NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
I am pleased to welcome Kirk Astroth who joined our state administrative team as Assistant Director of 4-H Youth Development on Monday, March 10. Kirk comes to us from Montana where he worked with 4-H for the past 18 years as both curriculum specialist and state 4-H program leader. He is originally from Utah and has earned degrees from the University of Denver, Columbia University, Utah State University and Montana State University. Kirk is well-known throughout the 4-H network and has published extensively on a variety of subjects related to positive youth development. He has been president of the Journal of Extension, served on the Journal of Youth Development editorial committee, and was president of JCEP in 2003.
After getting settled into the Forbes Building, Kirk plans to convene a 4-H Strategic Planning Retreat to collaboratively chart out future directions, priorities and action steps for the Arizona 4-H program. He is excited to be a part of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service and looks forward to traveling the state and meeting as many people as possible in his first few months on the job. Feel free to contact him at 520-621-3390 or by kastroth@cals.arizona.edu.
FOCUS ON FACULTY AND STAFF:
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Lisa Lauxman, in addition to her role as Curriculum Coordinator for 4-H Youth Development, assumed the role of Special Assistant to the Director for Outreach effective March 9.
I want to thank the Northern Counties for their hospitality in my travels this past week. I had the opportunity to be involved in a strategic planning process for Extension in Navajo County and to participate in the Navajo Extension Partnership which included Extension faculty from three states, the Navajo Nation, Dine College and many other partners. I got to discuss awards for Grandparents Raising Grandkids in Coconino County and the future plans for the Groseta Learning Center in Yavapai County. I learn a lot on these visits and witness the scope and impact of our research-based university programs in communities across the Northern part of the state.
Congratulations to all the Maricopa County Extension faculty and staff who provided programming in the Educational Area for Arizona Ag Day on March 8, 2008. Erin Taylor, Field Crops Agent, chaired the Ag Day Education sub-committee with help from Gerry Parker, Ag Literacy, Kristen Wagner, Master Gardeners, and Amy Nugent, 4-H Large Livestock. Ruth Carter, 4-H Agent, and many staff members helped the day of the event by arranging for volunteers plus preparing posters and delivering educational programs. These include Barbara Ashford, Anne Cimarelli-Stears, Rachele Golliher, and Brandon Moak. Eighty volunteers including 4-H members, 4-H Leaders and Master Gardeners were helping throughout the day. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension was visible to all who attended.
About 60 individuals attended the Direct Farm Marketing and Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Gilbert on March 3. Cooperative Extension was well represented from several counties and regions of the State. After a morning session of presentations at the Arizona Farm Bureau's office, on-farm tours of direct marketing activities were made at Agritopia and Mother Natures Farm. Presentations addressed issues that ranged from Farm to School to the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. Presentations were made by Rick Gibson on "Sustainable Agriculture Grant Opportunities" and Russell Tronstad on "Assessing Direct Farm Marketing Opportunities."
FOCUS ON PROGRAMS:
Two new publications from the Forest Health Group are available on the web.
They are:
Influence of Elevation on Bark Beetle Community Structure and Flight Periodicity in Ponderosa Pine Forests of Arizona
http://esa.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/esa/envent/2008/00000037/00000001/art00012
and
Influence of Temperature on Spring Flight Initiation for Southwestern Ponderosa Pine Bark Beetles
http://esa.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/esa/envent/2008/00000037/00000001/art00008
UPCOMING EVENTS & DEADLINES:
-Professional Development Teaching Workshop - Registration is now available online for the Professional Development Teaching Workshop at http://cals.arizona.edu/exact/careerdev/. The agenda is being finalized by the University Teaching Center and the Professional Development working group. Topics may include identifying learners' needs, using cooperative learning, creating interactive and engaging lectures, and evaluating outcomes and impacts of teaching. The workshop will be held April 1-2 at the Park Student Union, 615 N. Park Ave (Not the one in the center of campus). The registration deadline is March 13, and the fee is $30. Staff are welcome to attend, provided that their registration fee is paid for by their office.
-Purple Pipes: Promises and Precautions for Water Reuse - Come learn about water reuse in Arizona! The University of Arizona Water Sustainability Program in collaboration with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension is offering a one day water reuse workshop to inform participants and community members about water reuse and recycling in Arizona. Leading Arizona experts in water quality, municipal irrigation, turf grass management, and public health will discuss benefits and precautions of using reclaimed water in the semi-arid Southwest. Additionally, representatives from government agencies and local water utilities will provide perspectives on what is being done to increase water conservation through water recycling while protecting human health. Following the sessions, an optional field trip to visit the state-of-the-art Global Water Center and a tour of the USDA water research facilities will be offered. The workshop will take place on April 16 from 9:00am-3:00pm at the Maricopa Agricultural Center in Maricopa, AZ. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.uawater.arizona.edu/eduout/workshops.html or contact Channah Rock (520.381.2258).