 |
 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IN THIS ISSUE... ...Word from the
Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research WORD FROM THE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH The speaker was John Molinaro, Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group from Washington DC. He was a keynote speaker at the Community Economic Development Conference in Lindsborg. John spoke on "Regionalism and the Rural Economy." His primary points were in a definition for regionalism, which he says means, "a contiguous area coming together across traditional geographic boundaries to achieve a mutually beneficial economic purpose that cannot be effectively achieved acting alone." Throughout his presentation he used examples of where towns and/or counties came together to mutually identify strengths that can be achieved through creating a regional network, and how those successful processes have increased economic activity and improved the overall well being of the region. Obviously, the greatest hurdle to jump in such a process is in agreeing on the key elements to making the regional approach work, and then believing "what benefits you will ultimately benefit me." These are difficult discussions, and require shared values and a shared vision across a region. Yet, with the examples he used, you could see the benefits of developing the shared values and vision. In the spirit of Jim Collins in his book, "Good to Great," working to locate that sweet spot where "passions," "being best at," and an "economic engine" all come together, is critical for the future of many communities and counties across the Great Plains. I believe K-State Research and Extension can play a key role in helping people create a vision across traditional geographical, sociological, and political boundaries. Obviously, a vision is not automatic success, but without such vision, history can pretty well predict the future. Henry Ford offered a thoughtful quote when he said, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: FY2007 FEDERAL FORMULA FUNDS MINI-GRANTS Background The federal budget process for FY2007 concluded with passage of a Continuing Resolution that included a large one-time increase in research and extension formula funds for land-grant universities. This one-time increase was to make up for the absence of "earmarks" or "special grants" from the FY2007 USDA-CSREES budget. K-State Research and Extension received enough money to cover all our commitments on special-grant projects. After covering these commitments, a pool of funds remains. These funds must be spent by September 30, 2008. The Director has decided to invest a large part of this reserve in a competitive, one-time mini-grants program.Important Facts
If you have further questions, please contact Dr. Forrest Chumley, fchumley@ksu.edu ; or Dr. Daryl Buchholz, dbuchhol@ksu.edu . --Daryl Buchholz
REGISTER BY APRIL 18 FOR THE THIRD
ANNUAL EXTENSION "HEALTHFEST!" On April 27, 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., lunch provided, Health Rocks!, the National 4-H Council's health promotion program, will be featured. Trainer, Dr. Susan Holder, from Mississippi State University Extension, will be leading us in the basics of the community youth development program for health. Kansas Coordinated School Health programs are invited to attend too. On April 28, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Bobbie Harris, Friends University faculty member and originator of the acclaimed "Physical Extensions" health promotion project for afterschool, will be training teens and adults in afterschool group management and physical activity promotion. Bobbie is also the author of Physical Focus and Physical Essentials, which are both Kansas Health Foundation programs that are currently used in many Kansas schools. Extension Health Fest! is supported by the USDA/CYFAR "Kansas Teen Leadership for Physically Active Lifestyles" project. Register, no later than April 18, by contacting Carol Fink, cfink@ksu.edu , 785-532-1705; or Elaine Johannes, ejohanne@ksu.edu , 785-532-7720. There is no charge for HealthFest! Just come learn, enjoy and get active! --Elaine Johannes ejohanne@ksu.edu
RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR RITA DAWSON Cards and letters can be sent to: Coffey County Extension Office, PO Box 269, Burlington, KS 66839. For more information, contact Cade or Jessica at 620-364-5313. --Cade Rensink crensink@oznet.ksu.edu
OPEN HOUSE FOR BRUCE CHLADNY The open house will be from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, at the Douglas County Extension Office in Deal Six Auditorium. The Extension office is located at 2110 Harper Street, Lawrence, Kansas. Please come and express your appreciation to him for his dedication to Douglas County. --Emily Morehouse morehous@oznet.ksu.edu
THANK YOU FROM CAROL YOUNG
WORKERS NEEDED
FOR KSRE BOOTH AT THE 3i SHOW IN GARDEN CITY Steven Graham will bring the display, handout materials from campus, and be present during all three days of the show. If you would like to attend the 3i Show and also assist in the booth for an hour or more, that would be great. There is no entrance or parking fee. The 3i Show is a huge farm machinery show which also has some daily programming aimed at spouses. These programs are coordinated by K-State Research and Extension and are located in the SE room, under the Stadium. Our booth will have information from our Core Mission Themes, plus we will be joined by some of the Watershed Specialists. Please e-mail and let me know which day(s) and what time(s) you would like to work in the booth. Thanks for your assistance. --Steven Graham sgraham@oznet.ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICK OF
THE WEEK The project, when successfully completed, should have a direct impact on the safety and quality of many raw meat products. Many meat cuts can be treated, packaged, stored, and shipped to various places in refrigerated containers with no additional contamination since the meat cut will be protected by the vacuum bag. The impact may be millions of dollars saved by less spoilage of products and, more importantly, will reduce the chance of contamination by food borne pathogens. Since this is at the early stage of development, no direct economic impact has been evaluated. Eventually, when all the conditions have been defined, a team of specialists, which will include microbiologists, food scientists, food technologist, agriculture engineers, and meat processors will need to be assembled to develop logistics of meat cutting operation, hot acid dipping operation, vacuum packaging operation, microwave operation, and finally storage and distribution operations. Once the process is successful, the impact could be substantial for meat safety and preservation, nationally and internationally. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
KAE4-HA AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED Achievement In Service Award - Sarah Maass, Central Kansas District; and Evelyn Neier, Junior Master Gardener Coordinator; Distinguished Service Award - Berny Unruh, Barton County; and Gary Gerhard, State 4-H Specialist; Meritorious Service Award - Pam Van Horn, State 4-H Specialist; Communicator Awards: Feature Story, News Story, and Published Photo Awards - Phyllis Kriesel, Cherokee County; Promotional Piece Team- 4-H Marketing Action Team - Jodi Besthorn, Andrea Karcher, Keri Liddeke, Andrea Schmidt, Aliesa Woods and Diane Mack; Speciality Awards: Search for Excellence in Teen Programming Award - Beth Hecht, Leavenworth County; Educational Technology Team Award - VIP On Line Orientation - Diane Mack, Rod Buchele, Beth Hinshaw, Gerry Snyder and Brandon Cummins; Air Force Recruiting Salute Award - Pat McNally, State 4-H Leader. --KAE4-HA Recognition Committee PLANNING AHEAD FOR RISK MANAGEMENT Are you prepared to help if someone is injured at work or during a program? Do you have first aid kits available where you do your work and programming? Some places to consider include: vehicles, tractors, combines, meeting rooms, offices, barns, workshops and buildings at the fairgrounds. Also consider having kits that can be checked out from your office for staff to take to meetings or First aid kits can be purchased on the state of Kansas bid list. On campus they are available from the Division of Facilities, Dykstra Hall. To see what is needed in a first aid kit; please go to the K-State Research and Extension Risk Management Publication, http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/misc2/riskmgmt.pdf . This would also be a good time to check your current first aid kits to see that all components have been restocked, and that nothing in the kit is out of date. --Beth Hinshaw bhinshaw@ksu.edu
4-H GEOLOGY FIELD
TRIPS -- JUNE 8-10, 2007
ABOUT MEXICO'S RESEARCH UNIVERSITY Early one morning, we loaded the yellow Mercedes bus belonging to the Cemanahuac (Sem-men-now-wok) Educational Community (Cemanahuac Comunidad Educativa), our hosts. We headed to the northeast part of the valley Mexico City crossing over the causeway that once connected the embryonic Mexico City (Tenochtitlán) to Texcoco (Tesh-co-co) across Lake Texcoco. In the municipality of Texcoco is Universidad Autónoma de Chapingo. The university was founded in 1854 as the National School of Agriculture. Its first home was near the heart of Mexico City. After the Mexican Revolution, it was moved to its present site in the municipio (county) of Texcoco at Chapingo, an old hacienda. Until 1968, it was a military installation. Then the name was changed to Autonomous University at Chapingo, UACh. Autonomous was put in the name to reflect a total ban on firearms on the campus. We met with the president of the university in the world famous, President’s Office, which was named the World Cultural Heritage and National Museum of Agriculture. In the Director’s Room, on the wall, are portraits of former directors of the National School of Agriculture and past presidents of the UACh. El Presidente told us about the history of Chapingo as his predecessors looked on from the wall. The portraits were painted by the national artists during the time of each director or president’s terms. Artists included Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Clemente Orozco. Remember those names. The erstwhile president is painted as he appeared before us: without a necktie. He said he wants all students to see him as approachable, so he does not wear a tie. The school is both research university and preparatory school. Seven-thousand students attend the University. The preparatory high school boasts 2,000 students who focus on agricultural studies. Three-thousand people sleep and eat on campus including many faculty. Six-thousand meals are prepared everyday by the food service provider. Eighty-three percent of the students at UACh are full-time. Seventeen percent of the student population is indigenous, and they are allowed, indeed, encouraged to speak their own languages. There are 33 Aztec indigenous groups on campus. The indigenous students are known for their high academic skills. Thirty-six percent of the student population is female. The University president, who also acts as principal and superintendent of the preparatory high school, is elected by the UACh educational community. Faculty and students have equal voting power. If the University president is seen as inadequate, he (there has never been a female president) can be removed through a plebiscite. The UACh remains the National School of Agriculture and has been Autonomous for the past 30 years. There are 21 departments of study with 20 post graduate programs focusing on agriculture, forestry, plants, vegetables, animal sciences, sociology, economics, commerce, water, rural development, geography, and horticulture. Four-hundred out of the 1,006 professors are dedicated to research. Students and faculty focus on research projects that link to the agricultural sector of society. The campus is beautifully landscaped, and a common site was the students’ laundry hanging from their dormitory windows. Of the many wondrous sites on campus, the chapel houses a very important work of art by muralist, Diego Rivera. I will talk more of Mexico’s art next week. My participation of this important trip was made possible by Daryl Buchholz, Epsilon Sigma Phi, and S.A.R.E. --Debra Bolton dbolton@ksu.edu
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE We are very excited to announce a tremendous success at the 2007 MANRRS National Conference in Birmingham, AL. K-State was represented by16 students. That representation included the National Graduate Vice President, Jael Jackson, and last year’s National President-Elect, Dr. Zelia Wiley, who at the close of the conference took over the reigns as the 2007-2008 National President. While in Birmingham, our students had the opportunity to network with several professionals from various corporations in the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences field. There was a Career Fair that housed over 80 companies and graduate schools, including three K-State booths. Several people commented on how well represented K-State was at the Career Fair. The conference also hosted several career building workshops. I believe our students found the opportunity to attend this conference very beneficial to their development. I also believe it was a chance for them to have an enjoyable time and meet professionals and their peers from many other parts of the country and even the world. --Zelia Wiley zwh@ksu.edu
Submit corrections to previously submitted items to jzarger@ksu.edu . DATES TAKEN FROM THE MASTER SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 25, 2007, THROUGH MAY 1, 2007: Wednesday, April 25 .... Canola Field Tour, Hutchinson/RN, South Central Kansas, 9:00 a.m., Vic Martin vmartin@oznet.ksu.edu Wednesday, April 25, through Friday, April 27 Friday, April 27, through Saturday, April 28 Tuesday, May 1 Tuesday, May 1, through Friday, May 4
|
|
Please Submit Items no later than Noon on
Monday to include in the following Tuesday Letter to: K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. |