National Extension Award for Innovative Programming that Addresses New Audiences

The purpose of this award is for Extension efforts that go above and beyond in reaching new audiences. It recognizes innovative teaching models and techniques that ensure Extension programs reach all audiences, especially new and those that have not been participating in traditional Extension education. The programming should reflect how a systematic needs assessment identified the audience and influenced teaching methods, created mutual respect among audiences, promoted acceptance, fostered teamwork, and improved overall effectiveness of the programming.

Nominations must be submitted online by June 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Early Bird Deadline Approaching for PILD Conference – APLU President to Speak

Take the opportunity to save $100 and register for the JCEP Public Issues Leadership Development Conference by March 15. Hotel reservations must be made separately. APLU President Wadded Cruzado is scheduled to speak on day two of the conference. President Cruzado gave a great speech recently at the Council on Agriculture Research, Education, and Teaching conference.

North American Agricultural Advisory Network Multi-Language Connection

Join the North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) from 10-11 a.m. MDT on Thursday, March 12 for the CONVERSATION on NAAAN CONNECT with Mexico. Moderated by Luis Martinez, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington D.C., this session will feature a Group of Native Maize Producers from Acaxochitlán sharing about their experiences. The producers are part of a “Territorial Development of Indigenous Peoples Safeguarding Native Maize Races of Mexico” project through Mexico’s department of agriculture – AGRICULTURA. The goal of this project is to strengthen capacity, add value, and promote fair commercialization of native maize varieties.

This session will be conducted in Spanish with Wordly translation available in English and French. We look forward to seeing you there – register to join us!

Growing Together: Conversation with Krysta Harden, President and CEO, U.S. Dairy Export Council

Krysta Harden's journey from being a student at University of Georgia to become a national agricultural leader shows the power of 4‑H roots and a land‑grant education.  As president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), she leverages her experience with agriculture, sustainability, food policy, and the federal government to help fulfill USDEC’s mission to promote dairy exports and enrich the well-being of people, communities, and the planet.  Learn about Harden's perspectives at Growing Together: Conversation with Krysta Harden, President and CEO, U.S. Dairy Export Council.

Have a Joyous MLK Day!

This message and its accompanying email were preset to be distributed today.

Registration Open for PILD

Registration is now open for the Public Issues Leadership Development conference. The early bird registration deadline (saves $100) for April 20-22 conference is March 15. Lodging reservations must be made separately.

USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum Registration Open

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that registration is now open for the 102nd Agricultural Outlook Forum. The event will be held at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott on Feb. 19-20, 2026, and all Forum sessions will be livestreamed on a virtual platform.

4-H Council to Hold Winter 2026 Q&A

The National 4-H Council will hold its winter 2026 Q&A Session on January 27 at 3:00 pm. Topics will include:

·       Celebration of their and the Extension System’s collective work on the Beyond Ready initiative,

·       Resources available to you as a result of that initiative, and

·       An Outline of the next steps for Landmark Gift investments.

When you register, you can also share any additional items you'd like to discuss or questions you have for Jill Bramble. 

Register for the Board on Health and Human Sciences Spring Meeting  

Registration is now open for the 2026 Board on Health and Human Sciences (BHHS) Spring Meeting, hosted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Colorado State University, March 24-26 in Denver, CO. Held at the CSU Spur Campus, a national hub for collaboration at the intersection of health, food, water, and community, the meeting’s setting reflects BHHS’s commitment to interdisciplinary solutions and public impact. This year's keynote address features Dr. Temple Grandin, internationally renowned professor, author, and innovator. Dr. Grandin’s work—spanning systems thinking, neurodiversity, and applied problem-solving—offers powerful insights into translating research and lived experience into meaningful, real-world outcomes. 

Event Locations:

• Colorado State University Spur Campus: 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216
• Vīb Hotel by Best Western Denver RiNo: 2560 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO 80216 (Lodging will also be at this hotel)

Follow this link to register, find information on accommodations and transportation, and explore the agenda. We look forward to seeing you there! 

 

NIFA Director Hamby Speaks at Successful PILD Conference

On April 7-9, the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) conference was held in Chrystal City, VA. It was a great success. The new NIFA Director, Jaye Hamby, provided opening remarks. Among his many points, he indicated that “they could not have found a greater supporter of Cooperative Extension to serve as NIFA Director.” It was an excellent program that was well executed, which prepared Cooperative Extension Professionals to more impactfully interact with legislators and other public officials. 

A large part of 2025 PILD’s success is attributable to Joint Council of Extension Professionals President Phil Durst (Michigan State), PILD co-chair Daphnie Richards (Texas A&M), and Ali Mitchell (Northeast Extension Executive Director).

Lewis-Burke Washington Update Available  

APLU recently distributed its FANR FOCUS, which included a Lewis Burke Washington Update. Key points include: 

• Republicans Begin Negotiations on Reconciliation
• USDA Nominee Update
  
• HHS Reductions in Force (RIFs) with USDA RIFs to Follow

NIFA Staff at 2025 NERAOC

NIFA brought key staff to the annual National Extension and Research Administrative Officers Conference (NERAOC) held recently in Reno, NV. More than 500 participants attended the conference which provides a venue for professional development, information sharing and networking to state Cooperative Extension, agInnovation and USDA NIFA staff.

Through the opportunity to share and discuss information related to fiscal, grant (competitive and capacity), administrative, communications and human resources management, NERAOC participants gain important professional development.



HHS and USDA Hold First Public MAHA Event, Outline Vision for Healthier America

On April 4, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Brooke L. Rollins collaborated on their first Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) event during a visit to Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School in Alexandria, VA where they participated in a healthy snack time with students and met facility staff. The event was an opportunity to learn more about the impact that federally funded nutrition programs have on children and signaled their strong partnership to work together to effectuate their vision for a healthier America.

“Secretary Kennedy and I have a unique once in a generation opportunity to better align our vision on nutrition related programs to ensure we are working together to advance President Trump’s vision to make our kids, our families, and our communities healthy again,” said Secretary Rollins. “Our farmers, ranchers, and producers dedicate their lives to growing the safest most abundant food supply in the world and we need to make sure our kids and families are consuming the healthiest food we produce. There is a chronic health problem in our country, and American agriculture is at the core of the solution.”

JCEP Announces Dates, Locations for 2025 Conferences

The Joint Commission of Extension Professionals (JCEP) provides learning opportunities for Extension professionals. Please mark calendars and/or share information for the 2025 conferences. Details will be posted at www.jcep.org. 

• Extension Leadership Conference (ELC) will be held February 19-20, 2025 in Savannah, GA.
  
  
• Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) will be held April 7-9, 2025 in Arlington, VA, with April 9 reserved for Hill visits.

Environmental Justice Listening Session Set for August 20 - NIFA is holding a listening session Tuesday, August 20 at 3:00 p.m. ET to receive input on potential agency actions related to environmental justice. Input and insights collected through this session will be used to strengthen NIFA’s program delivery. Read more here about the listening session and how to register here.

Artificial Intelligence in Cooperative Extension

On June 7, 2024, Extension Directors from across the System joined ECOP Chair Damona Doye (Oklahoma State University) and her special guest David Warren, Senior Director Integrated Digital Strategies at Oklahoma State University, and AI Program Leader at the Extension Foundation. Dr. Doye updated the delegation on several important Section-related Action Plan objectives. Then, Members were introduced to basic understanding of AI and to the dynamic ExtensionBot that has been piloted in several states. Slides to accompany the follow 1-hour YouTube Recording posted below are available here. David will also facilitate a deeper dive into this topic at the 2024 NEDA Meeting. Proceed to learn more and register for the NEDA meeting here by August 26. The next First Friday event will not take place until August 2, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. 

JCEP seeking Administrator input on Hill Visits - The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) is gathering information about Hill Visits associated with the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) conference, to assess the value of those experiences. Response to this form by June 30, 2024,will help the JCEP Board form future activities and opportunities for our member Associations. Please take a couple of minutes to provide input. The ECOP members who have already submitted their own input during the Spring Meeting in Oklahoma City, are asked to share the form with others with PILD conference experience. 




Webinar Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health -The National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine will be releasing their report entitled Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health next Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Members of the study committee will be sharing where to locate the report and present key takeaways and recommendations. The audience will be able to submit questions during the webinar. Register for the webinar here.




USDA Publishes Request for Information to Support Next Steps in Implementing the Growing Climate Solutions Act - USDA is seeking information from the public on protocols that may be considered for inclusion in a new Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program, the main program of the Growing Climate Solutions Act. The input is being collected through a Request for Information and will be considered in the preparation of a proposed rule to establish the program. Read more here, about how to provide feedback here.




USDA Announces Expansion of Interagency Collaboration to Help Reduce Food Loss and Waste - USDA has signed a formal agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to renew their Federal Interagency Collaboration to Reduce Food Loss and Waste. The U.S. Agency for International Development also joined the collaboration to help reduce food loss and waste internationally. Read more here, about USDA food loss and waste reduction efforts, which includes a $10M partnership with National 4-H Council.

Extension Foundation 2023 Annual Report Available

Since 2006, the Extension Foundation has been a steadfast partner to the Cooperative Extension System. Through innovative technology solutions, professional development, and strategic collaborations, the Foundation has helped Extension programs scale, adopt new models, and make a more visible and measurable impact on local issues across the nation. The Extension Foundation partners with Cooperative Extension through liaison roles and a formal plan of work with the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) to increase system capacity. Learn more about the organization and our work by reading the Extension Foundation’s 2023 Annual Report.

Reminder for 2024 PILD Participants - The ECOP Program Committee asks Extension Directors and Administrators with delegations attending the PILD Conference to raise awareness of the concurrent sessions by the ECOP Program Action Teams (PATs) slated for the 8:15-10:00 a.m., April 16, 2024 as described in the final 2024 PILD Conference program. This will be an excellent opportunity for PILD attendees to understand how various PATs work, what they do, and account for the benefits locally. 

Also, please be mindful that Extension Directors and Administrators who are attending the PILD Conference should mark their calendar to attend their in-person meeting on, Monday April 15, 2:00 p.m.




National Cooperative Extension Awards Nominations Reminder - Now is a good time to check in on the status of preparing nominations for the three categories of National Cooperative Extension Awards offered by ECOP and USDA-NIFA. The deadline to submit nominations online is about five weeks away, May 1, 2024. Letters from respective members of Section are required for the individual and team Excellence in Extension award nominations. The gateway to all of the details may be found at awards.extension.org. Questions about these awards may be directed to Sandy Ruble, Assistant Director, Cooperative Extension System/ECOP at sandyruble@extension.org. The value of the prizes exceed $38,000 annually. 

JCEP Excellence in Extension Engagement Award Applications Due May 31 - JCEP’s Excellence in Extension Engagement Award recognizes high-quality, evidence-based Extension work with documented outstanding outcomes and impacts. The award is for an individual or a team, members of these seven JCEP organizations, whose programs are driven by local needs, grounded in scholarly practice, adequately evaluated, showing adoption beyond initial audiences, within or across states, and bringing innovation to Extension. First place is $750 and includes being an invited speaker at ELC 2025 with registration waived. Honorable mention receives $250 and ELC 2025 registration is waived. Applications open at PILD and are due by May 31. Details and application are at www.jcep.org/awards. Also online is a synopsis of The Remote Online Initiative from our 2024 winner, Dr. Paul Hill, Extension Professor & Program Director, Utah State University.




Demystifying the Panel Review Process for Grant Funding - NIFA offers several technical assistance events to help prospective applicants understand NIFA funding opportunities. Supporting material from these events — which also provide guidance on grant development and grant management — is available here. The next session, that may be of interest is Demystifying the Panel Review Process for Grant Funding on May 2, 2024, 12:00 PM ET. Click here to register to attend and submit questions ahead of time. While this session is conducted by NIFA, the concepts taught in the session will be transferrable to other granting agencies.

USDA Outlines Vision to Strengthen the American Bioeconomy Through a More Resilient Biomass Supply Chain - USDA has released a plan that will boost biomass supply chain resiliency for domestic biobased product manufacturing, while also advancing environmental sustainability and market opportunities for small and mid-sized producers. The report — Building a Resilient Biomass Supply: A Plan to Enable the Bioeconomy in America — calls for three broad areas of activity: (1) research, development, and demonstration for innovation in newly emerging biomass supply systems; (2) capacity building to expand existing biomass supply systems; and (3) market development and assessment to match biomass supply to demand for the biobased products. Read more here on how this roadmap will strengthen biomass production and preprocessing systems.

Advocacy Call to Action for FY24 and Farm Bill

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus February 20 in observation of President's Day. 

Advocacy Call to Action for FY24 and Farm Bill - Last week, APLU released a call to action for CARET Delegates and Administrative Heads, the chief administrators of the APLU-member universities’ agricultural programs, to review materials listed below established at www.land-grant.org. The 2 groups meet next month in DC and will visit Capitol Hill. Talking points and communications are coming soon. ECOP's Budget and Legislative Committee meets tomorrow to review and discuss matters concerning the Cooperative Extension System.

APLU FY2024 Annual Appropriations

• APLU BAA Unified Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Request

2023 Farm Bill Reauthorization

• APLU BAA 2023 Farm Bill Title VII Policy Recommendations
• APLU BAA 2023 Farm Bill Request for the Research Facilities Act
• A National Study of Capital Infrastructure at Colleges and Schools of Agriculture

Register for PILD Conference April 16-19
- Registration is live for the annual Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) conference, April 16-19 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. PILD 2023 is open to Extension professionals – Administrators and Directors, through county Agents and Volunteers –  from all 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant institutions. The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) is the organizer of the conference. The purpose is to learn and practice leadership skills, meet federal partners, and explore national priorities and funding streams. The ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee will lead a special informative policy and legislative session for members of the Cooperative Extension Section on Monday, April 17, 1:00 p.m. Visit www.jcep.org/pild/2023 for full details and links to register and book a hotel room. 

ECOP 4-H Executive Director Announced

The ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Co-chairs Laura Stephenson, University of Kentucky, and Lisa Bouillion Diaz, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, have announced that after a nationwide search, their committee has selected Edwin Jones, Ph.D. (pictured left) as its Executive Director. A former ECOP Chair, ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee Co-Chair, and Trustee of National 4-H Council, Ed is well suited to help support and advance the work of the Committee in this inaugural position. For 18 months he will support the Co-chairs and ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee initiatives. Through its shared leadership model, the Committee is working to develop new partnership and funding opportunities for 1862, 1890, and 1994 4-H programs alike—as well as new revenue-generating opportunities that will support Committee initiatives beyond the initial 18-month phase. Read full announcement here.



ECOP at PILD - ECOP had a high-profile role in this year’s Public Issues Leadership Development Conference. Held from April 3-6, 2022, in Arlington, VA, the theme of the conference was All Systems Go-Navigating National Identity for Local Impact. ECOP-related sessions included ECOP’s New Advocacy & Education Vision for the Cooperative Extension System; ECOP Program Committee's Program Action Team (PAT) breakout sessions; The FY 2022 Extension System Budget Request – What it Is, How to Talk About It, and Why It Matters; and a Capnote Presentation: A System Without Borders. Also at the conference, Extension Directors/Administrators participated in an ECOP Budget and Legislative (BLC) Special Breakout Session that included an introduction to the new APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly advocacy group-Lewis-Burke Associates, establishing a well-timed feedback loop to build year-round advocacy strategies ECOP Strategic Crosswalk and BLC Workplan, and an advocacy update.

Call for Nominations for APLU Food Systems Leadership Award Deadline April 29 - The APLU Food Systems Leadership Award annually recognizes a leader who has made an extraordinary impact on the food system through leadership and service and who exemplifies the core principles established by the Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI), including personal leadership, organizational leadership, and food systems leadership. The award also recognizes the leadership, innovation, engagement, and service that APLU promotes through its programs. The APLU Food Systems Leadership Award will be presented at “A Community of Scholars Honoring Excellence" award program at the APLU Annual Meeting in Denver in November. The recipient will be invited to address the current cohort of FSLI Fellows at one of their residential sessions. For criteria, form and the directions, click here. 

Coming June 2022 Family Well-Being - Navigating the Social Justice Landscape is an online, multidisciplinary approach, learning experience to a complex issue facing service providers working with military families. The 2022 Military Families Readiness Academy asynchronous courses focus on individuals’ understanding of social justice and equity (including their own understanding of privilege and oppression). The courses and discussions equip family service providers with the skills to identify barriers that impact a family’s health and well-being and identify opportunities for social justice advocacy in their work. Beginning June 1, the Academy addresses the intersections between engaging a social justice mindset as a family service professional and the ability to support the well-being of diverse military families. The courses offer engaging modules and interaction, with prompts for reflection on this critically important topic. The asynchronous delivery allows working professionals to benefit from the content in the courses at times convenient to their schedules. Continuing education credits available. Extension professionals are invited to learn more sign up for a mailing list at www.oneop.org/mfra for the Academy mailing list to receive additional information and announcements in the coming months.

Summer Pathways Institute for Extension, 4-H, and University Leadership Application Now Open -  The ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee is invites Extension Directors and Administrators to apply to the Summer 2022 4-H Pathways Leadership Institutes. The Institute is an intensive, two-day, virtual leadership program that will take place June 20-21 and August 3-4, 2022, with the goal of driving innovation and developing creative partnerships. Three-person teams that represent State 4-H leadership, Extension Leadership and Land-grant University leadership should apply via this link by Friday, May 6, 2022. For participating, each team will acquire tools needed to achieve the strategic change and growth for 4-H and Extension programs in alignment with the broader goals of Universities. Please review Frequently Asked Questions or contact Andy Turner at ast4@cornell.edu..

Celebrating Black History Month

To celebrate Black History Month, the National Office is pleased to spotlight the many accomplishments and tremendous inspiration of the following ECOP Chairs.

2000 - The late Dr. Daniel D. Godfrey, North Carolina A&T State University, pictured left: Charges were given to 4 taskforces, 1) Health and Well-Being, 2) Employability, 3) Ag/Natural Resources/Environment Interface, 4) Resilient Children, Youth and Families. The NEDA Meeting was held February 22-24, in New Orleans and included a workshop, Knowing Impact When You See It. 

2005 - The late Dr. Clyde E. Chesney, Tennessee State University, photo unavailable: The Cooperative Extension Section approved a 2005 budget of $25,000 to support the advocacy needs of the ECOP Forestry Task Force. The eXtension (Extension Foundation) Implementation plan was completed.

2010 - Dr. M. Ray McKinnie, Virginia State University, pictured left: While leading from North Carolina A&T State University, the current regional/national staffing pattern was implemented, a search for a new ECOP Executive Director was held; the Managing in Tough Times National Initiative was moved forward, the Marketing and Communications Task Force completed the implementation phase of their work. Dr. McKinnie is still very active in national leadership, serving on the ECOP Budget & Legislative Committee and is involved in numerous national dialogues.

2015 - Mr. Delbert T. Foster, South Carolina State University: Go here for photo and list of accomplishments. 

2020 - Dr. Mark Latimore, Jr., Fort Valley State University, pictured left:  Go here for the list of accomplishments. Dr. Latimore continues to faithfully serve in a national role on the ECOP Executive Committee and represents the Cooperative Extension Section on the Communications and Marketing Committee.

Through the pioneering leadership and dedication of these individuals, the Cooperative Extension System is positioned for the future to empower the people and changes lives more than ever before. -- We thank you!

Landmark Gift to 4-H Recognizes Extension Impact - National 4-H Council has received a transformational, unrestricted, $50 million gift from writer and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in support of Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program. This landmark gift recognizes your outstanding 4-H programs and their unparalleled outcomes for youth, families, and communities. It affirms the dedicated efforts of thousands of local Cooperative Extension 4-H educators, hundreds of thousands of volunteers, and millions of 4-H youth, alumni, and donors. And it leverages decades of public investment in Cooperative Extension from counties, states, and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.



March 4 Learning for Leaders Focuses on Extension’s Role in Climate Resiliency - On 2/7/2022 USDA announced $1 billion of new funding for climate smart commodities. The ECOP Climate Priority Action Team (PAT) has been meeting for nearly two years. Given the new USDA program, now is the best time to identify national opportunities for Cooperative Extension to play a leadership role in Climate Resiliency. These 76 Extension Directors and Administrators are reminded to connect on 3/4/2022, 3:00 p.m. ET, to learn about the emerging details of the USDA Climate Smart Agriculture program and the opportunity for national collaboration along the lines of a significant multi-state grant. Contact Sandy Ruble, Assistant Director, at sandyruble@extension.org for more information.

Navigating National Identity for Local Impact - The Public Issues Leadership Development Conference (PILD) Conference sponsored by the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP), April 3-6 in Arlington, VA has the theme, All Systems Go - Navigating National Identity for Local Impact. Participants will focus on building Extension’s national culture of creativity and collaboration for local solutions to national issues and learn how to communicate and engage with stakeholders and elected officials in advocating for Extension at the local, state, and national level. Information and registration are available at www.jcep.org/pild. National leaders contributing to General Sessions are ECOP Chair Wendy Powers, University of California, ECOP Budget & Legislative Committee Chair Jon Boren, New Mexico State University, and Caroline Henney, Cooperative Extension System ECOP Executive Director. A special breakout session for Extension Directors and Administrators will take place on Tuesday, April 6, immediately following breakfast. 

Extension Foundation Offers National Registry of Cooperative Extension Programs - The National Registry of Cooperative Extension Programs & Assets (NRCEPA) provides ready-access to a living database of efforts across the system to rapidly respond to system-wide funding opportunities. Over 200 Cooperative Extension programs & projects have been registered. Several improvements were made to the NRCEPA through feedback received from the system including improved design to show multiple questions per screen, reduced redundancy on question condition logic, and improved form accessibility for ADA compliance. The Extension Foundation would like to thank numerous individuals and organizations that have provided feedback for the past year to help us improve this technology. This includes NET, NECI, SRDC, NEAFCS, NUEL, EXCITE, and individual users across Cooperative Extension. To register a program, project, curriculum, or resource, please visit extension.org/registry.

Budget and Legislative Virtual Meeting 4/13/2021

Each year the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) leads a session for Extension Directors and Administrators who attend the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference. Since the meeting is virtual this year, members of the AEA, NEED, NCCEA, ASRED and WEDA organizations were invited to join the session at no charge on Tuesday, April 13, 11 a.m. - Noon ET. For any members who wish to attend and have not yet registered, click here to sign up. A recording will be released in next week's ECOP Monday Minute. Participants will come away with knowledge of the innerworkings of a federal budget process through the Board on Agriculture Assembly and the latest updates from government affairs advisors. Chair Jon Boren, New Mexico State University, is moderator and hopes to see a good number of his fellow Extension Directors and Administrators on Zoom tomorrow. 

New Technologies for Agriculture Extension Funding - NTAE, an Extension Foundation project administered by Oklahoma State University provides an open opportunity for all land-grant institutions. Extension (formerly eXtension) Foundation membership is not required to submit early stage, high potential projects that could benefit from market research and/or strategic messaging, digital engagement, leadership and team development, partnership development, efieldbook publication, professional engagement with peers, evaluation support, and mentoring. A highly informative introduction (45 minutes) is available here. A mandatory application workshop will be held on Monday, May 10, 2021 (2-4:00 p.m. ET) and again, Wednesday, May 12 (3-5:00 p.m. ET) that will provide guidance, tools, and templates for a successful project application. Contact Tira Adelman tiraadelman@extension.org for workshop connection details.




USDA Farm Service Agency Funding Opportunity - The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency has announced the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The funding was made possible by USDA’s new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, an effort to distribute resources more broadly and to put greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers impacted by the pandemic. To view this funding opportunity, visit here.

Strengthening Rural Anchor Institutions - Federal Policy Solutions for Rural Public Colleges and the Communities They Serve Report - This report focuses on a group of 118 rural public colleges, including 1862, 1890 and 1994 institutions that prioritize access for students. This access mission is particularly important because institutions dedicated to access are often overlooked and under-resourced compared to institutions that are more selective in their admissions practices. Read the report here.

Creating an Inclusive, Equitable Cooperative Extension System

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus on Presidents' Day, February 15, 2021.

Last Friday’s Learning for Leaders event, Improving Inclusivity in Our Institutions and ECOP, was a launching point by 36 Extension Directors and Administrators from 1890, 1862,  and 1994 Land-grants to create an inclusive, equitable Cooperative Extension System. Organizers of this event and last month's, hope their colleagues can say in 2022, "I finally saw change." For anyone listed here who was unable to attend and for participants wishing to review, links to the 5-minute dynamic topical presentations, slides, and survey are found below.  Save the Date, March 5, 2021, 3-4:00 p.m. ET. Details of the next Learning for Leaders will soon be released.
-- Programming–A Path Forward
-- Hiring/Recruitment/Pipeline/Retention
-- Professional Development for Leaders and Personnel
-- Support for New/Existing Diverse Employees
-- 1890/1862 Relationship – Lessons Learned
-- Best Practices, and Collaboration Between 1862/1994 Institutions
-- Click Here to view/download Power Point
-- Complete Survey at bit.ly/CES-DEI-Survey

USDA’s Forum Building Resilience in Agricultural & Food Systems through Innovative and Strategic Partnerships - Wednesday, February 17, 2021 from 1:00-4:30 pm EST -  Presenters include leaders from USDA, Ag industry and community organizations followed by open Q&A discussion. This forum discussion will highlight how innovative and strategic partnerships between federal, state, local and private partners support the building of resilience in agricultural and food systems, with a focus on food systems and disaster recovery. Held in conjunction with USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum, this Microsoft Teams Live Event is hosted by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) and Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area. Click here to register! The link to the event will be provided upon registration.

2021 Renewable Resources Extension Act Programming Webinars - For Extension Directors and Administrators with direct dealings in renewable resources, the Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) Programming website features informative webinars. Coming February 23, 2021 at 1 p.m. (EST), is one that deals with the uncertainty about the future transfer of family forest or rangeland enterprises. To learn more and/or to register, go to https://globalrangelands.org/rreasp/webinars.

Webinar: Applying for NEW AFRI “Education and Workforce Development” Funding on February 26 -  In FY 2021, the AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) applications cover seven areas: agricultural workforce training, professional development for agricultural literacy, training of undergraduate students in research and extension, fellowships for predoctoral candidates, fellowships for postdoctoral scholars, a new program for food and agricultural non-formal education (FANE), and a FY 2021-only program for evaluation of NIFA’s agricultural literacy and workforce development portfolio. 1890, 1994, and 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, and a host of others are eligible to apply. On February 26 from 2-3:00 PM Eastern Time, NIFA staff will provide an overview of 2 New! EWD programs, FANE and Civic Engagement Experience for Youth (CEEY). Learn more/register here.  

2021 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Virtual Conference April 12-13 - Registration is now open for the virtual Extension PILD Conference. PILD is sponsored by JCEP (Joint Council of Extension Professionals) and is conducted by and for Extension professionals. This year’s conference theme is “Building Our Future Together”.  Early registration is available through April 2. Speakers include Dr. Waded Cruzado, President of Montana State University, and Dr. Chuck Hibberd, Extension Dean & Director Emeritus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. A special session especially for Extension Directors and Administrators will be organized by the ECOP Budget & Legislative Committee. Through speakers, workshops and panels, participants will learn how to communicate and engage with stakeholders and elected officials in advocating for Extension at the local, state, and national level. Information and registration is available at www.jcep.org/pild.

Connecting to Opportunities and Resources

The next post will occur on June 3, 2019. Please remember and honor persons who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces on May 27. Thank you.

This blog is designed to succinctly communicate with the Cooperative Extension Section (CES) to share member-driven opportunities and resources that appeal to the work of Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators. To compliment the ECOP Monday Minute, nearly every month Learning for Leaders, 1-hour interactive Zoom sessions, occur first Fridays, 3-4:00 PM ET. Soon ECOP will engage CES members in the topics of pesticides policy impacts, consumer perceptions on agriculture and food, the emergence of industrial hemp, adapting to climate change, and much more. All members are encouraged to contribute and stay informed! Use the full website view to search this blog and use the links found in the right-side menu. Contact the National Office for more information.

Video Textbook: National Leadership-Partnerships and Advocacy in Action - During the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference in mid-April, Extension Administrators, Directors and Other Leaders participated in a session about federal budgets and legislative activities. Jon Boren (New Mexico State University), ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) Chair, moderated the enlightening event that was filmed and produced by eXtension's Aaron Wiebe. The recording is archived in an ECOP YouTube playlist. All are encouraged to review and widely share:
 => Extension Leaders Consider PILD Participation (22:51) - Save the date April 5-8, 2020!
 => JCEP for the Nationally Engaged Extension Leader (11:40)
 => ECOP BLC Role of Extension Colleagues in the National Budget Process (14:24)
 => Federal Budget Process Explained by the Experts (19:12)
 => Land-grant Leaders' Guide to 116^th Congress 2019 (40:32)
Contact the National Office for more information.

eXtension Seeks Input - As a member-based entity, eXtension is studying ways to improve its value to both on-going and potential member institutions. To that end, all Cooperative Extension professionals of member and non-member institutions are asked to take a 10-15 minute assessment. This feedback will be used to assess the system’s needs for current and future offerings by eXtension in the areas of organizational/professional development to increase local impact, online tools to support local solutions, innovation, and accelerating the use of technology. Use this link to learn more about eXtension’s history and respond to the assessment. Please share this information broadly. Additional contact is CEO Dr. Chris Geith at christinegeith@extension.org.


ESP Offers Innovation-related Webinar - On Thursday, May 30, 2019 @ 12:00 PM ET, Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP), an affiliate of Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP),  will present a professional development webinar, Augmented Reality, 360 degree Images and Virtual Reality, 3D Printing & Crowd Sourcing in Extension. Click Here to view promotional flyer and agenda for webinar details and agenda.

eXtension Website Redesign

eXtension has launched a redesigned version of its website. The new design provides greater clarity to the mission of eXtension, its flagship program - the Impact Collaborative, and other national and supporting resources. With user experience as a primary goal, the new design allows for users to quickly access information and see the most up-to-date content on how eXtension is helping Extension professionals’ effectiveness in addressing issues of importance to the nation. Visit online at eXtension.org.


Cooperative Extension’s Role in e-Connectivity Development in Rural America - The four Regional Rural Development Centers and the National Digital Education Extension Team (contact, Rachel Welborn' rachel.welborn@msstate.edu) are working to lessen the digital divide through assisting communities with strategic planning, advancing digital literacy, establishing partnerships, and conducting vital research. Current initiatives include:

• working on a pilot project with 4-H to strengthen digital skills, 
• evaluating the impacts of broadband infrastructure, 
• identifying ways to increase broadband availability in rural communities, and 
• walking communities through strategic planning efforts such as Stronger Economies Together (SET).

To learn more about the work about e-Connectivity by the Regional Rural Development Centers, see http://rrdc.info/rural-america/eConnectivity-3-1-19.pdf.

Reminder: Professional and Volunteer Development Opportunities at PILD - Extension Directors and Administrators are reminded to register institutional teams, including volunteers, to participate in the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference. Early registration ends March 22, but please act sooner so that participants can join an important preparatory pre-Conference webinar to be held on March 14, 2:00 p.m. ET.  The webinar will help team members prepare for a successful conference and Hill visits. Details and purpose of PILD are explained in the January 28 edition of the ECOP Monday Minute or go directly to www.jcep.org/pild. ECOP thanks the Joint Council of Extension Professionals for making this Cooperative Extension specific public issue education opportunity possible each year. To learn more about PILD, stay tuned to the ECOP Monday Minute or email ecopblog@gmail.com, subject, PILD Inquiry.


Opportunity: Learning and Evaluation Consultant for National Rural Assembly - Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Leadership for Better Health and Healthy Communities themes are funding the National Rural Assembly http://ruralassembly.org to help rural leaders find their voices and to help emerging leaders build agency. In the next two years, the Rural Assembly will strengthen relationships with rural leaders who lift up marginalized voices, especially ones working with communities of color, young people, immigrants, and women. In support of the project’s objectives, the intention is to build the agency of rural leaders in their communities and within the Rural Assembly, create shared purpose among leaders, and amplify their stories with a national audience. The Rural Assembly is seeking proposals for consulting services. The consultant will work with project staff and other contractors to develop a framework for measuring sustainable engagement, participation, and communication toward improving the effectiveness of the Assembly. The project duration is July 1, 2019 – November 30, 2020. Proposals are due by April 1, 2019 and questions can be submitted via email to Marty Newell at the Center for Rural Strategies, marty@ruralstrategies.org.

Well Connected Communities Launches Web Site to Help Cultivate Wellness Across the U.S.

The Cooperative Extension System, in partnership with National 4-H Council and support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is working to equip volunteer leaders to help their neighbors be healthier at every stage of life through the Well Connected Communities (WCC) initiative. Recently, a new website for the WCC effort was developed and is now up and running. Visitors to the site can learn more about the public health priorities being addressed by each community and how local health councils, comprised of both youth and adults, are working to develop and implement action plans. The site also features a variety of resource documents that include webinars, curriculum, a communications toolkit and other interactive tools to help build a culture of health. Information on the website, including the resources and community progress, will be updated on a regular basis to track the momentum of this growing effort. Please direct any questions about the WCC to Michelle Rodgers, Well Connected Communities national project director.

2019 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) - Registration is open for institutional teams for the Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference, sponsored by the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP). The PILD conference will take place in Arlington Virginia on April 14-17, 2019. A pre-Conference webinar for all registered participants will be held on March 14 at 2:00 p.m. ET. The webinar will help team members prepare for a successful conference and visit to Washington DC. PILD is a professional development opportunity open to all Extension professionals and volunteers interested in learning leadership and advocacy skills that effect public policy issues important to Extension. In addition to nationally recognized keynote speakers, the conference features breakout sessions focusing on successful Public Issues Education programs. PILD attendees will prepare for visits to their federal congressional representatives and senators. For more information and registration details go to https://www.jcep.org/pild.

Report to ECOP from the Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup - In previous posts in February and April 2018, the Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup (EOCRW) provided updates regarding its efforts to help develop a strategic plan for Extension’s involvement to help address the opioid crisis. The EOCRW has completed its work, which culminated in a final report for ECOP. In addition, EOCRW compiled resources for those within the land grant system interested in assisting with the crisis. These resources include information about eight opioid programs currently being used within Extension, potential partners and funding sources, extensive literature review, EOCRW planning session report, and summary results of a nationwide survey of Extension leadership to collect information about existing behavioral health programs. These resources are available at the Opioid Response website. Contact Mark Skidmore (mskidmor@msu.edu) for more information.

eXtension Trains 41 New Innovation Facilitators - eXtension's Impact Collaborative held its Innovation Facilitator Training last week in Atlanta, GA. Forty-one Cooperative Extension professionals representing 28 institutions completed initial learning and application of the Impact Collaborative methodology. Their skills will help them lead innovation skill-building experiences at state or institutional events and at the national Impact Collaborative Summits. Upon completion of the training, eXtension will work directly with its trained Facilitators and institutional leadership teams to design a local event that helps project and program teams find innovative ways to advance local impact. To learn more about scheduling a statewide or institution-wide event, please contact Chris Geith at christinegeith@eXtension.org. For a listing of our newest Facilitators, please click here.

2018 Public Issues Leadership Development Conference in Review

2018 Joint PILD/4-H Delegations from Oregon and Georgia.
Picture Your Delegation Here in 2019!

Over 290 Extension Administrators, professionals, and volunteers learned how to tell Extension’s story and communicate more effectively with Congressional members and other decision makers at this year’s Joint Council of Extension Professional’s (JCEP) Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference that took place in the Washington, DC area last month. The conference theme was “Cultivating a Climate of Civil Dialogue.” Highlights included a panel on “Cooperative Extension’s Value Proposition” moderated by ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd, Dean and Director of University of Nebraska, updates with NIFA National Program Leaders, as well as a session with two Congressional staffers who provided their perspectives on effectively communicating with members of Congress. Resources from the conference are available at http://jcep.org/public-issues-leadership-development-conference/link-to-2018-pild-presentations. PILD delegates were joined by over 300 4-H youth and their chaperones to coordinate talking points and plans for Congressional visits. Next year’s PILD Conference is scheduled for April 14-17, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA.

National Extension Web Mapping Tool Is Available - With the support of eXtension Foundation, the University of New Hampshire and Virginia Tech have developed a mapping and data exploration tool to assist Cooperative Extension staff and administrators in making strategic planning and programming decisions. The tool, called the National Extension Web-mapping Tool (or NEWT), was released in Beta late last year. No GIS experience is required to use NEWT, which is key in the effort to make spatial data available to a wider audience within Cooperative Extension. The Principal Investigators of the grant which supported the development of NEWT, Shane Bradt, University of New Hampshire, and John McGee, Virginia Tech, would like to get the word out about NEWT and get feedback about the ways in which NEWT could be improved. The relevant information and recent webinars about NEWT can be found at https://www.mapasyst.org/newt.


Sustainable Agricultural Systems Webinars - New in 2018, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) program. SAS promotes the sustainable supply of abundant, affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible food and other agricultural products, while enhancing economic opportunities and improving the long-term health and well-being of all Americans. The program requires a Letter of Intent, due June 27, 2018, after which applications are due October 10, 2018. Approximately $80 million will be available to fund non-renewable grants up to $10 million for fully integrated (including research, education, and extension) Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAPs) and Strengthening CAPs using transdisciplinary approaches. NIFA will present an AFRI Sustainable Agriculture Systems webinar on May 23rd. Go to https://nifa.usda.gov/event/webinar-afri-sustainable-agricultural-systems-may23 to learn more.

Key Insights to Leading an Urban Extension Program

The 4th edition Next Generation Extension - Learning for Leaders, entitled Key Insights to Leading an Urban Extension Program, is released! ECOP Chair Chuck Hibberd says, "Washington State University's Dr. Brad Gaolach offers Extension Administrators and Directors interesting insights to bridge the world of academia with community-based applications in urban communities." Gaolach's Urban Extension story and the dialogue with Leaders across the nation is available on video at https://youtu.be/sUUxDbutNtM. Direct comments and questions to ecopblog@gmail.com. Hold the date for the #5 Cooperative Extension Section web conference, Friday, April 6, 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The electronic invitation for all 76 Directors and Administrators to participate will be released soon.


Celebrating Diversity in Extension - “Attitudes for Success” Youth Leadership Program received the 2017 National Extension Diversity Award "for the success and longevity of the coalition-model youth development program and for how the curriculum and evaluation tools can be expanded to other states" (Contact: Patricia Dodson, Extension Agent, 541-278-5403, Oregon State University, patricia.dawson@oregonstate.edu). In addition to this great work, other examples representing the range of educational programming taking place across the country are featured below, each serving diverse audiences with the transformative power of Cooperative Extension.

• Helping Standing Rock Youth Succeed – establishing an embroidery and silkscreen business at a local high school has built business skills among students in Sioux County of North Dakota, improved the economy of the county, and increased graduation rates. (Contact: Sue Isbell, Extension Agent/Sioux County, North Dakota State University Extension, sue.isbell@ndsu.edu) 
• Culturally-based Youth Leadership Accelerators – developed to more effectively serve the one in five school age (K-12) youth of color in Iowa (Contact: John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas, State 4-H Youth Development Program Leader, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, 515-294-6772, jcardena@iastate.edu) 
• Unidos Se Puede, formerly Juntos – a culturally appropriate substance abuse prevention program for 300 Latino immigrant families in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Contact: Leilana McKindra, Communications Specialist, Agricultural Communications Services, Oklahoma State University; 405.744.6792; leilana.mckindra@okstate.edu) 
• Texas 4-H Mission Possible Camp – a co-educational, inclusive program that provides a residential summer camp experience for youth with medically-diagnosed disabilities, bringing youth together to improve their abilities and to learn from each other. (Contact: B. Darlene Locke, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, (979) 845-6535, dlocke@ag.tamu.edu) 

Nominations for the 2018 National Extension Diversity Award are being accepted now through May 1, 2018. Nominees can be an individual Cooperative Extension professional or a team fundamentally composed of professionals. New nominations and those nominated in previous years that did not receive this award are welcome and encouraged. Go to www.aplu.org/CESAwards for full details. Contact: ECOP Program Assistant Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org.

PILD Pre-conference Webinar - A Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) orientation and preparation webinar is scheduled for Thursday, March 8th at 2:00pm Eastern Time. To register for the webinar click this link: https://extension.zoom.us/j/640784884. Those attending PILD, especially for the first time, are encouraged to participate in the webinar. It will cover what you need to know in advance of coming to Washington DC, including how to make appointments and prepare for Hill visits, and what you can expect while at PILD. Details on the post conference workshop “Civil Dialogue in the Public Arena” will also be shared. New this year is an optional opportunity to coordinate Hill visits and state’s night out activities with the youth and adults attending National 4-H Conference. On Tuesday afternoon April 10th the PILD and 4-H Conference delegations will meet jointly by institution to share plans and messages. It may also be helpful to view the “Making Hill Visits” webinar held for 4-H Conference delegates which is archived at: https://go.umd.edu/prepare_hill_visits_recording.


Behavioral Health Impact Collaborative - Behavioral Health (including opioid abuse) was identified by ECOP and Extension Directors as a high priority and was chosen as one of the focus areas for the 2018 eXtension Impact Collaborative (along with Food Systems and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion). Jami Dellifield, The Ohio State University and Courtney Cuthbertson, Michigan State University have been named Program Fellows for the Behavioral Health Impact Collaborative. They are currently identifying potential organizing committee members as well as participants. Directors and administrators with an interest in this area should reach out to Jami dellifield.2@osu.edu and Courtney cuthbe16@anr.msu.edu and encourage their extension faculty/staff in this topic area to contact them. CLICK HERE to learn more about the fellows.