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.

May 13, 2014

On Behalf of JoAnn Powell:


I am looking for spring. If any of you have found it, please share. There has been a lot going on in the organization these past few weeks, take a look…

Board of Governors

Susan Baker giving presentation to Board of Governors

Susan Baker provided an EFNEP and SNAP-Ed overview for the CSU Board of Governors (BOG) at their regularly scheduled meeting on campus on Thursday, May 8. It provided a good opportunity for the BOG to see another aspect of Extension; and learn more about our partnership with SNAP and the college, and efforts to serve low-income families across the state. The board also dined on a menu of SNAP-Ed favorites prepared by the Aspen Grille including chicken vegetable stir-fry, mango salsa with baked crackers, and pumpkin bread. Arapahoe County SNAP-Ed educators Nancy Silva and Marilyn Whatley were featured in a video that showcased the power of the SNAP-Ed program and the ability of our educators to make a difference. To view the video, go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5r8iC2jJks.

President’s Ag Advisory Council

Extension Agents

The Ag Advisory Council met May 7 in Denver and focused their attention on the proposed National Western Stock Show redevelopment. Council members were brought up to speed on the project and then brainstormed around the concepts of outreach, jobs, business development, employment, community development, research and trials, international relationships, and tourism and entertainment connected to the site. Partners in the project include: CSU, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, History CO, the City and County of Denver, and the National Western Association. Extension was represented by Rusty Collins, Jennifer Cook, Thad Gourd and JoAnn Powell.

Congratulations to the Native Plant Master Team!

The NPM program was selected as the 2014 Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA) Award of Excellence winner. The WEDA Awards of Excellence is to recognize Extension outreach education programming that has achieved outstanding accomplishments, results, and impacts in addressing contemporary issues in one or more of the 13 Western states and territories. Colorado Native Plant education team members: Jennifer Ackerfield, Alexi Alvey, George Beck, Sharon Bokan, Rusty Collins, Christine Crouse, Karen Crumbaker, Barbara Fahey, Yvette Henson, Ton Hooten, Joe Julian, Brian Kailey, Merrill Kingsbury, Linda Langelo, Casey Matney, Linda McMulkin, Susan Panjabi, Jeff Pieper, Mark Platten, Irene Shonle, Roberta Tolan, Lisa Vernon, Steve Wallner, and Robin Young.

From Nancy Banman

I wanted to let you know, that I have handed in my resignation effective Jan. 1, 2015. Stan and I will be moving to Bluffton, Ohio where I can fulfill my professional goal of serving as the director of a social work program. To this end I have accepted the position of the Social Work Chair & Program Director at Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio. This is a BSW program and there is a desire to develop a collaborative MSW program with an emphasis on peace. My decision not only fulfills a professional goal it also takes me back to my Mennonite roots, my academic roots in small liberal arts colleges, and my deep roots in small rural communities. Over the next 7 months, I’ll continue my CSU Extension work, my responsibilities as CLOE Dir. and I will be teaching several courses. Thus, I will be fully engaged here at CSU. I’ll look forward to seeing you working together between now and the end of December.

Integrated and Multi-state Reporting – Judy Barth

Under Federal regulations, all State Extension programs receiving Smith-Lever funds (our Federal funds), must be able to document that at least 25% of that federal funding goes to support integrated efforts, and 25% of that funding goes to support multi-state efforts (funds can be counted in BOTH categories so this does not mean that 50% of our funds have to go toward these two efforts). This is why we ask Extension folks to report their integrated and multi-state efforts in CPRS.

This past year, reporting against these categories fell significantly from previous years. We were barely able to document the necessary expenditures based on the amount of time spent on these two efforts. In the future, if we are not able to document expenditures equaling 25% for each type of effort, the difference in expenditures vs. the 25% allocation must be returned to the USDA. Obviously, we would not want to return Federal funds to USDA, so it is important that we track our integrated and multi-state efforts.

To help you with your estimates for 2014:

  • Examples of integrated efforts might include (but are certainly not limited to):
    • crop trials that are reported through field days or Extension factsheets, newsletters or newspaper articles,
    • joint on-farm research conducted by Extension and research personnel
    • results of research efforts being delivered to Extension clientele
    • use of research (directly or indirectly) to inform education being provided to clientele
  • Examples of multi-state efforts might include (but are certainly not limited to):
    • research or publishing efforts with colleagues located in another state
    • joint program planning/delivery across state lines
    • development and delivery of programs to a multi-state audience (at professional association meeting)
    • coordination of multi-state events and activities

Searches

  • El Paso County 4-H agent. This position is currently being advertised and will close on May 30. Search committee members are Barbara Bates, Jean Glowacki, Kim Morrison, Todd Marts (El Paso County Recreation / Cultural Services Manager), and JoAnn Powell (search chair).
  • Larimer County 4-H agent. The position announcement is currently under development. Search committee members are Jean Glowacki, Laurel Kubin, Julia Hurdelbrink, Pam Harrold (Larimer County Advisory Council), and Kevin Miller (search chair).
  • Office of Community and Economic Development–Project Manager. This position is currently being advertised at jobs.colostate.edu and will close on June 2. Search committee members are Kathay Rennels, Geniphyr Ponce-Pore, Mike Macklin, and JoAnn Powell (search chair).
  • North Central Nutrition Programs Supervisor. Interviews are scheduled for May 21 and 22. Candidates are Elizabeth Donovan, Erica Iverson, Brittney Stuard, Tracy Gary, and Jane Burnett.

Upcoming Webinars

  • Urban Agriculture and the Local Food Movement. CSU Alumni Association is offering a webinar on the local food and urban agriculture movement in Denver on May 15, 2014. In this webinar, Rusty Collins will provide an overview of the different elements of the Denver food system and will explore urban agriculture as a niche for small scale vegetable production. To register, visit https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=rm5i5umgrujn.
  • Agriculture in India. Join Jennifer Cook on May 22 at 12:00 p.m. in this webinar to explore agriculture in India. Jennifer recently traveled to India with a small CSU delegation. In this webinar, you will learn about India’s climate and farming practices; see photos and hear about agricultural research, small-scale equipment, crops, and Extension programs in India. We will also discuss environmental challenges, culture, and collaborative opportunities. No registration required; go to http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/colosam/ to connect. Please join five minutes before the webinar begins.

Updated