After nearly 100 years, Extension has achieved a great deal. However, shrinking budgets from our traditional funders require us to think of new ways to address the needs of tomorrow and target programs that demonstrate impact and outcomes today. The field specialist model enables Extension to better address specific critical issues, leverage talent and resources, and develop collaborative partnerships that foster non-traditional funding opportunities while complementing the work of the county-based educator. The field specialist position may very well be the driving force in the 21st century Extension model.

Staffing, funding, and sustaining collaborative economic development organizations that provide the full range of programming require resources and cooperation. Extension-led economic development organizations, because they are tied to university resources grounded in research and education and without local jurisdictional bias, can build public trust and cooperative partnerships that help to broaden funding support for economic development programming.

Access to clean, abundant, reliable domestic energy sources continues to be a primary national concern. Vast natural resources and open spaces position rural communities across the U.S. to play a central role in future energy development. Issues related to energy development are often emotionally charged, with the potential for conflict. Extension must embrace the conflict and react to the needs of our clientele by providing information to inform decisions and strengthen communities. Looking forward to the next 100 years, it is time for Extension to adapt and mobilize research and educational programming to address critical energy issues facing our nation.

While energy costs, home size, and home age in Ohio fall into an average range for the United States as a whole, homes in Ohio are well below the average price, making homeowners particularly cost sensitive when considering investments on energy savings features. In addition, Ohio is the seventh largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the nation, suggesting that reducing energy use can have an outsized environmental impact. These not only pose a tremendous challenge but also an urgency to home energy conservation in Ohio. This study examines residential consumers' understanding of and attitudes toward various energy efficiency measures (EEMs) and renewable energy systems (RESs) through a questionnaire survey with a sample size of 519 Ohio homeowners. The survey results not only revealed Ohio homeowners' knowledge gap but also identified barriers to implementing these improvements. The findings can assist in developing high-quality, well-tailored education and outreach programs to help homeowners make informed energy saving decisions. They can also help guide local policy decisions and the development of effective initiatives or incentive programs. This study suggests that it is imperative to fill the knowledge gap among homeowners, educate them about reasonable expectations on return on investment, and increase their awareness of non-energy benefits that could be achieved through home energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.

New energy policy, industry regulation, and market investment are influencing the development of renewable energy technologies, setting the stage for rural America to provide the energy of tomorrow. This article describes how Extension's renewable energy programming was implemented in two Ohio communities to engage elected officials and residents in learning applied aspects of renewable energy development. Through outreach and education, Extension can assist communities in making informed decisions about renewable energy projects. Reflecting on the impacts from renewable energy programming delivered in Ohio, the authors recommend that Extension systems across the country engage communities in renewable energy education.