Success Stories
IFAS Extension: 2009 Northwest District
Video Transcript
Theresa Friday: Santa Rosa Horticulture Extension Agent
“ In October 2008 I had the opportunity to travel to the People’s Republic of China with a group from the University of Florida and introduce the DDIS – the Distance Diagnostic Information System.”
“ This was important for us to share our experiences of disease diagnosis and DDIS because China is responsible for feeding a quarter of the worlds population. And since plant disease are really responsible for significant losses in production, anything we can do to increase production and food safety has a global impact.”
John Atkins: Santa Rosa Agriculture Extension Agent
“I went to Brazil on a fact finding mission with five county Extension Agents and matched up with county commissioners from their respective counties. Our goal was to gather information on their production of bio-fuels. They have a long history of bio-fuel production on the brazil model. So we went to study that model and meet with the people involved in the production of it from the government, producers, industry, cooperatives to gather information on bio-fuel production.” (: 40 seconds) “ The information we can use from this trip in Santa Rosa County is on small farms or even large farms bio-diesel production.”
Alejandro Bolques: Gadsden County Horticulture and Small Farms Extension Agent
" This was a landscape training program that was conducted in Wanna Costa Costa Rica which is in the Western Costa Rica at the Earth University La Flor Campus.”
“And the goal of the program was to target homeowners and commercial landscape producers and train them pretty much like our Florida Master Gardener training program.”
“ This international assignment gave me the opportunity to sharpen my Spanish language and learn about the plant and nursery industry so I can come back with some information that is useful in my county and with my clientele base.”
Northwest District Short Stories
Narrator: "Around the Northwest District this year, agents focused on improving the lives of residents through education. In Escambia County, more than 200 people learned how to grow vegetables and fruit in their backyard… thanks to the Victory Garden Program created by agents Libbie Johnson and Beth Bolles."
"Over in Okaloosa County, new technology is gathering feedback for agents Elaine Courtney and Jennifer Heady on audience interest, knowledge and demographics …all with the push of a button. "
"And John Atkins is partnering with groups in Santa Rosa County to educate horse owners about how to care for the 10-thousand horses living in their area. The program offers tips on proper nutrition, hoof care, and how to keep a horse healthy when living in a small pasture. "
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