Volunteers play a major role in Kansas 4-H and other extension-based programs. In fact, reports indicate those who lend their time and expertise to these programs not only are investing in their community, but also helping extend the reach of Kansas State University Research and Extension.
“Without volunteers, we could not educate and assist as many Kansans as we do,” said K-State Director of Extension and Assistant Vice President Gregg Hadley, noting that the number of total educational contacts made by extension professionals and volunteers surpassed 8 million people in 2023.
Last year, K-State Research and Extension, which encompasses the state’s agricultural experiment station and the cooperative extension system, reported that volunteers gave 309,345 hours of their time to programs carried out across the state. Hadley said the equivalent value of those hours to the state was $8.8 million or about 136 full-time employees. Some of the major programs that benefit from volunteers include 4-H, horticulture, natural resources, and food and nutrition programs.
To learn about the requirements and opportunities to volunteer for K-State Research and Extension programs, contact your local extension office.