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| LEARN ABOUT US |
| TWIN FALLS County Extension Programs |
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| Person: |
Gary Fornshell |
| Program Thrust: |
Agriculture – Aquaculture |
| Major Programs: |
Competitive and Profitable Agriculture, Fish Disease/Health, Agricultural Stewardship and Environment, Policy Impact Assessment |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Gary Fornshell is the only aquaculture extension educator in Idaho and has multi-county responsibility to work with the aquaculture industry. Idaho is the number one trout producing state in the nation, accounting for 75% of domestic production; most of the industry is located in Twin Falls, Jerome, and Gooding Counties. Approximately 80 facilities are located in this area, producing an average of 42 million pounds of trout, 1.25 million pounds of tilapia, and 450,000 pounds of catfish. Other species include sturgeon and alligators for human consumption, and a variety of tropical species for the aquarium trade. A major portion of Mr. Fornshell’s educational efforts (publications, presentations, and research) revolve around environmental regulations that can greatly impact the industry. Collaborators include researchers, extension educators, agencies, and the aquaculture industry. He and colleagues were awarded $102,830 in grants to support their work. A primary focus is educating regulators about aquaculture and providing them with science-based information to assist them in formulating regulations. Mr. Fornshell has been involved in a five year effort to assist regulation development by facilitating agency and industry discussions and providing education for all parties. Other efforts include helping fish producers comply with effluent regulations through best management practices. Mr. Fornshell has authored book chapters, industry newsletter articles, and professional journal articles and is a sought after presenter at local, regional, and national meetings. He has collected farm financial data and assisted with developing a trout farm economic model. Mr. Fornshell is recognized nationally for his work. Idaho aquaculture producers awarded him the “Golden Sturgeon” award – the first time a non-producer has been honored. He also received the coveted University of Idaho “Excellence in Outreach” award for his career efforts in UI Extension. |
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| Person: |
Rhea Lanting |
| Program Thrust: |
Family and Consumer Sciences – Nutrition, Health, and Food Safety |
| Major Programs: |
Extension Nutrition Program (ENP), Family Resource Management, 4-H/Youth Development |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Rhea Lanting is the administrator of the highly successful District III ENP program. She shares leadership with a coordinator and they train and supervise seven nutrition advisors throughout District III. These paraprofessionals teach lessons to limited resource youth and adults in nutrition, food safety, and resource management. She was awarded $224,912 in USDA/Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare grants and other grants to support ENP and other extension programming. Collaborators include the Department of Health and Welfare, ACS: State and Local Solutions, Parole and Probation, Head Start, South Central Community Partnership, Juvenile Probation, Delta Developmental Services, qualifying school districts, and county governments. ENP is serving the Hispanic population in the area very effectively with over 1000 Hispanic adult contacts and over 500 Hispanic youth contacts. Behavior changes are documented and participants report increases in good food resource management, food safety and nutrition practices. Program outcomes show an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and in physical activity, resulting in positive lifestyle changes. Ms. Lanting has worked with the state extension nutrition specialist to develop two osteoporosis prevention curricula: “Got Calcium?” (for youth) and “Osteoporosis: Prevention and Treatment” (for adults). ENP Nutrition Advisors have reached 3964 youth with this program. Ms. Lanting saw a need for diabetes education in the district, and after teaching classes for two years, helped develop “The Healthy Diabetes Plate” curriculum. Course evaluations show that 94% of participants planned meals correctly by the end of the classes. This successful program has been featured at the Diabetes Control Center in Washington, DC. Since 2002, 913 individuals have attended sessions. She has partnered with the local Diabetes Foundation, Diabetes Coalition, The Magic Valley Regional Medical Center, the Idaho Diabetes Alliance Group and Idaho Home Health and Hospice to make this possible. Ms. Lanting and two other Extension Educators recently published a new curriculum titled: “Meal Time in Less Time”. She is currently working on “Seafood, At Its Best” curriculum with Gary Fornshell. Ms. Lanting actively offers a variety of educational programs to 4-H and other youth through innovative programs, including one-day workshops and presentations at the local Boys and Girls Club, After School Programs, and ESL youth programs. |
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| Person: |
Kelly Tindall |
| Program Thrust: |
Agriculture – Entomology |
| Major Programs: |
Competitive and Profitable Agriculture, Entomology, Insect Pests in Corn, Small Grains, Sugarbeets, and Other Crops |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
Dr. Kelly Tindall serves as an Area Extension Educator in Entomology. She works closely with county extension faculty, area producers, and advisory committees to identify specific production problems and educational needs of the district as related to entomology. Research, problem identification and resolution, and educational outreach are the primary foci of the position. Dr. Tindall was employed on October 3, 2005 for a two-year period. In addition to providing entomological educational programs to faculty and producers, her research areas include: sugarbeet leafhopper – curly top virus studies; sugarbeet root maggot; black soldier fly; insecticide trials for arthropod management; and insect-weed interactions. |
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| Person: |
Vacant |
| Program Thrust: |
Agriculture – Natural Resources and the Environment and Water Quality |
| Major Programs: |
Nutrient Management, Beef and Dairy Production, Competitive Agriculture, 4-H/Youth Development |
| Successes and Current Activities: |
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