Archived Annual Report : Annual Report 2002

2001-2002 Program Highlights

Neighborhood Farm Discussions: 11 meetings from Putnam to White Creek brought farmers together to discuss a variety of topics and share experiences and advice. Pesticide Applicator credits and Certified Crop Advisor credits were offered to those that remained after the Discussion to learn how to scout field crops for pests.

Personal Finance Workshops: 239 individuals and families developed skills in budgeting and paycheck planning, using credit wisely, developing skills in reducing debt and increasing savings, managing finances when income has decreased, developing basic banking skills and improving record keeping skills. CCE partnered with several agencies to sponsor these workshops.

Fundamentals of Farming for Beginners and Part Time Farmers:
35 participants learned about resources available for agricultural enterprises, practical skills and information on topics such as purchasing land, soil types, taxation, and developing a marketing and business plan.

Financial Literacy Conference: "It's All About the Benjamins": This regional train-the-trainer program reached 81 front line workers with financial literacy information and valuable teaching skills to use when working with low to moderate income families. Participants learned innovative ways to increase the financial literacy of a diverse population and an opportunity to network with other professionals working in similar fields.

Home Buyers Club: First time homebuyers work on money management skills , developing a savings plan for a down payment, review their credit report, learn about credit scoring and work at strengthening their credit report. Participants learn about the home buying process, and determine if they are ready for home ownership. The goal is to help communities turn renters into homeowners to the benefit of their families and their neighborhoods.

Milker Training: 25 employees participated in this 10 hour training which provided important information on milk quality, mastitis and its bacterial causes, as well as antibiotic testing, biosecurity and cow health.

Landscape Worker Training: This intensive 5-day course provided training to landscape professionals in all manners of horticultural skills, equipment safety, usage and maintenance, pesticide application and safety, and communication skills. Participants were employed by private business, as well as government.

Cow Assess Program: 18 farmers attended a hands-on, skills-based day of training focusing on early diagnostics with valuable transition cows. The program was targeted to the herdsperson and/or local veterinarians in collaboration with Cornell Pro-Dairy and QMPS Veterinarians.

"When You Work" Program: Teaches limited income families the skills needed to balance work and family needs. The program includes paycheck planning, time management, stress management, and planning quick and easy meals. 69 families received training in balancing work and family responsibilities and learned how to budget their paycheck.

Managing the Evolving Face of Your Work Team: 40 participants discovered and discussed challenges and issues surrounding having a successful multi-cultural workforce both on the job and in the community. Participants discussed the importance of conveying respect and awareness of cultural differences among all members of the team.

Anaerobic Digestion Tour: 16 farmers from Washington and Saratoga Counties toured 3 anaerobic digesters and a Tilapia fish production facility in central N.Y. Digesting manure greatly reduces the amount of manure odor and changes the odor quality to be less objectionable, and provides the potential to generate electricity off methane production.

Heifer Discussion Meetings: 110 Heifer raisers attended 6 different meetings dealing with the following topics: Greenhouse facilities, automatic calf feeding systems, calf care and rumen development, calf clinic, parasitic wasps and a necropsy of rumen development.

Nutrition Education Program: Nutrition Program Educators (NPE's) shared nutrition, food safety issues, money management, and parenting information with 374 limited resource families, individuals and seniors. NPE's taught nutrition and food safety through hands-on activities to 247 youths. Through donated funds thirteen EFNEP youth were able to attend a local 4-H camp.

Labor Regulations: 26 participants learned about issues and regulations facing employers from a Labor Law attorney, and the NYS and Federal Department of Labor. Topics included sexual harassment, overtime, workman's compensation, unemployment insurance, contracts and handbooks. Participants had the opportunity to discuss real life situations and work through possible solutions.

Community Development: Argyle and Cambridge participated in The Search Institute's Asset Building Strategy, highlighting the 40 Developmental Assets, those things that young people need in their lives to grow up healthy and responsible. Cambridge has had two community events, promoting assets in youth,(well over 200 youth, families and individuals attended). Argyle conducted surveys of residents focusing on enhancing their quality of life, and then followed up with a community meeting promoting this initiative.

Power Partner$ Program: Helps NYSEG customers gain control of their energy bills and become more financially independent. Money management techniques are taught through workshops, a monthly newsletter, a budgeting calendar, cash trackers, and energy conservation. The monthly newsletter was mailed to 147 enrolled Power Partner$ customers and 36 families attended the workshops.

Reality Check: RC is a youth led movement designed to empower teens to educate their peers on the marketing tactics of "Big Tobacco". Using a variety of activities, partnerships and delivery methods over 1000 teens in Washington County were reached!

Master Gardener Program: 11 new volunteers completed the training bringing the current number of active MG's to 47. Volunteers answered over 1200 consumer calls. Many volunteers speak to community groups on beautification and gardening topics. MG's sponsored a Plant Sale, manned a booth at the fair, maintained a display garden at the CCE office, assisted with beautification efforts at Mary McClellan Hospital, The Old Fort House, Fort Ticonderoga and the Washington County Fair. MG's taught children about gardening during summer programs in Salem and Argyle and worked with seniors at NEWCO lunch sites throughout the County. MG's also helped with statewide efforts as we hosted the 2002 NE Regional MG Conference this year at Cornell University.

Learning Through Natural Environments: This workshop trained 17 classroom teachers and child care professionals in ways that they can promote science standards. 2 elementary school garden projects were started in the County and several Street Tree Survey projects were conducted by High School students. The Street Tree Survey project will hopefully expand throughout the county.

Commercial Vegetable Program: 40 vegetable farmers attended 4 different local meetings dealing with the following topics: ZIP tunnel season extenders, early sweet corn pest detection, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP - a nationwide program that highlights food safety at the farm level), seeded vs. transplanted pumpkins. Other activities included on-farm research, Farm Stand tour, NYS Vegetable Conference, Farmers Market Programs, and a Lending Library Project.

Parent Programs: "Strengthening Families…One Day at a Time": Approximately 37 parents participated in the parenting skills workshop series.
Dairy Fitting and Trimming Seminar: CCE 4-H hosted a seminar on fitting and trimming of dairy cattle. The focus was to help young dairy exhibitors learn the art of top line creation and utilizing trimming to cover an animal's faults.

Horticulture for Homeowners: 70 residents attended programs in the Gardening at the Library series cosponsored by six public libraries. Staff and volunteer MG's spoke with 17 civic organizations and also sponsored the Spring Garden School.

4-H Program: 64 4-H Clubs with 682 members are supported by 181 Volunteer Leaders. Youth are working on projects that foster life skills including nutrition, finances, citizenship, animal science, safety, and leadership. In addition, youth are involved in school enrichment, and special interest groups which reach additional youth.

Deer Management: CCE assists a grassroots effort in Granville with a Quality Deer Management plan aimed at reducing herd size and improving overall herd health. This QDM group is comprised of nearly 50 landowners and hunters. CCE is a member of the newly formed Venison Donation Coalition for Eastern NY.

Regional Fruit Program: This program supports the nearly half a million dollar fruit industry in the County with programming in the form of industry tours, field meetings, newsletters, field research, winter schools and farm visits.

Pesticide Application Training and Respirator Fit Workshop: CCE provides the training for potential certified applicators and provides ongoing training where applicators can garner required credits toward recertification. Our training is relevant to the agricultural applicator, something that has become more and more difficult to find. This year we trained 22 potential applicators and provided credit for approximately 65 local farmers. 16 farmers were fit for respirators by Agricultural Health Nurses.