Virginia cooperative extension (VCE), a partnership between virginia state university (VSU) and virginia tech (VT), and the VSU agricultural research station (VSUARS) enable virginia citizens to…

Virginia cooperative extension (VCE), a partnership between virginia state university (VSU) and virginia tech (VT), and the VSU agricultural research station (VSUARS) enable virginia citizens to improve their lives using scientific knowledge. VCE and VSUARS projects lead to more productive lives, families, farms, and forests and a better environment in urban and rural communities. VCE's goals are to 1) develop and transfer new knowledge in applied and basic life sciences, 2) perform relevant, objective, and timely research 3) improve the quality of life for communities and citizens in the commonwealth, 4) use a systems approach to programming, with task-oriented work teams that respond to the needs of individuals, groups, and organizations, 5) work with at-risk, underserved, and underrepresented audiences who need focused and specialized attention, 6) fully integrate a culturally diverse paid and volunteer staff in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs, and 7) recruit and collaborate with public and private partners to utilize resources better, heighten the impact, and reach a more diverse audience. The following projects will be implemented to address the in dicated critical issues: 1. Agricultural viability, profitability and sustainability, 2. Community viability, 3. Food nutrition and health, 4. Natural resources, environment, and climate change, 5. Strengthening virginia families, 6. Youth development. #1 will mitigate risk in, and improve access to market opportunities for traditional, emergent, and specialty crops, aquaculture, and livestock production systems, ensure nutritious, safe and equitably accessible local food systems, and increase urban and organic farming success. #2 will promote continuing prosperity and financial security for all virginians through educational strategies that address health issues and nutrition practices that confront limited-resource urban and rural citizens and enhance representative civic engagement, including youth and adult involvement in community decision-making. #3 will educate youth and adults about positive nutrition habits and physical activity to reduce obesity, incidence of chronic diseases, and health care expenses, reduce food insecurity through increased access to locally grown, safe, affordable, and nutritious foods and beverages, and improve consumer and producer food safety and human nutrition challenges. #4 will provide natural resource and environmental enhancement, protection and conservation by educating traditional and underserved audiences to conserve, protect, and enhance natural resources while meeting society's demands and improving natural resource and environmental literacy through appropriate VCE programs. #5 will support strong, healthy family development and well-being leading to stronger virginia communities by maximizing the psychological, social, physical, and emotional well-being of virginia residents in these areas: parenting and childcare, dependent care, elder care, grandparents raising their grandchildren, school-readiness, risky behavior prevention, and stress reduction and by increasing economic stability by improving youth and family financial literacy and security. #6 will use 4-H programs to focus on developing positive, healthy, skilled, productive youth to be tomorrow's leaders by developing life skills and leadership skills and abilities for traditional and at-risk youth, educating traditional and at-risk youth to make better dietary choices, increase physical activity and other healthy behaviors to prevent obesity, creating awareness and changing behaviors that prevent at-risk behaviors that may lead youth to engage in crime, unprotected SEX, substance abuse, gangs, or other at-risk behaviors that jeopardize their future, and increasing involvement and interest in science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and technology (STEAM) careers for traditional and underserved youth.