For most of this century, the 4-H program has been successful developing healthy, productive, knowledgeable, and involved citizens. It's our best example of preventive education. It has a presence in every county of the United States, as well as a strong national image. Both social issues and the needs of youth have changed dramatically over the years, but the 4-H mission remains constant. It seeks to prepare each young person for productive citizenship by building self-esteem and by developing initiative and an appreciation for high standards in both work and service.
Extension has, therefore, success to build on.
The program works. The challenge is to extend it to fulfill the vision of helping every American become a healthy adult and a responsible citizen. It's impossible, they say, to take on any additional responsibilities without infusions of new money. New public funding in any significant amount is likely only when Extension administration demonstrates its ability to make tough choices, curtailing or even detaching from some traditional programs to provide for others that are more necessary to our economy and society. Reallocating Extension Resources While Extension has undergone a transition to issues-based program planning, significant dollar reallocations haven't followed.