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.

October 21, 2014

On Behalf of JoAnn Powell:


Greetings all, Hope you are enjoying this great fall weather. The Rams had a terrific win this weekend over Utah State and are getting a few more votes in the national rankings. As a fan who spent over an hour trying to move three miles to reach stadium parking, I can say that if the RAMS are winning, parking will be an issue regardless of where a stadium is located. On another transportation related issue—if you are hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, be aware that the shuttles now run limited hours—got back to the Glacier Gorge trail head at 5:00 p.m. only to learn the last shuttle pick-up was at 4:00. Thank goodness for friendly Coloradoans. Now on to the update…

AmeriCorps

The Serve Colorado AmeriCorps RFP was released last week; our initial response is due October 31. I am working with Claire Dixon and Annette Haas to craft a three page response that describes our proposed 4-H STEM education proposal, the research base supporting our intervention, capacity to implement the program, and counties involved. To date the following counties have expressed interest; the number in parentheses is the FTE requested: Arapahoe (1), Boulder (1), Broomfield (.5), Denver (2), El Paso (1), Jefferson (.5), Larimer (1), Logan (1), Mesa (1), Montezuma and surrounding counties (1), Morgan (1), San Luis Valley (1), San Miguel/West Montrose (.5), Southeast Area (1), Teller (1), Weld (1), and Fort Carson (1).

If your county is interested and not mentioned above or if your FTE count is different, please contact Annette, Claire, or me. We will keep you updated on our progress.

CEAFCS Professional Development Retreat

Family and consumer science agents met with colleagues at the University of Wyoming October 7 and 8 in Laramie; thanks for including me. In addition to the great camaraderie, highlights included:

CEAFCS retreat
  • An update on childhood obesity and insulin resistance from Melissa Bardsley, including a discussion on the use of waist to height ratio vs BMI in assessing obesity and
  • Demonstration of the 3-D body scanner, digital fabric printing and electronic pattern alteration capabilities required of textile and merchandizing graduates in real world apparel design.
  • Tour of the Wyoming Technology Business Center and visit with Nate Story, owner of Bright AgroTech, inventor of the ZipGrow towers. This example is located on the wall of the Altitude Chophouse and Brewery in Laramie.

Forum

Registration is underway. Visit www.ext.colostate.edu/forum/index.html to register before 11:59 a.m. on October 26 to avoid a late fee.

New Engagement Efforts

James Pritchett

James Pritchett has been newly appointed as assistance vice president in the Office of Engagement. For more information on the work he will be doing, see http://source.colostate.edu/pritchett-leads-new-outreach-effort/.

Vacancies

  • El Paso County Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development—Position is being advertised and closes October 28.
  • Denver County Extension Agent, Horticulture—Position under review.
  • Larimer County Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development & FCS—Please join us in welcoming Nicole Wright who accepted the position effective October 1.

Genetically Modified – Joanne Littlefield

As you know, the topic of genetically modified (GM) or engineered crops and foods are getting lots of attention lately (Colorado Proposition 105). Patrick F. Byrne, professor of plant breeding and genetics in the Dept. of Soil & Crop Sciences, is finding that there’s a lot of misinformation and poor understanding of the technology and the issues. Extension has four fact sheets available on various GM topics for those requesting information.


Food Safety

This great article from Food Safety News gives kudos to CSU’s Listeria research, to EFNEP nationwide, and to all the other food safety initiatives that Extension provides to keep the nation’s food system safe.

www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/10/the-role-of-cooperative-extension-in-food-safety/#.VD_MmWB0yM8

Colorado State University chosen as a regional center for Excellence for Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention – Joanne Littlefield

Colorado State University has been chosen as a regional center for Excellence for Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention. The western center will be housed at CSU. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for centers of excellence for research on nutrition education and obesity prevention was announced recently.

“Nearly one in three children today is overweight or obese, and nutrition promotion strategies, including education, public policies, health systems, and environmental changes, are the key to reversing this trend,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, Ph.D., National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) director. “These grants provide the opportunity to improve the health of our next generation and ensure that all children have access to the tools they need to improve their nutrition and physical fitness.”

“This joint grant program is one of the most important and powerful tools at our disposal to promote healthier choices and improved physical health among participants in our nutrition assistance programs,” said Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Audrey Rowe. “I am thrilled that we have been able to launch this partnership to drive innovation and increase our impact in preventing and reducing obesity.”

Together, FNS and NIFA will support effective education and extension services through two preexisting programs; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). This joint effort, known as the SNAP & EFNEP: Regional Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Centers of Excellence (RNECE) will establish centers at Colorado State University, Cornell University, Purdue University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and one national coordinating center at the University of Kentucky.

Susan S. Baker, Dept. of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Associate Professor/Extension Specialist with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) is part of the team providing oversight of the center.

For more information visit www.nifa.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2014news/10171_reg_ctrs_ex_nutr_obes_prev.html

Congratulations

…to Jessica Haas and Charly Clifford, married July 13.

…to Kathy Wolfe and Wally Johnson, married September 20. The couple will reside in Trophy Club, Texas.

…to Shauna Woods and Perry Bingham, married on September 27. The couple will reside in Santa Rosa, California.

Jessica Haas, Kathy Wolfe and Shauna Woods

Specialists' Introductions

Dr. Tamla Blunt

Meet CSU Extension Specialist
Dr. Tamla Blunt

Title: Research Associate III
College: Agricultural Sciences
Department: Bio-agricultural Sciences and Pest Management
% Extension Time: 39%
Years with CSU: 15
Extension/Outreach Involvement: Director of the CSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic; Great Plains Diagnostic Network Support; Diagnostic education to Green Industry and Colorado Master Gardener Volunteers
Research Area: Fungicide Trials for Control of Snow Mold on Turf; Suppression of NRS Using Compost Tea
Teaching Responsibilities: Laboratory support and preparation for BSPM361
Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, Reading, Bicycling
Contact Information: C129 Plant Sciences, 1177 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1177, 970-491-6950, tamla.blunt@colostate.edu

 

Noa Roman-Muniz

Meet CSU Extension Specialist
Noa Roman-Muniz

Title: Associate Professor
College: Agricultural Sciences
Department: Animal Sciences
% Extension Time: 50%
Years with CSU: 6 (in my current position 2008- present), a total of 13 (including VTH Internship 2001-02, Masters 2002-04, Post Doc 2004-08)
Extension/Outreach Involvement: Training workshops for dairy workers; educational programs for the dairy industry in Colorado, as well as High Plains and Western regions; outreach activities for middle school students on dairy production and milk choices; presentations on diversity and the role of Latinos in agriculture.
Research Area: Dairy management, animal health and wellbeing, dairy worker training, health and safety, dairy beef quality
Teaching Responsibilities: ANEQ 473, ANEQ/VS 313, as well as many guest lectures
Hobbies/Interests: Travel, reading, movies, growing orchids
Contact Information: 13 Animal Sciences, 1171 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1171, 970-491-6022, noa.roman-muniz@colostate.edu

Updated