The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
(Vol. 18 No. 47)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
It is fall, nearly October, and Annual Conference is just
around the corner. I am pleased and
excited to have Dr. Waded Cruzado, President of Montana State University, as
our keynote speaker on Wednesday, October 17.
Dr. Cruzado’s passion, love, and experience with Land-Grant Universities
is addictive as you listen to her story.
After accepting our invitation, Dr. Cruzado was selected to present the prestigious Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lecture at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities on November 12 in Denver. Seaman
A. Knapp is regarded as “The Father of Extension.”
And, if you haven’t noticed, our own Director of K-State Research
and Extension, Dr. John Floros, will also be speaking that morning and his title is “Why I Love
Land-Grant Universities and Their Mission of Teaching, Research, and Extension.”
Rounding out the morning, will be our own President Kirk Schulz, speaking on how it feels to defeat OU on their own Gaylord
Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium!! (Okay, just kidding on that one). Dr. Schulz will be providing us an update on great things happening around Kansas State University.
Anticipate much to celebrate with the 150th Anniversary of the Morrill Act in creating the Land-Grant university system!
And, on another note, we’ve put some special attention and
focus on our 14 K-State Research and Extension Districts to better understand
how the faculty, staff, board members, and volunteers across those Districts
are achieving objectives of greater effectiveness, efficiency and
sustainability. Our Communications and Marketing team has pulled together
stories that convey some of those accomplishments. Learn about the work of the
Districts and District Extension Agents through this link to the website that is part of the
Board Leadership Website.
Congratulations to District boards and agents for the
progress being made in providing focused programming that is meeting the
educational needs of traditional as well as new audiences. Thanks to all of our workforce in all parts of our organization for the great work you do. We have much for which to be proud. Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
DO YOU NEED A NEW NAME BADGE?
All
participants attending the upcoming Annual Conference, October 16-18,
2012, will be asked to wear their K-State Research and Extension
name badges.
If you have never received a name badge, if you
still have one of the old variety, or if you wish to purchase a new
badge, e-mail Sue Robinson, srobinso@ksu.edu.
Be
sure to specify the kind of backing you want - magnet, clip or pin -
and specify how you want your name on the badge. There is not room for
titles, but department, area, county, district, or research center will
be shown.
Each new employee, at
the instructor level or above, receives his/her first name badge free
of charge. Counties, districts, areas and departments are encouraged to
order name badges for other employees and will be invoiced in the
amount of $4.50 for each name badge.
If a new name badge is
needed, please order soon so you can receive them in plenty of time for
Annual Conference. --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
SMALL WIND TURBINE CERTIFICATION WEBINAR
The North American Small Wind Turbine Certification Webinar will be Friday, September 28, 10 a.m. CST.
One of the major challenges for consumers interested in small wind has been the ability to compare turbines fairly and understand whether the salesman’s claims are accurate. There are companies that are coming into the small wind turbine market with "new" designs which promise the world, but fail to deliver.
The speaker for this webinar will be Brent Summerville, Technical Director for the Small Wind Certification Council, http://www.smallwindcertification.org. The Small Wind Certification Council is an independent accredited certification body that tests and certifies small wind turbines. It is an organization for consumers to turn to for accurate and credible information about small wind turbines.
Past web seminars are archived at http://farmenergymedia.extension.org/videos or http://bioenergy.unl.edu.
How To Connect: Start connecting 5 minutes prior to the start time. You need a computer with Internet access and speakers. At the meeting time, copy and paste this URL into your browser to enter the meeting: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/agenergy/.
At that URL you will find a login page. "Enter as a Guest" with your name, and business or institution and click "Enter Room." The audio portion of the meeting will be come through your computer speakers. Any time before the meeting you can visit the following URL to confirm your ability to connect: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/testconnect/. --Ed Brokesh ebrokesh@ksu.edu
DEAN STITES RETIREMENT
The Retirement Reception for Dean Stites, Wildcat Extension District Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources, will be Thursday, September 27, 2 - 4 p.m., 120 E. Buffalo, Girard, Kansas. Please
join us as we celebrate Dean's service to K-State Research and Extension.
Congratulations may be sent to Dean at Wildcat Extension District, Girard Office, 120 E. Buffalo, Girard, Kansas 66743. --Brian Swisher bswisher@ksu.edu
COMM TIPS: FALL 2012 SCHEDULE
Want to learn more about Windows 7? How do I edit my digital photos? Where do I purchase software and hardware? How can I check the facts for my newsletter?
Comm Tips is a weekly online series to provide you helpful information with your communication and technology skills. Comm Tips is every Wednesday, October 3 to December 5, at 9 a.m. Each program is 20 minutes with 10 minutes for Q&A.
I think you will enjoy our good array of topics for this series.
October 3: Windows 7 TipsOctober 10: Photo/Image Editing No program October 17 (K-State Research and Extension Annual Conference) October 24: Check the Facts for Newsletters October 31: Join the Online Conversations
November 7: KSRE Image Library
November 14: iPads for Extension Educators
No program November 21 (Thanksgiving Break)
November 28: Trinkets and Treasures
December 5: Technology Purchasing and Vendors
This is a live online program. Please join us at http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/commtips. Simply log in as a guest with your name. These programs will be recorded in case you miss them.
For the Comm Tips schedule, program descriptions and previous programs, visit the Comm Tips webpage at http://www.communications.ksu.edu/p.aspx?tabid=1102.
For additional information, contact Gerry Snyder, gsnyder@ksu.edu; Russ Feldhausen, russfeld@ksu.edu; or Elaine Edwards, elainee@ksu.edu.
--Gerry Snyder
HELP KEEP WEALTH LOCAL BY AVOIDING GENERATIONAL TAXES
Our state is blessed with millions of acres of rich farm and ranch land. Some of our neighbors have enjoyed the benefits of recent developments with oil, gas and wind.
Over the next decade, the generational transfer of wealth in land owned by our seasoned neighbors is staggering. Much of it will pass to family. Fantastic! But many of our friends are looking for ideas and alternatives. We can help them help their communities – and maybe our programs.
It is a tremendous service when we can show a way to 1) transfer assets to family, 2) reduce taxes, 3) create a family legacy, and 4) support their charitable interests. That service will enhance our value in our communities.
An endowed fund at the KSU Foundation returns annual benefits to people or programs determined by the donor. Dollars that leave our communities as estate and capital gain taxes can’t be tied to those same people or programs. Good planning benefits the landowner’s family AND their passion. The landowner drives that decision.
I encourage you to contact Gordon Dowell, gordond@found.ksu.edu, at the KSU Foundation. There is no arm twisting, badgering or harassment. Rather, he listens to your neighbor’s goals and works to create a program that benefits the landowner, their family, K-State – and maybe your programs. Sandra Wick provided a testimonial a few weeks ago. We can open doors, help our neighbors, our university - and maybe our programs. --Mark Ploger mploger@ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
This week
my pick is a success story from Todd Whitney, River Valley District - Concordia
Office, about his Efficient and Sustainable Cropping Systems program.
"Clicker" evaluation responders were used at our
K-State Research and Extension River Valley District In-Depth Weeds School at
Scandia in February. During the school, 24 farmers, crop consultants and
agribusiness participants responded to the electronic evaluation. The average
total acres managed by the 24 responding were 58,550 acres with an average
impact value of $9.50 per acre. Through educational research presented at
the In-Depth Weeds school, there was a potential economic impact of up to
$556,225.
The "Clicker" electronic tools also
provided immediate feedback for the Kansas Grain Sorghum School held at
Cloud County Community College in Concordia, March 6. Clicker responses were
received from all attending while written evaluation forms were received from
27 of the 47 farmers and crop consultants attending.
Popular responses about valuable concepts learned were: new weed control
options, economic value of corn vs. sorghum, drilled vs. planted sorghum value,
soil testing, improved insect scouting, increasing seeding rates, and
technology options.
The electronic devices provide a quick feedback tool to
help assess impact of meetings. The different response rate may indicate that most participants would
rather click on a multiple-choice response to a question during
a session than to write comments on an evaluation sheet later, after completion
of the session. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS OFFICE UPDATE
Greetings from the Diversity Programs Office. The DPO has been very busy over the past couple weeks! First, the DPO attended the Kansas State Fair for K-State Day on September 9. Recruitment efforts at the fair went very well!
MANRRS has also been very active. Its first meeting had over 40 people in attendance! Over the past couple weeks, MANRRS has hosted its first meeting, sponsored a resume workshop in conjunction with Career and Employment Services, attended the Career Fair, volunteered at the Insect Zoo in Throckmorton Hall. Additionally, the MANRRS chapter hosted a meeting during the Career Fair, including all of the Cargill scholars on campus and a team of Cargill representatives from different business units. We had over 70 people there, including students and Cargill representatives.
Additionally, the Diversity Catalyst Team will be having its annual meeting on September 25, at the Douglass Community Center, a historically significant location in the multicultural community here in Manhattan. The Diversity Catalyst Team is a task force made up of a representative group from every sector and works in partnership with the administrative leadership to actualize strategies and serve as a resource to the system on diversity and multicultural organizational development.
As a reminder, the Navigating Difference Training is November 13-15, 2012 in Garden City, at the Clarion Hotel. It is designed to assist Extension professionals in expanding their skills in working with diverse audiences. Thank you to those who have registered!
We hope you have a wonderful week! --Zelia Z. Wiley, Ph.D – Assistant Dean of Diversity, Daja Menfee – Graduate Assistant, Maggie Roque – Practicum Student, Simone Holliday – Undergraduate Assistant and Tyler Warta – Undergraduate Assistant
NCR-SARE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES NOW OPEN
North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) currently has three open calls for proposals that may be of interest to Extension professionals.
The 2013 Research and Education (R&E) program supports sustainable agriculture innovators with competitive research and education grants ranging from $10,000 to $200,000. The current request is for R&E grant preproposals. Deadline is November 9, 2012. Preproposals will be reviewed and selected entries will be asked to submit a full proposal. Details are available at: http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Research-and-Education.
Youth Educator Grant projects provide opportunities for young people in the North Central Region to learn more about sustainable agriculture. Grants will be awarded to youth educators who develop programs to encourage young people and their parents to try sustainable practices and see sustainable agriculture as a viable career option. Projects should help youth discover more about the benefits of sustainable agricultural practices. Grant maximum is $2,000. Youth Educator proposal deadline is November 15, 2012. More information is available at http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Youth-Educator-Grant-Program.
Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to submit grant proposals that explore sustainable agriculture solutions to problems on the farm or ranch. Farmer Rancher Grant Proposals should emphasize research or education/demonstration. Three types of competitive grants for farmers are available: Individual grants with a $7,500 maximum, partner grants for two farmers/ranchers from separate operations who are working together with a maximum award of $15,000, and group grants for three or more farmers/ranchers from separate operations who work together with a maximum award of $22,500. Farmer Rancher Grant application deadline is November 29, 2012. Helpful information for completing a proposal can be found at http://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Types-of-Grants/Farmer-Rancher-Grant-Program.
All proposals must be submitted to the NCR-SARE Regional Office at the University of Minnesota. Detailed information about all SARE programs and examples of reports from previously funded projects can be found at www.sare.org. --Kerri Ebert kebert@ksu.edu
PART 10 FINNEY COUNTY HEALTH/WELL-BEING ASSESSMENT AND SOCIAL CAPITAL STUDY
You may be wondering why it’s 10 weeks later, and I’m still writing about this assessment of Finney County. Actually, with the amount of data gathered (10% of the county’s population) and the many, many angles from which to examine those, we could still be discussing the findings a year from now. So, I forge ahead, and I hope you will stay with me. Last week, we ended with looking at how primary language spoken at home affected health conditions. Let’s see if primary language spoken at home affects income, education, and the respondents’ needs for a better life.
If English was not the primary language spoken at home, respondents demonstrated the need for more education (Spanish: 51% and “Other” (languages): 59%). Qualitatively, all 25 of the interview respondents listed education as the most important thing for them to “get ahead” socially and financially. About three-fourths of the respondents, qualitatively, noted that education often takes a back seat to meeting financial and family responsibilities, however. Again, Extension educators might see that the varied curricula of Family and Consumer Sciences are critical to instilling basic life skills, which move our under-served populations closer to earning living wages. That class you taught on financial well-being, nutrition, or community leadership may also be introductions to educational discovery for these under-served populations.
Again, when English is not the primary language spoken at home, respondents showed greater need for medical care, transportation, and improved health. Non-English speakers were three times more likely to need the aforementioned services, which also included child development services.
Primary language did not affect the need for mental health counseling, affordable child care, public services (electricity, sewer, and water), and senior services. When English was the primary language spoken at home, the need for recreation/parks was nearly double that when Spanish was the primary language and triple when "other" languages were primary in the home.
For this table, you can see that those who do not speak English at home were more likely to have less than a high school diploma, which is correlated with low-income. Poverty brings on a host of others issues facing individuals and families. English speakers do peak at high school diploma but decrease in percentages for acquisition of college and graduate degrees.
|
Education x Primary Language |
<HS |
High School Diploma |
College Degree |
Grad Degree |
|
English |
11% |
40% |
33% |
15% |
|
Spanish |
57% |
34% |
6% |
2% |
|
Other |
60% |
27% |
10% |
3% |
|
Overall |
25% |
38% |
25% |
11% |
Overall, we can say that 1/4 of the population has less than high school, 38% have a high school diploma, 1/4 have college degrees, and 11% have graduate degrees. Qualitatively, we know that our immigrant populations are working hard on acquiring English. English as Second Language classes in Southwest Kansas are at maximum. The need for Extension education, even in English, is crucial in allowing an ESL population to hear and interact in English. Do not be afraid to offer a class with an interpreter. It’s good practice for the Extension educator and the ESL adult student. It is a great place to begin to build trust on both sides. Often, the person learning English cannot practice at the work place or at home.
Next week, we will look at some social capital indicators and mental health concerns. --Debra Bolton dbolton@ksu.edu
NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES: 3RD NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF BREADS AMATEUR YEAST BREAD BAKING CONTEST - DEADLINE JANUARY 31
Original
yeast bread recipes using King Arthur Flour and Fleischmann's Yeast may be
submitted now through January 31, 2013 at www.americasbreadbasket.com.
Categories include: Ethnic Breads; Rolls; Time-Saving and Simple Breads and
Whole Grain Breads. The Adult Category is open to amateur bakers 18 years of
age or older. Recipes will be test-baked and judged on the following criteria:
originality, taste, healthfulness, ease of preparation and appearance.
New this year is a Youth Category (12 to 17 years of age). Categories include: Rolls and Whole Grain Breads.
PRIZES:
One Adult Grand Prize Winner will be awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to a
baking class of his or her choice at the King Arthur Flour Baking Education
Center in Norwich, VT and a year's supply of Fleischmann's Yeast, plus receive
a $2,000 cash award.
Eight Adult Finalists and one Youth Finalist will be awarded an all-expenses-paid
trip to Manhattan, KS, where they will bake their winning bread recipes on
Saturday, June 22, 2013. In addition, they will participate in a Wheat Harvest
Tour to a working Kansas wheat farm, flour mill and grain elevator.
Please assist us with promoting the contest to home bakers through their
newsletters, websites, 4-H foods project leaders and more. Also, 4-Hers may
want to attend the national event on Saturday, June 22, 2013 in Manhattan, at the new Hilton Garden Inn. This would be a wonderful national event that
4-Hers could mention in their record books. Baking sessions will be scheduled throughout
the day with baking tips and great door prizes.
For more information, contact Cindy Falk, cfalk@kswheat.com or Bill Spiegel, bspiegel@kswheat.com. --Steven Graham sgraham@ksu.edu
|