The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
(Vol. 19 No. 28)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Program development is a basic skill
EVERYONE can use, whether in research, teaching, or extension
educational work. Program development employs analyzing the situation,
setting forth objectives/outcomes, developing the outputs (materials and
methods) for delivering the program, implementing, and evaluating to
determine if the objectives/outcomes have been achieved. As paraphrased
from The Extension Workers Code by T.J. Talbert, Extension
Bulletin 33, 1922:
"If we do the things that will count
we must have a plan or project and a program of work, either written
up carefully and referred to from time to time or so thoroughly
impressed in our minds that there is no chance of forgetting it....
Stick to it...don't get
sidetracked. Otherwise, all our good resolutions and work begun will
amount to little or nothing."
Having too much to do and so little time
is a common occurrence for all of us. Yet, as this quote by Talbert
tells us, unless we are willing to set our priorities and stick to them,
our work will likely be mediocre at best.
Excellence in Extension work comes
through a deep understanding of how our work over the years contributes
to relevant, contemporary, important issues and needs within the
community for which we have responsibility. In this case, community can
be anything from our academic discipline, to a target audience, or to a
geographic region. Again from Talbert, 1922:
"Our success is not measured by the
half dozen or more pieces of work which we have attempted to carry
forward to completion, but the one or two jobs which we have been
able to do better than anyone else."
Success and excellence in Extension is measured by
what customers / learners do as a response to our programming. It is
further recognized when the goals / outcomes set for the program truly
benefit the targeted audience.
To say that program planning / development is the MOST
important thing we do in Extension shorts the importance of
implementation, delivery, and evaluation. However, if you don't know
where you are headed, how are you ever going to know when you have
arrived? --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
KANSAS AG MEDIATION SERVICES OFFERS HELP WITH FREEZE AND DROUGHT ISSUES
With the Kansas wheat crop damaged by a late freeze and drought; livestock
operations struggling with pasture, feed costs and water issues; and all
producers dealing with high input prices, the ability to make payments on loans
and accounts may be impaired.
The Kansas Agricultural
Mediation Services (KAMS) offers free or low-cost services to farmers that are
particularly helpful in such situations.
This year USDA Secretarial
disaster designations due to drought have been declared in all 105 counties in Kansas. As a result, many farmers and ranchers may be unable
to make payments to creditors. KAMS offers advice and assistance in a variety
of ways:
- Mediate/negotiate
with banks, suppliers and other creditors to restructure debt.
- Develop feasible,
objective restructure plans.
- Determine loan
restructure options on FSA direct and guaranteed loans.
Services offered by KAMS
include: low cost on-farm computer analysis of options through the K-State
Research and Extension Farm Analyst Program; low cost legal advice under the
Farm Mediation Legal Counseling Program of KAMS through Kansas Legal Services;
and mediation assistance through KAMS mediators. These services are available to
all parties - both producers and lenders - to help analyze, generate
options, and resolve difficult financial situations.
KAMS has more than 25 years
of experience in assisting Kansas
farmers, ranchers, and their lenders to improve financial stability for the
producer’s operation.
Ag producers, creditors and
others interested in accessing KAMS services can call KAMS’ toll free number,
1-800-321-FARM (3276). Check out our website as well at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/kams/. --Forrest Buhler fbuhler@ksu.edu
GROWING KANSAS LEADERS FUNDRAISER CHALLENGE
For those of you who were at Spring Action Conference, you heard Jodi, Susan and myself talk about the continued fund raising effort to complete the $50,000 Extension goal we announced during annual Extension Conference last fall. As part of the Kansas 4-H Foundation’s Growing Kansas Leaders campaign, these funds will be directed to increasing the scholarship amounts for the Extension “A Step Ahead” scholarships and a recognition program for office professionals and 4-H program assistants. To date, roughly $18,000 has been raised through gifts and pledges toward our goal.
Our goal is to collect $50,000 through donations and pledges over the next three years. The first $25,000 will increase the Step Ahead Scholarships that were created by Extension donations in the late 1980s to $1000/each. One scholarship per area is awarded at the Emerald Circle Banquet.
The remaining funds raised through our efforts will be used to provide a new award for a county or district office professional or program assistant who does outstanding work to support their local 4-H program.
We’ve got a good start and we’re challenging the different agent associations to see who can raise the most new donations/pledges by Discovery Days. There are many ways that you can give including online or through direct withdrawal from your bank account. Five or ten dollars a month isn’t that much but really adds up over the course of a few years! You can direct your web browser to http://www.kansas4hfoundation.org/Growing-Kansas-Leaders/index.htm for more information on how to donate, including right now, on line, via PayPal. If you need a donation card to make a gift or a pledge, just drop me an email and I’ll forward you the necessary forms immediately. Or, if you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact Jodi Besthorn, Susan Johnson or myself.
I would also challenge the members of Epsilon Sigma Phi that don’t belong to KAE4-HA, KEAFCS or KACAA to donate as well as any Kansas members of NACDEP or ANREP. Don’t be left out. All gifts, regardless of the size, can make a significant difference in the Kansas 4-H program, both today and in the years to come.
Thank you for your assistance! --Chuck Otte cotte@ksu.edu
KARL CLASS XI TRIP TO PERU #9
It’s hard to believe that it’s been eight weeks since the KARL trip to Peru, and now I can tell you about our visit to Cusco, which occurred on Day #8 of the trip. We boarded Star Peru early in the morning in Lima. Each time we flew Star Peru (4 times), we were treated to a beverage and a lovely little sandwich made with a soft bun the size of child’s fist. The bun was filled with a flavorful chicken salad. It always made the hour’s flight go by so very quickly.
We landed in Cusco around 10 a.m. The city is in Southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. Bamba means flat in Quechua. Quechua (pronounced, “Kaych-wah) was the language of the Inca, the ancient indigenous tribe who settled the area (I will speak more of Quechua next week). The Inca were known for their engineering genius in building cities and roads. National Geographic had a great article about the Inca in April 2011 edition. Read it. Because Spain “conquered” Peru, the language is primarily Spanish now. There are still villages that predominantly speak Quechua, however.
Keep in mind, we traveled to Cusco, elevation 11,200 feet, from Lima, at sea level. I was raised in the high country of Colorado, so I did not have issues with altitude. Most everyone took precautions, too. We were greeted by Patricia, Wilbur, and Boris. They were our cultural guides for the next three days. As we were coming into the city of Cusco, we were greeted by a statue of Patchacutec or Pachacuti who was the most important ruler of the Inca Empire in the 1400s (circa 15th C). At one time Patchacutec’s range of power reached far north to Quito Ecuador in pre-Columbian times. Cusco’s City Square is beautiful as Spanish style churches and two-story businesses surround the focal garden in the middle.
On that first afternoon, we met with llama and alpaca experts before heading up the “hill” to see the wooly animals face-to-face. The alpaca is related to camels (camelid). Alpaca fiber is known for being very heavy or very light, depending on how it’s spun. Most of the dyes used are from plants, which can be bright and happy colors. The alpaca was lovely, and the village featured the indigenous weavers who use the alpaca fiber for their clothing, wraps and blankets. The loveliest clothing was displayed in the gift shop. The men and women were wearing their “Sunday best” as anyone might when receiving guests.
For the rest of the day, we were left on our own to explore Cusco and take in the night life. I found street vendors who were happy to sell me some nice paintings. Then I shared cuy (guinea pig) with Patricia and Wilbur. I thought it was quite tasty with a glass of chi-chi morado. Remember, the drink made of very purple corn.
Next week, I will devote this page to the trip to the Village of Patabamba – one of my favorite days. --Debra Bolton dbolton@ksu.edu
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