*Note: Fred Cholick has been the Dean of K-State’s College of Agriculture and the Director of K-State Research and Extension since 2004.

I appreciate the opportunity to lead the dedicated faculty and staff of K-State Research and Extension and the College of Agriculture. They are truly impacting the lives of ranchers, farmers, youth, families, and communities within Kansas.

Last summer, we commissioned a telephone survey with an independent research group to get feedback on how K-State Research and Extension services are perceived and the value of those services. Of those surveyed,
• more than 96 percent rated the information we provide as somewhat or very credible;
• more than 97 percent of the respondents said that it is somewhat or very important for the state of Kansas to have the type of services we provide.

I see these numbers as positive reinforcement that K-State Research and Extension is serving the people of Kansas.

The credibility statement brings to mind a comment by Gale Buchanan, USDA under secretary for research, education, and economics:

“Research not only has to be good, but good for something.”

I am confident that K-State Research and Extension is conducting quality research that benefits Kansans. We also are fulfilling the three-part mission of the land-grant university system by bringing research and extension faculty and their research results into the classroom.

To ensure that we continue moving in the right direction, I asked for input from all teaching, research, and extension unit leaders throughout the state. Realizing that we can’t be everything to everyone, we tried to narrow our focus to four main core areas of excellence:

• Food Safety and Security
• Bioeconomy, Bioenergy, and Biomaterials
• Agriculture in the 21st Century
• Science and Technology Youth Development

We have established valuable partnerships around the state, the nation, and the world. With an office in each county, K-State Research and Extension has a unique opportunity to share research-based information related to the environment, families, communities, and production agriculture.

We are truly providing “Knowledge for Life.”

Fred A. Cholick
Dean and Director