The county extension committee shall, annually, plan a program of county extension work in cooperation with the Minnesota Extension Service of the University of Minnesota and the United States Department of Agriculture. To run the program, the county extension committee, acting with the director of extension, or the director’s designee, shall recommend for employment suitable and qualified persons to be known as extension agents. The extension agents must be employed according to university personnel procedures and must be university employees. The extension agents shall provide educational programs and services to enhance the quality and productivity of county extension work.