It seems like short weeks are super packed. Last Monday Darren Haver and I drove to the Desert Research and Extension Center (REC). It was great to visit with Jairo, Stacey and Gilberto on our wagon ride around the REC. It was nice to see Kat as well. There were many creative ideas on how to increase research at the REC. Let's see which ones we can put into motion. We learned first-hand about the Farm Smart program, now more than 20 years young. Farm Smart “promotes a better understanding of agriculture, the source of our food, fiber, and energy, and its impact on our economy and daily lives, as well as protecting natural resources and cultivating healthy people and communities.” Stacey was sorting through seed packets from Lowes. During her recent trip to Lowes for potting soil she was given a huge donation of almost expired seeds. These will be a wonderful addition to the winter tours where kids will be able to plant seeds and take them home to grow. Lowes might not appreciate the expiration date of seed packets in my garage. I'm almost sure I've used up everything from my last trip to the Gurney's store many decades ago.
In addition to meeting many of the staff at the REC, I had a bonus opportunity to visit with those in Imperial County Cooperative Extension office who were not away on holiday. Oli provided a brief summary of Imperial County and discussed the impact of Cooperative Extension. It was exciting to meet so many members of the team including:Chris, Rigo, Nannette, Lupe, Jorge, Arlene, Martha, Jennifer and Andrea. One of the overarching needs is rodent proof, all weather storage for CalFresh. Chris and Rigo shared the need to store their various supplies in a clean area. Thank you all for taking time out of your day to visit with me.
The visit with Desert REC and Imperial County concluded with a mini feast (thank you Lupe for making that happen). Discussions of land preparation, irrigation and accounting were key. It's clear the staff work closely together between the REC and the UCCE office.
After the quick trip to the Desert REC I returned to Davis. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to express gratitude and appreciation to all who make the magic in ANR happen. From our Human Resources and Business Operations teams to our newest hired staff and academics, we work together to make California better. Thank you for your dedication to UC ANR and improving lives of Californians.