What Programs and Workshops Does ISU Extension and Outreach Currently Offer?

Updated

ISU Extension and Outreach currently lists featured programs including the Iowa Donation Garden Network (with 2027 community garden registration), a Drone Workshop preparing participants for FAA Part 107 certification, and a Local Food Leader 101 Workshop on Dec. 10–11. These appear on the extension.iastate.edu homepage news feed, which is the best place to confirm dates and registration status before planning to attend.

Featured Programs on the Homepage

The site's news section highlights current and upcoming offerings. Based on the published items:

Program What it involves Timing noted on site
Iowa Donation Garden Network Statewide initiative connecting and empowering garden organizers through expert-led education, shared resources, and collaborative programming; accepting 2027 registration for community gardens Published Oct. 20, 2026
Drone Workshop Prepares participants for Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 certification Published Oct. 19, 2026
Local Food Leader 101 Workshop Workshop offered by ISU Extension and Outreach Dec. 10–11 (published Oct. 19, 2026)

Also listed: Iowa 4-H staff excellence recognition (Oct. 15, 2026) and grants to five Iowa communities for rural housing needs (Oct. 15, 2026). These are news items rather than open workshops, but they show the range of active programming areas.

Program Areas Behind the Offerings

The homepage organizes work into four broad areas, which helps you judge whether a given workshop fits your goals:

  • 4-H Youth Development — youth programs and volunteer roles
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources — including the drone and local food workshops above
  • Community and Economic Development — including community garden and rural housing initiatives
  • Health and Human Sciences

How to Find and Confirm Upcoming Programs

  1. Start at the homepage news feed (extension.iastate.edu). Featured items and publication dates show what is current; each item links to details.
  2. Use the Courses entry in the main navigation to browse structured learning offerings rather than news announcements.
  3. Check the County Office Locator to find programs run through the 100 county extension offices, since local workshops may not appear in the statewide feed.
  4. Use Ask an Expert if a program's eligibility, cost, or registration steps are unclear from the page.
  5. Verify dates before committing. The site lists publication dates, not always event dates — confirm the actual workshop date and registration deadline on the linked page.

Common Pitfalls

  • Mistaking news dates for event dates. A post published Oct. 19, 2026 may describe a workshop happening later; check the linked page.
  • Assuming statewide availability. Many programs are delivered through county offices, so confirm your county is participating.
  • Missing registration windows. The garden network, for example, is accepting 2027 registration — an early window that closes before the program year.

For anything not listed on the homepage, the Courses section and county offices are the reliable next stops.