Strategic Plan
Virginia Cooperative Extension Strategic Plan: 2025-2035
Since 1914, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) has connected the research knowledge of Virginia’s land-grant universities — Virginia Tech and Virginia State University — with the needs of communities across the commonwealth. With 107 offices, one in every county and in many cities, VCE delivers solutions in agriculture, natural resources, health, youth development, and community vitality.
This 10-year strategic plan provides a forward-looking roadmap for VCE to expand its impact, build organizational strength, and respond to the evolving needs of Virginians.
Executive Summary
Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) enters its second century of service with a renewed commitment to advancing the well-being of all Virginians through research-based education, community engagement, and innovation. This 2025–2035 Strategic Plan outlines a 10-year vision to strengthen VCE’s role as a trusted, science-driven partner while ensuring responsiveness to the evolving needs of the commonwealth.
This plan illustrates seven core initiatives where VCE will focus its programmatic work:
- Agricultural Production and Innovation
- Agriculture, Farm, and Forestry Business Management
- Small Farms and Local Food Systems
- Health and Well-being
- Community Development and Resilience
- Natural Resources, Forestry, and Environment
- Positive Youth Development
These initiatives connect the expertise of Virginia’s land-grant universities with pressing community needs, ensuring that VCE delivers solutions that are practical, broadly relevant, and future oriented.
This plan also identifies four strategic priorities:
- Fostering Organizational Excellence
Building a high-performing, adaptable, and welcoming organization that attracts and retains top talent while delivering measurable impact. - Elevating Organizational Distinction
Strengthening VCE’s identity, visibility, and alignment as a unified system serving every community in Virginia. - Education and Service Excellence
Delivering research-based, innovative, and impactful education and services that empower individuals, families, industries, and communities. - Investing in Collaborative Relationships
Expanding and deepening partnerships with local governments, universities, industries, volunteers, and communities to extend reach and maximize impact.
Acknowledgements
VCE would like to extend a special thank you to the following friends, partners, and community voices for their time and effort in the strategic planning process:
- Sandra Burks
Program Director, Integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia, UVA Health - Joe Guthrie
Commissioner Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Dean Lynch
Executive Director, Virginia Association of Counties - Edwin Martinez
Director, Natural Resource Conservation Service - Laura Thomas
President Board of Director, Southeast Sustainability Directors Network - Cyril Clarke
Provost, Virginia Tech - Shelley Barlow
President Board of Directors, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Gene Copenhaver
President-Elect, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association - Katie Frazier
Marketing and External Affairs Officer for Farm Credit of the Virginias - Heidi Hertz
Principal, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies Alumni - Martha Moore
Senior Vice President Governmental Relations, Virginia Farm Bureau - Lesley Moseley
VP Association Management, Alliance Group Ltd. - Robert Saunders
Saunders Brothers Inc - Robert Farrell
Director and State Forester, Department of Forestry - William Hazel
CEO, Claude Moore Opportunities - Robert Mills
Vice President, Virginia Farm Bureau, Owner Briarview Farm - Cliff Williamson
Agriculture Industry Consultant and Advocate - Alan Grant
Dean of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (retired), Virginia Tech - Mario Ferruzzi
Dean of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (current), Virginia Tech