a season of giving and saying thanks - welcome to utia! 10-15... · 2016-11-15 · a season of...

ASeasonofGivingandSayingThanks

By Richard Clark, Assistant Dean and Head, Department of 4-H/AgriculturalLeadership,EducationandCommunications

Oneofthehallmarksof4-H isteachingyoungpeoplethe importanceofgivingback to their community.4-HService Learningprovideshands-onopportunitiesforyouthandadultstobeblessedwiththeinnersatisfactionthat comes fromknowing theymadeadifference. It also reinforces theconceptthattheworlddoesnotrevolvearound“me,”butisbetterfocusedonservingthelargercommunity.

In 2015-2016, Tennessee 4-Hmembers engaged in hundreds of servicelearningprojects.Someprojectswerelargeandsomeweresmall,butall

ofthemmadeahugedifferenceinthelivesofTennesseecitizensandtheircommunities.Theseprojectsaccountedfor1,914,046hoursofservicebyTennessee4-Hmembers,witha$40,041,842impactonthestateofTennessee.Itgoestoshowthatyoudon’thavetobeanadulttomakeahugedifferenceincommunitiesandinanindividual’slife.

Threeexamplesofcurrent4-HservicelearningprojectsincludehelpingdecoratetheTennesseegovernor’smansion,providingshoeboxesfilledwithgiftsthroughOperationChristmasChild(OCC),andcreatingTinyTreesfortheEastTennesseeChildren’sHospitalinKnoxville.

Tennessee4-Hwillbewellrepresentedthisyearatthegovernor’smansion.Lastweek we delivered a van full of holiday ornaments representing each of thetwenty-six educational 4-H project areas, designed by 4-Hmembers across ourgreatstate.Theywillbeondisplayattheresidenceduringtheholidayseason!Theconservatory,partoftheresidencegrounds,willbefilledwithtreesdecoratedby4-H,FFA,andAgintheClassroom!

TheUTKnoxvilleCollegiate4-HClubhasbeenbusythepastfewweeksengaginginserviceprojectstobenefitchildrenandfamiliesintheKnoxvillecommunityand

around theworld! At their recentmeeting,members decorated holiday trees to be used for childrenwho arehospitalizedattheEastTennesseeChildren’sHospital.

Collegiate 4-H and 4-Hmembers from across Tennessee arecollecting itemsandputting them inshoeboxes tobesent tochildren in need from all over the world as part of the OCCprogram. Collegiate 4-H will be packing approximately 500boxesontheUTKnoxvillecampusandover2,000boxeswillbepackedinUTExtensionofficesacrossthestate.

UTAgResearchDeanBrownRecognizedforLeadershipExcellenceRobertBurnsAlsoRecognized&MultistateInsectInvestigationAwarded

BillBrown,deanofUTAgResearch,washonoredfortheleadershiphehasprovidedtotheTennesseeAgriculturalExperimentStationandtheSouthernRegionExperimentStationSection(ESS)duringtheannualmeetingoftheAssociationofPublicLand-grantUniversities.BrownwaspresentedtheESSExcellenceinLeadershipAwardfortheSouthernRegionduringaceremonySundayinAustin,Texas.

Theawardispresentedannuallytofiveindividualswhohaveservedtheirregionalassociationsandthenationalland-grantsystemwithexemplarydistinction.MoreaboutBrown’shonor...APLU'sNationalAwardforExcellencealsorecognizedtheS-1060MultistateResearchProject,"Flymanagementinanimalagriculturesystemsandimpactsonanimalhealthandfoodsafety."UTIAEntomologyandPlantPathologyassistantprofessorBeckyTroutFryxellandresearchtechnicianDavePaulsencollaboratewithS-1060projectmembers,whoareresearchersfromtwenty-oneland-grantuniversitiesandseveralHispanic-servinguniversities,Canadianinstitutions,andfiveUSDA-ARSlabstohelpmakethisprojectasuccess.Learnmoreabouttheprojecthere.Additionally,RobertBurns,associatedeanofUTExtension,wasrecognizedduringtheAPLUconferenceasaFoodSystemsLeadershipInstituteFellowfor2014to2016.TheInstituteprovidesleadershipdevelopmenttoupper-levelleadersinhighereducation,government,andindustrytoprepareindividualsandinstitutionstoleadthetwenty-firstcenturyfoodsystem.

CropScienceSocietyCelebratesTwoUTIATurfSpecialistsAmongtheawardspresentedbytheCropScienceSocietyofAmerica(CSSA)atitsNovember6-9annualmeetinginPhoenix,Arizona,weretwosignificanthonorsforUTIAmembers.TheSociety’sannualawardsrecognizeoutstandingcontributionstoagronomythrougheducation,nationalandinternationalservice,andresearch.ForhiscareerachievementsinareasofturfgrassscienceandExtension,JohnStier,associatedeanoftheUTCollegeofAgriculturalSciencesandNaturalResources,wasinductedasaFellowoftheSociety.Fellowisthehighestrecognition

bestowedbytheorganization.MembersoftheSocietynominateworthycolleaguesbasedontheirprofessionalachievementsandmeritoriousservice.Onlyupto0.3percentoftheSociety’sactiveandemeritusmembersmaybeelectedFellow.

Stier’sresearchrevolvesaroundvariousenvironmentalissuesandmanagementofturfgrass,suchasnutrientandpesticidefate,invasivegrasses,andcarbonsequestration,aswellasshadeandcoldstress,herbicides,andweedmanagement.TheSocietypreviouslyhonoredhimwithitsMartinandRuthMassengaleLectureship,establishedtosupportadistinguishedscientistwhohasmadesignificantcontributionstonewandinnovativeresearchincropphysiologyandmetabolism,turfgrassscience,orforageandgrazinglands.Stier’scareercontributionsintheturfgrassindustryhavereceivedothersignificantawards.TheseincludetheRobertG.andHazelT.SpitzeLandGrantFacultyAwardpresentedforexcellenceinteaching,research,andsciencebytheCollegeofAgriculturalandLifeSciencesandSchoolofHumanEcologyattheUniversityofWisconsin-Madison;thePoundExtensionAwardpresentedbytheUW-CollegeofAgriculturalandLifeSciences;andtheExcellenceinResearchAwardfromSeedResearchofOregon.HehasalsobeenrecognizedbytheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyfortheUniversityofWisconsin-Madison’sintegratedpestmanagementprogram.InadditiontoparticipationinmanystateandregionalturfgrassconferencesintheUnitedStates,StierhaslecturedinArgentinaandGermanyonturfissues.

TheSocietypresenteditsYoungCropScientistAwardtoJimBrosnan,associateprofessorintheUTDepartmentofPlantSciencesanddirectorofthenewUTWeedDiagnosticsCenter.Thisawardisdesignedtorecognizeyoungcropscientistswhohavemadeanoutstandingcontributioninanyareaofcropsciencebytheageofforty.Inhisresearch,Brosnanfocusesonstrategiesforcontrollinguniqueandproblematicweedsofturfgrasssystems,particularlyphenotypeswithresistancetoherbicides.Hehaspublishedmorethaneighty-eightpeer-reviewedresearcharticlesandbeenrecognizedbyboththeNortheasternand

SouthernWeedScienceSocietiesforhiswork.Brosnan’sExtensionprogramsaimtoprovideeducationanddiagnosticsupporttoTennessee’s$5.8billionturfgrassindustry.Healsoprovidescommitteeandeditorialservicetonumerousorganizations,includingtheCSSA,theWeedScienceSocietyofAmerica,InternationalTurfgrassSociety,andboththeGolfCourseSuperintendentsandSportsTurfManagersAssociations.Inaddition,JesseBenellioftheUTturfprogramwonbestgraduatestudentresearchpresentationfordiscussionofresearchontheinfluenceofsprayratevolumeandsurfactanttechnologyonlargepatch(Rhizoctoniasolani)control.GraduatestudentsKyleyDicksonandEricReasorreceivedStieglerTravelAwards,whicharegiventohelpfuturescholarsparticipateintheconference.

NationalFamilyForestsEducationAwardGoestoExtension’sDavidMerckerA multi-partner programcoordinatedbyUTExtensionforestryspecialistDavidMerckerhasbeenawardedthe2016FamilyForestsEducationAwardbytwonationalforest-focusedorganizations.ThehonorwasbestowedbytheNationalWoodlandOwnersAssociationandtheNationalAssociationofUniversityForestResourcesProgram.Theawardrecognizesanoutstandinguniversity-basedExtensionoroutreachprogram.

TheawardhonorsMercker’scoordinationoftheTennesseeHealthyHardwoodsprogram.Theprogramhasdeliveredhigh-quality,hand-onexperientialfielddayswherelandownersbenefitfromfieldobservationinTennesseestateandUTforests.Thefielddayswereinitiatedtoprovidefield-basedforestryandnaturalresourceeducationtomembersofTennessee’sCountyForestryAssociations,whichMerckerhelpedstartandsustains.Theseassociationsworktoeducatefamilyforestlandownersandprofessionalnaturalresourcemanagersaboutsustainableforestandwildlifemanagement.

Twentyfacultyandprofessionalforestershavepresentedsessionsatthirty-sixfielddayssincetheprogram’sinceptionin2006.Thesehavereachednearly2,300landownerswho,collectively,manageanestimated345,000acresofforestsinthestate.Indicatorsofthesuccessoftheseeventsarethat100percentofparticipantssaidtheyunderstoodtheimportanceofseekingprofessionaladvicepriortomakingforestmanagementdecisionsand,amongtheaudiencethefielddaysreached,24percentsaidtheyhadneverattendedanExtensioneducationeventbefore,confirmingthattheprogramisdeliveringservicestocitizenswhohavenotpreviouslybeenreachedbyExtension.

AnotherresultoftheprogramishowithasbondedtheforestrycommunityinTennessee.Recognitionoftheprogramishigh,withprofessionalsandforestfamilieseagertotakepart.Theprogram’slogoisoftenseenonhats,gloves,Biltmoresticks,andherbicidebottles.

TheTennesseeHealthyHardwoodshasbeenfundedprimarilybythestateDepartmentofAgricultureForestryDivisionandtheUSForestService.Tengrantshavebeensecured,totaling$396,771.InkindsupporthasbeenprovidedbythenetworkofUTExtensioncountyofficesandtheTennesseeForestryAssociation.

ThisyeartherewerearecordnumberofnominationsfortheFamilyForestEducationAward,makingMercker’shonorallthemorenoteworthy.

BasedinJacksonattheWestTennesseeAgResearchandEducationCenter,MerckerhasbeenamemberofUTIAforseventeenyearsandalsohasthirteenyearsofexperienceasaprivateforestryconsultant.AsaUTExtensionspecialist,heworkstoeducateandassistthenearly450,000privateforestlandownersinTennesseeaboutresponsibleforestmanagement.

Mercker’sotherprogramareasincludetheTeachersConservationWorkshop,theMasterLoggers,Forest*A*Syst,croptreerelease,hardwoodlumberandstumpagepricing,4-H,andbottomlandhardwoodrestoration.

SoilConservationDistrictHonorsUTBlountCountyExtensionDirectorJohnWilson,atwenty-eight-yearveteranofUniversityofTennesseeExtension,hasreceivedtheJohnP.DavisMemorialVanguardAwardfromtheBlountCountySoilConservationDistrict.WilsonhasservedasdirectoroftheUT-TennesseeStateUniversityExtensionofficeinBlountCountysince2008.Theaward,whichwaspresentedatthedistrict’ssixtiethannualbanquet,recognizesWilson’scontributionsinenvironmentalexcellencetothecounty.Amongtheimpactscitedwere:•Training140TennesseeMasterGardeners•Teachinga“SustainableGardeningWorkshop”

•ConductingAdvancedMasterBeefProducerandotherlivestock-andforage-relatedworkshops•Givingsupportandassistancetosisterorganizations,suchastheBlountCountyLivestockAssociation,CityofMaryvilleFarmersMarket,BlountCountyBeekeepersAssociation,andtheBlueRibbonCountryFair•Andothercontributions,suchasdeliveringclassesonnutrition,foodsafety,foodpreservation,financialmanagement,andparenting,allofwhichhaveimprovedthedailylivesofBlountCountycitizens.“I’vefoundthefolksofBlountCountytobeawarmandwelcomingpeople,”Wilsonsays.“Thisfeelslikehometome.“IthasbeenmyprivilegeandpleasuretoworkwiththefarmfamiliesandotherresidentsofBlountCountytowardimprovingtheirqualityoflife.Fromthemountainstothevalleyshere,Extensioneducationalprogramsaffordanopportunitytoprovidemeaningfulsolutionstoeverydaychallengesfacedbyourfamilies.”

TheBlountCountySoilConservationDistrictserveslandownersbyprovidingassistancewiththeinstallationofconservationpracticestopreventsoilerosion,improveTennessee'swaterquality,andpromotethestewardshipofthecounty’snaturalresources.

(TheMaryvilleDailyTimeswasassourceforsomeinformationinthisarticle.)