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 17, 2014

On Behalf of JoAnn Powell:


Welcome to 2014! With the new year come new opportunities. In the next few months each of us will be looking at programming and opportunities to take our county/area/state programs, communities, and constituents in the direction they want or need to go. Is 2014 the year to direct your programs to a new audience; to consider new ways to deliver information and education, to work with a new partner or address an emerging need? Is it the year to be more selective in amount or type of programming you say yes to? The new year is an opportunity to rethink some of those aspects we love most about Extension—making our work about our communities, creating a place for our passion, and making a difference in the lives of others. Now is also the time to think about your professional and personal goals for the year. Are they in sync? Do they provide the opportunity to find or move closer to a balanced life? If 2013 left you feeling thrilled with your work—great. If the year left you with questions about your programming, how you work with volunteers or staff, the value of certain partnerships, or work life balance—now is the time—as you set performance goals, plan your programs, think about professional development and talk over 2013 with your supervisor to consider and make those changes that need to be made. Here is wishing each of you the best in the new year.

National Western Stock Show

National Western proudly hosts more than 20,000 students, teachers and parents each year through our organized School Visits Program. Educating our children about agriculture is a part of the National Western Stock Show's mission. 4-H agents across the Front Range assist the stock show with the school visits yearly.

2014 Professional Development Opportunities

If you have not yet requested professional development funds for this fiscal, I would encourage you to use the state’s money to participate in a conference or training of your choice. Click here for guidelines.

  • Colorado Passion for Food. The Passion for Food conference will focus on the art of food, from backyard vegetables to cheese making. This event offers great educational opportunities for urban and backyard growers, as well as small acreage landowners. The program will include presentations on Dairy Goats, Bee Keeping, Organic Insect Management, Bread Making, Weed Management, Growing Your Own Salad Year Round, and Garden Soil Basics. The program features keynote speaker, Reagan Waskom, discussing Colorado’s Water Overview. To be held Saturday, February 15 at the McKee 4‐H Building; The Ranch in Loveland.
  • The Western Rural Development Center is excited to present the Community Development Extension Institute in Boise, designed for practitioners in not-for-profit organizations, private consulting firms, cooperative extension, and state, regional, and local governments throughout the western U.S. who have a community development component to their work. The Institute offers two days of training, best practices, three keynote sessions, a resource fair, and networking opportunities. To be held February 26-28 at the Grove Hotel–Downtown Boise. Registration is now open here. Early bird registration is $199, and expires January 25. The regular rate is $275.

Personnel and Searches

Congratulations to Jonathan Vrabec who has accepted the Arapahoe County 4-H/Youth Development position. Jonathan will begin his new assignment February 1. The El Paso County 4-H position is being reviewed.

Boulder County Extension Agent – Horticulture. This position will close February 7 at noon. The agent is responsible for programming and information for commercial and home horticulture interests. A completed bachelor’s degree is required; a masters is preferred. At least one degree must be in horticulture or a closely related field. JoAnn Powell is chairing the search committee.

Douglas County Extension Agent – Horticulture. The position closes on February 12 at noon. The agent will provide information and non-credit horticulture education for youth and adult audiences and for-profit and non-profit enterprises in Douglas County. Approximately 40% of this person’s time will be spent on Master Gardener and Native Plant Master Administration, 30% on teaching non-credit to adults and youth, 20% on writing for county and state publications, and 10% on diagnostics and consumer inquiries. A completed master’s degree is required; one degree must be in horticulture or a closely related field. Thaddeus Gourd is chairing the search committee.

Extension Director – Budgets and Finance (Wes Scharf’s prior position). Position closes February 14 at noon. This will be a search internal to Colorado State University System. The director will provide oversight to and management of the Extension fiscal office including supervision of staff and will report jointly to the V. P. of Engagement/Director of Extension (Lou) and the Chief Fiscal Officer for Engagement (Wes). The search committee is led by Ruth Willson.

If you know of someone who should apply for any one of these positions, please share the information and link. It is also appropriate to share these positions with your networks and listservs. Click here for announcements and application guidelines.

Extension Calendar – Lori Bates

There is a new look to the Extension calendar on our website.

The Extension calendar is now managed through Google Calendar. There is a link at the top of the page to submit events. When you submit events online, they are sent to me and I will approve the event before it appears on the calendar. Please submit any meetings, conferences, or conference calls that are important for Extension staff to be aware of. Also submit classes/workshops for our clientele to attend!

Fact Sheet Updates – Joanne Littlefield

Fact sheets are updated and new fact sheets are being developed on a regular basis. Click here to find the latest updates. Click here to learn more about the fact sheet process. Contact me for any questions or concerns.

County/Area Directors Meeting

Information about the details of the upcoming County/Area Directors meeting is online and scheduled for February 4-5 in Golden at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

Forum 2014 – Judy Barth

To be held the week of November 10. Based on the results of the online survey (Evaluation of the 2013 Forum and Planning for 2014 Forum), the 2014 Forum will be held the week of November 10-14. Please mark your calendars now. For your information—104 individuals responded to the survey question regarding next year’s Forum. Of those 104, 43% chose the week of November 10, 36% chose the week of October 13, and 21% chose the week of September 22. So…while there was no ‘majority’, the week of November 10 was chosen by the most number of people.

2014 County/Area Directors’ Meeting

To be held February 4 and 5 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Primarily for county directors or those aspiring to a director or administrative role. The agenda on the first day includes but is not limited to an update on PLT, PRUs, and Reporting; Legal and Fair Board Issues; Insights from the Office of the General Counsel; and a discussion with Lou. Urban and Rural Programming from the FCS, 4-H, and Beginning Farmer perspectives will also be explored. On the last day, topics include Helping Supervisors be Super Heroes!; The Sustainable You (work/life balance from an ecological perspective); an emergency response panel; and discussions on diversity and the information you share with your county commissioners.

Click here to register through January 21.

Dates and Events

  • Director’s Advisory Council will meet February 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
  • Program Leadership Team will meet February 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in room 228 at the Lory Student Center.

Specialists’ Introductions

Jim Klett

Meet CSU Extension Specialist
Jim Klett

Title: Professor
College: Agricultural Sciences
Department: Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
% Extension Time: 54%
Years with CSU: 33
Extension/Outreach Involvement: Extension Landscape Horticulturist. Work with the Colorado Green Industry especially the nursery, garden center, arboriculture and landscape contractor industries. Also some Advanced Master Gardener training.
Research Area: Landscape Horticulture especially woody plant and herbaceous plant evaluation and introduction; nursery crop production and weed control; with herbaceous and woody plant container production.
Teaching Responsibilities: Teach Landscape Plants (woody plant ID and culture and care) herbaceous Plants (annuals and perennials), Nursery Production and Management and Urban Forestry (this course is team taught).
Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, antiques especially pottery
Contact Information: 219 Shepardson, 1173 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1173, 970-491-7179 jim.klett@colostate.edu

 

Michael Martin

Meet CSU Extension Specialist
Michael Martin

Title: Assistant Professor
College: Agricultural Sciences
Department: Agricultural and Resource Economics
% Extension Time: 10%
Years with CSU: 0
Extension/Outreach Involvement: Agricultural Literacy and School-based Agricultural Education
Research Area: Agricultural Literacy
Teaching Responsibilities: Agricultural Literacy
Hobbies/Interests: History
Contact Information: B333 C Clark, 1172 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1172 970-491-6949 michael.j.martin@colostate.edu

Updated