Noevember 21, 2007 Extension Update
Dear Extension Faculty and Staff:
President Martin gave an address on Seaman Knapp at the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC-visit www.nasulgc.org) annual meeting Nov. 11 in New York City. He was honored as the 2007 Morrill Award recipient. Several from NMSU attended the ceremony, including myself. President Martin's talk explored Seaman Knapp's roles in major activities that established Cooperative Extension as we know it today. Dr. Knapp's efforts were realized in the passage of the Hatch Act of 1887; in 1904 he and Washington Carver developed a system of agent education for Black farmers; in 1908 Dr. Knapp instigated boys' corn clubs and in 1910, girls' canning and poultry clubs; through Dr. Knapp's efforts 4-H Clubs were started and the incentive trip to Washington DC for contest winners. And while Dr. Knapp died in 1911, his work evolved into the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914. To read more about Seaman Knapp and Extension's development visit http://www.rogerknapp.com/knap/seamanknappHistory.htm.
You may have heard by now that College legislative appropriations from the 2007 New Mexico legislative session were $1.112 million in recurring funds and $170,000 in one-time funds. This time around Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station have submitted a single, joint 2008 legislative intiative for a “Base Adjustment to Recover Increased Operating Costs” requesting $1,000,000 to be split between the two college branches (AES and CES) to cover increased operating costs for all outlying offices and stations. District 67 Representative Brian K. Moore will be carrying the bill. We will be sending you “talking points' as the 2008 session draws closer. Hopefully we will be successful with this funding request since there has not been a baseline budget increase in seventeen years! With that in mind, be thinking about legislative initiatives we should submit for the 2009 session.
For agents who offer the Kids, Kows and More (KKM) Program, New Mexico Extension has been asked to increase their financial contribution to KKM from $26,000/yr. to $45,000/yr. Before making any decisions I wanted to get your opinion regarding your county KKM program. I have placed a Zoomerang survey at the URL below to receive your input. If you have a KKM program, please respond to the survey between now and Dec 10, 2007. Your feedback will determine if an increased program investment is viable: http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2275LXXM5BR.
A belated recognition of outstanding performance goes out to Tom Dean, NACAA Achievement Award recipient and John White, NACAA Distinguished Service Award recipient. Tom and John were honored at the July 2007 National Association of County Agricultural Agents' Conference held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Congratulations to both of you!
Recently, Kathleen Phillips-Hellman sent me a website for a national program called Farm Safety Just 4 Kids. Their website is http://www.fs4jk.org/. It looks to me like there are some curricula you might find useful in your programs.
I hope you are able to rest and relax with your family over the Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!
Paul