May 21, 2019
On Volunteers
This week I am excited to get to speak to our Master Food Volunteers, and I also have some other big volunteer news. A Tuesday Letter about volunteers seems in order.
Volunteers play critical roles in K-State Research and Extension. Some provide advice to and lead our local unit agents. Others serve as a sounding board to our K-State Research and Extension and departmental leaders. Other trained volunteers help multiply the efforts of our program assistants, specialists, and agents by helping with our educational activities – whether it be in the areas of youth development, horticulture, food safety, community vitality, or in environmental and ecological topics. Quite frankly, without our trained volunteers, we would not be able to reach as many people as we do.
Volunteers do not volunteer because they have time on their hands. Lives are always busy. People have many choices to make when it comes to spending their time. Some may spend that time on leisure, working after hours, or pursuing sports. Others spend their time making the world better and doing it for free. That is what our volunteers do. In the words of Elizabeth Andrew, “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” K-State Research and Extension and our world is better because our volunteers have the heart. Please be sure to thank your volunteers on behalf of yourself, K-State Research and Extension, and me.
On to volunteer news…
Many of you know Sonny Sisk. Sonny, a “retired” community vitality specialist, has provided facilitation, leadership, and support to the Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker program. Sonny decided to finally make good on the term “retired” following this 2019 induction of the Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker class. After so many years of dedicated service to K-State Research and Extension and the Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker program, we wish him well.
Sonny’s departure left a critical opening in an important program. Who would fill that role? You guessed it. A volunteer has stepped forward. Dr. Daryl Buchholz, former Associate Director for Extension, has stepped forward to provide the facilitation, leadership and support to the program. He gave two conditions when he took on this role. “I do not want paid, and I want us to continue to make the program even better.”
Would you expect anything less from one of our great K-State Research and Extension volunteers?