Utah state university (USU) uses extension capacity funds to support various programs

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Utah State University $186,376 under the Smith-Lever Extension Funding program (CFDA 10.511) on October 1, 2025, for extension capacity funding supporting cooperative agricultural extension activities.

USU Extension uses these funds to deliver workshops, demonstrations, e-courses, in-person classes, and print and electronic resources across seven critical issue areas. Youth and 4-H programming facilitates positive youth development through educational activities fostering competence, character, connection, caring, confidence, and contribution; faculty deliver workshops, implement youth clubs, and host county and state events. Agriculture and Natural Resources activities aim to increase productivity and efficiency of Utah agricultural operations and promote sustainable resource use through educational workshops, demonstrations, conferences, field visits, and consultations. Natural Resources Management programming equips residents with competency in conservation and preservation while facilitating partnerships between community members and public and private stakeholders; significant activities include educational workshops, demonstrations, conferences, and field visits on water quality and quantity, weather science, outdoor recreation, and resource conservation. Food Safety programming reduces foodborne illnesses through research-based education on food safety practices in households and reduces food contamination in the food supply chain. Additional program areas address Nutrition and Health, Community Resilience, and Family Resource Management.

Performance occurs in Utah, USA. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. This is a formula grant.

Programmatic activities include workshops, DE monstrations, e-courses, in-person classes, and print and electronic resources. USU extension programs are categorized into seven (7) critical issues: (1) youth and 4-h, (2) agriculture and natural resources, (3) management of natural resources, (4) food safety, (5) nutrition and health, (6) community resilience, and (7) family resource management. Youth and 4-h: the goals are to (a) facilitate positive youth development through educational activities that foster youth competence, character, connection, caring, confidence, and contribution, and (b) empower youth to pursue their passion for a successful career and healthy life. Faculty involved in utah 4-h actively deliver workshops, implement youth clubs, and host county and state events for youth. Agriculture and natural resource: the goals are to (a) increase the productivity and efficiency of utah agricultural operations, and (b) promote sustainable natural resource use through relevant education on conservation practices. Major activities to be performed include educational workshops, demonstrations, conferences, field visits, and consultations. Management of natural resources: the goals are to (a) equip residents with the competency to engage in natural resource conservation and preservation effectively and (b) facilitate partnerships between community members and public and private stakeholders to strengthen natural resource conservation and enable sustainable resource use. Significant activities include educational workshops, demonstrations, conferences, and field visits on water quality and quantity, weather science, outdoor recreation, and resource conservation. Food safety: the goals are to (a) reduce the occurrences of foodborne illnesses in utah through research-based education on food safety practices in households and (b) reduce food contamination in the food supply chain by providing relevant education on best practices to processors and producers. Major activities to be performed in food safety include educational workshops, consultations, and demonstrations targeted at residents and small businesses on food preservation, canning, pressure testing, food product testing, and foodborne illnesses. Nutrition and health: the goals of the public nutrition and health education program are to (a) empower residents to make healthy food choices and improve their nutritional intake and (b) reduce the economic cost of chronic diseases in utah through ongoing nutrition education to youth and adults. Major activities in nutrition and health include educational workshops and consultations on chronic diseases, nutrition education, healthy and affordable recipes, diet behavior changes, and youth nutrition. Community resilience: the program's goals are to (a) connect rural communities to economic opportunities in urban centers through innovative workplace practices and (b) facilitate educational interventions and community partnerships and coalitions to reduce substance abuse disorders in rural counties. Major activities to be performed in community resilience include educational workshops and interventions on topics related to rural economic development, rural employment, and tribal initiatives. Family resource management: the goals are to (a) strengthen family relationships and (b) improve the economic well-being of individuals and families. Faculty involved in this program actively conduct research in family resource management, mental health and wellbeing, relationships, and human development. Major activities to be performed in community resilience include educational workshops on topics related to FRM, homebuyer education, family relationships, and mental wellness.