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State Conference planned for August in College Station

Save the date for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service State Extension Conference Aug. 16-18 in College Station. The goal of the conference will be for renewal, professional development and engagement for the future of AgriLife Extension.

Find event details here.

Got a topic idea for a Tech Tuesday that you think will be helpful to our statewide audience? Email us with your suggestion!

Helping you work smarter

Each session will address issues that are specific to the Extension employee experience and is led by a different member of our Extension family to offer valuable perspective. This technology “deep dive” breaks bigger concepts into manageable one-hour lessons. You are sure to learn a new productivity hack as you explore this library of lessons.

Newsletters for Extension Programming and Outreach

Session 1: Traditional Newsletters
We’ll explore the how to get started creating traditional Newsletters in Publisher & Canva
– Layout
– Content
Distribution via Outlook
Session 2: E-Newsletters & Email Marketing Platforms
This session will showcase, for both new and seasoned users, the benefits of taking your traditional newsletter to the next level!
We’ll take a broad look at the platforms that are out there and see that all provide a suite of tools that can create time-saving efficiencies for the busy user. Efficiencies that will allow you to work smarter, not harder – and extending the work you are already doing for maximum impact (Read: no more fat PDF files to push out!).

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Data Management

Session 1: Microsoft Excel Basics for Rookies
Learn more about foundational topics like parts of a spreadsheet, formatting, sorting, filtering, find/replace, basic math functions, and more. After a quick 25-minute lesson, you will be given the opportunity to practice what you have learned and to ask questions.
Session 2: Excel Features & Techniques to Help Compile & Aggregate Data Efficiently
This presentation will focus primarily on 3 basic concepts including basic formula building, pivot tables and the VLOOKUP function.

Microsoft Outlook: Tech Tips for Time Management and Calendaring

Session 1: Maximizing your productivity with your Outlook calendar
– Tips and tricks you may have overlooked
– Using forms to streamline your workflow
– Mass email for clear communication
Session 2: Maximizing your productivity with your Outlook calendar
– Using Microsoft Viva and To Do to manage your Inbox and Tasks

Go Hybrid: Taking your programming to the next level

Session 1: Conducting Hybrid (Live & Virtual) Programming in Extension Education.
Session 2: How to handle registration for Hybrid Programming
Gathering Responses after the Hybrid Program
Teams Experience Panel

Live Audience Polling

Using Qualtrics: A Powerful Survey Tool for Effective Issue Identification

– This video explores the purpose and processes for identifying issues through a provided Qualtric Form

Canva 101: Your design BFF when it comes to branding!

Session 1: Why Canva?
– What problems does this software solve for our organization
– Software features and strengths
– Sharing made easy: How to collaborate using Canva
– Where to learn more: CanvaDesign School
– MarComm Template library: A growing collection inspired by you!
– Extension Show and Tell: a friendly review and recognition of Canva projects created by Extension employees like you!
Session 2: Designing with the AgriLife templates
– tricks to design like a pro
– ditch the stock photos! and use our AgriLife Photoshelter for better, more authentic and engaging imagery

Microsoft Teams: Making the platform work for you

We want you to be successful in utilizing the tool to better your programming efforts.

Session 1: Teamwork Collaboration / Project Management
– Internal vs External users
– Building a Team
– OneDrive – how to sync and use it
– Collaborating on Documents
– Adding a Calendar to your Team
– Settings
– Notifications
– Setting up your mic and webcam

Session 2: Meeting and Programming
– Meeting vs Webinar vs Live Event
– Differences, Pros and cons
– Differences from Zoom
– How to schedule each
– Tips and Tricks for helping with participants
– Tips and Tricks for helping with Speakers
– Moderators
– “After the fact” Attendance, Surveys, and Recordings
– CEU’s and the Honor Code

Featured AgriLife Learn Courses

These resources are here for Texans, but can also be valuable educational complements to your in-person programs. Check out the latest offerings, developed by your colleagues! For questions involving customer support or account access, please contact: learnonline@ag.tamu.edu or check out their FAQ’s here.

For the full list of AgriLife Learn course offerings, visit https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/

Do Well Be Well

This course is designed to help people with diabetes do well and be well. Our experts walk through the basics of diabetes, how to make helpful choices, and the basics of medicine.

Owning Your Piece of Texas

Tiffany Dowell Lashmet’s award-winning course offers Texans practical and helpful information to ease their experience as a new landowner.

Algae and Floating Aquatic Plant Identification and Control

This course is for landowners and pesticide applicators who are looking for solutions related to pond algae control and treatment of floating aquatic plants.

Learn, Grow, Eat and Go: Early Childhood

This easy-to-implement curriculum was specially designed to encourage outdoor and hands-on learning for early childhood.

Hot Topics: AgriLife Extension Questions & Answers

ASK A QUESTION

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6/1/2021: Can the agency increase trainings, resources, and tools related to technology and digital education to enable employees to effectively educate clientele virtually? Can the agency prioritize the training needs assessment currently being planned by the Tool Box Unit?

• Yes, increased resources and products have been developed by professional services units to support virtual education delivery.
• Professional services have revamped their websites to be more comprehensive and easier to navigate.
• Implemented Tech Tuesday Trainings.
• Human Resources provided several resources via e-news that are still available in the archives section ( https://agrilifeas.tamu.edu/e-news/).

6/1/2021: Can the agency strengthen communication about agent job priorities/expectations to focus their workload?

• As a part of the agency strategic plan position descriptions are being reviewed and updated.
• The agency reviews and applies COVID protocol as the Governor’s guidance, Texas A&M University System and CDC guidance is updated. Job expectations are adapted based on ability to deliver virtual programming and guidance regarding face-to-face delivery.
• Regional Impact reports highlighted the response and adaption to COVID. These types of adaptions were considered when annual performance evaluations were conducted.

6/1/2021: Can the agency explore concerns regarding perceived inconsistent standards and treatment of employees depending on position, manager, district, etc. and seek solutions as appropriate?

• Central Leadership Team has been made aware of perceived inconsistencies. Associate Directors continue to review process and monitor decision making for the most consistent application of policy and treatment of employees.

6/1/2021: Can the agency actively promote an agency culture and management that encourages employees to utilize their earned time off to avoid burnout.

• This month the agency working in conjunction with administrative services will engage supervisors and their employees in planning and tracking their leave through the fiscal year.
• The agency awarded administrative leave to employees who have gone beyond the scope of their work in the response to COVID. Administrative leave was awarded in December and will also be awarded in August. There is also a renewed commitment to encourage employees to fully utilize their vacation leave, which was also a challenge prior to COVID.

AgriLife Extension Service: Impacting everyday Texans through the years

Corn Club in 1940

Brothers Chris and Gerald Coale proudly show off their calves for the camera in Brazoria County, Texas, 1940. Texas 4-H has been a mainstay of Texas Traditions with Extension being a proud partner since its inception in 1915. For the history buffs… T.M. (Tom) Marks, county agricultural agent, organized the first boys’ “corn club” in Jack County in 1908. Marks often told folks he was more successful teaching new production technology to the youth than to the adults! Within a matter of years, “pig clubs,” “beef calf clubs” and girls’ “tomato clubs” were also initiated in other counties across the …

Hassler Siblings in the 1940s

No better time to show the Hassler siblings of Jackson County proudly standing by their cattle than #NationalBeefMonth. The year was 1940. The Lone Star State was sparsely populated, with most Texans living on farms and ranches in rural small towns. Did you know… More people lived in New York City at this time than the entire state of Texas? About 40% of adults had a high school diploma, and only 1 in 5 owned an automobile. One in 10 had access to a telephone and one in six owned a radio. While much of technology has changed the way we communicate and operate …

Martin Ranch in the 1950s

📍Cattle producers at the Martin Ranch in Menard County in 1950 work cattle and offer techniques for cattle grub prevention. Through our county agents and specialists, @txextension delivers cutting-edge education and resources. While the science and tech have evolved, our service has remained tried and true to our fellow Texans. Today, the 4,700 acres of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Ranch is part of the Carl and Bina Sue Martin Endowment for Excellence in Sheep and Goat Research in San Angelo, where researchers study Dorper sheep and identify genetic markers for eye cancer resistance in white face cattle.

Family Legacy

In Texas, farming and ranching is often a family-owned operation, creating legacies that span generations of Texas producers. While sharing our last Flashback Friday is bittersweet, this month, much like this photo, has reminded us of the Texas farmers and Texas ranchers who instilled in their family the importance of tending to livestock and the land in order to provide. Their diligence and commitment is the result of a strong Texas agriculture industry.