The MSU Extension Service is hosting public meetings across the state to take feedback and inform the future direction of the Service.
The Extension Service connects people to experts in the environmental and agricultural fields, who can provide resources and advice.
Now, the Service is encouraging staff, partners and the public to share their thoughts on what the Extension is doing well — and what could be improved.
Heather Triezenberg is an Extension specialist with the Community, Food and Environment Institute and associate director of the Michigan Sea Grant program.
She said the facilitated sessions will give the Service an idea of trends and issues Michigan will be facing in the next decade, in hopes of providing relevant resources.
“It’s kind of looking out the front windshield. listening to people we serve and helping us understand what they’re thinking about and what’s keeping them up at night,” Triezenberg said.
Triezenberg said she can't yet say what concrete changes the Service will make, but input from the meetings will be used to develop an updated “vision."
"It’s up to our participants, that join us for these listening sessions, what’s on their mind that they want share with us, as we work through this process," Triezenberg said.
Meetings will be held through November and December in Detroit, Troy, East Lansing, Marquette, Grayling, Frankenmuth, Muskegon and Kalamazoo.
For more details on the sessions, visit the Extension webpage.