|
|
Cooperative Extension Service |
 |
|
|
|
|
Agricultural
Experiment Station |
|
|
|
|
|
History Division Home |
Cooperative Extension Service
Departments
|
|
|
|
Dr. Ivory W. Lyles |
We are pleased to welcome Martha Ray Sartor, who joined our University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service on September 4 as associate district director for the Delta District. Dr. Sartor comes to us from Mississippi, where she retired in November 2006 as a 4-H youth development specialist.
Dr. Sartor brings to Arkansas a wealth of experience gained in 26 years in the Mississippi State Extension Service. She's very familiar with the dynamics and issues that affect largely rural
states and understands the programming needed to help improve the lives of our clients.
"I'm very excited about coming to Arkansas. Arkansas has always had a great reputation for its extension service," Dr. Sartor said. "I have learned a lot here from our programs in Mississippi, and Arkansas also has very good programs. You can incorporate great ideas from both states and create new programs."
She said her first goal is to get to know her district's agents, specialists, volunteers and programs. Dr. Sartor is already sure of one thing: "I've got a great partner in District Director Quinton Hornsby and the rest of the administrative team."
Dr. Sartor is no stranger to administrative posts. She became a district director in 1997, a position in which she served until 2005, first in Hattiesburg, then in Biloxi. Sartor joined Mississippi State's extension service in 1981 as a 4-H youth agent, serving over the years as a home economist, family financial management specialist and area extension agent.
Dr. Sartor earned her Ph.D. and M.Ed. from the University of Mississippi and her B.S. in home economics education from Mississippi State.
- Ivory W. Lyles
Honorary and Memorial Gifts
The following memorial gifts were recently received in support of programs and funds within the UA Cooperative Extension Service. This list covers gifts deposited July 1-31, 2007.
• Lynn R. Russell Endowed Award for Professional Excellence
In memory of Lynn Russell
Annette T. Fitzgerald
Elizabeth Gorham
Honorary or memorial donations may be forwarded to the Development Office, Cooperative Extension Service, P.O. Box 391, Little Rock, AR 72203. To ensure that proper notification is sent, please also include in whose honor or memory the gift is made and the mailing address of the person to receive the notification.
– Merritt Royal
Extension Excellence Award Winners
The fourth annual Extension Excellence Awards were presented during the annual Extension Employee Luncheon Friday, July 27, in the Donaghey Student Center on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus.
In 2003, Dr. Ivory W. Lyles sought a way to acknowledge the excellent work being done by the people of Extension. The result was the Extension Excellence Awards, which shine a spotlight on the outstanding programs that might otherwise go unrecognized.
"I wanted a forum for recognition on all levels, state and county; team and individuals," said Dr. Lyles. "I also wanted to recognize teamwork, innovation and diversity."
The following are the winners in each category:
Diversity: Arkansas Procurement Assistance Center "Reporting results by socioeconomic category." APAC developed a reporting capability that exceeded what the group was required to report. The new reporting capability now gives APAC the ability to report past as well as current statistical data on client companies receiving contract awards because of the center's assistance.
Issue Team: Herbicide Resistance Management/Wanted: Dead Not Alive. Herbicide resistant weeds continue to be a problem in Arkansas. The team created the "Wanted: Dead Not Alive" program to combat resistant horseweed in northeast Arkansas. More than 1,000 small replicated research plots were established in a three-county area to identify effective control measures. A coordinated educational program then distributed the information during producer meetings, field days and mailouts. Awareness was created by use of portfolios handed out at meetings, "wanted" posters and an audio CD. Radio stations and newspapers used the information on a regular basis. More than 90 percent of the 350,000 acres in the three-county area adopted Extension strategies for horseweed control, with an estimated positive impact of $475 million in the threecounty area.
County Team: Benton County. The staff in the Benton County Extension office is an example of cultural, ethnic and racial diversity. The office also exemplifies diversity in educational programming. The office added an urban storm water program assistant to reach Hispanic children and added the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program to target low-income and Hispanic families in northwest Arkansas. The office hired two paraprofessionals with bilingual skills to reach the Hispanic community. Handouts, brochures, flyers, lessons and recipes have been translated into Spanish in the past year.
Unit Team: 4-H Responsible Environmental Stewardship-Quest (RES-Q). RES-Q has been providing programming about Arkansas' natural resources for 13 years. Students are exposed to the outdoors through academic classes based on a multidisciplinary curriculum. These classes also incorporate the 4-H Life Skills and experiential learning models. Programming includes field trips, a 12-week science program for home-schooled students, six one-week day camps during the summer and various residential camps throughout the year.
Innovation: USAF 4-H Adventure Camps. The United States Air Force approached the University of Arkansas 4-H youth development to host two camps for children of active military personnel. The camps are designed around an adventure theme, which introduces participants to a variety of outdoor educational experiences. The camps allow youth to develop leadership skills. More than 200 youth participate in the camps each year, and more than $400,000 in grants has been brought in to Extension through this project.
Early Career-Agent: MaLinda Coffman. Coffman began working as CEA-FCS in Fulton County four years ago. She has demonstrated a strong work ethic and established a successful county program. She has obtained financial support for Extension programs and has gained community support through her role as staff chair. She is well known in her role as a registered dietician. She has also been recruited both statewide and nationally as a speaker on a number of issues including weight management and diabetes meal planning. Her passion for health and nutrition has been invaluable to residents in Fulton County.
Early Career-Specialist: Stacey McCullough. When Stacey joined the community development department in 2004, she quickly became a leader and motivator. Her high-energy approach to projects made tasks more interesting. Her views seem to be balanced, and she looks at both sides of an issue. While being involved in her many activities, she somehow found time to continue working on her Ph.D.
Early Career-Classified: Kim Wolfe. Since coming to the program and staff development office, Kim has demonstrated a take-charge attitude and work ethic. She has excelled in balancing the workloads of the PSD faculty and provides wonderful service to meet the numerous and varied needs of the department. She has been wonderful in taking the lead and being proactive in taking care of the business of making sure the department runs smoothly.
The Bank of America in Arkansas and its national Foundation makes the Early Career and Innovation Awards possible. Extension shares its sincere gratitude for Bank of America's support.
– Elizabeth Fortune
4-H Day with the Razorbacks Set
Football season is finally here. Celebrate 100 years of Arkansas 4-H and cheer on the Razorbacks October 27, 2007, at the
4-H'ers from across the state will meet in Fayetteville for a fun-filled day and to cheer on the Razorbacks as they face Florida International University during the homecoming game.
Tickets are $35, and the first 1,000 people to purchase tickets will receive a free 4-H Razorback t-shirt. Visit www.kidsarus.org, or contact Sarah Harrison at 501-671-2352/sharrison@uaex.edu for an order form. Ticket orders must be placed by September 25th.
– Elizabeth Fortune
Centennial Celebration Begins in October
The celebration of a century is almost here. The 4-H Centennial Celebration kicks off in October with a series of events around the state.
"Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future" is the theme for the year-long celebration and is reflected in the October events.
The first kick-off event is October 1 in Searcy, home to the first 4-H club, at the White County Medical Center. The program begins at 6 p.m. with several speakers including Dr. Ivory W. Lyles, Dr. Darlene Baker and state 4-H officers and alumni.
Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is the site of the October 2 event for Washington County. The event will include a birthday party with the University of Arkansas Razorback Spirit Squad, games and, of course, cake. Speakers include Dr. Milo Shult and U.S. Rep. John Boozman.
The third kick-off event is October 4 at the Turtle Creek Mall in Jonesboro. The program includes Dr. Darlene Baker and Stacey Qualls, who is a 4-H alumna.
Events in Hope and Hot Springs take place October 8. The Searcy County Extension Complex is the site for the October 9 kick-off in Marshall. The final kick-off event takes place October 11 in the L.A. Davis Ballroom on the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff campus.
For more information about the various kick-off events, contact Sarah Harrison at 501-671-2352, or sharrison@uaex.edu. You may also contact the county office hosting each event.
– Elizabeth Fortune
Arkansas Fathers Count Project
The Marriage, Parenting, and Family Life team has received a grant from the state to provide free fatherhood/parent education training to faith and community leaders statewide. We will hold five regional two-day trainings in September and October.
Those faith and community leaders who participate in this training are eligible to apply for one of twenty-five $10,000 contracts to further their fatherhood/parent education work.
You may know ministers, priests, rabbis or other community leaders who would like to learn more about fatherhood/parent education, receive free parenting resources and have the chance to receive state funds to move their work forward. If so, please let them know about this opportunity.
Detailed information regarding these trainings and how to register can be found on our website at www.arfamilies.org by selecting Arkansas Fathers Count Project. You may also call Melissa Potter at 501-671-2123 or Mona Norris at 501-671-2355 for more information.
Leaders who want to participate must act quickly before the spaces (25 for each training) are gone. Be sure that your community is not left out!
– James Marshall
Saline County 4-H Team Competes in National 4-H WHEP Contest
The Saline County 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program Team traveled to Cedar City, Utah, to compete at the national contest held July 25-29, 2007. Kaitlyn Greb, Jonathan Sloan and Mark Sloan are the Senior team members and are coached by Sharon Sloan and Sharon Greb.
The National 4-H WHEP Contest is an event designed to teach youth about the fundamentals of wildlife management. Although it is a competitive event, its primary function is education. Natural resources management is learned through participation in the contest and the associated field trips and demonstrations. Additional benefits come from the development of leadership capabilities and meeting youth and professionals from other states.
The team did an excellent job and came in 11th place overall.
– Angie Freel
Annie's Project
What is Annie's Project? Annie's Project is a workshop based on the life of a farm woman who grew up in a small town in Northern Illinois. Her goal was to marry a farmer, which she did. Annie spent her lifetime learning how to be an involved business partner with her farm husband. Together they did great things, but it wasn't easy.
Annie's Project is a workshop which takes her experiences and shares them with farm women living and working in a complex business. The project is a comprehensive educational program and support network for farm women. The program is designed to deliver technology training to farm women, enhance their business skills, and develop a support network, which is essential for continuing education and self-help.
The workshop covers critical decision-making and information management on topics such as:
Arkansas Women in Agriculture, in conjunction with University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, will be offering the Annie's Project workshop in Arkansas. The workshop is designed to be a six-session course, and will be conducted in three Arkansas locations. The first workshop is scheduled to begin on Thursday evening, October 25, at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
The course will also be offered at a later date in western Arkansas and in a condensed version in conjunction with the 2008 Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conference. The 2008 Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conference will be held at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock on February 25-26, 2008. Additional information will be available in the Oct/Nov/Dec issue of Financial Partner.
For more information on the upcoming Annie's Project workshop, registration and course fees, contact Carrie Hirmer, Arkansas Women in Agriculture, at arwomeninag@gmail.com or call 501-940-0995.
– Heather Underwood
New Hires and Promotions
The past few months have been busy in the Little Rock State Office as new hires and promotions have been made.
Dr. Anne Sortor recently joined Extension as the assistant director for family and consumer sciences, after serving as regional program leader for the University of Tennessee Extension Service.
The district administration office recently saw some changes as well. Quinton Hornsby transferred to the Delta district director position, and Alberta James was promoted to Ouachita district director. Noah Washburn was hired as the associate director for the Ouachita district after serving as staff chairman of Union County since November 2004. Martha Ray Sartor was recently hired as associate director for the Delta district, after retiring from Mississippi State University in 2006.
– Elizabeth Fortune
Grants and Contracts
| Project Title |
Award Amount |
Principal Investigator |
Granting |
| Family Nutrition Education | $1,127,073.00 | Dr. Rosemary Rodibaugh | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| Polk County Water Quality Improvement Demonstration | $125,069.00 | Carla Vaught | AR Natural Resources Commission |
| FY 2008 Best Care | $190,432.00 | Traci Johnston | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| FY 2008 Best Care Connected | $59,475.00 | Traci Johnston | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| FY 2008 Guiding Children Successfully | $140,093.00 | Dr. Wally Goddard | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| FY 2008 Arkansas 4-H Afterschool | $94,014.00 | Laveta Wills-Hale | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| 2007 Health Rocks! | $35,000.00 | Brian Helms | National 4-H Council |
| Rural Youth Development Grant Engaging Youth, Serving Community | $25,000.00 | Brian Helms | National 4-H Council |
| Cotton Pest Survey | $24,826.00 | Dr. Gus Lorenz | USDA APHIS, PPQ |
| Eating and Moving for Life! A Minority Health Program in Arkansas | $121,408.00 | Easter Tucker | AR Minority Health Comission |
| Arkansas Wind Power Outreach | $20,000.00 | Maureen Rose | Arkansas Energy Office |
| Osage and Spring Creek Water Quality and Ecological Assessment | $354,240.00 | Tom Riley | McGoodwin Williams and Yates, Inc. |
| Implement Plan of Work for the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Profession Development Program | $10,000.00 | Suzanne Hirrel | University of Georgia |
| Tree Posters | $5,001.00 | Dr. Jim Robbins | AR Forestry Commission |
|
Total Awards |
$2,331,631.00 |
|
© 2006 |
|
|
University of Arkansas • Division of Agriculture |
Mission
•
Disclaimer
•
EEO
•
|
Printer Friendly
