Extension Updates

To assure that all of you are kept up to date on a regular basis, the three regional directors and the state Extension Administration Office provides bi-weekly Extension Updates. This forum is for all Extension announcements, so if you have something to distribute, please forward it to Lori Bates with FOR EXTENSION UPDATE noted.

January 15, 2013

On Behalf of JoAnn Powell:


Greetings All,

On January 23, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate Bob Hamblen’s 30 year career and accomplishments as an ag agent in Larimer County and most recently as director of the Boulder County office. The documents displayed and the stories told demonstrated the positive effect that an engaged individual, over time, can have on their community and how that engagement shapes and defines Extension for the community. How appropriate that the CSU student newspaper chose that same day to highlight Extension. The article speaks to our mission and history, our engagement with people and communities across Colorado, and our commitment to helping them find answers to their questions and solutions to their issues. The article also speaks to our relevancy — partnering with our county partners, producers, families, and youth on priority issues. The full article is available at: www.collegian.com/2013/01/23/csu-extension-program-connects-citizens-with-university-research.

New Regional Alignment

The updated regional map is available at: www.ext.colostate.edu/staffres/coloradoregions.jpg. It has a new color scheme and branding thanks to JoAnne Littlefield and Darrin Goodman. Bill and I are exchanging files and visiting those counties new to our regions.

Programming – Individual Plans to Invest – from Joy Bauder

The majority of work team plans of work are posted and ready for you to use in creating your 2013 plan(s) to invest. Individual plans to invest are due into the system by February 15. Plans of work not yet posted include: ag and business management, community development, food safety education, environmental horticulture, and water. Joy will update the system when these plans are ready. If your work team made significant changes to its plan of work, it is strongly suggested that you “archive” your 2012 plan to invest and start a new plan from the “create a new plan to invest” option. For some teams, the plans to invest have already been archived. Before you choose to simply roll over your plan to invest from last year, it is highly recommended that you check with your work team leader to ensure it will work with the new and improved work team plan of work. Further instructions on archive vs. rolling over are available at: www.ext.colostate.edu/cprs/planning.pdf.

Remember all “Resources for Planning and Reporting” can be found at: www.ext.colostate.edu/cprs/.

Welcome to the Program Leadership Team

Welcome to our three new members — Karen Crumbaker (ag and NR, Front Range Region), Karen Massey (FCS, Western Region) and Mary Small (horticulture, FR). These individuals will be representing the clean and renewable energy, family and consumer sciences, and natural resources and the environment program areas, respectively. They join Kim Dillivan (community engagement, WR), Janice Dixon (4-H youth development, Peaks & Plains Region), and Wilma Trujillo (competitive and sustainable agriculture, P&P), all of whom will continue serving on PLT. This doubles the amount of field input and ensures that all program areas and regions of the state are involved in setting direction and making decisions. The next PLT meeting is February 7.

Director’s Advisory Council – New Members

Claire Dixon (FR 4-H STEM specialist), Bruce Bosley (ag and NR agent, P&P) and Karen Massey (FCS, county director, WR) are joining the Director’s Advisory Council. They join Tommy Covington, Eric McPhail, and Laurel Kubin as field representatives. The next meeting for this group is February 8.

Front Range Searches

Boulder County Director: Interviews are scheduled for February 4 and 5.

Weld County 4-H: The search did not yield a viable pool. The position will be re-advertised shortly. If you are aware of potential candidates, encourage them to apply.

Upcoming Events for You and Your Clientele

Golden Plains Area Drought Summit. Tuesdays February 12 – March 19. Workshops will be available live, online via Adobe Connect, and recorded for later viewing. More information is available at: http://goldenplains.colostate.edu/agri/agri-drought.html.

Ag Big and Small. February 13 and 14 at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Features sessions from farmers, ag professionals, and scientists. For commercial crops and livestock producers engaged in direct market and/or wholesale; and organic, biological, or low input production systems. Includes: specialty crops producers (vegetable, fruit, flowers, herbs, etc.); market farmers (farmers market, community supported ag, produce stands, etc.; niche livestock producers and urban farmers (farmers market, neighborhood supported ag, SPIN farming, etc.). For more details and registration: www.coloradoagriculturebigandsmall.com.

Webinar on Engaged Advisory Committees. This webinar is part of the Strengthening Extension Advisory Leaders (SEAL) program, a multi-state collaborative for sharing curricula and resources for supporting Extension advisory leaders. This 30 minute webinar is February 11 at 10:30 a.m. MT. More information is available at: https://learn.extension.org/events/762. The webinar does not require pre-registration but it would be helpful if interested individuals click on the link to “Follow this event” so that they receive an email reminder for the event.

Front Range Fruit Growing Symposium. February 23 and 24. The program will be held at Silver Creek High School, 4901 Nelson Road in Longmont. Go to www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/fruit.pdf for more information.

Native Plant Master® program announces 2013 offerings. Plan now to get out this spring and take an award-winning Native Plant Master® course or special class taught by one of our experts. For a complete list, or to register, go to http://npm.eventbrite.com.

  • Native Plant Landscaping – March 12
  • Basic Botany Class – March 26, class is offered again on April 25
  • Plant Families and Keying Class – April 2
  • Introduction to Invasive Weeds and Management – April 4
  • Invasive Weed Management for Experienced Land Owners – April 30

Reminders

  • New Staff Orientation – February 4-7, Campus
  • Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture – February 14, Denver
  • 4-H’s Winter Muster – February 19-21, Snow Mountain Ranch

Updated