As Texas AgriLife Extension works to help Texans address rapidly emerging and complex issues, agents can increase the effectiveness and rate of adoption of new practices by conducting Result Demonstrations and utilizing this as teaching method. Result Demonstrations are the very foundation of Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Through the work of Seaman A. Knapp and Walter C. Porter, these demonstrations help demonstrate to farmers how to reduce boll weevil damage on cotton in Texas. The adoption of production practices and changes in behavior of producers as a result of these demonstrations was instrumental in the eventual passage of legislation (Smith Lever Act of 1914) that authorized Cooperative Extension as a part of the Land-Grant Colleges. No other educational method affects the rate of adoption by its target audiences as much as does the result demonstration.
Listed below is a link to a publication entitled “Result Demonstration-A Method that Works”:
http://txspace.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/87475/pdf_2449.pdf?sequence=1
In preparation for upcoming Program Planning Conferences, You as agents should work with Regional Program Directors-Agriculture and Natural Resources and myself to ensure that expectations are established for every County Extension Agent-Agriculture and Natural Resource related to establishing an effective Result Demonstration program at the county level.
Six 4-H Connect Trainings Planned
The 4-H and Youth Development Program will be hosting six individual on-line Centra trainings for County Extension Professional and Support Staff starting in September and concluding in October at http://texas4-hpractitioners.blogspot.com/2010/08/six-4-h-connect-trainings-planned.html .
The dates for these trainings are:
* September 2nd – 2-4 pm EVENT ID: XDP971171
* September 14th – 2-4 pm EVENT ID: NLR058218
* September 27th -2-4 pm EVENT ID: LPQ119562
* October 6th – 9-11 am EVENT ID: SPM197640
* October 7th – 2-4 pm EVENT ID: LJR305281
* October 19 – 9-11 am EVENT ID: PSW34996
These two hour block trainings will cover the following items:
* Reporting for both enrollment and custom events
* New event payment process
* Youth Protection Standard processing
* Awards and Recognition
* Club Chartering and Club Manager/Project Leader Login
* Establishing and managing 4-H Clubs
* Group Enrollment
* Tagging/Archiving, and Moving Youth/Adult Profiles
* Plus, your questions answered!
Each Centra is limited to 50 computers so it is advised that if a particular date works best, you should sign up now! Each Centra is tentatively planned to be recorded for reference and viewing at your convenience.
District 11 TEA-FCS Retreat
I recently had the opportunity to participate in the District 11 TEA-FCS retreat in Austin, Texas. We participated in a tour of the Central Market on Lamar St. The Market is owned and operated by HEB Food Stores. This store is a very large store with excellent variety of a meat market, fish market, fresh bakery, winery, and a very large produce section. I am not much of a grocery shopper, but the store was very impressive as the store target busy costumers. The store also will take you call in order or email and shop for you and have it ready for pick up on your way home or delivered to your workplace and home. Our FCS agents,Elaine Fries and myself enjoyed the tour of the operation as well as lunch out in the market patio area.
The agents also had a business meeting and asked me to provide some administrative updates. The association offers excellent opportunities for agents to share ideas on programing and enjoy fellowship among processionals. I want to thank the agents for having me and I look forward to attending many more in the future.
District 11 Committees
It is time once again to ask for you to volunteer for two District 11 Committees, the award committee and the marketing and interpretation committee. The District Award Committee must identify and nominate agents for the Superior Service Awards. We have many excellent agents in our District we need to make sure our district is properly represented with nominations. Nominations due October 8, 2010. To see the last round of award presentation photos, as well as this year's guidelines and online application, go to
We have about a month to acquire three letters of commendation for your nominee and to submit the two-part nomination (an online application and an e-mailed Adobe PDF). Please help ensure that all deserving employees are considered for this recognition, our highest agency honor for the outstanding performance of AgriLife Extension faculty and staff. Each award-winning individual, unit, and team member will receive a monetary prize and an attractive, framed certificate. Some changes have occurred in the award categories and guidelines. If you are willing to serve on this committee please let me know by this Friday, Sept 3rd. so we can schedule a Centra or conference call.
The Marketing and Interpretation Committee basically plans and implements the District 11 Judges and Commissioners Conference scheduled for December 14th, in Edna. We need to identify topics for the agenda and submit them for approval. I also need volunteers by Friday, If I don't get some help, I will have to call some of you and ask for your your help.
HOT OFF THE PRESS!
District Council Newsletter & Community Service Project
The 2010-2011 District Council Officers and advisors have already been working hard to get the ball rolling for the new 4-H year. The team just published their first newsletter to keep D11 counties and members updated on district wide happenings. The newsletter can be found on the *NEW* District 11 4-H website at http://d114-h.tamu.edu. In additional to the newsletter, you can download a flyer announcing the district community service project "Pennies for Patients". The officer team will be meeting monthly via teleconference to discuss upcoming events and activities. If you every have anything you would like to add to their agenda, please email their advisors, Sarah Brandes or Adrian Arredondo. The fall District 11 4-H Council Meeting will be held at District Crossroads on Saturday, November 20, 2010.
