The Tuesday Letter
Agricultural Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
(Vol. 20 No. 30)
IN THIS ISSUE...
WORD FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - EXTENSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH
K-State President Outlines Goals. In a recent K-State Today message, President Schulz outlined the goals set for the coming year for all of Kansas State University. The fifth goal focuses on Engagement, Extension, and Outreach, with one specific to K-State Research and Extension. I invite you to read through the message from President Schulz and reflect on all the goals outlined for the University to think about ways in which your work, the work of your unit, and the teams with whom you are involved are contributing towards those goals. And, then let your work be known! Following is the link to the President's message:
http://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement.php?id=14396&category=from_the_president&referredBy=email
Congress moving appropriations forward for the National Institute for Food and Agriculture. This past week we received information regarding the proposed federal budget for NIFA, as our federal funding partner, as those actions move through House and Senate committees. Included in that was an "Item of interest" with regard to Smith-Lever:
Item of Interest—Smith-Lever
<>The
Committee adopted a Manager’s Amendment offered by Chairman Aderholt
(R-AL) which included a Sense of Congress provision requested by
Congressman
Rooney (R-FL):
“Sec.
7xx. It is the sense of Congress that Congress --- (1) celebrates May
8, 2014, as the 100th anniversary of the enactment of the Smith-Lever
Act
and recognizes the significance of the establishment of a nationwide
Cooperative Extension System; (2) encourages the people of the United
States to observe and celebrate the centennial with a focus on launching
an innovative and sustainable future for the
Cooperative Extension System; (3) honors the university faculty and
local educators who dedicate careers to providing trusted educational
programs to help people, families, youth, businesses, and communities
solve problems, develop skills, and build a better
future; (4) thanks the volunteers who provide thousands of hours to
promote excellence for 4-H Clubs, the Master Gardeners program, the
Family and Consumer Sciences program, and other programs of the
Cooperative Extension System in their communities; (5) encourages
continued collaboration and cooperation among Federal, State, and local
governments to assure the sustainability of the Cooperative Extension
System as the premiere non-formal educational network in the United
States; and (6) celebrates millions of youth, adults,
families, farmers, ranchers, community leaders., and others who engage
in cooperative extension learning opportunities designed to extend
knowledge and change lives."
I found this statement to be especially purposeful for the future of Extension. Hope you see it the same way. Have a great week! --Daryl Buchholz dbuchhol@ksu.edu
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
As many of you are aware, our daughter, Joan, gave birth to our third grandson, Sean Michael Morris, on May 13. With serious heart complications, the team of specialists determined that surgery would likely create even greater risks and complications. On May 25, Sean Michael passed away in the arms of his parents, Joan and Mickey, with their families surrounding them in their home. Joyce and I are heartened by the outpouring of love, care, and prayers for our family in this most difficult time. That support and our faith helped us all to cope with the loss. Thank you for all your expressions of care and support. --Daryl and Joyce Buchholz
NEWS MEDIA STAFF CO-LOCATED
During the next month, news media services for K-State Research and Extension (part of the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education) will be co-located into Dole Hall. As you may know, parts of news media services were located in McCain and Dole Halls. Because of better use of space in the space already allocated to KSRE and assistance from the Division of Communications and Marketing, we are able to move all of those staff members together, except Mary Lou Peter, who will continue to work out of Olathe. No reporting structure is changing. The phone numbers all are transferring with the people. The physical office numbers in Dole Hall are Deb Pryor, 119 (no change); Kevin Block, 117A (move within Dole); Randall Kowalik, 122; Larry Jackson, 124 (move within Dole); Eric Atkinson, 125; Elaine Edwards, 126; Dan Donnert, 127; and Katie Allen, 127. We see co-location as a means to improve efficiencies as well as quality.
Also we are working together with the Division of Communications and Marketing and the KSU Institute for Commercialization to staff the Global Food Systems Initiative with existing personnel. Pat Melgares, Jeff Wichman, and Brad Beckman are moving to the KSU Institute for Commercialization to join that team. They are still reporting to Kris Boone. All phone numbers remain the same.
Let me know if you have questions. --Kris Boone kboone@ksu.edu
MARIE'S PICKS . . .
This week
my pick is a success story of a collaboration and the public value - benefit to
the rest of the community around our Grand Challenges (i.e., Global Food Systems, Community Vitality and Health) - shared by Mindy Young, Doniphan
County:
After the Highland community lost their local grocery store,
two health educators with the Northeast Kansas
Multi-County Health Department's Northeast Kansas Tobacco Use Prevention
Program sought help to
apply for a grant to start a community garden. The goal was to provide fresh
and local fruits and vegetables for the community. Neither one of the health educators knew much about gardening or how
to get started. Mindy helped them complete the application for the Kansas
Community Garden Grant. After
months of waiting, they learned that they received the grant!
To begin the gardening process, soil samples were collected
to set up a fertilization program. Educational information from K-State
Research and Extension was provided to help with development of their garden
plan. They purchased a Kansas Garden
Guide, which they say has helped them tremendously! . . . and attended the three-part gardening
series in the spring. Numerous
questions were asked about growing and managing certain items in the garden.
With
an awareness of the ongoing effort required to maintain the garden, they
involved other local groups, (e.g., the Doniphan
West FFA Chapter, a church group, and a senior citizens group). The garden thrived during the
first growing period and provided produce to many families, including donations
to the food pantry, the school, and to the elderly and homebound residents
of Highland.
The
Kindergarten Class at Doniphan West Elementary School had
an educational trip to the garden. They picked produce, took it back
to school, and made vegetable soup.
This
second year, the group will be planting the garden again. The two health educators
attended the Doniphan County Gardening Series again and have been planning and
tweaking practices to better their productivity.
With the help of volunteers in the Highland community, Mindy
reports that the garden is a thriving success and hopefully will remain a
sustainable resource to the people of Highland! --Marie Blythe mblythe@ksu.edu
MAY EXTENSION AGENT PERSONNEL CHANGES
Anna Curry, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Greenwood County, resigned effective May 2, 2014.
Joy Purkeypile, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Southwind District, transferred from Linn County effective May 18, 2014. Her email address is jpurkeyp@ksu.edu.
Bill Wood, County Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Douglas County, retired effective May 31, 2014.
--Stacey Warner swarner@ksu.edu
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