ISU Extension External Relations

Increasing visibility and generating support for Iowa State University and ISU Extension are the primary goals of the External Relations Unit. We are connectors - linking people, linking resources - who build and sustain relationships with key audiences. We often assume a behind the scenes role, yet are easily accessible to all staff.

Our website gives you easy access to organizational and relationship marketing materials, information and templates to help you promote ISU Extension. We hope you find this site useful, and we welcome your comments and suggestions. ER website feedback

New from External Relations

Cy available for public events

Don't forget Extension's very own Cy is available for rent to enhance your public events this summer. Farmer's markets, open houses, county fairs, parades and youth events make great venues to increase ISUE's visibility. Reservations are available on a first-come first-served basis. Costs range from $200-250 depending on if we provide someone to wear the costume or you do. Contact Natasha Forsythe, natashaf@iastate.edu, 515.294.7033 today to reserve Cy for your event!

Telling the Extension Story

	SW Iowa beef producers retain ownership, add value through feedlot A cooperative cattle feeding venture in Adams County has resulted in more retained ownership of locally grown calves, more cattle feeding in the area, and more profits to producers.
	Money for Life brings financial tools to young families Good spending and saving habits are important tools to have, particularly during tough economic times. Eleven Guthrie County families recently learned how using a financial calendar can help improve their money management decisions.

Read more of our impact statements to learn about other ways Extension serves Iowa families, businesses and communities.

Red Bar Templates

Looking for red bar templates? You can find them on the templates page.

ER Quick Tip

HOW Do You Communicate Impact?
At a recent Nonprofit Advocacy Workshop, the following questions were posed:

On WHOM do we depend?
HOW should we be communicating our message to them?
And WHY is it important?

We should ask and answer these questions with each new program or initiative. For now, let’s focus on the HOW. How do we currently communicate the impact of ISU Extension? And how else might we share the behavioral, social or economic impacts happening throughout Iowa?

We have a printed document template available, but what about enhancing the delivery with video or audio testimonials? ER Specialists now have access to Flip video cameras or audio recorders that could help bring these impacts to life.

Could these testimonials then be linked to your county web pages and allow visitors to really “Get Inside Extension”?
Could they be played before or after meetings to demonstrate the diversity of Extension?
Would partner organizations find benefit in sharing the clips with their stakeholders?

We all know time is precious – here’s an option that can work for us in a number of ways. Get in touch with your External Relations Specialist for assistance in making your impacts known!

Visual Identity Guidelines and Resources

This new visual identity manual covers branding topics ranging from wordmark and red bar use to building signs, promotional items, templates and more. Print out a copy and keep handy for office reference.

Download the .pdf file (1.3 MB)

Online version

Visual Identity Manual

Managing Tough Times Tool Kit

This tool kit includes templates, expert lists, talking points, and links to other resources for staff use in promoting the Managing Tough Times initiative.

Managing Tough Times

2007 Extension Connections with Iowa Economic Development