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| LEARN ABOUT US |
| ADA County Extension Programs |
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| Person: |
Barbara Abo |
| Program Thrust: |
4-H/Youth Development, Volunteer Development |
| Major Programs: |
Leadership Development – youth and adults, curriculum development, 4-H program outreach through non-traditional projects, volunteer development |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Mrs. Abo is the overall leader for the Ada County 4-H Program, where opportunities are provided for all youth to participate in innovative, fun projects, through which they develop valuable life skills. She recruits, screens, trains and provides recognition for adult and teen volunteer leaders. She facilitates numerous associations, councils, advisory boards, organizations and agencies that participate in the education, demonstration, evaluation and recognition of the thousands of projects that Ada County youth complete every year. Last year, 24,241 youth participated in 4-H clubs, camps and school enrichment activities in Ada County. Also, 1,243 4-H exhibitors demonstrated their projects at the Ada County Fair. Youth gained discipline, responsibility, and social and public speaking skills as a result of their participation. She provides leadership and mentorship for paraprofessionals working in after school enrichment, Operation Military Kids, and summer camp programs. Mrs. Abo also has nationally recognized expertise in the development of curricula that are used for teaching leaders and youth 4-H food projects. |
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| Person: |
Susan Bell |
| Program Thrust: |
Environmental Horticulture |
| Major Programs: |
Commercial and Consumer Horticulture, Master Gardeners, Xeriscaping, Volunteer Development |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Ms. Bell organizes and teaches home gardening/landscape classes and workshops to the ever-increasing suburban populations in the Treasure Valley. To accomplish this daunting task, each year she trains and supervises 100 to 150 volunteers, including Master Gardeners, Master Composters and Advanced Master Gardeners, so that programs can be delivered to community groups and organizations, “green” industries and individuals. She conducts horticultural trainings for United Water of Idaho, Boise City Public Works, Boise Parks Forestry Division, nursery retailers and Idaho Botanical Gardens employees and volunteers. Her educational programs on composting have reduced landfill waste, her xeriscape programs have lowered per capita domestic water consumption, and her “green” industry employee trainings have resulted in more appropriate pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer recommendations and use by consumers. Last year, volunteers trained or assisted over 8,000 Treasure Valley residents with horticultural concerns. Ada County Master Gardeners and Advanced Master Gardeners contributed over 3,500 hours of volunteer labor towards community horticultural improvement projects. Ms. Bell also conducts clinics, tours and workshops on plant diagnostics, insect/weed/disease identification, pesticide safety and general horticultural science. Ms. Bell is a regionally recognized expert in water efficient (xeric) landscaping, and incorporates “low water use” strategies into her landscape design classes and seminars. |
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| Person: |
Linda Gossett |
| Program Thrust: |
Family and Consumer Sciences – Food and Nutrition |
| Major Programs: |
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Linda supervises the federally funded USDA, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), which provides education on food and nutrition topics for limited income families in Canyon and Ada Counties. She trains paraprofessional nutritional advisors, who deliver educational programs in group settings. Nutrition advisors teach classes on topics such as practical nutrition, food trends, exercise and diet, food safety, and preparation of healthy and low cost meals. Last year, over 400 families were provided nutrition lessons, which resulted in improved eating habits, food budgeting, meal planning, and overall nutrition. Ms. Gossett was awarded $138,342 by USDA to support the EFNEP program, including salaries for herself and the paraprofessionals. Ms. Gossett has worked with commodity commissions to promote Idaho grown products and has written recipes to increase the use of free “USDA commodity” foods in the family menu. She has developed collaborative partnerships with numerous community organizations, including homeless shelters and food banks, to establish a referral system in order to provide resources for those most in need. Ms. Gossett has nationally recognized expertise in developing and providing educational programs in English and Spanish for limited-income audiences. |
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| Person: |
Beverly Healy |
| Program Thrust: |
Family and Consumer Sciences – Family Resource Management, Food Safety |
| Major Programs: |
Financial Literacy, Financial Management, Food Safety Training |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Ms. Healy has developed major programs in financial management education with the goal of increasing financial literacy in the Treasure Valley. As an accredited financial counselor she has conducted successful educational classes in the areas of financial record keeping, long term care, financial security in later life, and managing personal legal matters, which encourages individuals to make a detailed evaluation of their legal health and suggests resources that provide self-help or professional assistance. Ms. Healy also offers financial management classes for newlyweds. Newlyweds have developed household budgets and lowered credit card debt, reducing the leading cause (financial problems) of family disputes and stress. She teaches responsible spending habits and credit/debt education to teenagers, emphasizing the risky business of today’s enticing credit card industry. Ms. Healy conducts extensive programming in the area of food safety education, including training volunteers that assist community organizations and individuals with food safety and nutrition issues. |
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| Person: |
Kevin Laughlin |
| Program Thrust: |
4-H/Youth Development, Natural Resources, Small Acreage Landowners |
| Major Programs: |
Volunteer Development, Leadership Development, Building Partnerships, Small Acreage Farming |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Dr. Laughlin has regional expertise in the areas of leadership development, innovative educational program design and evaluation and teaching methodology. He provides educational opportunities (university credit, continuing education credit, or non-credit courses) for volunteers, program coordinators, teachers and other agency and association leaders that work with youth. He has streamlined 4-H programs in Ada County through facilitation of strategic planning with community partners, associations and organizations. He has developed new strategies for 4-H project evaluation, demonstration, and recognition to emphasize the teaching of life skills. Kevin has introduced the Junior Master Gardener program to Idaho, training adult volunteers and teachers who in turn will teach the curriculum to youth. In addition, Dr. Laughlin has designed and implemented unique educational programming for the proliferation of small farm/acreage landowners in the Treasure Valley. Courses have included pasture management, market gardening, sustainable agriculture, farmers markets, weed management, and productive grazing strategies. He serves as one of four western representatives on the National 4-H Cooperative Curriculum Committee (4HCCS) which oversees 180 national curricula for youth and adults. |
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