- Author: Wendy Powers
The trip to Imperial County last week was interesting and full of contrasts. It started with a mini-shot of Wild Turkey on the flight, as a toast to the founder of Southwest Airlines. The memorial service was held while we were inflight and we observed a moment of silence before the toast. That alone was a first while inflight.
I learned more about the UCCE programs, including the increased funding support from partners to grow the successful FarmSmart program and some of the impressive statistics that demonstrate the strength of the 4-H program. Many on the combined UCCE/Desert REC team are new (less than six years with UC ANR). At least a few weren't part of the team yet during my last visit. But it's no surprise that there is noticeable growth in the reach of programs given the support from local clientele. After a tour of the facility, we had lunch with some local stakeholders and partners, including a recent chair of the County Board of Supervisors, the County Ag Commissioner, and one of our CARET representatives. Partners from San Diego State University, University of Arizona, and several leaders from a local university in Mexico (UABC) were able to join us.
We toured El Toro Land and Cattle and had a chance to see how they have grown their hay export facility and started using the new feed mill since I last visited. It seems odd to me that in the state that grows more alfalfa than anyone else, we also produce Bermuda grass hay. Few states can boast this. I learned that grain is added to hay bales (5%) for some clients and the hay is a combination of Bermuda, alfalfa and Klein grass. I suspect that makes for a complete feed for the cattle. I need to look a bit more into Kleingrass as that is new to me.
Who would have thought that any portion of the energy in Imperial County would come from hydroelectric? While the portion is small, but growing, and it's far from the largest hydroelectric plant I have visited, I was impressed to see such a thing at all. Admittedly, I have been to more hydroelectric plants than most, but I still enjoy seeing them.
I am headed south again this week, after a meeting of the strategic plan goal owners. I hear there may be rain, making plans a bit uncertain. At some point, I expect it will be the government shutdown that interrupts travel plans rather than weather.
- Author: Wendy Powers
Much to my surprise, the plane headed from Sacramento to Orange County last week was de-iced before leaving. Though that is commonplace on morning flights from Lansing, MI to Chicago, and often the cause for delayed arrivals, this was my first encounter with the de-icing routine in California. Fortunately, my arrival was only delayed by 10 to 15 minutes.
I'd love to learn how Southwest manages to produce a magazine that is far more interesting than that published by other airlines. The current issue has a feature story about Chip Conley who has developed the concept of what he calls a “Modern Elder,” someone with the “ability to use timeless wisdom and apply it to modern-day problems.” I followed up on the article by watching a TED blog that elaborated: [The Modern Elder] shares with the younger employees the people skills he gained over decades, while [the younger employees] teach [the Modern Elder] about technology. Nearly 40 percent of Americans have a boss who is younger than them — and when people of all ages exchange knowledge and learn from each other, good things happen. “This is the new sharing economy,” Conley says. The article mentioned that only 8% of companies consider ‘age diversity' as a metric for company health yet studies show that age diversity improves overall company health and productivity. There are even HR books about this!
Conley recommends forming teams that consider age as one of the diversity considerations. For UC ANR, and academia as a whole across the U.S., this may come naturally as many, if not most, 4-year schools prepare for a wave of retirements in the next year or two. I can't wait to see what all of the new, fresh talent brings to UC ANR. However, Conley's point is that even the elder has significant contributions to make, particularly those that follow the four takeaways. Those takeaways are: evolve (be willing to change even if it means cutting your ego down to size), learn (be the most curious person in the room), collaborate (accept that work is a team sport and build diverse teams), and counsel (share what you know, with humility and respect; intern publicly and mentor privately – what Conley refers to as a ‘mentern').
Who can complain about a flight delay when you know you got far more than you expected for $59, one-way? Perhaps because it is a birthday week for me, and I'm so far over the hump I can't even see the hill behind me anymore, this topic resonated strongly. But I'd like to think it's because multigenerational thinking will bring great things to UC ANR and California.
This week I head down to Desert REC and the Imperial County office. I already have my TED talk downloaded and ready to go. But before I get there, the Program Council will be meeting, and the Ag Issues Center has a board meeting. No doubt I will learn much more.
- Author: Wendy Powers
Despite some disappointing bowl games, I hope everyone is well rested and eager to be back at work. While last week wasn't exactly restful for me, I am glad to be back in California and ready to get to work. Admittedly, it's nice that this week is a bit slow yet so that those of us who were away can slowly get back up to speed. Others were tending to plots and projects and may not need to make an effort to get back in the groove. Still, others were gearing up to start their careers with UC and UC ANR. This week we welcome some new hires!
- Robert York started January 1, 2019, as a CE Specialist at UC Berkeley, specializing in Forest Ecology, Silviculture, Giant Sequoia restoration, and ecology.
- Also at UC Berkeley, Albert Ruhi started January 1 as an AES faculty, specializing in understanding how freshwater communities of food webs respond to global change, with an emphasis on the effects of hydrologic alteration and drought.
- Yu Meng starts today as a CE YFC Advisor, based in Holtville, CA, with programmatic responsibilities in Imperial County. I look forward to meeting Yu when I am in Holtville next week.
- Giuliano Galdi also starts today as a CE Agronomy Advisor, based in Yreka, CA, with programmatic responsibilities in Siskiyou County.
- Finally, it appears I am delinquent in welcoming Trevor Keenan. Trevor started on July 1 as an AES faculty at UC Berkeley, specializing in understanding the response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate variability and long-term change, as well as related feedbacks to the atmosphere through ecosystem carbon cycling and water use.
Please take a few moments to welcome our new colleagues and help them settle in and feel a part of the team. It's nice to know that numbers are increasing a bit, even beyond that slow growth we saw last quarter.
Today's a light day of meetings. That should allow me time to prepare for a meeting on Thursday which requires travel beforehand. Friday is a full day of meetings, starting with the monthly REC Director call followed by the monthly County Director call and then some random calls throughout the afternoon. I need to do some preparation for next week's meeting of strategic plan goal owners. I remain hopeful this won't end up as weekend homework, but it is certainly likely. We'll see how the week plays out.
- Author: Wendy Powers
I suspect that many look forward with great alacrity to the winter break that is almost here. I don't know about others but I fully expect to see some winter weather though my destination is far less exciting than that of others (The Netherlands, India, Cancun, New Orleans, etc.).
President Napolitano used 'alacrity' in her remarks the other day at the President's Advisory Council (PAC) meeting. Following she was quizzed on the spelling; she did quite well. The President praised UC ANR for our work in response to fires this year. The majority of her comments focused on her acceptance of the committee recommendations for oversight and funding of UC ANR. Members of the PAC had questions for her but, overall the PAC was pleased with the outcome of the committee's work.
During the PAC meeting we learned more about the CARA project that archives UCCE records. Three counties are complete (Ventura, Merced, and Humboldt). Take a look and read through a 1987 issue of Tomato Topics or see a 1932 photo of the historic home that sits on the Hansen REC.
Speaking of history, many are likely familiar with a historic version of the Extension Worker's Creed. But did you know that the creed was recently updated to reflect 21st-century work and priorities? Below are the original version and the updated version.
Original
I Believe in people and their hopes, their aspirations, and their faith; in their right to make their own plans and arrive at their own decisions; in their ability and power to enlarge their lives and plan for the happiness of those they love.
I Believe that education, of which Extension is an essential part, is basic in stimulating individual initiative, self-determination, and leadership; that these are the keys to democracy and that people when given facts they understand, will act not only in their self-interest but also in the interest of society.
I Believe that education is a lifelong process and the greatest university is the home; that my success as a teacher is proportional to those qualities of mind and spirit that give me welcome entrance to the homes of the families I serve.
I Believe in intellectual freedom to search for and present the truth without bias and with courteous tolerance toward the views of others.
I Believe that Extension is a link between the people and the ever-changing discoveries in the laboratories.
I Believe in the public institutions of which I am a part.
I Believe in my own work and in the opportunity I have to make my life useful to humanity.
Because I Believe these things, I am an Extension professional.
Updated
I believe that mutual respect, openness, creativity, and innovation—
the core values of the 21st century—are the hallmarks of Cooperative
Extension work.
I believe that Extension educators are called upon not only to affirm
these values but also to ensure that they comprise an integral part of our work.
I believe that Extension educators constitute the most valuable of all
infrastructure—human infrastructure—and that this deep reservoir built of trust
and collaboration retains an infinite capacity for fostering human achievement.
I believe that we are more than simple purveyors of knowledge—
we are knowledge enablers whose charge is to add value to knowledge by
demonstrating how practical, meaningful, and lasting use can be derived
from it.
I believe that our long-standing experience with an affinity for
collaborative learning reflected in the work of Seaman Knapp and Booker T.
Washington, singularly equip us for the immense challenges that await us in the
21st century.
I believe that the collaborative learning embodied in Extension work is
enhanced by a generous measure of empathy and compassion.
I believe that in an era of frenetic growth punctuated by rampant
scarcity, we are called to be sustainers, securing and enriching the lives and
livelihoods of those we serve without eroding the ability of future generations
to secure and enrich theirs.
I believe that by acknowledging and celebrating our differences, we
enhance opportunities for personal growth and enrichment and secure the
personal freedom of and respect for all.
I believe that the prevailing winds of change are summoning us to do
what we have always done best: to work, to teach, and to inspire through
dialogue and empowerment, demonstrating to our diverse audiences the value
of accepting and embracing change as an inevitable facet of life and as an
opportunity to formulate new ways of thinking, living, and working.
I believe passionately in these ideals and because they embody the
essence of Cooperative Extension work, I proudly proclaim and honor them as my own.
Words may change but what remains the same is the need and value of Cooperative Extension and the greater UC ANR to communities all across California. My New Year's resolution is to remind myself often of my good fortune for being a part of UC ANR.
Happy holidays everyone!
- Author: Wendy Powers
I was looking forward to meeting with the Pear Advisory Board last week. It didn't happen. Before the committee reached the UC ANR agenda item, the building was evacuated due to a bomb threat. That was a first for me. Sadly there were eight such threats in Sacramento that morning.
Did you know that many of the state commodity groups have UC ANR research liaisons? We met last week for a Zoom meeting. The liaisons often have responsibilities to help with the research program for their respective commodity board. The role can be time-consuming – assisting with assembly and distribution of the request for proposals, coordinating panel reviews, and working with the board to collect project reports. Some liaisons have responsibilities beyond the research programs, such as assisting with planning annual meetings. Regardless of the responsibilities, the liaison role is key to building and maintaining relations with our partners. The time our liaisons spend is greatly appreciated!
The Western Extension Directors met for a 2-hr call yesterday. In addition to discussing the Farm Bill, we talked quite a bit about EDEN (Extension Disaster Education Network) and the resources available to some of the disaster-impacted Western states/territories (Alaska earthquake, Northern Marianas typhoon, California fires). Increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters may present a need for additional resources available through EDEN. We recognize that EDEN is a great way to showcase the impact of Cooperative Extension in communities across the U.S.
Today is the President's Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting in Berkeley. The meeting is a good chance to touch base with partners and UC ANR friends from around the state. The Development Services update is sure to be a highlight of the meeting as well as an update on the UC ANR Archives project led by UC Merced. Following the meeting, the PAC is invited to the President's residence. I will have to miss out this year to catch up on some things before the end of the week arrives. There aren't enough hours in the day with so many meetings to attend during work hours.
Before the meeting starts, I have a Zoom meeting to talk about the new federal reporting guidelines that we need to comply with to maintain our funding. Seems a bit strange to be focusing on that while we await word whether or not there will be a federal shutdown, but that's how it goes sometimes. Hopefully, the changes aren't drastic and align with our interests and strategic direction. If you thought UC ANR just made up reporting requirements, this is not the case at all. We have plenty of reporting demands placed upon us by the feds, state funders, UC, county partners, and the list goes on. Getting all on the same page may not be possible given different goals, but it is worth a shot.
If I find some free time over the winter break and find an electronic resource, I hope to review a new report that is out: Roadmap for Integrated Pest Management: Systems Thinking to Build Better IPM for All Californians. If I find it, I will be sure to let you know some of my key learnings.