- Author: Jodi Azulai
UC ANR Learning & Development
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Extension Methods & Delivery
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USDA Investments in Conservation and Climate-Resilience in New England: Assessing the impact and advocating for the future (Virtual, Food Solutions New England)
Feb. 9 | 8 a.m. PT | Registration
Telling Our Story: Enhancing our Extension Story through Social Media strategy Targeting Diverse Audiences (Virtual, Extension Foundation)
Feb. 8 | 11 a.m.-Noon | Registration
Join speaker Doralicia Garay, our UC ANR social media strategist!
2024 Conference - National Extension Technology Community (NETC)
May 13–16, 2024
Submit a proposal
This year, the Extension Foundation is responsible for creating an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Track for the conference. We are seeking speakers who want to present on AI-related topics. This may include practical tools and implementations and more technical experience around AI topics. Please submit your talk here: https://cvent.me/PKPlNE The submission deadline is February 18. Submitters will be notified of their proposal status during the week of March 1 (NLT 15 March).
is the authorized organizational representative for all extramurally sponsored projects at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. Find the analyst assigned to your County/Program.
Government Relations
Engaging government officials and community stakeholders is a critical tool that helps builds awareness and support for your work and that of the University as a whole. For more information read here.
Public & Media Relations
UC ANR has subject matter experts to help you with media and other public relations. Be sure to contact them for support. Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
Building Accessible Experience - Free (Virtual, Deque)
Feb. 22 | 6-11 a.m. PT | Registration
Discussing Equity Needs in Cooperative Extension (Virtual, Extension Foundation)
Feb. 22 | 11 a.m.-Noon PT | Registration
Building Sustainability for Salir Adelante Caminos a Nuestro Futuro (Virtual, Extension Foundation)
Feb. 26 | 11 a.m.-Noon PT | Registration
How to Align Your Time with Your Priorities (Virtual NCFDD)
Feb. 8 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT | Register
ANR Business Operations Center Quarterly WebANR "Our Two Cents"
Feb. 15 | Noon-12:30 p.m.
Need to make a purchase using state, federal, gift, or contract & grant funds? Meet with us and learn the simplest way to do so! Speakers: Su-Lin Shum and Tracy Roman.
Zoom webinar: https://ucanr.zoom.us/j/751701428?pwd=Q1ZrbUtoQVJwMXJVRkQydUlwNytJQT09
Password: 4Learning | +1 669 900 6833 | Webinar ID: 751 701 428
Peer Reviewing as "Reflexive Mentorship"(Virtual, NCFDD)
Feb. 20 | 11 a.m.-Noon PT Register
Spring 2024 14-Day Writing Challenge (Virtual, NCFDD)
Feb. 25 | (log in any time of day throughout the two-week period to track your writing) Register
Conflict Competence: Listening to be Heard (Virtual for Staff and Faculty)
Feb. 7 | 9-11 a.m. | Add to my calendar
Conflict Competence for Staff (Virtual for Staff and Faculty)
Feb. 15 | 9 a.m.-Noon | Add to my calendar
Conflict Competence: From Bystander to Upstander (Virtual for Staff and Faculty)
March 5 | 9-11 a.m. | Add to my calendar
Conflict Competence: Creative Problem Solving in the Workplace (Virtual for Staff and Faculty)
March 21 | Noon-1 p.m. | Add to my calendar
Build a Powerful Resume (UC Davis)
Feb. 8 | 10 a.m. | Registration
Workshop: Transferrable Skills: Applying to Jobs You Haven't Done Yet
Feb. 13 | 2-3 p.m. | Registration
Workshop: Write a Winning Cover Letter
Feb. 22 | 9-10 a.m. | Registration
Workshop: Interview with Confidence
Feb. 26 | 4-5 p.m. | Registration
Image by 3D Illustrator and Graphic Designer from Pixabay
Learn something new today!
UC ANR Learning & Development
- Author: Maher Al Rwahnih, Foundation Plant Services director
Deborah Golino, former director of Foundation Plant Services in the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, passed away on Dec. 23, 2023.
Golino worked as director of FPS and as a UC Cooperative Extension specialist from 1994 until her retirement in 2021. She was a kind and supportive administrator, who will be deeply missed by all those who knew her. She was a prominent advocate for clean plant use and the advancement of technologies used for clean plant production.
In 1987, Golino received her PhD at UC Riverside and moved to Davis to work as a USDA-ARS research plant pathologist specializing in grapevine virology. She was appointed to the Foundation Plant Materials Service (later renamed Foundation Plant Services) Grapevine Technical Advisory Committee. When FPMS was reorganized in 1994, Golino was selected as the founding director of FPS. The director role included administration of FPS, as well as a partial Cooperative Extension specialist assignment in the UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology.
One of her first actions at FPS was to revive the grape importation program, opening the FPS National Grape Importation and Clean Stock Facility to provide import and quarantine services. Through operation of the facility, FPS became an important source for international grape material. More than 2,300 new grape selections were introduced at FPS from 1995 through 2021, each an endorsement of the use of clean plants. Golino strove for the FPS grape program to produce the highest quality virus-tested and true-to-variety plant materials using state of the art technology.
Following the high-quality template of grapes, FPS's other programs grew considerably during Golino's tenure: a sweetpotato clean stock program was added and rose, strawberry and fruit tree collections expanded. The programs were further strengthened by the establishment of the National Clean Plant Network in 2008. Golino was instrumental in NCPN's formation and served as chair of the NCPN Grapes Committee from its inception until her retirement in 2021.
At the state level, she worked closely with regulators of the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Regulation & Certification programs for grapevines, fruit trees and strawberries. Golino was also a member of the steering committee of the International Council for the Study of Virus and Virus-like Diseases of the Grapevine, sharing a vision of clean grape material with global collaborators.
From 1994 to 2010, FPS's programs more than tripled under Golino's management. She was a great fundraiser and made sure that FPS had the financial resources to ensure its long-term stability. Committed to her team and the goals of the program, she also sought to expand the facilities so FPS could continue to deliver the highest quality clean-plant materials. By working closely with industry members, clear supporters of the FPS mission, Golino was able to secure $3.5 million in funding for a new office building. The resulting building was completed in 2015.
When Golino assumed the role of FPS director in 1994, she was tasked with reviving and reestablishing its programs. She did just that, and in her 27-year term grew FPS to a shining example of a clean plant center.
It is an honor to have worked with Deborah, and her impact cannot be overstated. Deborah was one of the top grape research and extension administrators in the country. She will be remembered as a firm believer in the importance of clean and certified planting stock, and for working closely with industry to ensure that their concerns were heard and needs were met. Her kindness and compassion positively impacted those who worked with her, and I am sure they will remember her with fondness. We are deeply saddened by her loss, and our condolences are with her family, friends and colleagues.
Foundation Plant Services and the UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology are working together to plan a celebration of Golino's life, to be held in spring 2024
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Patton named UC IPM advisor for Central Sierra
Mackenzie Patton joined UCCE on Dec. 4 as an area integrated pest management advisor for the Central Sierra. She serves El Dorado, Amador, Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.
She earned a master's degree in plant pathology and phytopathology at UC Davis and a bachelor's degree in biology at the University of Texas at Tyler.
At UT Tyler, Patton was exposed to the world of plant and insect research, which directed her career aspirations. She became a Master Gardener of Smith County in Texas while finishing up her degree.
Raised in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, Patton moved to California for graduate school at UC Davis, where she studied plant viruses in solanaceous crops such as tomatoes. Following graduation, she worked in the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Department.
She later moved to Southern California to take a job as a plant pathologist for a private company and enjoyed working with a wide array of plants and clients, from agricultural companies to ornamental and backyard gardeners.
“In Orange County, I found my love for outreach and extension, which motivated me to join UC ANR as a community educator,” Patton said. In April, she joined UC ANR's Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program to raise awareness about invasive species.
“I am very excited to work with the diverse audiences and needs of the residents of the foothills,” she said.
Patton is based at the UCCE office in Placerville and can be reached at mfpatton@ucanr.edu and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ipm_gal.
Pushies joins UC Master Gardener communications
Barbra Pushies joined the UC Master Gardener Program on Dec. 4 as the statewide communications specialist. Pushies will be coordinating and overseeing statewide internal and external communications strategies for the UC Master Gardener Program. She succeeds Melissa Womack, who was promoted to assistant director of impact and communication for the program.
Among her duties, Pushies will be managing the program's social media channels on Facebook, X (Twitter) and YouTube.
Prior to joining UC ANR, Pushies was the communications, outreach and event planning analyst for Sacramento State's College of Arts and Letters.
A native Californian raised in the Central Valley, Pushies earned her degree in entertainment studies from California State University, Fullerton, while working at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Her career took an exciting turn when she landed a role in production management at Walt Disney Feature Animation, contributing to the films “Tangled,” “Winnie the Pooh,” and “Tinkerbell and the Legend of the Neverbeast” at Disneytoon Studios.
In 2012, she opened the Yarnover Truck, the nation's first mobile yarn store, which she and her business partner operated across California until 2018. Since then, she has delved into marketing and social media consulting and served as the executive director of a small arts education organization.
Pushies is based in the UC ANR Second Street building in Davis and can be reached at bpushies@ucanr.edu.
Singh named irrigated grass systems area advisor
Simarjeet Singh joined UCCE on Nov. 6 as the irrigated grass systems area advisor for in Modoc, Lassen and Shasta counties.
He will be working on issues related to irrigated pasture systems such as improving water use efficiency, resource conservation, identifying new phenotypes to adapt to changing climatic conditions, and increasing sustainability and profitability of farm operations.
Singh plans to partner with ranchers, growers, certified crop advisers, industry groups, regulatory agencies and other agriculture community members to provide resources and address concerns related to irrigation nitrogen, soil-plant water relations, cultural practices for pasture production and regulations.
Prior to joining UCCE, Singh worked in the private agricultural sector on soil amendments and nitrogen management plans for pasture farms in Merced, Sacramento and Solano counties.
Singh is originally from Punjab state – the “Land of Five Rivers” – located in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. Growing up in an agricultural community, he earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
A desire to explore agriculture's wide diversity inspired him to continue with his academic journey in California, where he completed his master's degree in plant science at Fresno State. Singh's graduate research work focused on the evaluation of alfalfa cultivars for their performance under saline-sodic irrigation through subsurface drip and characterization of spatial and temporal variability of soil salinity within the field at UC West Side Research and Extension Center.
Singh is based in Alturas and can be reached at (530) 233-6400 and ssmsingh@ucanr.edu and on LinkedIn @Simarjeet-UCCE.
Wilcher joins UCCE as economic development advisor for Inyo, Mono and Eastern Kern counties
Aaron Wilcher joined UC Cooperative Extension on Oct. 2 as a community economic development advisor for Inyo, Mono and Eastern Kern counties. Wilcher is developing an applied research and education program that will promote small business, economic diversification and workforce development in key priority sectors the region has recently outlined in its planning efforts. He will be working with regional planning organizations and business associations to build partnerships and collaborate on technical assistance.
He is looking forward to working with community members throughout the area.
"I've spent my career as a program manager and technical assistance provider working on partnerships that involved research and data, community partnerships and program development,” Wilcher said. “I was looking to support a community that thrives on its relationship to the outdoors and the environment, a ‘working landscape' you might say, so this was – in all ways shapes and forms – a position that looked tailor-made for me."
Before joining UCCE, Wilcher directed an applied economics research program for Sacramento regional community colleges and workforce stakeholders, advising on talent development strategy. In that role, he worked with numerous partners on regional initiatives for a range of topics including early childhood education, public sector workforce pathways, economic impact analysis for the wine industry, manufacturing industry market studies, regional workforce and economic development plans, and fact sheets and marketing materials.
Prior to working in the Sacramento region, Wilcher was a faculty program manager for clean energy workforce development programs in the San Francisco Bay Area community college system, where he led federal, state and private grant programs. He worked with public-private partnerships and faculty teams to create new courses that trained hundreds of students.
In the past, Wilcher served for four years on the steering committee of the California Studies Association, a group of writers, teachers, elected officials, journalists, and public scholars who produced an annual conference on politics and culture. For more than a decade, he was a mountain bike athlete and competed throughout North America and Europe.
“I am excited to be working in the UC system since I am a graduate of two UC campuses,” Wilcher said.
He earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish from UCLA and a master's degree in city planning, community and economic development from UC Berkeley. He also has a master's degree in American studies from Saint Louis University in Missouri. He is certified as an economic research professional by the Council for Community and Economic Research.
Wilcher is based at the UCCE county office in Bishop and can be reached at awilcher@ucanr.edu.
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
CSAC honors CalFresh at Farmers Markets project in SLO
CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE San Luis Obispo County and the CalFresh at Farmers Markets cross-sector working group received the 2023 CSAC Challenge Award for creating more equitable access to healthy foods and supporting local farmers in San Luis Obispo County. The project was one of 389 entries to the California State Association of Counties awards, which honored 14 programs from 11 different counties.
In San Luis Obispo County, 8.4% of residents and 9.7% of children are food insecure, which is defined as lacking consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Nutrition incentives such as CalFresh can increase access to healthy food in low-income communities. With Market Match, for every $1 of CalFresh redeemed a person can buy $2 of food at the farmers market.
In 2017, UCCE staff formed the CalFresh at Farmers Markets work group. Members represent agriculture, government, schools and community-based organizations such as food banks.
Their goals were to increase the number of markets that accept CalFresh and offer Market Match, provide a more consistent and welcoming experience for CalFresh customers across markets, and increase the visibility of farmers market nutrition incentives.
They developed the Farmers Market Navigator program. Launched in 2022, navigators are leaders from the community who address the language, culture, knowledge, trust and discriminatory barriers to shopping at farmers markets that low-income clientele often face. The multilingual (Spanish, Mixtec, English) navigators began conducting outreach in the community and attending north county markets to answer CalFresh questions.
Of the 13 certified farmers markets in San Luis Obispo County, the number of markets that offer Market Match has increased from four in 2016 to nine in 2023. Since launching the project, they have seen a 463% increase in benefit redemption comparing the summer months (March-August) of 2016 and 2022 ($21,073 and $118,569, respectively) and a 537% increase in CalFresh customers (478 and 3,046, respectively).
Since 2017, there has been over $550,841 in CalFresh and Market Match redemptions at SLO County markets, leading to $917,000 in local economic activity (based on an economic multiplier of 1.9 for Market Match and 1.5 for CalFresh). At markets where the navigators work, there was a 172% increase in new CalFresh customers and a 171% increase in CalFresh and Market Match redemption in the first six months alone. Surveys conducted across the state by the Ecology Center show that 79% of participants say they buy more fruits and vegetables due to the Market Match program.
“These results show that cross-sector partnerships can increase access to healthy food and support for local agriculture,” said Shannon Klisch, UCCE youth, families and communities academic coordinator in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties, congratulated the group on winning a prestigious 2023 Challenge Award, saying, “All counties applaud UCCE in San Luis Obispo County for their innovation and dedication.” He added, “This year's recipients were among the best of the best, and we are proud to honor their efforts with this distinction.”
Murillo-Barrick, Richards receive $1.7M for climate action project
Cristina Murillo-Barrick, BlPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) community development advisor for Alameda County, and Chandra Richards, agricultural land acquisitions academic coordinator for Riverside and San Diego counties, have received a $1.7 million grant from the California Department of Conservation's Climate Smart Land Management Program.
Murillo-Barrick and Richards are the co-principal investigators of a project designed to increase climate resilience on the state's natural and working lands.
The project is aimed at building capacity and technical assistance for climate smart implementation by collaboratively developing plans centered on two of the most pressing climate action issues: equitable land access and land management diversification.
The funding will help UC ANR identify barriers and opportunities through engagement with historically underrepresented communities through coalition building, capacity assessment and climate-action planning.? More information about the project will be shared in early 2024.
Details about the Climate Smart Land Management Program and other projects funded can be found at https://www.conservation.ca.gov/index/Pages/News/California-award-8-5-million-climate-action-natural-working-lands.aspx.
UCANR employees give shout-outs to colleagues
For the Winter Faire, ANR employees submitted notes of gratitude for colleagues. Roxana Price, UCCE adult nutrition community educator in San Bernardino County, assembled the shout-outs below.
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
To increase awareness of how UC ANR research and extension is improving life for Californians, Strategic Communications has been posting about UC Cooperative Extension activities across social media.
Inspired in 2022 by the state government boosting ANR's budget to allow the hiring of more than 100 academics and support staff, Doralicia Garay, social media strategist, wanted to show legislators and other Californians how they benefit from ANR.
“The ‘Improving Lives in California' campaign is designed to showcase ANR research as well as those who deliver it by featuring compelling content and UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists,” Garay said.
She targeted Californians who were interested in agriculture, pests, environment, wildfire, water, youth development, and nutrition with paid campaigns as well as regular posts on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.
Between March 2022 and December 2023, UC ANR's “Improving Lives in California” campaign has reached more than 600,000 people and more than 21,000 people have engaged with the posts by sharing, liking or commenting across all platforms.
“The per-post engagement rate averaged 3.5% across all social media channels, which is almost twice the average rate per post,” Garay said.
Key elements of the campaign:
- Employee spotlights: Through a series of engaging profiles, we highlight our extension experts' unique journeys and expertise. By featuring their skills and contributions to research projects, we humanize our staff and inspire a sense of connection with our online community.
Examples:
tinyurl.com/23bjz4xr Brooke Latack
tinyurl.com/yxbmybp5 Ian Grettenberger
tinyurl.com/rndcn6uz AtefSwelam
- Short videos: Bite-sized videos featuring Cooperative Extension advisors are intended to simplify complex research projects and explain their relevance to all Californians. It's also a great opportunity for our audiences to get a sense of our researchers' personality.
Examples:
tinyurl.com/mr46w65s Srabani Das
tinyurl.com/bdf68sh5 Ramiro Lobo
Series of videos: instagram.com/ucanr/reels/?hl=en
- Social media takeovers: We take our audience on a virtual tour behind the scenes of our research facilities. Through carefully crafted multimedia content, we share what makes research and extension centers and county office locations unique, and how the infrastructure enables scientists to bring innovation to life.
Example:
tinyurl.com/272xh9h7 South Coast REC
- Research impact stories: We bring our research to life by illustrating its real-world impact on California communities. Through compelling narratives, we demonstrate how the dedication of UC ANR employees to research translates into positive change with advancements in agriculture, wildfire mitigation, water issues and more.
Examples:
tinyurl.com/5y2vn4rs Hamutahl Cohen
tinyurl.com/2e3bafh3 Houston Wilson, Jhalendra Rijal and David Haviland
- Interactive Q&A sessions: Live Q&A sessions on social media platforms encourage direct interaction between our experts and online audiences. Although social media reach has recently dipped for this type of content on Facebook, we successfully engaged with our Facebook audience in 2022 during a nutrition Q&A by retaining 80% of our live audience from start to finish.
Example:
tinyurl.com/52e7jy6s Mary Blackburn, JavierMiramontes andAba Ramirez
- Employee-generated content: Encouraging employees to share their own perspectives, experiences and insights on social media platforms promotes a sense of ownership and inclusivity. It also creates a vibrant online community that encourages our audiences to participate in conversations about research initiatives.
Example:
tinyurl.com/587jcxvf GerrySpinelli
- Hashtag campaign: "#ImprovingLivesinCA is a unique campaign hashtag that serves as a unifying element, allowing us to gather user-generated content and track the campaign's reach and engagement.
“By strategically highlighting our employees in the narrative of our research efforts, #ImprovingLivesinCA strengthens the UC ANR brand identity and positions our organization as a collaborative partner at the forefront of innovation,” Garay said. “This campaign represents a comprehensive approach to leveraging the power of social media to drive reach and engagement and serve our online community.”
You can follow UC ANR on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter),LinkedIn and YouTube.