MSU Extension listening session in Musselshell County cites need for greater visibility and specialist access

An extension agent for MSU Extension told the meeting that a listening session held the previous night produced “some good feedback” and two clear priorities: improving MSU visibility and increasing access to specialists for small communities.

The agent said attendees asked for more visible engagement from Montana State University (MSU) across extension, research and campus units and requested easier routes to technical specialists such as specialized grant writers and AI or rural‑planning trainers. “First one was just MSU visibility and engagement across the board … the other main pillar we identified was accessibility to specialists for small communities,” the agent said.

Staff described problems with broken links on the MSU site and an aging local office page that many residents rely on instead of social media. The extension agent said the group plans to “piggy back” campus links to improve access and had forwarded the listening‑session findings to MSU for possible inclusion in the university’s strategic planning.

Local organizers also discussed outreach tactics such as staffing a booth at the Stock Growers event to raise visibility among producers and legislators.

Next steps: the extension staff will pursue fixes to the website and follow up with MSU about integrating the session’s recommendations into planning; no formal actions or funding commitments were recorded at the meeting.