On behalf of Bill Nobles: 

• Peaks & Plains Regional Meeting
• Complete your online Conflict of Interest Disclosure
• State Classified Benefits Open Enrollment
• CSU Peaks and Plains Extension Retirement and Updates
• Peaks and Plains Region Position Review and Hires
• Master Food Safety Advisor Certification
• WEBINAR: Industrial Hemp IPM
• CEAFCS Professional Development Retreat

Peaks & Plains Regional Meeting:

Our Peaks & Plains Regional Meeting was a success, which was held on April 16-17 in Alamosa.  Marvin Reynolds, Mary Ellen Fleming, and Amy Henschen graciously hosted our meeting and made sure that the tours where excellent. I also want to thank all the presenters for the great programs they shared.

As in the past, we presented the Awards of Excellence. The winners from each category will receive $500. The award winners were:

• Outstanding Educator/Communicator:  Scott Stinnett
• Early Adopter/Program Innovator:  Marlena Griesse
• Volunteer Manager: No applicants
• Community/Partner Engager:  Abby Weber and Carl Beeman
• Diversity Promoter:  Norman Dalsted

Thank You all for applying! Congratulations to these award winners!

Complete your online Conflict of Interest Disclosure

It’s time for all CSU Administrative Professional employees to complete an annual COI disclosure (State Classified and County staff may disregard this). To start your annual disclosure from a computer off campus go to: https://secure.colostate.edu/dana/home/launch.cgi?url=https%3A%2F%2Faar.is.colostate.edu For more information see https://www.research.colostate.edu/ricro/coi/
Please complete your online disclosure ASAP. If you run into any issues or have questions feel free to contact Yvonne Bridgeman for help.

State Classified Benefits Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment for State Classified employees is April 23-May 13, 2019. For more information see the attached document or visit https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/2019oe

CSU Peaks and Plains Extension Retirement and Updates:

Congratulations to Christy on her retirement. Christy Fitzpatrick began her 4-H Youth Development career in Aroostook County, Maine in October 1997.  Prior to this, she taught in a variety of classrooms.  During her time with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, she served as 4-H Youth Development Agent, county coordinator, and provided statewide leadership to the 4-H Program and the Science, Engineering and Technology team.  In June 2010, she began with CSU Extension as the Northeast Region 4-H Youth Development/STEM specialist.  During her tenure there, she designed and delivered STEM programs throughout NE Colorado.  She also connected youth with area professionals to encourage and support interest in STEM careers.  In February 2014, she moved to Chaffee County where she has served as the 4-H Youth Development & Family and Consumer Agent until her retirement in May 2019. She introduced STEM projects for 4-H members, including a robotics program with youth participating in area and statewide competitions.  She helped develop numerous relationships with area non-profits and school programs.  She also mentored an AmeriCorps members and several extension agents.  Her biggest success was in creating an effective Youth/Adult shared partnership through her leadership development of the Chaffee County 4-H Council over the past 5 years.  Please join the Chaffee County 4-H Council and Chaffee Extension staff at her retirement celebration on Friday, May 17 from 4:00 to 6:00 at the Poncha Town Hall (330 Burnett Ave, Poncha Springs).  The invitation is attached.

Amy Henschen has accepted the 4-H Leadership position in El Paso County and her last day in the San Luis Valley will be May 31. SLV Extension will be hosting a Farewell Celebration, Tuesday, May 21 from 5-7 pm at the Extension office in Monte Vista. I am sure they will miss her in the San Luis Valley.

Peaks and Plains Region Position Review and Hires

• The Family & Consumer Sciences agent in Morgan County interviews are scheduled for May 28 and 29.
• The Area Extension Agent, Family & Consumer Science & 4-H Youth Development, Golden Plains Area, Kit Carson County position is under review.
• Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Pueblo County, Pueblo, CO is under review.
• Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development/ FCS Chaffee County is under review.
• Jennifer Adams has accepted the position of Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development in Park County. She will be working with Barbie Garnett.
• Lacy Taylor has accepted the position as the Southeast Area Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development & Agriculture Business Management, Livestock/Range, Cheyenne County.
• Tearle Lessenden has accepted the Southeast Area Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development/Agriculture/Natural Resources in Kiowa County, Eads position.

Master Food Safety Advisor Certification

Please Contact Edie McSherry; there are still a few openings for the Master Food Safety Advisor Certification training coming up on May 13 – 16 in Gunnison.  Our goal is to train Extension staff around the state so that they can extend our reach to the public by providing up-to-date, research-based food safety and safe food preservation information.

This training is offered for FCS agents, program assistants and support staff.  In some counties without FCS educators, support staff who have an interest in food preservation are being trained so that they can answer questions that come in to the office, test pressure gauges and assist with food preservation department at county fair.  We also have some 4-H agents and program assistants taking this training.

Do not miss this opportunity to have MFSA trained staff in your county!   Flyer is attached.

WEBINAR: Industrial Hemp IPM

On behalf of Meredith Shrader and Whitney Cranshaw, webinar info is provided below. For anyone interested in the subject I will be doing a webinar on insect pest management issues associated with hemp on May 16.  Details follow:

Thursday, May 16, 2019, at 1:00 pm
Whitney Cranshaw, Professor and Extension Specialist, Colorado State University

Industrial hemp in the current era is being grown over a much broader geographic area, and for so many different purposes than it was when last grown in significant acreage in the United States. One of the many challenges has been to identify and develop approaches for pest management on the crop. During the past three years, a great deal has been learned about the kinds of insects and mites that are associated with hemp, including several species that can have significant potential to cause crop injury. This webinar will be a discussion of the present status of the insect and mite pest management issues associated with this “new” crop.

TO REGISTER: http://neipmc.org/go/djhF

CEAFCS Professional Development Retreat

Attached you will find the agenda for the upcoming CEAFCS professional development retreat.  We are looking forward to getting together, sharing, and celebrating.  We have many new agents, so I think it will be a great time to get to know them and to help them be acquainted with programming and our professional organizations.  It has been a few years since we have been able to put together a retreat, so I know we are all looking forward to it.