Extension Foundation Meeting Announcement

 The ECOP Monday Minute will be on hiatus until September 11. Have a safe Labor Day Weekend.

On October 11 the entire delegation attending the National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting, will have breakfast with Extension Foundation. NEDA participants will learn how $1.2M the Foundation membership investment evolved into a $56M financial portfolio of national programs that is making a more visible, measurable, impact throughout the land-grant system. To attend, visit neda.extension.org to view latest version of the agenda and link to register, today! Pricing for NEDA will increase after September 18. 

Discrimination in Lending Financial Assistance Program - Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending, prior to January 2021, can apply for a new financial assistance program under Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The application process will close on October 31. Borrowers will have the option to apply for assistance online via 22007apply.gov or through a paper-based form. Details about the program, including an application and e-filing portal, are available at 22007apply.gov. Applicants can also call the free call center at 1-800-721-0970 or visit one of several dozen brick-and-mortar offices the program has set up around the country. Locations are provided on the program website and vendors will update the local events schedule with more information as it becomes available. It is important to note that filing an application is FREE and does not require a lawyer. Weekly updates on the program’s events and progress by subscribing here for a newsletter.

2024 NUEL Conference Announcement - The National Urban Extension Leaders conference will be hosted by Tennessee Extension May 28-31, 2024. The professional development conference will be held at the Renaissance Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The conference tracks along 5 focus areas explained at nuel.extension.org will include an administrative track. For more information go to https://utconferences.eventsair.com/2024-urban-extension-conference/register/Site/Register.

National 4-H Council CEO Shares Vision

Today marks Jill Bramble’s first day as President and CEO of National 4-H Council. As she steps into this new role, Jill shares the video message found below on her priorities: growing resources to support Cooperative Extension, embracing the digital transformation, and preparing youth for the workforce of the future. Jill is a fourth-generation 4-H alumna who rose through the ranks of National 4-H Council, starting as a grant writer 18 years ago. Throughout her time at National 4-H Council, she has consistently demonstrated her dedication to empowering young people, fostering innovation, and strengthening partnerships.

JOE Job Board Service Input Request - The Journal of Extension (JOE), the official refereed journal of the U.S. Cooperative Extension System, is seeking input from its partners on its Job Board service at jobs.joe.org. This fee-based service is available to those wishing to promote Extension job openings on the JOE website. Revenue received from this service helps support the production of the Journal of Extension. The feedback will be used to improve the Job Board. Even if institutions have not used the service in the past, the Board of Directors of JOE would like to receive responses to a survey. Please forward this survey bit.ly/45myD8h to Extension administration, human resources department personnel, or others who are responsible for advertising positions for completion by September 15, 2023. Thank you.

Conservation Districts Association Offer $38M for Climate-Smart Commodities Project Implementation – The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) will be investing $80 million in projects that scale the production, Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV), and marketing of climate-smart commodities. Approximately half of the budget is dedicated to producer payments and financial incentives. However, approximately $38 million will be available for project implementation, which may be used for activities such as:

    • Outreach and education
    • Technical assistance, including climate-smart conservation planning
    • Activities relating to measurement, quantification, monitoring, and verification of associated carbon and greenhouse gas sequestration
    • Facilitating access to markets and promotion of climate-smart commodities, including enrollment in programs or opportunities
    • Project management

NACD recently issued a Call for Concept Papers, seeking innovative ideas that scale implementation of climate-smart practices, advance MMRV, and support producer participation in markets. Concept Papers are due October 13, and are the first phase of a three-phase process, which will include submission of full proposals in response to a Fall 2023 RFP. The most complete details are available in the program’s frequently asked questions document. Consider registering for the applicant webinar, regarding this opportunity set for August 31. 

Funding for 2 Military Youth Programs - NIFA recently announced two competitive youth development funding opportunities under its 4-H Military Grant Programs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), which are listed below. Both funding opportunities close on September 5, 2023. Access to recordings of RFA technical assistance webinars are available at the links provided.

• 4-H Military Extension Educator (MEE) Program
  The MEE program coordinates with 4-H Cooperative Extension faculty and staff throughout the Land-grant University system and supports DoD and Military Service Child and Youth Programs staff in delivering and promoting positive youth development programs and activities. DoD Child and Youth Programs supports 396,000 children at over 760 child and youth facilities worldwide. For more information, read the 4-H Military Extension Educator (MEE) Program funding opportunity. 

• Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, Youth Support Internship Program (YSIP)
  YSIP is a nation-wide internship program that provides practical work experience for college students and recent college graduates motivated to serve the needs of National Guard and Reserve Component military families. More than 192 students from across the nation have participated representing over 100 colleges and universities. YSIP interns facilitate youth development programs specifically designed to address the challenges associated with military deployments and family absences. This program supports DoD’s Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. For more information, read the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program Youth Support Internship Program (YSIP) funding opportunity. 

NEDA Meeting Speaker Announced

On the evening of October 10 at the NEDA Meeting neda.extension.org in Tucson, National 4-H Council in alignment with the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee, is sponsoring a plated dinner and special keynote speaker. Richard Maltsbarger (pictured left), President & CEO, Pet Valu Holdings Ltd., is a member of the Council Board of Trustees. Since joining Pet Valu in 2018, Richard Maltsbarger and his leadership team have grown Pet Valu into Canada’s leading pet specialty retailer, through the modernization of its omni-channel and loyalty capabilities, development of proprietary real-estate selection processes and deepened investment into expertise, training, and franchise relationships. Prior to joining the company, he held multiple senior positions at Lowe’s Companies over a 14-year tenure, serving most recently as COO for U.S. operations and President of International. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri, earned an MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and is an alumni of Missouri 4-H. Richard served from 2015-2020 on advisory boards to two successive Deans of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources of the University of Missouri. Richard's entertaining keynote will be based on this year's theme, Transforming Extension: People, Partners, and the Profession. 

Cooperative Extension Receives $11M to Combat Obesity - Sixteen land grant universities will receive first-year CDC awards totaling more than $11 million to help reduce health disparities in US counties with high rates of obesity. Through these awards, Cooperative Extension at these sixteen institutions will work to increase the availability of affordable, healthy foods and safe, convenient places for physical activity. The awards are part of the 5-year, $57M High Obesity Program (HOP). Most HOP awards are in rural areas where there may be limited access to healthy foods and fewer opportunities to be active. HOP recipients leverage state investments, partnerships, and resources from various sectors, such as agriculture, transportation, education, healthcare, parks and recreation, business, housing, and military. Obesity in the US affects more than 100 million (42%) adults and 14 million (20%) children. Obesity also accounts for approximately $173 billion in annual health care costs. More information about HOP and a list of award recipients can be found here. For more information, contact rogerrennekamp@extension.org.

APLU Annual Meeting Registration is Open - While members of the Cooperative Extension Section and ECOP are not scheduled to meet formally, some Extension Leaders will choose to attend the APLU Annual Meeting in Seattle, Nov. 12-14. On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 12, the Board and Agriculture Assembly (BAA) sessions (concurrent with sessions of other APLU Councils and Commissions) include the USDA-NIFA awards ceremony when Extension Awards are presented and the Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lecture. Most Office of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (FANR) sessions will take place between Noon Sunday, Nov. 12 and the evening of Monday, Nov. 13. The registration link is 

https://web.cvent.com/event/91d11caf-866f-4dca-bad3-4c22c2f4d6b6/summary. 

 

Representing Cooperative Extension Section on BAA Policy Board of Directors - Last April, ECOP appointed Dr. Quentin R. Tyler, Senior Associate Dean for Outreach and Engagement and Director for Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) to represent the Section with the BAA Policy Board of Directors, beginning July 2023. He also has held roles such as the Associate Dean and Director for Diversity Equity and Inclusion and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Administration at Michigan State University in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He currently serves on the advisory board for LEAD21 representing Cooperative Extension. He has 3 degrees from the University of Kentucky and a graduate of Harvard’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Opportunities for Internationalizing of Extension - On Friday, August 4, 2023, the ECOP Chair Bev Durgan, University of Minnesota, moderated a conversation by the Cooperative Extension Section on Internationalizing Extension. The YouTube recording is available at https://youtu.be/UCyKoB2RPAg on the ECOP Learning for Leaders Playlist. Other relevant links:

• Presentation by the North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN) 

          Slides by NAAAN Representatives

          Feeding North America through Agricultural Extension 

          GFRAS Annual Meeting one-pager 

• Presentation by Board on Agriculture Assembly International Agriculture Section (IAS) 

           Slides on Globalizing Extension Innovation Network

NEDA Meeting Session on Transforming the Extension Profession - At the 2023 NEDA Meeting (October 10-12) in Tucson, Rob Russell, Senior Program Director of University of Missouri Extension's Business & Communities Program, will lead Tackling Extension's Workforce Challenges. Employers continue to feel the pinch of a historically tight labor market, and Extension programs are no exception. The interactive discussion will highlight some of the reasons why we’re facing such significant challenges in attracting and retaining workers and will discuss ways that Extension systems – and other employers – are working to overcome these challenges. This is just one of the great opportunities awaiting members of the Cooperative Extension Section. Browse the entire schedule and register at neda.extension.org for NEDA by September 18 and save $100 and secure lodging at the NEDA rate. Stay tuned for more details.