The purpose of this “First Friday” webinar was to brief Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators about three topics that will be discussed at their national conference this week. However, many others in the Cooperative Extension system could benefit from hearing these messages.
Please follow this link to view the recording (Passcode: U9#s!iQ0).
2026 New Administrators Orientation: Leading with
Conviction, Courage, and Confidence
December 8-10, 2026 | Alexandria, VA
Presented by the APLU Office of Food, Agriculture and
Natural Resources (FANR), the New
Administrators Orientation (NAO) is designed to help new administrators build the knowledge,
connections, and leadership skills needed to succeed in their roles.
The program is intended for individuals who are new to
administrative leadership positions within colleges and programs related to
food, agriculture, natural resources, and the life sciences, including deans,
associate deans, department heads, directors, experiment station leaders, and
Extension administrators.
No matter your administrative position, NAO provides
practical guidance for navigating the responsibilities and opportunities of
academic administration.
Through discussions, expert perspectives, and peer
engagement, participants will explore topics such as leadership and
organizational culture, employee engagement, strategic communication,
decision-making, and managing change. Participants will also gain a deeper
understanding of the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA), including its policy,
advocacy, and communications activities, and will have opportunities to engage
directly with leaders from USDA.
By the end of the program, participants will have
strengthened their leadership capabilities, expanded their professional
network, and gained practical insights they can apply immediately to support
their institutions' teaching, research, Extension, and service missions.
See
more information about the NAO and register here.
Meet “JD:" John Deere’s New AI Assistant for Operations Center (From AgWeb Daily)
Designed as a conversational partner, the artificial
intelligence assistant answers farmers’ questions in real time using
customized insights generated from their own field, machine and operational
data.
September 2026, ECOP approved an Artificial Intelligence Program Action Team. That PAT will give an ECOP report at the National Extension and Administrators Conference this week in Seattle, Washington.
