What Does it Mean to Be Entrepreneurial in Extension–And Does it Really Matter?

Awareness of entrepreneurial application in everyday Extension occurrences can improve Extension's impact in a rapidly changing environment. An entrepreneurial spirit remains evident throughout Extension's history, beginning with the Smith–Lever Act of 1914 that created value by cooperatively mobilizing resources of federal, state, and county governments; land-grant universities; and communities. More than 100 years later, entrepreneurial actions continue to demonstrate Extension's commitment to recognizing opportunities, engaging stakeholders, and fostering innovation. With an increasingly diverse constituency, complex funding mix, multifaceted issues, and rapidly evolving technologies, the Cooperative Extension System, like other established organizations, can benefit from proactively advancing individual and organizational entrepreneurship.