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.  

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.