Angela Sams

Breaking down impact

I hope everyone cheered loudly for Holly Henning, who was recognized on the field during Saturday’s homecoming game as a featured WSU faculty member for her contributions to the university. Congratulations, Holly! Congratulations to Laura Griner Hill, Louise Parker, Brittany Cooper, Elizabeth Weybright, Jennifer Duckworth, and Gitanjali Shrestha, recipients of the 2023 WSU Teams that […]

A woman stands, holdig her hands out. Two sit, looking on, behind her.

Super fans

During the AgForestry Leadership reception last week, we were asked to share our favorite thing about fall. I don’t recall anyone mentioning Halloween, but a few people mentioned football. For my brother, it’s both.

Two rows of four recliners per row, each with various quilts on them. On some of the recliners sit skeletons dressed in Notre Dame gear. Above the chairs are ceiling fans, and next to the chairs is a bar. On the ground are two skeleton dogs. On the wall behind the chairs there is a banner that says "You're in Steelers country." In front of the recliners is a rug that's designed to look like a football field.

Measuring and communicating impact

Measuring and communicating impact is a theme of this year’s Extension conference, which continues through Thursday. There’s a need for impact assessment and incorporation into our storytelling across the CAHNRS missions of teaching, research, and Extension.

Three women stand in front of a projection screen that says "Welcome to the 2023 WSU Master Gardener Advanced Education Conference!" and has the WSU Master Gardeners 50th anniversary logo with the years 1973 and 2023 and the text "Master Gardener Program Anniversary Celebration."

Football fever

Saturday’s game made for a fun time. Thanks so much to our commodity group partners for putting on the Homegrown Taste of Washington event at the Vogel Building!

A group of five people stands, visiting inside of a room with wooden floors. A table and chairs and windows are behind them.

Transformation

Last week, the Pullman campus had a visitor from Sen. Murray’s office. Katie Clements is a new staffer in the senator’s office. A native of Boise, Idaho, Katie had not visited CAHNRS or the College of Veterinary Medicine yet. Thanks to faculty, chairs, and staff, including coordination by the government relations team, we were able to show Katie a good mix of agriculture and natural resource research.

A man crouches in a field, smiling. Behind him are hills and trees.

Loss

Last week was a reminder of what’s really important. We lost one of our longtime, loyal CAHNRS employees. Those who knew and worked with Larry Helweg witnessed his commitment to the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser, Wash. Larry took great pride in his work, and it made a difference for those around him. Larry will be missed by many.

Fire burns on a hillside of a lake at night. Silhouettes of trees are pictured.

Energized and excited

Wow! That was my reaction to hearing our newest CAHNRS faculty introduce themselves with a brief background during the New Faculty Orientation last week. Their accomplishments, ranging from education to prior careers, are truly impressive. Interacting with these new faculty left me energized and excited for our new talent.

A large group stands in a room with windows. A person in the front of the group holds a sign that says "2023 new CAHNRS Cougs" with the WSU logo on it.

Welcome back!

Last week ended with a good visit to Bellingham, Wash., followed by the Auction of Washington Wines Gala Saturday evening. Auctions and my competitiveness don’t always make for a good pairing, but I managed to keep my bidding in check. It helped that starting bids were more than I spent on my first house. Upon […]

Eight people stand in the Spokane County Extension office. The office includes books, a counter, stools, plants, and brochures.