Thanks to all who turned out at the road show last week for great conversations. This week we’ll wrap up our road show visits, then spend some time reflecting on what we heard and learned.
While the focus was on group conversations, we took the opportunity in Port Angeles to tour the local food bank and learn how new partnerships and programs have formed in the county, with the food bank serving as the connection point. Danielle Carson shared an overview of how the gleaning program feeds into the SNAP-Ed program, food bank market days, and business incubator support. Back in the Extension office, we met the rest of the Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap County teams to talk about their successes and needs. Thanks to Clea Rome and the three-county team for hosting and spending their time with us!
Congratulations to the Department of Animal Sciences for a successful review by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International. The department worked hard alongside many other WSU units to ensure standards were met or exceeded. While improvements can and will continue to be made, the department should celebrate their success. If you have been out to the Knott Dairy Center lately, you have likely noticed the new heifer barn, a welcome addition to the site and a much-needed improvement for housing these animals before they are ready to join the milk cows. The improvements underway at the Knott Dairy Center are welcome changes for the hard-working staff, students, and faculty, too.
This week we spent some time talking about plans for a new plant growth facility in Wenatchee. We are still in the planning phase after many previous years of planning, but we are closer to funds needed for breaking ground. The faculty at the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center (TFREC) did a great job talking to members of the tree fruit industry about the importance of a new facility and how it will better support growers and packers. Thanks to everyone at TFREC and the development team for pulling things together for a nice event!
Time to face the reality of fall and the pending winter season. I turned the heat on for the first time over the weekend. Change can be hard, for sure. It is crunch time for statewide construction efforts that support CAHNRS programs. Let’s hope winter holds off long enough for us to wrap up a few more of the projects underway at the Knott Dairy Center and our other locations.