From day to day, it seems like nothing ever changes, but when you look back on the past year, it’s shocking to realize just how much has happened over 365 tiny little days. This has certainly been true for us in Extension.
In 2024, we celebrated the 110th anniversary of the National Cooperative Extension service, which was created by an act of congress to share the research discoveries of our land-grant universities with the public as practical education. In Florida, UF/IFAS Extension and FAMU Extension faculty, staff and volunteers provide research-based solutions for your life in each of our state’s 67 counties.
We began the year by rolling out our new Pathway to Creating Engagement through Innovation and Excellence. That’s a mouthful, but you can just call it the Pathway. This strategic plan sharpens our focus, enhances our organization, and will guide our Extension work over the next five years, with renewed emphasis on serving all the people of Florida with our education programs.
Florida Extension’s new direction gained a huge boost in late December of last year, when then-UF President Ben Sasse earmarked $2.7 in strategic funding to upgrade our data technology. Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence with the data and management tools of business intelligence, this five-year initiative, headed by Dr. Christian Christensen, will improve Extension’s ability reach our audiences, manage data more efficiently and better serve the people of Florida.
In February, we unveiled Extension Solutions, a monthly email newsletter to keep you up to date on the latest news, events and programming from our Extension faculty across the state. You can subscribe here: https://extension-newsletter.mailchimpsites.com/extension-solutions
2024 was a year of new faces and transitions in Extension. After a nationwide search, we welcomed Shannon Horrillo as our new associate dean for Family, Youth and Communities. Since arriving in March, Dr. Horrillo has energized Extension Family and Consumer Sciences faculty and programming. Together, they are leading the charge to bring our new pathway and our data upgrade into the field to serve as a model for Extension education.
Horrillo to lead UF/IFAS Extension family and youth programming as associate dean
Claire Lewis was selected to lead the Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Program (FFL). Claire is the first of Extension’s state specialized agents to head FFL, which last year celebrated its 35th anniversary of teaching and promoting sustainable landscaping practices.
Claire Lewis to lead the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program
It’s been a big year for FFL, as it rolled out a new recognition program for homeowners who go above and beyond to create environmentally friendly landscapes. In addition, Flip My Florida Yard, the Emmy-winning TV series that promotes Florida-friendly landscaping principles, entered its fourth season, and the Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program celebrated its 45th anniversary as the ambassadors of sustainable landscaping.
UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ launches new award: Natural recognition
Florida celebrates 45 years of Master Gardener Volunteer program
Michael Dukes was named the new director of the UF/IFAS Nutrient Management program. This ongoing state-funded project is updating IFAS’ nutrient recommendations for major crops grown in Florida. The aim is to apply research to make crop production more efficient with less impact on the environment. Dr. Dukes was also named the associate dean for Extension special initiatives under our new Pathway. Sometimes I’m not sure that Dr. Dukes hasn’t cloned himself.
Years of UF research yields science-backed fertilization rates
With nationwide food recalls frequently in the news, we’re glad to have a new statewide specialist onboard to teach our stakeholders about food safety. Stephanie Brown comes to us from Oregon State University, and now works out of the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center.
New statewide Extension agent will teach stakeholders about food safety
In other news, Gilchrist County broke ground a new Extension office last August. The 20,000-square-foot facility in Bell will eventually encompass an auditorium, conference room, commercial kitchen, telehealth room and enough space to accommodate 130 volunteers and 230 Florida 4-H members.
UF/IFAS Extension Gilchrist County to expand facilities 10-fold
There is not enough space here to mention all the workshops, open houses, conferences, bioblitzes and other Extension events scheduled in 2024, but I will mention that over 100 field days were held throughout the state this year. Field days are enormously important to our agricultural and horticultural producers in Florida—participants get updates on new crop varieties, best practices, and how to manage climate change, pests and diseases, all based on the latest research.
We expected 2024 to be a busier than average hurricane season, but we didn’t expect three major storms within a 9-week period. Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton caused widespread damage to Florida’s agriculture and infrastructure. Our Extension faculty served as information first responders in affected communities, staffing emergency operations centers and shelters, performing damage assessments on local farms and joining relief efforts pouring in from all over the state.
Hurricane Debby: Florida agricultural production losses top $93M, UF economists estimate
Hurricane Helene: Florida agricultural production losses top $40M, UF economists estimate
Hurricane Milton: Florida agricultural production losses top $190M, UF economists estimate
On a more positive note, our annual Peanut Butter Challenge, extended through November due to the hurricanes, collected a record-setting 39,898 pounds of peanut butter for local food pantries. That’s nearly 20 tons of protein rich nourishment to help feed 2.9 million Floridians facing hunger.
UF/IFAS Peanut Butter Challenge concludes with nearly 20-ton haul
And I haven’t even gotten to Florida 4-H yet! Or agriculture and natural resources! Or Florida Sea Grant! Or the many other program impacts our Extension agents and specialists reported in 2024.
It looks like we’re going to need a bigger blog! Stay tuned for more recaps of Extension accomplishments coming in December and January.
Happy Holidays to All from UF/IFAS Extension!
0
