Glenn announces upcoming retirement from MSU Ext.
Dave Glenn has dedicated himself as the director of the Presque Isle County MSU Extension office for the past 10 years, and during Tuesday evening?s Presque Isle County Board meeting, Glenn announced his upcoming retirement, which will be effective July 1.
?I?M READY to take some time off, and perhaps relocate back down to Ingham County,? said Glenn. ?I spent a good amount of time there ? from 1975 to 1997 ? working in the East Lansing area. I worked on the Michigan State University campus for 15 years in plant breeding and genetics before moving up here.? Glenn said he also is interested in doing some consulting work regarding community economic development, related to agriculture and alternate energies.
?I?m looking into a couple different options for the future,? said Glenn. ?For now?I have lots of programs going here (MSU Extension), and it?s just a matter of continuing those, and eventually transitioning a new person in.? Glenn said working at the MSU Extension office has been a collaborative effort in making positive things happen in Presque Isle County. ?It?s all about the team effort, and we have a fantastic team,? said Glenn. ?Everyone works together. In our work, we have always attempted to include the community?in order to create leadership.? Glenn has made some recommendations to the county board on how to handle his absence, switching some roles around in order to open up two possible positions within the MSU Extension.
THE COUNTY Extension Director (CED) position, which is Glenn?s current title, would continue to be a position paid for through MSU. Although the position has dealt with agricultural issues in the past, Glenn suggested the CED switch primarily to working for children, youth, and family ? a position that had been previously covered by the Family and Consumer Science Educator; however, that position has been va
?This is an ultimate position for the county to consider,? said Glenn. ?PIC needs this kind of support. We are the number one agricultural county in the upper Michigan region ? that is a huge issue with our economic drive.? An agricultural agent would deal with such areas as soil testing, plot work, and working with home and landowners. Glenn said he also has conducted classes for people interested in starting an agriculturally based business.
?I?ve taught people how to put a business plan together, and how to write grants,? said Glenn. ?The classes are geared toward agriculture, but I always open the classes up to anyone who is just starting out ? business is business.?