Representatives from the Champaign County OSU Extension office were guest speakers at the weekly meeting of the Urbana Lions Club, highlighting educational programs and resources available to the community. Two audio files were recorded from the presentation, as additional comments were provided later by Ambria Small.
Melinda Ryan
Educator, 4-H Youth Development
Ryan discussed her work helping youth develop essential life skills. She highlighted Real Money. Real World., a hands-on financial literacy program that teaches students budgeting, responsible spending, and money management through classroom instruction and a realistic spending simulation. She also discussed workforce development initiatives aimed at preparing youth for careers and life after high school.
Ambria Small
Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR)
Small focuses on supporting local growers, producers, and the agricultural community. Her expertise includes plant pathology, nematology, and emerging agricultural technologies, including the use of drones. She discussed plant disease diagnosis, management strategies, and educational support for maintaining plant health.
Ryan and Small each spoke about their programs and what they can provide for the local community.
Champaign County OSU Extension delivers research-based education through three main program areas:
Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)
Programs designed to improve quality of life for individuals and families, including:
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Successful co-parenting programs
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Aging and caregiver support
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Stress management and mindfulness education
Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR)
Services supporting farmers and producers, including:
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Pesticide certification training
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Agronomy school
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Farm succession and legacy planning workshops
4-H Youth Development
Hands-on programs that help youth build lifelong skills, featuring:
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More than 200 project areas, including animals, STEM, leadership, and creative arts
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Real Money. Real World. financial literacy program
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Workforce development and career readiness initiatives
