UAF Cooperative Extension Service Annual Report 2011

Page 1 — Program Highlights 2011

C O O P E R AT I V E

EXTENSIONS E R V I C E

2011 program HIgHLIgHTS

Putting education to work in your life and community

UAF Cooperative Extension Service


This is the perfect time to be involved with the Cooperative Extension Service State Advisory Council here in Alaska. I can’t express how exciting it has been to see the development of the new strategic plan and how that is defin-ing a new direction.

Moving away from the traditional program themes and on to issue-based education is a huge paradigm shift for a program with so much history behind it. This is positioning the Cooperative Extension for opportunities to collaborate with other organizations through-out the state to deliver the university’s best science-based information in the most rel-evant manner.

Meeting with different agents and specialists around the state, I can see that Cooperative Extension has the best outreach potential imaginable — empowering and engaging Alaskans to create the most sustainable com-munities possible. It is an honor to be on the council in these times of such need — and so much opportunity.

From the Director’s Office State Advisory CouncilThis year marked our 81st as the outreach arm of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. Extension outreach is one of the three missions of all land-grant institutions like UAF. Abraham Lincoln established the land-grant college system by signing the Morrill Act on July 2, 1862. Called the “people’s university,” land-grant colleges also have a teaching and research mission.

The Smith-Lever Act, signed May 8, 1914, created the Cooperative Extension program at land-grant universities to “disseminate useful and practical information.” UAF Cooperative Extension provides research-based information to individuals and communities to help inform and educate.

As we prepare to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Morrill Act this year and the centennial of the Smith-Lever Act in two more years, it is important to note that Extension has evolved. While we still honor those core program areas on which Extension was founded, we are transitioning into issue-based programs as highlighted in this report. This focuses our efforts on delivering university-based research on issues currently facing Alaskans.

What is Extension?The Cooperative Extension Service is an educational network supported by a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and more than 100 land-grant universities such as the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Each state and territory has a network of local or regional offices staffed by experts who generate and distribute useful knowledge to the public. They also work with residents to meet their challenges, whether it’s growing enough food for their families, building an energy-efficient home or smoking salmon.

Extension has district offices in nine Alaska communities. Our agents deliver programs in person and on an extensive videoconference network. They are happy to answer questions by phone and e-mail. Information is also available through Extension publications, interactive online lessons, DVDs, radio and television programs, newsletters and newspaper articles, and even Facebook. Check out our web presence at www.uaf.edu/ces .

MissionCooperative Extension educates, engages and supports the people and communities of Alaska, connecting them with their university. We provide factual and practical information while bringing Alaskans’ issues and challenges to the university.

Kyra WagnerState Advisory Council Chair

Fred SchluttCooperative Extension Director

Page 3 — Program Highlights 2011 Program Highlights 2011 — Page 3

“I’ve decided to eat more fruits and vegetables and feed them to my family. I am motivated to exercise more weekly and to keep doing it as I age to maintain muscle and bone.”

— Deb Trowbridge, Nome participant in the Strong-Women Healthy Hearts Program

“The resources that 4-H has given me have opened my eyes to opportunities for positive change and ways to implement these changes and develop youth programs in rural Alaska and my village.”

— Courtney Agnes, 4-H volunteer mentor and site coordinator, Tanana

“We’ve had wonderful support from Cooperative Extension in Palmer. They understood the potential benefit of cultivating Rhodiola rosea in Alaska and helped us get the word out to growers in a way we could not have done by ourselves. Thank you!”

— Dr. Petra Illig, Anchorage grower and president of Alaska Rhodiola Products

“I learned how to buy and prepare healthy food on a tiny budget. The Cooperative Extension was an educational source I was completely unaware of.”

— Jenn Oden of Fairbanks, who participated in Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition

Education Program

“We are grateful to Cooperative Extension for our herbicide recommendations and for Phil Kaspari’s invaluable agronomic advice. It is critical to the success of our farm.”

— Bryce Wrigley, Delta Junction farmer

“I have taken many classes offered by Cooperative Extension (canning fish, making yogurt, preserving food, etc.) and have learned so much. Thanks so much for offering these classes, especially to rural places like Bethel.”

— Mary Martin, speech language pathologist, Bethel

“Being a Master Gardener is one of my proudest ac-complishments.”

— Terry Wilson, Anchorage Master Gardener

“The courage it takes to get up and present your opin-ions or information to a room, or to walk into a building and convince a stranger to buy a goat will serve you well the rest of your life.”

— Tatiana Butler, former Kenai 4-H’er who works as a publications assistant in Washington, D.C.

EXTENSION SERVES OUR COMMUNITIES

FOOD SAFETY AND SECURITY

A 10-pound bag of potatoes can cost more than $20 in rural Alaska, where stores charge a premium for fresh vegetables.

Extension is experimenting with different methods to teach rural residents how to grow more local produce. Participants in the Alaskan Growers School learned about gardening by correspondence, audio and online. Some attended classes with gardening and small business experts in Fairbanks during August and participated in a five-day practicum at the Calypso Farm and Ecology Center, gaining experience on a working farm.

The beginning growers school teaches participants how to raise enough food for themselves and 10 other families, while the advanced school focuses on starting a small agricultural business. Both are funded by a three-year grant through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that supports rural farmers.

Summer participants planned to start home or community gardens or sell a little produce. Herman Morgan, the district manager for the Soil and Water Conservation District in Aniak, intends to teach other gardeners in the Kuskokwim region. As one man told him, “You might need this information to feed your families and teach your kids how to feed their families.”

Check out our Alaskan Growers School video: http://youtu.be/TCVR1Y176_g

Planting the seeds for increased local food production in rural communities

• Seventy-fourindividualsfrom42communitiescompletedoneormoresessionsofthe beginning or advanced Alaskan Growers School in 2011.

• Nearlythree-quartersofthebeginningschool’sparticipantsfelttheyhadgainedthe knowledge and skills to grow enough food for their family and 10 other families.

• During2011,Extensionalsotrained206MasterGardenerswhowillvolunteerthousands of hours in their communities as part of their certification.

FYI . . .


Page 5 — Program Highlights 2011 Program Highlights 2011 — Page 5

Beverly Chmielarczyk says there is something magical about the salmon incubation tank in her third-grade classroom.

“The students are completely riveted by the tank,” she said. Elders and family members also visit to check on the developing salmon fry.

As a new teacher, Chmielarczyk attended an in-service offered by Extension about the salmon incubation project — and has used the information with students of various ages inKwethlukandmorerecently,inNapaskiak,nearBethel.

“It helps you teach science in a culturally relevant way,” said Chmielarczyk.

4-HnaturalresourcesspecialistPeterStortzhascoordinatedthein-servicefornearly20years. Scientists and other experts show rural teachers how to use the project to explore the science behind natural resources important to their communities. In-service co-sponsors include Alaska Sea Grant and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Extension has many other connections to K-12 schools. Our agents regularly deliver programs on topics ranging from GPS/GIS technology and Alaska agriculture to gardening, theenvironmentandpersonalfinance.Nutritioneducatorsinvolveyouthinmakinghealthy food choices and integrating fitness into their lives.

Manyclassroomssupplementlearningwith4-Hcurricula.StudentsinEagleexploresubjectslikeembryology,publicspeakingandarton“4-HFridays.”Teachersandafter-schoolclubsinseveralcommunitiesparticipatedinthe20114-HNationalScienceExperiment, which challenged youth to build and test wind turbines.

FYI …

• Extensiondevelopedthesalmonincubationprojectin1991toincreasemathandscienceliteracyinvillageschools.Thirty-fiveto40schoolsparticipateannuallyintheprogram, which involves more than 1,200 students.

• During2011,morethan10,000Alaskayouthhadfunlearningthroughschoolenrichment activities in the classroom and in after-school programs.

• Extensioneducatorsin2011offerednutritionlessonstoabout3,500youthinclassrooms around the state.

FYI . . .

youth, family and community

Extension supports classroom programs

KiraO’DonoghuetraveledtoMongoliathispastsummeraspartofa4-Hexchange involving eight Western states.

TheFairbanksteenwasjoinedbyMariahMcCoyofChugiakandPalmer4-Hspecialist Peter Stortz. The University of Wyoming coordinated the four-week exchange, which included language and cultural training by Peace Corps volunteers. Participants lived with Mongolian families for two weeks and spent the final week sightseeing, camping and hiking.

O’Donoghueparticularlyenjoyedherhomestay,whereshedrankmilkteaand helped out with chores, such as milking the cow.

She keeps in touch with her host sister on Facebook. “You get to make friends on the other side of the world,” she said.

Thiswasthefirst4-HexchangewithMongolia,but4-Hhasalonghistoryofexchanges.AJapaneseexchangehasbeenongoingformorethan40years. Alaska youth travel to Japan every year and Alaska families host Japanese youth.

Jill Holmgren, who coordinates the outbound exchange, said participants learnthatcultureisn’tjustfoodorclothing,butalsowaysofthinking.“Parents report that their teens return from exchanges more confident and with a global perspective.”

More information: www.uaf.edu/ces/4h/exchange/

• Alaska families will host 10 Japanese youth this summer throughthe4-HLaboInternationalExchange Program.

• Inthepastfiveyears,Alaska4-H’ershave traveled to Hawaii, Arizona and Virginia for exchanges and have hosted return exchanges. TananaDistrictwillhostNewJersey4-H’ersthissummerandtraveltothestatein2013.

• TheStates’4-HInternationalExchange Programs offer additional exchange opportunities to Finland, Australia,NorwayandCostaRica.Youthdonothavetobeactive4-Hmembers to apply for exchanges butwillbeenrolledin4-Hiftheyare accepted.

FYI . . .

Alaska 4-H exchanges introduceyouth to new global perspective

Page 6 — Program Highlights 2011 YOUTH, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY


Teens return from exchanges more confident and with a global perspective.

“You get to make friends on the other side of the world.”

Program Highlights 2011 — Page 7

— Kira O’Donoghue, Fairbanks 4-H’er

Seven-hundred-year-old and older artifacts from a former village site near Quinhagak have fallen on the beach and washed out to sea. Melting permafrost and a loss of protective sea icehaveledtoextensivebeacherosionneartheYupikvillageof600inWesternAlaska.

Quinhagak wanted help documenting its old village sites, said Warren Jones, manager of thevillagecorporation,Qanirtuuq,Inc.

Palmer agent Steve Brown teamed up with Bethel Marine Advisory Program agent Terry ReeveinJulytoshowQuinhagakresidentshowtouseaGPStomaparcheologicalsitesand other terrain.

Four youth and four adults learned how to operate a GPS and then to use GIS to interpret and display the information. They mapped old village sites, airport erosion and the KanektokRiverchannel.Thechannelinformationwillhelpbargesgetinwithsupplieswithout getting stuck on sandbars.

Jones,ateamleaderforQuinhagakSearchandRescue,wantstomapsnowmachinetrailsto other villages and upriver, which will make it easier to look for residents who get lost in whiteoutconditions.“We’lluseaGPStostayrightonthetrail,”hesaid.

• Morethan300AlaskanslearnedhowtouseaGPSinadozenExtensionworkshopsaround the state. Alaska presents special challenges to GPS users, and the sessions focusonwhattheowner’smanualdoesn’ttellyou.Theclassesarepopularwithhunters, law enforcement and other emergency responders.

• Anadditional157individualspracticedtheirGPSskillstofindhiddencontainerscalled geocaches.

• Extension developed a geospatial technology curriculum for the Matanuska-Susitna School District that teaches students how to use the GPS and GIS, and a geospatial after-school lab has been set up at the Bethel Youth Center.

GPS/GIS training helps Yupik village document site erosion, river channel

FYI . . .

Page 8 — Program Highlights 2011 CLIMATE CHANGEUniversity of Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, Deborah Mercy

FYI . . .

energy Page 9 — Program Highlights 2011

The Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) develops solutions to Alaska energy challenges through applied research.

Our partnership with ACEP is natural because we are in the business of providing Alaskans with practical information based on university research. We also educate Alaskans about energy conservation and renewable and alternative energy systems.

Extension helps ACEP get the word out. We have designed, edited and distributed ACEP publications on wood pellets, ground source heat pumps, biogas and other energy topics. We help ACEP webstream and videotape its monthly community energy lecture series in Fairbanks and package the videos for iTunes University, where they can be viewed widely over the Internet. We also videotaped the 2011 International Wind-Diesel Workshop and AlaskaRuralEnergyConferencesessionsfortheweb.

Julie Estey, the business director for ACEP, appreciates the partnership with Extension. “It helps us reach a broader audience in a more meaningful way,” she said.

Extension and ACEP work together to provide financial support to other outreach efforts, co-sponsoringthepasttwoAlaskaRuralEnergyConferencesandInternationalWindDieselConference. In addition, Extension supported “Power Play,” an interactive energy exhibit thatACEPcuratedfortheUniversityofAlaskaMuseumoftheNorth.

• ExtensiondistributesthefollowingACEPpublications:Biogas, Biomass, Greenhouse Energy, Ground Source Heat Pumps in Alaska and Wood Pellets in Rural Alaska. Down-load the publications at www.uaf.edu/ces/about/partners .

• Morethan400individualsattendedtheSeptember2011AlaskaRuralEnergyConferenceinJuneau.Theconferenceincluded24technicalsessionsoncurrentresearch and energy topics. View the 2010 sessions online at www.bit.ly/ACEPruralenergy .

• Extensionofferedtrainingin2011insolarenergydesign,cold-climatehomebuild-ingandhomeretrofit.Nearly400AlaskansattendedworkshopsinAnchorage,Fairbanks,Delta,Bethel,NomeandKenai.Seeourmanyotherenergyandhousingpublications at www.bit.ly/energypubs .

Partnership extends energy outreach


Alaska Extension is field testing a new StrongWomen program to reduce heart disease.

AgentstaughttheStrongWomenHealthyHeartsprograminNikiskiandNomein2011and will offer the 12-week program in more communities this year. Twice-weekly classes combine aerobic exercise with nutrition education and hands-on cooking activities. The Tufts University program targets women who get little or no exercise.

NikiskiresidentMaryOlsonalreadyswamregularly,butsincehermotherdiedfromheartdiseaseatage54,shewantedtolowerherrisk.

Olson,whois66,saidtheHealthyHeartsnutritioneducationwasinvaluable.TheclassestaughtbyLindaTannehillintroducedhertonewfoodsherfamilylikesandtoarecreationcenterwhereshecanwalkindoors.SincestartingtheclassinMarch,shehasalsolost24pounds. “I loved everything about it,” she said.

NomeagentKarivanDeldensaidparticipantsinherclasseslostalittleweightandfeltmore fit. They ate healthier meals and said their clothes fit better. The value of the program extendsbeyondtheclass,shebelieves.“Whenwechangehowwomeneat,we’rechanginghow families eat.”

• A Tufts University study shows that participants in the StrongWomen Healthy Heartsprogramlostanaverageof4½poundsduringthe12-weeksession.

• StrongWomen Healthy Hearts classes in Alaska will be offered in Palmer, Fairbanks andNomein2012.

• Extension continues to offer its StrongWomen strength-training classes, too. Since 2005,Extensionhastrainedmorethan170instructors,wholeadclassesatmorethan 20 community sites.

Improving women’s nutrition, fitness through a new Healthy Hearts program

FYI . . .

HEALTHPage 10 — Program Highlights 2011


Michelle Kisselman considered starting a business after a friend encouraged her to sell her habanero garlic sauce. A few months later, the company she worked for outsourced her transcriptionist job.

Extension’sKateIdzorekhelpedKisselmannavigatetheprocessofdevelopingafood-based business and connect to other resources, including a university art student who designed a label for “Glacial Heat.”

KisselmanstartedmakingherhotsaucesintheExtension’stestkitchenayearago,andhersauces and spicy jellies have sold well at farmers markets and food stores in Fairbanks.

“Ididn’tknowhowwellIwasgoingtodo,”shesaid.“It’sactuallyabusiness.”

ThestaterequiresthatcertainfoodsbepreparedinaDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation-certifiedfacility.EntrepreneursmayrentExtension’scertifiedkitchenontheUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks campus while they get their businesses off the ground.

Idzorek, who coordinates the test kitchen, works with entrepreneurs interested in starting a food business. Product development services include nutrition labels, certified food protection manager training, food ph testing and label proofing to meet Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The kitchen is also used for food product development research.

• Extensiondevelopeditstestkitchenin2004withagrantfromtheU.S.Departmentof Agriculture. Extension used the kitchen in 2011 to create recipes for school lunch programs, integrating barley into baked goods for Fairbanks schools.

• TheDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(DEC)recentlydonateda15-gallonvatpasteurizerthatwillbetestedthiswinterandmadeavailablesoontoentrepreneurs interested in making cheese or pasteurizing other products in the test kitchen.

• ExtensionandDECarepreparingchecklistsforfoodproducerstoguidethemthrough the process of becoming a small food-based business. Joint projects in 2011 also included a publication on safe egg handling.

Test kitchen benefits entrepreneurs

FYI . . .

Program Highlights 2011 — Page 11Economic DEvElopmEnt


July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 (State FY11)Extension Expenditures by Revenue Source

Total $8,710,405

July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 (State FY11)Extension Expenditures by Category

Total $8,710,405State grants

$479,5865%

Federal earmarks and grants$1,108,649

13%

Federal formula funds

$1,308,26215%

Other grants$131,818

1%

Other UA funds$371,687

4%

Other universities$399,188

5%Program receipts

$403,1155%

State General Fund$4,508,100

52%

Services$1,191,773

14%

Supplies$273,376

3%

UA departments $64,500

1%

Indirects$281,575

3%

Travel$409,966

5%

Salary$6,489,291

74%

The Cooperative Extension Service relies on a variety of federal, state and local sources of funding. These charts show Extension expenditures as a percentage of the total budget and by category.

Extension HotlinesPublications & Information

1-877-520-5211

Energy & Building1-800-478-8324

Food Safety & Preservation1-888-823-3663

Visit us at www.uaf.edu/ces

Documents

UAF Cooperative Extension Service Annual Report 2011