Tuesday Morning Notes

June 8, 1999

Victor Jimenez at the Maricopa Agricultural Center (Big MAC) has received a $30,000.00 grant from the Arizona Advisory Council on Environmental Education. These funds will be used to build an educational interpretive trail at MAC that will feature stations which depict various aspects of agriculture in an arid environment.  It also will serve to complement the Ag Literacy education programming through the successful Farm Filled Ag-Ventures Series being carried out at this Research Center. 

* The fifth annual Teen Biz for Arizona Youth was held last week in Tucson for 28 youth, adult volunteers, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and Extension personnel. This experiential educational summer conference focuses on increasing business aptitude and knowledge and opportunities to review a variety of retailing careers. The teens developed their own resume, job shadowed in a local business, participated in mock interviews and made presentations emphasizing important aspects of business principles.  Sponsored by Sears, J. C. Penney and Basha's, conference team members were the Southwest Retail Center, SIFE and Arizona 4-H Youth Development. This week long, on-campus experience was action packed with unique learning experiences and FUN! 

*  Please welcome Dr. David W. Schafer who has accepted the position of Resident Director of the V-V Ranch, beginning July 1, 1999.  Dave is an animal geneticist by training and has, for the past several years, been Manager of the San Juan Basin Experimental Center in Hesperance, Colorado. He will be located at our county office in Cottonwood.  We anticipate a very close working relationship between Extension, research, and educational programs related to the V-Bar-V.  Welcome Aboard! 

*  Congratulations to Jack Roberts, the new President of The University of Arizona Staff Advisory Council (SAC).  Jack joined SAC in April 1998 and has been an active member of the Executive Board, and Chair of the SAC Human Resources Team (HRT).  We wish him every success in his new role. 

*  Nice article in the May issue of California Farmer on Arizona apple producers looking for alternative methods to battle the codling moth.  Rob Call (Cochise County) is quoted extensively. 

*  One of SWIAA’s founding members, Harry Cruye, Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, will serve as president. Formerly chairman of the Gila River Farm Board, Cruye is currently a Tribal Councilman.  Richard Thompson, also from the Gila River Indian Community, will serve as vice president.  Julia Felix, Tohono O’odham Nation, Sells, will serve as secretary.  Mary Sanchez was chosen as treasurer.  She is employed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

*  Safe Food 2000... Food Safety from the Field to the Table is scheduled July 21&22, 1999 at the Mesa Pavilion Hilton, 1011 W. Holmes Ave., Mesa. Agriculture, food processors, government, retail business, regulators, educators and consumers working together for Safe Food for Arizona families.  For more information on registration and exhibiting, call 602/470-8086, Ext. 815, or e-mail: mabgrall@cals.arizona.edu 
 

   James A. Christenson, Ph.D. 
      (jimc@cals.arizona.edu
  Associate Dean and Director 
Arizona Cooperative Extension 
        Forbes, Room 301 
    Tucson, Arizona  85721 
           520/621-7209 
       520/621-1314 FAX 
 
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