Do you recognize the character in the photo? It's Happy McGivins, our Big Dig Day mascot. I'm not sure if Happy is Irish or Scottish, but I know that Big Dig Day is just around the corner (June 5)! The Development Services team is so creative – Emily and team have customized a ‘Flat Happy' for each of our programs to use in Big Dig Day selfies. Despite the economic fallout of COVID-19, the statistics for giving are pretty remarkable. I hope you are ready to spread the word to supporters about your program and UC ANR!

Happy McGivins, our Big Dig Day mascot

Some of our supporters may be those who have adopted practices learned through UC ANR educational content. A quick review of our federal report impacts illustrates that our work translates to behavior changes. Here are a few examples that will be shared with our federal partners:

• A participating grower in the cover crop field trails, saw measured improvements in soil health including reduced weed pressure in cover crop treatments, and increased total carbon and nitrogen in the topsoil. Additionally, early adopters of improved soil health practices the Sacramento Valley using cover crops and compost have reduced water use, and seen reduced pest pressure. (Amber Vinchesi and Sarah Light)
• A participating grower in the cover crop field trails, saw measured improvements in soil health including reduced weed pressure in cover crop treatments, and increased total carbon and nitrogen in the topsoil. Additionally, early adopters of improved soil health practices the Sacramento Valley using cover crops and compost have reduced water use, and seen reduced pest pressure. (Amber Vinchesi and Sarah Light)
• The number of virus-tested sweet potato plants produced by UC Davis Foundation Plants Services has increased gradually over the past five years.  Adoption by growers in California is very high, about 80%, based on information from the main seed producer in the state. (Scott Stoddard)
• Evaluation data collected from 153 students enrolled in the Cal Fresh Healthy Living, UC Hunger Attack program in a Riverside County high school found about one-third of students made improvements in vegetable consumption (34%), sweetened beverage consumption (33%); and tracking how much they spend on food each week (37%). (Chutima Ganthavorn)

What great stories we have to share with our federal and local partners! We don't have to dig very deep to see how our work makes a difference.

I am wrapping up the academic merit and promotion reviews for this year, with hopes of having final documents uploaded into our system in 2 weeks, just in time for paperwork processing of salary actions. I am finding it more difficult to stay focused on this task this year, despite the effort being one of the most important functions of my position. I suspect I need a change in venue. After seeing some of the photos of crowded spaces across the country that occurred during the long weekend, I wonder if we might be heading backwards a bit. Just in case, I had better get used to my current scenery.