Sumter Extension Service/ What is their main purpose?
 

There's a regular column in the Daily Sun written by an extension agent in Family and Consumer Sciences for the UF/IFAS, Sumter County Extension Agency.

I'm not sure what all of the above means; do you know?

1. What is "an extension agent"?

2. What is "Family and Consumer Sciences"?

3. What is "UF/IFAS"?

4. What is "Sumter County Extension Agency"?

5. What is their main purpose?

6. Who pays for it? (directly and/or indirectly)

Extension Service is common in nearly all states
This web site should answer all of your questions.
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Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - University of Florida

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information accessible. While extending into every community of the state, UF/IFAS has developed an international reputation for its accomplishments in teaching, research and extension. Because of this mission and the diversity of Florida’s climate and agricultural commodities, IFAS has facilities located throughout Florida.

IFAS provides research and development for Florida’s agricultural, natural resources and related food industries, which in 2010 made value-added contributions of $108.7 billion to the gross domestic product of the state economy.

Thanks, that hit the spot; it helps to explain a lot. It seems the main goal is to promote agricultural products. I was a little confused because sometimes it seemed as though health was the purpose or goal, when, actually, promoting agricultural products trumps health.

A recent column in the Daily Sun, by the Sumter Extension Service, may serve as an example: In this column of 09-20-13, it was stated that "Apples are a wholesome snack...", and it gave various reasons why apples are healthy. In the next paragraph, it mentioned that apples are great in such items as "muffins, cookies, ice cream, cakes, cobblers and pies", among other things.

All of the above items usually contain a lot of highly refined white flour and sugar. These are the items that promote weight gain, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, constipation, and many other health issues. But, having said that, white flour and sugar are agricultural products. So it all makes sense now.

The way I see it, they are trying to have it both ways. They want to appear to be interested in promoting health, but promoting agricultural products is their main purpose. You might say they have a built in bias.

In todays environment fault can be found with just about anything that is reported.

In today's environment fault can be found with just about anything that is eaten.

Promoting agricultural products is not the mission of the extension service. They are an "extension" of a university and their mission is to provide research-based information in the areas of agriculture and family and consumer sciences. (Granted, in today's politicized and often polarized environment, nutrition information can be controversial). The mission has expanded from the original which was mainly to aid farmers to include home horticulture. The extension service also coordinates 4-H clubs The extension service is funded by tax dollars - usually a combination of federal (USDA), state, and local which is managed by county commissioners. I worked briefly in extension in Ohio and was considered a faculty member of The Ohio State University.

I didn't use the word "mission". I said, (from my observations reading their columns in the Daily Sun) their main goal is to promote agricultural products. "Main goal" means that it's not their only goal. I left the door open for other things they might want to accomplish.

I have seen notices in the paper for classes one could sign up for regarding diet related information to promote a healthier lifestyle. But that doesn't seem to fit with this last article that suggested apples are great in such items as muffins, cookies, ice cream, cakes, cobblers and pies. This makes me suspicious of what their true goal is. In the world of nutrition, are these items controversial? If the extension service is science based, where's the science that says these items promote health rather than disease? One would think that a university would know better. Why would we want our tax dollars spent this way?

Oh no, another government conspiracy, when will it ever end?

agree.

I doubt it because we also have: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It's a national public health institute of the United States. We also have the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health. I think they contribute a lot of valuable information. I don't think they recommend that we eat cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream and cobblers.

Notice: Instead of staying on topic, the topic becomes the OP and whether or not he thinks there is a conspiracy.

I'm having a hard time equating the eating of muffins, cookies, ice cream, cakes, cobblers and pies as a government conspiracy. I like all those things and I eat them occasionally. I also like apples, and I eat them too. It's my choice whether, or how much I eat of all those things. Subjugation by dessert just seems like a bit much.

I want to express my thanks and admiration to the Extension Service specifically and the University of Florida in general for all they do for us. Keep up the good work!:clap2:

IFAS rocks. extension services have helped me many times. thanks for saying that and :agree:

Good point. I don't see it as a conspiracy either.

But do you think the job of the Extension Service is to tell people that apples are great in muffins, cookies, ice cream, cakes, cobblers and pies? Do we need to spend tax money on that?

And the "good work" is to tell people that apples are great in muffins, cookies, ice cream, cakes, cobblers and pies?

why don't you research ifas if you think it's all about muffins.

Sure, they have helped me too. When I was a kid I was in a 4H club. The point of this thread is not that they never help anyone.

Does the fact that they help people make it right for them to recommend junk food that promotes weight gain, diabetes, heart disease etc.? Then they make it okay by offering classes on how to eat healthier? I think it's disingenuous at best (just like some of the posts on this thread).