Show A14 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday October 5 2003 FFA (quid - 'S'--s I s ' ' dftxDppDDDg ' - v'- - ' ' r foQ©k " Bin) weighted with the sweetish smell of watermelons Hermiston’s best" known crop which cover fields stretching in every direction from V downtown1 ''7'‘1 u v But during fair week other more pungent smells intrude: live chickens and hogs com dogs and hay and the collective sweaty exuberance of and Future Farmers of the 4-America kids who descend on the county fair a high point of the year in many rural communities The fair is impossible to picture without the younger generation Their quilts are neatly hung their flower arrangements and place set- tings are on display the livestock that they’ve raised are docile in their pens waiting for ribbons and buyers But both 4-- H and FFA have been hit hard by budget cuts in Oregon throwing a damper on the two organizations which together are the backbone of agricultural education in ''-the United States “I have been an agent in Oregon for 16 years” said Patricia Dawson' Umatilla County's extension agent through Oregon State University “And I have been through cuts before when we rolled up our sleeves This time we are out of ' cuts - o sleeves sleeves" : 7 so-call-ed de 7 rieeves" agent ' : H Minnesota the state has gotten rid of from three separate entities: the fedextension offices in each of 87 coun- - eral government via the US ties and replaced them with 20 1 - f Department of Agriculture the state Massachusetts government through the extension ' regional offices services budget for land grant uni- recefit-l- y administrators said university versities and kx&l counties which that they'd like to eliminate all state funding for 4-- H over the next two years And in Nebraska state fair officials had to get rid of cash i prizes for youth livestock winners at the state fair this year because of ' “I have been an in “ -budget owners r " The cuts are coming at the two Oregon for 16 years and programs from all directions from I have been through the state level and from local before when we roiled schools from county governments and from university systems This up our An FFA program for example can’t exist unless a local high school : time we are out of offers agriculture education courses in which students study agricultural science horticulture forestry and —Patricia Dawson agrimaiiketing Extension Oregon districts been But in Oregon have coping with declining state aid for several years That’s led many are responsible for providing clerical schools particularly those in smaller support and office space communities to eliminate anything If any one of those legs falls apart that’s not part oft he core curriculum the rest of the funding can dry up of mate English science and history That’s what happened in Multnomah “extras” like That means County Oregon’s most populous music art gym and agriculture edu- when county commissioners decided cation have often fallen by the way-sithis year that their strapped budget r couldn’t support 4-- H The county Four-- H to some extent has tried program was dismantled this sumto fill teat gap although 4-- H promer In Hermiston a Hispanic outreach grams and projects are after-schoactivities But in order Ah' 4-- H to position was eliminated despite the operate the program needs funding : ol The same cuts are also being felt 7 elsewhere across the country: In county’s fast-growi- ng ? 7 5 N 'z ' immigrant population And Oregon State has reduced funding for 7 extension agents statewide sending e workers to positions and eliminating some jobs Uni-versi- ty half-tim- e full-tim- “s ' §®me sttaties i': ' ’ HERMISTON Ore (AP) — In late summer the ‘air in this small s town in northeastern Oregon is often ' 7' entirely Paradoxically the cuts come even as participation in the two programs has risen Nationally about 461000 students belong to tee FFA up about 80000 students from 1991 Membership in 4-- H is even larger 68 million in 2000 up from 6 million two years earlier according to the oigani-- zation Some of the greatest gains have come in urban areas program officials said At the recent Umatilla County Fair the turnout was fairly diverse: girls in eyebrow rings stood next to boys in cowboy hats sizing up sheep in the livestock judging competition checking for good rib coverage and sturdy skeletal frame lean stomachs and long groins “FFA is the reason some kids are still in school just like the kids who play sports” said Shannon Boettcher a standout in Umatilla County’s FFA and 4-- H programs Still Boettcher and others said the cutbacks have made a noticeable dif--' ference in recent years Bill Umbarg- -' er who teaches agriculture education at Pendleton High School said he has heard of many of his colleagues across the state being cut back and that many no longer are contracted to continue working with their students during the crucial summer fair sea- - 7 7 son “I came from a farm background' and I know that only 2 percent of the people involved in agriculture are in production” Umbarger said “Someone has to be out there who under- - : stands what it takes to get these animals to market processed and delivered That is where these kids : ' are headed”7 V 7'-7And parent Teres Douglas whose two sons showed up for livestock judging on a hot humid day at tee 7 v y' fair dressed in their woolen jackets said Oregon’s dragging economy also hasn’t helped tee prom - 4-- H gram “The children don’t get their prices back on the livestock anymore” she said “That was for the college fond” Dawson thle extension agent said she’s been relying more and more on hardy helpful community volun- teers but that she fears they are get- - r ' ting overworked “It’s professionally devastating to see the needs and know that you ' can’t cover all the areas” she said “I was working 60 hours a week before — how on earth do I do ’ more?” On the Net: 4--H: ' 7 http:www4-hor- g FFA http:wwwffaorg Retraining key to getting job after being laid off workers — about 500 people will be out of work if the plant shuts down Bellingham Technical College is applying for emergency state fund- ing to make more room in its programs said President Gerald BELLINGHAM Wash (AP) — For union shop steward Vicki Hen-le- y preparing for the looming disas- of layoffs at Alcoa ing their training those workers fared even better They were 1 12 percent more likely to be employed and earning an average of $2212 7 more annually than workers who Intalco Works has included learning didn’t get retraining' about retraining programs should y : lose their jobs at the her Retraining may not be the right avenue for many workers said Alex aluminum smelting plant “It’s imperative that people get the Kosmides deputy director of the Northwest Work force Development training’’ said Henley “People who Council Going to work right away’ go through training have a better chance of being placed (in hew jobs) even if it’s at a lower wage to begin with is better than spending time g and get a wage” Retrained workers in Washington retraining for a new job that’s a poor '“ match Kosmides said 7state are 92 percent more likely to be employed within three quarters " V “Our goal is to get as many people ' re after finishing their training than employed as quickly as possible at workers who didn’t get the training jobs that meet their wage and income needs” Kosmides said ‘There are according to a recent study by the WE Upjohn Institute for Employ- many people that are going to be able to go directly into employ- ment Research And they were makment” ing an average of $2080 a year more Classes are full but going back to workers than school may be a tight fit for so many Two to three years after complet- full-sca- le Pumphrey Without additional funds to add new class sections however many ' of the college’s programs are already foil for fall classes The Intalco workers would receive ‘ federal help for dislocated workers higher-payin- for tuition and books and other 7 school-relate- d expenses But tuition covers only about a third of what it costs to go to' BTC Pumphrey said To really make enough room for the workers seeking help the college would need more - -- - non-retrain- ed 7 Class Continued from A13 from 7 to 9 pm Tidwell invites anyone interested to : stop by the third class this week adding that the first class is free She said people can join at any time but they have to cap the class at 20 students in order to maintain an intimate atmosphere : Last week's iesson on saving money struck a chord with the current students especially the part about set- ting aside an emergency fund Drew one of the students said it’s something he plans to work toward with his wife Reatha “There is a peace of mind knowing that if somethingunexpected happens we can take care of it” he said He decided to take the class after listening to Ramsey’s radio show over the Internet “He just made a lot of sense to me” Drew said " Reatha wasn’t as easy to convince but now that she's there she has some financial goals for herself T'm tired of having to go to work to feed my family” she said “I want to work because I want to not because I have to I don’t want to worry about getting sent home early and missing that extra $20 on my paycheck” - state funding hesaid The college has applied for about $200000 in “emergency” worker retraining funds from the State Board wants to be' able to quit work all together so she can stay home with her family The class was enough of a priority for her and her husband Ethan that he managed to get work off every Thursday night for the duration of the class She admits that the time involved in the course is cer- tainly a sacrifice but feels it’s worth it “Just think of all the stuff we’re going to learn” she for Community and Technical Colleges The state has about $400000 this year to divvy up to colleges facing large numbers of layoffs in their communities State budget cuts pared that emer- gency fond down from more than $1 million last year said Rebecca ' Rhodes a policy associate in work force education for the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Colleges around the state are struggling to find room for dislocat- ed workers Rhodes said Last year stuthe state funded 7520 full-tidents in worker retraining programs ' but more than 12000 retrainees woe enrolled around the state she said “I don’t have one college that’s not overenrolled” she said ' Susan Parker coordinator of admissions and worker retraining programs at BTC has heard from dozens of Intalco workers who woe already laid off and several more Intalco workers who are calling to ' find out about the college’s programs just in case they’re laid off too “They’re hearing through the grapevine that programs are filling 5 so they’re starting to investigate us a little early just to prepare” Parker ' 7 said Pumphrey guesses that half of the 700 or so Intalco workers would seek retraining Some would head to Whatcom Community College which is heavily publicizing its assistant program physical-therap- y and hoping to expand its nursing program partly in response to the expectation that Intalco workers would become students said President Harold Heiner Whatcom Community College like BTC also already has more students than the state pays for : ' Farmers el igible for drought assistance Farmers and ranchers in Cache County who suffered production losses because of drought may now apply for Farm Service Agency Emergency Loans FSA County Executive Director Bruce K Lundquist said The disaster designation makes all qualified family-size- d st emerfarm operators eligible for gency loans from FSA : low-intere- Farmers and ranchers who suffered qualifying production losses due to drought occurring Jan 1 2003 and continuing may apply Loans are curiently at a reduced interest rate of 375 percent Maximum loan is $500000 Farmers and ranchers who feel they are eligible may apply for assistance at the Cache County FSA office said- ' Randy Heidi’s husband agreed “Thirteen weeks will pass whether we take this class or not” he said “We might as well spend it bettering LOGAN CITY COUNCIL Seat 2 Ruth Ann another student RESPONSIBLE Bridgerland Applied Technology College 1301 N 600 W Logan UT (435) 750-325- Extensive experience nuking hard decisions related to local and wide area problems without concern about political consequences COMMITTED Committed to making Logan City better by upgrading what we have and making new developments and construction better LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Recognize our responsibilities lor improving future growth and strengthening cooperation and harmony with other Cities the County 0 Police Academy and the L'nivcixily PROUD OF LOGAN CITY Logan is a beautiful and enjoyable place to live Service on the City Council provides in opportunity to give something hack to the community Prospective Law Enforcement Student Thank you for your interest in Bridgerland Applied Technology College’s (BATQ Law Enforcement program The first block Special Function Officer will begin January 5 PREPARATIONS My CMt Council assignments now and In 2004 Ovcnight of the Water and Sewer Before being eligible to register for the program or to be allowed to obtain your application for your background check an assessment test covering math reading grammar and incident report writing will be need to be taken Each section of the test needs to be passed with a score of 70 or higher The price for the test is $25 For the January 2004 class the test will be given on the following Wednesdays: July 2 Aug 6 Sept 3 Oct July 16 Aug 20 Sept 17 Oct 15 1 test times are available for each date You may choose 9 a m or 2 pm Please contact BATC’s Assessment Center to schedule a date and time You may contact the 8 Assessment Center at (435) Monday through Thursday 8 am to 5 pm and 4:30 to 8 am Friday pm EDUCATED Masters level in Engineering TWO 750-318- A study guide is available for you to purchase from BATC’s Bookstore for $350 plus yean of experience EXPERIENCED i Project Management activities in the Air Force NASA and while consulting IS yean working m eoaiqg and community development Nearly Tour yean on the Logan City Council Department (now) Member of the ULCT (Utah League of Cities and Towns) Legislative Policy Committee (now) Chair of the City Council (second time now) Member of the RDA (Redevelopment Agency) I now I Ovcnight of Electric Power Board and Power Department (now) Attend the Solid Waste Advisory Board meetings lor selecting new site (now) Member of the Storm Wuer study group Member of the CMPO (Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization) Member of the Ambulance Committee Member of the 2 1 Century City panel Paid for by Tom Kerr S |