National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
National Association of County Agricultural Agents Proceedings 94th Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference September 20-24, 2009 Portland, OR TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE REPORT TO MEMBERSHIP...........................................................................................................1-24 94TH ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS........................................................................................25-40 POSTER SESSION APPLIED RESEARCH................................................................................................................41-63 EXTENSION EDUCATION...........................................................................................................64-102 AWARD WINNERS..................................................................................................................103 EXTENSION PROGRAM NATIONAL JUDGING RESULTS.........................................................104-115 CROP PRODUCTION AWARDS........................................................................................105-107 LANDSCAPE HORTICULTURE..........................................................................................107-109 FARM & RANCH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT..................................................................109-110 YOUNG, BEGINNING, SMALL FARMERS & RANCHERS.........................................................110-112 REMOTE SENSING & PRECISION AGRICULTURE................................................................112-113 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AWARDS................................................................................113-115 P.R.I.D.E. PROGRAM.................................................................................................115-119 4-H & YOUTH PROGRAMMING..................................................................................119-120 AMERICAN /WORLD A GRICULTURE A WARD..............................................................................121 ACHIEVEMENT A WARD WINNERS............................................................................................121 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNERS............................................................................122 HALL OF FAME AWARD WINNERS...............................................................................123-125 COMMUNICATION AWARDS..........................................................................................126-172 COMMITTEE MEMBER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS.....................................................173 ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS.......................................................................................174-175 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS.........................................................................175-179 AGRICULTURAL ISSUES & PUBLIC RELATIONS..................................................................180-182 AGRONOMY & PEST MANAGEMENT........................................................................182-185 ANIMAL SCIENCE......................................................................................................186-193 EARLY CAREER DEVELOPMENT...................................................................................193-194 HORTICULTURE AND TURFGRASS.............................................................................194-205 NATURAL RESOURCES.................................................................................................205-211 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.........................................................................................212-213 TEACHING & EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES....................................................................214-215 SPEAKER PROFILES................................................................................................216-218 NACAA Report To The Membership 2009 I was a “desert rat” with no experience in maneuvering NACAA President a vehicle in snow. As the designated driver of our van, I Rick Gibson quickly recognized that my lack of experience might be Arizona a detriment to everyone’s health. I turned to the other students in the vehicle and told them honestly that I had no experience driving in snow. “If someone with more experience wants to take over,” I said, “I will be glad to Oregon! The very name brings a sense of excitement relinquish the wheel.” There were no takers. and adventure. Carved from wilderness by those So, following the instructions of an experienced leader motivated by hope and future it became a destination who led the way down the mountain, I placed the vehicle for many in the early years of our country. Certainly it in the lowest gear possible and slowly inched our way was for Lewis and Clark and their “Corp of Discovery”. to safety. I did it by keeping my eyes on the road and on So also it was for the trappers and explorers that the leader in front. I did not turn to stare off into the followed them, and for the pioneers on the Oregon Trail. depths of the canyon only inches from our wheels nor These were among the first, but certainly they were not worry about what I could not control. By so doing, we the last. arrived safely at our destination. As participants in the 2009 Annual Meeting and As county Extension educators and members of the Professional Improvement Conference and members National Association of County Agricultural Agents, we of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, are no strangers to obstacles and challenging times. we have just completed our own “Journey of Discovery.” Like my learning experience on the mountain, each of We came to Oregon with a hope of learning and sharing, us must learn, adapt, and refocus depending upon the and we leave with the knowledge that what we take home conditions in which we find ourselves. Our challenge, will benefit not only us, but those we serve. as change agents, is to help transfer what we have Years ago, a favorite college class exposed me to the learned to our clientele. intriguing world of ecology, the study of natural systems. This year, over 1000 agents, family members, and others One of the field trips took us to the top of Fly Peak in the made the journey west to participate in our meetings. Chiricahua Mountains of Southeastern Arizona. At an They made good use of their time by attending elevation of 9,700 feet, it is one of the highest peaks in professional improvement sessions, seminars, the range. Although we were late in the fall semester, workshops, tours, and other special events. They talked we were well ahead of the winter snows, or so we “shop” with colleagues from all over the country. They thought. picked up a new idea here and perhaps one there that As we completed our observations and made ready to would be useful at home. leave, the threatening clouds began to drop heavy snow I join everyone who attended the 94th Annual Meeting of flakes that accumulated quickly. We had driven heavy NACAA in expressing thanks and appreciation to our duty, standard transmission passenger vans over the 2009 AM/PIC chair Sandy Macnab and the great team rough, bumpy trails to arrive. For much of the way there of Oregon agents, life members and volunteers who were steep canyons on one side that fell off quickly to did such a good job hosting us in their beautiful state. streambeds far below. Now we had to go back down We compliment them for a job well done! those same steep trails to get back to the main road. With the snow, we knew that those rocky slopes would I thank the NACAA Committees for their excellent work be slippery. this year. The National Committee Chairs and Vice 1 Chairs, along with committee leadership from individual Communications Coordinator. John has worked long states, worked hard to recognize our members through hours to help make our website more effective in bringing the various awards programs and to bring effective information to our members. He has worked tirelessly professional improvement programs to the AM/PIC. with committee members to place more of our awards Without the committees at the national and state levels, and professional improvement applications online. This we would not be able to accomplish the key missions of has served to speed up the application process and to our organization. I appreciate the hard work of the ease the load on those who are managing the data. I Council Chairs in helping them be successful. specifically want to compliment him for creating an NACAA Facebook that provides members an opportunity The Futuring Committee report has set the areas of for members to communicate on critical issues in a emphasis for our organization. I am pleased to report simple format. Many of our members new to Extension that we have moved the work forward in several key are highly proficient in using technology for areas. communication and it is important for all of us to become engaged. We have worked consistently to build better relationships with JCEP and the organizations that fall This year, we welcomed the attendance of many first under the JCEP umbrella. I call the attention of time participants. We were glad to see them. NACAA members to the excellent work of our Past President needs experienced leaders at every level and as our Fred Miller who served as president of JCEP this year. new members become involved in the workings of our His leadership and insights served JCEP well and in so organization, we will quickly gain the benefit of their doing brought credit to our organization. Thanks, Fred! interests and experience to help us move forward the work of NACAA.