GROWING July-August 2021
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July-August 2021 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Volume 41, Issue 4 PAID Permit #115 Albany, OR Extending Knowledge and Changing Lives in Linn and Benton Counties Extension Responds During COVID By Mitch Lies, The service revised the to its programming, Benton DENISE BY PHOTO GROWING Editor MG program so volunteers and Linn County 4-H went can work from home. It virtual with their Youth If ever there was a doubt developed online instructional Livestock Auctions in 2020, S that Oregon State University videos. And the program and both reported successful AUN Extension is nimble and has been holding classes events. Benton County’s 4-H D ERS responsive to community through online platforms. Wildlife Stewards Program, needs, last year should have Master Gardener Volunteers which introduces youth to removed it. also donated hundreds of nature through hands-on Despite major limitations in pounds of produce grown in activities and instructions, the way it delivers programs demonstration gardens to food went virtual and still had more – limitations brought on pantries in Linn and Benton than 50 youth participate. by the COVID-19 pandemic counties helping address a And Linn County was able to – Extension showed its food shortage exacerbated by conduct its tractor training versatility by continuing to COVID. course for youth, a course address community needs. For more information on required for youth to drive In phone interviews with programs offered by Master tractors on farms in summer Master Gardener volunteers work in the Benton County Master Growing, Extension personnel Gardeners, go to https:// months, by conducting Gardener Demonstration Garden at the Benton County Fairgrounds talked about how they were extension.oregonstate.edu/ the classwork portion of in Corvallis this past May. Volunteers donated hundreds of pounds able to address these needs by mg and follow the links to the program virtually and of produce grown in demonstration gardens to food pantries in adapting programs over the county-specific programming. maintaining social distancing Linn and Benton counties over the past year in helping address a past 15 months. Perhaps the most in outdoor settings for the food shortage exacerbated by COVID. One of the most successful challenged program over hands-on portion. of Extension programs the past 18 months has been “I personally certified 82 Benton County 4-H also Elli Korthuis, 4-H Educator for during COVID has been its 4-H. A program that has kids (last) summer, so that worked with some of its older Benton County. Master Gardeners Program. been described as “all about they could go to work on youth ambassadors to create Extension’s commercial According to Master Gardener hands-on,” nevertheless has farms and meet that need of educational videos that 4-H agriculture programs, which Program Assistant Elizabeth managed to deliver nearly all the ag community,” Leao said. members can access to learn traditionally use grower Records, the program was of its traditional programming Benton County 4-H about different projects and meetings and field days to busier than ever in 2020. to youth in 2020 and through brought several contests into achieve advancements on deliver the latest in research, “People are responding the first half of 2021. a virtual format, including their records, said Carolyn adapted to restrictions to these uncertain times by “We’ve had to figure its Presentation contest, its Ashton, Associate Professor, brought on by COVID by planting gardens, and the out how do we develop our Favorite Foods contest, its 4-H Youth Development holding meetings virtually. volunteers are getting a lot of hands-on program so that we Food Preparation contest, and Local Liaison for Benton It’s fall and winter Seed questions (from gardeners),” can deliver things virtually its dog quiz bowl and its County Extension. Those and Cereal Crop Production Records said. to kids in a way that they are 4-H Fashion Revue. The 4-H videos can be accessed by Meetings, typically schedule Gardens have been a food still getting what they need program also had members going to https://beav.es/3Yv. in three sites over two days source and a stress outlet out of it,” said 4-H Youth participate in regional and “We have had a lot of in the Willamette Valley, over the past 18 months, Development Faculty for Linn state contests, including the opportunities to really keep including at the Linn County Records said, and Extension County Extension Andrea spring classic, which included the kids engaged this year Fairgrounds, were split into has responded to gardener Leao. horse, small animal and and, across the board, we have needs in multiple fashions. Among many adjustments livestock contests. had good participation,” said Continued on Page 2 Get the latest Linn and Benton County Fair information inside. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/linn JULy-August 2021 — 1 Who We Are Welcome Abby The Oregon State University Extension offices in Linn County and Benton County offer practical, lifelong learning experiences. We sponsor conferences, workshops, demonstrations, tours, and short courses. We recruit, train and We are so excited to welcome well as encouraging students to manage volunteers who assist us with community outreach and education. Abby Johnson to Linn County! branch out of their comfort zones Our Extension faculty and volunteers answer questions and give advice by phone, in person, through e-mail, and on our Websites. We provide Abby is the new 4-H Program to develop new skills. Some of her brochures and flyers with specific information on a variety of subjects. We Coordinator at OSU Extension, programming interests include are funded by a cooperative partnership between Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and our local counties. Linn County. She is transitioning livestock, agriculture, leadership, from the Marion County Extension public speaking, computer science, Office locations and hours Office, where she served as the STEM, and performing arts. The Benton County office is located at 4077 SW Research Way in Corvallis. 4-H Education Program Assistant What she loves about working Office hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Telephone: 541- 713-5000. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/benton. for the last 2.5 years. Before that, with 4-H is seeing the positive The Linn County office is located at 33630 McFarland Rd (on the corner of Abby was a member of Collegiate growth in students and families Old Highway 34 and McFarland Road), in Tangent. Office hours are from 4-H for all three years of college through involvement in the 4-H 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Phone 541-967-3871. Seed and was a nine-year 4-H member. program, as well as learning and Certification phone 541-967-3810. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/linn. Abby received her Bachelor’s developing new skills along with Program Staff Phone Numbers degree in Education from Western the youth she teaches. She lives in Linn County 4-H Youth Development Andrea Leao 541-730-3534 Oregon University with a minor Albany with her husband, Jacob, Linn County 4-H Youth Development Abby Johnson 541-730-3469 in dance. She is passionate and outside of work she enjoys Benton County 4-H Youth Development about providing positive reading, cooking, volunteering and Benton County Liaison Carolyn Ashton 541-713-5000 Benton County 4-H Youth Development Elli Korthuis 541-713-5000 youth development and 4-H at her church, and spending time Field Crops* Christy Tanner 541-730-3537 opportunities to all students, as outside. Livestock & Forages* Shelby Filley 541-672-4461 Dairy* Jenifer Cruickshank 971-600-1222 Small Farms* Melissa Fery 541-730-3538 Small Farms* Amy Garrett* 541-713-5000 Small Farms* Teagan Moran 541-713-5000 Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Erica Chernoh 541-344-1709 Extension Responds During COVID Small Farms & Groundwater Education* Chrissy Lucas 541-713-5009 Community Horticulture* Elizabeth Records 541-730-3471 Continued from Page 1 Forestry, Natural Resources* Brad Withrow-Robinson 541-967-3871 Forestry and 4-H Youth Jody Einerson 541-713-5000 Family & Community Health (FCH)* Jeanne Brandt 541-730-3544 FCH & SNAP Ed* Tina Dodge 541-730-3541 three 1.5-hour sessions and to its programming over the past format. SNAP Ed* Vacant 541-730-3540 offered on three dates. Here again, 18 months to ensure small farmers EFNEP & LatinX* Diana Camacho Figueroa 541-730-3542 “We quickly became film * Multi-county assignment participation was strong, with and others were able to access makers,” Moran said, “and put all upwards of 150 regularly tuning in information and, in some cases, of our field tours online instead of Administration and program support serving Linn County to the virtual meetings. supplies. having them in person.” Office specialist Laurie Gibson 541-248-1088 In addition to presenting Among the adjustments, the The program also created a Office manager & Linn County Liaison Michele Webster 541-248-1087 growers with up-to-date research, program created a website with Wildfire Resources Page relevant Seed certification Vacant 541-967-3810 Seed certification Vacant 541-967-3810 the meetings also provided a COVID information specifically to farmers to help in their recovery source of pesticide recertification for farmers. “We sifted through all from last September’s wildfires. Administration and program support serving Benton County credits, which have been hard to the resources out there, finding And during and after the fires, Office specialist Kelly Cotter 541-713-5000 come by during the pandemic. the ones that were most relevant Extension played a significant Office manager Liz McGovern 541-713-5000 Like the Master Gardeners, Linn to our farming community and role in helping animal owners Office specialist Yasmine Rifai 541-713-5000 and Benton County Extension consolidated them into one place,” tend to livestock, as 4-H faculty Regional Director Richard Riggs 541-967-3871 Family and Community Health said Teagan Moran, outreach and volunteers took a lead role in GROWING editor Mitch Lies 541-967-3871 were also busier than ever in 2020 coordinator for the program.