The leaders of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County have a plan that they hope will put them back in the good graces of county legislators. | The Extension has been working with a committee of farmers, business people, and county legislators to refine its future mission and to find areas for improvement. The committee has made some recommendations - currently being implemented - which Extension board President Judy Bender presented to the Legislature's Ways and Means committee last month. | The Extension has been struggling since county legislators voted in 2006 to cut its funding and to direct that money to a new agriculture and life sciences program at MCC. Critics say the Extension has strayed too far from its agricultural roots. | Finding a new executive director with a background in agriculture is chief among the committee's recommendations. Also recommended: creating a horticultural team that includes the resources of neighboring counties, bolstering the 4H program by hiring a youth program leader and program director, and increasing private funding. | The county budget will serve as the ultimate test of the changes and whether they're enough to satisfy legislators.