The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
(Vol. 19 No. 34)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
New Extension District. We welcome Midway Extension District #15 (Ellsworth and Russell Counties) as it began on July 1, 2013! We are now at 42 counties that have chosen to move into multi-county Extension Districts as a means to continuously improve programming and better serve the people living in those counties. And, as an approach to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local Extension across this state.
Special thanks to the local Extension board members, Extension agents, and office professionals in both Ellsworth and Russell Counties for their work in helping to make the district a reality. Thanks to Jamie Rathbun and Brent Goss for your leadership in this transition. Thanks to Dusti Cason for stepping in at this transition to keep strong programs moving forward. Thanks to Debbie Jacobs and Kelly Driscoll for your support in making the transition smooth and transparent for the people reaching out to the local Extension offices. And thank you to John Stannard and Joann Paschal, both now retired from Russell County, for setting the district in motion for a strong future Extension program for the people you have served. And, thanks Chris Onstad for the work done to
keep our leaders in counties thinking about steps needed to move their
local Extension units into an attitude of creating a more productive, effective, and efficient
system of multi-county Extension districts. Thanks to all of you for
your continued work to move that vision into practice across the state.
I look forward to continuing to move more of our counties into the multi-county Extension district programming model over the next few years. The opportunities to continue to strengthen programming and increase our comprehensive effectiveness as the Extension system for Kansas State University are greatly enhanced when we move into these multi-county staffing models. I know the transition is sometimes difficult and time consuming. The changes in roles and responsibilities for agents and office staff can be confusing and controversial. But, the long term benefits to the people we serve far outweigh our discomforts with experiencing change. A positive attitude and a willingness to accept new and different ways of doing things will reap benefit and satisfaction for all, and most importantly that positive attitude will be greatly appreciated by the clientele as we interact with them.
Thanks for all you do, and have a safe and fun Independence holiday! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
TIME TO UPGRADE OR REPLACE YOUR WINDOWS XP MACHINE
Microsoft has announced that it will no longer offer support for the Windows XP operating system and Office 2003 after April 2014.
What does that mean? Although you can continue to use the operating system and the Office 2003 Suite, Microsoft will not push out new security patches, which could leave your computer vulnerable to viruses and other malware. It also means that manufacturers of devices such as printers and copiers may discontinue drivers for Windows XP on newer devices.
To avoid potential problems, we recommend upgrading compatible systems to Windows 7 and Office 2010 by February 15, 2014. Systems not able to be upgraded need to be replaced or retired. As part of this upgrade process, we will standardize our support on the Office 2010, Office 2011 (for Mac) and Office 2013 suites. Windows 7 will be our supported operating system for PCs until we have fully investigated Windows 8.1, which will be available at the end of this year.
Although some expenditure may be necessary to make hardware (such as memory or a hard drive) upgradeable to Windows 7 and Office 2010, there is no cost for the Windows 7 operating system or the Office 2010 Suite. The operating system and Office 2010 are covered as part of a licensing agreement through campus. The upgrade is for computers purchased by the counties, districts, and departments.
For a machine to be upgraded, it needs a minimum of a Pentium D processor, 2 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and an 80-GB hard drive. To find information about your system, click the Start Button, go to Settings, click Control Panel, then double-click System. The General tab under the computer section will have information about the computer processor and available memory. Most of the computers purchased in the last 4 to 6 years should be capable of being upgraded to Windows 7.
Drive size can be determined by double-clicking My Computer, right-clicking on C: Drive, and clicking Properties. You’ll need to look at total drive size and free space on the drive. You’ll need 20 GB of free space on the drive to handle the new operating system as well as your data and software. If you have less than that, contact Technology Services (Formerly IET), and we can help you determine what to do about freeing up space on the drive.
You can also find out information about your system by running the system information tool. Click the Start Button, Choose Run, and type in msinfo32.exe and click OK. The System Summary shows the Processor and Total Physical Memory information. Hard drive size and Free Space can be found by expanding Components, Storage, and finally Drives. Just click the plus sign to display the subcategories. Look for the information about Drive C:.
If you need assistance interpreting the information from the system information tool, you can Click File and choose Save, then email the .NFO file to us. Please use your county initials and a unique name to identify what computer that file is for (i.e., SCCheckout1).
If you need help determining whether a computer can be upgraded or pricing computers for replacement, please contact Technology Services at 785-532-6270 or email us at ksresupport@ksu.edu. --Joe Lear learj@ksu.edu
2013 KANSAS 4-H STATE WHEAT SHOW NEAR GREAT BEND
Kansas is famous for its golden
wheat fields all across Kansas. Families
have been participating with the Kansas 4-H State Wheat Show for decades. Join us near Great Bend on Thursday, August 1,
from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE
K-156 Hwy., Great Bend, KS 67530 (9 miles NE of Great Bend). The wheat show is open to all 4-H members, family
members, 4-H leaders, and Extension staff.
There will again be eight divisions
open to youth members with cash prizes and ribbons awarded. Wheat divisions include: (1) 1 lb. bin run for crops members; or (2) 1 lb. bin run for “adopt a
producer.” Participants may pick division 1 or division 2, but not both. (All
wheat samples must be postmarked to KSU by July 15 so testing can be
completed).
Other divisions open are: (3) 1 quart jar sample of cleaned wheat; (4) three
standard yeast rolls, any kind with wheat flour as a major ingredient; (5) four
standard sized cookies, any kind with wheat flour as a major ingredient; (6) photography
contest of wheat-related photos; (7) wheat educational posters (22” X 28”) or
display boards (3’ X 4’ max); and (8) a Cloverbuds division for 5-6-year-olds awarding
participation ribbons.
The tour will involve three venues
that everyone will get to attend. Visit a
professional wheat cleaning business on a local farm to see wheat being cleaned
for 2013 planting; B & B Metal Arts, Hoisington, KS, to see large and small
metal art objects made on site, and a drive through the Cheyenne Bottom
Wetlands/Wetlands Education Center. New for 2013 is a $5 per person registration cost payable at the
door to help offset show costs. Pre-registration is required for an
accurate meal count and for class entries by July 25th on the 4-H registration
system, http://www.kansas4h.org/p.aspx?tabid=432 or www.Kansas4-H.org. Click on the Kansas 4-H State Wheat Show
listed under “What’s Hot” on the home page.
For those with no computer
connections, contact Deryl Waldren at the Northwest Area Extension Office for a
food count by July 26th at 785-462-6281 or dwaldren@ksu.edu.
--Deryl Waldren
2013 NORTHWEST AREA 4-H YOUTH & LEADERS’ FORUM REGISTRATION OPEN
Join Northwest 4-H at the 7th
Annual Northwest Area 4-H Youth & Leaders’ Forum and Day Camp Training,
Saturday, August 24, at the K-State Ag Research Center in Hays, 10:30
a.m. - 6:00 p.m. The 2013 NWYLF theme is “Mission: I’m Possible.” Youth
participants will attend two workshops from three offered. Chelsey Smith, Ellis County 4-H alumna, will be
the keynote speaker.
Registration
is due Thursday, August 15. Cost is $10 with checks made payable to KSU. Registration form and participation form
may be FAXed by the deadline with the check snail mailed.
The NWYLF is open to any Kansas youth, 12 and older, 4-H
leaders, other community volunteers and Extension staff. All participants must submit a 2013 copy
of the Kansas 4-H Participation Form in order to attend the 2013
NWYLF. Visit the NW Area website to download the registration form and information: http://www.northwest.ksu.edu/p.aspx?tabid=87. You may also click on the Kansas 4-H website
under ‘What’s Hot”: http://www.kansas4h.org/p.aspx.
For more information, contact Deryl Waldren, 785-462-6281 or email dwaldren@ksu.edu. --Deryl Waldren
JUNE EXTENSION AGENT PERSONNEL CHANGES
Connis Bretz, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Walnut Creek District, retired effective June 1, 2013.
Lori Bammerlin, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Flint Hills District, began employment effective June 2, 2013. Her email address is bammerlin@ksu.edu.
Beth Ireland, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Greenwood County, began employment effective June 9, 2013. Her email address is bethireland@ksu.edu.
Lehisa de Fornoza, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Finney County, transferred from FNP Program Assistant in Sedgwick County effective June 23, 2013. Her email address is lfornoza@ksu.edu.
--Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu
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