Alaska Cooperative Extension Service
The UAF Cooperative Extension Service annually serves approximately 80,000 Alaskans, “providing a link between Alaska's diverse people and communities by interpreting and extending relevant university, research-based knowledge in an understandable and usable form to the public.”[1] Since 1930[2] the UAF Extension Service has partnered with many organizations across the state of Alaska in pursuit of fulfilling its land-grant university mission to disseminate agricultural research and other scientific information.
[3] Its strategic plan identifies food safety and security, health, climate change, energy, economic development, and youth, family and communities as major themes.
[26] UAF Extension agents also offer pressure canner gauge testing to help Alaskans ensure they are preserving foods safely.
[29] James Wickersham, judge and congressional delegate in the early 1900s,[30] became aware of the Morrill Act and pushed for the creation of a college in the interior, submitting an education bill to Congress.
Fohn-Hansen was on the road for months at a time as she "toured the state carrying teaching supplies, clothing, bulletins, pressure canner, can sealer, patterns, garden seeds, needles, yarn and probably a loom..."[36] In 1932 a veterinarian was added to the staff.
Extension's agricultural and home demonstration agents placed there worked closely with colonists and homesteaders to establish viable farming practices in the valley.
In addition to teaching people how to can salmon and other Alaska resources, Fohn-Hansen was an accomplished weaver and helped women make gloves and other clothes.
With efforts centralized and appropriations to the territory increased, Extension expanded its size and reach over the next decade to include field offices in Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks.
As World War II engulfed the nation, Extension home economists helped Alaskans learn to can food and cultivate vegetables.
"[39] Extension's expansion efforts eventually coincided with military interests as the war brought an inquiry into the use of Alaska sites for defense against Russia.
However, the legislation also put the USDA back in control of agricultural research programs in Alaska, and the joint director position of the prior decade was dissolved.
In a 1956 report to the Secretary of the Interior, Governor Mike Stepovich noted that Extension was "guided by local producer and consumer committees where representatives of rural and urban groups have an opportunity to make their needs known."
The consulted groups included homemaker councils, soil conservation workers, members of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, dairy breeders and others.
[43] The University of Alaska currently maintains its land-grant endowment as a trust fund that collects various forms of income from its federal land grants.
UAF's public service and community engagement role is filled in part by Extension educators, faculty and staff located across the state of Alaska.
In a 2012 Plan of Work, UAF Extension describes its commitment to using nonformal education services to build Alaskan communities through programming in agriculture and horticulture, sustainability, natural resources, community development, youth development, global food security, food safety, childhood obesity, climate change, ecosystem management, and sustainable energy.
[47] UAF Extension also maintains its commitment to engagement by consulting with multiple advisory councils that include community members from a variety of backgrounds.
Farmers, gardeners, miners, foresters, village leaders, parents, teachers and youth representatives meet regularly with Extension leadership to help inform decision making.
The Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) also provides opportunities for agriculture education specifically to Alaska Natives through a collaboration with the Tanana Chiefs Conference.
Programs include the Alaskan Growers School which aims to teach participants how to grow food to provide for themselves and 10 other families or start an agricultural business.
[55] The communications unit of UAF Extension also helps maintain several online communities through social media platforms, including Facebook pages, a YouTube channel[56] and Pinterest boards.
