May 2022 
 
Colleagues,  

If you find it hard to believe that summer is upon us, just step outside for a minute, and the high temperatures we are already experiencing will quickly remind you! 

It seems that we find each month of the year busy in its own way, but summer months tend to be some of the busiest! On behalf of the Extension Leadership Team, I look forward to the kick-off of summer and to seeing many of you at Texas 4-H Roundup and LEAD Academy on the campus of Texas A&M University the week of June 6. The week will also include the awarding of almost $2.9 million in college scholarships to Texas 4-H members, made possible by many generous donors and facilitated by the Texas 4-H Foundation.

Summer also means youth programs are in full swing, with many day and overnight camping programs offered throughout the state, including at our very own Texas 4-H Center, as well as national and international programs. For more than 100 years, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has facilitated youth programs through 4-H clubs and outreach efforts, helping youth gain valuable life skills through various hands-on activities.

As we approach and balance the busyness of the summer months,
  • Maintain your focus on the difference you are making in the lives of so many young people and their families. You are making a difference every day.
  • Celebrate the youth graduating from high school and out of our program, continue to explore new ways to recruit the next generation of 4-H members and future leaders.
  • Know that Texas 4-H has Programs for Minors resources to guide and direct the implementation of youth programs and ensure a safe environment for all involved.
  • Schedule some well-deserved time for yourself, whether a vacation or a “staycation,” before the summer months slip away.
 
Finally, know that we appreciate you and your investment in our youth — leaders of today who will continue to grow and evolve into leaders of tomorrow for the great state of Texas.

Courtney F. Dodd, Ph.D.
Associate Director – Health, Families and Youth Programs
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
SAVE THE DATE - STATE EXTENSION CONFERENCE
Save the date for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service State Extension Conference Aug.16-18 in College Station. The goal of the conference will be for renewal, professional development and engagement for the future of AgriLife Extension.
HELPFUL ONLINE EMPLOYEE RESOURCES
Stay up to date with employees across the state with our posting of recent Personnel Updates on our AgriLife Extension Employee Directory page.

Looking for a "who's who" for your topical questions?
Find your AgriLife Extension experts all in one spot in the 2021-2022 Specialist Directory
Next Discover Extension: May 31-June 3
The agents in the March cohort completed their state onboarding curriculum on May 13. They will continue their regional onboarding and work with mentors. Please reach out to these new colleagues and continue to support them in their transition and growth as Agriife Extension employees. 
 
We will welcome the next cohort of new employees on May 31 (Discover Extension Agenda). 
Summer “Book” Club
Connect with colleagues around the state through a common “reading” to gain knowledge, develop a skill, engage in robust discussion or just for enjoyment. Materials may include an online training, a book, a series of articles, a podcast and more, depending on the group’s interest. If your interest is piqued and you want to learn more, fill out this form and send it to your colleagues who might be interested.  
 
Community of Learners: Graduate Studies
Are you pursuing a graduate degree? Thinking about it? We would like to facilitate community building and support for those currently pursing advanced degrees and those contemplating doing so. Please fill out this form if you would like more information.
STAFF RECOGNITION
National Institute of Food and Agriculture recognizes Cecilia Monclava-Santana, Ph.D.

We applaud Cecilia Monclova-Santana, Ph.D. for her recent recognition by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture for outstanding service to a peer review panel. She had the responsibility of reviewing, evaluating and discussing the research, education and extension merit of incoming competitive grant proposals. Her contributions will further NIFA's mission to identify and fund the best science available. See her commendation here.
Professional Services
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Update on the AgriLife Extension web hub
Thank you to the AgriLife Extension Leadership and program and service representatives who are still responding to our content gathering survey from last month. As we know, AgriLife Extension runs the gamut programmatically and geographically across the state, so this is a giant lift! We appreciate your continued partnership in this matter and will be in touch with specifics soon.

Got events?
Get them on the AgriLife LiveWhale Calendar
The LiveWhale calendar is a one stop-shop for showcasing all Texas A&M AgriLife events from around the state. For AgriLife Extension, this includes face-to-face, local events as well as multi-county and hybrid events. Our strategist team is working hard to ensure that when the AgriLife Extension web hub goes live this summer, each topic, program and county page is reflecting a robust variety of your events — but to do so, we need your help.
Share your events with us by completing this form to ensure maximum event promotion and exposure. It's quick and easy. Have questions? Reach out to our team — we're here to help.
Want to know more? Tune in TODAY for a dedicated TECH TUESDAY on May 24!
Summer social (media) hour coming soon!
Catch the summer wave of social media training opportunities. Through this three-part series, we equip you with the resources and knowledge to better connect with your community stakeholders through social media.
  • Social Media 101: A look at platform options and audiences
  • Starting new accounts and resurrecting old accounts
  • Branding, profiles, cover photos, about pages + Q&A

  • Facebook Pages vs Facebook Groups: Which is best for you?
  • Urban and rural challenges – not one size fits all solution
  • Effective content strategies for county agents and specialists + Q&A

  • Hashtag strategy and in-platform tools
  • Engagement strategies and content planning
  • Insights, metrics and optimization for maximum impact! + Q&A
AGRILIFE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
AIT Inventory Dashboard for all your computer inventory needs
AIT and the Administrative Services Property Office recently teamed up to create an interactive dashboard that lets you review your computer’s inventory details. These details are from the FAMIS inventory database and real-time data from AIT’s workstation management software. 

We designed this dashboard to help you with numerous tasks, including:
  • Streamlining your annual inventory process.
  • Shecking warranty statuses.
  • Planning and budgeting for replacing Windows 11 non-compatible computers.
  • Identifying devices that need to be replaced.
Click on our page for steps to log in to the dashboard. You will also learn how to log in, as well as how to sort, filter and export data from the dashboard, and more. You can easily look at data related to:
  • Your unit.
  • A specific purchase time frame.
  • Windows 11 compatibility.
  • Warranty end date or days remaining.
Click here to go to the dashboard.
AGRILIFE DIGITAL EDUCATION
Update regarding transition from Bookstore to AgriLife Learn
Important event registration information was shared April 26 regarding the ongoing registration platform migration. Many of the changes outlined in the communication are due to system limitations on the transitionary platform and will not be permanent. All features and services will continue to be evaluated and considered as we search for a permanent solution.
 
Important Reminders 
  • The AgriLife Flywire storefront is being used to handle registrations during the interim period.
  • All events with registration ending after April 30 have been migrated to the new storefront, and event organizers impacted by this transition should have received direct communication from their assigned EPS. 
  • AgriLife Register will no longer be active and customers going to that URL will be re-directed to the AgriLife Flywire site.   
  • For future event registration set up, including county, district or regional requests, we ask that you submit this form a minimum of 30 days prior to the desired event listing date to ensure we have adequate time to support your request.
AgriLife Learn online courses are here for Texans, and they can also be valuable educational supplements to your in-person programs.
Check out the latest offerings developed by your colleagues! 
Aquaponics
Designed for homeowners, DIY hobbyists or future commercial farm operators, Aquaponics for Beginners is for everybody! Become familiar with all things aquaponics, from how to get started to what to grow.
Grow Sun Smart: Reducing risks for skin cancer in child care settings
Did you know that 80% of lifetime sun exposure can occur before the age of 18? Learn how to protect young children from UV exposure as well as educate children with lifelong sun safety behaviors in order to reduce the risks of skin cancer. 
Junior Master Gardener
Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & GO!
Grow a classroom of thriving students through engaging lessons and memorable garden experiences with the Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! curriculum.
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