Approximately twenty-five faculty and administrators met at the Controlled
Environment Agricultural Center in Pima County to discuss the future of FCS
programs. This included faculty from Nutritional Sciences, Norton School
and most counties. The sessions focused on where we are and where we want
to be in the next 5-10 years. A very productive meeting. Thanks to Deborah
Young for her leadership, along with Sheila Merrigan and Patti B. for all
their hard work.
County Extension programs are increasingly dependent on county support,
grants, gifts and endowments. Here are three examples from Maricopa county.
I will provide other examples from other counties in future TMNs.
Maricopa County Urban Horticulture Endowment - $15,557. This
endowment funds activities authorized under the endowment program as deemed
appropriate by the Maricopa County Urban Horticulture Agent, the Maricopa
County Director, and as approved by the Dean of the College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences. Expenditures will be made from the associated endowment
expenditure account to support the University of Arizona Cooperative
Extension, Maricopa County Urban Horticulture program including Home
Horticulture, Youth Gardening and Community Gardening. This account will
provide unrestricted operating funds. Expenditures may include, but will not
be limited to: scholarships to conferences; equipment; materials and
supplies; program operation; travel; salaries; and other expenditures
authorized by the Urban Horticulture Extension Agent.
Baker Master Gardener Training Endowment - $11,381. This endowment
funds activities authorized under the endowment program as deemed
appropriate by the Maricopa County Urban Horticulture Agent, the Maricopa
County Director, and as approved by the Dean of the College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences. Expenditures will be made from the associated endowment
expenditure account to support the University of Arizona Cooperative
Extension, Maricopa County Urban Horticulture Master Gardener program.
Expenditures may include, but will not be limited to scholarships to attend
the initial Maricopa County Master Gardener Training, scholarships for
existing Maricopa County Master Gardeners to attend conferences, workshops
and training; and other expenditures authorized by the Urban Horticulture
Extension Agent.
Maricopa County Youth Gardening Endowment - $10,510. This endowment
funds activities authorized under the endowment program as deemed
appropriate by the Maricopa County Urban Horticulture Agent, the Maricopa
County Director, and as approved by the Dean of the College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences. Expenditures will be made from the associated endowment
expenditure account to support the University of Arizona Cooperative
Extension, Maricopa County Urban Horticulture Youth Gardening program.
Expenditures may include, but will not be limited to scholarships to attend
youth gardening training, workshops and conferences; salaries and benefits
for youth gardening staff; books, materials and supplies to support the
youth gardening program; financial awards to schools to be used to develop
their youth gardening programs; awards, recognition and promotion of youth
gardening programs; expansion of the youth gardening website; and other
expenditures authorized by the Urban Horticulture Extension Agent.