National Association of County Agricultural Agents Proceedings
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National Association of County Agricultural Agents Proceedings 88th Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference July 13 - July 17, 2003 Green Bay, Wisconsin TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE REPORT TO MEMBERSHIP...........................................................................................................1-23 88TH ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS........................................................................................24-35 POSTER SESSION APPLIED RESEARCH................................................................................................................37-52 EXTENSION EDUCATION...........................................................................................................53-74 AWARD WINNERS..................................................................................................................75 EXTENSION PROGRAM NATIONAL JUDGING RESULTS...........................................................76-77 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AWARDS..................................................................................78-79 CROP PRODUCTION AWARDS........................................................................................79-82 FARM & RANCH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT....................................................................82-85 REMOTE SENSING & PRECISION AGRICULTURE...................................................................85-87 LANDSCAPE.................................................................................................................87-88 4-H & YOUTH PROGRAMMING..................................................................................89 AMERICAN /WORLD AGRICULTURE AWARD.....................................................................90 NACAA PINNACLE AWARD.....................................................................................................91 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNERS............................................................................92 ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS............................................................................................93 P.R.I.D.E. PROGRAM...................................................................................................94-96 COMMUNICATION AWARDS.............................................................................................97-117 COMMITTEE MEMBER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS.....................................................119 AGRONOMY & PEST MANAGEMENT........................................................................120-122 ANIMAL SCIENCE......................................................................................................123-127 FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES.........................................................................127-129 HORTICULTURE AND TURFGRASS.............................................................................129 EARLY CAREER DEVELOPMENT........................................................................................130 ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.............................................................131 TEACHING AND COMMUNICATIONS...............................................................................131-133 PUBLIC RELATIONS AND A GRICULTURAL ISSUES...............................................................133-134 EDUCATIONAL/COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGY SEMINARS.....................................135-138 SPEAKER PROFILES................................................................................................139-141 NACAA President enced NACAA in a number of ways. National spon- Steven E. Munk sorship truly requires a concerted effort now to main- South Dakota tain and to develop new partnerships with sponsors. President Elect FitzSimons addresses this in his re- port and reinforces the call for all members to assist 2003 marks the 88th year that in securing national program sponsors. The realign- NACAA has been in the busi- ment of sponsorship duties started this year allows ness of providing opportu- the Executive Director to work with existing spon- nities that improve the pro- sors and creates the continuity that sponsors prefer. fessional competency of the This allows the President Elect to focus on expanding membership. and securing new sponsors. Every year of that existence has had issues that make The NACAA Board continues to review costs associ- that year unique and there are common issues that ated with NACAA operations and to make cost reduc- thread through each year. tions when possible. The board has reviewed past and current financial records and that we now have a truer One issue that met both classifications in 2003 was lim- picture of AM/PIC cost and general association oper- ited funding. ating cost. Now limited funding and budget cuts are not new topic As National President I had the privilege to represent that has been around in varying degrees as far back as NACAA at various meetings and events this past year. I know. What made it unique in 2003 was the depth Included were the Annual Meetings of NAE4-H, and wide scope impact it had on the Extension Sys- NAEFCS, ESP, ANREP, National Cattlemen’s Beef As- tem, primarily at the state and local level. sociation, and two regular JCEP meetings. Budget restrictions create a situation where positions The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JECP) are eliminated or reassigned and the terms “buyout” which is made up of representatives from the profes- or “early retirement” become very common. sional associations, is the primary sponsor of the Re- gional Leadership Workshops and the Public Issues Looking ahead this situation creates opportunities and Leadership Development Conference (PILD). focus for NACAA. Membership recruitment becomes NACAA was the lead Association in 2003 in coordi- even more important and in most cases members re- nating the Regional Leadership Workshops. The cruited will be fairly new to the system. This means Regional Directors did a great job of providing a mean- NACAA needs to make sure that there is professional ingful program and in organizing the details of the improvement and leadership opportunities that are meetings. tailored for the early career extension professionals. The NACAA committees will play a vital roll in this NACAA had the greatest number of attendees at the focus as their structure allows for professional im- 2003 PILD. The 2003 PILD program was one of the provement program development that is driven by best I have experienced, so congratulations to the member needs. NACAA representatives and other PILD planning committee members for developing a super program. The budget limitations and the economy have influ- 1 This past year I have challenged the board to look at vices and colleges. We have been asked to make tough and review how NACAA conducts its business in ful- decisions with regards to program priorities and in filling the NACAA mission of professional improve- some cases staffing. Retirement incentive programs, ment. This process can be tedious and at times may furloughs, restricted office hours and unfortunately seem unnecessary. Yet the process allows for a review in some situations possible reductions in force are of the intention and validates the programs conducted having impacts on our NACAA member family. To to insure they are meeting the needs of the member- say that it is not “business as usual” is a definite un- ship. derstatement as we approach the end of another year! Yet, when I look back over my 25 year career I can One example is the committee of past AM/PIC chairs recall other budget crunch years and we did survive that I have appointed to review what is required to those times and I am confident that Extension and host an AM/PIC, and what would be the best format NACAA will survive these tough times as well. that will reach and increase the percent of NACAA members that attend an AM/PIC. Each office in the ladder of NACAA leadership offers new and different challenges of responsibility. Serving as the NACAA President this past year has As you move up this ladder you soon come to realize been a tremendous experience for me both profes- just what an awesome task it becomes to insure the sionally and personally. I have a greater understand- continued success and strength of our organization. ing and appreciation for the differences that are unique It takes a tremendous commitment on the part of the to each of the four NACAA regions, yet comforted entire leadership team and the membership to main- and strengthened by the common belief of the mem- tain our professional improvement programs at the bership in fulfilling the NACAA mission. It is the high levels of scholarship and enjoyment that have strong belief in the NACAA mission and the unselfish come to be expected at our annual meeting and pro- effort put forth for 88 years by the members that makes fessional improvement conference each year. NACAA a strong, viable, and legitimate Professional Improvement Association into the future. I will always As President-Elect it has been a privilege to work with cherish the opportunity to have been able to serve the our donors and sponsors during the year. The on- membership of NACAA and thankful for the benefits going support of our partners over the years and the NACAA has made to my Extension Career. continued recruitment of new partners will continue to insure the success of our professional improvement programs. I should also extend my appreciation to Scott Hawbaker, our Executive Director, for his in- President-Elect valuable