| Person: |
Stuart Parkinson |
| Program Thrust: |
Agriculture – Crops and Horticulture |
| Major Programs: |
Pesticide Safety Education; Forages; Small Acreage Farms; Master Gardening. |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
In rural southeast Idaho, it is often difficult for local farmers and ranchers to avail themselves of commercially sponsored pesticide applicator recertification opportunities. Mr. Parkinson and his colleagues have annually provided these opportunities via special Pesticide Re-certification and other crop grower meetings. In 2004, approximately 175 people used these opportunities to obtain credits necessary to maintain pesticide certification. Mr. Parkinson is our most accomplished expert on vegetable horticultural crops in the region and provides that expertise to local small acreage producers as well as Master Gardener classes throughout the District. He also uses applied research projects as information outlets for his local producers, particularly in the area of dairy production. |
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| Person: |
Laura Sant |
| Program Thrust: |
Family and Consumer Science – Nutrition and Health, Food Safety; 4-H Youth |
| Major Programs: |
Meal Time in Less Time; Ready, Set, Food Safe |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Ms. Sant’s program is focused mostly on nutrition and food safety issues. For one of her programs, she teaches meal planning and preparation techniques to improve health. She is part of a group of faculty who have developed and published a curriculum entitled “Meal Time in Less Time”. Ms. Sant also works with local high schools in southeastern Idaho to provide food service food safety education. Sixty-five percent of the high school students who took the program, “Ready, Set, Food Safe”, passed the test with an 80% or higher score and obtained an Idaho Food Handler’s Permit. Food handler permits enhance student employment opportunities and possibly income. |
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