Monday, August 30, 2021

Registry Captures 1862/1994 Relationships

The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus next week. 
Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day holiday.


Registry Captures 1862/1994 Relationships - A group of collaborators – led by Steve Gavazzi, Ohio State University, including Presidents of 1862 and 1994 Land-grant Institutions, Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Section associations, and Rural Development Centers, from western and north central areas of the country are pulling together a NIFA conference proposal entitled Cultivating Reparative Work on Behalf of Native American Peoples Through Partnerships Among 1862 and 1994 Land-grant Universities. One of the objectives of this collaborative group is to develop a national clearinghouse that contains information about 1862-1994 collaborative programs across the country. The Extension Foundation has built a National Registry supported by funding from USDA-NIFA and its New Technologies for Ag Extension partnership with Oklahoma State University that helps collate such information. Visit the registry to enter information about these programs. There are questions embedded in the entry process that will ask about 1862-1994 land-grant partnerships.





Mission Spotlight-National 4-H Council
- More than 70 years ago, Cooperative Extension created National 4-H Council (Council) to support its efforts to provide ALL youth with access to 4-H opportunities and experiences that develop the skills they need to succeed. And despite the turbulent times, Council and Extension are working together making significant progress toward a future where millions more young people are engaged in high quality 4-H—and where 4-H youth, volunteers and staff are representative of the diversity of our nation. As the private sector, non-profit partner of Cooperative Extension and USDA/NIFA, Council supports Extension in ways that align with 2020-2023 Strategic Directions for ECOP and the Cooperative Extension System:
  • Convene the 4-H movement to stimulate collective action and training on the nation’s most pressing issues.
  • Tell the 4-H Story by leveraging the power of trusted brand partners and 4-H youth and alumni to elevate the visibility of 4-H and Extension.
  • Create Public-Private Partnerships that generate new financial resources for Extension to create opportunities for all youth.
Formal accountability mechanisms to Extension are built into Council’s governance structure—which guides its engagement with Extension leadership. This infographic showcases some of the big wins that Council, Extension and NIFA have developed together over the past few years. To dig deeper, or to engage with Council resources, contact Andy Ferrin, Senior Vice President at aferrin@4-H.org.





Extension Foundation Mid-Year Update Details Funding and Impacts in Support of CES
- Created by Extension Directors and Administrators starting in 2001, the Extension Foundation facilitates and supports the success of Extension professionals and systems. The bylaws state the Foundation’s purpose is: Helping Cooperative Extension professionals make a visible and measurable impact on local issues. The Extension Foundation mid-year update,  details funding, impacts, and progress towards helping Cooperative Extension professionals advance their work. A timeline of the history, including the logo change from eXtension to the Extension Foundation is available here. The Foundation Board of Directors, who are also members of the Cooperative Extension Section, are listed here.




Virtual Facilitation Skills Training Series Offered - The global pandemic has impacted daily routines in innumerable ways, including the transition of in-person meetings to virtual platforms. Through a collaboration with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant, New Hampshire Extension, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and University of Vermont Extension, Extension professionals are invited to attend the Building Your Virtual Facilitation Skills training. This 5-part series will be held on Wednesdays beginning October 6, 2021, from 1:00-3:00 PM ET. Register by September 18 to receive a discount. Sessions include: Virtual Facilitation Essentials, Setting the Stage for Success, Facilitation Practice: Putting Skills to Work, Facilitation Challenges and Opportunities, and Celebrating Facilitation Success. Visit here for cost, registration, and other information.

Monday, August 23, 2021

Future Federal Funding Survey

Extension Directors and Administrators of land-grant universities are encouraged to schedule time to complete an important program oriented survey organized by the Cooperative Extension Section Farm Bill Committee. The 35 programs included in the survey fall under various Titles of the Farm Bill. The deadline to submit is by close of business September 2, 2021. Responses will guide the Committee to lift up priorities identified  for the Cooperative Extension System, first with the BAA Committee on Legislation and Policy (CLP) and ultimately with members of Congress. Details were released by the EDA Team last Friday region by region. Direct questions or concerns regarding the survey to Caroline Henney, Executive Director, CES/ECOP at carolinecrocoll@extension.org or 202-478-6029.




Networking App Becomes Hallway Conversations and Much More - The 2021 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting Planning Committee, chaired by the immediate past-chair of the Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP, Mark Latimore, Fort Valley State University, met last week. The award winning event app Whova® has been acquired for NEDA neda.extension.org. All Extension Directors and Administrators who register for NEDA may opt into the networking app and immediately begin the hotel hallway conversations they sorely miss when meetings are held virtually. Also, some of the 8 facilitated conversations set for October 13 are being added as conversation topics on Whova®! Direct questions or concerns regarding NEDA to Sandy Ruble, Assistant Director, CES/ECOP at sandyruble@extension.org or 202-478-6088.



Big Ideas for Extension Leaders - The following recent articles are chocked full of big ideas for Extension Directors and Administrators to ponder regarding the role of the Cooperative Extension System in land-grant universities and the USA of the future. The source for the articles is funded by New Technologies for Ag Extension Funding (NTAE) with wrap-around services provided by Extension Foundation.




Farm of the Future RFA Deadline is 10/15/2021 - As a follow on to the article published on April 26, the RFA for NIFA's Farm of the Future, a competitive grant program with $3,936,000 to invest in a single Land-Grant institution, is available here.

Monday, August 16, 2021

EDA Team Update


          Lyla Houglum           
Lyla Houglum, Executive Director, Western Extension Directors Association (WEDA), will retire at the end of this month after 16+ years. In her national role as a member of the Executive Directors and Administrator (EDA) Team, she provides leadership and support for activities of the Cooperative Extension Section (CES) and ECOP. She served as Chair of CES/ECOP in 2002. In her 43-year Extension career, Lyla received the prestigious National Distinguished Service Ruby Award and Visionary Leadership Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Honorary, the USDA Team Honor Award for Excellence, the Alberta B. Johnston Award for Extension Leadership, Oscar Haag Communication Award, the 4-H Distinguished Service Award, J.C. Penny Company Fellowship, and the Florence Hall Award. She was inducted into the Academy of Community Engaged Scholarship in 2017. Lyla is Professor Emeritus of Oregon State University. CES Members will have an opportunity to extend best wishes to Lyla at NEDA, during the Annual Business Meeting on October 14. 

Doreen Hauser-Lindstrom 
Doreen Hauser-Lindstrom, with 30+ years of professional Extension experience at three Land-grant Universities, serving in county, state specialist, and administrative unit leadership positions, follows Lyla as a member of the EDA Team. She started as Executive Director of WEDA on August 1, 2021. She is a LEAD-21 graduate located at Washington State University. For starters in her national role, Doreen will join the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee. Please join the EDA Team and ECOP in congratulating and welcoming Doreen as she transitions to this new role!  Team orientation begins this coming Friday. 

Historical Note: In 2008, CES voted to approve the formation of the EDA Team. In 2015, the ECOP Professional Development Committee (formerly Personnel) conducted a  formal review of the Team with results described on pages 1 and 2 here. The activities and influence of the Team were informally reviewed at the 2021 ECOP Spring meeting. 



National Academies of Sciences Blue Ribbon Panel Nominations due by August 18 - At last week's ECOP Executive Committee Meeting, Extension leaders were reminded to nominate champions of the tripartite University Land-grant System, Extension, research, and education including those from HBCUs for membership to 10-person ad hoc committee (Blue Ribbon Panel) that is best explained here. It is optional but helpful to upload a CV of the individual(s) nominated. The gateway to submit is found here. Direct questions to Robin Schoen202-334-2236.



4-H Pathways Institute Opportunity-Apply by August 25 - Cooperative Extension Section members who have not already participated in the 4-H Pathways Leadership Institute, are encouraged to apply for Level 1, an intensive, two-day leadership program that will take place virtually on October 27 and 28. According to its official workplan, the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee formed a Pathways team "to develop a guiding framework for the 4-H system’s efforts to meet the 4-H growth goals and vision of reaching 10 million youth by 2025, in addition to developing pathways for building leadership capacity among current and future administrative leaders of the 4-H program." The team includes National 4-H Council, and Changing Our World, Inc., a social impact consulting firm that advises leading corporations and nonprofit organizations. The institute equips 3-person teams (Specialist, Extension Director or Administrator, and Land-grant University Leader) with tools to achieve strategic change and growth for 4-H programs in alignment with the broader goals of  respective Universities. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions are here or contact Co-chair, Andy Turner, Cornell University, and Apply here by August 25

Monday, August 9, 2021

ECOP Standing Committees Insight















Since the adoption of the 2020-2023 Strategic Directions for ECOP and CES and the 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan and Ongoing Priorities for the Cooperative Extension Section (CES), much work has been accomplished by ECOP’s Standing Committees to align national-level efforts with CES priorities. From these plans, the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC) with Jon Boren, New Mexico State University as Chair, has led the development of the Advocacy and Education Toolkit to provide ECOP leadership and CES with consistent messaging and resources focused on national advocacy and education priorities, including diversity, equity, and inclusion; climate mitigation, resiliency, and adaptation; economic and workforce development; health equity and well-being; 4-H and positive youth development; urban programs; broadband access and digital skills; and community nutrition education. The ECOP Program Committee, with Ivory Lyles, University of Nevada-Reno, as Chair, has developed Program Action Teams (PATs) for each of the priority areas, bringing together Extension experts to advance programmatic resources and partnerships. Each of the PATs has an Extension Foundation Catalyst and NIFA Liaison assigned to them. A strong partnership between the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee and National 4-H Council leads the 4-H positive youth development priority area, as well as advancements in the health arena. Through the New Technologies for Ag Extension Program, NIFA has provided supplemental funding to the Extension Foundation around ECOP/CES national priorities. Additionally, there is interest from other partners and agencies in providing national-level support. Stay tuned for further news from the Standing Committees, BLC, Program, and 4-H Leadership to advance Extension's visibility, communications, programs, impacts, and demonstrate the value of ECOP's investment of Cooperative Extension Section assessments.



Energy and Sustainability Summits Registration Open - The 2021 National Extension Energy Summit & National Sustainability Summit, a joint effort of the National Extension Energy Initiative (NEEI), National Network for Sustainable Living Education (NNSLE), and National Extension Climate Initiative (NECI), will take place October 4-6, 2021 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center on the campus of Penn State University. Registration is now open here.



Applying Science to Support Universal Affordable Broadband Adoption - Save the Date for the October 27, 2021 conference Making it Count: Applying Science to Support Universal Affordable Broadband Adoption. This conference by APLU's Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) will feature presentations on papers that will inform current deliberations over how to structure, monitor, and evaluate the new suite of internet access and adoption programs made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Topics Include: Investments in Digital Literacy, Rural Broadband Business Models and Execution, Federal-State Policy and Funding Interaction, Data and Models to Support Program Evaluation and Labor Market Effects and Response. To receive complete details on registration, APLU Members can sign up for CECE free of charge here



Choices Magazine Special Issue Focuses on COVID-19 Impacts on Rural America - Choices magazine, which covers food, farms and resource use and is published by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), has just released a special themed issue on Rural Development Implications One Year After COVID-19. The issue contains eight peer-reviewed papers that explore the pandemic’s effects on aspects of rural life ranging from employment and childcare to recreational trail use and farming. Access to the quarterly can be found here.

Monday, August 2, 2021

Message From NIFA Director

Dr. Carrie Castille, Director
USDA-NIFA
Dr. Carrie Castille checks in today with Cooperative Extension Directors and Administrators with, 

Building the NIFA of the Future

- Over the past seven months, I have had the enormous pleasure of working hand in hand with some of most dedicated, innovative people in our field to create the NIFA of the Future.

As a part of our effort, we are building in more opportunities to get your input, ideas and feedback. Many of you joined us for the first of our NIFA webinars to give input and ideas on priorities for the coming year.
 

Continue reading here...




ECOP Appoints Liaisons for Partnering Entities - Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP Chair Chris Watkins, Cornell University, is pleased to share the latest appointees by ECOP. According to the ECOP Operating Guidelines, each will represent the needs, vision, and position of ECOP and the of Cooperative Extension Section, and report as needed on the intersecting activities of the respective partnering entity and ECOP and alert the ECOP Chair and Executive Director of issues that may impact Cooperative Extension System, its partners, goals and/or activities. 


Quentin Tyler, Michigan 
State University

Amy Loader, University
of New Hampshire

Quentin Tyler and Amy Loader will serve a 3 year term effective immediately. The LEAD21 program provides leadership and professional development training for faculty and professionals within the land-grant system. The LEAD21 Board of Directors is composed of the various Committees on Organization and Policy of the Board on Agriculture Assembly and  strategic partners. Amy served as the Northeast Region's representative to the 2018 NEDA Planning Committee. Quentin is recognized for exceptional leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Thank you Quentin and Amy!


Barbara Petty, University 
of Idaho
 JCEP's mission it to elevate Extension’s national reputation as an organization of excellence and synergistically leverage the strengths of member associations to foster leadership, collaboration, professional development, scholarly activity, strategic partnerships, and advocate for the profession. In addition to a Liaison to JCEP Board, Barbara's national responsibilities include:

   -- ECOP Voting Member from the Western Region (Fall '19-Present)
   -- ECOP Executive Committee (Fall '19-2020)
   -- ECOP Professional Development Committee (Fall '20-Present)
  
Thank you Barbara for stepping into yet another national role!

   


Mike Gaffney, Washington
State University
Mike's national leadership is not new with this appointment to EDEN's leadership. Currently, he serves as a decision-maker on the ECOP Budget & Legislative Committee. 

Mike is also known for his appointment to the APLU Commission on Economic and Community Engagement's Executive Committee and CECE's Learning Community, Rural Engagement for Resilient Communities.

Thank you Mike!