Volume 17, Number 20
December 15, 2017

NOTES FROM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Former Associate Director William F. Taggart:  Dr. William “Bill” Taggart, retired former Associate Director of OCES and Class II OALP Director, passed away Dec. 12 at the age of 98. Dr. Taggart served as the Associate Director of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service from 1975 until he retired in December 1983. He began his long Extension career as an Assistant County Agent in Stephens County in 1947. He moved to Dewey County in 1949 where he was a County Agent, then transferred to Woodward County to be their County Agent in 1952. He later became an Associate Extension Livestock Specialist in 1958. He also served as an Animal Science Professor and Director from 1961-1968, and in 1975 was named the Associate Director of OCES. Dr. Taggart received his B.S. Degree in Animal Husbandry from Oklahoma State University and went on to complete both his M.S. and Ed.D. at OSU as well. Upon his retirement, the William F. Taggart Scholarship was created to assist Extension staff members pursing a graduate degree.  He was a great supporter of Extension and remained active and involved even after retirement. He remained living in his home here in Stillwater up until 2013 when he moved to the Primrose Retirement Community on Range Road near Stillwater. We would like to express our sincere condolences to Bill’s family. No public funeral service is anticipated at this time.    

CURRENT EVENTS

Still Time to Get Tickets for 2018 Oklahoma 4-H Night with the Blue: Oklahoma 4-H friends and family are invited to enjoy an evening of basketball and 4-H programming Jan. 6, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. as the Oklahoma City Blue take on the South Bay Lakers. Games are held at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. Tickets are $12. For more information, contact Kristin Knight at kristin.knight@okstate.edu.
     The Blue is the development team of the Oklahoma City Thunder. To learn more about the Blue, visit http://oklahomacity.gleague.nba.com.

One Training Workshop Remains for the New OK-FIRE: One workshop remains this fall to help people use and understand the new OK-FIRE website. The new OK-FIRE is more user-friendly, but substantially different in terms of layout and content, so training, even for current users, will be important. The final training takes place in Stillwater, Dec. 18. These workshops consist of 6 hours of training and all will be directed by Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering fire meteorologist J. D. Carlson, who serves as program manager.
     Workshops are free, but registration is required. Since, in most cases, space is limited to about 15-25 participants for these workshops, only those who work directly with wildland fire (wildfire and/or prescribed fire) or advise those who do should attend. Registration information is available here 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Good News for Retiring Members of OAE4-HA: If you were a member of OAE4-HA the year prior to your retirement, you are eligible to become an NAE4-HA Life Member. The good news is you are eligible for your Life Membership dues to be paid by OAE4-HA. For more details, please go here for a Life Membership Form. Questions? Contact Liz Taylor at 405-224-2216.

New/Updated Publications on PODS: There are a number of new and updated publications available on the Print on Demand System at http://osufacts.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/HomePage. New publications include:

• E-1047 A Guide to Plants Important for Quail in Oklahoma
• FAPC-209 Big Data and Opportunities for Agriculture and Food Industry
• FAPC-210 Margarines and Spreads
• FAPC-211 Gourmet and Specialty Oils
• FAPC-212 Shortenings
• BAE-1117 Are You "Sweeping" Your Grain Bin Safely?

Revised Publications:

• BAE-1112 Preparing Grain Bins and Flat Storages Prior to Harvest or Incoming Product Storage

Congratulations to: Nancy Arnett, Northeast District 4-H Program Specialist, on her recent marriage. She and Danny Johnson were married Nov. 3. Please note Nancy’s new email address is nancy.johnson@okstate.edu. Congratulations Nancy and Danny Johnson!

PERSONNEL ACTIONS

Appointments

Jayme Trennepohl, Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Haskell County, effective 12-04-17

Title Changes/Transfers

None to report

Separations/Retirements

Amanda Ford, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Oklahoma County, effective 12-31-17

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Grady County
Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, LeFlore County
Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Logan County
Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Marshall County
Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, McIntosh County
Extension Educator, Horticulture/4-H Youth Development, Oklahoma County
Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Osage County/Osage Nation
Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Pawnee County
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Tulsa County (2 positions)
Northeast Area Agriculture Economist, Muskogee County

Internal Applicants Only

Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Adair County
Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Kay County
Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, Noble County
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Seminole/Hughes Counties
Extension Educator, Agriculture/4-H Youth Development, Texas County

COMING EVENTS

December 15: 4-H State Healthy Living Ambassador Applications Due (Stillwater)
December 19: Oklahoma Onsite Wastewater Conference (Stillwater)
January 5-6: Horticulture Industries Show (Tulsa)
January 9-11: OCES Biennial Conference (Stillwater)
January 17-18: Red River Crops Conference (Altus)
January 19: 4-H Healthy Living Summit (Stillwater)
February 6-7: No-till Oklahoma Conference (Shawnee)
February 14: Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Update: In-service (Online)
February 16: National 4-H Healthy Living Summit (TBA)
February 25: 4-H State Ambassador Spring Meeting (TBA)
February 28: Infant and Child Nutrition Updates: In-service (Online)