…and it makes me wonder what kind of changes the fall will bring! One thing I know for sure that is changing is the campus leadership for University of Illinois Extension. Most of you are probably aware that University of Illinois will be looking for a new president soon. But other administrative changes have occurred recently that will have a much more direct impact on U of I Extension. These include a new Dean in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), a new Associate Dean-Director of Extension, and a new Assistant Dean-Director of 4-H.

Organizationally, University of Illinois Extension is the outreach arm of the College of ACES. Administratively, the College of ACES is directed by the dean who has associate deans of research, extension and teaching under his direction. Assistant deans fall under the direction of an associate dean. (An organizational chart for U of I Extension can be seen at http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/ProfDev/extension_chart.shtml).

The new Dean for the College of ACES is Bob Hauser. In August, he replaced Bob Easter who moved into the position of University of Illinois Provost. Hauser received his B.S. in 1976 and Ph.D. in 1982 from Iowa State University. He has held several leadership positions on the U of I campus including almost 12 years as either Interim Head or Head of the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics. As part of his work, Hauser developed and led exceptional Extension programs, and taught several undergraduate and graduate courses. He has also received numerous research and Extension awards.

The new Associate Dean-Director of Extension as of September 16th is Bob Hoeft, who replaces outgoing director Denny Campion. Hoeft has spent more than 30 years working for University of Illinois in the Crop Sciences Department. He was the state soil fertility extension specialist for many years and more recently served as Department Head. He brings strong agriculture experience to the Extension Director position.

The new Assistant Dean-Director of 4-H, Denise Legvold, joined us in June. Legvold received a Ph.D. from Mississippi State University in 2008 with an emphasis in Extension Administration. Her most recent work experience has been for the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service as their 4-H Program Coordinator/Regional Extension Agent. She served University of Illinois Extension from 2000-2002, as the South Suburban Cook County Director. She also worked for Michigan State University Extension and Iowa State University Extension.

We are excited about our new leadership on campus, and look forward to the direction they will steer University of Illinois Extension in the coming months and years.

Have a safe and enjoyable fall,

Earl Allen

County Extension Director

• Small livestock producers (i.e. below 300 animal units) can find manure management information at this new U of I website: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/sfmm
• Plat books are for sale at the Extension Office. Support our local foundation (S.E.F.F.) by purchasing a plat book for yourself or for someone else as a gift.
• "Pessimists are people who feel good when they feel bad because they're afraid they'll feel worse when they feel better." - Anonymous