How Community Leaders View Extension

This study focuses on finding out how leaders in three small communities view Extension. The results tell us that community leaders see the importance of Extension primarily as it comtributes to the economic development of their communities. This economic orientation is reflected in what the leaders know about Extension programs, their opinions on which programs are most important, and their perceptions of the developmental needs of their communities. The author discusses implications for Extension and outlines some strategies that Extension might use in working with these community leaders.