April 2, 2019
Shout Out: All Local Units!
Extension Operations Leader Jennifer Wilson has this week’s Shout Out. Sometimes our Shout Out goes out to a deserving individual. Sometimes they go out to a team. This week’s Shout Out goes to all of our local units.
“This Shout Out is in regards to the annual mini civil rights reviews. All local units deserve a pat on the back because we received these reports on time from 100% of our local units! The local unit highlights of their efforts to reach underserved audiences showed a lot of effort and creativity in reaching out to those who don’t normally participate in Extension programs. Programs such as Women in Ag, SNAP-Ed, SHICK, Stay Strong Stay Healthy and afterschool 4-H are involving new audiences across the state. I’d like to give a special shout out to a few units who provided outstanding examples of working with underserved audiences.
• Brown County worked with the Kickapoo and Iowa tribes to offer gardening workshops, STEM Camps and programs for the Kickapoo Farming Program.
• Cottonwood District capitalized on an agent's bilingual capabilities to offer horticulture education to the Migrant Parent Program and Barton Academy.
• Cowley County worked with local Asian and Hispanic markets to increase healthy food choices for consumers.
• Gray County connected with young Mennonite families by partnering with their public library.
• Greeley County recruited a bilingual volunteer to assist with health fairs in order to provide educational information to Hispanic participants.
• Kearney County recruited Hispanic leaders for a 4-H club which resulted in an increased number of Hispanic members.
• Marais des Cygnes District offered a Rural Living Series for those new to farming and/or rural living.
• McPherson County analyzed their county demographics to discover an area not covered well with Extension programs. They increased marketing efforts in that area and now have a new 4-H club in that neighborhood.
• Walnut Creek District recruited a female to the ag PDC and have been increasing participation by women in ag through a Women on the Farm series.
It’s evident by reading the reports that creating community partnerships and being very strategic with outreach efforts is key to reaching the underserved. Keep up the great work!”
If you know of a colleague, team of colleagues, or an entire system of colleagues who deserve recognition for a job well done, please send their name(s) and the reason they are deserving of a Shout Out to ghadley@ksu.edu.