Extension Council

The elected Extension Council is the governing body for the Cooperative Extension System. As part of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the Polk County Extension Council works in partnership with local citizens, Iowa State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to carry the land-grant mission beyond the Iowa State University campus in Ames. The Polk County Extension Council are elected by the voters of Polk County and serve four year terms.

The County Agricultural Extension District Council is made up of nine members elected at large from the county. The Extension Council governs Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach in Polk County. The council assumes responsibility for extension programs in the county, which includes establishing a budget, levying a tax, authorizing payment of expenses, and employing the ISU Extension and Outreach Polk County staff.  

 

 

How do you become an Extension Council Member?

As a qualified voter in the Polk County Extension district, you are eligible to be a candidate for county extension council.
To qualify as a candidate, you will need to submit candidate petition papers to the Polk County auditor’s office. Find forms, dates and deadlines on the Iowa Secretary of State General Website

More Information

If you would like to learn more about the Polk County Extension Council and how you can be part of it please contact Paul Gibbins at pgibbins@iastate.edu or 515-957-5777.

Council Members

(Number) is the year the term expires

  • Kasey Peters
    (2023)
    Chair
    West Des Moines, IA
  • Dennis Goering
    (2023)
    Vice Chair
    Polk City, IA
  • Emma Runde
    (2023)
    Secretary
    Des Moines, IA
  • Rich Degner
    (2023)
    Treasurer
    Ankeny, IA
  • Deb Brewer-Cotlar
    (2024)
    Des Moines, IA
  • Rich Degner
    (2026)
    Ankeny, IA
  • Dennis Goering
    (2026)
    Polk City, IA
  • Joe Gonzalez
    (2024)
    Des Moines, IA
  • Julie McGonegle
    (2024)
    Urbandale, IA
  • Kasey Peters
    (2024)
    West Des Moines, IA
  • Emma Runde
    (2026)
    Des Moines, IA
  • Denise Veldhuizen
    (2026)
    Runnells, IA
  • Bart Weldon
    (2026)
    Maxwell, IA

Learn More

You can make change happen in our community. Get more information on becoming an Extension Council member on this page.

Read through our Guide to Success.