Archived Annual Report : Annual Report 2000

Annual Report 2000

ANNUAL REPORT  1999 - 2000

"Helping You Put Knowledge to Work"

HIGHLIGHTS

65  4-H Clubs 29  Satellite Programs 681  4-H Youth Involved in Clubs 343  4-H Adult Volunteer Leaders 427  Youth involved in 4-H/EFNEP Groups 5,857  Total Youth Reached 1,023  Ag Workshop Participants 1,079  Farm Visits/One-to-One Ag Related Contacts 1,530  Home Horticulture/Master Gardener Contacts 427  Families reached through Nutrition Education Program 571  Families received Consumer and Money Management Information

Randy Getty, President,  Robert Wright, Vice-President

Elaine Sweenor, Secretary,  George Allen, Treasurer

Mark Anderson, Marge Randles, Roger Ellis

Supervisor Representatives

Bruce Ferguson, Jock Williamson, Merrilyn Pulver

Extension Representatives

Steve Lane, Dan Wilson, Gordon Searles, Mike Gillis, Linda Southworth, Donna Anderson, Butch Gilchrest

4-H & Family Living Program Committee

Walter Sutliff, Dave Perry, David Holck, Ellen Fullerton, Sylvia Weaver, Julia Reynolds, Karen Sheldon, Gerald Chamberlain, Claire Strohmeyer, Nancy Flint-Budde

These are the staff who carryout the programming.  Their main areas of focus are Agriculture; and Family and Youth Development.

Executive Director- Madeline Pennington

Agriculture- Sandra Buxton, Aaron Gabriel, Susan Greth, Laura McDermott

 4-H & Family Living- David Shippee, Eileen Ciance, Fannie Glover, Chrys Nestle

Nutrition Education Program- Linda Steves, Darlene Hume, Elizabeth Lopez, Marie Monty

Support Staff- Bonny Smith, Connie Havens,  Deborah Henley, Barbara Lapan, Linda Nicholson, Donna Schiavoni

Are You a Preferred Employer? Over 60 ag related businesses looked beyond their current business to explore how to be a better employer and how to raise their reputation as an employer in the community as a way of competing in the labor market and having an effective workforce. The guest speakers covered a number of topics ranging from how to improve communication skills, to ways to incorporate Hispanic workers into the community.

Eye-opening ideas on communication – will greatly help on our dairy.-Attendee

Ag Worker Certification Program Grants - Three grants were obtained to run several worker training classes. There were 2 Dairy Feed Manager's classes that involved 55 people in learning skills related to feeding the milking herd. The majority of the students had very little prior exposure to feed management. The Horticulture Worker Training provided 21 participants with 30 hours of training in a variety of topics related to soil health, growing techniques and communication. The grants enabled the students to receive tools and supplies designed to assist them to better use their new knowledge.

Emergency Crop Meeting – This meeting was a regional effort to address the current concerns with the cool, wet weather and its effect on corn planting and haylage harvesting. Options were presented for 50 dairy producers and agri-service to deal with immature corn and poor quality haylage. A meeting was held in November to address feeding these poor quality forages without decreasing their current level of milk production.

Plant Disease Diagnostic Workshop - 55 Commercial Horticulture and Vegetable Producers participated in the tri-county workshop. The hands-on format provided growers with the opportunity to practice diagnostics that they could use in the field, nursery, or greenhouse during the growing season.

Robotic Milkers Tour – A total of 45 dairy producers traveled to Canada to view three operations using robotic-milkers. This technology is not yet available to the U.S., but if approved could greatly help the labor situation for dairy producers, especially small family operations. The robot automatically milks the cows throughout the day while the farmer concentrates on other responsibilities.

Water Trial – Data was collected on 5 area farms to study the benefits of adding water directly to the diet of dairy cows. Local producers have found an increase in milk production with this practice and improved cow health. This research was presented at an agri-service meeting for producers and the experience of one Salem, NY farm was featured in a national magazine.

AIDER - Washington County has been involved in the implementation of the Agricultural Industry Development, Enhancement and Retention (AIDER) program this year. As a result of AIDER, an Ag Economic Development Position was developed and funded; three Ag Worker Certification programs were held; and the Sales and Marketing team put together a brochure identifying retail agricultural operations in the County.

Developing plan for small scale food processing venture on my farm.- Ag Conference Attendee

Vegetable Field Meetings - 60 Vegetable farmers attended 4 different meetings during the growing season that dealt with the following topics: Deep Tillage Equipment, Staked Tomato Production, Insect Resistant Pumpkin and Squash Varieties, and the Use of Cover Crops in Vegetable Production.

Pro Dairy Nutrient Management Workshop - Over 30 people participated in this workshop which focused on farms in the White Creek watershed, a priority watershed. Local and outside speakers discussed innovative ways to manage manure in the field to reduce costs, pollution, and odors.

Ag Impact Tour - 90 local and state decision makers attended the 2000 Ag Impact Tour. These individuals traveled to four Washington County farms and became more aware of the issues and challenges facing the farm sector. CCE is one of the organizations represented on the Wash. Co. Ag Impact Tour Committee.

Master Gardener Program - This year, 7 new M.G.'s completed the training bringing the current number of active M. G. Volunteers to 46. They assisted in answering over 1000 consumer horticulture calls annually and continue their education by attending seminars at Cornell University and at regional conferences, as well as during their monthly meetings. Gardeners maintain the Display Garden in front of the County Annex, which has been used as a backdrop for garden programming. 5 public libraries in the County hosted garden seminars attended by 45 people. This outreach effort is coupled with the 21 garden clubs and civic organizations that hosted staff and M.G.'s as speakers through the Speakers Bureau.

Regional Fruit Program - This program supports the $450,610 fruit industry in Wash. Co. with regular programming including industry tours, field meetings, newsletters, field research, winter schools, and farm visits.

Washington County Ag Report - This weekly report during the growing season continues to get great reviews. Farmers comment that they are using less pesticides, using the weather and market price information, and have better crops and livestock by reading the "Ag Report". One Bed and Breakfast commented that their guests like to read it to learn about agriculture in the region.

Wealth of information that has increased yield, and decreased labor intensity and pesticide use.- Ag Report Enrollee

"When You Work" Program - teaches limited income working families the skills needed to balance work and family needs. Bringing home a paycheck is the first step toward self-sufficiency. Other crucial steps to success include managing money, food, time, meeting children's needs and being an effective problem solver. This program is provided in partnership with the DSS.

Home Buyers Club - is an economic education program that moves participants towards the goal of developing personal assets that may result in home ownership. Renters are provided information about the process of buying a home, preparing for homeownership, and meeting the responsibilities as a homeowner. The goal is to help communities turn renters into homeowners to the benefit of their families and their neighborhoods. 25 families are registered for the first Home Buyers Club, with a waiting list of 35 people for the January 2001 session.

Power Partner Program - Combines the resources of CCE and N.Y.S. Electric and Gas to help customers gain control of their energy bills and become more financially independent. To qualify, customers must be income eligible and have an account with the company. CCE educators provide the financial education components of the program which include self-study financial management program materials, a budgeting calendar, and 18 issues of a Power Partner Newsletter that offers budgeting information along with money saving tips. In addition, a community based budgeting workshop is offered monthly in the Granville area. Currently 129 people are enrolled in the program.

I have a whole new attitude and can see daylight. It’s been a life saver.-Participant

Advancing Youth Development - This is a youth development program designed to assist youth workers in strengthening the positive skills of youth, rather than focusing on the negative behavior and to improve communication skills in reaching today’s youth. 6 facilitators have already been trained and have provided the 28-hour training program to approximately 20 youth workers from schools, agencies, community leaders, and law enforcement. Currently training 5 new facilitators and providing the 28-hour training program to 15 additional youth workers from Washington County.

Parenting Programs - "Strengthening Families…One Day at a Time", approximately 50 parents participated in this parenting skills program (75% are court-mandated). A new program "Parents Apart", a divorce and separation program designed to assist those parents in meeting the needs of their children will begin Spring 2001.

Washington County Fair - The Fair provides a wonderful opportunity to learn standards of quality and teamwork. Hundreds of youth and adults participate in activities that range from exhibiting animals and artwork to food preparation and giving blue ribbon presentations. Approximately 1500 youth experienced Ag on the Farm in the 2000 Extension Exhibit.

4-H Program - Currently there are 65 4-H Clubs with 681 members being supported by 343 Volunteer Leaders. These youth are working on projects that foster life skills ranging from nutrition, finances, and citizenship to animal science, safety, and leadership. In addition, youth are involved in school enrichment, and special interest, which reached another 5,911 young people in Washington County.

4-H has taken our son from a shy withdrawn individual to someone with high self-esteem and confidence. And it was his 4-H experience that made the difference.- 4-H Parent

Safe Night - This was a party planned by youth and adults with time in the middle to learn how to deal with some of the current issues facing youth. The rules of the evening were no weapons, no alcohol or drugs, and no arguments. Over 150 teenagers abided by these rules at Safe Night 2000, which was held in March at the Glens Falls Armory. This event was sponsored with the help of the Council for Prevention, the National Guard, and numerous other partners.

Nutrition Education Program - Nutrition Education Program Assistants (NPA’s) shared nutrition, food safety, money management and parenting information with 447 limited resource families, individuals and seniors. They assisted them with the development of decision making skills to manage their Temporary Assistance, Women Infants and Children (WIC) checks, Food Stamps, Social Security, and earned income. NPA's taught nutrition thriugh hands on activities to 427 youth in homes, summer recreation programs, after-school programs, and a Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program Day Camp. Nine EFNEP 4-H youth were able to attend camp through donated funds.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension educational system enables people to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience and research knowledge to work.