About the Extension Early Career Conference
The inaugural Extension Early Career Conference in October 2023 reestablished in-person onboarding training for N.C. Cooperative Extension county employees after a long hiatus due to Covid-19. While the first conference included employees hired during a three-year span, future Early Career Conferences will be designed for employees within the first six months of employment. Each Early Career Conference will consist of primarily general onboarding topics relevant to all new N.C. Cooperative Extension employees. There will also be an opportunity during each conference to meet with staff and specialists from the different program areas. For questions about Early Career Conference or other onboarding topics, please contact Eleanor Baker, Extension Org Development Program Associate.
Fall 2026 Extension Early Career Conference Details
Who: All new county-based Extension employees, hired since June 1, 2026
What: General Extension onboarding and in-person networking with peers, specialists, and administration
When: Tuesday, November 17 through Thursday, November 19, 2026
Where: Raleigh, NC (NC State University's Plant Sciences Building)
Lodging: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Raleigh West - Lenovo Center
Cost: Participants will be responsible for travel expenses to and from the conference (mileage, meals in travel status). Hotel lodging and most conference meals will be covered by Extension Org Development.
Registration: New employees will be notified when the Fall 2026 registration form opens. For now, please save these dates on your calendar!
Photos from past conferences
Registration table at the 2023 Early Career Conference. The inaugural conference theme was "Ignite Your Career."
A breakout session from the 2023 Early Career Conference. New 4-H agents and PAs hear about volunteer management from 4-H specialist, Dr. Daniel Collins.
A group of 2023 Early Career Conference participants went out to play mini golf during a free evening. Dr. Bonanno, Director of NC State Extension, joined them!
Attendees enjoyed a variety of campus tours during the 2023 Early Career Conference, including a visit to NC State's JC Raulston Arboretum.
