Greetings, it is really great to be back in Nebraska. I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve as your Dean and Director. UNL Extension is a top-flight Extension program and I am proud to be part of that. At the same time, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Nebraskans are facing more complex and difficult issues than ever before. We must focus on these important issues, deliver outstanding and effective educational programs and products and demonstrate that our efforts make a difference. I am deeply committed to helping this organization continue to be one of the very best in the country.
Second, I had the pleasure of a quick visit to western Nebraska with Vice Chancellor Ronnie Green and Dean Archie Clutter. We visited the dry bean and sugarbeet industries. It was incredible to see the work conducted by faculty at the Panhandle Research & Extension Center over the last decade impacting the industry today. Sugarbeet and dry edible bean yields and quality are really great this year and the producers and the processors will benefit greatly. The other message from our dry edible bean and sugarbeet partners was that the University of Nebraska is an important partner and they want continued investment in the Research & Extension Centers. It is so great to hear constituents who believe in UNL Extension and the work that we do. I expect that I would hear a similar response from constituents across this state.
I am looking forward to engaging all of you at Fall Conference, see you there.
-- Chuck