Happy New Year!!
We have been getting calls and e-mails regarding the story which initiated
in the Arizona Republic and is also on national public radio that 4-H
agents are being cut and treated unfairly by the University of Arizona and
the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This story comes from the
Yuma area. This is not an issue of commitment but a budget issue. We have
experienced a budget cut of 12 percent last year and cuts in prior years.
There is no plan to cut additional
4-H agents in Arizona. However, we do have five open 4-H positions at this
time in four counties and do plan to fill some in the next two years. We
also have open agriculture positions and plan to fill some. New monies are
needed to fill all of them. This should give us the impetus to engage
support
for the Farm Bureau Initiative for additional funding for Cooperative
Extension.
Please welcome Robert Emanuel, Senior Program Coordinator for the Master
Watershed Steward Program, who joined our team on November 3. This position
educates the citizens of Arizona about the natural as well as human
components, issues, and process that influence the state's watersheds.
Robert can be reached at 520-621-1268 or emanuel@ag.arizona.edu.
For those planning to attend the Youth Development in-service on either
January 20 or 21, please contact Jennifer Stapp (jenstapp@ag.arizona.edu,
520-621-7205) to sign up by this Friday, January 9. ALL Cooperative
Extension campus and county faculty and program staff who work directly or
indirectly with youth programming are expected to attend one of the two
workshops. The training will be beneficial in terms of managing risk and
avoiding legal problems. Cooperative Extension will cover the noon meal and
mileage expenses (car pooling is expected).
Arizona Cooperative Extension Service is hosting the Third Annual Youth
Horse Judging Workshop on Saturday, January 31. With a coach's session on
Friday evening, January 30. Sessions will feature Julie Voge, Youth
Coordinator and Judging Coach, Department of Animal Sciences & Industry,
Kansas State University. Friday evening's session is for 4-H leaders and
agents, and Ag instructors, Saturday's session is a youth program. Both
programs will be held at the UA Ag.Center. Lectures will be held in the Meat
Science Auditorium. The fee is $35.00 which includes meals for both days,
KSU Judging CD ROM or subscription to Judging101.com. Saturday's fee is
$12.50 per youth which includes notebook and lunch. For further information
and to register, contact Dr. Mark Arns (520-626-9538 or
marns@ag.arizona.edu) or Mary Ann Harris (520-621-9965 or
maharris@ag.arizona.edu).
Bone Builders was one of 14 organizations and individuals recognized by the
City of Phoenix at their annual citywide awards banquet at the Hyatt Regency
downtown last week. Liz Schnoll and Sharon Hoelscher Day were presented the
Senior Services Division award for "Five A Day For Strong Bones" education
in 17 centers and senior physical activity series, "Bone Builders - Active
for Life" in five central Phoenix centers.
Linda Folliott will be giving a six week, Dreamweaver MX Basic distance
class, beginning January 28th - Mar. 3rd. The fee is $20.00, there will be
weekly assignments and exercises. A demonstration for new users of
Dreaweaver will be given Jan. 16th. at noon (no charge), in Forbes Room
124. For registration on these to classes, go to
http://cals.arizona.edu/ecat/classes/.
UPCOMING DATES:
January 15 - Preseason Cotton Workshop Yuma County Cooperative Extension
office, 2200 W. 28th St., Suite 102, Yuma, AZ. For more information, contact
Mohammed Zerkoune
(zerkoune@ag.arizona.edu or 928-726-3904)