|
|
|
| LEARN ABOUT US |
| NEZ PERCE County Extension Programs |
|
| Person: |
Larry Smith |
| Program Thrust: |
Cropping Systems, Horticulture |
| Major Programs: |
Crop Production; Horticulture; Professional Applicator Training; Practical Plant Pathology; Partners of Americas - Farmer to Farmer Program |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Mr. Smith provides crop production information to producers in Clearwater, Nez Perce, and Latah counties through applied research, crops tours, workshops, short courses, newspaper articles and one-on-one consultation. Many of Mr. Smith's educational activities are approved for professional certification (pesticide applicators' certification, crop advisors' certification) and some are approved for University of Idaho academic credits or continuing education units. Mr. Smith is the lead in the North Central Idaho area for pesticide applicator training. Over the years, this training has provided many participants the opportunity to either secure employment or advance in their current jobs. Additionally, he provides on-farm field trials and subject matter information in plant pathology. Mr. Smith works closely with other county faculty, Extension specialists, University of Idaho researchers, industry representatives and crop producers to localize research through cereal and legume variety trials, fertility studies, pesticide screening field trials, and pest management studies. Mr. Smith has worked successfully with the Nez Perce Tribe to develop a tribal demonstration garden that has supplied about 5,000 pounds of fresh produce over the last decade to the USDA Food Center for citizens of the reservation. Also, a plethora of IPM gardening practices have been demonstrated and variety adaptability and disease resistance have been rated. He has also developed an elite unit of Master Gardeners who provide a summer plant diagnostic clinic. The clinic successfully and efficiently answers scores of routine and complex pest and plant problem questions about landscapes and gardens. Mr. Smith has also been the state contact for the Partners of the Americas projects, and in that capacity has traveled to Central and South America to help small acreage farmers develop sustainable practices. |
| |
| Person: |
Kathee Tifft |
| Program Thrust: |
Community Development, Family Well-being |
| Major Programs: |
Elder Friendly Communities, Rural Leadership Training |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Ms. Tifft has focused on Elder Friendly Communities as an emerging programming area based on our aging population. Ms. Tifft has networked with a number of agencies, non-profit organizations, and colleges and universities to provide workshops on long term care, transfer of property from one generation to another, protecting financial security from health risks, grandparents raising grandchildren, and identity theft. An example of her creative networking was her successful partnership with AARP in getting workshop notices out to their membership. She works closely with other county faculty and state specialists to provide the most up-to-date information. Ms. Tifft is also a member of the CALS Community Development topic team and is a trainer on the Horizon's team, which is focused on developing rural community leaders. |
| |
|
|
