Tagged With "Ecological Effects of Fire"
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Your Leadership & Culture
These days we don't have to look far for articles on how to positively affect workplace culture. The founder of Southwest Airlines, Herb Kelleher, was once asked by an employee if they could serve sandwiches on their flights. He responded by asking if that would help them become THE low-cost airlines in the industry? It didn't so they don't! Every great leader believes their leadership can make a difference in their organization & helps keep everyone focused on their vision of what that...
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GLOBAL LEADER
Do you consider yourself a leader? Comfortable calling yourself a leader? Why not? Think maybe someday you'll be worthy? If leadership is simply influence then we're all leading in our own way every day. Our actions spread like ripples in the water. Here's the effect they can have... In our lifetimes (about 30,000 days or 80 years), we'll have the chance to know about 1,000 people. If those 1,000 people each know 1,000 then we're up to 1,000,000. If those 1,000,000 people each know 1,000...
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ICYMI: Healthy Eating, Social Media, & Lower Income Communities – A Research Review
Yesterday, we hosted a webinar led by Jessica Larson - Public Affairs Specialist, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, U.S. Department of Agriculture. She provided a research review that offered insights on how various SNAP-eligible audiences use social media channels, particularly when it comes to health and healthy eating. Participants had a chance to find out which platforms are preferred by different lower income populations to more effectively communicate healthy eating messages...
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eXtension Selects 8 Projects For Acceleration From Cooperative Extension for 2020-2021
As part of eXtension’s New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) Cooperative Agreement with USDA-NIFA, the eXtension Foundation selected 8 projects from 33 competitive nominations across the system for year two to participate in its project accelerator program. The nomination process opened in May 2020 and closed in July 2020. All Land Grant Universities were eligible to submit nominations. The project period is September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. Requirements included: Projects...
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Farm Biosecurity Education Goes Virtual with Discovery Learning Series
A new virtual learning experience is helping youth in agriculture discover biosecurity, the preventative measures that protect farm animals from the spread of infectious diseases. The Healthy Farms Healthy Agriculture (HFHA) Project’s Biosecurity Learning Module Series is for students in grades 6 to 12, FFA and 4-H participants, college students studying animal science, and other agriculturally related youth groups.
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ICYMI: The New Nutrition Facts Label: What’s Changed and What’s Been Updated
Last week, we hosted three wonderful folks from the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). They took us “behind the label” to share background on the changes and provide an in-depth tour of the updated Nutrition Facts label. CFSAN staff also shared educational materials and resources on the updated Nutrition Facts label for both health professionals and consumers. If you didn't get a chance to catch this presentation - the recording is available here ! By popular demand,...
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Recap of "Prescribed fire education training" Virtual Chat
Summary of discussion Q&A from virtual chat "Prescribed fire education training" We had a great discussion of several prescribed fire topics - liability, insurance, training format, and more! Below is a summary of some of our discussions. For the full chat, see the archive at https://connect.extension.org/chat-event/connect-extension-chat-prescribed-fire-education-training Query: The State of Oregon mandated a certified burn manager program in the early 90’s, however, the mandate was not...
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Integrating Perspectives
Anna McGrath from Godfrey Dadich Partners is one of the most enlightened people I've ever met. She's cool & wise which is a rare combo! Had the pleasure of attending a workshop she did called " Integrating Opposite Perspectives "...here are my notes from our time together... How can you ensure everyone is working towards a common goal when they all seem to be coming from so many different points of reference? Diverse ideas & perspectives can be a source of strength in your...
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Good, Cheap, Fast & Urgent or Important
You have a big presentation coming up & just discovered a stain on your favorite outfit. Quick, to the cleaners! Your regular shop is perfect but they have a standard 3-day turnaround so that won't work. There is a 99 cent shop a couple miles away, they could get it done but you can't risk them not taking great care of your expensive suit. Your only choice is a designer shop, the one in the fancy part of town, they'll do a special for you. And you're off! We all pay companies for...
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Virtual Volunteer Opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago
Greetings and Welcome to 2021! Although travel restrictions are still in effect, there are opportunities to volunteer internationally virtually through USAID’s Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) project in Trinidad and Tobago. During the COVID-19 pandemic, how we implement the F2F program has had to adjust and is temporarily offering virtual/remote assignments that will meet the needs of Trinbagonians. Over the holiday break, the Purdue F2F team has been working hard to get new assignments approved and...
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Workforce Readiness & Makerspace Team from Oregon Brings Community Partners to Impact Collaborative Summit, Wins Seed-Funding Grant for Western Region
“The Impact Collaborative provided an ideal space for the Malheur Workforce Readiness team to work through a structured process that challenged their thinking and assisted them with building a strong, informed, foundation. It equipped them with critical insights on how to best evaluate their program and the potential impact, and better communicate and engage with their partners moving forward” - Anita Azarenko, Interim Vice President - Outreach and Extension, Extension Director, Oregon State...
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Motivational Messages
Inspiration can come from anywhere at anytime. Words have power. Power to cause action. Action that causes change. Change that helps us transition to a preferred future state. This ripple effect takes place every day yet we know being the change begins with something between your ears. Have your words caused this chain reaction? Have others' words had a profound effect that caused you to act? While you ponder those questions, ponder the action that was inspired by these messages. "If your...
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A Plan to Stick Together
"So much of what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to work." -Peter Drucker We never really get clarity, we're always seeking it. Here are some points of clarity to help bring people together because... "We don't have to do it all alone...we were never meant to." -Brene' Brown Leadership vs Management Let's stop calling leadership, management & management, leadership. Management is for resources, leadership is for people. The Scarcity of Time When a critical...
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Ugh...Bad drivers!
It happens every day... You're driving on the highway and inevitably there's someone driving crazy. Going faster than everyone. The cost of a ticket isn't a deterrent. Rules don't apply to them. They're dodging in & out of the lanes like it's the Indianapolis 500! This has a major effect on you and those around you. You put on the brakes. You change lanes. Your pulse goes up. You have passengers double check their seatbelts. You're on high alert! The dialogue in your head might look...
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Virtual and In-Person Volunteer in Trinidad and Tobago
While some travel restrictions are still in effect, there are opportunities for virtual and/or in-person volunteer through USAID’s Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) project in Trinidad and Tobago. During the COVID-19 pandemic, how we implement the F2F program has had to adjust and is temporarily offering virtual/remote assignments that will meet the needs of Trinbagonians. Currently, the borders are open to visitors and they are currently distributing COVID vaccines with the hopes of vaccinating ~70%...
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September Historic Day
Each year inspiration hits me again after reading this story, enjoy! ___________________________________________________________________________________ It was on September 13, 1814 that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words to " The Star Spangled Banner " by witnessing the British attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. It had been a dark summer for the young United States. Just three weeks earlier, on August 24, British troops had set fire to much of Washington D.C.,...
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Tips and Tools for Content Creators
Extension educators are content creators. Whether they prepare PowerPoint slides for a webinar, write a blog or social media post, prepare for an interview, or assemble a newsletter, they are constantly striving to create content that is current, relevant, and actionable. At a recent online conference, the Plutus™ Impact Summit, the following eight tips for personal finance content creation were shared: Address “Pain Points” and Goals – Help people by addressing topics that are causing them...
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Extension Foundation 2021 End of Year Update
Dear Extension Colleagues, It has been our pleasure to serve the Cooperative Extension System this past year and we are excited for the work ahead in 2022. We wanted to provide an update to all of you about how the Extension Foundation has partnered with Cooperative Extension this past year and our progress towards making a greater impact on local issues. We thank you all for the work you do everyday in your states and communities, and we wish all of you a happy and restful holiday season.
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JOB; OSU Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Regional Fire Specialist
The OSU Extension Forestry & Natural Resources Fire Program ( FNR ) is seeking a full-time Extension Fire Regional Specialist with an academic rank of Assistant Professor of Practice. The academic home for this position will be in either the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management or the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society within the College of Forestry at Oregon State University and will be determined within one year from the start date. Decisions regarding...
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The Marathon Effect
When any change initiative is announced, the person making the announcement is way ahead of the people hearing about it. They already know about it. They've had time to process what’s about to happen, how it will affect them and how they'd like to present it to others. This means they're days, weeks, even months ahead of others in considerations surrounding the change. Ugh! Not another post about how hard "change" is...that's exhausting! You're right. It's often exhausting. Kind of like...
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Prescribed Fire Basics: A New Training Series from OSU Extension
Prescribed fire is a critical and effective method to help mitigate the risk of wildfires, but there are significant barriers to using this method responsibly. A lack of personnel with the knowledge and operational skills to implement prescribed fires contributes to these barriers as many states do not provide the much-needed education and training on prescribed fires to the public. Oregon State Extension's Fire team is on a mission to meet this crucial need by providing accessible education...
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Biodegradable Plastic Mulch: A Climate Smart Agricultural Practice
During the growing and harvest seasons, vegetable producers often begin their day before sunrise and finish as the last light is seeping into the horizon. These long days are normal but varied. Challenges such as pests, disease, climate change, and weather make each day and each growing season unique and unpredictable. Vegetable farmers control some of the variables they face – like weeds and the temperature and moisture levels of their soil – by using a product that comes with pros and...
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‘Just Good Food’ is topic of URI’s fall Honors Colloquium
‘Just Good Food’ is topic of URI’s fall Honors Colloquium Speakers to address equitable, sustainable and resilient food systems KINGSTON, R.I. – Aug. 22, 2022 – Just the mention of the word food can bring to mind varying images for Americans: a big dinner with family; a low-key night at home with pizza; children and families across the globe facing starvation; the behemoths of agribusiness; and the increasing interest and participation in local, sustainable farming and food production.
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Extension's Role in Addressing Social Isolation.
At a recent Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Community and Public Health Program Work Team (PWT) meeting, the topic of social isolation was discussed. Groups of Extension educators from across New York State spoke about how their existing work supports people navigating social isolation. There were also a number of ideas on how Extension could play a larger role in partnership with other health-focused community-based organizations to address this issue. What are folks doing in your LGU...
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Sharing is Caring with Fire Ant Venom
Venom is associated with being harmful, but red imported fire ants are using their venom for its medicinal benefits by sharing the toxic substance with their nestmates, according to a study published in the Journal of Insect Physiology . Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists from the agency's Biological Control of Pests Research Unit and Southern Insect Management Research Unit in Stoneville, Mississippi, discovered a new way that fire ants use their venom to prevent diseases in...
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Mass Media: Sustaining Pollinators Publication Reissued
The Mass Media: Sustaining Pollinators fieldbook published by Extension Foundation in 2020 is now available in a flipping book format to be consistent with other publications on the Extension Foundation’s new Publication Bookshelf on Connect Extension. The publication is a result of a three-year collaboration between the National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) and a team from Prairie View A&M University in Texas. NPSEC has been supporting pollinator health since 2017,...
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New Publication Available from the Extension Foundation, Collaborative Design in Extension: Using a Modified Game Jam to Explore Game-Based Learning
A new publication is available from the Extension Foundation. Collaborative Design in Extension: Using a Modified Game Jam to Explore Game-Based Learning describes the collaborative design process used to develop an interactive mobile app for consumers. The work was done as part of the New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) project Navigating the Grocery Store Aisle: Understanding "Non-GMO" & Other Food Labels . Other funders and supporters of the project are the Extension Foundation,...
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Juntos Publication Now Available in Spanish
“El Programa Juntos: La trayectoria de un programa de Extensión al servicio de una comunidad en crecimiento” is available on the Extension Foundation bookshelf in a flipping book format. This publication is a Spanish translation of the Juntos eFieldbook produced in 2021. The Juntos program focuses on educating high school Latinx students and equipping their families with the knowledge, skills, and resources to ensure high school graduation and increase college access and attendance rates. In...
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New "Water Saver" publication documents Master Irrigator Program
A new publication - Water Saver: Oklahoma Master Irrigator Program - is available from the Extension Foundation. It documents the Oklahoma State Master Irrigator Program, which is helping Oklahoma farmers respond to the challenges they face due to decreasing water levels (a consequence of climate change.) Inspired by a program developed by the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, a team of academics at Oklahoma State University created a Master Irrigator program to help farmers...
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New Publication Available: Wellness in Tough Times Toolkit
A new publication is available from the Extension Foundation. ”The Wellness in Tough Times Toolkit” is authored by a team from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Authors are: Susan Harris, Soni Cochran, Kerry Elsen, Kayla Hinrichs, Julien Hoffman, Michelle Krehbiel, and Brandy VanDeWalle. The project was supported by a grant from the New Technologies in Agricultural Extension (NTAE) program. The team was supported in their work by the Extension Foundation and also received funding from...
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New Publication: How to Use Digital Dashboards to Improve Program Implementation and Evaluation
How to Use Digital Dashboards to Improve Program Implementation and Evaluation is available on the Extension Foundation’s bookshelf. This case study was written by Amy Patillo, Matthew Pezold, and Karen Funkenbusch from the University of Missouri. It outlines a strategy used by the University of Missouri (MU) Extension to manage and evaluate complex mental and behavioral health initiatives for farmers and rural communities. It highlights the processes and tools used to help a large,...
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"Engaged Program Planning for Impact Collaborative Teams" Publication Available on Flipping Books
Engaged Program Planning for Extension Foundation Impact Collaborative Teams has been issued as a flipping book. First published in October 2018, the publication details how to use the Impact Collaborative methodology and roadmap to help Cooperative Extension professionals design innovative and engaging projects, programs, and initiatives. It also provides context and guidance on community engagement and team building using Impact Collaborative practices. The publication was authored by...
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Urban Extension Professional Development Guide Reissued as Flipping Book
An Urban Extension Professional Development guide has been reissued as a flipping book by the Extension Foundation. Initially developed as an offering for the 2019 Impact Collaborative, the publication is jam-packed with information and resources curated and reviewed by a national team of experts. Note : Registration for the next Impact Collaborative - which will be held October 4-6th, 2022 - is now open. Information about the all-virtual event can be found here . The publication’s editors...
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New publication explores Utah State Extension's remote work program
A new publication - Making Remote Work: Extension program boosts opportunities, salaries in rural Utah - is available from the Extension Foundation. The publication shares the story of Utah State University’s Rural Online Initiative (ROI), a training and certification program launched in 2018 to boost the capacity of program participants to be effective remote workers. Since its launch, more than 300 rural residents have secured employment after completing the Master Remote Work Professional...
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ECOP "Opioid Response" Publication Reissued
“Opioid Response” - a curated collection of resources designed to help Extension professionals play a stronger and more strategic role in addressing the opioid crisis - is now available in a flipping book format in the Extension Foundation’s publication library. The resources were curated by the Extension Opioid Crisis Response Workgroup (EOCRW), a task force created by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). More than three dozen Extension professionals and experts from...
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New Report Provides Regional Assessment of Ecosystem Services in Northeast U.S.
A new report - Ecosystem Services in Working Lands Practice and Policy of the U.S. Northeast - has been added to the Extension Foundation’s bookshelf. Authored by Northeast Ecosystems Services Fellows Alicia F. Coleman, PhD, and Mario R. Machado, PhD, the report documents results from an assessment of over 1,300 ecosystem service provisioning programs and policies across the U.S. Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,...
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New Publication Available: Siempre Juntos (Forever Juntos)
Siempre Juntos (Forever Juntos) is available on the Extension Foundation bookshelf in a flipping book format. The Juntos program focuses on educating high school Latinx students and equipping their families with the knowledge, skills, and resources to ensure high school graduation and increase college access and attendance rates. This publication provides an overview of a sustainability guide that the North Carolina State University Juntos team created, and provides tips for creating Juntos...
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guides Reissued
Two important resources about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have been reissued by the Extension Foundation in a flipping book format. Both publications define DEI and provide a vast array of information and resources, including links to frameworks, presentations, websites, videos, and more. They are an invaluable resource for Extension professionals seeking to learn more about DEI and how to incorporate best practices in their work. The 1st edition was created by Dr. Shatomi...
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Using Digital Technology in Extension Education now available in flipping book format
Using Digital Technology in Extension Education has been reissued as a flipping book. First published in September 2020 as a website, the publication provides timely content that aims to help Cooperative Extension professionals consider the role of technology in their work, and perhaps increase the adoption of technology, particularly social media. The information in the publication provides both food for thought and practical information that will enable readers to apply what they’ve...
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A Template for Better Health: New publication details Diabetes Prevention Online Toolkit
The Extension Foundation has added a new title to its library. A Template for Better Health: Diabetes Prevention Program Toolkit was w ritten by Vanessa da Silva, an assistant professor and Extension specialist at the University of Arizona and an NTAE Fellow. The publication details the process undertaken by a national team of Extension experts to create an online hub to encourage and support Extension’s adoption of the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The toolkit is a critical part...
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"Bridging the GAPS: Approaches to Treating Water On Farms" Curriculum Available as Flipping Book
“Bridging the GAPS: Approaches to Treating Water on Farms” - a curriculum designed to help producers understand and address the regulatory requirements for ag water treatment in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) - has been reissued in a flipping book format by the Extension Foundation. Preventing foodborne illness and protecting public health are critically important to producers. Sanitary irrigation water is also mandated by the USDA; producers are required to monitor, treat, and...
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Clearinghouse for Cleaner Water: New publication explores online resource hub project
The Extension Foundation has added a new title to its library. Clearinghouse for Cleaner Water: University of Minnesota Hub was w ritten by Anne Nelson and Anne Sawyer of the University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension. The UMN team is creating the Watershed Engagement Programming (WEP) Hub to support watershed-related outreach and engagement efforts to help address the state’s efforts to improve water quality. The team decided to create the Hub after surveying several dozen soil and water...
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ECOP Health Equity Framework Available in Flipping Book Format
Cooperative Extension’s National Framework for Health Equity and Well-Being has been published as a flipping book by the Extension Foundation. First published in July 2021, the report was produced by the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), Health Innovation Task Force. The Health Innovation Task Force was established in March 2020 by ECOP to "investigate, explore, and provide recommendations in support of extension innovating for system-level change” particularly as it...
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Resilient Agriculture: Weather Ready publication available on flipping book
Resilient Agriculture: Weather Ready Farms has been reissued as a flipping book by the Extension Foundation. The publication was created by a team of Extension professionals to help the agricultural industry become more resilient to weather extremes, climate variability, and climate change. Based on the Weather Ready Farms model developed by Nebraska Extension, the publication focuses primarily on field crop farms and producers in the Great Plains and Midwest regions of the United States.
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"Join Us on the Path": New publication details online engagement hub project
The Extension Foundation has added a new title to its library. Join Us on the Path: The Engagement Hub was w ritten by Catherine Leach and Pam Doherty of the University of New Hampshire (UNH). The case study details their teams' efforts to develop The Engagement Hub, an innovative, personalized online hub for students, educators, alumni, and community members. The hub aims to create a community of lifelong learners and equip the workforce with knowledge and skills to gain a competitive...
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Extension Climate & Extreme Weather Programming: Successes, Challenges & Opportunities Report Available
Extension Climate & Extreme Weather Programming: Successes, Challenges & Opportunities , a report published in 2020, is now available in a flipping book format. This report - produced in response to an Extension Foundation RFP - contains a national inventory of Cooperative Extension programs and practices in climate and extreme weather. The report and included database provide insight into the successes, challenges, and opportunities for programming in this area and offer conclusions...
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NEW: National Extension Tourism (NET) Conference Proceedings Available
The Extension Foundation has added a new title to its library that documents a wide array of tourism-related applied research and outreach programs. The National Extension Tourism 2021 Conference Proceedings - published with support from the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development Center (NERCRD) - is now available online. The mission of the National Extension Tourism network (NET) is to integrate research, education, and outreach within Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant to support...
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New Publication Helps Cooperative Extension Professionals Engage Communities
A new publication - Engaging Communities Through Issues Forums: A How-To Guide for Onsite and Online Community Engagement - is available from the Extension Foundation. The publication explores the use of issue forums as a community engagement tool in Extension work. Both a process guide and content publication, it is a comprehensive “how-to” designed to help Cooperative Extension professionals successfully develop and implement issues forums in both onsite and online settings. Each section...
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Backyard Chickens and More: OSU Extension's Online Course Catalog
This time of year, our Backyard Chickens course is very popular, but we have courses on everything from prescribed fire to food safety to horticulture. Here are all of the public courses we currently have: https://learn.extension.okstate.edu/
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#GoodReads from Extension Foundation
The Extension Foundation has recently released several new titles on a broad range of topics, from climate and extreme weather to building farm and farm family resilience. Check out our bookshelf to learn more about the work other Extension professionals are doing. ICYMI, here are a few recent titles that may interest you. Sustainable Tourism, Agritourism, Outdoor Recreation, and Community Development. Our newest title is The NET Effect . This 57-page ezine contains eight case studies that...