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4 <br /> Preamble <br /> North Carolina State Extension (NC State Extension) was established as a part of the College of <br /> Agriculture and Life Sciences of North Carolina State University (NCSU) by federal and state legislation <br /> for the specific purpose of "extending" the educational services of the University to the people of the <br /> state, on subjects related to agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H <br /> youth development, and community and rural development. The laws creating the Cooperative <br /> Extension Service were specifically designed to assure that the findings of research in these areas are <br /> communicated to the people of the State. <br /> Under the Federal Appropriations Act of 1972, funds were provided to the 1862 land-grant universities <br /> (including NCSU) to enhance the extension outreach of the 1890 universities, which included North <br /> Carolina A & T State University (NCA&T). The Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 further stipulated that <br /> these funds be appropriated directly to the 1890 institutions, and formalized the North Carolina <br /> Cooperative Extension Program as an official part of the School of Agriculture and Environmental <br /> Sciences at NCA&T. <br /> North Carolina Cooperative Extension (Cooperative Extension) provides the opportunity for North <br /> Carolina State Extension and North Carolina A & T Extension to work together to better serve the <br /> people of the State through the delivery of locally relevant programs, education and expertise. <br /> The legislation further provided for a cooperative relationship among three levels of government — <br /> federal, state, and county — to ensure that the needs of all three levels are addressed. The primary <br /> purpose of Cooperative Extension is to provide the people of North Carolina with the most current and <br /> relevant unbiased research-based information — particularly that which is related to strengthening the <br /> economy through profitable, sustainable and safe food, forest and green industry systems; protecting <br /> the environment and natural resources; and empowering youth and families to lead healthier lives and <br /> become community leaders. These purposes are furthered by Cooperative Extension employees who <br /> are charged with carrying out the extension education programs of the universities and the U.S. <br /> Department of Agriculture. <br /> Cooperative Extension has sufficient flexibility to permit attention to the special problems, needs, and <br /> interests of the citizens and leadership in each county. Therefore, the programmatic, personnel, and <br /> funding complement reflects the unique needs of each county. County Advisory Councils are consulted <br /> on a regular basis to assist in prioritizing the county educational program content. Program clientele or <br /> recipients of services include individuals, families, communities, municipalities, agricultural and seafood <br /> processing and marketing firms, other businesses and certain organizations. These services are <br /> delivered to adults and youth in both urban and rural settings. <br /> To assure that educational programs offered by Cooperative Extension meet the needs of the local <br /> clientele, it is important that both elected and appointed decision makers at each level of government <br /> understand their respective responsibilities and relationships in conducting and funding this work. To <br /> this end, this Memorandum of Agreement will detail the individual relationships and mutually agreed- <br /> upon responsibilities of NCSU and each county or tribal community that signs this Memorandum of <br /> Agreement. <br /> JN0040380.11 2 <br />