EFNEP Legend Inducted into NIFA Hall of Fame

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently inducted Helen Chipman, NIFA’s national program leader for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), into the NIFA Hall of Fame. As the lone inductee for 2024, the Cooperative Extension system at large shares Chipman’s honor.

The NIFA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to NIFA and the Land-grant University System and who, throughout their careers, engaged in activities that exemplify NIFA’s excellence in any combination of research, education and Extension delivered locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.



Food Loss and Waste Liaison Moves to NIFA

The USDA Food Loss and Waste (FLW) program has a new home in the Research, Education and Economics mission area under USDA NIFA.

The FLW program, formerly with the USDA Office of the Chief Economist, joins NIFA’s Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition’s program portfolio. USDA is in a unique position to help address the problems of FLW across the nation, including harmful impacts on climate heating and resources wasted throughout the food supply, from farm to fork.

Read more about the work of the FLW program and its liaison.



U.S. Global Change Research Program Seeks Public Comment on First National Nature Assessment

The U.S. Global Change Research Program is requesting public feedback on the proposed themes and topics of the first National Nature Assessment, a report aimed at assessing the condition of nature as an aspect of global change. The input received, due Nov. 4, will guide chapter author teams in developing their draft chapters. Read the Federal Register notice for more information.

USDA-NIFA Hosts EFNEP Listening Session – February 23

On Friday, February 23, 2024, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will host a listening session for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) at 10:15-11:30 AM ET – immediately following the EFNEP National Conference. The hyperlink below provides details for this live and virtual event. Please consider attending, submitting written comments, and sharing this event information with Family and Consumer Sciences and EFNEP Coordinators. NIFA is seeking stakeholder feedback on all aspects of EFNEP.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/events/expanded-food-nutrition-education-program-efnep-listening-session

ECOP Appoints Martin as NUEL Liaison  - ECOP has appointed Dr. Edward C. Martin (pictured left) as the Liaison to the National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) Steering Committee. Dr. Martin serves as Associate Vice President and Director of the Arizona Cooperative Extension System and is a faculty member in the Biosystems Engineering Department. Ed replaces Dr. Brent Hales, University of California, in this role. The appointment was established in 2015 with the adoption of A National Framework for Urban Extension. Please join ECOP to thank Brent and Ed for their national leadership!




ECOP/APLU Modernizing Scholarship for the Public Good Webinar Now Online - Last Friday, ECOP sponsored a webinar titled, Modernizing Scholarship for the Public Good, which is now online for asynchronous viewing. APLU launched the initiative to spur more publicly engaged and impactful research and scholarship. Over the past two years, Civic Science Fellow Elyse Aurbach led this initiative, and focused on the strategies public research universities can support scholars working in Public Impact Research, Cooperative Extension, civic science, and other forms of public engagement. ECOP thanks Elyse for sharing and discussing the initiative, action framework and case studies. The recording is available on ECOP's YouTube Channel. 

Associated links from the presentation: 

• Slides - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lH0lfG_ekefCYejSPaaSHAj2u_wIGbMh/view
• Report Executive Summary: https://osf.io/b4qw3 
• Access the Database: https://airtable.com/appTKXGHSza4RHNJj/shraoZlcCgYrXCiki

Rural Health & Safety Education RFA - NIFA recently published the 2024 Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program (RHSE) RFA. The RHSE program improves the quality of life in rural communities by providing the essential knowledge necessary for successful programs of rural health and safety in the context of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Proposals are expected to be community-based outreach education programs, such as those conducted through human science Extension outreach that provide individuals and families with information regarding:

• The value of good health at any age;
• To increase individual or family’s motivation to take more responsibility for their own health;
• Rural environmental health issues that directly impact human health;
• Access to health promotion and educational activities; and
• Training for volunteers and health services providers concerning health promotion and health care services for individuals and families in cooperation with state, local, and community partners.

Application deadline is March 14, 2024. For more information, read the RHSE funding opportunity.




GusNIP - Produce Prescription Award Applications - The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) presents the opportunity to bring together stakeholders from various parts of the food and healthcare systems to foster understanding of how they might improve the health and nutrition status of participating households. The Produce Prescription portion of this program is of particular interest to Cooperative Extension. Applications for this portion of the program are due February 28, 2024. NIFA recently conducted a technical assistance webinar, for which the slides are now available.




USDA Names Participants in 2024 Future Leaders in Agriculture Program - On January 17th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the selection of 20 undergraduate and graduate students as the 2024 winners of the USDA Future Leaders in Agriculture program. The selected students hail from land-grant universities and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSI). The recent USDA press release names the students, their hometowns, and their universities. Program winners will travel to Washington, D.C., in February to tour the nation’s capital and attend USDA’s premier annual event, the Agricultural Outlook Forum. They will also participate in several USDA briefings, gaining numerous opportunities for career development with leaders at USDA.

ECOP Meetings in Washington DC

This week, July 19-21, ECOP members, liaisons, and related partners will attend the 2022 Joint COPs Meeting, Moving Into the New Normal at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C. In addition to ECOP attending Joint General Sessions listed here, on July 19 ECOP Chair Wendy Powers, University of California, and Chair-elect Bev Durgan, University of Minnesota, will attend a hybrid meeting at the newly relocated APLU office building with ESCOP Chair Chris Pritsos, University of Nevada-Reno, and Chair-elect Matt Wilson, West Virginia University. Respective Regional Executive Director and ECOP staff will join the COPs leader to discuss COP priorities and vision for the coming year, meeting coordination, and agenda items for the fall ECOP/ESCOP EDA’s retreat. Later that same day, ECOP's Professional Development and Program Committee meetings will occur back at the hotel. Wendy will preside over the full ECOP business (FY23 budget, priority setting, 2022-2023 calendar, and the national ED search) on the morning of July 20. A portion of the meeting will be devoted to ICOP and ACOP on partnering opportunities. With impact stories provided by Extension Directors and Administrators, leave-behind communications will be finalized to share with key decision-makers. Following adjournment on the morning of July 21, the Extension EDA Team meets to update the distribution of their national responsibilities, review the new pilot ECOP priority setting process, the Extension Awards process, and the national ED search. Stay tuned for the results of these important meetings.

 

 

Caroline Henney

A Message from the ECOP/CES Executive Director - Dear Colleagues-After serving as the Executive Director of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy and the Cooperative Extension System for over two years, I have made the difficult decision to step down from this incredibly rewarding position. This transition will occur at the end of September, following NEDA. Over the past 30 years, I have worked for or with Extension at the local, state, federal, national, and international level. My time on the Extension continuum has afforded me a career full of unique experiences that I hope have made a difference in people’s lives. Through these rewarding experiences, I have truly come to understand why Extension is the envy of the world. Read the full memo from Dr. Caroline [Crocoll] Henney here.

 

FY23 Appropriations Update - The House is expected to vote this month on a mini-bus package of six funding bills, including the Agriculture, Energy-Water, and Interior-Environment bills. The House Committee on Rules made this announcement detailing the amendment process for the package and plans to meet this week to report a rule for floor consideration. While ECOP BLC keeps an eye on what the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies decisions on FY23 to be decided by the end of July, APLU will continuously update the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations priorities chart as funding levels are released. An additional point of reference is the House Sub-Committee's FY23 Agreement. 

 

EFNEP: A Model of Cooperation and Collaboration, Resulting in Improved Nutritional Health, and Well-Being of Families with Limited Financial Resources - The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is the nation’s first nutrition education program for low-income populations and remains at the forefront of nutrition education efforts to reduce nutrition insecurity of low-income families and youths today. This webinar on July 19 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET will provide an in-depth overview of the program, including how cooperation and collaboration has been essential to the program’s more than half century success.



Development for Agricultural Literacy Grant Program Webinar - NIFA will host an informational webinar July 28 at 1 p.m. EDT for those interested in the Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy (PDAL) grant program. PDAL is being offered through the AFRI Education and Workforce Development Request for Applications. The program area seeks to increase the number of K-14 educational professionals trained in the food and agricultural sciences.

Leadership Transition for NIFA

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced that Dr. Parag Chitnis (pictured left) will serve as Acting Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) upon the departure of Dr. Scott Angle. “Dr. Chitnis brings more than 31 years of scientific research and experience to the Director’s office. He has been instrumental in providing steady leadership and support to NIFA during its transition to Kansas City last fall, in addition to playing a lead role on NIFA’s Project CAFÉ (Collaboratively Achieving Functional Excellence) initiative which aims to help NIFA maximize business operations to better serve its customers,” said Secretary Perdue. “We thank Dr. Angle for his many contributions to NIFA and service to USDA and U.S. Agriculture.” For more information, read the USDA press release. 

ECOP Meetings this Week - Extension Directors and Administrators can the learn more about the ECOP Meetings occurring July 21^st  and 23^rd by viewing the APLU Commission on Food, Environment, & Renewable Resources (CFERR) Calendar for July 2020. All members of the Section are encouraged to attend the USDA/REE National Partnership Virtual Webinar Updates on July 22^nd. 

USDA Agricultural Innovation Agenda Listening Sessions - The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) in partnership with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) invites Extension Directors and Administrators to participate in the USDA Agricultural Innovation Agenda Listening Sessions on Monday, July 27^th and Tuesday, July 28^th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. ET. The Agriculture Innovation Agenda (AIA) seeks to stimulate innovation so that American agriculture can achieve the goal of increasing U.S. agricultural production by 40 percent, while cutting the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture in half by 2050. Participants are encouraged to share this invitation with producer groups. Use these links to learn more and register:

-- Monday, July 27^th  from 3:00-5:00 p.m. ET
   Driving Innovation Through Breeding Technologies in Livestock and Dairy Production, and

-- Tuesday, July 28^th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. ET
    Conservation Data to Improve Environmental Outcomes/Productivity in Farming Systems. 

Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee - The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has completed their review of the evidence on nutrition and health, and their Scientific Report is now available online. The final report, which provides critical information to inform future Extension programming, reflects the Advisory Committee’s full examination of the evidence using three rigorous approaches: data analysis, systematic reviews, and food pattern modeling. The Report includes their conclusions and advice to the United States Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, their rationale and, finally, their recommendation for future research. The public is encouraged to submit comments to the Departments on the Scientific Report. This is an ongoing public comment period that will end on August 13, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

NIFA Invites Partners’ Continued Participation in Capacity Grant Budget Pilot for FY 2021 - In FY 2020, to enhance financial accountability for capacity grant funds, NIFA implemented a high-level capacity budget submission process as a pilot. Over 30 institutions voluntarily participated in that pilot. For FY 2021, NIFA has decided to continue the successful FY 2020 pilot and allow institutions to get additional experience preparing and submitting these budgets. NIFA intends to require capacity grantees to submit high-level capacity grant budgets with their grant applications in FY 2022 (with the exception of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) grantees, who already have budget submission requirements). Webinar information will be posted on NIFA’s capacity budget resource page, along with sample budgets and updated FAQs. 

Funding Opportunity: Military-Connected Youth/Families Program

The purpose of the CYFAR 4-H Military Partnership Professional Development and Technical Assistance Program is to support the implementation and capacity of the 4-H Military Partnership and Outreach Support Program. Professional development and technical assistance are provided to the Land-Grant institutions and Cooperative Extension System, so that, in collaboration with other organizations, they can develop and deliver educational programs for military-connected youth. Eligibility to apply - Cooperative Extension at 1890, 1862, and 1994 Land-grant Colleges and Universities (one per institution). See Request for Applications for more information. The closing date is Friday, July 26, 2019 and the Estimated Total Program Funding is $550,000. To apply go to Apply for Grant.

2020 Dietary Guidelines – Background, Importance and LGU Connects - The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has recently been populated with Rachel Novotny, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, serving as a Land-Grant Faculty representative. Rachel has provided leadership with the USDA NIFA funded Regional Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Center of Excellence Policy Systems Environment (RNECE PSE) to support community coalition readiness assessment and planning for limited resource nutrition education programs across the nation. The work of this advisory committee and resulting changes in the guidelines will definitely impact the underlying curriculum for EFNEP, SNAP-Ed and other nutrition education programming. Extension Directors and Administrators should note that there are multiple opportunities for the Public to become involved; next Public meeting in DC takes place on July 10-11.

Extension Featured in NCFAR Seminar - The National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research, of which ECOP and ESCOP are members, sponsors a series of seminars for House and Senate Ag Staffers. On June 17, 2019, Bob Craven, Extension Economist and Director of the Center for Farm Financial Management, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, presented two seminars (65 attendees) entitled Extension and Partner Response to Farm Financial and Mental Health Stress. The presentation addressed two of the most challenging issues facing farmers (and by connection; youth, families and communities) - farm financial and mental stress. These issues are clearly interrelated with farm profitability issues exacerbating challenging mental health and a growing number of suicides across the country. Bob showcased how a University, a Department of Agriculture and other partners’ are addressing these issues in Minnesota. He pointed out the importance of leveraging federal, state and county investments to address these and other critical issues.


Use of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software Examined by eXtension - Cooperative Extension professionals are invited to complete a survey about the use of customer relationship management (CRM) software within their organizations. The 5-minute survey is available here. Results will be shared within the Cooperative Extension System. As Cooperative Extension organizations assess or implement new software tools and strategies, it is often useful for them to communicate with other Extension organizations that have similar objectives and experiences. This survey is intended to identify what Extension organizations are doing or considering when it comes to CRM platforms. The results will be available through the eXtension website. This work is part of the eXtension CRM Fellow program. Any questions or comments can be directed to Stephen Judd, eXtension CRM Fellow.


Leadership in the City Course for Urban Extension Professionals - The Leadership in the City 10-month comprehensive online professional development program prepares Extension professionals working in urban areas, to be relevant locally, responsive statewide, and recognized nationally. The program was developed based on a foundation of entrepreneurial theory and urban Extension practice and builds upon existing leadership experiences, management training, and Extension professional development. Participants have represented 27 states during the first two years of the program. This course is led by Julie Fox from the Ohio State University Extension. The investment in the program is $500. Multiple participants from the same institute are entitled to a $100 discount (Discount code: LITC19-100). Complete details and registration can be found at https://cityextension.osu.edu/leadership.

2019 Joint ESS/CES-NEDA Meeting Registration

Extension Administrators and Directors are encouraged to promptly register for the Joint Experiment Station (ESS) Cooperative Extension Section (CES-NEDA) meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, September 23-26, 2019. The Sections' leaders, who have mutual interests in scientific research and application, are from the 76, 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant University (LGU) institutions who receive a portion of their funding through USDA-NIFA. The theme of their meeting to be held at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, is LEADING THE FUTURE: CHANGES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND RELATIONSHIPS. Details for registering for the meeting are found at http://www.cvent.com/d/66qy1n. Co-chairs of the Planning Committee are ECOP Past-chair Chuck Hibberd, University of Nebraska, and ESCOP Chair-elect George Hopper, Mississippi State University. Stay tuned for more details regarding the Joint Sessions and the annual CES-NEDA business meeting agenda. 

Dicamba is Topic of Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders - ECOP Chair Ed Jones invites Extension Directors and Administrators to learn about challenges in public policy outreach and Extension programming in agriculture and natural resources – the case of  dicamba, on Friday, June 14, 2019, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. The June Learning for Leaders meeting occurs 1 week later than normal. Presenters will soon be announced by email. Connection details: Join Zoom Meeting https://extension.zoom.us/j/129450710 or Dial by your location 646-876-9923 (New York) 669-900-6833 (San Jose) Meeting ID: 129 450 710. The wealth of the previously recorded Learning for Leaders’ sessions may be accessed here.


2020 NERAOC Topics Due by June 28 - According to Gina Eubanks, Louisiana State University, ECOP Representative to National Extension and Research Administrative Officers Conference (NERAOC) National Planning Committee, the University of Missouri and Lincoln University will host the 2020 NERAOC, April 19-22 in St. Louis, Missouri. The purpose of the conference is to provide a professional development opportunity to exchange current and relevant best practices, discuss policy, obtain definitive interpretation of regulations, and discuss future issues pertinent to operating the LGU system and other cooperating institutions. The Committee seeks input and ideas for potential topics by June 28 using the online form. Tracks include Diversity and Inclusion, Finance/Capacity Grant, HR/Organizational Development, Minority Serving Institutions, and Program Reporting and Accountability. Contact Gina at GEubanks@agcenter.lsu.edu for more information.


SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Core Competency RFP Announcement - With an awareness of the importance to continue to build capacity in low-income nutrition education programs, the LGU SNAP-Ed Program Development Team is seeking to update core competencies. SNAP-Ed and EFNEP state coordinators and program supervisors use core competencies in hiring, training, and performance management decisions for systematic program effectiveness nationwide. The intent of this project is to conduct a thorough review of existing competencies and associated resources and to revise and update so that they are current and relevant for the future. Proposals due June 27, 2019. Direct questions to Vicki Soren, 605-688-4989. The posting can be found at https://www.mercurycommerce.com/secure/SourcingEventPostingBoard/default.asp?sID=%7B1CFAA89E7-35C9-49B9-B091-AF5C3C0EEED1%7D&PagingID=&RefreshOption=3. Scroll to CORE Competency RFP # 1721.


NIFA Granstmanship Webinar Announced for Next Week - NIFA's Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition will present a grantsmanship webinar entitled 2019 AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Food Safety, Nutrition & Health Program Areas, on June 11, 2019. Click Here for all of the details and to register.

New Census of Agriculture Products - Please share these new products and information with producers and other local data users – NASS just released (May 30) the much anticipated 2017 Census of Agriculture State and County Profiles. On June 26, NASS will release another popular Census product, the Congressional District Profiles and Rankings. More Census products, such as the watershed report, zip code tabulations, and race, ethnicity and gender profiles, will follow throughout the summer. Access the full 2017 Census of Agriculture report and other associated products (e.g. highlight videos and publications) here. Stay connected with NASS on Twitter @usda_nass for the latest data released and information about NASS’ upcoming surveys and censuses.

ECOP Members Recognized for National Leadership Service

At the ECOP Spring Meeting on April 11^th, Scott Reed, Oregon State University, (2016-2019), and Lou Swanson, Colorado State University, (2017-2019), were recognized for their national service. ECOP Chair Ed Jones, Virginia Tech, pictured to the left, presented these leaders with a small token of appreciation earlier than normal (usually done at NEDA meeting) due to their upcoming retirements. Scott (upper photo) and Lou (lower photo) will continue their national duties until retirement (Scott - end of July; Lou - September 8). ECOP will celebrate all national leadership accolades during the “recognitions” portion of the Annual Cooperative Extension Section Business Meeting on the morning of September 25, 2019 in Nashville. Registration for the Joint ESS/CES-NEDA meeting will be released next month.

Celebrating EFNEP - On April 9, 2019, ECOP established a resolution to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the grand accomplishments of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). The resolution, demonstrating the collective appreciation of the Cooperative Extension Section, was presented last week to Helen Chipman, National Program Leader for Food and Nutrition Education, USDA-NIFA, during the PILD conference in Crystal City, Arlington, VA. To learn more about the 50 years of impact go here and follow #EFNEP50th on Twitter.



Awards Deadline is About 1 Week Away - Extension Directors and Administrators should note that time is running out to prepare letters of support for the Excellence in Extension (EiE) Awards. Nominations for EiE awards (submitted by Region) and for the National Diversity in Extension Award (any individual or team may apply) must be submitted using an online form by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Wednesday, May 1. To learn more about these prestigious awards administered in partnership with USDA-NIFA go to www.aplu.org/CESawards or contact Sandy Ruble, sandyruble@extension.org or 202-478-6088.

eXtension Funds New Fellows for 2019 - eXtension announces the following individuals as Fellows for 2019. eXtension Fellows create a pathway for new work in high-priority topic areas, disseminated and used across the Cooperative Extension System.

  => Lindsey Lunsford, Tuskegee University. Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Fellow. Continuing the work of eXtension’s 2018 DEI Fellow, the focus of Lindsey's fellowship is to develop a second version of the DEI eFieldbook to be published with eXtension for the October 2019 Impact Collaborative Summit.

  => David Warren, Oklahoma State University. Artificial Intelligence Fellow. David will guide & frame a digital content scoping project which will be conducted by an eXtension technical partner in April, 2019.

  => Mike Masiuk, The Pennsylvania State University. Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) Fellow. In partnership with ECOP and eXtension, Mike Masiuk will develop a JCEP Extension and Engagement Core Competency Framework for Extension professionals.

Stay tuned for the announcement of Fellows representing Extension professional organizations such as ACE, NUEL, & NAEPSDP.



RWJF Research Funding Opportunity - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the private funding partner for Well-Connected Communities, is dedicated to building a Culture of Health—one where everyone in America has a fair opportunity for health and well-being. Directors and Administrators are invited to spread the word about RWJF’s latest funding opportunity. The Equity-Focused Policy Research Funding Opportunity is for researchers, state and local government agencies and public and private sector professionals, from a variety of fields who are interested in better understanding the use of income supports like the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Programs. Ten grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 (for a total of $1.5 million) will fund research with the potential to impact 4 key areas. An optional webinar will occur May 3, 2019 (1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET); registration is required. The brief proposal deadline is Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

4-H Grows in the Spotlight

On Friday, January 4, ECOP Chair Ed Jones, Virginia Tech, was joined by Jen McIver, National 4-H Council, Vice President of Field Marketing and Partnerships, to kick off the 2019 Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders series. The purpose of the hour was to renew the Cooperative Extension Section's appreciation for the 4-H Grows campaign (increase 4-H membership to 10 million youth by 2025) and collect the input of Directors and Administrators and answer their questions on the value of a unified 4-H brand and national marketing program. The video recording Growing Extension’s Reach and Relevance Through the 4-H Brand and PowerPoint from the session are now available for sharing and review across the nation and Section. Send questions and comments to ecopblog@gmail.com as the exciting dialogue continues.


Increasing Knowledge and Support for EFNEP - Nominations Requested by January 15 - In a detailed 3-page letter from NIFA Director Scott Angle released on December 10, nominations were requested to recognize the "remarkable contribution of selected EFNEP staff and champions who have been instrumental in the success of EFNEP, and participants who have significantly enriched their lives through EFNEP opportunities." Extension Directors and Administrators and their associates are encouraged to act before close of business January 15, 2019. The link to submit nominations is found on page 2, paragraph 1 of the letter.

Cohort 12 FSLI was recognized on November 11, 2018 at the APLU Annual Meeting.
Congratulations to Rosalind Dale, NCA&T State University, Roger Rennekamp, Ohio State University,
Jeff Hyde, Penn State University, Gary Jackson, Mississippi State University, and Dawn Mellion-Patin,
Southern University.

Application Process Now Open for The Food Systems Leadership Institute’s Program - The Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI) offers executive leadership development to upper-level leaders in higher education, government, and industry to prepare them to meet the leadership challenges and opportunities of the future. The two-year FSLI experience includes three week-long residential sessions, personal leadership coaching, mentoring, distance learning activities, and an individual leadership project. The FSLI is designed for experienced leaders; participant titles include program directors, vice presidents, experienced department heads/chairs, deans and associate deans, and others working in leadership of administrative capacities. More information on the FSLI program can be found at www.fsli.org.

eXtension’s Impact Collaborative 2019 Member Benefits - The Impact Collaborative works directly with eXtension members to help make more impactful programs. Benefits to members institutions include:
  • Send one individual to be trained at no cost as an Innovation Facilitator to provide support for your programs, & help lead local innovation skill-building events.
  • Staffing and support for a statewide or institution-wide Impact Collaborative event contextualized to your needs that engages your leadership team and helps make more impactful programs.
  • Send teams to our national Impact Collaborative Summits to bring new capacity to your program teams, provide strategic support to members, and help teams bridge gaps in their project or program planning.
  • Unlimited access to Engage & Empower Online, a new resource designed to collectively drive innovation and action forward toward real impacts.
  • Access to our eFieldbooks: a go-to resource for Extension professionals to begin discussion, help establish processes, and assist with the delivery of new programs.
Questions? Please contact Beverly Coberly.

Military Families Learning Network Offers Sesame Street Webinar - Military families can face unique circumstances and challenges around violent and traumatic events. On January 17, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. ET, Sesame Street for Military Families and the Sesame Street Workshop will facilitate a 90-minute webinar on the impacts of childhood trauma and community violence. The webinar, offered through the Military Families Learning Network, is available at no charge to Cooperative Extension. This unique learning opportunity will highlight resources and activities to help children cope, and offer strategies to assist with self-care following a traumatic event. To learn more about this webinar and others in the “Kids Serve Too” series, click here.

Extension Lauded by the Nation in New Orleans

The 2018 National Cooperative Extension program culminated yesterday in New Orleans with a celebration by the Board on Agriculture Assembly and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) during the 131st APLU Annual Meeting. Policy Board of Directors Chair Orlando McMeans, West Virginia State University, and new NIFA Director Scott Angle officiated. Click Here to read more about each recipient and their programs. Directors and Administrators are reminded to save the date of Friday, 2/1/2019, 3-4:00 p.m. ET for the Zoom meeting launch the next round of nominations. Read more at www.aplu.org/CESAwards.

L-R: Scott Angle, Director of USDA-NIFA; Ron Cox, Oklahoma State University; Joe Luck, University of Nebraska; Dwayne Elmore, Oklahoma State University; Jason de Koff, Tennessee State University; Lesia Oesterriech, Iowa State University; Ken La Valley accepting on behalf of Molly Donovan, University of New Hampshire, and Ed Jones, ECOP Chair, Virginia Tech.

SNAP-Ed & EFNEP Core Compentancy RFP Deadline Extended - In response to time concerns, the proposal deadline for the Core Competency Project RFP has been extended to November 30, 2018. To view/download the updated RFP and Addendum us the link found below and scroll down the page to Event ID #1512. More details are found in the October 29, 2018 ECOP Monday Minute post. Please share with those who might be interested. Direct question to to Vicki Soren, South Dakota State University, 605-688-4989. Go to: https://www.mercurycommerce.com/secure/SourcingEventPostingBoard/default.asp?sID=%7B1CFAA89E7-35C9-49B9-B091-AF5C3C0EEED1%7D&PagingID=&RefreshOption=3


15th Annual National Land-Grant Diversity Conference - The National Land-Grant Diversity committee is excited for you to join them at their 15th Annual National Land-Grant Diversity Conference happening February 6th-8th 2019. The theme is Do The Right Thing: Transforming Diversity; the keynote speaker is Dionardo Pizaña from Michigan State University Extension. The Pre-Conference and Capnote will be presented by Bleuzette Marshall, University of Cincinnati Office of Equity, Inclusion & Community Impact.

• Click here for  periodic updates, additional information on the conference diversity award application, call for proposals, and poster presentations
• Click here for registration
• Click here to reserve your hotel

eXtension’s Impact Collaborative Summit Recap

ECOP Chair Ed Jones records thoughts
 on the evolution of eXtension (video found here).

The Impact Collaborative had its first national Summit last week with 32 teams representing 40 institutions alongside eXtension’s 40 Key Informants and 19 partner/supporting organizations. After developing their projects through the Impact Collaborative process, teams participated in the first ever PitchFest where they presented their projects and programs to a panel of leaders from Cooperative Extension, eXtension, and external partner/supporting organizations. Thirteen teams took home awards that provide strategic partnership and support for their projects and programs. You can find a list of awards and recipients here. eXtension will deliver evaluation results from the Impact Collaborative Summit on November 1st. In the meantime, you can hear what some of our participants had to say about the Summit here. Cooperative Extension/ECOP Executive Director Rick Klemme and ECOP Chair Ed Jones also share their thoughts on the evolution of eXtension to better serve Cooperative Extension, and their experience at the Impact Collaborative Summit here.


Save the Dates - ECOP Meeting Calendar - ECOP Chair Ed Jones is pleased to release the meeting calendar for 2019 (October 2018 - September 2019). To view/download the most recent edition go to www.extension.org/ecop where the calendar and more is available. ECOP Meetings are open. Agenda items are generated through contact with standing committees (Executive, Professional Development-formerly Personnel, Program, 4-H Leadership, Budget & Legislative), joint committees and task forces such as the National Impacts Database Committee and through contact with Liaisons, for example, eXtension Foundation, Board on Human Sciences (BoHS) and Council on Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET) with the support of the Extension Directors and Administrator (EDA) Team. Questions about ECOP materials and resources may be directed to Executive Director Rick Klemme rickklemme@extension.org or Assistant Director Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org.


SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Core Competency Report RFP - With an awareness of the importance of continuing to build capacity and competencies in low-income nutrition education programs, and in anticipation of the possible changes due to the Farm Bill, the Land-grant University SNAP-Ed Program Development Team (PDT) and its National Land-grant University SNAP-Ed Office at South Dakota State University have posted a Request for Proposals (RFP; link is for direct download of a Word document and permission may be required) to create a “Core Competency Report” for Land-grant University SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Programs. SNAP-Ed and EFNEP state coordinators and program supervisors use core competencies in hiring, training, and performance management decisions. Competencies also contribute to systematic program effectiveness across the country, while allowing for state and local flexibility. The intent of this project is to conduct a thorough review of existing competencies and associated resources and to revise and update such so that programs remain current and relevant for the foreseeable future. Resources from the report will be used to enhance programmatic quality and improve professional results. Proposals are due no later than November 6, 2018. Extension Directors and Administrators  with oversight of EFNEP and/or SNAP-Ed Programs who do not have no members on the proposal selection committee are eligible and encouraged to apply. Direct questions about eligibility to Sandra Jensen at sandra.jensen@sdstate.edu and other concerns to Vicki Soren at SDSU at 605-688-4989. This project is affirmed by ECOP and the Board on Human Sciences, sponsored by the PDT, and is to be funded through the SNAP-Ed assessment.


National Digital Extension Education Team Provides Input on USDA National Initiative - The USDA Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Task Force Report, released in October 2017, lists advancing e-Connectivity to unserved/underserved communities as a top priority. In response, USDA Rural Utilities Service plans to invest $600 million to support the priority, released July 2018. The National Digital Education Extension Team provided input on this new opportunity during the comment period, with leadership from Monica Babine (Washington State), Brian Whitacre (Oklahoma State), Roberto Gallardo (Purdue), Neal Vines (Virginia Tech) and Keith Taylor (University of California), and the Southern Rural Development Center. Main points were (1) expanded definitions of minimum access speed to provide more equitable standards; (2) an appeal for improved data sources; and (3) showcase of ways Extension Service can assist communities through convening, facilitation, research, and education. The point of contact for the Team is Rachel Welborn rachel.welborn@msstate.edu.


SNAP-Ed PDT Represented at National SNAP Conference - To help raise awareness of Land-grant SNAP-Ed programs Lauren Tobey, Oregon State University, representing the Program Development Team (PDT), attended the 2018 annual conference of the American Association of SNAP Directors and the National Association of State TANF Administrators, held in Reno, Nevada in August. Lauren exhibited the PDT resources to an audience from 41 states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands, as well as to USDA regional and national employees. Prior to the conference, Lauren collected impact reports from around the System to provide a sampling of program tools to showcase at the event. Highlights included:

• University-backed research and subject matter expertise
• Deep connections throughout states with residents and partner organizations that can leverage/expand SNAP-Ed funds 
• The power of Land-grants to connect between states and across the country to spread resources even further

As an example, FoodHero, the social marketing campaign that Lauren coordinates in Oregon is included in the SNAP-Ed toolkit and currently used in at least 42 states. For more information on what was present contact Lauren at lauren.tobey@oregonstate.edu.

ECOP National Leadership Transition

Doug Steele, Director for International
Extension Outreach and Education,
Borlaug Institute for
International Agriculture

Doug Steele has accepted a position as Director for International Extension Outreach and Education with the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture. Doug served in a number of national leadership roles, including ECOP Chair in 2012 and Chair for the Centennial Task Force 2013-2014. Until further action by the ECOP Executive Committee meeting, Jon Boren, New Mexico State University, will take the lead of ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee and represent ECOP on the Budget and Advocacy Committee, and Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, will step in to fulfill her duty as Alternate Cooperative Extension Section representative to the of the Board on Agriculture Assembly Policy Board of Directors. ECOP is grateful to all for their national leadership and devotion to the System.



Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders Special: Framing Cooperative Extension's Response to the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity - ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd and 3 deep-thinking, distinguished presenters explore this emerging opportunity. The Land-grant Cooperative Extension Section (CES) is strongly positioned to address the challenging issues in Rural America. Highlights:

• Develop a shared template intended to showcase efforts
• Generate a single CES report telling the story holistically
• Each state/university tell own story in its own way

The link to the presentation is provided below and comments and questions are welcome at ecopblog@gmail.com.

Ali Mitchell, Executive Director
Northeast Regional Extension Directors

Ali Mitchell Joins EDA Team - Ali Mitchell has been named Executive Director of the Association of Northeast Extension Directors (NEED). Ms. Mitchell most recently served as a NOAA Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Transportation in a dual role as Policy Liaison to the Executive Director of the U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System and Advisor to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Port Performance Freight Statistics Program. Ms. Mitchell graduated with a BA from Williams College where she majored in religion and earned a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Brown University where she focused on the power of storytelling for policy goals and the integration of data analytics and social science to create, evaluate, and implement effective public policy. Her interdisciplinary professional experiences include working as a blacksmith, as a documentarian, as part of the executive team for the Williams Mystic Maritime Studies Program, and as an independent public policy consultant, among others. Please join ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd and the EDA Team welcoming Ali! Her email is amitchell@northeastextension.org.


Opportunity – National Cooperative Extension Award Nominations Are Due May 1 - Stellar Programs and Extension Educators Wanted! Go to: www.aplu.org/CESawards for full details before time runs out by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, May 1. All nominations must be submitted electronically using the designated online platform, JotForm.com. Contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org with questions or concerns.


Farm Bill Proposes Changes in Nutrition Education - The version of the Farm Bill that passed out of the House Agriculture Committee last week proposes changes to nutrition education for people with low income. The changes pose opportunities and challenges for the Land-grant University (LGU) System. The LGU SNAP-Ed Program Development Team (PDT) is a group of Extension professionals from each region working in nutrition education for individuals with low income. The aim of the PDT is to maintain and improve the consistency and effectiveness of SNAP-Ed programming that is delivered through the LGU System and address challenges in this work through a national lens. The PDT is committed to supporting our colleagues throughout the Farm Bill process. The PDT's first step was an informational webcast, Nutrition Education Program for Limited Resource Audiences: House Ag Committee Farm Bill Proposal, held on April 18. A graphic illustrates the legislative process of the Farm Bill outlines the Farm Bill process, including its future once approved by the House Ag Committee.

Executive Director of Cooperative Extension System Position Announcement

The ECOP Executive Director Search Committee recently completed and released the new position announcement. The Committee encourages readers to share the announcement widely through professional channels across the country. The short link is bit.ly/ED-CES.

Health in All Policies Team Beta-Tests Professional Development Course - Cooperative Extension leaders, researchers and educators ACROSS ALL PROGRAM AREAS are invited to beta-test a new online professional development course, Extension Health in All Policies: Building cross-program awareness for health impacts of decision-making. Members of the ECOP/ESCOP Health Implementation HiAP Action Team chaired by Roberta Riportella, Oregon State University, have adapted and developed the course content specifically for Extension. Registration for this self-paced course, is hosted by Oregon State University Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). Early learners who are willing to provide feedback on the course may do so prior to August 15. Contact Deborah John Deborah.john@oregonstate.edu with: Evaluate Extension HiAP Course typed in the subject line to receive a link to the evaluation survey.


Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Input Opportunity - On 14 and 15 June, NIFA hosted EFNEP administrators and locally based staff, interested partners and ECOP Chair Fred Schlutt and other Extension leaders in a Call to Conversation on Nutrition Education Programming - The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. See https://nifa.usda.gov/nifa-calls-conversation-meeting-series. NIFA is now reviewing the excellent feedback that was shared. In that meeting, NIFA leaders noted that they would also invite comments from those who did not participate in that meeting. Those of you who were not in attendance are invited to respond to the following questions.

• Who in the target audience would not be served if EFNEP remains the same in 2047 (30 years from now)? 
• What do we need to do to reach these audiences – not worrying about resources? 
• What barriers/challenges exist for making needed changes, and how might these be overcome? 
• Based on your comments, what are your recommendations for the future of EFNEP? 

Please feel free to email us your thoughts (link sends e-mail). You can also send comments directly to hchipman@nifa.usda.gov by August 1, 2017.


Fueling Discovery and Engagement in Ag through Competitive Grants Programs - The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) envisions a future in which all people, at all times, have sufficient access to safe and nutritious foods that meet the needs and preferences for active and healthy lifestyles. Depressed agricultural production and farm incomes need a boost from evidence-based agricultural science, driven by research and extension supported via a competitive peer-review process. NIFA is the largest source of competitive agricultural research funding in the United States and supports the research, education, and extension activities needed to fuel discoveries and innovations in agriculture. Click here to see the infographic.

ECOP Monday Minute 7.14.14

ECOP Gears Up for July Meeting – Chair Jimmy Henning, University of Kentucky, reports significant action items for consideration by ECOP during its July 22, 2014 meeting in San Diego in conjunction with the annual Board of Agriculture Assembly Joint COPs summer meeting. ECOP will make decisions about the AES-CES Communications and Marketing Project, the new impacts database, and an ECOP health implementation team. Updates will be provided on eXtension “e-nnovation” planning, a pending USDA climate hubs memorandum of understanding, and the Ag Act of 2014 distribution of funds for education about farm programs. Watch the ECOP Monday Minute for details. 

Focus on Extension Health Programs – The Creating Healthy Communities eXtension learning community featured Michelle Rodgers, ECOP member and chair of the ECOP National Task Force on Health, University of Delaware, for a webinar. Visit https://learn.extension.org/events/1651#.U61ih7Hr6f8 and click on watch recording or see the YouTube version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NDEFAej8v4. The PowerPoint associated with the webinar is available at http://goo.gl/nwhmnk. 

EFNEP 2013 Impacts – USDA-NIFA has released FY 2013 impacts for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) program which operates in the 50 states, 6 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Annual data confirms that EFNEP graduates consistently report strong results related to improvement of diets and other food-related behaviors. In FY2013, EFNEP reached approximately 120,000 low-income adults and 415,000 low-income children and youth. Of adult graduates, 95 percent reported improvements in their diets, 90 percent improved their nutrition practices, 84 percent improved their food resource management practices, 65 percent improved their food safety practices, and 39 percent increased their physical activity level by 30 minutes or more. A full report is in process. 

USDA-NIFA Releases 2014 Impacts Report – The projects highlighted shows how USDA-NIFA funding contributes to significant achievements in food, agricultural, natural resources, and human sciences by supporting research, education, and Extension programs at the land-grant universities and other partner organizations. See NIFA website for details. 

Oregon Extension Run for Health – To bring awareness to the power of living a healthy lifestyle, two college undergraduates – and brothers, Isaiah and Jeremiah Godby – are running to 30 out of 36 Oregon counties, stopping at OSU Extension Service offices along the way and encouraging community members and alumni across Oregon to join them. The run finishes September 5th after 61 days averaging 32 miles each day by each runner. They are hosting public events along the way to emphasize proper nutrition and fitness. See http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/healthrun/ for details. 

21st Century Energy Challenges – The Power of Extension was the focus of a Cooperative Extension workshop May 8, 2014 in Washington, DC. See https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6HXxUrVKWEYNjB6dGNHTjJRZlU/edit?pli=1 for presentations.

ECOP Monday Minute 8.19.13

SAVE THE DATE: eXtension External Evaluation Webinar – ECOP will host a webinar on The eXtension External Evaluation: Charting Next Steps 1-2 p.m. ET, Monday, 9.9.13. Connect at https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ecop. This is another opportunity for Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators to engage in a discussion about the future direction of eXtension. The report can be found here. The deadline for responding to the related survey at http://bit.ly/eXtDASurvey is 8.28.13.

New EFNEP Policies Document – USDA-NIFA has updated the USDA Extension Service October 1983 Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Policies (August 2013).  See http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/food/efnep/resources.html.

Help Tell the Agriculture Story – The Smithsonian Institutions is asking the public to help preserve the recent history of farming and ranching by sharing their stories about the technologies and innovations in agriculture in the Agriculture Innovation and Heritage Archive. The archive stories and artifacts will be used for Smithsonian exhibitions like American Enterprise, which will open in May 2015. Submit a story through the link on the home page at http://americanenterprise.si.edu/introduction/agricultural-innovation-and-heritage-archive/.

Women in Agriculture Learning Network – The CHS Foundation, a farmer-owned cooperative, has funded eXtension to develop and implement a new national online Women in Agriculture National Learning Network. The network will help women who operate and manage farms improve their quality of life by providing resources to make better business decisions while maintaining a balance with family and personal obligations.  Women now own about half of all farm land in the U.S. Many focus on organic agriculture and value-added farming and raise small livestock.  The new network will help women operate profitable farming operations and take on leadership roles in agriculture. One of the key resource areas planned is farm financial management. Topics will include beginning farming skills, financial and business planning, time management, government programs, insurance, labor management, legal issues, risk management, transition planning, organic farming, sustainable agriculture, and conservation practices.  The Women in Ag Network is expected to go online by December 2014.