Beginning May 1, Robert Batt of Albion will be the new executive director of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Although new to the job, Batt is a very well-known face at the Extension’s office on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville.
“I joined 4-H at age eight in Orleans County in the Rabbit Raisers,” Batt says. He was a member of five 4-H clubs and exhibited every animal species judged at the fair with the exception of horses.
“Many of my best learning experiences were a result of participation in the 4-H program, and the skills I learned through the program help in every area of life,” he says. “When I aged out of 4-H, I returned from college during the summer as the summer assistant for three years. After that I continued as a fair volunteer and member of the (fair) committee for ten years. Eventually I started a 4-H club, Outback Orleans, that focuses on conservation, natural resources and shooting sports. I became the 4-H educator three years ago.”
Batt has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. Members of the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors have said they felt Batt stood out from other applicants because of his long-time dedication to Extension programs and his understanding of Orleans County.
He takes over as executive director while Orleans Cooperative Extension is in the midst of a year-long celebration of its centennial. Batt says he will work to make programming and resources offered by Extension better known.
“I would like to continue the high quality programming offered while improving our outreach into new areas of the community. We’d like to make connections with people who might not be involved in Extension programs due to geography, lack of resources, or not being aware of the breadth of programs we offer,” Batt explains.
With his nearly life-long ties to 4-H, Batt says that background will impact his work as executive director.
“4-H’s motto is, ‘to make the best better’,” he says. “I would love to see us do this with some of our programs which are already the best. Master Gardener, our ag education, 4-H, EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program), are all great programs, and if we can look at traditional program delivery and take the good while incorporating new ideas and modern means of delivery, we can make the best better for everything Extension touches and teaches.”
