January 19, 2021
Edition Topics


  1. Message from Dr. Silvertooth
  2. Pima County Cooperative Extension January 2021 Newsletter
  3. Native Voices in STEM features Emma Robbins of DigDeep Navajo Water Project 
  4. Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Jan/Feb 2021 Newsletter
  5. 2020 Coconino County Fair Awards
  6. Agriculture in Graham & Greenlee Counties
  7. Pruning Shade Trees: Live Demonstration Webinar
  8. 2020-2021 Promotion Workshop Schedule
  9. Call for Nominations

Message from the Associate Dean and Extension Director

As a science-based educational organization, all of us in the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension System recognize the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing our mission of bringing science to bear on this problem and bringing the university to the people.  We have been challenged in communicating the nature of the pandemic, the importance of complying with basic public health practices in disease mitigation, and now in addressing the resistance among some people to taking the vaccine.

Many people that are resistant to taking the vaccine have concerns that are understandable.  The COVID-19 vaccines have gone through phases 1, 2, and 3 of testing very rapidly.  However, these vaccines came through on an emergency-use authorization and there are some concerns or fears that there may be negative side effects.  We know that fear can be a powerful emotion.  Fear can get embedded in our minds and then chew away at our confidence as we consider the unknown.  In that process, we can envision all kinds of “what if” scenarios.  Fear can paralyze us from making good rational decisions that can help us, perhaps even save our lives.

We must remember that in science and medicine we cannot make decisions based on emotions and fear.  In the case of the COVID-19 vaccines, we know that the disease can be deadly, the risk of infection is high, and that the vaccine will save lives.  When we look at the evidence, the vaccines have been tested and evaluated appropriately for public use.  We need to base our decisions on science-based facts and evidence and not what we hear from friends or read from an unsubstantiated source or anecdotal evidence.

We also know that our health care systems are being challenged and pressed relentlessly with this pandemic.  It is imperative that we each do our part to help reduce the impacts of this pandemic and try to help restore our communities.

Cooperative Extension has an important role in this process, and we need to be working with people in Arizona communities to help them access good sources of information to make good decisions based on the science, evidence, and facts.

All CES units and county operations will continue to manage in Phase 0 conditions.
https://extension.arizona.edu/phased-operational-plan
 

Pima County Cooperative Extension January 2021 Newsletter

UArizona Pima County Cooperative Extension has released our January 2021 e-newsletter, The Round-Up. With 2021 marking our centennial as an Extension office, our January issue includes a story about our origins, including some interesting facts about our work in the 1970s as we educated people about how to cook with food supplied through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. We will be featuring stories about the early days throughout the year and hope you will Sign up for The Round-Up.

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Native Voices in STEM features Emma Robbins of DigDeep Navajo Water Project


Wednesday, January 20 @ 3:00-4:00 MST

Join: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/667862706


Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Jan/Feb 2021 Newsletter


See what is new in Project CENTRL, Discovery 4-H Garden, Turfgrass Science Extension Program, The Diabetes Prevention Program and MORE.

2020 Coconino County Fair Awards

In March 2020 the public-health risks of COVID-19 caused everyone to reassess our programming. UACE 4-H Youth Development professionals provided leadership to County Fair Boards on how to establish great educational opportunities and ensure youth had a way to market their livestock projects.  In Coconino County, Josh Farella, a new 4-H Assistant in Extension worked tirelessly with the NAJLA (Northern Arizona Junior Livestock Association) and the Coconino County Fair Board to bring a virtual livestock show and sale to life. Behind the scenes countless 4-H volunteers established appropriate protocols and supported implementation. All of this hard work was recognized by The International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) earning Coconino County Fair the First Place in “Innovative Ways Technology was used Within Agriculture.” And, the Western Fairs Association awarded Coconino County Fair with First place and Judge’s Choice at the Association Achievement Award Program. 

Agriculture in Graham & Greenlee Counties

Ashley K. Bickel, Dari Duval, George Frisvold

https://economics.arizona.edu/agriculture-graham-and-greenlee-counties

This study provides a summary of current agricultural production in Graham and Greenlee counties in 2017, and conducts economic contribution analyses for each county to characterize and quantify economic activity attributable to agriculture. These economic contributions include the direct contributions of agriculture, such as sales of crops and livestock products and employment in agricultural industries, as well as the contributions supported through indirect and induced multiplier effects. Finally, the study estimates reductions in crop acreage, on-farm sales, and economics impacts due to hypothetical reductions in irrigation water supplies for the Graham and Greenlee county economies.


Pruning Shade Trees: Live Demonstration Webinar

January 21, 2021 11:00am to 12:00pm 

Featured Speaker: Jan Groth is the Master Gardener Instructor and Coordinator for Cochise County Cooperative Extension at UArizona Sierra Vista. She is known as one of the most passionate plant lovers in her area. Jan is also the curator for the Discovery Gardens at UA Sierra Vista, which is Cochise County's first educational botanical demonstration garden which opened to the public in October, 2017.

Webinar Overview: Winter is the perfect time to prune a tree in Arizona: The tree is dormant so sap flow is minimal and the tree can safely respond to pruning cuts before bud break in the spring. Jan Groth will demonstrate best practices for pruning a young ornamental shade tree. She will discuss how to: make a proper pruning cut; select which branches to cut; remove larger branches; which tools to use, safety concerns and more. This webinar is perfect for first timers, new residents and anyone who wants to be confident they are planting the right way. Be sure to stick around for the Q&A!

Facilitator: Chris Jones, Extension Agent, University of Arizona Gila County Cooperative Extension

Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/87034984436 Please log in up to 10 minutes prior to the webinar.
Cost: Free
Registration: Not required

Please visit the Garden and Country webpage
 

2020-2021 Promotion Workshop Schedule
All workshops will be recorded. Links to recordings will be posted here shortly after the workshop date.

Using Portfolios that Document Impact, Innovation, and Leadership Friday, January 22, 2021, 8:30-9:50 am. Register here before January 20, 2021.

The University’s Inclusive View of Scholarship recognizes the integral relations among research, teaching, service, and outreach.  To enable candidates to document their broader contributions, promotion dossiers include teaching portfolios, protocols for classroom observations, and an optional service and outreach portfolio, which candidates can use to document their broader leadership. In this workshop, we will also note our support for preparing teaching portfolios and answer questions related to the recent changes with student evaluations.



Call for Nominations

Each year we recognize our faculty, staff and strong contributors to Cooperative Extension with the Extension Faculty of the Year Award, the Outstanding Staff in Cooperative Extension Award, and the Extensionist of the Year Award. 

The Cooperative Extension Faculty of the Year award recipient will receive $1,000 and an award.  Click here for Extension Faculty of the Year Award criteria and nomination instructions. Submission deadline – February 15, 2021

The Outstanding Staff in Cooperative Extension award recipient will receive $500 and an award.  Click here for award nomination criteria
Submission deadline – February 15, 2021

The Extensionist of the Year award recognizes and honors a resident of the State of Arizona who has demonstrated extraordinary contributions, through UACE, to improving the lives of people in their community and state.  The award will be presented at an appropriate division-wide event.  Letters of nomination from UACE or non-UACE faculty and staff and/or peers should focus on the following criteria:  1) the nature and extent of the contribution provided by the individual (35%), 2) how this contribution has benefitted people in the community (15%) and the state (15%), 3) leadership qualities (25%), and 4) support for UACE (10%).
Submission deadline – February 15, 2021

All awards will be presented at an appropriate Extension or ALVSCE event.  Please read the criteria carefully, submitting only the materials noted.  Submit your nominations and support letters c/o Kristie Gallardo, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, PO Box 210036, Tucson, AZ, 85721 or gallardk@arizona.edu.  If you have any questions, contact Kristie (520-621-7145).

TMN Submittal Process

Please submit your news by 4:00pm Monday to TMN [tmn@cals.arizona.edu].

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