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 29, 2014

On Behalf of the State Extension Administration Office Update


Distinguished Alumni Awards

The deadline for nominations is Monday, April 14, 2014, and nominations are accepted at any time before that date. Nomination information including past recipients, award descriptions and nomination guidelines/forms may be found on the Alumni Association website at http://www.alumni.colostate.edu/Events/DistinguishedAlumniAwards/tabid/103/Default.aspx.

Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA) Awards of Excellence - Jan Carroll

WEDA has announced the 2014 competition for Awards of Excellence. Lou can submit two nominations from Colorado. There is also an opportunity for a multistate award nomination, in addition to our two Colorado applications.

An extension program is a group or series of presentations, workshops, functions, demonstrations or other events and activities that form a comprehensive outreach education curriculum, methodology or process that facilitates learning in volunteer audiences over time through the adoption and application of new knowledge and skills.

The application is limited to three pages or less, and it is due to PLT (c/o Jan) by February 28.

The application materials are attached. We hope to have two strong nominations entered into the competition. Knowing our excellent Colorado programs, that should simply be a matter of completing the application. Please contact Jan (970-491-6102) with any questions.

Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Invitation - Jan Carroll

I am organizing CSU Extension’s participation in the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) conference, April 6 – 9, in Washington, DC. PILD is eligible for professional development funds. Take a look at the website for more information. http://www.jcep.org/pild-conference/2014-pild-registration. If you’ve always thought you would like to go to PILD, why not 2014?

We will coordinate and schedule visits on the hill (Wednesday). The hotel is a Westin, close to the metro so if you fly into Reagan you can easily get there.

Please let me know right away if you can go. You may want to go early to take a tour, and you will want to book a late afternoon flight on Wednesday, because of the Congressional visits. The early bird registration is open now, and closes March 7.

Participation at PILD is a memorable professional development experience, as the conference includes speakers, break-out sessions, visits with National Program Leaders, dinners “on the town,” and time with Colorado lawmakers and/or their staffers. Please be in touch with any questions, and let me know if you can join us.

Smith Lever 100 Year Celebration: Artwork – Joanne Littlefield

On May 8, 1914, the Smith-Lever Act was signed, which provided a funding mechanism for Extension nationwide. You can learn more about the national celebration/initiative at www.extension100years.net. Because the centennial of Extension in Colorado was celebrated in 2013, with opening of county office in 1913, we have adopted our 100 year art to include the Smith Lever centennial tag line. Click here to download those logos.

We are in the process of developing PowerPoint templates (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/logos/ppt.html -scroll to the bottom of the page) for your use, which can be customized with local text for public and web presentations. These can also be printed as flyers or poster size for public display.

Country music singing star Reba McEntire congratulated Extension’s 100 years on YouTube recently. See it here: http://bit.ly/19X12W3. However before you forward this/post it to your local outlets, please note that I will be receiving the video file soon so that we can add our local branding.

Please let me know if there are other materials that would be useful for you to promote this centennial. I’ll keep you posted in upcoming updates about new materials as they are developed.

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.


Specialists’ Introductions

Jim Klett

Meet CSU Extension Specialist
Howard Schwartz

Title: Professor
College: Agricultural Sciences
Department: Bio-agricultural Sciences and Pest Management
% Extension Time: 44%
Years with CSU: 32
Extension/Outreach Involvement: Co-leader of the Pest Management Work Team, assist Department Head with extension specialists and activities; responsibilities state wide for disease management of commercial vegetable crops including onion and dry bean
Research Area: Disease resistance in dry bean in collaboration with CSU Breeding Program; biology and disease management of bean and onion pathogens and their diseases
Teaching Responsibilities: None, I do give guest lectures to classes in BSPM and SCS upon request; I train 1-2 graduate students annually in plant pathology
Hobbies/Interests: Photography, hiking, travel
We will include your photo Candidate photo attached; Schwartz with 2 graduate students (photo by Thad Gourd)
Contact Information: C205 Plant Sciences, 1177 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1144, 970-491-6987 howard.schwartz@colostate.edu

 

Robert Davidson

Meet CSU Extension Specialist
Robert Davidson

Title: Professor
College: Agricultural Sciences
Department: San Luis Valley Research Center – Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
% Extension Time: 43%
Years with CSU: 31
Extension/Outreach Involvement: Primarily working with the potato program to further new cultivars and educate clientele on best management practices for production of potatoes. In charge of the Southern Rocky Mt. Ag Conference held in Monte Vista, CO in February of each year. Also, routinely conduct workshops on various aspects of potato production and hold tours for various groups at the San Luis Valley Research Center.
Research Area: Potato pathology – work with primary disease problems found in Colorado and in particular the San Luis Valley. Emphasis has been placed on strategies to manage and minimize several important disease issues.
Teaching Responsibilities: None
Hobbies/Interests: Any outdoor activities plus photography and cooking.
Contact Information: 0249 East Road 9 N., Center, CO 81125-9643, 719-754-3496 Ext 15 robert.davidson@colostate.edu

Updated