Utah State University Extension to Name New Directors
Agricultural operators in Utah will see new leadership manage university extension programs beginning November 1.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in People
Utah State University Extension will appoint JayDee Gunnell as executive director of its Agriculture and Natural Resources Department on Nov. 1. Jenna Dyckman will also assume the role of Cache County Extension director on the same date.
Why it matters
These leadership changes at the state's primary agricultural extension organization signal a shift in management for programs supporting local producers and Master Gardeners. Operators should note these new points of contact for regional extension guidance and training resources.
JayDee Gunnell brings 21 years of professional experience to the director position, having previously trained more than 1,000 Master Gardener volunteers. These appointments follow a national search conducted by the university.
The players
JayDee Gunnell
An Extension horticulture professor and incoming executive director with over two decades of professional experience in state agricultural systems.
Jenna Dyckman
An Extension associate professor transitioning to the role of Cache County Extension director.
Utah State University Extension
The statewide outreach organization that provides agricultural, natural resources, and community programming to residents and businesses.
The details
The transition follows a national search process to fill executive leadership vacancies within the Utah State University Extension network. Gunnell, who currently leads the Cache County office, moves into the department-wide role after prior service in Davis and Salt Lake counties. Dyckman will transition from her position as an associate professor in the Home and Community Department to manage local county operations.
Timeline
Nov. 1, 2026: Gunnell and Dyckman officially assume their new professional roles.
Market Landscape
These leadership changes occur within the established framework of the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, which governs the administration of national agricultural extension services. The move signals a continuity of state-level management for the university's regional outreach programs.
Business operators engaged in agriculture or horticulture should update their contact records for the Cache County Extension office and the state-level department. Reach out to the new leadership after Nov. 1 to identify how these transitions might influence existing training programs or technical support.
The takeaway
Operators should view these leadership changes as an opportunity to reassess the technical support and training resources available for their business needs. Monitor university communications for any shift in Extension priorities that could affect the scheduling or curriculum of future gardening and agricultural programs.
Further reading
For more on state-level leadership shifts, visit People.
