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Kim Brantner, Human Sciences Specialist in Family Life, is retiring on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, with over 35 years with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Brantner began her Extension career in 1983 as a part time Eating Trim instructor. Brantner’s career in serving Iowa families as Adams County Extension Home Economist and 8-county consumer management home economist started in 1984. She began serving Union County as Extension Home Economist and continued with Adams County. Beginning in 1990, Kim worked first as Union County Extension Director and then Taylor County Extension Education Director for 17 years. She moved into her final Extension position as Family Life Specialist in 2009.
Kim was able to bring the perspective from experience in various positions to her work. She is a master at collaborating with community, county, multi-county and state partners. Kim secured and administered over $3.4 million in grants and contracts. Few have had the opportunity to experience networking and collaborating with councils, stakeholders, volunteers and staff from so many different roles in ISU Extension and Outreach.
Brantner has worked in low resource rural counties with passion, enthusiasm and devotion.
The list of Human Sciences and Youth programming attributed to Kim fills pages. Two programs are noteworthy of special mention. Kim and colleague, Joy Rouse, provided state leadership for the Family Storyteller Program during its 10-year run as the family literacy program. Kim was a part of the team that developed a multi-county Growing Strong Families home visitation program in Southwest Iowa 20 years ago. She provided leadership for the program receiving the State of Iowa Family support Credential in 2012 and 2017.
Brantner gave her time and talents to further the Extension organization and human sciences. She attended and presented at national conferences as well as having served as state president for both ESP and NEAFCS.
Her efforts were noted with many awards through the years and just this fall Kim received the ISU Award for Distinguished Service in Extension. Kim exemplifies what it means to be an Extension Educator always focused on Empowering People. Growing Lives.
A celebration is scheduled on 2 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 3 at the Union County Extension Office, 500 East Taylor, Suite A, in Creston. Join the celebration in thanking Brantner for her service and wishing her well as she begins the next part of her life journey.