Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
Extension offices are everywhere, in every county nationwide to be exact. Extension offices are a state-by-state network of education which “extends” knowledge from local universities. There is an Extension Office in all 67 counties in Alabama. The Autauga County Extension Office is located off of AL-14 in Autaugaville, and offers a vast array of hands-on classes from educated professionals for almost all aspects of life.
From fish and wildlife, farming and forestry to lawn and garden, food safety and urban extension, the Autauga County Extension Office has something for everyone. “The Extension Offices are helping to improve lives, the lives of families and also their economic well being,” said Darrue Sharpe Autauga County Extension Coordinator.
“You get first hand knowledge and hands on learning, that’s really important to people. Especially if you’re a visual learner. It’s so much more meaningful than just reading something online, you get to experience it,” Sharpe said.
The mission of Extension Offices is to bring science based information, practical solutions and meaningful experiences to the community from a public university. In Alabama, Auburn University and Alabama A&M University are the schools in affiliation with the Alabama Extension.
“We take the most up to date research from Auburn and A&M, our goal is to pass that information onto our community where most of our programs are free of charge,” Sharpe said.
In 1914 congress passed the Smith-Lever Act which established extension services and out-reach programs to rural communities all across the U.S. through land-grant universities. This was to help educate rural Americans about the advancements, new technologies and science behind agricultural practices. This opened opportunities for thousands of individuals that were not fortunate enough to get a higher education.
“Back then people were very knowledgeable about extension because we were more agricultural based. With technology most people are getting away from agriculture and with the newer generation they’re not aware of the programs we offer,” Sharpe said.
Today the Extension office offers classes from money management, classes on food preservation and how to make canned goods to anything farming or agriculture related as well. All agents who are teaching the classes have a master’s degree or above. The specialists, who share their research and information with the Extension Office in the state of Alabama, all have PhD’s and trickle down their research and information to various agents in the Extension Office to share with the county and the public.
The 4-H program through the state of Alabama is also run through the Cooperative Extension Office and U.S. Department of Agriculture. This program empowers children with hands-on learning and opportunities to reach specific interests and hone in on capabilities that can benefit them for the rest of their lives.
4-h is the largest youth development program in the state of Alabama and reaches over 109,700 kids statewide.
Information on upcoming classes and for more information on the services extension provides can be found on the Alabama Extension website or their Facebook page under Autauga County – Alabama Extension.
