On Behalf of JoAnn Powell:
Go Broncos! #BroncoNation
- Americorps
- National Western Stock Show & School Visits Program
- Congratulations
- Best Wishes
- Front Range Vacancies
- Welcome
- Mark Your Calendars
- Training and Engagement Opportunities
- University Square Building
Twenty-three part-time AmeriCorps members are delivering STEM education in out-of-school settings across Colorado; these members add the equivalent of 11.5 educators to our 4-H effort. Interested in expanding STEM opportunities for limited resource youth in your county? Join us February 25 as we begin discussing our grant renewal for the 2016-17 program year.
Date: February 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
URL: https://zoom.us/j/212584141 or
Phone: 1-646-568-7788 or 1-415-762-9988. Use Meeting ID: 212 584 141.
Everyone involved has learned much about selecting members and partners, training, implementing programs, and the ways of AmeriCorps. We have identified several better ways to do business next year. Check out our update and member success stories: www.4hstemk12.colostate.edu/americorps/.
National Western Stock Show & School Visits Program
Thanks to the Front Range 4-H staff who represented Extension at the National Western Stock Show and supported the School Visits Program. This year, the program hosted 8,822 students and 2,540 adults, for a total attendance of 11,362 people. Every Front Range county was represented and this year’s program: Amy McFarland, Julia Hurdelbrink, Erin Post, Kim Sterkel, Robert Franklin, Barbie Garnett, Lisa Sholten, Brenda Kwang, Mary Baldwin, Holli Campbell, Jonathan Vrabec, Kim Jones, Shaylen Flores, Danielle Dubois, Emily Spada, and Kim Morrison.
…to Erik and Megan Blaser, Larimer County 4-H agent, on the birth of their son Arlo John, January 18. The family is doing great.
…to Curtis Utley on his new title: Extension agent, horticulture and food system.
…to Erin Post, Adams County Extension agent – 4-H youth development. She has accepted the CEO position for the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds and Events Center. She begins work there in March; her last day with CSU will be February 29.
El Paso FCS Extension agent. Interviews will be held February 11 & 12 on campus and in the county, respectively. The search committee includes Barbara Bates, Marisa Bunning, Sheila Gains, Todd Marts (El Paso County), Edie McSherry, & JoAnn Powell (chair).
Weld horticulture & ag Extension agent. The search committee has finalized the vacancy announcement and ad plan. The search committee, led by Alison Stoven O’Connor (chair), includes Jennifer Cook, Eric Hammond, Keith Maxey, David Moore (advisory council member), and Natalie Macsalka (community partner).
Larimer County 4-H YD Extension agent. County commissioners approved their 2016 annual budget which included full funding for an additional 4-H YD agent. This position is being advertised with a close date of March 1. The search, led by Keith Maxey (chair) includes Sam Lowry, Ragan Adams, Laurel Kubin, and Pam Harrold (advisory council member).
Boulder County 4-H YD/livestock Extension agent. This position is being advertised with a close date of March 1. The search, led by JoAnn Powell (chair), includes Sam Lowry, Kevin Miller, Kim Morrison, and Rob Alexander (community partner).
Extension associate director of finance. This position is currently being advertised with a closing date of February 18. Search committee members are JoAnn Powell (chair), Jessi Fuentes, Dennis Kaan, Tim Aston, and one other yet to be named.
If you are aware of good candidates for these open positions, encourage them to apply.
Welcome Becca Jablonski! Becca has accepted a 70% time appointment as an Extension food system specialist; this is in addition to her appointment as an assistant professor in the Department of Ag Resource Economics. Two of her primary responsibilities will be to support the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council and provide leadership and support for the Food Systems PRU.
Becca has almost 15 years of experience in food systems-led community economic development, including four years as an agricultural economic development specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Madison County and a year with California Cooperative Extension working on food security projects. At Cornell, she co-led the Small Farm, Local Foods and Local Markets work team and served on the advisory board for the Agricultural Marketing and Community Development work team. At CSU, Becca was specifically looking for a position that combined Extension and research. Becca recognizes her success depends on connecting with you and your communities. Contact her at 970-491-6133 or becca.jablonski@colostate.edu. More information about Becca is available at http://dare.agsci.colostate.edu/people/faculty/becca-jablonski/.
Thank you Adrian, Martha, Dawn, Rusty, Darrin, Marisa, Karen, Eric, Sonjia and everyone else who contributed to the CSUE Food Systems Initiative a couple years back; this is a direct result of your effort. Well done!
Mark Your Calendars
Each region is busy planning their spring meeting. Please mark your calendar for your region’s dates:
- Western Region — April 25 – 27
- Front Range Region — April 26 & 27
- Peaks to Plains Region — May 10 – 12
Training and Engagement Opportunities
The Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference takes place February 17 at the Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel, preceding the 25th annual Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture. The 2nd annual CFVGA conference will provide networking with over 35 exhibitors and over 20 produce buyers plus educational sessions on food safety, labor, water, nutrition and health, veg crop production, CSA best practices, soil health, organic certification, and land access. Over 250 growers, input providers, food system enthusiasts, agricultural professionals, students, and produce buyers will be attending.
For more details and registration go to http://cfvga.org. Registrations received after February 11 (Thursday) cannot be guaranteed a plated lunch.
The University of Florida’s Strategic Plan for Urban Extension Initiative is organized to use an adaptive management approach that promotes flexible, adjustable decision-making in the face of uncertainty as outcomes from the initiatives actions and other events become better understood. A snapshot of plan components, alternatives for action and our early steps in initiation will be discussed during a February 25 webinar at 1:00 p.m. MST.
Register to participate at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2111051702380768257.
This webinar will discuss how a two year planning process resulted in the adoption of the plan and where UF/IFAS is in the implementation phase. This webinar is sponsored by the Western Center for Metropolitan Extension and Research. Recordings of previous webinars can be accessed at: www.youtube.com/channel/UClW9oqkNHeq7zKLV2KTnYXQ
University Square sustained smoke damage a few weeks ago. If you’re visiting campus and sensitive to scents, you may want to consider alternative meeting locations. No one was hurt in the incident. Repairs are ongoing. More information is available at: www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2016/01/30/arsonist-sought-fort-collins-crime-spree/79563844/.
