LEAD New York Program Accepting Applications for Class 12 --- The Empire State Food and Agricultural Leadership Institute, or LEAD New York, is now accepting applications for its up-coming class. Invitations have been sent out to an extensive prospect list, but LEAD is inviting anyone interested in the program to apply. The application deadline is March 1, 2007.
LEAD New York is a two-year leadership development program, consisting of 50 days of seminars, workshops, and field travel experiences both in and out of New York State. It is designed for women and men who provide leadership to the food and agricultural industry. Selected participants have demonstrated their leadership abilities and have the potential for further leadership and development. This exciting program has a significant impact on its participants and the businesses and organizations they lead. As one current class member puts it: "LEAD has had a more significant impact on how I run my farm than my four-year college degree in agriculture." The training program focuses on these major areas:
Leadership Skill Development (public speaking, meeting management, listening skills, etc.) Motivation towards civic engagement and participation in the public policy process Greater understanding of important agricultural issues and how we fit into a global food system Develop and cultivate leadership networks with other leaders around the state, nation and world
LEAD graduates hold prominent leadership positions in New York State agriculture. One look at the board roster for virtually any New York agricultural organization will yield several LEAD graduates at the helm. Too, many of our 313 alumni serve in local, state and federal government positions, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions. As one graduate put it, Lead-NY was an eye-opening experience for me. I not only made lifelong friends, I also learned key skills that have proved useful throughout my career. Lead-NY changed my perspective and has helped me be a more knowledgeable advocate for agriculture."
For more information or to obtain an application form, anyone interested should contact Larry Van De Valk, Director, LEAD New York Program, 114 Kennedy Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255 - 7907), ljv4@cornell.edu. Applications are also available on the web at http://www.leadny.org/
SEMINARS, CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS
CCE-Broome County Presents: Financing Your Business Start-Up -February 1 -- 7:00pm, CCE-Broome County is presenting a workshop that will feature a traditional lending institution (NBT Bank), an agricultural referral agency (NYFarmNet), an agricultural lender (Farm Service Agency, and a representative of the Small Business Administration. The presenters will discuss the types of financial support available for a business startup, traditional or agricultural. They will also provide an overview of the issues surrounding application for financing, and steps that can be taken to better ensure securing start-up capital. Cost of this workshop is $5. Pre-registration is required. For further information or to register, contact Laura Wollin-Wood at (607) 584-5007.
The NYS IPM Program Announces a Unique Workshop for Agricultural Educators - February 1 & 2 --- The NYS IPM Field Crops and Livestock Program, with funding from NE SARE, will host a workshop to train educators in the Northeast on how to plan and conduct a Tactical Agriculture Program. Tactical Agriculture, or TAg, is an educational model that NYS IPM has been using for years to effectively deliver locally adapted field programs to our clientele. Visit our web site for a description of TAg: http://nysipm.cornell.edu/fieldcrops/tag/tag_intro.asp. Participants will have the opportunity to design their own experiential, hands-on training program for small groups of farmers in local areas. The training workshop is to be held in Albany, NY.
More details are available online at http://nysipm.cornell.edu/fieldcrops/tag/tag_training.asp. Contact Julie Dennis (js38@cornell.edu) or Ken Wise (klw24@cornell.edu) to register or to request more information. Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) Videoconferences-Register by February 5 --- The Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) is offering a videoconference update on its reorganization. Information will include staff introductions, program foci, training opportunities, upcoming seminars, new publication series, partnerships, and fostering campus connections.
Dates and locations:February 13, 10:30 - noon; Albany; Dutchess; New York City
February 15, 10:30- noon; Jefferson; Onondaga; Warren
February 16, 10:30 - noon; Greene; Livingston; Erie
Please contact Linda Warner at llw2@cornell.edu to indicate plans to participate (and which site), by February 5th. Individuals may participate in 300 Rice Hall any of the three days.
CCE-Cayuga Climate Change Talks - February 6 & March 5 --- February 6: "Climate Change: The New Urgency of Emission Reduction and How to Make a Difference," a presentation by Sylvester Johnson IV, Ph.D., Applied Physics, 7:00-8:30 PM.
March 5:"The Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture," a presentation by Prof. David Wolfe, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, 7:00-8:30 PM.
Both talks will be held at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County, 248 Grant Ave., Auburn. Free and open to the public. For directions, call 315-255-1183.
2007 Water Quality Symposium / CDEA Annual Training Session - March 13-16 -- The Water Quality Symposium / CDEA Annual Training will be held March 13-16 at the Holiday Inn in Auburn, NY. The strong partnership between the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, the District Employees' Association and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation makes this Symposium possible. The teamwork of many individuals makes this conference an excellent opportunity to advance natural resource protection fundamentals across the state.
For workshop information, agenda, and registration information contact Jeff Carmichael, Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District at 315-677-3851 or jcarmichael@ocswcd.org
Graze-A-Palooza! A Celebration of Grass-based Farming, Food and Families -March 31 --- Interested in the benefits of eating grass fed beef and milk? Come see renowned author Dr. Kate Clancy speak on this topic and much more at this Central New York Resource Conservation & Development Project event.
Dr. Kate Clancy, author of the Union of Concerned Scientists' report, Greener Pastures: How grass-fed beef and milk contribute to healthy eating, is on the agenda this year. A former senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience focused on pasture-raised animal systems; policies related to agriculture; farmland preservation; farm viability; and food systems planning. Other topics on the agenda include: soil life, stocking rate strategies, tree crops, young graziers, grassland birds, ask the vet, knapweed/bedstraw eradication, startup custom grazing, ask the butcher, small farm marketing, grass-fed meats for pets, grazing small grains and more!
Pre-registration is required - $30/adult; includes lunch, trade show and material. Call Kim Totten at (607) 334-3231 ext. 4 or register online at www.cnyrcd.org.
Sponsors include: CNY RC&D Project, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida and Madison County SWCDs, The Graze-NY Program, NY State GLCI, Cornell CCE of Cayuga and Oneida Counties, Chenango Co. Ag. Development Council, Cornell Small Farms Program, USDA, NRCS, and the Cornell Dept. of Animal Science.
Public Issues Leadership Development Conference - April 23-25 -- The Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference, "Connectivity: Community to the Capitol" will be held April 23-25 in Arlington, VA, at the Crystal City Marriott. The Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) sponsors this annual conference to keep extension professionals abreast of changing public issues that impact our communities and therefore affect extension programs. Registration and conference details are available at www.jcep.org.
Scholarship funds are available to help support participation of representatives of the professional organizations that comprise JCEP - Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, Epsilon Sigma Phi, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals. Please contact Rod Howe at rlh13@cornell.edu to get more information about possible financial support.
Even if you are not seeking financial assistance, please contact Rod if you are planning to attend so he can coordinate with Dianne Miller, Legislative Associate with the Office of Government and Community Relations.
GRANTS & PROPOSALS
2007 Small Watershed Grants Program -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program, is pleased to announce the 2007 Small Watershed Grants Program. For more detailed information and application materials please visit our website: www.nfwf.org/chesapeake/
Please contact Amanda Bassow amanda.bassow@nfwf.org or Brian Kittler brian.kittler@nfwf.org at the Foundation for more information on the proposal application process. Proposals are due April 2, 2007.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Program also invite you to attend a free workshop on the Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program. This workshop will provide an overview of the Small Watershed Grants Program; offer recommendations on what makes for a strong proposal; and answer any questions that potential applicants may have about the significant changes in the Small Watershed Grants Program for 2007. Please note that there will only be one workshop for the Small Watershed Grants Program held this year. All are encouraged to attend at the following date, time and location:
The Chesapeake Bay Program Office (www.chesapeakebay.net/directions.htm) The "Fish Shack" Conference Room Friday February 16, 2007 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
The workshop will also be available via webcast. Please RSVP to chesapeake@nfwf.org and indicate whether you will participate in person or via webcast. If you plan to participate via webcast, instructions will be e-mailed to you. A recording of the webcast workshop will be posted on the NFWF website and available for download.
INFORMATION
Add Meetings to CCE Event Calendar -- Please enter events or workshops that may be of interest statewide or regionally on the online CCE Event Calendar. State and national agent association meetings should be entered as well, so as to avoid scheduling conflicts. The CCE Calendar is easy to use; first go to the CCE Staff Web site at http://staff.cce.cornell.edu. On the left-hand menu, you'll see two options: "View the Calendar/Add an Event" and "How to use the Calendar." Follow the step-by-step instructions, and your event will be posted for all to see.
For this and past issues of CCE News, please visit: www.staff.cce.cornell.edu/administration/ccenews/index.htm
To submit items for CCE News, send CCE News submissions to Lauri Whatley at lhw6@cornell.edu. The weekly deadline is noon each Friday.