The Extension Foundation’s work in technology is supported by a New Technologies in Agriculture (NTAE) Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) (funding opportunity USDA-NIFA-OP-010186, award number 2023-41595-41325), in partnership with the University of New Hampshire. This grant enabled the Foundation to deliver a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) track at the 2024 National Extension Technology Conference (NETC)—an annual event that fosters networking and professional development for Extension technology professionals.
Held this year in State College, Pennsylvania, the conference gathered experts to exchange insights and innovations shaping the future of Extension, with a special focus on AI. Organized by Mark Locklear (Extension Foundation) and David Warren (Extension Foundation and Oklahoma State University), the AI track featured more than a dozen sessions showcasing how AI can enhance Extension’s efficiency, outreach, and impact. Topics included AI-powered tools like ExtensionBot and Ask Extension, strategies for collecting and analyzing data from Land-grant universities, and best practices in AI governance. Additional sessions covered automating routine tasks, expanding outreach through personalized communication and translation, and improving program evaluation through predictive analytics.
A new web page provides access to conference presentations, session recordings, and valuable resources, including guides on AI ethics and prompting techniques, as well as presentations by Locklear and Warren. Visit the webpage to explore these tools and discover how AI can drive innovation and impact throughout the Cooperative Extension system.
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