Extension Symposium: Workshop Descriptions
Incentive-based Programs for Florida Landowners
Extension faculty will receive knowledge, tools and experiences necessary to educate Florida’s citizens (particularly forest, farm and range landowners and managers) on state and federal landowner incentive programs that provide technical and financial assistance for private land management. These programs not only provide benefits to wildlife and natural resources, but also benefits agricultural and forest production. Speakers will include UF IFAS faculty as well as representatives from such agencies as U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Coordinator: Bill Giuliano
Whether You Like It or Not! Tools for Success in the BMP Era
This session addresses relevant issues regarding nutrient and water management facing Florida producers and educators. New information from county and state faculty, agency representatives and producers will direct educators to valuable information resources, provide problem-solving tools and present success stories as examples of how to meet the production challenges of our dynamic agricultural industry while conserving our natural resources.
Presenters: B. Boman, T. Obreza, M. Bauer, C. Hutchinson, P. Hogue, C. Stanley, P. Minogue, T. Yeager, P. Stofella, E. Simonne, C. Mackowiak, D. Graetz, J. Williamson, P. Anderson, and D. Treadwell.
Small Ruminant Alternatives and Production Management
To train agents on the growing small ruminant industry including but not limited to goats and sheep. Specific objectives include learning about the industry, trends, marketing and budgets, health issues, and management strategies.
Contacts: Nola Wilson and Bob Hochmuth
Speakers: Ray Mobley and Angela Jake
Regulations, Procedures, Certification, and Recertification Processes for Pesticide Applicators
Extension agents who have pesticide education responsibility will be updated with the latest issues regarding Florida and Federal pesticide regulations and how they impact educational programming. A program overview of the responsibilities overseen by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) will be provided, including program updates from the Bureaus of Compliance Monitoring and Entomology and Pest Control. Compliance issues, particularly with the Federal Worker Protection Standard, will be discussed. EPA’s long-awaited Endangered Species Program as related to pesticide use will be presented by FDACS who is responsible for its enforcement. A section of the agenda will be devoted for spotlighting creative educational programming ideas led by several extension agents. The final portion of the ISE will be an opportunity for group discussion regarding programming needs and how the UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office may be of assistance.
Presenters: Fred Fishel (UF), Debbie Broadstreet (FDACS), Dale Dubberly (FDACS), Max Feken (FDACS), Kathleen Osgood (FDACS), Mike Page (FDACS) Cesar Asuaje, Laura Powell, and Nate Whidden
Organic Myths vs. Realities: What Consumers Need to Know
Sales of certified organic food were $13.8 billion in 2005; 2.48% of total U.S. food sales. Despite the support for organic products, many consumers and educators are unaware of the true definition of organic and may purchase organic products for reasons that are not scientifically supported. Furthermore, due to the variety of organic label presentation on packaged foods, it can be difficult for consumers to differentiate among products that are 100% certified organic, made with organic ingredients, or not certified organic at all. This interactive session serves to provide the information and tools necessary for faculty to educate consumers on the nutrient content, food safety (including hormones, chemical residues and human pathogens), product label laws, and general production regulations of certified organic food.
Presenters: D. Treadwell, M. Swisher, L. Bobroff, and A. Simonne
Biotechnology: What Does It Mean for Floridians?
The following topics will covered in this session: What is biotechnology? What is genetic engineering? What are GMOs? What types of GMOs are used today? U.S. and International trends? Tools and Methods? Applications? The debate.
Contacts: Tim Momol and Jane Polsten
Speakers: Fred Purlak, Kevin Fulton, Curt Hannah, David Clark, B. Rathinasabapathy, Jane Polston, Jeff Jones, John Davis, and Anita Wright
Matching Forage Resources to Animal Requirements
Beef cattle production in Florida is based upon the utilization of forages. The forages available to cattle are a dynamic source of nutrients. The combination of changing forage quantity and quality coupled with changing cattle nutrient requirements present a challenging environment for Florida’s beef cattle enterprises. This session will discuss cattle nutrient requirements and meeting those requirements, along with management considerations for the optimal use of storage forages and pasture forage resources.
Presenters: Matt Hersom, John Arthington, Ike Ezenwa, and Gbola Adesogan
How to Use Climate Forecasts to Reduce Risks in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management
To train faculty on how to use climate forecasting to assist producers and other natural resource managers. Specific objectives include an introduction to climate variability and climate forecasting, applications of climate forecasting to agriculture (drought, plant diseases, crop yield), marine coastal applications and a session on 4-H projects for youth development. It will also include a hands-on introduction to AgClimate, a web-based climate information system available for the Southeast US.
Speakers: David Zierden, John Jackson, Natalia Peres, Michael Spranger, Keith Ingram, and Clyde Fraisse
Fertilizers and Recommendations for the Lawn and Landscape
Provide county faculty with background information; results from research; and current recommendations on the types, analyses, and formulations of fertilizers available for turf and ornamental use in the landscape.
Presenters: Laurie Trenholm, Mike Thomas, Jerry Sartain, and Tim Broschat.
Management, Uses, and Ecological Roles of Aquatic Systems
Extension faculty will receive training and materials related to aquatic and semi-aquatic plants. Topics covered will include: 1) identification and ecological roles, including habitat for native flora and fauna; (2) weed management in private recreational ponds and stormwater basins; (3) symbiotic biofilters for nutrient pollution abatement in agricultural basins; and (4) revegetation and restoration of wetland habitats.
Coordinators/Instructors: Ken Langeland, Jyotsna Sharma, and Carrie Reinhardt Adams
Urban Irrigation Control for Water Conservation
Extension agents will receive fundamentals on irrigation scheduling and information on sensor technologies (commercial products) available for direct control of irrigation in the residential and commercial landscape. Performance reviews will be provided on products tested to date that include soil moisture sensors, rain sensors and evapotranspiraton (ET) controllers, as well as future directions for sensor/climate based irrigation controls in Florida. Primarily targeted faculty are horticultural and FYN agents.
Coordinator: Michael Dukes
Land Use and Coastal Eutrophication: Developing a Programmatic Approach
Population growth and associated land use practices throughout Florida have the potential to increase nutrient loading on coastal areas and contribute to detrimental eutrophication. UF IFAS has multiple efforts addressing segments of this complex problem. This session will provide information on key issues surrounding coastal eutrophication, discuss existing efforts to address these issues, identify potential synergies among extension faculty, and identify key gaps and initiate efforts to fill them.
Coordinator: Chuck Jacoby
The Research Base of Youth Development Programs
Drawing on the fields of youth development, curriculum design, volunteerism, diversity, partnerships, and organizational systems, 4-H must constantly stay current with research. Learn about current research efforts and the principles of youth development used as the basis for the 4-H program.
The ABCs of Entomology for Youth Audiences
The study of insects is a great way to engage young people in science. Learn about new curriculum and delivery methods in this hands-on seminar.
Planning and Evaluating the 4-H Public Speaking Program
Teaching public speaking as a fundamental part of the 4-H program because it creates a forum for youth to find their public voice. Utilize new teaching tools and examine new evaluation tools that can be easily used by clubs, schools, and camps to increase youth mastery.
4-H Shooting Sports: Planning and Implementing a Comprehensive Program in Your County
The intent of this session is to familiarize county faculty and county directors with the 4-H Shooting Sports Program at the State and National levels. This session will review training opportunities (both State and National), manuals distributed to volunteers (including discipline specific materials), guidelines for program implementation, grant opportunities for counties, program management, and State events
Building Lasting Healthy Lifestyle Programs for Youth
Helping youth and adults intentionally choose a healthy lifestyle is a challenge and an opportunity. Learn about effective approaches to youth/adult partnerships and how you can implement healthy choices forum and fairs in your communities. Learn how to partner with your Department of Public Health as you talk with Florida Department of Health staff.
Creating High Impact Programs Utilizing the Developmental Needs of Youth
In this workshop, you will have practical, hands-on experiences to become better able to plan, implement or evaluate youth programs for K-12 audiences. Understanding ages and stages of youth--based on specific developmental needs (social, emotional, physical, and cognitive)--is key in facilitating youth learning and managing and understanding youth behavior and social interactions.
Basic Essentials of Volunteer Development for Extension Programs
The purpose of the in-service is to review the depth and breadth of human capital available to the Florida Extension program through volunteer partners. Participants will gain knowledge and skills to recruit, select, train, and involve volunteer partners in expanded management roles in Extension programs.
Health Issues and Aging: Extension and Pharmacy Partners in Community Based Education and Prevention
The purpose of this session is to help educators to: (1) identify and understand key health issues specifically related to aging; and (2) establish local networks, particularly with local pharmacists with which to partner in the dimension of educational programs.
Presenter: Carolyn Wilken
Building Quality Child Care in Florida
The purpose of this session is to strengthen the ability of county faculty to provide high quality educational programs to child care providers. Programs implemented as a result of this training will result in improved child care for Florida's children and families through Child Development Associates (CDA) credentialing, state re-certification, and state requirements for annual in-service training.
Presenter: Heidi Radunovich
Retirement Planning
The purpose of this session is to provide updated information and develop strategies that will enable individuals and families to achieve financial security in later life. Other topics include Investment counselors, insurance resources, and Social Security.
Presenter: Jo Turner
Becoming Captain of Your Financial Ship
The purpose of this session is to introduce faculty to the "Becoming Captain of Your Financial Ship" program. Emphasis will be on establishing a spending plan, making ends meet, credit, savings, and financial literacy.
Presenters: Jo Turner, Laura Royer, Elaine Courtney, Brenda Williams, Lisa Leslie, and Anita McKinney
International Extension: Approaches
A Thailand Experience. In an increasingly globalized world, the International Approaches to Extension: Thailand Experience Session will provide both county and state faculty with opportunities to gain insights and strategies learned during the international trip. While participants and organizer of the Thailand trip will share their experiences, other speakers representing administrators will address the larger issues of why an international agenda is appropriate and necessary for the future of the IFAS Extension.
Presenters: Amy Simonne, David Sammons, Steve A. Sargent, Pete Vergot III, Nick T. Place, Rita Law-McCumber, Celia B. Hill, and Donna Peacock
Osteoporosis: A Critical Issue in Women's Health
Osteoporosis is a disease of older persons that begins to develop in childhood. This session presents current knowledge related to development and maintenance of strong bones in young people and adults, and prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, a leading cause of disability among older adults. We also will examine educational materials targeted to both children and adults, including a visit from Calci M. Bone, one of the "OrganWise Guys."
Presenter: Linda Bobroff
You Might Be A Community Developer / Local Economy / Community Issues
This is a "hands-on" in-service that will identify Web sites, describe the data available from these sites, and show how that data can be used in education and program development. Participants will also work in teams to analyze and interpret county-level data and make brief presentations on their findings and analysis.
Organizing Local Citizens for Effective Community Development
The purpose of this program, Organizing Local Citizens for Effective Community Development, is to prepare county faculty to work effectively with community organizations, residents coalitions, and nonprofit organizations that enhance local decision-making and community development.
Presenter: Mark Brennan
Managing Conflict
The purpose of this session is to provide Extension faculty with the knowledge and skills they need to: (1) identify the six major components of conflict; (2) be able to use facilitation techniques to help conflicting parties move to issue-based discussion; (3) identify the five conflict resolution styles; (4) know the strengths and weaknesses of each conflist resolution style; (5) understand their own strengths and weaknesses as a facilitator in conflictive settings; and (6) be able to apply facilitation skills to reduce conflict and its impacts.
Presenter: Mickie Swisher
Grant Writing
The purpose of this session is to provide Extension faculty with an understanding of eight key factors that donors commonly use to evaluate proposals and how to learn about grant opportunities. The method for this training will involve interactive exercises in which participants develop an understanding of each of the eight key factors.
Presenter: Mickie Swisher
Understanding the Local Economy
The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of how a local economy operates, ways that communities can "grow" jobs locally, how to assess a community's capacity to undertake economic development activities, and the role for Extension in this process.
Presenters: David Mulkey
Assisting Small Business / Entrepreneurship / Home Based Business
The purpose of this session is to introduce the "Ca$hing in on Business Opportunities: A Guide to Building a Home-Based and Micro Business" training program. This program will highlight the program’s four major chapters providing information for agents on how to help their clientele spot business opportunities among scams; decide on a distribution channel; recruit, train, and motivate employees; and search for capital.
Agricultural Labor Law, Farm Worker Demographics, and Immigration Reform
Training will highlight the agricultural labor laws of particular importance to Florida's agricultural employers, describe trends in farm worker demographics and labor markets and how they have influenced the debate on immigration reform, and present proposals for immigration reform and their impact on Florida.
Contact: Fritz Roka
Land Use Planning 101
Florida’s rapid and continuing growth in population and economic activity generates increasing pressure on both the public infrastructure and natural environment of the state. This session will provide the basics of land use planning, definitions of growth management and "smart growth," Florida growth management laws, and various land use management tools. Discussions will also center on the role of extension faculty and the development of effective citizen participation in the land use management and planning process.
Coordinators/Instructors: Burl Long, Roy Carriker, David Mulkey, Marta Hartmann, Jon Dain, and Bruce Delaney
County Statistics: What They Mean for You
Statistical data on many areas of local concern are published by local, state and federal government agencies. This in-service will identify the most commonly used data sources at each of these levels and the types of information contained in the various reports.
Presenters: Hank Cothran, Rod Clouser, and Bo Beaulieu
Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses: Avian Flu, West Nile, and Other Diseases: How Do You Answer Those Pesky Questions?
To inform and educate county faculty so that they can answer questions from their clientele including concerns about risks, modes of transmission, and protection and prevention. The agenda will be divided into three sections: food-borne, arthropod-borne, and animal-borne diseases.
Contacts: Roxanne Rutledge Connelly and Paul Gibbs
County Extension Director and UF/IFAS Administrator Training
Topic 1: "All You Ever Wanted to Know About Being a 501(c)3." The University of Florida is a 501(c)3 with regard to state and federal tax status, but what does all that mean, and how can you take advantage of it? Learn all about the pros and cons of using the 501(c)3 status with regard to donations, purchasing and state and federal tax exemptions.
Topic 2: "How to Manage Work-related Checking Accounts." State and county faculty often have the priviledge of managing off-campus checking accounts for their programmatic efforts. Learn the dos and the don'ts with checking accounts and how to withstand an outside or county audit.
Speaker: Christine Kelly-Begazo
(HOT) Hands On Training: How Extension Agents and Specialists can Create and Use Podcasts for Program Delivery
To raise the awareness and enhance the skill level of Extension Agents and Specialists regarding the creation and use of podcasts, and to expand the use of the Solutions for Your Life Web delivery system.
Speakers: David Palmer, Juanita Popenoe, and Al Wysocki
Taming Your Computer Gremlins
This class will help you organize your folders and desktop for maximum efficiency, use Outlook like a pro, and provide many other tips to make your computer work for you rather than the other way around.
Presenters: Juanita Popenoe and Chris Fooshee
Using WebCT Vista and Associated Technologies
Learn how to use the standard and not-so-standard tools of WebCT Vista. As a special bonus, we will discuss associated programs such as Respondus, Study Mate, and Articulate, which will help you get the most out of Vista as a course production, delivery, and management platform.
Presenters: Narasi Ramachandran of UF Academic Technology e-Learning Support Services; and Ron Thomas and Aaron Sotala of IFAS Communication Services.
EDIS 2008
Discover new and emerging possibilities for creating, publishing, accessing and delivering your extension content. Familiarize yourself with the people, policies, and technologies behind the publication process. Become informed on technology trends that could affect the way we serve our clients.
Presenters: Diana Hagan, Darryl Palmer, Joyce Dolbier, Carol Church, Susan Gildersleeve, and Glinda Burnett
Extension Writing In the 21st Century: Reaching Your Audience (Including Newsletters)
Extension writing requires researchers, scholars, and educators to step out of their normal comfort zones to reach increasingly diverse audiences. This presentation will examine how writers can integrate strong content with effective writing techniques. It will focus on the best practices and common pitfalls of various Extension formats, layout, style, consistency, word usage, and sentence and paragraph structure.
Presenters: Susan Gildersleeve, Darryl Palmer, Nicole Sloan, and Sarah Graddy
Building a Virtual Field Day
Thinking about having your field day be a part of the UF/IFAS Virtual Field Day Web site? This session will give you an idea of just what it takes to put it all together. Presented by IFAS Communication Services, the session will showcase tips on how to get prepared, give you a look at the tools that are available to transfer your field day to the Web, and feature speakers sharing their experiences in the creation of the existing virtual field days.
Presenters: Al Williamson, Robert Hochmuth, Rafa Munoz-Carpena, and Micheal Dukes
Digital Photography: How to Get the Most Out of Your Digital
This workshop will provide basic terms, types of cameras, and techniques of digital photography. Participants will also learn the best approach to getting the best possible results with their digital images, in publications such as newsletters, powerpoint presentations, displays, newspapers, and magazines.
Presenters: Tom Wright and Tracy Zwillinger
Beyond Lectures: Creative Strategies for Teaching Adults
Learn how to move beyond passive learning to active learning. This session will provide practical and concrete ideas for teaching and training adults as well as help Extension faculty at all levels and in all fields who work with adults create environments that promote learning and willingness to change behaviors.
Presenters: Doreen Ross, College of Education; and Shannon Washburn, Ag Education and Communication.
We also plan to have a panel of Extension agents: Jane Morse, Natural Resources, Pinellas County; and Brenda Marty-Jimenez, Family and Consumer Sciences, Broward County.
Mitigation Measures To Minimize Windstorm/Hurricane Damage To Your Home: What You Need to Know
Educators will increase their knowledge of windstorm mitigation tools and methods to incorporate this information into educational programs for various clientele groups. Demonstration toolkits (up to 25) are available to county faculty planning to incorporate windstorm mitigation strategies in their programming within the next calendar year. Participants in this workshop are expected to attend a one-hour see and touch “workshop,” to be held on Tuesday evening, May 8th, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at a location near the hotel. The intent is to become more familiar with construction terminology and methods. The Tuesday workshop is open ONLY to those individuals registered for this session. More info will be sent to registrants.
Coordinators/Instructors: Kathleen Ruppert, Anita Neal, Craig Miller, Karla Lenfesky, George Rogers, Wendell Porter, and Jeff Michael
Protecting Florida: Emerging Plant Pathogens and Pests of Concern and Practical Hands-on Tips for Problem Triage
Define "emerging" as it applies to pathogens and insects and discuss with the experts some examples of emerging plant viruses, fastidious prokaryotic pathogens, and insects. We will provide information that will be useful for conducting trainings on various emerging pests of interest to Florida. We will discuss resources and major efforts to identify and research emerging problems that will include the Diagnostic Networks (National and International), UF’s emerging pathogen initiative, and the Caribbean Invasive Species Initiative. We will finish the session with a panel discussion and will have hands-on displays illustrating plant pathogen signs, disease symptoms, and characteristic insects important for emerging plant problem triage.
Contacts: Phil Harmon
Using Teams To Successfully Problem-solve
Teams fail as often as they succeed and yet in complex organizations they are critical to sustainability. Extension, county government, and industry all need to use teams successfully. Learn how to develop a successful team and the teamwork skills that must be developed to move from team of experts to an expert team.
Presenter: Cheri Brodeur
The High School Financial Planning Program
County faculty will develop a thorough understanding of the updated, free NEFE High School Financial Planning Program. They will review the HSFPP printed and Web materials and be well-equipped to teach the HSFFP to high school students, train teachers to teach students, and partner with credit union volunteers promoting and teaching the HSFPP.
FYN Updates
The training will cover new developments in the FYN program on a statewide level, including new materials, changes to the yard recognition program, use of social marketing strategies, partnership update and future program directions, as well as an overview of the new construction process and working with new construction audiences, guidance on working with audiences with which FYN has not traditionally worked, updates on new regulations at the county and state level, and an opportunity for FYN coordinators to share their projects and ideas.
Contact: Barbra Larson and Gary Knox
Low Impact Development Practices for Florida: Stormwater
The Program for Resource Efficient Communities has developed two educational programs addressing low impact development practices: a 5-hour workshop aimed at local governments (planners, growth managers, commissioners, etc.) and an 8-hour continuing education program targeting development team professionals (engineers, landscape architects, etc.). This session will provide Extension faculty with an introduction to the materials covered in these workshops and will include a short tour of the Stormwater Ecological Enhancement Project (SEEP). Faculty will be updated on opportunities for bringing the programs to their counties.
Coordinator/Instructors: Mark Clark, Hal Knowles, and Ondine Wells
Agrosecurity Issues on the Farm: What You Can Do About It
This workshop will cover issues surrounding security on the farm and practical steps your cliental can take to make their operation safer. The information presented will provide a background of the major security issues effecting produce and livestock operations. Other talks will cover practices that your cliental can put in place that can make a difference.
Coordinators: Keith Schneider, Renee Goodrich, and William Hurst
What to do First: Planning, Priorities, and Delegation
"It takes too much time to plan--besides, I've been successful so far without planning." "Everything I have to do is important."
Sound familiar? In today's work environment, supervisors often are bombarded with simply too much to do. While it is true that we don't have enough time to do it all, it is equally true that we have enough time. We have enough time because we have all the time there is--the same twenty-four hours from day to day. The key to success, then, is not to try and do it all. Instead, the key is knowing what to do first. That's where this session will help. Attend this session and learn:
- The basic ways to use your time wisely.
- The difference between importance and urgency.
- The benefits of delegation.
Supervisors who could use some hints on how to control their work environments and how to manage their workloads will benefit from attending this class. This workshop counts as an elective in the Supervisory Challenge certificate program.
Speaker: Ruth Hernandez, Training & Organizational Development
Homeowners, Long-term Care, and Disability Insurances
The purpose of this session is to provide updated information as well as develop strategies that will enable individuals and families to obtain financial security by using risk management instrument tools throughout life.
Launching a State Specialist Extension Program: Don’t Get Left Behind
This session is for new or existing state specialists that want to make their extension programs even greater. Topics include: specialists’ roles, responsibilities, and expectations; staying on track toward promotion and tenure; and marketing Extension workshops.
Demonstrating the Impacts of Your Extension Program
Measuring and demonstrating the productivity of Extension programs is essential. This session will focus on measuring impacts of short-term Extension programs as well as long-term Extension programs.
Pest Management in Sensitive Areas: How to Support
a School IPM Program in Your County/District
School IPM has experienced a resurgence of interest across the nation in conjunction with children’s environmental health issues. School IPM strategies are applicable to other institutional and home pest management situations. We have worked with the health department and public schools and have discovered that there is inadequate training when it comes to proper inspection and monitoring for pest problems in sensitive urban environments.
This training will help you prepare for questions and program development related to IPM in and around structures:
Topics we will cover:
- Inspection of pest vulnerable areas
- Pest identification
- Monitoring
- Treatment strategies
Workshop facilitators include Faith Oi, Rebecca Baldwin, Bill Kern, Jennifer Gillett, extension agents, school district IPM coordinators.
