EXTENSION TRENDS: BUTTE COUNTY University of Idaho Extension, Butte County • www.uidaho.edu/butte
2019 Impact
2019 By the Numbers • 124 direct contacts • 75 youth participants • 10 volunteers • 100 volunteer hours • $1,200 extramural funding
Our Advisory Council Special thanks to Randy Purser for helping to shape programming and inform the work we do for UI Extension in Butte County.
UI Extension Educator David Callister 208-527-8587 dcallister@uidaho.edu
2019 was a year of change for UI Extension in Butte County. A new educator, David Callister was hired and started work in July. He has been busy meeting with the community and learning his new role. Working with Lost Rivers Farm Bureau, Butte Soil and Water Conservation District, and Valley Ag, Callister held a few grower workshops in the fall. In addition, two canning classes were held with the help of UI Extension, Bingham County Educator Julie Buck. Field and house calls were made to inspect trees and weeds and scout for pests in the Lost Rivers Valley. Visits were made to the elementary school with National Youth Science Day activities. Callister has also been working with Butte County Economic Development and the Butte/Arco Business Incubation Center to encourage business growth and retention. He also encouraged two high school seniors to apply to the University of Idaho and to apply for scholarships. Both were accepted to U of I and have received multiple scholarships.
4-H in Butte County Butte County 4-H had active clubs in archery, beef, cat, chickens, dairy, fly tying, horses, rabbits, sheep, swine, robotics and rocketry last year. Most of the youth participants presented at the Butte County Fair held in August. The robotics club competed in district and state tournaments. The market animal sale was well-attended following the fair and the projects brought in more money than in previous years. Several of the youth took their projects to the Eastern Idaho State Fair and did well there.
On the Horizon Looking to the future, UI Extension, Butte County is excited about establishing an advisory committee and working to meet the needs of the community. Plans are in the works for classes in home gardening and food preservation. Callister will also be working with others to develop classes on forage and small grain production, range management, and home food production and preservation. He will also work with other educators on solarization of weeds as a method of weed control. Work is also underway to promote business development and retention. In 4-H, family and consumer sciences and STEM clubs will be promoted to increase participation.