Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid, service or accommodation in order to participate in Extension sponsored meetings are encouraged to contact the County Extension Office at 775-1680 to determine how reasonable accommodations can be made�

Educational program of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

A new addition to the ‘Extension At A Glance’ is the inclusion of photographstaken by Lubbock County 4-H’ers. This edition features a “winterscape” takenby 12 year old Frenship 4-H Club member, Brooke Boston of Wolfforth.

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Improving the lives of people, businesses, and communities across Texas and beyondthrough high-quality, relevant education.

State’s Agricultural Agencies Change Names, Renew Missions

Two state agricultural agencies that have served Texansfor a combined 224 years are beginning 2008 with newnames and renewed missions.

Texas AgriLife Research is the new name for the TexasAgricultural Experiment Station, which annually conductsmore than $150 million in agriculture and life sciencesresearch in such areas as improving food and fiberproduction, enhancing human and animal health, andconserving water, soils, wildlife and other naturalresources.

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service is the new name ofTexas Cooperative Extension, which provides Texans inall 254 counties with objective, research-based educationprograms and services in agriculture and natural resources,4-H and youth development, family and consumersciences, and community economic development.

The name changes are part of a re-branding initiativelaunched this year after two years of study and planning.These efforts were led by former vice chancellor Dr. ElsaMurano, who was named president of Texas A&MUniversity on January 3.

The re-branding efforts are centered on one foundationalmessage: ‘Agriculture is Life!’ “This is more than a namechange, or even a new logo design,” said Dr. Ed Smith,director of AgriLife Extension. “These new brands willimpact not only our marketing materials and signage, butalso the way we position and prioritize our programs andwork with our federal, state and county partners to servethe state of Texas. It is vitally important to tell our story

In This Issue:State’s Agricultural Agencies Change Names, Renew

Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 1What is Extension? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 2Wi$e UpRegional Irrigation Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 3Lawn and Ornamental WorkshopPesticide Applicators CEU’sSkills for Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 4Youth Life SkillsFrom Eggs to ChickBuilding Strong Families: Tools for Success ConferenceSmall Acreage Land Owner Symposium . . . . . . . . Pg 5Upcoming -Basic Horse ManagementLubbock Mast er GardenersUpcoming - Master’s Touch CourseBetter Living for TexansDo Well Be Well with diabetes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 6Eat SmartTexas Extension Education AssociationFood Protection Management Courses . . . . . . . . . . Pg 7

Extension at a Glance - 1st Quarter 2008 Page 2

and that people connect our agencies to the tremendousimpacts they have on the state.”

AgriLife Extension, established in 1915, provides Texanswith continuing education programs and services. Morethan 900 professional educators team with some 90,000volunteers to serve families, youth, communities andbusinesses throughout the state. Some 600,000 childrenannually participate in Extension’s 4-H and youthdevelopment programs.

What is Extension ?Working hand-in-hand with its Texas A&M Systempartners, the state legislature, and the communities itserves, the mission of the Texas AgriLife ExtensionService to serve Texans through community-basededucation has remained unchanged for almost a century.

When a vast network of 250 county Extension offices, 616Extension agents, and 343 subject-matter specialists, theexpertise provided by AgriLife Extension is available toevery resident in every Texas county. But Extensionspecialists are well-aware that a program offered in Dallasmight not be relevant in the Rio Grande Valley. AgriLifeExtension custom-designs its programs to different areasof the state, significantly depending on residents for inputand program delivery.

The mission of AgriLife Extension is a seemingly simpleone: improving the lives of people, businesses, andcommunities across Texas and beyond through high-quality, relevant education. Carrying out this mission,however, is a massive undertaking, that requires thecommitment of each and every one of the agency’s 1,900employees. Through the programs these employeesprovide, Texans are better prepared to:

� eat well, stay healthy, manage money, and raise theirchildren to be successful adults.

� efficiently help themselves through preventingproblems and using tools for economic stability andsecurity.

� improve stewardship of the environment and of thestate’s natural resources.

Today’s AgriLife Extension is known for its leadership,dedication, expertise, responsiveness, and trustworthiness.Texans turn to AgriLife Extension for solutions, and itsagents and specialists respond not only with answers, butwith a significant return on investment to boost the Texaseconomy.

Articles are categorized according to critical issuesidentified in Lubbock County’s Texas Community

Futures Forum, May 10, 2007.

Family Financial Management

Wi$e UpThe Wi$e Up Financial Management classtargeted Generations X & Y LubbockCounty employees. Twenty-four attended atleast 50% of the classes. Pre and post

evaluation instruments showed a high level of satisfactionand goal setting in the six objective areas of: Money thruthe life cycle, Budgeting, Credit, Investments, Savings andRisk Management.

The Wi$e Up program is a joint effort between TexasAgriLife Extension Service and the U.S. Department ofLabor. The curriculum is an approach to addressing thecomplex issues of financial management.

Financial Management courses conducted in aworksite setting may be more valuable than manyemployers realize. According to the Texas Society ofCPA’s employees with money problems have morefrequent absenteeism, spend office hours on thetelephone trying to resolve financial matters and aremore easily distracted than other employees.

A three month follow-up evaluation will be conducted,however initial evaluations indicated that as a result of theclass, two participants have paid off over $3,000 worth ofcredit card debt.

Guest speakers and class sponsors included: Chuck Senter,City Bank (Net-worth Statements); Anthony Viglicky,State National/Compass Bank (Budgeting); MandyMantooth, Human Resources (Risk Management); TomAlbert, Payroll (Savings); Howard Halford, WestmarkRealtors; and Joseph Toombs, Amicus Financial Advisors.Hester’s Office Supply donated three office products asincentives for class members who return their 3 monthevaluation.

Extension at a Glance - 1st Quarter 2008 Page 3

Jim Conkwright, General Managerof High Plains Underground WaterConservation District speaks toworkshop participants.

Urban and Agricultural Water Conservation and Quality.

Regional Irrigation Workshop Held In Lubbock County

In order to address the priority issue of the need for waterconservation in Lubbock County, a Regional IrrigationWorkshop, titled “Making the Most of Irrigation”, washeld in conjunction with the Southwest Farm & RanchClassic Indoor Farm Show. This multi- county program forthe North East Cluster addressed irrigation managementand water conservation, as well as system maintenance andtrouble-shooting. Event sponsors included: SW Farm &Ranch Classic, Texas Agricultural Irrigation Association,Texas Water Development Board, Texas AgriLifeExtension Service, Texas Water Resources Institute,Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the TexasState Soil & Water Conservation Board. A total of 43participants attended the morning session, and 35participants attended the afternoon session. As a result ofthe meeting, the participants responding to an evaluation(21% response) indicated that 100% of them consideredthe information useful for the 2008 crop year, and 100%indicated that they intended to implement changes in theirirrigation practices based on the program. Participantsindicated that they increased their knowledge of cropwater requirements; soil moisture management; irrigationefficiency and economics; and information resourcesavailable. Respondentsindicated that theaverage acreage theymanaged was 2,468acres. If this numberwere applied to allparticipants, the totalacreage managed by allconference participantsexceeded an estimated110,000 acres.

Protecting the Environment

Lawn and Ornamental WorkshopThe commercial lawn and ornamental workshop was heldon February 15, at the Texas AgriLife Extension andResearch Center. Eight participants received fivecontinuing education units for their Texas Department ofAgriculture commercial pesticide license.

Information presented was as follows: Control of Common Insect Pests - Brant Baugh, ExtensionAgent-Integrated Pest Management; Landscape WeedControl - Dr. Russ Wallace, Extension VegetableSpecialist; Water Quality and Conservation in SouthPlains Landscapes - Mark Brown, County ExtensionAgent-Agriculture and Natural Resources; Symptoms andDiseases of Horticultural Plants - Dr. Jason Woodward,Extension Pathologist Specialist; Landscape PlantSelection for the South Plains - Sandra Offutt, City ofLubbock Water Education Team; and Pesticide Laws andRegulations - Brant Baugh,Extension Agent-Integrated PestManagement.

An evaluation of the programutilized a retrospective postevaluation on the level ofknowledge before and after theprogram using a scale of 1 - verylittle knowledge to 5 - beingknowledgeable. The evaluationof the program shows that allrecipients increased theirknowledge by 100%.

Pesticide Applicators Continuing Education UnitsThe Texas Department of Agriculture requires privatepesticide applicators to obtain 15 continuing educationunits (CEU’s) in 5 years, including a minimum of 2 creditseach of integrated pest management and laws andregulations. Commercial and non-commercial applicatorsmust renew annually, and obtain 5 CEU’s per yearincluding a minimum of 1 CEU each in a choice of two ofthe following categories: laws and regulations, integratedpest management (IPM), or drift minimization.

On February 19, Brant Baugh, Extension Agent - IPM,gave five hours of CEU’s to the High Plains/Caprock BollWeevil Eradication Foundation. Brant providedinformation on lawn insect and weed control, woodyornamental pest control and laws and regulations on theapplication of pesticides to the 56 people in attendance.

A cotton production CEU meeting was held on February20 at the Texas AgriLife Extension and Research Centerwith 25 in attendance. Topics covered included: Control ofMorningglory in Cotton - Dr. Peter Dotray, ExtensionWeed Specialist; Cotton Pest Management - Dr. DavidKerns, Extension Entomologistt Specialist; Introduction toE-Extension - Mark Brown, County Extension Agent-Agriculture and Natural Resources; Cotton Variety

Extension at a Glance - 1st Quarter 2008 Page 4

Selection for 2008 - Dr. Mark Kelley, Extension CottonAgronomist; Farm Bill Update - Dr. Jackie Smith,Extension Economist; Cotton Disease Management - Dr.Jason Woodward, Extension Plant Pathologist and Lawsand Regulations - Brant Baugh, Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management.

High Risk Teen Behavior

Skills for LivingHelping youth to develop basic job skills is the objectiveof the “Skills for Living” program which is beingimplemented with youth participants in the South PlainsFood Bank - Growing Recruits for Urban Business(GRUB) program. Student participants age 14 to 17 arelearning: about basic job skills and participating in mockinterviews, how to develop a resume; how to complete ajob application. The five part series will conclude inApril. A pre- and post-test will be utilized to determinestudent knowledge. At a class conducted in March, aformer participant shared with class members how heutilized what he learned through the program to obtain ajob, which is helping to support him through college.

Youth Life SkillsYouth involved in the Lubbock County 4-H program aredeveloping basic life skills that will assist them throughoutthe rest of their lives. Through the public speakingproject, youth are learning basic decision-making skills, aswell as developing the skills necessary to speak in front ofothers; a life-long skill that many adults wish they had theopportunity to develop at an earlier age. On Monday,April 7, several Lubbock County 4-H’ers presented theseskills as they compete in the Lubbock County 4-HRoundup, and they will advance on to the District levelcompetition on May 3, and hopefully the State 4-HRoundup in June.

Another life skill that 4-H’ers are developing relates to theclothing and textiles project. This year, eleven 4-H’erscompeted in the County Fashion Show, with nineadvancing to District. Through this project, 4-H’ersconstructed garments for their entries, learning how tooperate a sewing machine, read a pattern, and actually sewa garment together. In the buying division, 4-H’ers utilizetheir consumer skills to purchase the best garment for theprice, that is well constructed. These are skills that we alluse everyday, which will hopefully make them smartshoppers for the rest of their lives.

Agricultural Awareness and Profitability

From Eggs to ChicksThe “Egg to Chick - Hatching in the Classroom” programis being utilized by classrooms in three LISD elementaryschools to provide students with first hand knowledge ofthe growth and development process. Through theprogram, fertilized eggs, curriculum materials and anincubator are provided to teachers for use in theirclassroom. Students are able to see first hand how theeggs grow and develop, with the final result being babychicks at the end of the 21 day incubation period. Thisyears eggs are being provided by the Walter VerkampFamily.

Parenting Skills

Building Strong Families: Tools for SuccessConference

Despite changes in their structure,families remain the most basicunit of society. Today’s familiesneed support to build theresiliency necessary to meet life’schallenges head-on. There is encouraging evidence thatresearch and educational programs can contribute to thestrength and resiliency of all families. According to theCommission on Children’s national survey entitledSpeaking of Kids, 86 percent of parents today are oftenuncertain about what is the right thing to do in raising theirchildren. Fifty-three percent of respondents believedchildren are worse off today with respect to their moraland religious training than ten years ago. Additionally, 56percent of respondents believe children receive lesssupervision and discipline than ten years ago. Childrenthemselves wish that their parents were more diligent insetting and enforcing rules. Thirty-nine percent of childrenages 10 to 17 said they sometimes wished their parentswere stricter or kept a closer watch over them and theirlives. Because of the rapid pace of change in our societyand an increasing awareness of and respect for cultural andvalues diversity, parents will continue to be challenged toexpand on traditional styles of child rearing.

The Building Strong Families Board meets monthly toplan the November 2008 conference. The speakerscommittee will meet soon to identify speakers and makecontacts.

Extension at a Glance - 1st Quarter 2008 Page 5

Small Acreage Landowners

Small Acreage Land Owner SymposiumThe Southwest Farm and Ranch Classic hosted a SmallAcreage Landowner Symposium conducted by LubbockCounty AgriLife Extension Service on February 2. Theagenda addressed West Texas Soils and Soil Fertility -Mark Brown, County Extension Agent-Agriculture andNatural Resources; Forage Selection and GrazingPrinciples on Small Acreage - Calvin Trostle, ExtensionAgronomist; Managing Weeds and Insects - Brant Baugh,Extension Agent-Integrated Pest Management; LivestockProduction Cost - Jay Yates, Extension Risk ManagementSpecialist; and Coping with Feral Hogs and IntegratedPlaya Management with Farming and Ranching - KenCearley, Extension Wildlife Specialist.

Attendees were asked to sign up for a Small AcreageLandowner Newsletter which will start in April.

Other Activities

Basic Horse ManagementA Basic Horse Management Course will be heldin June at Texas Tech University. Some of thetentative agenda topics will be: Basic Safety, HaySelection, Horse Nutrition, Health Care,Permanent ID and Hoof Care.

Lubbock Master GardenersThe 2008 class started onJanuary 22 and ended on March18 with 10 participants. The classmet every Tuesday and Thursdayfor a total of 50 classroom hours.To become certified MasterGardeners the class participantswill have to give back 50volunteer hours.

The Lubbock Master GardenersAssociation returned a total of288 volunteer hours in January and February with 95 ofthese hours being involved with teaching. Thesevolunteers made 58 site visits helping homeowners andlocal businesses with their landscape concerns. In addition,the Lubbock Master Gardeners web page(http://lubbockmastergardeners.tamu.edu/) received15,646 hits through January and February. Their websitecontains information on plant selection for the Lubbock

area, the “Grapevine Newsletter” and upcoming eventsthat are sponsored by the association. Their majoreducational activities included a presentation to the RedRaider 4-H club on Junior Master Gardener curriculum;What We Need to be Doing Now in our Spring Gardens;How to Start a Spring Garden in Lubbock (AvalancheJournal article) and the Lubbock Home and Garden Show.Fourteen Lubbock Master Gardener volunteers worked thewater wise landscape booth at the Home and Garden Showand answered questions on plant selection utilizing theTexas SmartScape web site. Through their efforts, theLubbock Master Gardeners reached a total of 66,327 arearesidents.

The Master’s Touch Course which will teacharea residents basic information on soils and soilfertility, landscape plant selection, vegetablegardening and basic propagation. There will bethree classes which will be held on Thursdayevenings in May. Contact the Texas AgriLifeExtension Service, Lubbock County at 775-1680for more information.

Better Living for TexansParticipants of the Better Living forTexans (BLT) programs will acquireknowledge related to dietary quality,the importance of physical activity,food resource management, and foodsafety. Lubbock County participates inBLT at the silver level (with a program

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Extension at a Glance - 1st Quarter 2008 Page 6

assistant). The county will contribute 416 hours ofnutrition education for limited income families, 208supervision hours, will have a minimum of 350 directeducational contacts and will graduate 25-50 adults froma 3-lesson series. On average, a half-time programassistant should conduct a minimum of twelve (12)educational programs per month.

Better Living for Texans qualified senior citizen centersare receiving a modified Eat Smart Series in 2008. TheHead Start parenting classes are receiving the EvaluationSeries of Healthy Eating, Shopping Strategies and LabelReading, and Food Safety and You lessons in addition tolessons on adding fruits and vegetables to the diet, GettingMoving/Getting Fit, and adding more dairy to the diet. Atwelve lesson series is being taught at My Father’s Housefor the clients in the Christian Women’s Job Corp for theFebruary through April quarter. Three lessons will beevaluated as a Better Living for Texans series.

Results of evaluation summaries will be compiled uponcompletion of these series.

Do Well, Be Well with diabetes™Diabetes occurs when the bodydoes not make enough insulin, orthe insulin it makes does notwork properly. While diabetes isnot curable, it is manageable.Skills are needed to effectivelymanage diabetes, but education is not always available.Burdens of diabetes mismanagement aredisproportionately borne by those with little or noinsurance coverage, lower literacy, poor or no Englishskills, lower educational and income levels, and pooraccess to transportation.

Through the use of Do Well, Be Well and Cooking Wellwith Diabetes, program participants will improve theirblood glucose management, thereby reducing their risksfor complications and to attain their highest possible levelof wellness. The Cooking Well with Diabetes programprovides the practical application of the knowledge andskills gained in the Do Well, Be Well With Diabetes.

A combined Do Well, Be Well/Cooking Well WithDiabetes format will be presented at Slaton’s FirstChristian Church in April.

Eat SmartThe goals for the Eat Smart programs at twoLubbock County senior Citizens Centers(Slaton and Homestead) are for the seniors tounderstand the risk factors and lifestylechoices associated with chronic disease andillness, make informed food choices and adopt healthyeating and active lifestyles consistent with the DietaryGuidelines for Americans and the USDA Food GuidanceSystem in order to reduce the risk of chronic diseases andillness, and to improve selection, safe food handling,preparation, and storage of food to maximize safety andnutrition.

Programs are continuing in a modified version for 2008.

Texas Extension Education AssociationThis association works with TexasAgriLife Extension Service to strengthenand enrich families through educationalprograms, leadership development andcommunity service. The objectivesinclude: strengthen, develop, coordinate,and extend adult researched-based education, to improvethe quality of life for families and communities incooperation with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service;promote family strengths and leadership development,serve as a medium for the expression of charitable andeducation interests, and award 4-H and TEEA adultscholarships on a nondiscriminatory basis to worthyapplicants; offer a means by which members incooperation with Texas AgriLife Extension Service mayinterpret and provide programs of local, county, district,regional, state, national and international importance inpreservation of the American home and the promotion ofbetter international understanding; function exclusively forcharitable, educational, and scientific purposes.

Programs for 2008 include: ‘Be the Master of YourMemory,’ ‘Patriotism Through Preparedness,’ ‘Quilts,’‘Nip Clutter in the Bud,’ ‘Low Calorie Desserts,’ and‘Recycling Lamp Shades.’ Tours will be determinedthroughout the year. The group participated in the District2 TEEA meeting in Plains in March. Members receivedthe bi-monthly Family Network Newsletter in efforts toadvertise programs. Three additional new members joinedin March 2008.

Extension at a Glance - 1st Quarter 2008 Page 7

Lubbock County Extension StaffP.O. Box 10536, Lubbock, TX 79408

916 Main, Suite 201, Lubbock TX 79401(806) 775-1680 Fax: (806) 775-1658

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Food Protection ManagementTwo Food Protection ManagementClasses have been conducted andreached food managers associatedwith the following institutions:Slaton Senior Center, JJ’s (Slaton),Post Meals on Wheels, Post SeniorCenter, Sam Burgers, Oakwood United Methodist Pre-School, Giorgio’s Pizza and the Ramada Inn.

AgriLife Extension Service offers this class at a cost of$89.00. As a result of this class $1,666.00 overcomparable courses, have been saved for Lubbock CountySmall businesses and non-profits during the first quarter of2008.

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Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceLubbock CountyP.O. Box 10536Lubbock TX 79408