Brooks Becomes U Of I’s New Extension Director

Randy Brooks takes over as director of University of Idaho Extension and associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Monday September 28th. Brooks succeeds Barbara Petty, who retired August 31st after nearly 30 years with the university.

Brooks has more than 35 years of experience with U of I Extension. He said a case early in his career helped define his commitment to the organization.

I Want To Help People

Brooks said in the 1990s he tested a Burley woman’s well water after she suffered three miscarriages; that water contained nitrates at 10 times the EPA limit for infants and youth. After switching water sources, she recovered and gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

“I figured out, ‘Man, I was put here to help people,’” Brooks said. “That’s what I want to do now. I want to take this passion I have, and I want to start helping our people who work for Extension, and if I’m helping them, they’re changing lives.”

Books says a bachelor’s degree in forest management from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in forest science from Michigan Tech and finished work on his doctoral degree after accepting the job with U of I. Much of his early research in Twin Falls focused on fertility trials involving composted dairy manure, which was cutting-edge science at the time, and fish manure.

A Long Track Record With UI Extension

In May of 1993, Brooks moved to Cassia County, where he accepted an Extension position with a three-year, multicounty water-quality demonstration project. When that funding expired, he accepted an area Extension forestry position based in Clearwater County in May of 1996.

In January of 2011, Brooks took a position based at U of I’s Moscow campus as Extension forestry specialist. In that capacity, he served three years as acting head of the Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences within the College of Natural Resources (CNR), has taught introductory forestry classes for the past 11 years and has led the forestry program.

In his new role as Director, Brooks said he plans to visit Extension offices statewide, listen to employees and focus on removing obstacles to their work. In addition, given the current climate of budget uncertainty, Brooks said he will emphasize documenting Extension’s impact on the state and local communities to demonstrate the importance of its programs to lawmakers, county commissioners and other leaders.

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