Celebrating community, connection and opportunity

Join us on October 19-23, 2026, for Kansas State University's annual Extension and Engagement Week! Through learning, leading and engaging, we are fulfilling our mission as the land-grant university — tackling the world's most pressing challenges and doing meaningful good in Kansas and the world.

Events schedule

Signature partner events

How Has Community Shaped Your Work? Stories and Conversations Inspired by Callings

Monday, October 19
3-4:00 p.m.
Muir Room (224), K-State Student Union

What happens when community becomes more than a place where we work—it becomes a source of learning, growth, and purpose?

Inspired by K-State's First Book, Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work, this interactive conversation explores how meaningful work is often shaped through relationships, partnership, and community. K-State colleagues will share stories of how working alongside communities influenced their careers, leadership, and sense of purpose. Together, participants will reflect on the experiences that prepare us to build authentic partnerships and create lasting impact.

Registration is encouraged but not required

Engaging in Community Engaged Teaching & Research

Tuesday, Oct. 20
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Zoom information will be shared closer to the event.

Community partnerships and applied learning are central to several of K-State’s Strategic Imperatives. Join the New Faculty Institute and Office of External Engagement to learn how you can connect your teaching and research with communities, build meaningful partnerships, and access resources to support engaged work at K-State.

Extension Annual Conference

Wednesday, October 21
All day
K-State Student Union

Watch a livestream of the Keynote.

K-State faculty and staff are invited to join Extension professionals for a day focused on connection, learning, and partnership. This free conference will feature university updates, a keynote centered on this year's theme, Relentlessly Relevant, and interactive sessions exploring how K-State can work across disciplines and communities to address emerging opportunities and challenges.

The day provides an opportunity for university and Extension colleagues to build relationships, exchange ideas, and identify new opportunities to work together in service to Kansas communities.

View the full agenda (eID required)

Registration required. K-State faculty and staff should select "Non-Extension Employee" during registration.

See conference agenda and register.

Keynote Speaker: Ben Steffen

8:30-9:30 a.m.

Forum Hall, K-State Student Union
Additional details to come!

Relentlessly Relevant: From Opportunity to Impact

10:00-Noon

Grand Ballroom, K-State Student Union
Explore how K-State teams are organizing and working across disciplines to tackle complex challenges. Through real examples, these sessions will highlight different structures, partnerships, and processes that help move ideas into action and sustain impact.

Concurrent Professional Development Sessions

1:15-4:30 p.m.

K-State Student Union
Choose from concurrent sessions offered at 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., focused on practical skills and approaches for strengthening partnerships, communicating impact, storytelling, and demonstrating the value of K-State’s work.

Partnerships by Design: Aligning Purpose, Capacity and Impact
Location: Big 12 Room
More Than a Program: Turning Extension Work into a Story Legislators Remember
Location: Wildcat Chamber
Working with Legislators: Communicating K-State’s Value
Location: Flint Hills Room
Session 4 (TBD) - Cottonwood Room

See the full agenda

Posters, Pinot and Partnerships

Thursday, October 22
4:00-6:00 p.m.
Cottonwood Room, K-State Student Union

The Office of the Vice President for Research invites you to the next Posters, Pinot and Partnerships, featuring a Community Health and Well-Being theme.

In partnership with Engaged Scholarship and held during Extension and Engagement Week, this event will bring together faculty, researchers, students and community partners to explore shared interests, discover potential research connections and spark collaborations that resonate both on campus and in communities.

Learn more about Posters, Pinot and Partnerships