By Jim Magdefrau

VINTON – Officials from Iowa State University heard an update from local officials at a community meeting, Monday, Oct. 30, at the Benton County Service Center, Vinton.

The state officials included Wendy Wintersteen, ISU president, and Jason Henderson, vice president of ISU Extension and Outreach.

Local director Greg Walston led the meeting, which had input from the following:

– Scott Hansen, Benton County Emergency Management Agency, and with the disaster recovery coalition, said his office has always had a good relationship with the extension, especially with disasters they have faced, through planning and recovery efforts.

– Wayne Shannon, master gardener and Old School Produce.

– Kellie Roberts, former daycare director and now children’s librarian with the Vinton Library. Extension helped with several activities at daycare and the library.

– Duane Fisher, extension council, focused on collaboration with other groups on farm safety and third grade “Day on the Farm” activities at the fairgrounds.

– Ben Olson, farmer, beef producer, and former extension council member, and a 4-H parent.

– Scott Birker, farmer, beef producer and 4-H parent.

– Denise Schwab, beef specialist, and Dan Voss, local farmer, also gave input, stressing that extension is a place where clients become good friends, and the importance of soil conservation.

– 4-H members talked about getting more youth involved in their activities.

They talked about how the extension service helps them with their efforts. They also talked about keeping up to date with agricultural technology and digital farming.

Wintersteen said she loves being out in the state hearing from people. She also said there is an emphasis on wellness for students at Iowa State. Students are engaged, she said. Academic advisors do check-ins on wellness. This helps with the retention of students, graduation and finding jobs.

Henderson has been with ISU for seven months. He comes from Purdue. They are working on a strategic plan. The first part of this is digital ag. The second is entrepreneurship and adding value to products made in Iowa. He added that it’s about people when it comes to development. People are finding jobs in places where they want to live, looking at schools, health care, broadband, lifestyle amenities, child care and other areas. It’s a people business, he stressed, and extension has a role in this. The jobs are following the people.

Challenges include graduating more large animal veterinarians and keeping up with digital agriculture, so they can be up to date and accurate. Agriculture is becoming more data oriented.