Personnel with programmatic Extension responsibilities in the Department of Animal Sciences are responsible for fulfilling the missions of OSU Extension and the Department, that is, to help people improve their lives through an educational process using scientific knowledge focused on identified issues and needs pertaining to animals and their commercial production.  Two of the four program areas in OSU Extension (Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Youth Development) are the focal attention of these personnel. The primary audiences are citizens of Ohio and industries and agencies that either provide goods and services for commercial animal production or are engaged in activities relating to the processing and distribution of animal products. Program strength is especially sought in food products, beef, dairy, equine, poultry, sheep, and swine, but ancillary programs may be conducted with other species. Youth programs are designed on the premise of teaching the practices necessary for producing quality food and developing life skills.