In this week’s issue:

• Bright Spots
• October 15, 2019 — Application Deadline for the Following Programs/Awards
• Updates: OSU Extension Professional Development Fund
• Extension Web Update
• Diversity Highlights
• Extension in the news

Bright Spots

Lauren Tobey, Assistant Professor of Practice and Food Hero Social Marketing Coordinator, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, was recognized as a “Best Collaborator” (one of only four such awards) by the OSU Foundation in recognition of her work promoting Food Hero for Dam Proud Day. As a result of her enthusiasm and efforts, Food Hero (and Family and Community Health Extension) had the third highest number of donors for the campaign.

October 15, 2019 — Application Deadline for the Following Programs/Awards

The Oregon State University Extension Association (OSUEA) website is updated related to 2019 awards. For complete information go to: http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/osuea/ and check in the RECOGNITION section in the black bar at the top of the page.

Included you will find information on the following programs/awards:

• Search for Excellence Program
• OSUEA Cooperator Awards Program
• ESP Friend of Extension Program
• Alberta Johnston Awards Program
• Hoecker Extension Innovative and Replication Grants Program
• Oscar Hagg Extension Communications Award
• OSUEA Staff Awards Program (this includes):
• Newer Faculty Awards
• Experienced Faculty Awards
• Classified Staff Awards
• Educational Program Assistant Awards
• Professional Faculty (administrative) Awards
• Team Award

Updates: OSU Extension Professional Development Fund

Next Application Deadline — August 1, 2019

The next deadline for Extension Professional Development Fund is August 1. Applications must be submitted BEFORE the deadline and BEFORE the professional development opportunity.

“Growing the Fund”

Extension faculty and staff may help “GROW the Fund” at any time. Keep the following in mind:

• The principal of the OSU Extension Professional Development Fund is an endowment.
• The earnings from the endowment feeds into the current-use-fund.
• Each quarter, the amount in the current-use-fundpays for the professional development requests selected for funding.
• The fund supports on average, about 100-160 professional development opportunities a year.

The two ways individuals may currently contribute throughout the year are:

• Through payroll deduction (deductions could range from $5.00 a month to any larger amount)
• Through individual contributions (payable by check or credit card)
• Either of these types of contributions may be processed on-line through the OSU Foundation at: http://www.osufoundation.org/s/359/foundation/index.aspx?sid=359&gid=34&pgid=4353
• Contributions may be made to the endowment as you complete the on-line process. Be sure to note the following information when completing the on-line process: 6220-820450 OSU Extension Professional Development Fund.

Extension Web Update

It’s not just about the expert information we provide to Extension audiences, but also how it is presented that makes it helpful and usable. In this week’s blog post we look at insights into how to catch people’s attention and keep it in the online world of written content.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

Conversation Project: What Is Cultural Appropriation?: Issues of cultural appropriation and identity are complicated. Power dynamics influence who benefits from certain cultural experience, and—given the global nature of our world—parts of our individual and cultural identities are shaped by cultures other than our own. How do we make sense of this and what effect does it have on us as individuals and as Oregonians? June 10 starting at 4:00 pm in Lincoln City. For more information, visit the event page.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion –  What, Why & How: Nonprofits increasingly have staff and assist clients from diverse cultures, ethnic and racial backgrounds, and genders. After completing this workshop, you will understand the challenges and strengths that diversity brings to nonprofit operations and be familiar with tools and techniques to incorporate equity concerns and to create an inclusive environment. June 11 from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

Conversation Project: How Do We Create Equitable Spaces Within Our Public Lands?: In the last 200 years, the landscape has changed drastically. What does the past and present mean for the future of our natural lands? And for those who have been removed from these areas? Educator Gabe Sheoships leads a discussion about what a relationship with nature means, how we can provide inclusive and equitable spaces within our public lands and natural areas, and how we can begin to work toward healing relationships with our land. June 14 in Port Orford.  For more information visit the event page.

Pride at the Museum:  Pride at the Museum welcomes visitors of all ages for a night of Pride-inspired science demos, guest scientists, drag performances, aerial dancers, music, and complimentary admission to our featured exhibit, The Science Behind Pixar. June 14 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

The impact of the walkout, 50 years later

OSU celebrates 50th anniversary of historic 1969 Black Student Union walkout.

Reclaiming tribal histories, one page at a time

Oregon State professor is out to open students’ eyes to the lost histories of Indigenous peoples

Marginalized Groups Team Up To Build Momentum – And Money — In Portland

For many nonprofits, spring is fundraising season. The events usually follow the same pattern: wine and beer at a silent auction cocktail hour, a seated dinner followed by a paddle raise auction. But organizers of TASTE: United For Equity, an event this Friday at the Portland Art Museum, decided to throw a different type of party.

Oregon schools will be required to teach about the Holocaust. A 14-year-old helped make it happen.

Public schools in Oregon will be required to teach students about the Holocaust and the concept of genocide, born from a meeting between two unlikely partners.

Farewell Frybread, Hello Camas; First Nations Revisit Traditional Foods

The modern American diet – with its on-the-shelf processed foods in grocery stores, Big Macs and Doritos Locos Tacos at drive-through eateries – has sparked super-sized health problems. That’s bad in itself, but data shows Native Americans suffer higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease than the general population, and diet is a factor.

Extension in the news

Researchers ask growers’ help in ergot monitoring
East Oregonian
Oregon State University Extension plant pathologist Jeremiah Dung hopes to engage growers in a citizen-science approach to monitor for ergot in grass seed crops

Fire suppression, drought increasing mortality among Central Oregon trees
The Register-Guard
Nicole Strong, a forestry and natural resources extension agent for OSU, described an increased amount of tree mortality — including junipers — in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties.

In this week’s issue:

• Bright Spots
• Summer Master Gardener Class
• Healthy Community grants available
• Quarterly Conversation
• Extension Web Update
• Diversity Highlights
• Hey, did you see this?
• Extension in the news

Bright Spots

Summer Master Gardener Class

An accelerated summer online master gardener glass is now available. The gardeners who don’t want to wait until January can get information here.

Healthy Community grants available

The OSU Moore Family Center for Whole Grain Foods, Nutrition & Preventive Health is pleased to announce that the request for proposals for the 2019 Healthy Community Outreach Grants is now open. This statewide outreach program seeks to improve the nutrition and food environment in underserved communities across the State of Oregon in partnership with our colleagues in the OSU Extension Service and local community health partners.

Available Funding

The Moore Family Center Healthy Community Outreach program is seeking proposals from Extension professionals in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences for community-based projects. Each project proposal may request up to $25,000 through this competitive process and up to 4 projects will be funded per year ($100,000 total project funding statewide). The OSU Moore Family Center shall act as the fiscal agent on each funded project.

Project Focus

The intent of the Healthy Community Outreach Program is to empower local communities to work together to improve the lifelong health of Oregonians where they live, work, learn and play in ways that stimulate innovation and collaboration. We welcome project proposals related to improving nutrition and the food environment from Extension teams across the state.  Cross program collaborations are encouraged.

Proposal Guidelines

The deadline for submissions is July 1, 2019.  For full proposal guidelines and application instructions please visit our website. Please send your questions about this funding opportunity to Jenny Rudolph, Moore Family Center Outreach Coordinator.

Quarterly Conversation

The May Quarterly Conversation is now available for viewing. If you would like to take a closer look, the slides are available for download. Topics of the conversation included the leadership update by Scott Reed, Oregon Outdoor School by Kris Elliott and his team, making outdoor school an integral part of school curriculum by Susan Sahnow and LeeAnn Mikkelson, and Extension’s digital strategy by Jennifer Alexander and Lucas Turpin.

Extension Web Update

Answers to your frequently asked questions about the new digital strategy, and useful tips for thinking about and searching for online content on the Extension website are now highlighted at: https://beav.es/navigator.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

AMERICA’S GLOBAL VILLAGE FESTIVAL: The opening ceremonies include a costumed parade through the park. The main stage will highlight cultural entertainment throughout the day. June 1 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in Ontario. For more inforamtion, visit the event page.

Beyond Vanport: Remembering Native North Portland/Peggy Ball-Morrill: Klamath/Modoc artist Peggy Ball-Morrill’s paintings portray a community nearly invisible in popular culture where representations of native people are often limited to westerns or cartoons. The paintings remember a close-knit native community at a time when federal termination and relocation policies threatened Native survival. June 1–5 in Portland. For more info, visit the event page.

Gambatte: An American Legacy – Community Healing Gathering: This event focuses on sharing and listening to the emotional legacies held within the Japanese American experience. Generations have been impacted by the history of racism through lived experiences, historic impacts and the individual and collective pursuit of understanding identities in America. June 1– 5 in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

Oregon State Students Re-enact 1969 March Across Campus

Dozens of people of all races and backgrounds participated in a march at Oregon State University on Tuesday, re-enacting the action students took decades earlier that created the opportunities they now have.

Oregon joins effort to solve crimes against Native women

Native American women have gone missing or been killed at alarming rates, federal and private studies show, and there is growing concern that confusion by law enforcement over who has jurisdiction can lead to lax pursuit of cases and insufficient data.

Oregon State University at NCORE

For the first time in its history, the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education will take place in Portland, Oregon from May 28 to June 1, 2019.

Residents See Trailer Parks As Home. Investors See Them As Cash Cows.

Meet the mobile home owners fighting back.

OSU part of grant to study link between microbiome, autism

An Oregon State University researcher is part of a $1.94 million grant to look for possible connections between the human microbiome and autism spectrum disorder.

Hey, did you see this?

Siri and Alexa Reinforce Gender Bias, U.N. Finds

Why do most virtual assistants that are powered by artificial intelligence — like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa system — by default have female names, female voices and often a submissive or even flirtatious style?

Extension in the news

Mob grazing paying off near Jordan Valley
Capital Press
Weaned cows have been staying on U.S. Bureau of Land Management range in late fall to graze densely on medusahead and cheat grasses as part of an Oregon State University Extension study.

Barring wildlife helps get your space back
Idaho Press-Tribune
“Our homes and gardens often overlap with spaces and resources used by wild animals, both native and non-native,” said Dana Sanchez, Oregon State University extension service wildlife specialist.

In this week’s issue:

• • Bright Spots
  • 2018-19 Extension Faculty Promotions
  • Awards for Excellence Event Recording and Resources
  • Upcoming webinar
  • Extension Web Update
  • Diversity Highlights
  • Directors Coin for Excellence for April
  • Extension in the news

Bright Spots

We’re trying a new, regular feature in ConnEXTion. If you tuned into the May 17 Quarterly Conversation, you heard Scott begin by sharing a few examples of impactful programs; success stories; and faculty, staff, and partner recognitions. We know there are more great things happening every day across the state, and as Scott shared, it’s important we take time out of our daily tasks to celebrate and acknowledge those.

Here’s a place we can do that. If you have a bright spot, a success, or a shout-out, please submit it. We’ll publish these weekly in a new “Bright Spots” section of each ConnEXTion issue.

2018-2019 OSU Extension Faculty Promotions

Congratulations to the following OSU Extension faculty for their promotion effective July 1, 2019! Their promotion follows rigorous analysis of their dossiers by peers and administration at several levels of the University, as well as external reviewers. We applaud their success and take pride in the accomplishments of our Extension faculty.

Promoted to Senior Instructor I:

• Amanda Hatfield, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Biological and Population Health Sciences
• Kelly Streit, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Biological and Population Health Sciences
• Tina Dodge Vera, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Biological and Population Health Sciences

Promoted to Senior Instructor II:

• Stephanie Polizzi, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Biological and Population Health Sciences

Promotion to Associate Professor of Practice:

• Barbara Bromley Brody, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Social and Behavioral Health Sciences
• Jamie Davis, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Social and Behavioral Health Sciences

Promoted to Associate Professor with indefinite tenure:

• Lauren Gwin, College of Agricultural Sciences,Crop and Soil Science

Promoted to Professor:

• Amy Jo Detweiler, College of Agricultural Sciences, Horticulture
• Katherine (Kathy) Gunter, College of Public Health and Human Sciences,Biological and Population Health Sciences
• Deborah John, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Biological and Population Health Sciences
• Dustin Johnson, College of Agricultural Sciences, Animal and Rangeland Sciences
• Patty Skinkis, College of Agricultural Sciences, Horticulture
• David Stone, College of Agricultural Sciences, Food Science and Technology
• Scott Leavengood, College of Forestry, Wood Science and Engineering

Awards for Excellence Event Recording and Resources

On May 2, the inaugural Failing Forward Award and 10 Vice Provost Awards for Excellence were awarded to diverse projects from across the university, including five with direct ties to the Division of University Outreach and Engagement. You will find a recording of the event, a PDF of the event program, a photo gallery, and descriptions of the award winning projects on the event website.

Upcoming webinars

Extension Web Update

This week’s update includes an update on the Navigator, upcoming webinars, and a list of website updates.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

SAY HEY! – Legacy Health Atrium: Say Hey! is an evening program to welcome professionals of color who recently relocated to the region. Join in for a fun evening of connecting, celebrating and showing our newest neighbors that there’s a rich and thriving multicultural community. May 29 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

Conversation Project: What Is Cultural Appropriation?: Issues of cultural appropriation and identity are complicated. Power dynamics influence who benefits from certain cultural experience, and—given the global nature of our world—parts of our individual and cultural identities are shaped by cultures other than our own.  May 29 starting at 6:00 pm in Ontario. For more information, visit the event page.

America’s Global Village Festival: The Festival displays authentic cultural villages—African, Basque, German, Hawaiian, Japanese, Mexican, Native American, Pioneer, Scottish. Each village features food, arts and crafts, cultural demonstrations and free youth activities. June 1 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in Ontario. For more information, visit the event page.

1st Annual Albany Autism Walk: Join the Autism Society of Oregon for a day of family fun with activies like face painting, crafting and other inclusive activities. June 8 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in Albany. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

Black Mark, Black Legend: Uncovering the lineage of Black artists in Portland

I enter this work, Intisar S. Abioto, a Black woman, artist, Southern writer, storyteller, born in the year 1986, working in this world until a year yet to be determined.

Social equity becomes a key question as pot legalization spreads

Advocates for legalizing marijuana have long argued it would strike a blow for social justice after a decades-long drug war that disproportionately targeted minority and poor communities.

Park’s plans seen as promise of increased awareness, community togetherness

A local nonprofit organization that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families unveiled this week plans for an all-inclusive, fully accessible community park.

Warm Springs Tribes official to deliver OSU-Cascades commencement

Alyssa Macy, chief operating officer for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, will deliver the commencement address at Oregon State University – Cascades’ 18th commencement ceremony.

Directors Coin for Excellence

We are pleased to announce the newest director’s coin for excellence recipients. They are:

Michelle Jenck
Kurt Englund
John Corbin
Sheila Garber
Yosvan Campos
Celia August
Teresa Crowley
Shana Withee
Cassie Bouska
Lynette Black
Lindsay Davis
Mark LAbhart

Congratulations to all of you!

Please send in your nominations here.

Extension in the news

We Need Summer Camp More Than Ever Before
Outside
“We know all of the evidence tells us that students learn more and they retain more when they learn in an outdoor setting,” says Kris Elliott, assistant director for outreach and engagement for the outdoor-school program, which is facilitated by the Oregon State University cooperative-extension system. “They’re not only retaining that information in a more meaningful way, they’re also connecting to nature and to a place, and they carry that with them into the future.”

Hood River County Library to offer ‘things’ to checkout
Hood River News
“We are kicking off this collection with home kitchen and preservation tools in partnership with the Oregon State University Extension Service.”

OSU researcher focuses on integrated pest management
The Creswell Chronicle
Now a professor of horticulture at Oregon State University and the state coordinator at the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program, Gail Langellotto helps horticulturists manage their pests with the ideology of integrated pest management.

Bugs, birds and more at Beazell: Students enjoy lessons in the forest
Philomath Express
The program serves Title 1 underserved elementary schools, such as Philomath, Blodgett and others. Maggie Livesay, Benton County 4-H outreach leader with the OSU Extension Service, said 256 third and fourth graders went through the program last year.

In this week’s issue:

• Dam Proud Day raises funds for Extension
• Communication and connection opportunities
• Upcoming webinars
• Extension Web Update
• Diversity Highlights
• Hey, did you see this?
• Extension in the news

Dam Proud Day raises funds for Extension

As of May 13, Oregon State University raised $621,661 from 2,731 donors during its first ever 24-hour giving day. Extension’s participation in the fundraising event raised $13,660 from 447 donors (includes duplicate donors). Food Hero had the third highest number of donors of any college or department at 250. Way to go Lauren Tobey and the FCH/Food Hero team! Within Extension, Open Campus and Juntos raised the most funds for a total of $3,465 thanks in part to a very active social media campaign. Thank you to everyone who helped to promote the event.

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

• Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
• OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
• Read ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
• O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
• Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (This Friday: May 17, 2019, Kidder 202 or via WebEx)

Upcoming webinars

Extension Web Update

Content strategy guides planning for the creation, delivery, and governance of useful, usable content that meets audience needs. Getting to this point can be full of fun, interactive, and reflective exercises. If you are planning a statewide working group meeting this summer, consider adding a content strategy workshop to your agenda. Content teams for Extension’s website can get ideas in this week’s digital strategy blog post.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

28th Annual Nestra Fiesta Latina: MSU invites everyone to Nuestra Fiesta Latina with activities for all ages, entertainment such as mariachi music, salsa and merengue dancing, traditional food and a “baile” to end the day. May 17 from 11:00am to 12:00pm in Monmouth. For more information, visit the event page.

Conversation Project: The Middle Class and Other Stories About Wealth, Status, and Power: Join Oregon Humanities Executive Director Adam Davis for a conversation that explores what we think and how we talk about class in Oregon and the nation.  May 18 from 1:00pm to 2:00 pm in Tillamook. For more information, visit the event page.

Gathering of Grand Ronde Tilixam: Join the The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for a gathering to discuss how our tribal histories have impacted their community to this today. This will be a gathering to experience culture, collective healing and historical wisdom. May 21 from 8:00am to 5:00pm in Grand Ronde. For more information, visit the event page.

SAY HEY! – Legacy Health Atrium: Say Hey! is an evening program to welcome professionals of color who recently relocated to the region. Join in for a fun evening of connecting, celebrating and showing our newest neighbors that there’s a rich and thriving multicultural community. May 29 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

Virtual Classroom Aims To Reduce Implicit Bias & Student Suspensions

A former educator is diving into the Eugene tech field to change how teachers address bias in classrooms. Her virtual reality program could help decrease student suspensions.

OSU Libraries receive grant money for activist photographic collection

Work of photographer Chuck Williams, including cultural events, Oregon landscapes, will be displayed at OSU.

Washington County proclaims Asian Heritage Month

Washington County is home to Oregon’s largest share of Asians and Pacific Islanders at 11-12 percent of 610,000 population. Two speakers warn against generalizations about diverse peoples and cultures.

Arabic culture on display at Annual Foreign Language and International Studies Day

High school students from all over the state of Oregon piled into the EMU on Friday, May 3 at the University of Oregon to attend the 41^st Annual Foreign Language and International Studies Day.

How Colleges Use 6-Word Stories About Race as a Teaching Tool

Beckie describes how some colleges and professors are using Michele Norris’s Race Card Project as a teaching tool.

Hey, did you see this?

Extension helps kids go screen free.

Extension in the news

In this week’s issue:

• OSU public records requests
• Upcoming Webinars
• New: 300 million images!
• Extension Web Update
• Diversity Highlights
• Hey, did you see this?
• Extension in the news

OSU public records requests

Jackie Bangs has been named the new public records officer within University Relations and Marketing. In a new policy that took effect on May 1, all OSU public records requests are to be directed to the OSU Public Records Office.

Upcoming Webinars

Managing County Landing Pages and Local Focus Areas
Presented by Bryan Mayjor

New: 300 million images!

Creative Commons has launched their new search engine which searches 300 million images that you can use on your websites, blogs, presentations, and more! All the images are free, but you must follow the instructions on the license. The search engine now searches many more places than just Flickr. It’ll search 19 collections, including Flickr, Animal Diversity Web, Flora-On, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Have fun with it, and if you have questions about photos and Creative Commons, you can contact Karen Zimmermann of EESC.

Extension Web Update

What exactly is a CRM… and why should I care? Wondering what a CRM is? Or what a strategy for using a CRM at Extension might look like? Read this week’s blog post.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Special Announcement:

Diversity & Inclusion Three-Part Series: This session will be led by Dr. Juanita Simmons and is for eXtension members only as part of Engage & Empower Online. Click on the workshop tittle for the registration link. May 8, 2019 1:00 PM

Part II, Implicit Bias, Civility, and Microaggressions in the Workplace

• To understand the meaning, symptoms, and prevention of Implicit Bias in theory and practice;
• To understand how Implicit Bias impacts institutional climate;
• To understand ad recognize Microaggressive behavior and the impact that microaggressions have on institutional climate and relationships;
• To introduce Civility in the Workplace (I)

Events & Resources

Binaries That Bind Us: This is part of a series of groups examining cognitive distortions, also called thinking errors. These are irrational beliefs or biases that often ultimately work against us and our overall wellness. They often reinforce negative patterns, causing one to feel “stuck”. May 13 7:00pm from 8:30pm in Portland. Fore more information, visit the event page.

Indigenous Masculinities Conversations: A space to discuss indigenous masculinities, from gender roles to gendered issues. May 14 from 4:00pm to 5:00pm in Corvallis.  For more information, visit the event page.

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde: Annual Salmon Fish Ceremony: Join in and check out Tribal and local organization information tables, a demonstration salmon pit, speakers and community ceremony. May 18 from 1:00 to 5:00 in West Linn. For more info, visit the event page.

Conversation Project: The Middle Class and Other Stories about Wealth, Status, and Power: Join Oregon Humanities Executive Director Adam Davis for a conversation that explores what we think and how we talk about class in Oregon and the nation. May 18 from 1:00 to 2:00 in Tillamook. For more info, visit the event page.

In the News

How Oregon is closing the graduation gap for Latinx students

In January, Oregon educators received some encouraging news about graduation rates, particularly for historically underserved students in Oregon, and most notably for Oregon’s Latinx students.

Springfield Family Preserves Mexican & Salvadoran Culture Through Food

For the past 20 years a local nonprofit has helped Lane County immigrants find support and build community through gardening. KLCC’s Melorie Begay caught up with one family that cooks with food they grow as a way to keep their culture alive.

A witness to horror: Auschwitz survivor tells story at OSU event

Stephen Nasser, a Hungarian Jew who was the lone Holocaust survivor among 21 family members, mesmerized a crowd of 750 witnesses Monday night at the La Sells Stewart Center.

The real history of Cinco de Mayo, and how it’s celebrated around the world

Restaurants and watering holes across the country have been stocking up on tequila and taco fixings in preparation for the thousands of Americans who queued up for margarita specials on May 5. Many, however, won’t have a clue what exactly they’re drinking to.

Hey, did you see this?

Burger King spoofs McDonald’s with not-so-happy meals

Burger King is rolling out a new box meal called the “Real Meal.” It’s designed as a play on McDonald’s happy meal, and a way to bring attention to mental illness.

Extension in the news

4-H Wildlife Stewards Summit comes to Kings Valley
Corvallis Gazette-Times
The Oregon State University Extension Service has staged the event for 17 years now with Maggie Livesay implementing the program as the 4-H outreach leader.

In this week’s issue:

• Joy Jones reception
• Communication and connection opportunities
• OSU Extension Professional Development Fund
• October 15, 2019 — Application Deadline for the Following Programs/Awards
• Extension Web Update
• Diversity Highlights
• Hey, did you see this?
• Extension in the news

Joy Jones reception

Sadly Joy Jones is leaving us, her reception will be May 16 from 4:00-6:00 pm Tillamook County Extension. She will be missed!

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

• Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
• OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
• Read ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
• O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
• Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: May 17, 2019)

OSU Extension Professional Development Fund

“Growing the Fund”

October 15, 2019 — Application Deadline for the Following Programs/Awards

The Oregon State University Extension Association (OSUEA) website is now updated related to all of the following programs/awards:

• Search for Excellence Program
• OSUEA Cooperator Awards Program
• ESP Friend of Extension Program
• Alberta Johnston Awards Program
• Hoecker Extension Innovative and Replication Grants Program
• Oscar Hagg Extension Communications Award
• OSUEA Staff Awards Program (this includes):
• Newer Faculty Awards
• Experienced Faculty Awards
• Classified Staff Awards
• Educational Program Assistant Awards
• Professional Faculty (administrative) Awards
• Team Award

Extension Web Update

Topic page statistics: Using topic pages and tags helps website visitors find educational content.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

2019 Southern Oregon LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness Summit: The goal is to improve care for the LGBTQ+ community through reaching out to regional medical and behavioral healthcare providers and improve access to quality services. May 9–10 in Medford, visit the event page.

Conversation Project: Where Are You From? – Exploring What Makes Us Oregonian : Join Kerani Mitchell as they lead a conversation that asks what makes us Oregonian and how can we create inclusive communities. May 9 starting at 6:00 pm in Coos Bay. For info, visit the event page.

Women on the Rise: Join the Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center as they try and connect, inspire, and empower generation of women. May 11 from 10:00am to 2:00pm in Pendleton. For more information, visit the event page.

2nd Annual Lā ʻOhana Lūʻau: La ʻOhana celebrates and honors or ʻohana and the many who continue to support the growth and amazing journey the halau has been on and continue to be on. May 11 from 3:00pm to 6:00 pm in Beaverton. For more information visit the event page.

PSU Pacific Islanders Club 17th Annual Lū’au: Join the PSU Pacific Islanders Club for some legendary storytelling from around the Pacific through song, dance, and food. May 11 from 4:00pm to 9:00pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

Recovering an erased history: The Chinese railroad workers who helped connect the country

In the first of 5 articles about the Transcontinental Railroad anniversary, descendants of Chinese railroad workers share their hope for the recognition of their ancestors’ labor.

Lego releases Braille bricks to teach blind and visually impaired children

Lego has unveiled a new project aimed at helping blind and visually impaired children learn Braille in a “playful and engaging way.”

Juntos: Local schools work to raise Latino graduation rate

College posters for OSU and University of Oregon hang from the wall next to folders of federal-aid forms, free for the taking, and explanatory sheets detailing graduation requirements.

A 45-Year-Old Man Shared An Emotional Reaction To Putting On A Bandage In His Skin Tone For The First Time

“This was one of the first things that made me aware of ‘race’ when I was a kid,” one user wrote.

Hey, did you see this?

Have you seen or read something that would be of interest to your Extension colleagues? Let us know and we’ll share in ConnEXTion.

Extension in the news

Mulch-in cherries
Good Fruit Grower
However, the mulch did significantly increase organic matter, and as the mulch breaks up over time, it may improve the biology of both trees and fruit, according to Oregon State University Extension specialist Ashley Thompson, one of the researchers on the study.

4-H Entrepreneurship Curriculum: Collaboration helps students hone skills to start business
The Argus Observer
Dubbed the 4-H Mobile Maker Studio, the classroom is contained in a 32-foot recreational vehicle that is slated to serve students in rural schools throughout eastern and central Oregon, with Nyssa being the first, said Barbara Brody, Oregon State University Extension in Malheur County.

Preparing for a Chiloquin wildfire
The Herald and News
KLFHP member and Oregon State University Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center Forest Agent Daniel Leavell said the partnership encouraged solutions, not blame-shoveling, between partners.

In this week’s issue:

• Extension website trainings in Eastern Oregon
• Extension Out There image video
• Communication and connection opportunities
• OSU Giving Day
• Extension Web Update
• Diversity Highlights
• Hey, did you see this?
• Extension in the news

Extension website trainings in Eastern Oregon

Bryan Major from EESC (Extension & Experiment Station Communications) and Victor Villegas from ECTU (Extension Computing & Technology Unit) will be holding the following Extension website trainings in Eastern Oregon this week:

Malheur County Extension office
Wednesday, April 24, 10am-noon and 1-3pm

Union County Extension Office
Thursday, April 25, 10am-noon and 1-3pm

NOTE: General website overview and basic instruction will be from 10am-noon. The 1-3pm sessions are for those needing more specific, hands on training, such as – Content Teams, Program Groups, and/or County Office Groups. Bring your laptops if you need assistance working on your specific content.

Extension Out There image video

OSU Extension now has an image video ready for you to share on county social media throughout the state! It features five story arcs around the Extension themes of youth outreach and career readiness; agriculture and food systems; resilient and productive ecosystems; and healthy living. From the video, we will soon have 30-second clips of Shop at the Dock (a story that appeared in the original version of the video that was introduced at the 2018 Extension Annual Conference), Youth Voices in Action (4-H), Camp Tamarack (Outdoor School), aviation training in Malheur County, volunteer led Strong Women strength training (Hood River County), and small farms and Family Community Health (Clackamas County).

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

• Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
• OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
• Read ConnEXTion weekly, and contribute!
• O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
• Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: May 17, 2019)

OSU Giving Day

The OSU Foundation, in collaboration with the university, is launching its first annual day of giving on April 30. OSU Giving Day is a university-wide, 24-hour event driven by social media sharing. The primary goal for this first giving day is to raise awareness of the impact of philanthropy at OSU and to build community among OSU friends and alumni, not necessarily to raise a lot of money. The target is to obtain 1,000 gifts during the day. OSU Extension Service is proudly participating in OSU Giving Day with the hope that this event will encourage stakeholders, friends, and family to support the work of Extension. Social media will be utilized by the various Extension funds and EESC to raise awareness and encourage engagement.

Extension Web Update

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

Conversation Project: What Is Cultural Appropriation?: Facilitator Surabhi Majahan will lead us in a conversation to explore cultural appropriation beyond who’s “allowed” to wear certain clothing or cook particular foods. April 29 starting at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event page.

Conversation Project – Bias and Kids: During the conversation led by Verónika Nuñez and Kyrié Kellett, we will reflect on how our biases—conscious and unconscious—related to gender, race, class, culture, and other traits, shape everything from our subtle interactions with the kids we care for to the way we make political decisions that influence children in our society. May 2 starting at 6:00 pm in Prineville. For more information, visit the event page.

Pacific Islander Indigeneity and Education Conference: This year’s theme takes us back  into history and to present day, as voyaging is still practiced by various Pacific Islander associations across the oceans. We are challenging all of the participants in this years program to analyze how their cultural identity will intersect with their career field and both influence the decisions made in both the personal and professional settings in each individuals life. May 3  from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in Ashland. Fore more information, visit the event page.

FACT’s Klamath Falls Regional Conference: Join FACT Oregon for a day of learning covering topics like: special education, behavior, transition to adulthood, assistive technology, and much more. May 4 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm  in Klamath Falls. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

C.O. partners launch early Spanish literacy program
Juntos Aprendemos, a Spanish language program focused on preparing Latinx children and families for kindergarten, launched in two elementary schools in Deschutes County last week, Bend’s Jewell Elementary School and the Redmond Early Learning Center.

Oregon’s Japanese Americans Beyond The Wire
Chances are if you live in Portland, you know — and have visited — Old Town. But what you might not know is that right up to World War II, this part of the city was once home to a vibrant Japanese American community. A second Japantown also formed along Portland’s southwest waterfront.

Womxn of color support group forms on campus
Counseling and Psychological Services and AYA, a resource group for women of color, are co-facilitating a new student support group called Womxn of Color. This bi-weekly drop-in group strives to provide a supportive space for students who identify as womxn of color.

Diversity and inclusion progress report: Incomplete
Advocates applaud progress, point out areas for improvement

Harvard professor Cornel West to discuss race and quality of life
The increase of racist incidents in Baltimore, Ferguson, Charlottesville and nationwide, alongside movements such as Black Lives Matter and Standing Rock, has made the need for conversations on race in the United States today one of continued urgency.

Portland’s Most Acclaimed Korean Chef Took us Shopping at the Brand New H Mart on Southeast Belmont. Here’s What Ended up in His Cart.
Though the Portland H Mart’s pared-down inventory doesn’t make it an ideal place for an upscale restaurant to source ingredients, Cho has no desire to quash the hype around the store’s opening.

Hey, did you see this?

Our own Dio Morales was nominated for the Sarah Winnemucca Award for Creative Nonfiction but who was Sarah Winnemucca?


Sarah Winnemucca (1844-1891) left her native Nevada when the federal government relocated the Paiute to a reservation in Malheur, Oregon. The daughter of a Paiute tribal leader, she became an official interpreter to the U.S. military and an outspoken supporter of Native American rights in Washington, D.C. Her influential book, Life Among the Paiutes: Their Wrongs and Claims, remains a significant historical and political account.

Extension in the news

Cooking Matters expands classes to seniors
East Oregonian
Angie Treadwell, the class’ instructor, usually teaches Cooking Matters classes to parents and children as part of a partnership between Umatilla Morrow County Head Start, Oregon State University Extension and area school districts.

Juntos: Local schools work to raise Latino graduation rate
Corvallis Gazette-Times
The program started in 2007 and made its way to Oregon in 2012 through Oregon State University Open Campus. According to interim Juntos statewide director Jose Garcia, it’s helping connect parents to their students’ experience and opening their eyes to possibilities beyond high school.

Phil Hamm, soon to retire, reflects on 45-year career
Spudman
As the director of Oregon State University’s Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Phil Hamm has been at the forefront of potato research for decades.

In this week’s issue:

• 4-H program update
• Chicks are hatching
• Open Data and Ag Data Commons Webinar
• Awards for Excellence event
• Extension Web Update
• Diversity Highlights
• New Media Center Open House
• Extension in the news

4-H program update

From Scott Reed, OSU Extension Director:

Last month, state 4-H program leader Pamela Rose and I shared the outcomes of our 4-H program review, including our priorities going forward and the actions we will take to support those. We committed to provide frequent updates as we work together through this process over the next 90 to 120 days.

The review committee’s work has concluded. I thank them for their time, thoughtfulness, and commitment. Going forward, I have established a steering and implementation team consisting of our six regional directors, who will advise and support Pamela.

• Pamela, with this team, will develop the plan and implementation strategies, prioritize decisions related to filling county 4-H vacancies, and ensure consistency of the plan and implementation strategies with the priority outcomes and actions we shared with you on March 14.
• They will consult with Extension’s regional operations coordinator (Marcia Dickson); fiscal officer (Tiffany Gillis), and office of diversity, equity, and inclusion (Ana Lu Fonseca) as well as other OSU individuals and offices as needed.
• Javier Nieto, dean of the College of Public Health and Human Sciences, and I jointly will approve the plan and implementation strategies.

I also would like to share that another positive outcome of the 4-H program review was identification of best practices we are beginning to apply across other Extension programs. These include establishing an “essential and auxiliary” budget model for Extension administration and programs and re-confirming the value and importance of having a program leader/regional director team working together to support our Extension field faculty and staff.

Please contact me, Pamela, or your regional director at any time with questions, concerns, or suggestions that you may have.

Chicks are hatching

The OSU LIVE Chick-Cam is streaming and chicks are beginning to hatch!  Broadcasting LIVE from the OSU Extension office in Astoria, watch the eggs shake, rattle and roll all week on our live feed!  Yesterday, April 8  the baby chicks began to hatch and you can watch it all happen in real time!  We have three incubators and two cameras catching all of the action!  The cam will be on live all week while we provide lessons on the hatching and brooding of baby chicks.  You can tune in at extension.oregonstate.edu/Clatsop or embed the LIVE feed by tuning in to our YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAQE3ZYTmRc

Open Data and Ag Data Commons Webinar

Open data is increasingly becoming a priority and requirement of federal agencies. The National Agricultural Library (NAL) provides a catalog and data repository for all REE funded research through Ag Data Commons.

Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) and Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH) are pleased to host Ms. Erin Antognoli, Metadata Librarian and Ag Data Commons curator, and Dr. Cynthia Parr, Data Management Officer, both with the NAL. In the webinar, they will describe:

• • Ag Data Commons, its purpose, policies, and features
  • Basics of using the repository and catalog to find open research data
  • Specifics of submitting research data as catalog entries
  • Process of uploading REE funded research data
  • Data management planning guidance and
  • support for REE funded projects Register in advance for this webinar

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you have any questions about the webinar, feel free to email Anne Mims Adrian, PhD, PUSH Open Data Project Manager, aadrian@auburn.edu

Awards for Excellence event

Celebrate the outreach and engagement work of Oregon State University at the Vice Provost Awards for Excellence on May 2, 3:30 to 5 p.m., followed by a hosted reception 5 to 6:30 p.m. (there is no cost to attend). Ten exceptional projects will receive recognition including several from Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences, and other colleges and units. The event is in the Memorial Union (MU) Ballroom. Outreach and engagement is essential to OSU’s land grant mission. You are encouraged to attend. Last day to register for the event is April 22.

Extension Web Update

Knowing what everyone’s role is related to Extension’s digital strategy and new Extension website can give confidence in figuring out how best to contribute, and where to find support. Read this week’s blog post to learn where you fit in.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Events & Resources

27th Annual Powwow- Southern Oregon University: The Native American Student Union will host the 27th annual powwow April 13 and 14  in Ashland. For more information, visit the event page.

NW Filipino American Student Alliance Conference 2019: -Celebrating 25 Years of Tulay: The NW Filipino American Student Alliance (NWFASA) invites you to their 24 annual conference hosted by Isang Bansang Pilipino at Oregon State University, celebrating a true milestone as NWFASA enters its 25th year anniversary as an organization. April 12 – 14 in Corvallis, for more information visit the event page.

Redefining Masculinity – A Panel Discussion: Join the PSU Women’s Resource Center as they cultivate conversation, connection, and understanding around definitions of masculinity and how they interact with masculinity socially, personally, and systemically every day. This panel discussion stemmed from the viewing of “The Mask You Live In” & expanded to a need for a community dialogue. April 16 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

Conversation Project: Where Are Queer People Welcome?: Join facilitator Jill Winsor in a discussion that explores how the complexity of the queer community intersects with the spaces and communities that surround us. April 18 from 6:00 pm to 8:00pm in Coos Bay. For more information, visit the event page.

Secrets of the brain: The science of implicit bias and its impact on health: Our brains receive millions of pieces of information about our surroundings every moment. To cope, we take mental shortcuts based on social norms, life experiences and stereotypes. While such shortcuts can keep us safe, they can also lead to unintended harm. Dr. Guise shares research about how recognizing and managing our implicit biases is key to positive relationships, professional effectiveness and good health. April 18 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

Parks and Nature puts Equity Action Plan into action

Earlier this month Metro’s Parks and Nature Department approved its Racial Equity Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and posted it to Metro’s website.

Science has to do better for its queer, trans and non-binary students 

I came out as non-binary in the second year of my Ph.D. program at Oregon State University, and began using they/them pronouns in professional settings. Despite the fact that, at face value, I “fit in” as part of the small university town with mostly white, middle class, progressive and highly educated citizens, I still felt isolated.

3 Companies Trying to Solve the Workplace Diversity Gap

When it comes to building a strong workforce, filling open positions is really only the first step.

Woodburn leader joins board for diversity

Collins Foundation appoints CAPACES Leadership Institute of Woodburn’s executive director to its board

Helping the Vulnerable and the Marginalized 

When the mysterious illness HIV first emerged as a public health threat, scientists and health officials knew they had work to do. Researchers in Oregon State’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences have established a Sexual and Reproductive Health Equity Consortium to continue the mission.

New Media Center Open House

The Faculty Media Center soft-launch Open House will debut our new faculty media support resources. It will be a great opportunity to meet other folks on campus who are using media in their teaching/training and to grab a few appetizers! Stop by to meet our support team, learn about our studio spaces, instructional consulting services and ways media can be used to engage your learners. We look forward to seeing you at the Faculty Media Center – Kidder Hall 100! *If you can’t make the Open House, we’d love to setup a private tour with you and share what we’re up to.

You’ll also have the opportunity to visit Student Multimedia Studio in the Valley Library 2035, too!  SMS will be showcasing support services for students producing & presenting academic media assignments and research. Learn about their peer-to-peer support model and check out the collaborative media studio, equipment loan and printing resources.

Extension in the news

Daylong session for teachers focuses on getting ready for outdoor school
The Argus Observer
The two-day event was hosted by Malheur Education Service District and Oregon State University Extension Service, which presented the Outdoor School program.

Tree School Clackamas teaches love for the land
Clackamas Review
This event marked the 29th annual Tree School Clackamas since its inception in 1991 by the Oregon State University Extension Service in Clackamas County.

In this week’s issue:

• Communication and connection opportunities
• Register for Awards for Excellence event
• Extension Web Update
• Diversity Highlights
• Hey, did you see this?
• Extension in the news

Communication and connection opportunities

Is there anything about which you are interested, curious, or concerned? Here are some ways to share and ask:

• Online form to submit questions (Think of this like a virtual comment box.)
• OSU Extension Slack workspace or informal communication and collaboration
• Read ConnEXTions weekly, and contribute!
• O&E blog with First Monday videos (Engage via the comment section!)
• Outreach & Engagement Quarterly Conversations (Next: May 17, 2019)

Register for Awards for Excellence event

Celebrate the outreach and engagement work of Oregon State University at the Vice Provost Awards for Excellence on May 2, 3:30 to 5 p.m., followed by a hosted reception 5 to 6:30 p.m. (there is no cost to attend). Ten exceptional projects will receive recognition including several from Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences, and other colleges and units. The event is in the Memorial Union (MU) Ballroom. Outreach and engagement is essential to OSU’s land grant mission. You are encouraged to attend. Last day to register for the event is April 22.

Extension Web Update

A complete, searchable guide to the Extension Website is now available online.

Diversity Highlights

Please contact analu.fonseca@oregonstate.edu with any questions or comments or if you have suggestions for events or news stories to include in Diversity Highlights.

Special Announcements

2019 Grand Ronde Education Summit

Regsiter for this summit for the opportunity to learn about Grand Ronde history, newly developed K-12 Native based curriculum from Grand Ronde and other Oregon tribes, Senate Bill 13, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Sovereignty, Native languages in the classroom,  and equity. The summit will be a full day on the 24th and a half day on the 25th. Teachers can earn PDU’s, recieve materials and resources for their classrooms and walk away with a new found knowledge of tribal history and the confidence to teach native curriculum in their classrooms. Fo rmore information, visit the registration page.

Events & Resources

The Native Perspective Missing from Design: As much as Native and Native-influenced imagery turns up in apparel, graphic design, product design, and elsewhere, most of these images and themes are been appropriated. There’s a chronic dearth of Native designers or influencers involved in creation. We’re unpacking the systems that made these images possible… April 10 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in Portland. For more info visit the event page.

April Nature Night: Recreation for Everyone: Join Dr. Ashley D’Antonio in a discussion about who is recreating on our public lands, who is missing from these outdoor spaces, and what science can, and can’t, tell us about issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in outdoor recreation. April 16 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in Bend. For more information, visit the event page.

Conversation Project: Where Are Queer People Welcome?: Join facilitator Jill Winsor in a discussion that explores how the complexity of the queer community intersects with the spaces and communities that surround us. April 18 from 6:00 pm to 8:00pm in Coos Bay. For more information, visit the event page.

Secrets of the brain: The science of implicit bias and its impact on health: Dr. Guise shares research about how recognizing and managing our implicit biases is key to positive relationships, professional effectiveness and good health. April 18 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm in Portland. For more information, visit the event page.

Conversation Project: What Are You? Mixed-Race and Interracial Families in Oregon’s Past and Future: Dmae Roberts, who has written essays and produced film and radio documentaries about being a biracial Asian American in Oregon, leads a discussion of heritage that goes beyond checking one race on US Census forms. April 19 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Woodburn. For more information, visit the event page.

In the News

Encouraging Latino leadership
Grant money will help CAPACES Leadership Institute develop and sustain more public service from area Latinos.

Female CEOs proliferate in Oregon tech, though industry remains overwhelmingly male
“I didn’t feel that being a female should hold me back from moving up in my career and so I’ve always approached situations that way.”

Two Eugene Area Women Provide Medical Care At The Border
A team of medical providers from Oregon and Washington recently returned from McAllen, Texas where they volunteered at a respite center administered by Catholic Charities. The center, which serves about 300 refugees per day, provides shelter and basic services, including medical care, to migrants who’ve been detained at the U.S. Mexico border.

For The First Time, U.S. Census To Collect Responses In Arabic Among 13 Languages
Speakers of Arabic — one of the fastest-growing languages in the U.S. — will have one fewer barrier to participating in the upcoming 2020 census.

On Cesar Chavez Day, a look at the labor leader’s complex legacy
Though strong unionization among farm workers in the U.S. has not lasted, Chavez changed farmers’ lives and created a model for mobilization.

Hey, did you see this?

EESC’s publications team recently switched allegiances from Chicago Manual of Style to Associated Press Style, which puts us in line with university guidelines. But even with thousands of entries, these two books can leave us wanting when it comes to some important issues. Here are three resources that fill in the gaps:

The Diversity Style Guide: More than 700 inclusive entries offering “guidance, context, and nuance for media professionals.”

Conscious Style Guide: In-depth discussions on ability, age, appearance, gender, and more.

Editors of Color: We like the Database of Diverse Databases

Extension in the news

OSU Extension partners with growers to bring hands-on wheat education to 4-H members
Capital Press
Oregon State University Extension Service partnered with Oregon Wheat Growers League members from Jefferson, Crook and Deschutes counties to create a unit on producing and processing wheat for more than 100 OSU Extension 4-H members at Metolius Elementary School in Jefferson County in 2017 and 2018.

Column | On the Farm: Garden Starts, Oregon Legislature
Gales Creek Journal
Here’s an excerpt (slightly edited) from my written testimony. I am putting it into my column to share with readers the incredible value of Oregon State University Extension and the other public service programs of Oregon Universities.

Are You Throwing Money on Your Vineyard Floor?
Growing Produce
An Associate Professor and Viticulture Extension Specialist at Oregon State University (OSU), Patty Skinkis realizes the value of crop management. But growers can overdo it.

Time left to plant trees in southern Willamette Valley before spring bloom
The Register-Guard
“We are at the tail end of planting season,” said Lauren Grand, forester with the Oregon State University Extension Service in Lane County. ”… In western Oregon, plant trees between November and April. This gives trees a better fighting chance. You want to plant trees before they bud out and start pulling resources from their roots. This decreases the stress they experience from being planted.”

‘We want this to grow’
The Argus Observer
The event was a cooperative effort of the Oregon State University Extension Service and Treasure Valley Community College Agriculture Department.