Penn State Extension serves as community network
A host of research-based information and educational programs accessible through Penn State Extension is helping individuals, families, businesses and communities across the state’s 67 counties build a better future.
Expertise on animals, plants and pests, natural resources, community and business, food and health, youth and family and 4-H are provided by a network of local extension educators, faculty and volunteers.
Topics are listed on the Penn State Extension website at extension.psu.edu. as well as is a schedule of upcoming events.
Additionally, noncredit educational courses and workshops are offered at local district offices including Fayette, Greene and Washington counties along with webinars.
“Penn State Extension along with the Cooperative Extension system across the United States is an invaluable resource that often times people either don’t know exists or don’t know the full breadth of programming that is offered,” said Joseph Conklin, business operations manager for the extension.
As part of the Pennsylvania State University College of Agriculture, the Extension is funded by a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state and county governments.
According to Conklin, the Extension receives local funding for office space and in-kind services along with appropriations from the state. Funding is earmarked annually for services and research that is matched at the federal level.
The Extension further offers courses, publications and information on water quality, natural gas, forests and wood products, and renewable and alternative energy.
Conklin pointed out that test kits for soil and water are available at the extension offices, which are sent to Penn State where they are tested at their labs.
“We are also in tune with the natural gas industry here in Pennsylvania. We have natural resource educators who hold workshops on topics such as mineral management and general updates on what is currently going on in the industry and how that impacts the local area,” said Conklin.
For those interested in master gardening, volunteers are trained by the extension through a program designed to give experienced home gardeners with information and skills necessary to share their experience and knowledge with others.
Certification requires 40 hours of training and 50 hours of volunteering. They also maintain a gardening hotline.
Those interested in joining the Be Local Network can contact Ted Flowers at 724-425-7231 or by email at tflowers@heraldstandard.com. Discount cards are available at the Herald-Standard, 8 E. Church St., Uniontown, and at the Greene County Messenger, 82 W. High St., Waynesburg.