(1110) Ag Extension Division

Conduct practical research related to ranching, natural resources, and youth development, and extend that research to ranchers, agency staff, and the 4-H community through educational programs.

• 4-H: We are giving back to the community in different ways this year and COVID-19 has not stopped the 4-H program and community from making an impact to lift the spirits in our community. Highlights from this past year include gathering food for families in need during the holidays, in collaboration with Our Father’s House and collecting, assembling, donating, and passing out over 220 Easter Baskets to under privileged children in our community in collaboration with Linda Lampe of Community Outreach. The San Benito 4-H families donated food, housing for other families, livestock feed and housed animals for displaced fire victims due to the CZU Fires. It made a big difference to the family's that were helped. Our 4-H youth collected donations of dog food, cat food, blankets, and other small animal feed for the Animal Shelter in town. 4-Her's wrote letters to the military about their 4-H projects with up lifting messages. We sent the letters to the VFW and active military members. Over 100 letters were collected and distributed. 4-Her's collected, assembled, and distributed arts & craft projects for seniors to assemble at a senior center in town along with the disabled high school students. We delivered 80 arts & craft projects with cards to lift their spirits. We are teaming up with Red Cross and will be hosting a blood drive in May at a local church.
• Livestock & Natural Resources: Last year we were awarded a CAL FIRE grant in the amount of $379,785. Through this grant we hired half time Prescribed Burn/Fire Safety Coordinator who will be working on the project through March 2024; purchased prescribed burning equipment, including a mobile burn trailer to store all the equipment; began development of the Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association (CCPBA); and have conducted educational programs related to prescribed burning and fire safety. We also received funding from the California Cattle Council to estimate the influence of livestock grazing and fire on particulate matter and greenhouse gasses. Through this project we will show how grazing may influence how much vegetation is burned in wildfires and how that impacts particulate matter and greenhouse gasses. We will also do a case study, looking at the SCU fire and how grazing may have influenced particulate matter and greenhouse gasses associated with that wildfire. Finally, we are working with Pinnacles National Park to help them develop and implement an experiment to see if livestock grazing can help them achieve their conservation goals related to restoring a prairie. Last year we did pre-grazing ground squirrel sampling. This year we will begin pre-grazing vegetation sampling. It is our goal to have begin grazing during the fall of 2021.
• Administration: The Administrative Assistant provided guidance related to University and County financial processes and policies to the County Director/Department Head, as well as support of County Director/Department Head on several ongoing grant funded research projects being conducted in the county. The Administrative Assistant was also our key person in the transition to the new County website ensuring our visibility in the county to the public. The Administrative Assistant assisted the 4-H Representative and 4-H families with administrative questions. She fostered ongoing business relationships within the county with the Auditors, RMA, Admin, and IT Offices allowing for a more efficient office workflow. This past year she continued to take trainings to increase her knowledge and efficiency of various administrative tasks, including better workflow in managing County accounts, County’s ERP system, several UC and County accounts.
• In addition to programs listed above that are based in San Benito County, six additional UCCE advisors who are located in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties have projects or programs in San Benito County. Because of the work of these other advisors, their staff, or their volunteers, an equivalent of more than 1 FTE worth of UCCE time was dedicated to San Benito County this past year. Their work in San Benito County was related to viticulture, strawberries & caneberries, irrigation & water resources, small farms, vegetable crops & weed science, and Master Gardeners. In addition to their time, these advisors brought $165,236 of grant funding into San Benito County. See table on next page for additional details. Also, UCCE specialists from UC Davis and UC Berkeley contribute their time to San Benito County by collaborating with me and providing guidance on my research projects in the county and by speaking at my workshops. UCCE specialists contribute a combined total of about 5% FTE to San Benito County each year.

• Because of flat state funding, UC is no longer able to cover the full cost of the half-time 4-H Representative. We are grateful to the county for covering the shortfall this year. Our goal is to identify county-based funding opportunities to increase our 4-H Representative FTE from 0.5 to 1 in the coming year. This will allow us to double the number of 4-H youth and adult volunteers enrolled in the program and provide more consistent and timely services to the community.

• Collaborate with Community Corrections (Probation), and possibly other county departments, to develop a Master Gardener program to provide classes and trainings at the jail and to others in our community.
• Dramatically increase 4-H enrollment as more housing continues to be built in the county.
• Increase program and research opportunities to address local needs which will lead to increased economic prosperity, a prepared workforce, improved natural resources management, and enhanced community health and wellness.