The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

  
Vol. 12, No. 34  July 4, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE...

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...K-State IPM Mini-Grant Call for Proposals Announced
...Register Now for National SARE Conference
...National Grant Writing Workshop - September 6-7, 2006
...HealthyKansas
...Diversity Office Update
...Hard White Wheat Projects Now on the Market - Try Them!
...KAMS Brochures for your County Fairs
...KEAA 4-H Task Force Report
...Master Schedule

...Tuesday Letter Archives

WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Recently I had an article forwarded to me that had been written by Dr. David Petriz, Extension Director at Purdue University, to faculty and staff with Extension responsibilities. I thought its message was right on target. Simply change Purdue to K-State and Indiana to Kansas, and it has relevance to each and every one of us. So, here it is....

Imagine that it is Monday morning and you just arrived at work to find your colleagues -- educators, office staff, and volunteers -- all happily working. Everyone is upbeat, positive, smiling and enthusiastic. Is this only a dream? It does not have to be! It could be your office or department!

What needs to occur to make such a dream come true? Motivation! When people feel motivated, they become more productive, more passionate, and more satisfied about their work.

So how do you make this dream come true? It's up to you. You can make every one of your colleagues feel good about what they do. The key is to communicate, recognize, empower, and lead by example -- every single day!

Is your attitude regarding your work important to the future of Purdue Extension? You bet it is!! Consider this. In today's world of providing information and knowledge, Extension has many competitors. People can get information and education from many sources besides Purdue Extension. While our niche is research-based knowledge, the "McDonaldized" information seeker wants his or her information now and specific to instant needs. Our competitive edge is not the research behind the information or the quality of the knowledge or the service. It is not the price as someone is always willing to reduce the price. Our real competitive edge is how we treat people and their requests. The one thing that our competition cannot take away from Extension is our community-based relationship with people and how we treat these citizens every single day. Everyone in Extension can make a difference in the lives of people across Indiana. Our customers will long remember how they were treated. We must approach the job with enthusiasm and demonstrate that enthusiasm.

How do you motivate your colleagues?

Communicate: Greeting people in a positive manner is a great way to start their day. Telling people that they are doing a great job and how important their role is will build their enthusiasm for their job. Even more important is listening to people. Ask about what is important to your colleagues. Keep the energy going; encourage upbeat and positive attitudes by being upbeat and positive yourself. Consistently reinforce your commitment to Extension and show your colleagues that attitude is everything.

Reward positive behaviors: When people in Extension do a good job, tell them! Publicly recognize them on a regular basis.

Share your enthusiasm: Enjoy your job and show it. Being a role model for Extension is hard work and requires an ongoing process of passion and persistence. Don't expect quick fix results and don't expect one dose to solve every case of "bad attitude." You and only you can make a difference in your attitude. In turn you can influence the attitude of your colleagues -- for better or for worse. It is your choice!

Two books that you may want to consider adding to your personal library are:

--Dave Petritz dpetriz@purdue.edu

Hope you have had a Happy and Safe 4^th of July! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

K-STATE IPM MINI-GRANT CALL FOR PROPOSALS ANNOUNCED
The K-State IPM Mini-Grant Call for Proposals is now available at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/pesticides%2Dipm/mini_grants_2006.htm .

These are small grant awards for small research projects, IPM implementation ideas, or other IPM related work. The maximum amount which can be applied for is $8,000. All applicants must have a tie to K-State as the PI contact. If you have any questions regarding this grant program, please contact Sharon Dobesh at 785-532-4748 or sdobesh@oznet.ksu.edu . --Sharon Dobesh

REGISTER NOW FOR NATIONAL SARE CONFERENCE
'A Midwest Homecoming: Sharing a New Tradition of Sustainability' is the theme of the 2006 National Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Conference. The conference is in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, August 15 - 17. Travel Scholarships are available to extension faculty and other professionals supporting the food and fiber system.

For more information, contact Jana Beckman at beckman@ksu.edu , or 785-532-1440. --Jana Beckman

NATIONAL GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP - SEPTEMBER 6-7, 2006
CSREES, the Southern Region Research Directors (SAAESD), and NERA are collaborating in the presentation of two days of Grantsmanship and Grants Writing Workshops in Washington DC, September 6-7, 2006.

The first day will be CSREES NRI Grantsmanship Workshop and the second day will be a more generic Grant Writing Workshop which will be conducted by Mike Harrington and Tom Fretz.

Extension faculty can and should lead projects in the NRI integrated category, now up to 22 percent of the NRI funding, and expected to be at 30 percent as outlined in this appropriations cycle. The integrated accounts topic areas cover 15, which is almost all the focus areas of the NRI.

Below are links to the CSREES and NERA/SAAESD websites where you will find an overview, agenda, and registration information. Space will be limited, so early registration is encouraged. Registration for the complete 2-day workshop is $290, or $145 for either of the one day workshops, if completed by August 25. Late registration is $190 per day.

http://www.conted.vt.edu/wingrants/index.html

http://www.conted.vt.edu/usdagrant/

http://www.conted.vt.edu/usdagrant/agenda.html#2

http://www.conted.vt.edu/wingrants/travelgrantapp.pdf

--Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

HEALTHYKANSAS
Governor Sebelius is promoting the values of a HealthyKansas with a Healthy Tip Postcard contest. A postcard contest has been designed to promote health tips for communities in the state of Kansas. These tips will be geared to youth, adults in the workplace or seniors. Tips will be placed on the HealthyKansas website.

Each county will receive a copy of the contest rules in their county mail packet. Please encourage youth and adults from your communities to enter. All entries will be entered in a grand prize drawing on Thursday, September 14, on HealhtyKansas day. --Carol Fink cfink@oznet.ksu.edu

DIVERSITY OFFICE UPDATE
Summer is here and school is out, but that does not keep the K-State College of Agriculture’s Diversity Programs Office from working, learning, and teaching. Your Diversity Programs Office has not slowed down, for our goal is to meet the needs of every student who walks through the door.

During the summer, the College of Agriculture has been busy working on several tasks. The College of Agriculture has had the privilege of meeting and working with multicultural students from different areas in Kansas and the United States. During the month of June, the Diversity Programs Office (DPO) has been engaging with different programs such as GEAR UP and Upward Bound Program, as well as hosting our multicultural students during enrollment. Each program allowed the multicultural students to be introduced to the different departments in the College of Agriculture at K-State and during their visits they participated in hands on experiences in various departments such as Grain Science and Industry, Food Science, and  Animal Sciences and Industry. Each department did a superb job as they represented our college. Our future project is to host the 2006 Kaufman Scholars program at the end of July. This program will provide over 50 students the opportunity to be introduced to the academic and career opportunities in our college. All participants are middle and high school students from Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri.

Please join us as we welcome Maleika Robinson, sophomore, Social Sciences major from Manhattan, KS; and Shedra Rakestraw, junior, Agriculture Business major from Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL; as they work in the DPO this summer. Shedra is originally from Ft. Wayne, IN and is a participant in the 2006 Summer Research Program sponsored by the Graduate School. She is working with Dr. Frank White in Plant Pathology, as well, and he is serving as her mentor.

Best wishes for a safe and pleasant summer!

For more information you may contact, Dr. Zelia Wiley, Assistant Dean for Diversity at zwh@ksu.edu  or 785-532-5793. --Zelia Wiley

HARD WHITE WHEAT PRODUCTS NOW ON THE MARKET - TRY THEM!
After approximately 30 years of work at K-State by faculty in many departments, both on- and off-campus, to develop hard white winter wheat for Kansas and the region, we are finally seeing quite a few hard white wheat products hit the grocery store shelves.

Wonder Bread-brand bread from Kansas City's Interstate Bakeries Company features two types of bread made from hard white wheat flour. Those products, "White Bread Fans 100% Whole Grain" and "Wonder Made with 100% Whole White," are widely available in major grocery stores.

Sara Lee has unveiled "Soft and Smooth," a 100% white wheat loaf.

Meanwhile, Farmer Direct Foods' Homestead Mill in New Cambria, KS, has landed a contract to supply Panera Bread with authentic stoneground flour for its whole grain breads. Farmer Direct flour is an ingredient in Panera's whole-grain, country, rye, three-seed and honey-wheat breads. Farmer Direct Foods, an Atchison-based closed cooperative of white-wheat growers, owns the mill at New Cambria, just east of Salina.

Most of the white wheat flour being used in the breads mentioned above would be made from wheat varieties developed at K-State. We applaud our K-State "wheat team" for their many years of hard work in developing hard white wheat varieties and the many products (both in the U.S. and around the world) now made from Kansas hard white wheat. --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

KAMS BROCHURES FOR YOUR COUNTY FAIRS
Extension offices will be receiving Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services (KAMS) brochures through distribution.

If your office makes available Extension education information during your county fair, please include these brochures. We know there are many producers who could benefit by utilizing KAMS through our low-cost financial counseling and legal assistance. Calls to our toll-free hotline are free and confidential - 1-800-321-3276. --Char Henton char@ksu.edu

KEAA 4-H TASK FORCE REPORT
At the 2005 Kansas Extension Agents Association (KEAA) Annual Meeting, concerns were raised with the 4-H program in Kansas. The membership asked that a committee pursue working with the state 4-H staff to strengthen the 4-H. The goal was to fulfill the 4-H motto, "To Make the Best Better." KEAA President Mark Ploger asked Bill Wood to chair the task force.

Membership in the task force included representatives from the Family and Consumer Sciences, Agriculture, and 4-H Associations, 4-H Advisory, the State 4-H Livestock Advisory, and the KACAA 4-H Committee. The task force has met twice in face to face meetings, and had three conference call meetings.

Eight areas of concern were raised, thoroughly discussed and agreed upon. A survey was developed and shared with the membership of the three agent associations at their spring workshops. Agents ranked and tabulated 109 surveys. All three associations had the same top three concerns: communication on events/projects, curriculum, and records.

Administrators Fred Cholick, Daryl Buchholz, Pat McNally, and area directors were informed of this task force and its goals, and provided advice to give back to the group.

The task force and state and area 4-H staff plan to meet for a work day in August to dialogue and develop action/game plans to address the concerns.

The Kansas 4-H program is important to the Kansas extension family, and by working together as a family, we can "Make the Best Better."

Committee members who have been active on this Task Force include Mark Ploger, Glenda Keller, Andrea Schmidt, Carla Nemecek, Richard Fechter, Beth Hecht, Shawna Mitchell, Jim Mengarelli, Keith VanSkike, Pam Van Horn, Cindy Williams, Tandy Rundus, Ross Mosteller, and Bill Wood. --Bill Wood         bdwood@oznet.ksu.edu

VIEW THE MASTER SCHEDULE OR ADD NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. 

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