Washington State University Extension
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Greetings and Happy February! I hope that everyone is having a great start to 2023 and is making progress on their personal and professional goals/plans for this year. I promised myself that I wouldn’t mention weather in this blurb, but as I hear the “hail” pounding my office window I can’t help but think that the weather can only get better for the last half of February. Right? I am still planning indoor activities until things get better and am looking forward to March. From inside of my office, I am pleased to share with you the February Extension Update newsletter. The newsletter continues to be a work in progress highlighting personnel, activities, and opportunities that cut across the state and Extension. Please send input and ideas to rstratton@wsu.edu.
Last month we highlighted the work that WSU Extension is leading across the state to increase broadband access with the goal of helping residents and communities improve the quality of their life through their ability to access resources. This month we are highlighting the excellent work of WSU Extension’s Cultivating Success Program and their efforts to increase access for Spanish speakers to educational efforts for aspiring agricultural producers on how to start a farm business. Accessibility to programs such as this are critical to WSU Extension efforts reflecting the diversity of our state. I applaud Extension and the Food Systems Program for stepping up to lead this endeavor.
The WSU 2024 budget, particularly a budget reduction mainly linked to continued declines in student enrollment, continues to be the focus of conversations around the university and in Extension. The details of the process are being determined; I will share information as more becomes available about what it means for CAHNRS and Extension. What is known now is that it is a permanent reduction of 6% of the core funds base in each college (Extension is part of CAHNRS) or unit. This is in addition to the 2.5% reduction that we took in the current 2023 year. Tuition increases, even if desired to be used to offset the budget shortfall, can’t be increased to cover the entire shortfall due to state statute. You can find a FAQ sheet along with other 2024 Budget information on the University’s budget website (note that it includes a lot of budget jargon). FY 2024 Budget Development | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY | Washington State University (wsu.edu)
As noted in the last newsletter, the CAHNRS Web Team has developed a new central web directory for the college and Extension. It is now live https://cahnrs.wsu.edu/people-directory/
There is still opportunity to review and change your information (see the tab at the top of the page, for now). Check out the tab on the left-hand side and review the Extension component.
There are many Extension activities occurring across the state and I want to acknowledge the excellent work that we are doing. I want to give a specific shout out this month to the CAHNRS Academic Programs and Extension faculty and staff who were at the Ag Expo last week in Spokane. It is exciting to have such a great team of individuals working together for WSU. Check out the pictures in the newsletter! I also want to highlight the Washington Agribusiness: Status and Outlook publication that is linked below. This is an annual publication prepared by WSU School of Economic Sciences faculty and members of the UW Center for International Trade in Forest Products. This publication provides an overview of Washington’s current and upcoming agricultural activity and is a valuable resource for Extension around the state! I have a few of the printed copies, so reach out to me or Robin Stratton if you want one for your office.
We have set the specific days/times for the March All Extension Virtual Conference. It will be March 1 and 3 (Wednesday and Friday), 8 – noon; and March 2 (Thursday), 1 – 5 pm. We will be sending out a draft agenda later this week, but you can release the other times that we previously had held in your schedule.
Last but not least, I want to welcome new hires and thank those separating during January/February for all that they have contributed to Extension. I wish each of you well in your next endeavor.
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WSU Extension’s Cultivating Success program increases access to agriculture for Spanish speakers
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Washington State University Extension educators are increasing access for Spanish speakers by offering full translation in the Cultivating Success program, which teaches aspiring agricultural producers how to start a farm business.
The course is translated in part by Kate Smith, WSU Skagit County Extension lead coordinator for WSU’s Cultivating Success program.
“In agriculture, we have to recognize the essential role that the Hispanic and Latine community, farmers, and agricultural workers represent,” Smith said. “That’s why we translate each facet of the Cultivating Success course.”
Nationally, Hispanic and Latine people make up 83% of the agricultural workforce, but only 3% own a farm. In Washington state, the majority of the 250,000 agricultural workers who harvest crops identify as Hispanic or Latine.
Smith and colleague Cristina Ocaña Gallegos, food systems agricultural coordinator with WSU Skagit County Extension, translated the course website and support materials. They also translate weekly student emails, polls, surveys, and registration information.
Technological applications do some of the footwork. Participants can listen to the Spanish audio channel in Zoom, which is helpful for the course’s virtual portions. During in-person farm tours and field trips, headset transceivers and receivers interpret in real time.
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“Providing these services allows us to reach a larger audience and include a segment of the population that often has a genuine interest in agriculture but faces multiple barriers to formal education, including language barriers or cultural differences in teaching,” Ocaña Gallegos said.
Translating an English-Spanish course presents some challenges for educators and coordinators.
“It’s important to train course facilitators on the language-interpretation technology so they know what participants will hear,” Smith said. “You have to translate the virtual presentations in advance.”
Despite the challenges, Extension agents’ Spanish-translation efforts have helped participants start farm businesses, connect with resources and other farmers, and access funds or awards granted to diverse agricultural workers.
Smith has seen firsthand how increasing accessibility and decreasing language barriers positively impacts Washington communities. As diverse farm workers become more supported, they are able to increase participation in regional and statewide economies.
“Accessibility is core to Cultivating Success,” she said. “Agriculture should reflect the diversity of our state.
“It’s wonderful to see past participants learn about resource support or access start-up funds or grants that they wouldn’t have otherwise,” Smith added.
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Training Requirements for Principal Investigators (Grants)
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WSU researchers represent many disciplines and utilize a variety of research methodologies. Researchers are guided by numerous federal, state, local, and institutional rules and regulations that require researchers to complete specific trainings to ensure the highest research integrity.
Useful Links:
ORSO – Policies & Guidelines
Guideline 8
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Percipio Training |
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Information |
ITS – Cyber Security Awareness Training |
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Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Prevention – Annual Training |
- Due every year
- Upload certificate to MyResearch
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Extension and CAHNRS at the 2023 Ag Expo
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The Spokane Ag Expo brings the agriculture public community together each year at the Spokane Convention Center. Exhibitors and educational programs at the Spokane Ag Expo come from across the US, with the majority being from the Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. 5,500 to 6000 visitors attend the Expo each year, with appropriately 60% of the attendees being producers from the region.
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This year, for the first time, Extension and CAHNRS established an economy of scale display to enhance the WSU footprint at the show in a premium 25’ x 50’ shared space. It has been a glorious success with large numbers of visitors learning about programs, educational opportunities, and having a chance to visit with CAHNRS and Extension Staff and Faculty. Response from our public has been unanimous and enthusiastic regarding us banding together to create a highly visible presence at the 2023 Ag Expo. Comments range from, “this is great,” to “it is about time WSU showed up in force at the Ag Expo!” The “Meat Science Education in Motion” truck is a definite draw and serves as our primary backdrop. The WSU team at the 2023 Ag Expo includes Extension east-side county and regional staff/faculty, the State 4-H Program and the State 4-H Development Coordinator, CAHNRS Student Success and Academic Programs, CAHNRS Recruitment and Retention, and the Farm Stress and AgrAbility Programs.
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- ANR Seminar: Washington State Naturalist: Building a new statewide certification program, Patricia Townsend, Wednesday, February 15, 11:00am-12:00pm
- February CAHNRS for All Get Together to honor and celebrate Black History Month, Thursday, February 16, 1:00pm
- All Extension Monthly Meeting, February 22, 11:00am-12:00pm
- All Extension Virtual Meeting, March 1-March 3
- March 1, 8am-12pm
- March 2, 1-5 pm
- March 3, 8am-12pm
- Virtual Facilitator Trainings for Guiding Good Choices
- Save the Date! All Extension Conference, Vancouver, WA, June 26-29 (more information to come)
Recent Recorded Events
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New Hires
Esther Carpenter, SNAP-Ed Skagit Coordinator
Alicia Hughes, Pend Oreille Administrative Assistant, CED
Vivian Huynh, SNAP-Ed Pierce County Coordinator
Promotions
Jill Farrant, SNAP-Ed Skagit and Snohomish Coordinator Supervisor
Kaytlynn Galvez, SNAP-Ed Snohomish County Coordinator
Separations
Terry Perry, SNAP-ed CTW Coordinator
Jaime Ruddell, Island Extension Coordinator, 4-H
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