About the MAEA

The mission of MAEA is to serve as the professional association of Michigan State University Extension staff serving the people of Michigan in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and related areas.

Officers and Directors

Committees

Membership Information

Membership in this association is open to all Michigan State University Extension staff that are employed as professionals on a county, district, or state basis.

Courtesy Membership: Newly hired professional field staff are automatically given a free year’s membership into MAEA.

MAEA provides to its members:

  • Professional Improvement
  • Recognition of Programming Excellence
  • Leadership Development
  • Professional Advocacy

Members of other MSU Extension Professional Associations may become members of the MAEA providing they are in good standing in their respective association.

Associate membership (non-voting) of MAEA is available to administrative staff including Campus Administration, Institute Directors, and District Directors, and/or part time professional staff of Michigan State University Extension.

Michigan Association of Extension Agents (MAEA) is the Michigan affiliate of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA), which represents extension professionals across the country. Every year NACAA sponsors an Annual Meeting. We recommend that members try to attend as many NACAA events as possible. For more information check the NACAA website.

MAEA is one of four associations representing extension professionals at Michigan State University. The Michigan Council of Extension Associations (MCEA) is the association formed by these four organizations.

Thoughts on the MAEA

What is our association really about? Explaining it to new Extension staff is a challenge and an opportunity, and I needed to crystallize it in my own mind. Therefore, I thought about what we do, what we are and what we talk about, then boiled it down to this statement of what MAEA is about:

“Working together with increasing excellence in our Extension efforts, so that Michigan agriculture will achieve even greater success.”

As an association of members, working together is the way that we will improve and the way that we will make a difference. We are stronger together. You each bring different perspectives, experience and strengths to the table. We need each other.

Increasing excellence in our Extension work should be our objective. Excellence is not perfection; rather it is the pursuit of increased effectiveness, higher standards and greater reach. We get there by having a teachable spirit, seeking and accepting counsel from each other and not being complacent.

We do our work for a purpose: to promote the greater success of MI agriculture. What a privilege to work with an industry that is growing, that provides food, fuel and fiber needed throughout the world and that is made up of great families and businesses. We want to see them succeed. As they succeed, Michigan succeeds. Thanks for your work to that end!

I am glad to be associated with such a great group of colleagues! Let’s continue to make MAEA and MSU Extension even better!