Vol. 3 – No. 1
January 10, 2003
Seminars Slated To Introduce New AgWeather Site:
OSU and the Oklahoma Mesonet are proud to announce a completely
revised Oklahoma AgWeather site that provides a new approach to
Oklahoma Mesonet weather information and products. The new site
brings together the best in weather data and products with the
latest OSU resources. The site also offers new opportunities for
education, research, and extension activities. The new features
of Oklahoma AgWeather include: easier weather data and product
navigation; crop and pest models organized by commodity; cattle
stress index; degree-day calculator; improved data charting
capabilities; agricultural market links; OSU programs and
publications links; and grower association links. All site data
are free with no subscription and no fees. Faculty, staff, and
students interested in weather information access are invited to
attend an overview of the newly revised Oklahoma AgWeather web
site. Three identical seminars are available. Each seminar will
last 45 minutes. The seminars are scheduled January 21, 3:30 p.m.
to 4:15 p.m., in Ag Hall, room 225; January 23, 10:30 a.m. to
11:15 a.m., in the Animal Science Building, room 124; and January
23, 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., in Ag Hall, room 225. For more
information, call Al Sutherland at 405-224-2216, J.D. Carlson at
744-6353, or Leila Hickman at 744-8429.
Environmental Education Expo: The
Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education is hosting its
annual Environmental Expo on February 15 at the Wes Watkins
Center on the OSU campus. The Expo is geared toward teachers,
students, and community leaders who are involved with
environmental issues. Extension Specialists Mike Smolen, Billie
Chambers, and Sarah Kimball will present sessions about
Extension’s environmental education programs. Four
educational sessions will focus on Oklahoma’s Biodiversity,
Cultural Diversity, Community Diversity, and Educating for
Diversity. Extension Educators who attend the Expo can receive
one graduate/undergraduate credit hour. For information regarding
the credit, contact Brenda Solomon at 1-800-765-8933.
Representatives of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental
Quality, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of
Forestry, Blue Thumb, and the Water Resources Board will have
exhibits at the Expo. Registration is $35 and includes lunch. For
more information about the Expo, contact Jeanine Huss at
405-744-7233, or jmhuss@okstate.edu
, or visit the website at www.okaee.org
.
Counties Receive
Grants: The House of Representatives Campaign for
Oklahoma Kids recently awarded three $2,000 grants to OCES for
the Healthy Families programs in Delaware, Texas, Cotton, and
Jefferson counties. Judy Benson, wife of House Speaker Emeritus
Loyd Benson, and other legislators launched the Campaign for
Oklahoma Kids in 1997 as a private, tax-exempt fund to help
support child abuse prevention and intervention projects across
the state.
Mileage Rate Has Changed: As of January
1, 2003, the allowable mileage rate for travel reimbursement has
changed to $0.36 per mile. This is a decrease
from the previous rate of $0.365 per mile.
Smolen Elected to Board: Mike Smolen,
Extension Water Quality Specialist, has been elected to the Board
of Directors of the Great Plains Foundation. This is a private
organization that addresses water resources issues in Oklahoma,
Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska.
Bull Sale Slated: Oklahoma Beef Inc.,
will host a bull sale on March 31. For more information, contact
John Evans, Extension Animal Breeding Specialist, at
405-744-6060, or jle@okstate.edu
.
Application Deadline Nearing: February
15 is the deadline for FCS and 4-H Extension Educators, FCS
faculty, and District Program Specialists to submit applications
for the various scholarships and fellowships that are available.
Applications should be returned to Lynda Harriman, 104 HES,
Stillwater, OK 74078, no later than February 15. Application
forms are available on the FCS website at www.fcs.okstate.edu .
Information packets were sent in pouch mail on January 9. In
addition, Ambassador Grants and Margaret E. Fitch Fellowship
applications are available on the website. These applications are
due on August 1.
Retirement Party: Everyone is invited
to attend a retirement party for Marilyn Berousek, Extension
Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences/4-H Youth Development, on
January 30. The party will take place in room 111 in the McClain
County Courthouse from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. She is retiring
from OCES after 30 years of service.
Condolences to: Kent Barnes, Area
Livestock Specialist, Northeast District, on the death of his
father, Elmo Barnes. He passed away December 26. Funeral services
took place December 30 at the Methodist Church in Perkins. Cards
may be sent to Kent Barnes and his family at 17473 HW 80,
Hulbert, OK 74441.
College Corner
On-Line Scholarship
Application: The CASNR on-line scholarship
application for the 2003-2004 academic year is available on the
college’s website. Students may access the application at www.casnr.com . Click on the
“Scholarship Information/CASNR Award Apps” link.
Application deadline is January 24 for current CASNR students,
and February 1 for prospective/incoming transfer students.
Leadership Opportunity: Farm Credit of
East Central Oklahoma is launching a Student Board Program to
provide opportunities for students to gain leadership skills by
participating in an academic/corporate agricultural finance
experience. This includes exposure to the function of a board of
directors, and the development of decision-making skills relative
to the function of an agricultural cooperative. All CASNR
students are eligible to apply. Applications are available in 136
Ag Hall. The deadline is February 28. For more information,
contact Mrs. Amber Phillips, Marketing Specialist, Farm Credit
Services of East Central Oklahoma, at 1-800-972-9134.
Personnel Actions
Sarah C. Trzebiatowski, Assistant Extension Specialist, Agricultural Economics, effective 1-6-03
None to report
None to report
January 10: Southeast District FCS/4-H
In-Service (Sulphur)
January 10-11: Horticulture Industries Show (Springdale,
Arkansas)
January 11: Northeast District Volunteer and 4-H Family Winter
Conference (Jenks)
January 14: Regional Ag in the Classroom Training (Norman)
January 16: Northeast District “Ready,
Set…Volunteer!” 4-H Volunteer Core Competency Training
Unit 3 (Tulsa)
January 17: Co-Parenting Through Divorce (Stillwater)
January 25: Southwest District 4-H Volunteers Conference (Lawton)
January 27: Heart Health for Women (Enid)
January 28: Turning a Sore Thumb Into a Green Thumb: A Short
Course in Landscape Management (Ada)
January 28: Yearly Diabetes Seminar (LeFlore and Pittsburg
counties)
January 28: Northwest District Livestock Judging Contest (Enid)
January 30-31: Ag in the Classroom Reunion Workshop (Ardmore)