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ALGONA – “It will be challenging and full of opportunity.” That’s how Terry Janssen describes his new job as a regional director for Iowa State University Extension. On Aug. 1 the former O’Brien County director became ISU Extension’s director for Region 2, which covers Emmet, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto and Winnebago counties.

He’s excited about the change and his multi-county role, noting, “We can build on the current strong county extension programs and maybe look at things from a different perspective.”

He’s referring to the existing elected extension councils and county directors from each of the five counties. Representatives from those councils met together for the first time Aug. 11 — to introduce themselves, to examine how ISU Extension’s restructuring into regions affects their counties and to begin to set some direction for their regional future.

The group isn’t an official regional council, Janssen explained. Rather, it’s a fact-finding group that will communicate with the individual county councils.

“I think we can take the strengths of one county and use them in another county to help benefit the direction of the other county,” Janssen explained.

The sharing doesn’t have to stop at the region’s borders, he added. “We can even go across region lines, partnering with other regions.”

Janssen is optimistic about a smooth transition. He’ll be working with ISU Extension program specialists to address the educational program needs identified by the county councils and the region. His goal is “to make sure we keep the signature ISU Extension programs going in each county and add to what’s being done.”

ISU Extension supports healthy people, healthy environments and healthy economies. With summer activities wrapping up — farmland leasing meetings, youth camps and pesticide applicator training, for example — Janssen is gearing up for fall.

Janssen has his office in the Kossuth County Extension Office, 1121-B Hwy 18 E, Algona, Iowa. He can be reached by phone at (515) 295-2469 or e-mail at tjans@iastate.edu.

Janssen served as the ISU Extension education director for O’Brien County since 2000. Prior to that, he worked for an agribusiness company in retail and wholesale sales and consulting for 12 years in southwest and northwest Iowa. He received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education and a Master of Agriculture from Iowa State University. He grew up in Hancock County near Goodell.

 

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