An Extension Professional:

• Is trained, experienced, and knowledgeable
• Is culturally competent and demonstrates the ability to work with diverse audiences in a variety of settings
• Exhibits excellent oral and written communication skills
• Manages, networks, and collaborates to build alliances and partnerships
• Adheres to high standards of personal and professional ethics
• Demonstrates ability to work independently and is self-directed
• Is an effective team member
• Uses informational and educational technology to accomplish goals
• Teaches in formal and informal settings as appropriate
• Is a lifelong learner
• Embraces and adapts to change
• Upholds the Land Grant Mission and that of his/her University
• Is a scholar and demonstrates scholarship throughout his/her work
• Is nationally engaged with educational presentations, research and professional development
• Provides information and tools to empower clientele to make decisions to meet their needs or the needs of the people they represent
• Is a recognized source of practical, research-based educational information
• Maintains a positive attitude
• Treats clients, colleagues and stakeholders with respect

And, there remains one more that I believe to be critically important that wasn't a part of that list (so, this is just Daryl's addition).

Is driven to be a change agent, one who creates the learning experiences that will motivate others to improve their life, family, business, community, and world.

Reading all these, I now feel a motivation to work on several of these characteristics to assure my ability to call myself an Extension Professional.

Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu

GALAXY III DEADLINE EXTENDED
Galaxy III registration deadline has been extended to this Friday, June 20. Hotel rooms are beyond filled up, and additional hotels have been added to increase availability. With the initial early bird registration having ended on Sunday, this will allow an opportunity to still register before the price goes up $100. Go to www.ces.purdue.edu/galaxy  to view the schedule and register for the conference. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu

RETIREMENT PARTY FOR MORGAN POWELL, EXTENSION ENGINEER
Morgan Powell, Extension Engineer, Water Quality, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, will be retiring on June 28, 2008. Morgan has been with KSU for 31 years.

A picnic dinner will be held at Keats Park, Thursday, June 26, 2008, beginning at 5 p.m. A short program will be at 5:45 p.m. with the picnic dinner served at 6 p.m. Reservations for the meal need to be made by TODAY, JUNE 17, to Cindy Casper, 785-532-5813, or e-mail ccasper@ksu.edu .

Contributions may be made to the Kansas Well Environment Scholarship Fund for students in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department. If you would like to make a contribution to the fund, make checks payable to “KSU Foundation” and send to 147 Seaton Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, Attention: Cindy.

Cards and letters for a scrapbook for Morgan Powell, can be sent to him at Extension Biological & Ag Engineering, 147 Seaton Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506. --Cindy Casper

THANK YOU FROM TONI BRYANT
I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming generosity of money, gifts, and offers of clothes and furnishings after the loss of our home to fire. It was a devastating blow to us but I am so fortunate that no one was home and the dogs were outside so no injuries incurred.

I feel like THE MOST BLESSED person in the world because of the beautiful notes of encouragement, hugs of love, and extremely-extremely generous financial response. I will never live long enough to repay each of you but I may die trying!!! I love you all and I want you to know that I will always be there for you in your times of despair-even if it's just a hangnail. Thank you again and again. --Toni Jo Bryant tjbryant@humec.ksu.edu

FOOD SAFETY FOR OLDER ADULTS RESEARCH TEAM NEEDS YOUR HELP
We are seeking at least 10 persons, over 55 years of age, willing to join a focused group discussion about consumer food safety behaviors/technology, on Friday, June 27, and/or Monday, June 30.  Participation in only ONE session is needed and the program (responding to select questions) will take no longer than ONE hour of your time.

• Connect with Kansas Food Dealers Association
• Hold another forum 6 months or one year from now
• Work on developing a “buy local campaign”
• Look into getting an audience with state legislators
• Create a Rural Grocer Steering Committee to serve as a core group that will assess the issues and then form some sub-committees to address those issues.  The steering committee included:
   
  • John Voegeli, Rose Hill Apple Market, Rose Hill
  • Dwight Gooch, Gooch’s Foods, Tribune
  • Dan Smoots, Fanestil Meats, Emporia
  • Mark Wellbrock, Jetmore Food Center, Jetmore
  • Jim McGuffey, Jim’s Foodliner, Cheney
  • Jim Puff, Puffy’s and Alma Food Mart, Maple Hill and Alma
  • James Foster, Kansas Department of Commerce, ORO, Colby
  • Helen Pauly, St. Mary’s Chamber of Commerce and Pottawatomie County Economic Development, St. Mary’s
  • Kenny Miller, Miller’s Food Store,  Sharon Springs
     

COMMUNITY FACILITY AND STORM SHELTER FUNDING AVAILABLE FROM USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Grant and loan funding continues to be available for essential rural Kansas community development programs and storm shelters through USDA Rural Development. The Agency's Communities Facilities Program is designed to assist in the development of essential community facilities, including storm sirens, for public use in rural areas, and the Single Family Home Repair Grant & Loan Program may assist in removing health and safety hazards for owner-occupied single family residences, such as storm shelters.

"The Community Facilities Program is a great tool to assist rural communities in developing new or enhancing existing facilities for public safety, public service and health care. The benefits of the program through grants and low-interest loans can significantly enhance the viability of critically needed community facility projects," commented State Director Banks.

Additionally, Banks said, "Severe weather can strike unexpectedly, often with serious personal consequences. As Kansans were again reminded last year, violent storms and the unfortunate loss of life underscores the need for improved home safety measures. The installation of an approved storm shelter offers important added safety and security when severe weather strikes. USDA can provide eligible homeowners an excellent opportunity to protect themselves and their families."

Through its Community Facilities Programs, the Department of Agriculture is striving to ensure that such facilities are readily available to all rural communities.

USDA Rural Development can also assist homeowners with other necessary improvements or repairs.

For additional information regarding all USDA Rural Development programs, interested parties may call the Agency's state headquarters at 785-271-2700 or log onto the state's USDA Rural Development website at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks . --Steven Graham sgraham@k-state.edu

KYLF WORKSHOP PRESENTERS NEEDED
In November, the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum will be held at Rock Springs 4-H Center, near Junction City, Kansas. Teens, ages 14-18, are the primary audience. We are looking for one hour workshops focusing on some aspect of leadership. The workshops will be held Saturday, November 22, 2008 and will begin at 8:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Proposals are due to the State 4-H Office on July 15.

A letter with details and a proposal form can be found on the 4-H website, http://www.kansas4h.org/Events/KYLE/Default.htm .

Please contact Beth Hinshaw with questions, bhinshaw@ksu.edu . --Beth Hinshaw

MARIE'S PICK OF THE WEEK
While reviewing the 2007 Impact Reports and Project Accomplishments for items that are especially effective at helping us understand how our work can be highlighted to share outcomes, impacts, success stories, and public value, this week my pick includes outcomes and impact reported by Ken Kofoid.

The development of improved germplasm has many consequences. Improved efficiency in production is a benefit to all farmers regardless of the size of the farm. Increased grain yield and/or enhanced utilization adds to the value of the crop. Our research has shown that adding a few extra days of grain fill increases grain yield and improving post flowering drought tolerance maintains the rate of grain fill through the entire grain filling period. However, the rate and duration of grain fill have a negative correlation with each other so improving both will require more effort. The yield increase that may come from either or both of these traits can be accomplished at no additional cost to the producer and each additional bushel of grain is extra net profit. Also, the larger grains produced by increasing grain fill duration are associated with improved feed quality. Adding just one bushel per acre could mean an additional $5 million to the farm economy each year. Additionally, the larger grains may be beneficial to the ethanol industry which would further improve sorghum’s utilization. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu

To view the complete Master Schedule online or as a pdf, go to http://129.130.72.154/MasterSchAdd/

Saturday, June 28, 2008, Haskell County 4-H & Open Horse Show starting at 8:00 a.m., Haskell County Fairgrounds, Sublette, Kristin Penner pennerkr@ksu.edu  

Monday, June 30 through Thursday, July 3, 2008, Beef Improvement Federation Symposium, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Twig Marston twig@ksu.edu

Tuesday, July 1, 2008, Southwest District Qualifying Horse Show, Garden City, Darl Henson dhenson@ksu.edu  

Tuesday, July 1, 2008, South Central District Qualifying Horse Show, Kingman, Kelsey Holcomb holcombk@ksu.edu  

Tuesday, July 1 through Thursday, July 3, 2008, Kansas All Breeds Junior Dairy Show, Salina, Carl Garten cgarten@ksu.edu  

Wednesday, July 2, 2008, State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest starting at 10:00 a.m. in Salina at the Expo Carl Garten cgarten@ksu.edu , Mike Brouk mbrouk@ksu.edu , Jim Adams jadams@ksu.edu  

Wednesday, July 2, 20008, State 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl starting at 3:00 p.m. in Salina at the Expo, Carl Garten cgarten@ksu.edu , Mike Brouk mbrouk@ksu.edu , Jim Adams jadams@ksu.edu  

Wednesday, July 2 through Saturday, July 5, 2008, Smart Marriage Conference, San Francisco, CA Hilton, Charlotte Olsen colsen@ksu.edu  and Peg Condray pcondray@ksu.edu