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The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service

Vol. 15, No. 34  June 30, 2009


IN THIS ISSUE... 

...Word from the Associate Director - Extension and Applied Research
...4-H/FFA Rabbit Showmanship Correction - Kansas State Fair Exhibitor Handbook
...Kansas State Fair 4-H Show-Date Clarification
...Featured Employee on Employee Resources Website
...Kansas Garden Guide in Major Revision
...Reminder: KSRE Adobe Connect Address Change - July 22
...Upcoming Events
...Diversity Programs Office Update
...Marie's Picks ...
...KSRE Master Calendar
 
                                                                                         

                                                                                                ...Tuesday Letter Archives


WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
I will devote this Tuesday message to one of appreciation and thanks.

Extension agents, Extension Board members, County Commissioners, and interested clientele all across Kansas are engaged in thoughtful, forward-thinking dialog and discussion regarding the future structure for the statewide operation of K-State Research and Extension. For that, I am deeply appreciative.

The economic condition of this state, country, and world remains fragile. Little doubt that the economic engine of Kansas is underperforming with respect to the tax revenues needed to fuel the public services supported through state and local governments. As a result, the time for discussions and actions on changes for K-State Research and Extension is now.

Congratulations to Twin Creeks Extension District #9 which officially begins tomorrow! This brings us to have 25 counties organized into 9 Extension Districts. And, to many, many more of you who are having serious discussions, thoughtful planning, and initial processes towards organizing into districts, I appreciate your hard work.

I simply want you to know that your thoughts and discussions are important, and that your Area Extension Directors, Assistant Directors, Fred, and I are all interested and willing to assist answering questions and keeping your processes moving in the direction you, your Board members, Commissioners, and stakeholders wish to see for the future of Extension in Kansas.

Thanks for all you do. Thanks for what is shaping up to have been a very successful 4-H camping season! Best wishes for a most positive experience for all through the Fairs season. And, have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu 

 

4-H/FFA RABBIT SHOWMANSHIP CORRECTION - KANSAS STATE FAIR EXHIBITOR HANDBOOK
On page 200 of the 2009 Kansas State Fair Exhibitor Handbook under 4-H/FFA Rabbit Showmanship, Class 3463 should read: "Showmanship , members 9 and 10 years old. Report to Rabbit Building at 8 am." I apologize for overlooking this change in the proofing process. Nine year olds are eligible to compete in 4-H/FFA Rabbit Showmanship. --Gary W. Gerhard ggerhard@ksu.edu

 

KANSAS STATE FAIR 4-H HORSE SHOW--DATE CLARIFICATION
Please be advised that page 232 of the State Fair Book lists the wrong dates for the 4-H Horse Show. The correct dates are September 18-20, 2009, not September 11-13, 2009. The schedule listed on page 185, lists the correct dates.

Please contact Sarah Dick, Kansas 4-H Horse Program Coordinator, sarahdd@ksu.edu , for additional information. --Sarah Dick

 

FEATURED EMPLOYEE ON EMPLOYEE RESOURCES WEBSITE
Mary Knapp, State Climatologist with K-State Research and Extension, is the featured employee on the Employee Resources website. To learn more, go to www.ksre.ksu.edu/employee_resources . --Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu

 

KANSAS GARDEN GUIDE IN MAJOR REVISION
Publication of the "Kansas Garden Guide," S51, has been delayed, and current orders will be canceled. Please watch for the opportunity to order the completely revised and expanded publication, planned for delivery by late winter. We regret any inconvenience caused by the delay.
--Nancy Zimmerli-Cates nancyz@ksu.edu

 

REMINDER: KSRE ADOBE CONNECT ADDRESS CHANGE - JULY 22
Change is a coming...on Wednesday, July 22, IET will be changing all Adobe Connect meeting room Internet addresses (URLs) from OZNET to KSRE. For example, from... http://connect.oznet.ksu.edu/(your_meeting_room) to http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/(your_meeting_room) .

If you use the old "oznet" address during or after July 22, it will not work! Please inform your Connect users and update any Website and e-mail links that you normally use for your meeting rooms.

For information relating to Connect, go to www.ksre.ksu.edu/TechWeb . For additional information, contact Gerry Snyder, gsnyder@ksu.edu or call IET at 785-532-6270. --Gerry Snyder

 

UPCOMING EVENTS
K-State Research and Extension Horticulture Center Field Day
(35230 West 135th, Olathe--approximately nine miles west of Hwy. 7 on 135th Street.)
July 25, 2009

The K-State Research & Extension Horticulture Center’s Annual Field Day is the public’s best opportunity to learn how Kansas State University Research and Extension develops its list of recommended varieties of grass, flowers and vegetables.

The event will be held Saturday, July 25, from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. This is a once-a-year opportunity to talk with the experts, learn about the latest plant varieties, and learn about methods for success in the garden. Admission is $5 per person, and includes bottled water and hourly seminars delivered by professionally trained experts.

For more information: http://www.johnson.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=681#Free_Seminars . --Christy Dipman cdipman@ksu.edu

 

DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE
The Diversity Programs Office is happy to announce that the Multicultural Academic Program Success (MAPS) Student Presentations will be taking place on July 27, 2009 at the Student Union in the Flint Hills Room. The closing ceremony for the group will be on Thursday July, 30, at 6:30 p.m. in
International Grains Program Conference Center. MAPS is a collaborative effort of the Colleges of Agriculture, Business Administration and Engineering as well as Project IMPACT. It is geared to helping incoming freshman in these colleges obtain academic success during their transition from high school to college. This program is funded by the Cargill, Inc. gift.

We would also like to announce that the KSRE Multicultural Fellowship will be closing on July 30, with student presentations beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Waters Hall Room 137. The four student fellows are Angel Laws, Schontonia Davis, Harold Mellieon, and Charlotte Lewis. All of the students are being sponsored this year by the Department of Animal Science and Industry.

If you are interested in attending any of these events, please contact Zelia Wiley at zwh@ksu.edu  or 785-532-5793. You may also find more information about the events on our website at www.ag.ksu.edu/diversity . --Zelia Wiley

 

MARIE’S PICKS . . .
This week my picks (outcomes, considerable public value [benefit to non-participants]!, and success stories) were reported by Comanche, Ellis, Geary, Riley, and Wyandotte County agents:

--Recycling in Comanche county has increased. Reports from the Road and Bridge Department show that they shipped more recyclables in 2008. A contest through the school, as well as news articles and brochures, helped increase recyclables collected. Funds are coming back to the county to help defray expenses for the project and much of the litter has been kept out of the landfill!

--After seeing many businesses within Ellis County through the years simply close their doors leaving a void in the local economy and community, the Ellis County Economic Development Program Development Committee (PDC) members believes there is a need to address business succession planning. The PDC, working in partnership with Ellis County Extension Agents, is nearing completion of a "Business Succession Planning" DVD. The DVD highlights experts in their respective fields laying out the groundwork of the components and resources necessary to develop a comprehensive and thorough plan to transition a business, whether to a family member or business associate.

--Daycare providers understand the importance of proper food handling including handwashing (of staff and children), adequate cooking and holding, and safe serving in an effort to reduce the risk of unsafe food. They are also aware that they are working with one of the high-risk populations more prone to becoming ill from eating unsafe foods.

--Healthy Kids in Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) is a cooperative venture between Extension and the KCK Housing Authority to teach healthy lifestyles information to youth. In the semi-annual evaluation that was submitted, we found that we are meeting all of the objectives for the youth for knowledge gained about nutrition and increasing their physical activities. Part time staff continue to provide healthy lifestyles programming in the Kidzone afterschool program in USD 500. The average daily attendance at the program during the school year is approximately 600 elementary school youth.

--As a result of our Earth Day composting demonstration, materials that were going into the county landfill are now being composted and used in the garden to improve plant growth without the use of additional fertilizer inputs.

--The 4-H Camp learning experience at Rock Springs 4-H Center involved 107 campers. They lived in groups of 8 and experienced an array of activities including outdoor education, canoeing, horses, and rifles. During the four-day experience, campers learned to manage personal finances, how to serve and eat in a family style setting, work as a cabin team, and manage their personal belongings.

--Working closely with the committee that oversees the Geary County 4-H/Sr. Citizens Center, we have moved this group from being a token committee with the Extension Office doing all the work to a very involved, self-motivating group. They are serious about maintaining a quality facility and raising the money to meet the maintenance and improvements without relying on tax funds for their share of the expenses. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu

 

KSRE MASTER CALENDAR
Go to http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/MasterCalendar .

Select "Upcoming Events" to review events and professional development offerings for the next two weeks.

Dates can easily be added from the "submit event" tab. You can edit events that you have submitted, or to correct previously submitted items, contact mblythe@ksu.edu .

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Please Submit Items no later than Noon on Monday to include in the following Tuesday Letter to:
tuesday@ksre.ksu.edu . Put the word "Tuesday" in the subject line.

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