- Author: Deanne Meyer
Ever wonder how Extension and Ag Experiment Directors share information? The Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA) and Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors (WAAESD) met in Denver last week. Vice President Humiston attended and WAAESD meetings and I attended the WEDA meetings. It was an information filled week with much sharing of ideas and needs for the west. Yes, we all face similar challenges with crumbling facilities, fire, management of government owned lands, water scarcity, changing climate, mental health, the need for rural economic development, invasive pests, nutrition education, educating youth, and so much more. It's nice to talk with others to see how they manage resources to make work impactful. More information is available about the organizational structure of the Land Grant University System if you're interested. We had a fantastic presentation by Trent Teegerstrom, University of Arizona. He is Associate Director for Tribal Extension Programs and provided insightful lessons on how we can better serve to meet Tribal needs.
We were at the SPUR Center in Denver. The Center is by the old stockyards and SPUR literally got its name from a SPUR off the railroad. This new Center for Colorado State University system brings Fort Collins, Pueblo, and Global campuses to the people of Colorado. They have tours and activities daily. If you're in the neighborhood give it a look. We enjoyed a super tour including a virtual (3-D) animal anatomy experience. The buildings are topical: terra (land), hydro (water), and vita (life—animals).
Also attending the meetings were Keith Nathaniel one of two CA representatives on Western Program & Organizational Leadership Committee (WPOLC) and Vikram Koundinya Western Region Evaluation Network (WREN). Each of these are committees of WEDA. It was nice to have time to catch up with Keith and Vikram and know their time invested in the meetings will be useful here at home.
Meanwhile, Katherine Webb-Martinez and her team put the finishing touches on our annual report to USDA. There are some new due dates for next year's report. That translates to project board deadlines being sooner so Katherine and her team can pull information together.
Rounding out our remaining hires in February Katherine Kilbane transferred to Human Resources, Vanya Woodward is the Executive Assistant for Daniel Obrist and myself, and Harold Tabios and Jennifer Lewellen both promoted (Resource Planning and Management and Business Operations Center). Shelby Motley started at Lindcove REC as a Blank Assistant 2. We also hired students Adam Yandel and Alana Logie (Sutter/Yuba), and Rboert Vergara and Sophia Benefiel (IPM) as well as Christiana Spencer (internship). All total, we had 29 positions filled in February. THANK YOU everyone who served on search committees.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Two award opportunities are available this year through the Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA) and one from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
The WEDA Awards of Excellence was created in 2005 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 Pacific Island US Territories. The Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA) Awards of Excellence is offered annually to individuals or multidisciplinary teams for single state or multistate programs. Awards are presented by the Chair of the WEDA. Winners receive a plaque, certificate and monetary stipend in support of their program. The award recipients present a brief seminar at the time of the award presentation, typically during the Western Regional Joint Summer meeting.
UC ANR can submit a maximum of two program applications. Reception and initial screening of applications will be made by the Academic Assembly Council Program Committee, whose recommendations will be forwarded to the Associate Vice President. Vice President Humiston will make the final selections.
Submit award applications to Kathryn Stein at kathryn.stein@ucop.edu by March 1, 2022. For more information about the WEDA Awards of Excellence criteria, downloadhttp://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC/files/363277.docx.
The WEDA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Extension Award was created to recognize Extension professionals in the Western Region who have demonstrated excellence in reaching diverse audiences, especially minority and/or traditionally underrepresented populations. Any client or Extension employee may nominate an individual. Self-nominations are also accepted.
For more information about the WEDA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Extension Award criteria, download http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCAAC/files/363278.docx.
Nominations are due by 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) March 1, 2022. Send the electronic application to Kathryn Stein (kathryn.stein@ucop.edu) with “WEDA Award Application” in the subject line. Reception and initial screening of applications will be made by the Academic Assembly Council Program Committee, whose recommendations will be forwarded to the Associate Vice President. Vice President Humiston will make the final selections.
The National Extension Diversity Award acknowledges accomplishments of Cooperative Extension professionals in achieving organizational changes that support diversity, pluralism and innovation in programs that impact Extension audiences. An endorsement letter from Vice President Humiston is required. Please contact her directly by April 24. Nominations are submitted directly by nominees.
National award criteria and directions can be found at https://www.aplu.org/members/commissions/food-environment-and-renewable-resources/board-on-agriculture-assembly/cooperative-extension-section/extension-directors-and-administrators/awards/.
- Author: Wendy Powers
A little boredom sounds good right now. Merit and promotion package reviews are over, but time still seems to be inadequate for the workload. I think it is due to the short week whereby the number of meetings didn't decrease, but were rather crunched into fewer, longer days. The budget outlook is bright, and with it comes a workload to meet the obligations to the funding. Overall, a good problem to have. I am not complaining. I suspect I overcommitted to requests to serve on committees, provide leadership and feedback. Sound familiar? It happens.
This week I attended a national conference for the Western Region Extension and Experiment Station Directors. On Monday, we had a business meeting, updates from our federal partners, and an awards ceremony. The California Dairy Quality Assurance Program team was honored for their impactful work – congratulations to Deanne, Betsy, Jennifer, Randi, David, Nick, Jeff, and Denise! I hope I didn't forget anyone!
During the conference we talked about the Land Grant University, post-COVID. Extension Directors in the West have been discussing this monthly since January. Today, we received an update from President Barry Dunn on the Wokini Initiative at South Dakota State University that provides scholarships and intentional support to American Indian students (Lakota and Dakota). This year, the inaugural class graduated. The program has strong metrics, with success declared when the student achievement and completion of American Indian students exceeds that of the remaining student population. The update was inspirational, to say the least, focusing on the opportunity and responsibility in front of leaders today. ‘We can begin again, and change the ending' (C.S. Lewis) was the takeaway message. During the Q&A there was reference to some of the work underway with the Karuk tribe by UC ANR, led by Jennifer Sowerwine. It is always nice to hear another state call out the efforts by UC ANR!
Given the holiday this week, and the upcoming holiday, the message was timely. There's no time for boredom. We have important work to do; work that the state legislature clearly recognizes as an opportunity to lift all up and ensure opportunity for all.
- Author: Wendy Powers
Congratulations to our ANREP winners! A group of CE Specialists, CE Advisors were recognized with a Bronze Award for their “Ranch Water Quality Planning Instructor's Guide and Lesson Plan”. Take a look at the list of recipients: Anthony O'Geen, Bill Birmingham, Brooke Latack, D.J. Eastburn, Dan Macon, David Lewis, David Lile, Devii Rao, Fadzayi Mashiri, Jeffery Stackhouse, Jim Downing, Josh Davy, Julie Finzel, Kenneth Tate, Laura Snell, Leslie Roche, Lucien Crowder, Matthew Shapero, Michael Lennox, Morgan Doran, Randy Dahlgren, Rebecca Ozeran, Robert Atwill, Sandra Osterman, Stephanie Larson, Theresa Becchetti, and Tracy Schohr.
The other winner at ANREP was Lenya Quinn-Davidson! Lenya received the Early Career Award. We couldn't agree more with the selection committee! Be sure to take a look at the write up (page 27). Thanks so much to Yana and Susie for the nomination of their colleague.
Take a look at a recent Morning Ag Clips article that featured some of Dorina, Anne, Marcel, Katherine, and Kendra's work! I am anxious to see impact statements as this important work progresses! I took a getaway near Cambria last weekend for my own mindfulness exercise.
Thanks to the research reviewers who mined through the Project Board data to identify stories for the federal research report. I will share more stories in the future, or be sure to take a look for yourself.
Youth & Community Develoment: Martin Smith
Nutrition: Karina Rios Diaz
Livestock/Rangeland: David Lile
Forestry/Fire: Yana Valachovic
Water: Doug Parker
SFS: Neil McRoberts and Deanne Meyer
EIPD: Jim Farrar and Georgios Vidalakis
In addition to 11 annual evaluation conversations this week and ‘first Friday' meetings with REC and County Directors, I have spent the week at a virtual conference of Western Extension and Experiment Station Directors. In addition to the business meetings and Center updates, we heard from a University of New Mexico FRTEP Advisor who shared with us the challenges for the Navajo reservation residents during the pandemic lockdown with few grocery stores and a need to continue ag production in order to feed residents. The death rates and COVID incidence numbers shared are alarming and sad. The Advisor talked about increased youth participation in Master Gardener program and other virtual programs since the pandemic began in addition to increased collaboration and partnering with other institutions. Vaccine education is a critical ongoing effort to provide this and other COVID relief services. The program seeks opportunity to develop a partnership for pre-college programs and a sheep herd health program.
- Author: Wendy Powers
And the UC ANR nominees for the WEDA Award of Excellence are: Loren Oki, Karrie Reid, Darren Haver, and Jared Sisneroz for UC Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials Program and Deanne Meyer, Betsy Karle, Jennifer Heguy, David Lewis, Jeffery Stackhouse, Nicholas Clark, Randi Black, Daniela Bruno, and D. Denise Mullinax for California Dairy Quality Assurance Program- Environmental Stewardship: A Public Private Partnership. The two teams were selected for nomination to the Western Extension Directors Association awards program. The winner at the regional level will provide an overview of the program at the virtual WEDA Summer Meeting in June. We'll know more in a few months if either team is successful, but they are both winners with UC ANR. Congratulations to the teams for their outstanding work!
I am reminded that winter isn't quite over, yet. Laura shared that she had quite a bit of snow in Modoc County earlier this week. And, Mark saw ice on the lake over the weekend! No wonder why my garage remains cold.
Program Council met this week. We had a full agenda. The meeting left me a bit brain dead, making it difficult to do much evening catch up on emails or evaluation reviews. I don't seem to be progressing on those very quickly. However, I think I am more than half way through annual calls to review progress on goals. I enjoy the calls, but get behind on everything else. I am making some progress wrapping up agreements. I have a couple yet to be completed before spending some time connecting with partners.
I spend the next two weeks in virtual conferences. One nice thing about the virtual approach is that the meeting time is reduced, though there seems to be more homework to prepare for conversations. I guess it keeps me out of trouble.