February 2024 Outlook
From left, IANRE Communications Manager Jenn Wagaman, IANRE Director Jodie Anderson, and º£½ÇÂÛ̳ Rep. Maxine Dibert. Below, Anderson and UA President Pat Pitney walk down the steps of the state building toward the Capitol in Juneau.
Juneau advocacy
On Feb. 12-14, Director Jodie Anderson and Communications Manager Jenn Wagaman traveled to Juneau to participate in the Alaska Food Coalition’s Food Security Week.
Food advocacy folks from all over the state were in attendance to raise awareness of food systems and food security work in Alaska, which corresponded well with UA President Pat Pitney’s visit to advocate for the UA system’s budget priorities.
Jodie and Jenn participated in individual meetings with 10 legislators as well as in a meeting with Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle and UA President Pat Pitney on agriculture and food systems work in Alaska.
Jodie presented an overview of IANRE during the Alaska Farm Bureau’s lunch and learn session. She also represented UAF in the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force report to the House and Senate resource committees. Representatives of the Farm Bureau and the Alaska Food Policy Council were present in Juneau advocating for increased funding for IANRE.
The visit was well received by legislators and UA leadership.
Planning begins for 2025 Interior Farm Forum
In February 2024, an initial planning meeting was held with 15 local agency representatives and Interior Alaska producers to design an Interior Farm Forum. The group outlined the need for a forum that is targeted to Interior Alaska, where farmers, producers and service providers can come together and share information and ideas pertinent to farming in the Interior.
The group identified the desire from local producers for an event that offers a mix of formal presentations with time for idea sharing and education.
It would include facilitated discussion of community needs such as shared infrastructure, equipment transportation/processing and access to fertilizer, as well as funding opportunities including grants, affordable loans and writing assistance.
If you would like to add your name to our mailing list regarding the 2025 Forum, check for planning updates or submit an idea to the planning committee, please visit our website. We'd love to hear from you.
Patty Kastelic, left, and her sister Glen Upton, harvest peonies for a Georgeson Botanical Garden fundraiser.
‘Friends’ help this garden grow
The spring 2024 edition of the UAF Aurora magazine features a story about how the dedication and hard work of the Georgeson Botanical Garden Friends is helping sustain and improve the gardens.
4-H Youth in Government travels to Juneau
— Marla Lowder
Eleven youths and three advisers traveled to Juneau to learn about government processes and to lobby for a state 4-H day. Before heading to Juneau, the group met twice to learn about the program, the dress code, and available activities. While in Juneau the group met with the Legislative Information Office to learn more about the website and watch a mock committee meeting. They also attended a committee meeting and watched one of the advisers testify on a bill about the privacy of individuals adopting animals from shelters.
Youths also had the opportunity to be pages during a legislative floor session.
In addition, they were divided into groups and made appointments with 55 of the 60 legislators. Their mission was to share their 4-H story and its impact on them. They also lobbied for Alaska State 4-H Day to be the first Wednesday of October to coincide with National 4-H Week.
One of the representatives drafted a bill Thursday afternoon. A second legislator introduced it on the floor. Senators were asked if one of them would introduce it on the Senate side so there would be a companion bill to get it through quicker, as we are already halfway through the second legislative session. The group hosted a Lunch and Learn so the public could learn more about 4-H.
Youth also shook hands and took a picture with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski after she addressed the Legislature. They also met with Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom and Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
It was a great learning experience for this group from Eagle, Palmer, Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. Adult advisers came from Eagle, º£½ÇÂÛ̳ and Kodiak.
Food security and Tribal food sovereignty
Heidi Rader and Glenna Gannon's report, "Food Security and Sovereignty in Alaska Native Communities: Recommendations for Improving Language and Inclusivity in Food and Agriculture Programming" was released recently.
Rader said, "Glenna Gannon and I worked hard with this report using a collaborative approach to capture the stories and voices of Indigenous people and Tribes in Alaska around the language of food and agriculture and how it relates to supporting Tribal food sovereignty."
The summary report and full report can be downloaded on the Cooperative Extension website.
Upcoming classes and workshops
Southeast Alaska Master Gardeners
Darren Snyder will be teaching the Southeast & Coastal Alaska Master Gardener hybrid class, Feb. 26 - May 13 on Monday evenings plus two Saturdays. More information is
Delta Farm Forum
The 52nd annual Delta Farm Forum will take place Saturday, March 2, in Delta Junction. The forum is a community event combined with an update on local agricultural information. The forum begins at 9 a.m. in the Delta High School small gym, Secondary Complex, School Road, Door E, and will run until 4 p.m. More information is available online.
Sitka: Ratatouille with Jayme Schroeder
This March 5 class will teach participants how to make a classic French dish — with a Southeast Alaska flair. Chef Jayme Schroeder said ratatouille is his favorite dish, and this version will include fresh ribbon kelp and abalone. More information is .
Cordova: Food preservation and healthy eating workshops
Juneau Cooperative Extension Service agent Sarah Lewis will be traveling to Cordova for four days, March 14-17, to teach a series of workshops about healthy eating and safely preserving the meat, fish, fruits and vegetables grown or harvested in the region. More information is
º£½ÇÂÛ̳ Master Gardeners
Tamara Bell will once again be teaching the º£½ÇÂÛ̳ Master Gardener class, with Steve Brown overseeing. The class will be in-person on Wednesdays from 5-8 p.m. from March 20 to June 5. More information is .
April CFPM training
Julie Cascio will teach a certified food protection manager training on Tuesday, April 23, with proctors for testing available in 16 communities. The class will be 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom or in person at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. The computer-based certification exam is included, with proctors in º£½ÇÂÛ̳, Galena, Glennallen, Haines, Homer, Juneau, Klawock, Palmer, Sitka, Skagway, Soldotna, Talkeetna, Tok, Unalaska, Valdez and Wrangell. More information is .
PSEP Workshops
The annual Alaska Certified Pesticide Applicator Workshop is a two-day professional development opportunity that provides continuing education units for individuals to maintain their certification. Participants can select either day or both — different topics are covered on each day. In-person classes are available in Anchorage. People can participate statewide via Zoom. More information is available online for and .
Winter Tree Identification
Winter tree identification can be done on trees of all sizes by examining their dormant buds. This virtual class at noon on March 21 will show pictures and talk about the descriptions of the most common trees in Alaska and a few invasive trees. Available statewide via Zoom. .
Save the date
The 2024 Arctic Research Open House on UAF's West Ridge will be from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, May 16.
In the News
- Several articles written by Alex Wenninger and Joey Slowik were published in the Alaska Entomological Society annual newsletter. Joey has an article about working on a spider list for Alaska. Alex wrote articles about select insects, including two biocontrols of invasive yellow toadflax; the honeysuckle moth feeding on haskaps; and the American beehive honey moth as a pest of stored beekeeping equipment. You can find pdf and html formats of the articles at the .
- Art Nash talked to the Indy100 news outlet:
- Art Nash’s Feb. 25 column in the News-Miner:
- Reina Hasting’s Feb. 11 column in the News-Miner:
- Adrian Kohrt's Jan. 28 column in the News-Miner:
(Note, if you don't subscribe to the News-Miner, you can read Extension columns on the )
Events
Check out the rolling calendar on the for the most up-to-date schedule of events.