Looking Back and Thinking Forward

November 12, 2023, Hyatt Regency Seattle, APLU Annual Meeting, Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lecture - Dr. Manjit Misra, USDA NIFA Director, and Dr. Caroline Henney

USDA NIFA’s Seaman A. Knapp lecturer, the Cooperative Extension System/ECOP Executive Director Emeritus Dr. Caroline Henney, applauded the work of the ECOP Program Committee's Program Action Teams listed here, and mentioned the emerging Food Loss Food Waste PAT in her speech, Looking Back and Thinking Forward.

She went on to say, “Extension has an important role to play in the well-being of this nation. I have always believed in the relevance of Extension. In the pivotal nature of this work. In the ability to connect the university to the people. To grow and adapt to ever-emerging human and community needs where and when they occur.”

Dr. Henney quoted Seaman A. Knapp, 1894: “‘Your mission is to solve problems of poverty, to increase measures of happiness, to harness the forces of all learning to the useful and needful in human society.’ One man and a handful of county agents in the South set this nation on a path that produced a vast Extension system with 32,000+ state and local professionals and 1,000,000+ volunteers, empowering farmers, ranchers, families and communities to meet the ever-changing challenges they face. Extension is a powerful, impactful force that has never been needed more.

If I were Seaman Knapp today, I would take the positive understanding of Extension’s important role much farther. I would challenge each of you, no matter what your role or connection to the Extension System of the United States, to kick it up a notch.

First, identify why the Extension service is still after 100+ years the best kept secret, and fix it.

Second, I would seek partnerships at all levels that are well beyond traditional.

Third, I would be relentless in telling the Extension story and sharing its critical value to legislators, and key decision-makers. If I learned anything in my career, its that the squeaky wheel generally gets the grease. I would work across the System to start a nationwide PR program to help the people of this country finally recognize the true treasure that we have in Extension. This far-reaching arm of our universities makes a true difference in the nation and the world.

I believe now than at any other time since Dr. Knapp first brought the universities to the people, that Extension is more critical or more needed for our current and future generations and the diverse communities that Extension serves.

We are all Seaman A. Knapp today. And we must do these things not to seek recognition for what Extension does, but to build hope. To build meaning. To build a far-reaching understanding of Extension as the largest education system of its kind in the world. Bringing the university to the people, as purveyors of credible, research-based information from which people and communities can make informed decisions to improve their lives.

Seaman A. Knapp’s early demonstration work likely has impacted millions and millions of people. On the continuum of this work across time, if appropriately tapped and resourced, Extension can indeed change the world.

Thank you for this incredible opportunity to be with you today.”

2023 Extension Awards Photo Album - From yesterday's USDA Teaching, Extension, Research, FSLI Leadership Award, & Board on Health & Human Sciences Awards session at the APLU Annual Meeting in Seattle, here is the link to an album of our featured winners. Congratulations to all of the winners! To learn more about the awards, and have a jump start on preparing nominations, go to awards.extension.org.

Register for the Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture - On Wednesday this week, November 15, 2023, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. ET, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will present a hybrid version of the 13^th Annual Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture, which will be a part of the AAAS 175^th anniversary celebration. In light of the AAAS anniversary, the Lecture will reflect on how the history of science and technology has impacted agriculture, and look forward to how innovation can help address the future of food security and environmental challenges. The annual lecture is a collaboration between AAAS, RMF, and the World Food Prize Foundation. This year’s hybrid lecture will feature Dr. Joe Cornelius, Chief Executive Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One). Go to www.aaas.org/riley-lecture to learn more and register.




Rural America at a Glance, 2023 Edition Webinar - During a 1-hour webinar on Thursday this week, November 16, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. ET, the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) Research Agricultural Economist James C. Davis will highlight the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas, focusing on rural population and migration trends, poverty, housing insecurity, unemployment, and clean energy jobs. The ERS releases the Rural America at a Glance report annually, which summarizes the status of conditions and trends in rural areas. Registration here is required.




LAST CHANCE: LEAD21 Apply by November 15 - The LEAD21 program is intended to meet the future needs for leadership development of faculty, specialists, district and regional directors, program and team leaders, research station and center directors, department heads and chairs, and others in the universities’ colleges of agricultural, environmental, natural resources, veterinary sciences, and human sciences and USDA/NIFA. Individuals from Non-land-grant Agriculture and Renewable Resources Universities, and USDA are encouraged to participate. Details and more are available here.

2023 NEDA Registration Update

Early registration fees for the NEDA Meeting, Transforming Extension: People, Partners, and the Profession, October 10-12, 2023, expired last week. However, Extension Directors and Administrators may register and attend for only $100 more! Visit neda.extension.org for details. The Tucson Marriott hotel rates for NEDA have expired, also. Here is the link to a map to spot hotels that are within walking distance if no vacancies remain at the Marriott. As of this writing, over 100 people are registered to attend.



USDA Seeks Nominations for Membership on the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers - USDA has announced it is accepting nominations to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. First established in 1992, the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers advises the Secretary of Agriculture to enhance USDA’s goals for new farming and ranching operations. USDA is soliciting nominations from interested organizations and individuals from among ranching and farming producers, related state and tribal agricultural entities, academic institutions, commercial banking entities, trade associations, and related nonprofit enterprises. An organization may nominate individuals from within or outside its membership. Interested candidates may also nominate themselves or other qualified experts by October 10. Learn more about the advisory committee and how to apply.

National Rural Grocery Summit Announced - The Rural Grocery Initiative, Kansas State University, Research and Extension, and the Hunger Solutions Institute, Auburn University, College of Human Sciences and Alabama Agriculture Experiment Stations, are co-sponsoring a networking and resource-sharing venue for independent grocers and rural food access stakeholders called the National Rural Grocery Summit www.ruralgrocery.org/summit.The event will take place June 24-25, 2024, at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa in Montgomery, Alabama. At this stage of planning, interested parties may save the date and sign up for the newsletter list to receive further details. The summit will bring together grocery store owners and managers, community leaders, food suppliers, academic researchers, healthy food access stakeholders, policy makers, and funders to connect, share lessons learned, and innovate around best practices for sustaining locally-owned rural grocery stores and improving access to healthy food in rural communities. 

Explore Social Science Funding Opportunities - The Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society is hosting a free webinar at 12 p.m. EDT September 29, 2023, that will feature NIFA staff discussing the various funding opportunities for social science research related to food and agriculture. The webinar will cover where social science programs are housed within NIFA's divisional structure, special opportunities for students and early career professionals, and tips for successful grant writing. A Q&A will follow the presentation. Register here online.

NEDA Theme and Location Announcement

The 2023 National Extension Directors and Administrators (NEDA) Meeting October 10-12 will be held in Tucson, Arizona. The Planning Committee chaired by Barbara Petty, University of Idaho, is pleased to announce the theme, Transforming Extension: People, Partners, and the Profession. 

Pre-meeting activities for groups of participants begin the morning of Tuesday, October 10 -- ECOP Business Meeting and late afternoon New Director and Administrator Orientation. All attendees may join the grand welcome reception and a dinner event sponsored by National 4-H Council. All day October 11 and half day on October 12, attendees will participate in 2 essential business meetings and several leadership development sessions. The launch of registration with instructions to book hotel rooms and a detailed agenda is scheduled for release in May. Find out more about Tucson at www.visittucson.org. Contact Sandy Ruble sandyruble@extension.org to answer any questions.  

Workforce Development in the Cooperative Extension System - On Friday, March 3, 2023, leaders from every region of the Cooperative Extension System participated in a discussion of the current work of the Economic & Workforce Development Program Action Team (PAT). PAT Lead Ivory Lyles, Oregon State University, and 3 Fellows, gave an overview of the assessment funded by NIFA and highlights of existing workforce development Extension programs being conducted across the Extension system. To review the presentation:

--> Click here for the YouTube video recording

--> Click here access the Slides and most recent Workforce PAT Report

Learning for Leaders is organized by ECOP for members of the Cooperative Extension Section. 

NIFA Funding Opportunity: Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative Extension Disaster Education Network (FADI-EDEN) - In FY 2023, NIFA requests applications for the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative Extension Disaster Education Network (FADI-EDEN) program. The goal of the FADI-EDEN program is to maximize the resilience of the U.S. food and agriculture sector to biosecurity risks, extreme weather events and disasters, cyber threats, and other shocks. Historically, a strength of the FADI-EDEN program has been its ties to the Extension Disaster Education Network, which is a national, collaborative network of extension professionals who are dedicated to improved all-hazards management of domestic disasters. The FADI-EDEN program will fund one Extension project that will address its priorities. To learn more about the FY 2023 funding opportunity, download the FY 2023 RFA; the RFA page also includes a pre-recorded program overview video and an informational slide deck. For additional information about the FADI-EDEN program, visit the NIFA program page. The Letter of Intent deadline is March 23, 2023, at 5:00 pm ET, and the application deadline is May 11, 2023, at 5:00 pm ET. Direct questions to Dr. Ashley Mueller, National Program Leader, at ashley.mueller@usda.gov.

RRDCs Release Findings from National Listening Sessions on Rural Community, Economic, and Workforce Development - The Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs) have released findings from a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying the critical investments needed to build community capacity and improve quality of life in rural America. Their report can be used by a broad audience of practitioners, decision makers, and government agencies to inform where programmatic efforts and resources may be most effective in tackling key issues facing rural communities. It summarizes results from eight listening sessions, which convened stakeholders in facilitated dialogues focused on regional and national issues. It also integrates qualitative data from a national survey conducted in Fall 2021, building on the quantitative survey findings published in 2021. Access the executive summary, full report, or topical and regional reports by clicking the report image or here.

USDA NIFA Leadership Changes Announced

Dionne Toombs (pictured left) has been appointed to serve as Acting Director of USDA NIFA. With over a decade of USDA service, Dr. Toombs has significantly contributed to USDA’s agricultural research, education, and Extension services while serving in various leadership roles. Most recently, she was Director of the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS). She served as the head of the Division of Nutrition at NIFA and as the National Program Leader (NPL) for the Agriculture Food and Research Initiative. Prior to serving as NPL, Dr. Toombs was a Program Specialist for Food Science and Nutrition at the former USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service, now NIFA. She started at USDA as a student intern at USDA’s Agriculture Research Service. Dr. Toombs earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Howard University, her Master of Science degree in Food Science from Alabama A & M University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Bethune-Cookman University. Additionally, with the departure of Parag Chitnis, NIFA Liaison to ECOP and longtime NIFA Program Leader Brent Elrod will step in as Acting Associate Director of Programs. ECOP congratulates these outstanding leaders.

Last Reminder for 2022 Award Nominations - The deadline for the National Extension Awards nominations is May 1, 2022, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Full details, answers to frequently asked questions, and handy draft documents are available at www.aplu.org/CESawards. 

APLU Announces Selection of New President - The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has announced that after an extensive search process, the APLU Presidential Search Committee and Board of Directors unanimously approved the selection of Mark P. Becker (pictured left) to serve as the association’s next president effective September 1, 2022. He will succeed Peter McPherson who has served as APLU’s president since January 2006 and who will remain at APLU through August 31, 2022. See the press release here.

A Roadmap for Delivering Opportunity and Investments in Rural America - The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest billions of dollars in rural communities across the country. Supporting Americans living in rural areas remains a top priority for the Administration, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers on the President’s promises to work toward delivering affordable, high-speed internet, safe roads and bridges, modern wastewater systems, clean drinking water, reliable and affordable electricity, and good paying jobs in every rural community. To deliver on these promises, the Administration is committed to improving transparency into the availability of federal infrastructure resources to support rural communities’ ability to access these critical funds. See the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook | The White House.

May 24-26, 2022-Making Climate-Smart Agriculture Work - The USDA NIFA-funded Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) is an international community of experts advancing methods for improving predictions on the future performance of agricultural and food systems. AgMIP will host a national conference from May 24-26, 2022, on Making Climate-Smart Agriculture Work. The focus of the virtual conference is to share information and best practices regarding integrating science, modeling and economics to help farmers, ranchers and foresters mitigate and adapt to the challenges of climate change. Click here for full details and to register.

Urban Extension Session Review

Last Friday, 50 individuals participated ECOP's Learning for Leaders Event, Distinguishing Urban Extension in the System Landscape – Thought leaders’ exchange for future planning and policy. To review the video and companion materials go to:

--> Video link

--> Poll Summaries and Slides

--> Recent article in the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Please email us at ecopblog@gmail.com to ask questions or provide further comment. Thank you.

EXCITE Announces Funding Recipients for Activities 1 and 2 - The Extension Foundation, in cooperation with ECOP, through an Interagency Agreement with USDA-NIFA and the CDC are funding the Cooperative Extension System to address health disparities among rural and other underserved communities. The EXCITE program serves all Land-grant universities through two sets of activities: system-wide engagement with the CDC’s Vaccinate with Confidence communication campaign and selected adult immunization education pilot projects. 73 applications for non-competitive Activity 1 funding were received from institutions representing all regions of Cooperative Extension. 30 applications were received for competitive Activity 2 funding involving 38 institutions representing five regions of Cooperative Extension; 24 were selected for funding. Read the full news release here.

ECOP Health Innovation Task Force Hosts National “Big Idea Leadership Summit” - On June 22, 2021, 12 pm-5pm ET, the ECOP Health Innovation Task Force, with support from the APLU Colleges of Human Sciences and Public Health and members of the community health, economic vitality, and workforce development sectors, are hosting a national virtual summit titled: “A Big Idea to Support Thriving Communities: Connecting the Dots of Business, Education, and Health with the Cooperative Extension System”. The goal of this Summit is to convene diverse leaders across the sectors listed above to explore existing initiatives, best practices, partnerships, and programs that bring urban and rural community stakeholders and residents together to concurrently advance community health, education, and economic outcomes. Invitations to participate in the Summit have been sent to each Extension Health Point of Contact and their Associated Extension Director or Administrator. Check out the event flyer for additional information and to register. Please direct questions to the Summit’s leadership – Erik Porfeli (Chair of Human Sciences, Ohio State University) and Michelle Rodgers (Director of Extension, University of Delaware) by clicking here.

Update on the NIFA Reporting System - The first iteration of the research initiation module for Hatch, Hatch Multistate, and Evans-Allen funded projects was successfully deployed on May 28, 2021. This is a significant step in the development of the NIFA Reporting System (NRS) and toward the goal of delivering a fully integrated reporting system for research and Extension projects and programs. NIFA appreciates the input and support provided by the research and Extension working groups and look forward to continued collaboration with our Land-Grant University partners on this project. Resources on how to access and use NRS are located here: https://nifa.usda.gov/tool/pow-nifa-reporting-system. Sign-up to receive invitations to webinars and other updates by sending an email to POW@usda.gov.

Farm Resilience Training Series Opportunity - The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, the University of Maryland Extension and the Extension Foundation invite Extension Professionals to a unique action-oriented training entitled Engaging Strategically to Build Farm and Farm Family Resilience. This training series will help participants understand the theory-based risk and resilience concepts and explore the resources in two new e-publications: Building Farm and Farm Family Resilience in our Communities - A Guide for Extension Professionals to Engage Strategically and the How to Conduct a Community Forum for Strategic Engagement. Planners of the event ask Extension Directors and Administrators to share this announcement with Extension professionals across all program areas. 

Action Plan for Brand New Strategic Directions

Each year, the ECOP Chair establishes goals for their 1-year term. 2020-2021 Chair, Chris Watkins from Cornell University states, "My vision as Chair of the Board on Agriculture Assembly Cooperative Extension Section is to ensure that the ECOP Strategic Directions is a living document. The Strategic Direction document will will ECOP to enhance its relevance to Members of the Section, and provides outcomes for the Cooperative Extension System that advance delivery of evidence-based education to all." Find the Action Plan Overview here and stay tuned for the release of the full plan which details the action steps to be taken. 

2020 APLU Annual Meeting Registration Now Open - For the first time in its 133-year history, the APLU Annual Meeting with the theme Resilience & Equity will be held virtually, from November 9-11, 2020. According to APLU President Peter McPherson, while the world is rapidly changing, the APLU Annual Meeting is still here to provide higher education leaders with an opportunity to strengthen our community with opportunities to share best practices and strategies and make lasting connections with colleagues from across North America. Click Here for the Cooperative Extension Section’s Guide to APLU/FANR Events which includes links to register for the APLU Annual meeting.  

County Connectivity Landscape Dashboard - COVID-19 has sped the adoption of virtual programming in Cooperative Extension across the nation and has highlighted a need for information about connectivity at the county level for use in planning virtual programs. A new tool developed by a team at Purdue University may help. With funding backed by the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) cooperative agreement with USDA-NIFA through Oklahoma State University, the team received a grant from eXtension to create a County Connectivity Landscape Dashboard to help inform Cooperative Extension professionals as they plan online programming and outreach methods. Users can quickly identify a range of county-level statistics. Learn more here.



Webinar on Social Determinants of Health in Rural Populations - Social determinants of health are defined by the World Health Organization as "the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age." For rural populations, many of these conditions are not conducive to achieving optimum health and well-being. Building on work conducted by the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, this presentation will review some of the key elements associated with health across rural White and minority populations, such as education, income, and health facility availability. Join Jan Probst, PhD, of the Rural and Minority Research Center for a deep dive into how social determinants are influencing rural health on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 1:00 PM Eastern. For more information, visit https://www.ruralhealthresearch.org/webinars/sdoh-in-rural-populations.



CECE Enhances Online Communications - The Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) was established to lead and coordinate APLU's mission pillar of "expanding engagement." CECE convenes senior university economic development and community engagement administrations, presidents and chancellors, provosts, senior research officers, Cooperative Extension leaders, communications and government affairs administrators, and others across APLU member universities and university systems across North America who maintain responsibility for planning, executing, or communicating their institution’s work in economic development and public engagement. A new opt-in Listserv platform is available to CECE members to share resources, opportunities, and relevant news directly with one another. To become a member of CECE and opt-in on the ListServ at no cost, complete this form today.

Regional Rural Development Centers Issue Urgent Call for Investment in Rural Broadband

Rural areas still struggling to recover from the 2008 Great Recession may face even greater economic fallout as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While broadband access was critical to the pre-COVID-19 economy, the current crisis dramatically highlights the implications of this digital divide in rural areas. The Regional Rural Development Centers have issued a research-based explanation of why investments in broadband access and education are critical to ensuring that rural areas will be able to compete in the post-COVID-19 economy, and that rural-urban differences and inequities do not become even more pronounced. Read more and respond here.




May National Activities - Be sure to know your regional representatives here.

• Chair Jon Boren (New Mexico State University) will preside on Tuesday, May 12, during the ECOP Budget and Legislative Committee (BLC). Chuck Ross (University of Vermont), ECOP Chair-elect, serves as Vice-Chair. Be sure to know representation by Region. 

• Thursday, May 14, the ECOP Executive Committee holds an enhanced meeting with all ECOP voting members. On the agenda is the 2021 Cooperative Extension Section/ECOP Budget Process and 2020-2023 Strategic Directions. Chair Mark Latimore (Fort Valley State University) will preside.
• The National Office, EDA Team and APLU are gearing up for the arrival of Caroline Crocoll as Executive Director of Cooperative Extension System/ECOP on June 1. 

For more information contact Rick Klemme rickklemme@extension.org.



Summit on Virtual Programming - On the first 2 days of eXtension's recent Impact Collaborative Summit, dozens of small groups from across the system identified immediate needs for Virtual Programming and priority issues. During the Summit, they and looked deeply at ways to progress on key topic areas including Digital Engagement Strategies; Low/No Tech Engagement Strategies; ADA/Accessibility/DEI: Equitable Access Strategies; Virtual/Online Impact & Evaluation Strategies 98% of participants stated that they recommend the Impact Collaborative Summit to their colleagues. On May 15, 2 PM - 3 PM ET, the Summit continues with strategies for working during and post-crisis, Impact Collaborative Innovation Skill-Building tools, and connecting participants with their locally trained Innovation Facilitators. All member insitutions are invited to participate in the final day regardless of past participation. To register for a free account go to connect.extension.org. 




Thrive Rural Awareness - Last month, with the support of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (also funding source of land-grant Well Connected Communities), the Aspen Institute and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute launched Thrive Rural. The two-year project will address the issue of vast diversity of rural expertise and help to modernize rural legislative policy. Due to the initiative's strong emphasis on Public Health, Directors and Administrator should contact either Health Extension Director Roger Rennekamp rogerrennekamp@extension.org or ECOP Member Jason Henderson (Purdue University) jhenderson@purdue.edu, Thrive Rural Steering Committee, for more information.

Rural Community Action Guide Launched

USDA’s Rural Community Action Guide: Building Stronger, Healthy Drug-Free Rural Communities was released last month to arm rural leaders with information they can put into immediate action to create change. The new tool features “Evidence-Based Prevention Strategies That Work” by Cooperative Extension (Section 3, p. 42) and provides background information, recommended action steps, and promising practices to help manage the impact of substance use disorder on local communities and help persons with the disease of addiction. Stay tuned to ECOP Monday Minute to learn about regional roundtables opportunities with USDA Rural Development and programs that work across the country.

eXtension's Impact Collaborative Program Trains 45 New Innovation Facilitators - The Impact Collaborative trained 45 new Innovation Facilitators representing 18 Land-Grant universities, joining 107 others that represent 49 Land-Grant Universities. Participants spent three days learning the Impact Collaborative’s Innovation Skill-Building methodology and obtained skills and tools that will help catalyze innovation with local project and program teams. This particular training session was unique as it marks the first time that the Impact Collaborative has delivered the Innovation Facilitator training virtually. Some highlights from this training include:
   • 100% of participants responded that they would likely or possibly recommend this training to others.
   • 98% of participants stated they would definitely or probably use the information presented in the training.
Learn more about this training session here.


A Survey Says: Land-grant faculty prioritize public engagement activities, but feel isolated. - Using results from the first comprehensive, census survey of 46 land-grant institutions across the U.S., a team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Massachusetts Amherst examined faculty views and participation in public engagement activities and the role of science in society. Results based on 10,706 faculty spread across multiple fields reveal that most faculty prioritize engaging with the public about science but feel isolated in their outreach work. The report also explores the institutional climate surrounding public communication and factors that may encourage or discourage involvement in outreach and engagement. To see more highlights about views and attitudes from land-grant faculty, go to the full report, PNAS brief, and press release.

USDA NASS Data Collections - The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is currently collecting data for its March Agricultural Survey. A quarterly survey, it asks about acres planted, planting intentions, and the amount of grain and oilseed stored. Data collection ends March 18. Survey results will be released March 31. Please help NASS authorities spread the word. NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer recently published a blog about the 2020 crop season and what to expect from NASS numbers. It’s an informative read about NASS’ estimation process that’s definitely of interest to producers and worth a share. A recent article by Farm Week continues the discussion about March Ag, the importance of response, and NASS’ record of accuracy.

2020 National Awards Program Launched

Last Friday the nominations for the 2020 National Extension Awards program were opened to all 1890 and 1862 Land-grant institutions. Nominations are open for 3 months until May 1, 2020. Visit www.aplu.org/CESAwards today to learn more and nominate. The Awards include a cash prize and travel stipends to attend a reception and the Board of Agriculture Assembly Awards Session at the 2020 APLU Annual Meeting. NIFA officials and the ECOP Chair will present these prestigious awards before an audience of Extension, research, teaching and administrative faculty. The nominating experience is better than ever with suggestions from experts found in a YouTube recording, Systems Thinking, and Winning Words (26:00 - 36:00) and brand new "Prep" Forms!


Opportunity to Connect to Rural Learning Exchange Forum - Extension Directors and Administrators and their colleagues working in and/or with focus in rural communities are invited to join APLU's Learning Exchange Forum for Rural Engagement for Resilient Communities. Extension's own Mike Gaffney, Washington State University, co-chairs these forums with Sheila Martin. Each month members of the forum exchange best practices; engage philanthropic, private sector, and government funders; and more. Click Here to sign up by February 5, 2020 to connect to this month's forum and beyond, every third Tuesday at Noon ET.

Regional Rural Development Centers Work Spans the Nation - The Regional Rural Development Centers work to advance rural prosperity and strengthen Rural America. Working collaboratively throughout the past year with land-grant universities, Extension, community partners, and local, state and federal agencies, the Regional Rural Development Centers provided 76 workshops/conferences with over 1,200 participants, led 18 multi-state groups on a variety of topics from local foods and rural health to digital literacy and economic development, have published 24 research articles and delivered over 100 presentations. For program highlights from each center and funds leveraged, click here to review on the two-page impact report.

Updates from eXtension - eXtension is pleased to share highlights from 2019 including its progress on the New Technologies for Agricultural Extension Cooperative Agreement, the Pesticide Safety Education Funds Management Program, and the Impact Collaborative. Additionally, for 2020, eXtension's Impact Collaborative will be moving to a virtual format after listening to suggestions and input from members across Cooperative Extension. Unlike previous years, there are no restrictions on the number of individuals or teams that can participate in our Innovation Facilitator Training or Summits. The Innovation Facilitator training is February 18-20; more information and registration is available here. The Impact Collaborative Summits are scheduled April 28-29 and October 13-14. Registration will be available for the Summits at a later time.

Cooperative Extension Section Election Results Announced

The Policy Board of Directors of the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) takes appropriate action on key matters affecting the interests of the member institutions of the BAA and is responsible to APLU for the management of BAA affairs. Michelle Rodgers, University of Delaware, ECOP Chair of 2016, was recently elected to represent the Cooperative Extension Section on the Board. Please join ECOP in thanking Michelle and her alternate Wendy Powers, University of California, who recently began her term as a member of ECOP, for their leadership and commitment to enter the 2020 ballot. Thank you to all members of the Section who voted. Michelle and Wendy will serve a 2-year term.


Innovation Committee Correction - Last week’s item, ECOP Announces New Extension Health Director the report included the statement: “In addition, Rodgers will continue to support Well Connected Communities’ growth and impact as the new chair of an ECOP innovation committee.” Instead, Rodgers will lead the innovation work in WCC, an important component of the upcoming work of the ECOP innovation committee. The updated version of the report is available here.


Save the Date: Hemp Industry Happenings - ECOP Chair Mark Latimore invites members of the Cooperative Extension Section to a conversation on Friday, November 1, 2019, 3-4:00 PM ET, with land-grant professionals who are versed in the roles of leading Industrial Hemp Extension programs. With thanks to eXtension Foundation, Zoom connection details are:
     https://extension.zoom.us/j/129450710
     Dial by your location -
      +1 646-876-9923 (New York)
      +1 669-900-6833 US (San Jose)
          Meeting ID: 129 450 710


Cooperative Extension Celebrates Tribal Land-grant Universities - Cooperative Extension/ECOP joins the U.S. Department of Agriculture to honor the 25th anniversary of the legislation that recognized 29 tribal colleges and universities as land-grant institutions. Signed on October 20, 1994, the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act enabled tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), hence known as 1994s, to receive federal support. In this age of innovation, 1890s Extension and Smith-Lever funded leaders have much to learn from their 1994s colleagues who successfully engage Indigenous languages, cultures, communities, and tribal nations to develop youth development, agriculture, and public health programs. In 2017, ECOP established a formal relationship through negotiations with NIFA and American Indian Higher Education Consortium - AIHEC. Brian Kowalkowski, Dean of Continuing Education, College of the Menominee Nation, has since served as a 1994 Liaison. Take a moment to send congratulations and encouragement the 1994's at ecopblog@gmail.com, a collection point for feedback for the ECOP Monday Minute.


Spread the Word - Rural Prosperity Forum Tomorrow - Cooperative Extension is co-sponsoring an event in DC, on Tuesday, 10/29/19, entitled Approaches for Bolstering Rural America’s Future: A Spotlight on Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship, and Rural Health. Extension faculty from Purdue University and Fort Valley State University will serve as panelists. Lead organizer, the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) and ECOP are connected through NC-FAR Membership. Jason Henderson, Purdue University, a member of ECOP, represents Cooperative Extension on the NC-FAR Board of Directors. Please share the details and link to register with congressional staffers as appropriate.

Plan of Work Report Changes for Extension

To ensure that all Extension Directors and Administrators are aware of the upcoming changes for Plan of Work Reporting, ECOP is re-sharing the announcement made by NIFA Director Scott Angle last Wednesday. Click here to learn more. ECOP will diligently inform the Cooperative Extension Section and generate open lines of communication on this important change. Please share the information with associates with responsibility for reporting and send questions or concerns to ecopblog@gmail.com, the collection point for comments and feedback from the ECOP Monday Minute. Thank you.


ECOP Announces New Extension Health Director - Rick Klemme, Cooperative Extension/ECOP Executive Director, is pleased to share for immediate release the announcement of the hiring of Roger Rennekamp as Extension Health Director, Cooperative Extension/ECOP. Full story is available here.


From Idea to Impact, New Reports Revealed by eXtension - The eXtension Foundation has produced two new reports that include key findings and an update on the progress of Extension teams working with the Impact Collaborative, and insights about the learnings and potential opportunities from working with these teams. These reports highlight an overview of trends and outputs of the Impact Collaborative methodology and process, challenges and success factors of participating teams, a theory of change model for these teams, and perspectives from teams and Extension Directors/Administrators. Both reports are available at impact.eXtension.org/success.


Introducing Rural Innovation Initiative Opportunity - With support from the Economic Development Administration, Center on Rural Innovation is seeking the second cohort of communities to join the Rural Innovation Initiative. Applications must be submitted by November 18, 2019. Successful applicants will receive technical assistance to strengthen their approach to entrepreneurship and digital jobs, apply for federal funding, and join a national network of rural innovation communities. Communities should express interest in the program as soon as possible by filling out a brief questionnaire. Rural Innovation Strategies Inc. will host a webinar on October 28 at 2 p.m. ET to provide additional information. Interested communities are encouraged to register for the webinar here.

International Role of Extension Systems - Registration is now open for Future Extension: Innovations and Evidence, an event on November 7-8, 2019, organized by CGIAR (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), Feed the Future Developing Local Extension Capacity (DLEC) project, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Register here: https://pim.cgiar.org/2019/08/05/future-extension-innovations-and-evidence. The option to attend in person in DC or online is available. For questions on the program, please contact Kristin Davis (K.Davis@cgiar.org).to

Cooperative Extension System/ECOP Seeks Executive Director

The Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) is accepting applications for the Cooperative Extension System/ECOP Executive Director. The complete announcement is found at bit.ly/ExtEDinDC. The full-time position will be based in Washington, DC. Applications will be reviewed by the Executive Director Search Advisory Committee when received and continue until the position is filled. Preference will be given to applications received by September 27, 2019.


Opportunity to Host the National Health Outreach Conference - The call for proposals to host the 2020 National Health Outreach Conference (NHOC) is open! The National Health Outreach Conference (formerly Priester Conference) was established after ECOP adopted the Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health and Wellness in 2014. The NHOC was first held in 2015 and has been hosted annually since its inception by a land-grant partner. The conference was renamed for the “purpose of greater integration of health stakeholders and current cultural change.” Please contact Ahlishia Shipley for the proposal application and additional information. Applications are due September 9, 2019.

Ask Extension, Applying Artificial Intelligence to Extension - An initial landscape investigation and overview was completed by eXtension's 2019 Artificial Intelligence Fellow, David Warren, Oklahoma State University. This investigation looks at one solution to the problem of information fragmentation and “findability” of research-based answers with local relevance: the creation of a distributed Ask Extension data registry and search interfaces. Learn more and read the full report here. Direct questions regarding the report to David Warren at david.warren10@okstate.edu.

Cooperative Extension and Data Science: A Strategy for Boosting Rural Economic Prosperity - In June 2018, the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation funded a workshop at North Carolina State University in partnership with Research Triangle Institute to explore leveraging Cooperative Extension’s structure to bring Data Science capability to rural areas to enhance economic prosperity. The workshop report identifies concrete next steps, follow-on efforts and recommendations on how to leverage land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension to transfer data science education, activities and literacy to the nation. The report is available at  http://go.ncsu.edu/nsf.sloan.report.

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.

Award Opportunities – Time is Limited

Excellence and Diversity in Cooperative Extension
awaits recognition by the Nation in San Diego in November 2019.

Luckily, Directors and Administrators and their associates can use a new leaders’ resource to organize and prepare nominations for the National Cooperative Extension Awards. Award-winning nominators strongly recommend starting the process well before the May 1 deadline. Go to www.aplu.org/CESawards to begin.  Please share this message widely and contact ECOP Assistant Director Sandy Ruble at 202-478-6088 for more information.

And speaking of awards...

New! 2019 Culture of Health Awards - The Well Connected Communities initiative is pleased to offer three Culture of Health awards to one youth volunteer, an adult volunteer, and a Land-grant University, that have been leaders in healthy living programming in their communities. All land-grant universities are invited to nominate, including those involved with the Well Connected Communities initiative. T. his work should have a focus on health equity and inclusion, address one or more of the social determinants of health, and successfully engage in youth-adult partnerships. Visit the Culture of Health Awards website to download and submit your applications by March 15, 2019. For more information, contact Shay McNeil at smcneil@fourhcouncil.edu.

4-H Council Strategic Plan Approved - National 4-H Council’s Board of Trustees approved a new three-year strategic plan for Council operations at its quarterly meeting in December. The plan, which covers fiscal years 2019-2021, was developed in collaboration with the ECOP 4-H Leadership Committee and looks to accelerate private sector support for Extension’s high-quality 4-H positive youth development programming. The plan maintains Council’s focus on creating public-private partnerships to generate funds and on telling the story of today’s 4-H. In this next phase of its 10-year vision, Council intends to highlight the positive impact that Extension and 4-H have on economic prosperity, equity and upward mobility for all young people. To read the plan and review Council’s accomplishments over the last three years, go to www.4-h.org/outcomes.

eXtension Member Events - Spring 2019. Registration for our April Impact Collaborative Summit is open. Each member institution receives five free registrations to send a project or program team to the Summit. More info can be found here. Also, State and Institutional Events are being scheduled, designed alongside leadership teams, to help with building skills in innovation. Contact Chris Geith at christinegeith@eXtension.org for more information.

Cooperative Extension Partnering with APLU Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) on Learning More About e-Connectivity in Rural America - Marshall Stewart, University of Missouri, and Ashley Stokes, Colorado State University, colleagues who are currently serving on the CECE’s Executive Committee encourage Directors and Administrators to participate in an online survey.

"There is no question that rural residents and businesses need access to high-speed internet service," says Sheila Martin, contact for the effort. "APLU knows its member institutions are already working in this area; however, we are certain we do not have the complete story of what our member institutions are doing to promote rural digital inclusion. APLU is requesting information from its members regarding their institution’s contributions to rural community’s access to the benefits of high-speed internet. We invite you to view read the white paper e-Connectivity in Rural America: Public Research Universities Advancing Digital Inclusion and share your institution’s contributions to expanding high-speed internet access in rural communities by taking this online survey by Sunday, March 10^th. Our staff will review responses and make the relevant contacts at your institution to understand the full picture of your work in this area. The final product will articulate practices making a difference for rural communities based on your responses."

Reminder: Extension Administrators and Directors and/or their economic development/community engagement associates may join CECE at no cost at this link.

APLU Draws on Cooperative Extension Expertise in Economic and Community Development

The ECOP Monday Minute returns on February 25, 2019 due to the observance of President's Day.

Extension's work with APLU's Commission on Economic and Community Engagement (CECE) is trending due to the expertise offered by the Cooperative Extension Section.

• Marshall Stewart (University of Missouri), Ashley Stokes (Colorado State University) and Jorge Atiles (Oklahoma State University; also representing BoHS), were named to the CECE Executive Committee. 
• Ivory Lyles (University of Nevada) is a member of the CECE Summer Meeting planning committee. 
• Michael Gaffney (Washington State University) is co-chairing a CECE Learning Exchange Forum around Rural Engagement for Resilient Communities. 
• Extension colleagues are engaged in their university’s pursuit of APLU's Innovation & Economic Prosperity University (IEP) designation and awards. 
• CECE is engaging the Southern Rural Development Center/Extension partnership on framing of some language to support broader university efforts in rural e-Connectivity. 
• ECOP is partnering with CECE in Learning for Leaders and other opportunities. 

Extension Administrators and Directors and/or their economic development/community engagement associates may join CECE at no cost at this link.

Rural Health Event-No Cost to Register - The Un-Meeting on Rural Health and Health Equity is set for Monday, April 8, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. An Un-Meeting is a dynamic experience where attendees drive the agenda, and the needs of communities take center stage. The goal of the Un-Meeting to forge new collaborations that bridge the translational science, Cooperative Extension and other sectors to improve rural health and achieve health equity. Partial travel stipends may be available for Extension nominees. National Extension participants are encouraged to click here to register by 2/18/19. The host is the University of Florida Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).


Priester Award Nominations Due 2/20/19 - The purpose of the Jeanne M. Priester Award is to honor sound, innovative Extension programs that positively impact the health of people at national, state and local levels and provide leadership to expand Extension’s capacity to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. This year an Extension-community partnership Culture of Health category has been added. To read about all 5 categories go to https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/nhoc/priester-awards/. Awards will be presented at the 2019 National Health Outreach Conference, A Grand Vision for a Healthy America, held May 1-3, 2019 in Fort Worth, TX. Award winners will be notified by March 12, 2019.

2019 National Extension Conference on Volunteerism - Every other year Directors and Administrator are provided the opportunity to focus on and optimize volunteer development and program management at state and local levels by widely sharing the following information with faculty and staff. Early registration ends 4/1/19.

The 2019 National Extension Conference on Volunteerism will be held May 14-16, 2019 in Billings, Montana. Extension professionals will learn latest trends and research in volunteerism and gather tools and skills through interactive sessions and networking with colleagues while developing plans to utilize these new resources in their own programs. Registration http://necv.msuextension.org/ is now open. Please forward this information to all appropriate listservs, post on blogs and other social media, and link the website to all appropriate webpages. Like and share posts found at https://www.facebook.com/1NECV.