ECOP Welcomes New Chair

ECOP Monday Minute returns December 7, 2015 . . . HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

Delbert Foster, ECOP Chair 2014-15, hands gavel to
Michelle Rodgers, ECOP Chair 2015-16

Montage from 11.16.15 includes Cathie Woteki, Under Secretary
for USDA Research, Education, and Economics, Robert Holland,
Associate Director of Operations, USDA-NIFA and
Jane Schuchardt, Executive Director, ECOP

In ceremonies at the APLU Annual Meeting in Indianapolis last week, Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, accepted the gavel for ECOP leadership from outgoing chair Delbert Foster, South Carolina State University. For the 2015 report of ECOP accomplishments, see http://bit.ly/ECOP2015Report. Of special note is the program focus on health, the development of the Cooperative Extension Innovation Inventory, transition to the NEW eXtension, and the producer education program with USDA Farm Service Agency. ECOP goals for 2016 http://bit.ly/2016ECOPGoals call for further work on innovation, launching a National System Task Force, giving attention to urban programming, and continuing discussion on private resource mobilization. Foster expresses appreciation to all those in the Cooperative Extension Section who engaged in Cooperative Extension national leadership during his tenure. As ECOP immediate past-chair, he serves as co-chair of the ESS-CES/NEDA Planning Committee in preparation for the September 19-21, 2016 meeting near Jackson Hole, WY. 

North Central Region Releases FCS Study – ECOP member Chris Boerboom, Chair, North Central Cooperative Extension Association (NCCEA), announces a new report of impacts of family and consumer sciences Extension programs http://www.nccea.org/multistate-activities/fcs-battelle-report-2015/. Amongst other outcomes, the report shows compelling evidence about program effectiveness related to human health and well-being. 

Cooperative Extension SNAP-Ed Outcomes – The Land Grant University SNAP-Ed Program Development Team, supported by assessments to participating universities, announces outcomes by state http://articles.extension.org/pages/72627/2014-snap-ed-impact-reports#.VktMaL-E1SE. Further, the Legislative and Advocacy Committee of the SNAP-Ed Program Development Team reports high visibility for Cooperative Extension at the National SNAP Directors Meeting earlier this month in Seattle. In addition to an exhibit, presentations by Cooperative Extension educators focused on translating research to practice, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and encouraging SNAP redemption at farmers’ markets. Members of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee are Pat Bebo, Ohio State University and Mindy Meuli, University of Wyoming, co-chairs; Debra Garrard, Oklahoma State University; Kathleen Manenica, Washington State University, and ad hoc member Megan Ness Ditterick, North Dakota State University. 

CYFAR Annual Report – USDA-NIFA announces the release of a report of 2014 accomplishments of the Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Program http://nifa.usda.gov/resource/2014-cyfar-annual-report. CYFAR improves the quality and quantity of comprehensive community-based programs for at-risk children, youth, and families through Cooperative Extension educational programs. Limited resource families and youth who are at-risk for not meeting basic human needs gain skills to lead positive, productive, contributing lives. 

NEDA 2015 in Review – Those who evaluated the 2015 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting last October in St. Louis provided high ratings http://bit.ly/2015NEDAReview. ECOP thanks the planning team Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, chair; Ed Jones, Virginia Tech; Brian Higginbotham, Utah State University; Carolyn Williams, Prairie View A&M University, Chris Boerboom, North Dakota State University, Dan Lerner, University of Vermont, and ECOP members Jon Boren, New Mexico State University, and Mike O’Neill, University of Connecticut.