The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
(Vol. 19 No. 48)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
A few of your Extension administrative team met this past Friday with county commissioners through the Kansas Association of Counties, and with a few younger generation persons who are active in their communities and a part of the Power Ups "Rural By Choice" movement. If you aren't familiar, check them out on their website.
I really enjoyed one quote from that day.
"If you only talk with those persons who have your viewpoint, all you
are getting is an echo." -- Julie Roller, Pottawatomie County Economic
Development and active with the Power Ups "Rural by Choice" movement. Julie told me later that she had thought about it a lot after reading a recent editorial by Kent Bush of the Augusta Gazette, where he talks about the echo chamber. From that editorial, I like a statement he makes that I believe relates to all of us at times. He says, "If your belief about how you or your product is viewed is developed
solely within the walls of your establishment, you are probably wrong." If you are interested in more of his article, you can read it by following this link to the Augusta Gazette opinion page. Julie went on to say, "if
you go to coffee in the morning and visit with the same group of
people, who share the same views day after day, all you are hearing is an
echo......
It’s important to hear what “the other side” or others with differing
views think. Only then can you get a total picture of a situation. My
neighbor and I have differing views on a lot of things, but it’s
important for me to hear her concerns and thoughts in order to better
form my own opinions."
Thanks Julie... While the editorial is a bit more about political issues, that is still great advice for us to ponder as we carry out our Extension work and interact with people who could potentially benefit from our educational programs.
Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
FACILITATING GROUPS FOR DECISION MAKING
Often groups default to voting on decisions - and often, majority vote is appropriate. But voting leaves an unsatisfied minority, and sometimes unsatisfied minorities can create big hurdles for forward progress. What decision making options are available for a board, committee, or group? What determines the appropriateness of different decision-making approaches, and what skills are needed to guide a group through these processes?
For anyone looking to hone skills in facilitating group decision making, the Public Decision Making workshop is a must. Scholarship funds are available for previous participants in the Public Issues Forum Facilitation workshops through ICDD. The workshop will take place on
November 4 & 5 at the Alumni Center in Manhattan, and will develop knowledge and skills on how to
choose and facilitate group decision making processes. Ron WIlson, Myles Alexander, Dan Kahl, and instructors from KSU Political Science will help participants apply decision making
practices for boards, local government, and public groups.
Registration and information can be found through the KSU Division of Continuing Education at https://icdd.engg.ksu.edu/node/133 or call 785-532-5575. Register before OCTOBER 18! --Dan Kahl dankahl@ksu.edu
HUCK BOYD LECTURE AND GREAT PLAINS RADIO HISTORY SYMPOSIUM
We encourage you to
participate in the Program Focus Team meetings during annual conference, but
you may also be interested in the 14th annual Huck Boyd Lecture in
Community Media which will take place on Thursday, October 24. At 10:30 a.m. in the K-State Alumni Center
Ballroom, Jane Marshall will speak on “Wildcats, Newspapers and Mulberry Pie:
Stories from the Kitchen Table.” Marshall is the author of “Teatime to
Tailgates: 150 Years at the K-State Table.”
Marshall, who has a home
economics/journalism degree from K-State and who was a newspaper editor and
reporter for more than 25 years, grew up on a farm in the Kansas Flint Hills.
She currently teaches food writing and is the communications coordinator for
K-State’s College of Human Ecology.
In the afternoon, a Great Plains Radio
History Symposium will focus on K-State’s contributions to radio. Ralph Titus,
a long-time KSAC program director and manager, will discuss the history of
KSAC/KKSU. Richard Baker, Eric Atkinson, and Deanne Wright will be among those
discussing their work at the station. The symposium is from 1-5 p.m. in the
Hemisphere Room of Hale Library.
These
events are free and open to the public. The events are co-sponsored by the Huck
Boyd National Institute for Rural Development and others. For more information, contact Gloria Freeland
in the School of Journalism, gfreela@ksu.edu, 785-532-0721. --Ron Wilson rwilson@ksu.edu and Elaine
Edwards elainee@ksu.edu
UPCOMING AG OPPORTUNITIES
Jim Gerrish, forage systems specialist formerly with the University of Missouri Forage Systems Research Center, and now with American GrazingLands Services LLC, will be back in Kansas this month for two, two-day grazing workshops entitled "How Animal Selection and Grazing Management Improves Productivity, Profitability and Personal Satisfaction." Workshops are scheduled for October 28-29 at the Ramada Inn, Salina, and October 30-31 in Pratt. Cost for each workshop is $80. To register and for more details contact Mary Howell with the Kansas Graziers Association at kfumary@gmail.com. The Kansas Graziers Association and Kansas Farmers Union are hosting the presentations. For more information visit their website at http://kansasgraziers.blogspot.com/.
The Kansas Rural Center's annual sustainable agriculture conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 2, at the Meridian Center in Newton. This year's theme is "Farming as if People Matter: How to Feed Ourselves, Build New Farms and Adapt to a Changing World." Keynote speaker will be Wes Jackson, founder and president of the Land Institute in Salina. Registration is $45. For more information visit the KRC website at http://kansasruralcenter.org/conference/. --Kerri Ebert kebert@ksu.edu
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR MENTOR WORKSHOPS
Registration
is now open for Mentor Workshops that will be held this fall. Everyone
who has a role in launching new agents toward a successful career is
invited to attend.
The workshops will be held as follows:
Wednesday, October 30 - Wakeeney, 4-H Building
Thursday, October 31 - St. John, Extension Office Meeting Room
Thursday, November 7 - Iola, Courthouse Meeting Room
Friday, November 8 - Manhattan, Pottorf Hall
Registration is due one week before each workshop. A fee of $15 will include lunch and snacks.
For more information, including an agenda and link to registration, go to http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/employee_Resources/p.aspx?tabid=206. Click on Registrations. --Margaret Phillips margaret@ksu.edu and Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu
HEALTHY YOU: WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE - HEALTHY SNACKS AT WORK
 If your stomach starts grumbling about 10 o’clock in the morning, don’t ignore it, feed it. Your body is trying to tell you something….It’s hungry and it needs some energy. Just be careful what you put into your body. Mindless snacking or grabbing whatever is convenient can lead to excess calories that your body does not need. So set yourself and your office up for success by cleaning out the “junk food” and stocking it with some “healthy food.” Here are some ideas:
• Trail mix – make sure you know what’s in it, not all trail mix is healthy! Check out publication MF2966, “What’s in a Snack?” for a healthy trail mix recipe.
• Fresh fruit is always a winner! Mix bananas, grapes, apples, and pineapple together for a refreshing fruit salad.
• Pre-cut vegetables with low-fat dressing.
• Tuna salad kit (includes a small can of water-packed tuna, a relish packet, and crackers).
• Whole grain crackers or pita chips with hummus or peanut butter.
• Plain popcorn with parmesan cheese or dried fruit.
• Breakfast cereal (choose a higher-fiber, lower-sugar type)
• Fruit smoothie – Blend together frozen fruit, Greek yogurt, and 100% juice for a cool treat.
--Jodi Drake jdrake@ksu.edu
4-H VOLUNTEER E-FORUMS REGISTRATION OPEN
Registrations are now open for all e-Forum sessions. Go to http://www.kansas4-h.org/p.aspx?tabid=459 for information and registration links. Register for each session separately. Please click on the session title to register. Registered groups/participants will receive reminder emails, and the link to the session recording. Please register even if you cannot attend the live session. By registering now, you can attend later.
The e-Forum is a great way to gain training and the latest resources to strengthen local 4-H programs. Local offices and volunteer hosts will sponsor local sessions for the North Central Volunteer e-Forum. They will connect 4-H Volunteers in their community to learn cutting edge information from experts across the North Central Region. Participants will gain new knowledge to use and share with 4-H members throughout the year!
The Forum will be fun and valuable in a group. We hope local offices or club volunteers will host a group to participate in the Forum. A hosting and facilitators guide will be available soon. Please hold the dates and plan on attending the Forum(s).
The Kansas Information web page is http://www.kansas4-h.org/p.aspx?tabid=459.
Dates and topics for the E-Forum are: Time: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Central Time for all sessions - Monday, November 18, 2013 - OMG! You've Got 4-H Parents! Now What??
- Tuesday, December 3, 2013 - Engaging Teens & Older Youth
- Tuesday, January 14, 2014 - Using Technology to Enhance Your 4-H Experience
- Monday, February 3, 2014 - Exploring the Science of 4-H Projects
--Rod Buchele rbuchele@ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
My picks
this week are outcomes reported by Stacy Campbell, Ellis County:
Attendees from the Trichomoniasis (Trich) informational
meeting clearly stated on the program evaluation that they learned useful
information and gained awareness of Trich, the causes of the reproductive
disease, its impacts, that testing bulls for Trich is important, and how to
prevent the disease or the spread in herds. Fifty-seven percent said they
strongly agree, and 40% agree that they gained new knowledge of Trich. Forty-seven
percent strongly agree and another 47% agree that they know how to protect their
herd from Trich now.
Trich
program participants indicated from the evaluation question - that based on the
information gained, their knowledge, awareness or ability to manage issues showed
the following change: no change 2.5%, a little change 20%, moderate change
42.5%, a lot of change 25%, significant change 10%. –-Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
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