Faces of Extension : A Conversation with Brian Aukema

I grew up on a small dairy farm outside Binghamton and spent most of my youth in 4-H. A seventh-grade career trip sparked my goal to attend Cornell and work in Extension—a dream reinforced by mentors like Ben Wood and Narola Rosenberg. I studied ag business at SUNY Morrisville and animal science at Cornell. Interning with Tom Dumas and Ann LaFave made Extension feel like home.

After three years in Extension, I tried classroom teaching for a year but realized I preferred non-formal education. I returned to Broome County CCE, and added vocational education coursework at SUNY Oswego, which resulted in earning my master's degree in vocational education.

I served in many roles, eventually becoming Ag Program Lead and Assistant Director. During the 2008 budget cuts, I began leading the Master Gardener and horticulture program, managing a 5-acre botanical garden and 100 volunteers. I focused on building a clear leadership structure and stabilizing finances before helping hire a dedicated horticulture educator.

I also co-founded Ag in the Classroom with former CCE Broome County Executive Director Vicki Giarratano (now CCE’s assistant Director for agriculture and food systems) and Beth Roberts who currently serves as the CCE Broome County Executive Director, growing it into the largest program of its kind in New York. About four years ago, with encouragement from current Beth Roberts and Cornell colleagues, I accepted my current state specialist position.

I oversee statewide responsibilities within the Department of Animal Science for 4-H Youth Development Programs, providing leadership for 4-H animal science livestock (beef, sheep, swine, poultry and llama) and companion animal (dog, cat, rabbit and other pets) programming.

I also work with the Cornell Pro Livestock team to provide undergraduate opportunities in the Livestock industry such as advising the Cornell Block and Bridle club and undergraduate livestock educational trips which have included trips to Colorado and Texas.

It’s rewarding to see former 4-H members join these experiences as Cornell undergraduates and beyond.

We started the Animal and Agriculture Leadership Program and the New York State Livestock Ambassador Program to show youth the breadth of animal science beyond owning a farm. In the Animal and Agricultural Leadership program we partner with Cornell and SUNY schools—including Alfred, Cobleskill and Morrisville—to highlight diverse pathways and opportunities for careers in Animal Science.

The NYS Livestock Ambassador Program focuses on career opportunities specifically in livestock production. The programs emphasize hands-on learning, from breaking down a carcass at a slaughter facility to exploring the wool supply chain at Battenkill Fiber. Upcoming sessions include visits to feed mills, on-farm nutrition work with a nutritionist, and the largest sheep producer in New York. We want to reveal vet and non-vet pathways to address the workforce gap in agriculture.

During a Livestock Ambassador session, a pre-vet high school senior was assigned to perform a castration on a boar piglet. The student was terrified, but with coaching, she did it. That moment flipped a switch. She realized she could handle the realities of veterinary work and left more confident in her path. Those "aha" moments are why we create these experiences for youth who may be generations removed from farming.

The change has been dramatic. When I started, three or four of us shared one computer. Now, drones enable targeted spraying—in fact, my son is training as a drone pilot—and ultrasound lets us evaluate carcass traits on live animals. It has also changed our delivery, people Google answers at night instead of calling in the morning. Our role now is to be the provider of trusted, high-quality information in a sea of data. We are also able to reach youth in a different capacity such as the Livestock Summit where I host a 5-week online program for youth across the state to learn about nutrition, breeding, marketing, and more in a virtual setting. These are opportunities that weren’t there when I started.