Today's agents also work through other community groups and statewide agencies and enlist thousands of volunteers to extend education to the people of Michigan. The federal funding links Extension with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and to national trends and issues. State funding ensures that the needs of Michigan citizens are being met. Local funding means that Extension is in place to deal with the problems and issues in every county. Increasingly, additional funding is being sought through grants from various foundations and the private sector.
Extension programs are very cost effective.
They involve volunteers, community people who have special expertise or knowledge. Using volunteers expands the outreach of Extension's educational programs without hiring additional professionals. Extension offices and staff people cover every county in Michigan. Extension faculty on the campus of Michigan State University do research and translate research results into educational programs. They act as resources people for Extension staff members in the counties.