robotics championship events in 2024. Three 4-H teams from Wasco County made it to the Global VEX Robotics Championships in Dallas. One 4-H team from Washington County and one from Yamhill County competed in the first Robotics Competition in Houston.
Expanding Juntos Family Day to Central Oregon
We expanded the biennial Juntos Family Day this year with a pilot program at OSU-Cascades. This gave 80 Juntos students and families from Eastern and Central Oregon a snapshot of college life on a smaller, more personal campus that offers the resources of Oregon’s largest public research university. More than 80% of participants said they are likely to attend a four-year college, and 87% of parents agreed their child would have a good college experience as a Latinx student.
Beatriz Botello Salgado, an Extension nutrition educator in Lincoln County, talks about vegetables available at the Newport Farmers Market that Latinx and Indigenous Mesoamerican families can incorporate into their meals.
Leveraging community partnerships to promote 4-H market animal success
4-H members in Klamath and Lake counties were challenged in 2023 to secure market hogs due to a national shortage. We partnered with the Rotary Club of Klamath County and Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank to ensure youths received a fair price for their animals and that the processed meat was provided to local families experiencing food insecurity.
Creating community gardening spaces for growing their own food
Juntos en el Jardin (Together in the Garden) has rejuvenated existing community gardening locations in and around Lincoln City. The program has also expanded spaces for local Latino and Mesoamerican Indigenous families, who generally have less access to land, allowing them to grow their own food.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the 4-H Mariachi STEAM Camp, witnessing its growth and evolution over the years. This collaboration has allowed the camp to expand its reach and impact, blending cultural enrichment with STEAM education in unique and exciting ways. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how the camp has grown, engaging more youth, fostering creativity and building valuable skills through music and innovation.”
Romanna Flores, Co-Founder, 4-H Mariachi STEAM camp, Washington County
4-H Baby Goat Tour, Benton County.
Your support makes a difference
Advocates and donors are vital to strengthening and extending OSU Extension’s impactful work.
“We know some kids are so driven to do more, but they don’t necessarily realize what’s available to them through 4-H. In Eastern Oregon, the travel to leadership experiences like Summer Conference and National Congress can seem too expensive for their families. We wanted to clear a path for them to experience broader things at the state and national level that they’d love if they just had the opportunity to go.”
Sterling and Cheryl Allen, Oregon 4-H supporters