The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
(Vol. 19 No. 2)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Several of the corporate leaders of Cargill were on campus
late last week to learn of the progress being made at Kansas State University
with respect to growing a more diverse and inclusive student body. Cargill awarded Kansas State
University with a gift of $1,200,000 to continue this pursuit. Follow this link to more info regarding the award. Much of the focus for the day with Cargill was on
leadership and building strong leaders.
Raymond Hall, Global Director for Inclusion and Diversity at
Cargill, was a featured speaker. In his
comments, Raymond relayed a story from his childhood on how one farmer every
year would bring his corn to the fair and would always be awarded top of class. Asked how it was that he always won, the
farmer’s response was that he always saw to it that his neighbors around him
had the very best corn seed to plant so that his corn would only be pollenated
with the very best traits and there was no chance of it being pollenated by a
poor corn hybrid. “When everyone around
me has great corn, my corn is better too!” Raymond brought that back to leadership and the importance of circling
one-self with the kind of people who would “pollenate” with integrity, quality, and leadership skills to help you become a great leader. And, that diversity among that circle makes
for an even better leader.
Diversity is the one
true thing we all have in common.
Celebrate diversity every day.
- Anonymous
And, be reminded that a most important freedom we have
as citizens of this great nation is the freedom to vote, and select who we
believe to be the best candidates to take on the various positions of leadership
for this nation. Please vote and have a
great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
PLEASE FILL OUT YOUR 2025 COA/KSRE STRATEGIC PLANNING SURVEY
By now, all of you should have received a 2025 COA/KSRE
Strategic Planning survey and maybe even a friendly reminder that your opinion
and insights are important.
A couple weeks ago, Dean and Director John Floros invited
you to participate in our strategic planning process by completing a short
(10-15 minutes) online survey. The survey is designed to share your insights
and perspective and assist us in defining our future and realizing our vision:
"By 2025, the K-State College of Agriculture will be one of the top five
colleges of agriculture in the nation, and K-State Research and Extension will
be one of the world's top destinations for education, research, and extension
in food and agriculture."
We need your input to help us work together effectively to
advance our research, education, and extension goals, while supporting the
University's efforts to become a Top 50 public research university by 2025.
Also, we would ask you to please share a link to the survey, http://ksued.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bfkSuHlQQiys8IZ, with your advisory
boards, 4-H leaders, Master Gardeners, Master Food Volunteers, and anyone else
that works with or supports your department/unit/district/local offices. We are seeking input from the entire spectrum
of people who run, participate in, benefit from, and care about our efforts.
Sometime after this survey closes, probably December, you
will be receiving a second survey with questions of a different nature. Please take the time to fill out the second
survey and to solicit responses to it from our boards, volunteers, and other
interested individuals.
If you have questions, please contact Steven Graham, sgraham@k-state.edu; or John Leslie, jfl@k-state.edu; co-chairs of the
KSRE/College of Agriculture 2025 Strategic Planning Process.
--Steven Graham
NOVEMBER 16 DEADLINE FOR ALL-UNIVERSITY CAMPAIGN
On behalf of all the members of the All-University Campaign team for K-State Research and Extension and the College of Agriculture, we thank each of you who have given and are counted among the faculty and staff who give back to the University where they work!
You only have a few more days to participate in the All-University Campaign (www.K-StateAUC.org), an internal fundraising effort that focuses on the
participation of all K-State employees. Help reach our goal of 40
percent participation (currently at 38%). The campaign offers various ways to make a
donation to the area of the university that you care about most. The fact that we as employees give back speaks volumes to our belief in Kansas State University. The
website (http://www.found.ksu.edu/auc/designation.html) has a list of funds and account numbers for you to choose. Thank you for your support.
If you have any questions about the campaign, contact any of the campaign volunteers. For KSRE, that includes Chuck Otte, Diane Mack, Gloria Holcomb, Dan Devlin, and myself. For the College of Ag, that's Mike Brouk, Kevin Donnelly, Teresa Douthit, Allen Featherstone, and Ernie Minton. Follow this link to all the other volunteers in other Colleges and across K-State.
Thanks for supporting your great Kansas State University! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
KSRE SURVEY - PRIORITIZATION PROCESS UPDATE
The Program Prioritization task force met last week and would like to update you with details on the timeline for KSRE Survey:
November:
- Share the process with Extension board and PDC and at annual meetings.
- Completed and format for electronic distribution with hard copy option
- Review by IRB
- Translate survey to Spanish Translation
December:
December – February:
- PDC/Board complete survey develop strategies for contacting participants.
- Complete surveys
March – April
- Analyze survey results
- Share survey results Spring Action Conference - April 29-30
Program Prioritization Task Force –
Anna
Muir, Rick Miller, Jody Holthaus, Dennis Patton, Sandra Wick, Charlotte
Olsen, Rhonda
Gordon, Glynn Tonsor, Tonya Bronleewe, Belinda Oldham, Beth Hinshaw,
Paula
Peters, Gregg Hadley, Barbara Stone, Margaret Phillips
INTERVIEWS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT EXTENSION SPECIALIST
The following candidates have been invited to interview for the Early Childhood Development Extension Specialist position in the School of Family Studies and Human Services in the College of Human Ecology. Please note their seminar times and locations - these seminars also will be available through live video streaming.
Rick Peterson
The Texas A & M University System
Seminar: Tuesday, November 27, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Justin Hall 167
Bradford Wiles
Virginia Tech University
Seminar: Thursday, November 29, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Justin Hall 167
Janet Crow
Baylor University
Seminar: Friday, November 30, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Justin Hall 167
More information will be given in future newsletters, but please mark these dates on your calendar for now. Thank you. --Search Committee: Libby Curry, Bronwyn Fees, Rebecca McFarland, Charlotte Shoup Olsen (chair), and Fran Richmond
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
The following upcoming events may be of interest to Extension:
Northeast Kansas Big Rural Brainstorm, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, November 12, 2012, Evangel Methodist Church, 227 Pennsylvania, Holton. Cost is $15. Registration is limited to the first 150 people to sign up. Register at www.GlacialHillsRCD.com.
Organic Farmers Forum: Resources, Research and Marketing Opportunities for Organic Agriculture in Kansas, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, November 13, at the Quality Inn, Conference Room, 2110 West Crawford, Salina. Cost is $15. Register online at www.kansasruralcenter.org or call 785-873-3431.
Healthy Farms, Healthy People: Agriculture and Health Care Summit, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, November 16, at Washburn University's Bradbury Alumni Center in Topeka. Cost is $35. Registration and more information at www.kansasruralcenter.org. --Kerri Ebert kebert@ksu.edu
WEALTH PRESERVATION THROUGH OWNERSHIP TRANSITION
As rural property changes hands, taxes can
claim a significant portion of the property's value. Land Leasing meetings are
among the best times to help retired and absentee landowners learn about ways to
preserve wealth. Capturing those dollars allows landowners to provide long-term
support programs in your area, rather than support the IRS.
The key to wealth preservation is planning.
Once the value associated with highly-appreciated farmland leaves our
communities, it's doubtful - probably impossible - to identify specific local
benefits those dollars eventually provide. Preserving those dollars in a
permanent endowment (vs. a money-in, money-out expendable fund) will provide
on-going, identifiable benefits via scholarships or support for Extension.
Gordon Dowell, KSU Foundation Gift Planning
Officer for Real Estate and Extension, has a 15-minute PowerPoint that
illustrates options landowners may have overlooked. The program is titled
"What's Next?" and can benefit farmers and ranchers nearing retirement, absentee
landowners, and tenants who hope to one day own the property they rent.
Education is an important first step.
Capital gains taxes and estate taxes can
drain wealth from local communities. Proper planning can capture dollars
otherwise lost to taxes and support programs selected by the landowner.
To add "What's Next?" to the end of your
upcoming landowner/tenant leasing meeting, contact Dowell at gordond@found.ksu.edu or
800-432-1578. --Gordon Dowell
4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT STAFF MAKE PRESENTATIONS AND RECEIVE RECOGNITION AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Kansas
4-H Youth Development was well represented at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference, October 21-25,
in Orlando, Florida.
Pamela
Van Horn, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development was elected to serve as President-Elect
of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.
The
team of Diane Mack, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development; Amy Sollock,
Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences, Edwards County; Aliesa Woods, Director, Post Rock Extension
District; and Andrea Feldkamp, Assistant Coordinator, Family Nutrition Program;
presented a session about Kansas’ 4-H
Recruitment Campaign. This same group, along with additional team members
Lori Bower and Kelly Terrell, won both the
Regional Award and 1st Place National Award for “Promotional Package
Developed by a Team” for their 4-H recruitment campaign, “Life’s Little Questions.”
Evelyn
Neier, Associate Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development; and Beth Hinshaw,
Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development;
presented a poster session on the, "Practices for Successful Web-based 4-H
Project Leader Training."
Beth
Hinshaw, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development,
and Sarah Maass, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Central Kansas
Extension District, won the 1st Place National Award and North
Central States Regional Award for a “Promotional Piece Developed by a Team” for
their “Campference” promotional video.
Jodi
Besthorn, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Sedgwick County, received the
North Central Regional “Excellence in 4-H Club Support” and “Periodical
Publication” awards.
The
team of R. Scott (Bronc) Barrows, Julie Niehage, Amy Lorenzen and Jen
Schoenfeld, Extension Agents in the Golden Prairie Extension District, brought
home the “Regional Periodical Publication by a Team” award.
In
addition, five “National Service Award” winners were recognized from Kansas
State University Research and Extension:
Achievement
in Service Awards: Jill Martinson, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development,
Dickinson County; and Amy Sollock, Extension
Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences, Edwards County.
Distinguished
Service Awards: Ginger Kopfer, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Geary
County; and Aliesa Woods, Director, Post Rock Extension District.
Meritorious
Service Award: Jo Ellen Arnold, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Frontier
Extension District, Emeritus.
25
Year Service Awards: Diane Mack, Extension
Specialist, 4-H Youth Development; Ann Religa, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth
Development, Harvey County; and Susan Schlichting, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth
Development, Ellis County.--Keli Yungeberg keliy@ksu.edu
COMM TIPS: KSRE IMAGE GALLERY - NOVEMBER 7
K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) has a photo database containing images for flyers, newsletters
and presentations. Several of the library categories cover the many facets of KSRE including animals,
community, crops, food, insects, Kansas scenes, lawn and garden photos.
This session is a good overview of the KSRE Image Library. There are over 7000 high-quality images in this collection. Learn how to search and download the photos to visually enhance your special project.
Next Program: KSRE Image Gallery - Wednesday, November 7, 9 a.m.
Presented by - Gerry Snyder, Department of Communications and Ag Education, Media Specialist
Comm Tips is a weekly online series providing you helpful
information with your communication and technology skills. Comm Tips is offered every Wednesday through December 5, at 9 a.m. Each program is 20 minutes with 10 minutes for Q&A.
Upcoming Fall 2012 Programs:
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. Simply log in to http://connect.ksre.ksu.edu/commtips 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.k-state.edu/communication-services/comm-tips/. --Gerry Snyder gsnyder@ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
While considering the most recent disaster, this week I
searched the database for impacts/outcomes of our own emergency preparedness
programming. Included in this week’s picks are a few of the reports; look for
more next week.
**Barbara Ames, Wildcat District, reported that several
weeks after participating in “Are You Ready?,” a lesson about preparing for disasters/emergencies,
a lady commented: “Your
lesson really woke me up. I have started a household inventory and have begun
working on several of the other preparedness things you talked about.”
According to the surveys, all of the participants said the program increased their
awareness of how to prepare for emergencies and almost 100% selected at least one to two preparedness
measures to begin working on such as preparing a list of
prescriptions, assembling a “grab & go kit,” developing a family
communication plan, and getting important papers together in a place where they
are readily accessible. These results are important because simple advance preparedness steps can
minimize the stress and financial impact of a disaster and make a big
difference in ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals, families, and
property/belongings.
**In Shawnee County, Cindy Evans reported that she,
Leroy, and Laurie participated in a tabletop activity that simulated the large
snowstorm in December 2009. From this activity they began pondering when it
merits to "shelter at home" versus encouraging patrons to travel to a
shelter. If roads are impassable and stranded motorists cause delays in
clearing roads, then it is likely that volunteers will also be challenged to
get to a shelter to provide oversight. Strong educational messages that
encourage people to prepare BEFORE
the storm are needed. They discussed new technology that will provide alerts
and information from the County as a mechanism for sharing safety and survival
messages. --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
OCTOBER EXTENSION AGENT PERSONNEL CHANGES
Mary Lou Odle, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Central Kansas District, retired effective October 3, 2012.
Clint Milliman, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Thomas County, transferred to Farm Management NW effective October 14, 2012.
Tara Solomon, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Southwind District, resigned effective October 20, 2012.
Mark Flory, 4-H Youth Development Agent in Douglas County, resigned effective October 27, 2012.
Sarah Taylor, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Sedgwick County, resigned effective October 27, 2012.
--Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu
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