FOCUS ON FACULTY:
The 2007 NEAFCS Annual Session & Exhibit was held in St. Paul , Minnesota on September 17-20. Western Regional Winners included program awards to the Early Childhood Care Training team for Mind Matters (presented to Patricia Merk , Darcy Dixon , Lynne Durrant , Evelyn Whitmer , Marta Stuart ) and The Communication Award for Internet Education Technology for Walk Across Arizona (presented to Linda Block , Sharon Hoelscher Day Robert Armstrong , Robin Harris, Kay Hongu ). This team won third place nationally as well. Linda Block was presented with the Distinguished Service Award on Thursday evening at the NEAFCS National Awards banquet. Congratulations to all!
FOCUS ON PROGRAMS:
Pima Natural Resource Conservation District (PNRCD) recently partnered with Pima County Cooperative Extension's SmartScape Program to present four seminars on Water Harvesting in the Greater Tucson Area. The educational funds provided by PNRCD will be used to promote the popular Xeriscape concept of Water Harvesting to residents in Marana (October 23), Vail (October 30), Oro Valley (February 6, 2008) and Ryan Field (February 27, 2008). Vicki Richards, former Senior Program Coordinator of the Low4/SmartScape program, will instruct residents in designing and installing passive and active water harvesting systems and highlight areas throughout Tucson and surrounding areas where such systems can be seen first hand. This informative workshop is a great way to learn about strategies to offset landscape irrigation costs and gives participants a head start on planning for the annual Xeriscape Contest. For further information or to register, contact Kathryn Hahne or Teri Vasquez at the SmartScape Program Office (520.626.5161) or visit the SmartScape website.
UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES:
- The Eighth Annual Arizona Highlands Garden Conference will be held October 11-12 at the Apache Gold Casino, five miles east of Globe. The conference is open to the public and will offer three concurrent sessions both days on high-country gardening and landscaping, including hands-on workshops. This year's conference theme is “The Go Native, How-To Gardening Conference!” Registration fees $65 for one day or $125 for two days. Registration forms and other details are available at www.cals.arizona.edu/gila/horticulture.
- The Annual Arizona Nursery Association (ANA) EXPO will be November 8 at the UOP Stadium. ANA sent invitations to many of the UA departments and programs to have a booth at the EXPO. Kai Umeda, ANR/Turfgrass Agent, Maricopa County ) has proposed to ANA to have a designated area that will be an "island" or "row" of all UA exhibits/booths. This will show the industry that the UA is one unified entity instead of a bunch of individual programs and/or departments with varying names that confuse the clientele and the public in general. Kai is willing to work with ANA to coordinate all requests. Contact Kai (602.470.8086, ext. 314) with any questions and/or requests.
- A riparian workshop, The Dynamic Nature and Natural Diversity of Riparian Areas , will be held at The Lodge at Cliff Castle in Camp Verde from Thursday, November 8 at 10:00am through Friday, November 9 at 11:30am . The workshop is intended to give participants an understanding on what factors drive riparian areas to remain static or change through time, how riparian areas differ and how they can be classified. Speakers include riparian, watershed and hydrology specialists from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension , USDA Agricultural Research Service, Arizona State University , U.S. Geologic Survey, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy, and a private consultant and rancher. The workshop is sponsored by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension . A workshop fee of $40 includes lunch and handouts and the registration deadline is October 30 . For an agenda and registration information, contact George Zaimes (520.621.9389).
- Pima County Cooperative Extension is hosting a train-the-trainer workshop on Digital Storytelling . This is a four-day intensive, hands-on workshop to be held at the PCCE office on December 3, 4, 5, and 6 . The cost is $460 per participant (limit of ten). Digital Storytelling is a communication technique that enables media novices to produce 3-5 minute video clips that tell their story. This can be a powerful means of conveying information about your programs told from the perspective of participants or program staff. In addition to the training, participants will receive a manual and CD of their digital story. For more information or to register for the workshop, contact Dan McDonald (520.626.5161).
- The National Livestock Emergency Response Conference will be held December 5-7 in Tucson . Last year's conference was extremely well received and interest was high enough to hold another conference this year. Last year there was a one-day conference in Phoenix and it has been expanded to 3 days with two days of field exercises. Peder Cuneo and Bob Kattnig , along with the Arizona Livestock Incident Response Team (ALIRT) team, are helping with the effort. The ALIRT model is being adopted, in whole or in part, by numerous other states. New Mexico adopted the model completely. This conference is designed to provide information and training to a diverse audience, including County Extension Faculty and Arizona Department of Agriculture Livestock Officers. State Beef Quality Assurance Coordinators from across the country have indicated an interest in the material and some have indicated they plan on attending. This year the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is co-sponsoring the conference and Mr. John Queen, NCBA President, is confirmed as a speaker. This conference will have nationwide exposure. More information to follow.
- The CALS Controlled Environment Agriculture Center will present the Greenhouse Crop Production & Engineering Design Short Course , January 20-23, 2008 , at the Holiday Inn Palo Verde, Tucson . Attendees will learn the best methodologies to develop a successful greenhouse operation and have multiple opportunities to interact with some of the world's leading controlled environment agriculture experts. This year's theme is “Eye on Economics.” Registration $499 for early bird registration ($599 after December 10). For more information and to register, visit the Web site ( http://ag.arizona.edu/ceac/) or contact Glenn McCreedy, coordinator (520.626.9566). Support provided by Arizona Cooperative Extension.