Napolitano visits UCCE in Humboldt County

UC President Janet Napolitano visited UC Cooperative Extension in Humboldt County in April. Joined by VP Glenda Humiston, Napolitano toured projects and met UC Cooperative Extension staff and collaborators.

The university opened its first Cooperative Extension office in Eureka in 1913, but April 27 marked the first official visit to Humboldt County by a UC president.

“I hope to show the president how local residents benefit from UC Cooperative Extension and to give President Napolitano and Vice President Humiston ideas on how the university may get more involved in solving local challenges,” said Yana Valachovic, UC Cooperative Extension director and forest advisor for Humboldt and Del Norte counties, as the tour she organized got underway.

Valachovic introduced Napolitano and Humiston to community members at Potawot Health Village, where they learned about UC's nutrition education projects. Next, they boarded a boat with a shellfish producer and members of California Sea Grant, who briefed them on climate change research in Humboldt Bay.

At City of Arcata Community Forest, where UC has been conducting forest research since the 1920s, the City of Arcata environmental services director discussed how the city works with UC to manage its 2,300 acres of redwoods for timber, wildlife, water quality and to sequester carbon while providing recreational areas for city residents.

The president and Humiston ended the tour by reciting the 4-H pledge and listening to 4-H members and volunteers describe their projects.

To read more about the tour, visit http://ucanr.edu/?blogpost=21065&blogasset=52096.

 

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