ISU Extension selects Regional offices, directors

Sac City will be Regional office for this area

AMES - Iowa State University Extension has selected office locations for the 20 Regional Extension Education Directors. ISU Extension has also entered into memorandums of understanding with county extension councils that will provide office space and support staff for the directors.

Region 6, which includes Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cherokee, Ida, Sac and Pocahontas counties, will have its regional office in the Sac County Extension Office, 620 Park Avenue, Sac City, Iowa; (712) 662-7131.

Jack Payne, vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach, issued the following statement in naming the Region 6 Education Director:

"We are happy to announce Jerry Chizek has accepted the regional extension education director position for Region 6 and will begin his duties on Aug. 1," said Payne. "We are excited by the enthusiasm he brings to this position as we begin to direct programming to Iowans in new ways."

Chizek comes to the regional position having served most recently as an ISU Extension education director in Calhoun County. He received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in agricultural education from Iowa State University.

As a regional director, Chizek will work with county staff and councils, and ISU Extension staff to reach beyond county borders and plan programming in Region 6 around common priority issues.

The regional director position was created by the ISU Extension restructuring plan as a way to facilitate an issue-based approach to delivering ISU Extension programming and resources.

Chizek will work directly with the county extension council members to meet their legal obligations as an elected body. He will work with councils and extension program specialists to identify new ways to work across county borders and provide educational programming that addresses issues of most significance, and evaluate the results of multi-county and regional efforts. He can be reached at the telephone number listed above, or at jwchizek@iastate.edu

Chizek and the other 19 Regional Directors will officially begin their new duties on August 1.

Other Northwest Iowa office locations:

Region 1 includes Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola and Sioux counties, and Regional Extension Education Director Cheryl Heronemus will have her office in the O'Brien County Extension Office, 340 2nd Street SE, Primghar, Iowa; (712) 957-5045. Heronemus can be reached by email at hero@iastate.edu.

Region 5 includes Monona, Plymouth and Woodbury counties, and Regional Extension Education Director Sherry McGill will have her office in the Woodbury County Extension Office, 4301 Sergeant Road, #213, Sioux City, Iowa; (712) 276-2157. McGill can be reached by email at mcgills@iastate.edu.