Please plan on joining us for lunch and a fun opportunity to catch up with fellow Extension retirees during our annual Extension Dean's lunch with retirees on Tuesday, July 23 at the Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville. This year, we are also adding a second luncheon location and date for those who live in Greater Minnesota. Please join us on Monday, June 24 at the Holiday Inn in Detroit Lakes. All are invited to attend one or both events; a more formal invitation will be sent in the next month.

I look forward to seeing you this summer!

Bev Durgan

This issue also features Extension's work in growing healthier foods through research and education on high tunnels and phytonutrients; response to needs expressed by the Fond du Lac community to better manage their natural resources; a curriculum that helps families adjust to changing economic conditions; and a new edition of a book on ornamental grasses that is based on 25 years of research.

During times of crisis in our communities, Extension continues to play an important role by educating the public with relevant information and recommendations about flood preparation and supporting the work of our many partnering agencies. In addition to the website, Extension education is available by calling Extension's toll-free phone services - Flood (aka Farm) Information Line (1-800-232-9077) and AnswerLine (1-800-854-1678).

Our current funding plan is to cover these costs from Extension's reserves, which means that Extension will not have to cut positions or programs in order to cover costs in FY 2014. Thanks to our collective wise stewardship of public and private funding (including gifts made by retirees), Extension currently has the reserves available to cover these expenses. However, we will need to continue to diversify our funding sources and continue our efforts to obtain grants, gifts and fees to offer high quality programs that meet the needs of Minnesota.

Gifts to support Extension can be made online (click on Make a Gift), or mailed to the University of Minnesota Foundation (designate Extension as gift beneficiary and fund of interest), CM-3854, PO Box 70870, St. Paul, MN  55170-3854. For questions about giving, or including Extension in your estate plan, contact Jane Johnson, Extension Development Officer, at 612-626-3717 or johns350@umn.edu.

Nancy J. Nelson, the first full-time community resource Extension agent in Minnesota, passed away on April 8, age 58. She began her Extension career in 1992 in Moorhead where she worked with the local businesses until she retired in 2002.

J. David Radford passed away on February 27 at age 82. He received both a Bachelor of Science and Master's Degree from the University. He began his Extension career in Carleton County as an Extension resource development agent. His areas of expertise included dairy and small farms, and his long successful career continued until he retired in 1986.

Richard C. Walter, age 81, died January 15 in Red Wing. Richard graduated from the University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science. He worked for Extension in Goodhue County until he retired in 1989.

Charles E. Williams served in several roles for Extension. In 1981, he became the 4-H district program leader, followed by staff development coordinator, minority recruiting officer, Extension specialist and Extension's equal opportunity officer. Charles passed away in Minneapolis on September 9, at age 71.

"According to a 2011 survey, agricultural professionals serve an average of 60 clients each, having an impact on some 48,000 acres. Just one of the Institute's educational programs impacts 4.3 million acres across the state and surrounding regions," Durgan observed. Essential partnerships among Extension, farmers and agricultural professionals were featured recently in Source Magazine.

Extension Retiree Donald P. Untiedt was featured in a February issue of the Star Tribune's Home & Garden section for his impressive garden that is home to dozens of varieties of Minnesota flowers, a waterfall and a koi pond.

Karen Lilley, Extension retiree, volunteers with the Blue House, an orphanage for girls in Uganda, Africa. She maintains their website, manages print and online communications, does publicity for fundraisers and outreach, and serves on the U.S. board. In the past year she's had some success with donors doing their own fundraisers (for example, biking across the country, running marathons) by creating online giving pages. She's trying to balance her desire to help more orphans with a desire not to work too hard in retirement.

Phyllis Onstad attended the 2012 ESP National Conference in Mobile, AL where she participated as a Minnesota voting delegate. She reported, "Thank you for the scholarship which offset the cost of attending this meaningful conference-it was an amazing opportunity."

If you are a member of ESP Pi Chapter, you are eligible for scholarships to attend National Extension annual meetings, professional conferences, or continuing graduate education.The next round of scholarship applications are due July 1. To learn more, visit the ESP website.

UMRA hosts a monthly lunch with guests who present on issues of interests to retirees and small-group discussions follow. During the luncheon, I also had the opportunity to speak with retirees about why they decided to join UMRA. The overwhelming response was that the programming, events and connections they made through UMRA kept them active and engaged with the University after their retirement. Faculty from across disciplines and locations have found UMRA to be a great resource.  

UMRA is an independent organization, with about 500 members, including faculty, P&A, and civil service employees. They meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in Coffman Memorial Union. For more information about how to join, visit the UMRA website.

Sadelle Schroeder, Extension Student Development Intern

Over the last five years, you have helped to grow Extension's development and fundraising capacity. Working with our first development officer, Matt Musel, many of you have helped raise more than $4 million for Extension programs including agriculture, natural resources, leadership and families. The development team now also includes two part-time major gift officers, Jayne Hager Dee and Nancy Frosaker, and five student workers.

Earlier this fall, Matt moved on to other opportunities in fundraising and politics and we welcomed Jane Johnson as our new chief development officer. Jane is a third generation Golden Gopher, with a degree in design from the College of Human Ecology. She comes to us with a wealth of development experience, including the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, University of Minnesota Foundation, Minnesota Museum of Art, and the Regional Parks Foundation of the Twin Cities. Jane will be working alongside Cara Miller, director of the Minnesota 4-H Foundation.   

I thank you for your generous support of Extension and I look forward to working with you and Jane. Together we can continue to grow Extension's reach and impact through gifts that support Extension education and research.

Bev Durgan

Direct questions to Judd Sheridan (sheri012@umn.edu), chair of the grants committee, or other committee members listed in the RFP.  

"I think it is safe to say that no University college or program touches the lives of Minnesotans the way Extension does. During my first 18 months at the University, I've traveled across this state and everywhere I go I see Extension's reach: from food and agriculture to youth and families, to community leadership and economic development.

The University's impact reaches into every household. A recent economic impact study found that the University of Minnesota generates $8.6 billion a year in economic activity in the state. That means we return $13.20 to the state's economy for every dollar of state funding we receive.

Like the rest of the University, Extension depends on state funding to be able to deliver the education Minnesotans count on. We need to ensure that the state continues to invest in the University and Extension so we can continue to invest in Minnesota."

President Eric Kaler and wife Karen visited the 4-H building again this year, and Karen even participated in a 4-H science experiment in which youth scientists attempted to  "walk on water" (a pool of cornstarch and water) as they learned how the mixture acts like a liquid when being poured, but like a solid when force is applied.

Extension volunteer Master Gardeners were also a popular presence at the fair this year. In addition to answering questions from fairgoers, they presented an exhibit on biochar, a nutrient-rich co-product of a biofuel production process. Master Gardener volunteers have been part of a University research team studying the effectiveness of biochar as a soil amendment. 

Some ways retirees have chosen to continue their support for Extension is through fully deductible charitable contributions to the following funds: Extension Dean & Director's Fund (#3419), Extension Internship Fund (#3500), Minnesota Extension Workers Scholarship Fund (#2941), and Qualey/Skjervold Extension Scholarship & Professional Development Fund (#3162).  

Gifts to support Extension can be made online (click on Make a Gift), or mailed to the University of Minnesota Foundation (designate Extension as gift beneficiary and fund of interest), CM-3854, PO Box 70870, St. Paul, MN  55170-3854.   

For questions about giving, or including Extension in your estate plan, contact Jane Johnson, Extension Development Officer, at 612-626-3717 or johns350@umn.edu.