STATUS OF FACULTY POSITIONS
To check the status of faculty positions that are currently in the search process, see the K-State Research and Extension Job Opportunities website at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/main/jobs.asp . Click on "Employment Status of KSRE Faculty Positions." Search committee chairs - contact Dorothy Ireland in the Extension Operations Office at direland@oznet.ksu.edu , or 785-532-5787, to keep the information updated. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@oznet.ksu.edu

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS 2005 FISCAL YEAR END PROCESS
The Department of Communications will not set any hard cut-off dates for the state fiscal year end. Departments and clients who pay by State of Kansas interfund voucher or agency purchase order should encumber for all June activity/business conducted with the Department of Communications. You will receive your June invoices for printing and postage during the week of July 5. All other invoices will be sent as activity occurs. This includes the purchase of video tapes, marketing items, and publications from our Distribution Center.

If you would like to have an item or service billed in fiscal year 2006, please clearly indicate this on completed work orders and correspondence with Department of Communications staff. If you have questions about your account, please contact JoAnn Ebert or Gina Nixon at 532-5804. Thank you. --Gina Nixon gnixon@ksu.edu

4-H LIVESTOCK EAR TAGS
State 4-H shows have indicated that they will only be accepting yellow tags for sheep and swine in 2005! Any inventory of purple tags should be used for local shows only!! White tags are to be used for market beef animals at state shows. --Jim Adams jadams@oznet.ksu.edu

LEAVE FORM AVAILABLE
The Unclassified Annual and Sick Leave Record for Fiscal Year 2006 (Form PR-5) is available on the Intranet under Administrative Documents. Both interactive and print-only versions are available. --Stacey M. Warner swarner@oznet.ksu.edu

JUNE KANSAS JUNIOR MASTER GARDENER NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ON WEB
The June edition of the Kansas Junior Master Gardener newsletter is now available at http://4-h.k-state.edu/JMG/Default.htm . --Evelyn Neier eneier@oznet.ksu.edu

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES FALL UPDATE
The FCS Fall Update will be held August 29-September 1, 2005, at the K-State Alumni Center. A block of rooms has been held at the Ramada Inn until August 1, 2005 under the name of KSU Family and Consumer Sciences. Reservations can be made by calling 785-539-7531. A brochure announcing the update and the registration form are available at:  http://intranet.oznet.ksu.edu/fcs/agentupdate.htm . --Linda Lamb heiens@humec.ksu.edu

NATIONAL SMALL FARM CONFERENCE
CSREES will sponsor the 4th National Small Farm Conference – "Enhancing Opportunities for Small Farmers and Ranchers" – October 16-19, 2005 in Greensboro, NC.

National small farm conferences, held every three years, attract between 600 and 800 participants. They provide a venue for small farm program leaders from federal, state, and local organizations to learn about successful programs that help small producers enhance incomes to levels comparable to other economic sectors.

This is a train-the-trainer conference designed to enhance economic opportunities and the quality of life of small farmers and ranchers. Target audiences for this conference include: state specialists, county agents, small farm program state contacts, extension/outreach specialists, educators and researchers from land-grant and other educational organizations, members of state departments of agriculture, representatives of community and faith-based organizations, foundations, small farm advisors, horticulturists, and other professionals involved in training and assisting small farmers, ranchers and farm workers.

Co-hosted by North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University, the 2005 conference will include four general sessions, six conference tracks, poster presentations, exhibit displays, and educational tours. The conference tracks are: alternative enterprises, marketing, risk management, bridging gaps in programs and services, organic agriculture, and professional/program development.

This conference will provide a forum to:

* develop strategies to maximize existing resources for the  prosperity of small farmers and ranchers;
* enhance the ability of producers to maximize marketing opportunities;
* provide an effective and adequate income safety net for small farmers and ranchers;
* develop and strengthen programs to meet small farm specific needs;
* enhance the development and use of risk management tools;
* promote size specific rather than scale neutral technology;
* provide support for agricultural research, education, and outreach; and
* promote programs designed to maximize results and emphasize measurable outcomes.

The Call for Solicitations for topic and speaker presentations, poster presentations, exhibit displays, and small farm success stories is open until June 30.

For more information, access the conference website at: www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/ag_systems/in_focus/smallfarms_if_conferences_fourth.html . --Robert Wilson rwilson@loki.agecon.ksu.edu

KANSAS YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM PRESENTERS NEEDED
It is time to recruit instructors for the 5th Annual Kansas Youth Leadership Forum, to be held November 18-20 at Rock Springs 4-H Center.

You will find the letter and proposal form on the 4-H Web page, 
http://www.kansas4-h.org/Events/KYLF/2005/recruitmentLetter.pdf .

Proposals are due to the State 4-H office by July 10, or if you have questions, contact Beth Hinshaw, bhinshaw@oznet.ksu.edu ; or Justin Wiebers, jwiebers@oznet.ksu.edu . --Beth A. Hinshaw

EXTENSION PRIDE PROGRAM WELCOMES HOCH
Connie Hoch, formerly serving as the FCS agent in Lyon County, has accepted a position with the Extension PRIDE Program. Connie's experience with the LEADS team, her history of leadership program development, and her passion and enthusiasm for working with teams will be a great boost to the PRIDE community improvement program.

Connie will begin working with agents and community members in PRIDE this July. Welcome Connie! --Dan Kahl dkahl@oznet.ksu.edu

NEW FACULTY HIRE
Dr. Nathan Nelson will be joining the Agronomy Department November 1, 2005, as an Assistant Professor of Soil Fertility and Soil Chemistry. A Manhattan native, Nathan received his B.S. in Agronomy from K-State, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Soil Science from N.C. State. Currently Nathan is a post-doctorial Research Associate with USDA/ARS in Kimberly Falls, Idaho.

At KSU, Nathan will teach Agronomy 375 and 385, Soil Fertility and Agronomy 835, Plant Nutrient Sources. In addition he will be conducting soil fertility research state-wide. Please join us in welcoming Nathan and his family back to K-State. --Dave Mengel dmengel@ksu.edu

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