Dear Extension Family,
The weather is again taking us on a roller coaster ride of temperatures. This is a time of year when many stakeholders in the agriculture sector depend on us for vital support and education as they ride out the volatile weather conditions, specifically our Agronomic Crops, Livestock and Forages and Agribusiness Program Teams. I am grateful for their diligent work that makes a significant impact.
Drop-in With the Director
We received very favorable feedback from our Program Team Coffee Chats, and I would like to continue a monthly open meeting for anyone who would like to join. Our new Drop-in With the Director sessions will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., April through December, on the first Wednesday of each month (excluding July). The first occurrence will be Wednesday, April 5, and the remainder of the dates are available in the Blog post. I look forward to talking with those who can join on the Zoom link. Your feedback is important to me and your Extension Leadership Team (ELT), and I encourage honest and professional input with thoughtful consideration toward enhanced processes and outcomes across our Cooperative Extension operation.
SCAEAP Deadline and SCACAA Conference Registration
Registration is now open for two upcoming conferences: the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Agents (SCACAA) Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference and the South Carolina Association of Extension Administrative Professionals (SCAEAP) Conference. The deadline to register for the SCAEAP conference is this Friday, March 24! Please visit the Extension Employee News Blog posts to access the registration links, hotel logistics and other important information. I highly encourage participation from agents and administrative personnel at these conferences. They are explicitly planned with your professional development in mind.
SCAEAP Fundraiser
Please consider supporting the SCAEAP’s substantial impact through their spring fundraiser which helps fund the annual SCAEAP Student Scholarship for a high school student pursuing a career in the fields of administrative office technology, accounting, business management or business administration field. The fundraiser also helps offset the cost of the SCAEAP annual conference. An abundance of quality RADA cutlery is available on the fundraising store website, and more information about SCAEAP fundraising efforts and the scholarship is available on the SCAEAP website. I applaud the SCAEAP’s dedication and the value their members and all administrative professionals impart to Cooperative Extension through their expertise.
South Carolina Cooperative Extension Partnership
Image credit: Clemson University.
Last week, Clemson Cooperative Extension and South Carolina State 1890 Extension Administrators, District/Regional Extension Directors, and Program Team Directors/Leaders/Coordinators met for the first partnership meeting to discuss various methods for collaborating on multiple programs and activities throughout the year to carry out the land-grant mission. We are committed to carrying on the momentum of our Joint Cooperative Extension Conference to foster ongoing coordination, collaboration and cultivation with our South Carolina State University colleagues.
Recognition
Image credit: LEAD 21.
Congratulations to Ms. Karissa Ulmer, Savannah Valley District Director, and Dr. Juan Carlos Melgar, CAFLS Associate Professor of Pomology and Horticulture Program Team member, on graduating from the prestigious LEAD 21 program. The primary purpose of LEAD21 is to develop leaders in land-grant institutions and their strategic partners who link research, academics and Extension in order to lead more effectively in an increasingly complex environment, either in their current position or as they aspire to other positions.
South Carolina Commissioner’s School for Agriculture
A premier career and leadership development summer program is taking applications for rising high school students in grades 11–12 seeking academic career exploration within agricultural, natural resources and life science fields. The South Carolina Commissioner’s School for Agriculture (SCCSA) is now accepting applications for the 2023 program to be held July 22-28. SCCSA. The application deadline is April 12, and more information is available on the SCCSA website. Please share this announcement with appropriate stakeholder groups.
Cooperative Extension Creed Video
We have had several requests for a link to the captivating Cooperative Extension Creed video shared at our December conference, and it is available in a Box folder for all.
In closing, I would like to remind everyone to please put June 1 on your calendar as the deadline for submitting EPMS materials to your Program Team Director. As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Cooperative Extension.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
