Organizational changes enhance program efficacy. For this reason, program priorities are the centerpiece of this strategic plan. UW CES’ program initiatives, as identified by the strategic planning process, are determined by its mission and values, by its unique expertise, its proven capabilities, and by the changing needs of Wyoming’s society and economy. The priorities support the public’s interest in maintaining a globally competitive, economically vital, and environmentally sound Wyoming agriculture in coexistence with the nonagricultural population for whom issues of consumer well-being, resource distribution, and quality of life are crucial. Summaries of the five program initiatives to be pursued and developed follow.

In recent years, conversion of agricultural lands into small holdings for nonagricultural uses has increased dramatically. Wyoming residents are following the national trend and moving their primary residences onto small semi-rural acreages. Urban homeowners are more interested in improving the value of their investments and surroundings with landscaping and other horticultural activities. Sustainable agricultural systems are those that are economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable over the long term. Support for this approach is growing; the challenge is to continue current lifestyles for future generations.

The sustainable approach provides a guide or template that evaluates new ideas, technologies, practices, and enterprises, as well as existing practices and agricultural systems. This approach is a reminder to take a long-term view and study interrelationships. Impacts on all three aspects of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social) must be considered when evaluating existing practices and new technologies in the context of the overall agricultural system.

Complex problems, such as non-point source pollution, marketing, and genetic engineering, currently face Wyoming forage, livestock, and crop production systems and require that educational programs be offered using an integrated-systems, multidisciplinary, team-based approach. These programs will provide participants with an enhanced understanding of a systematic method for decision making, as well as how day-to-day decisions can impact long-run viability. The integrated approach will require coordinated program development by UW CES educators. Interaction among educators, producers, and other stakeholders, together with partners in research and governmental agencies, is necessary to effectively promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural systems.

Agricultural markets are increasingly global, and food needs are growing with world population. Total meat consumption in developing countries is expected to double by 2020 (CAST, 1999). The U.S. population is expected to double by 2050, and prime land acreage is expected to shrink by 13 percent.

Agriculture has become more than food and fiber production. Genetic engineering is accelerating new product development and providing numerous opportunities. Plants specifically developed for pharmaceuticals, biodegradable plastics, energy, industrial lubricants, etc., will need to be evaluated for sustainable production, as well as for environmental damage and degradation of the soil resource.

Goal: Promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural systems through education.

Objective: Develop educational programming on sustainable forage-based livestock systems.

Justification: The profitability and sustainability of Wyoming’s livestock industry depends on an inexpensive and abundant supply of high-quality forage. Over 95 percent of the nutrients consumed by Wyoming livestock is derived from home-grown forages. About half of the animal unit months (AUMs) required are from native range, while the remaining AUMs are from irrigated meadows, irrigated pastures, cropland hay, silage, and crop residues (Kearl, 1988 and 1989). Forages provide many sustainable benefits to agricultural systems. They are primarily perennial, giving continuous soil protection and requiring relatively fewer inputs and pesticides than other crops.

As in other competing states, there is an urgent need to reduce livestock production costs. The largest single cost is winter feed (average 60 percent of total) (USDA, 1995). In Wyoming, approximately 925,000 cows and replacement heifers are over-wintered (four-year average). Forages complement and supplement native range. Extending the grazing season with forages puts less reliance on stored forages, which are a more expensive source of nutrients.

Traditionally, profitability of livestock production systems has been largely influenced by the marketed commodity price. Profitability is essential for the production system to be sustainable. Along with decreasing inputs (costs), increasing outputs (production x price) is important. Current livestock and carcass pricing trends dictate a thorough understanding of the end product to maximize value. Continual improvement of livestock genetics is important because most economically important traits are moderately to highly heritable. In addition, herd reproductive rates significantly impact enterprise outputs.

• Assess the relative costs and benefits of alternative methods of meeting seasonal livestock nutrient demands using low-cost forage sources and provide educational programs accordingly.
  
  UW CES must consider:
   

  • Various alternatives for extending grazing seasons

  • Tradeoffs associated with using private versus public forage sources

  • Alternatives for marketing and managing risk under alternative management systems

  • How livestock resource demands for nutrition, reproductive efficiency, and genetic improvement must be balanced with financial, human, wildlife, and range resource demands.
     

• Provide educational programs that improve the quality and efficiency of livestock production systems by considering genetic evaluation and herd improvement, evaluation of end product quality and yield, and improvements in reproductive efficiency.
   

• Demonstrate the viability of alternative management strategies and production options using onsite farm and ranch demonstrations. These projects will showcase alternative production strategies on working farms and ranches, as well as contribute material for developing educational programs.
   

• Promote and support educational sustainable agriculture programs for youth.
   

• Pursue external funding opportunities for both on-site farm and ranch demonstrations, other applied research projects, and educational programming.

• Reduced costs and increased returns for livestock operations through adoption of better forage use and other efficiencies.
   

• Increased value of livestock products.
   

• Increased awareness and use of risk-reduction strategies.
   

• Enhanced awareness of private land forage production and quality management strategies.
   

• Greater understanding among youth of efficient livestock production with forage and other available resources.
   

• Increased funding to support sustainable forage-based livestock education.

Objective: Offer educational programs on alternative crop and livestock systems and crop and livestock integration.

Wyoming has a competitive advantage over other states in consistent high-quality hay production, with favorable harvesting and curing conditions and lower costs of production. Wyoming hay is aggressively marketed through a haylist Web site, and hits on the site have averaged 110 per month during the past two years. Alfalfa is the leading hay crop, accounting for $126 million in receipts from 1994 to 1998. (Wyo. Ag. Statistics, 1999). Yields can be increased with relatively few additional inputs, resulting in reduced cost per ton. Each 10 percent increase in alfalfa yield adds approximately $7 million to Wyoming’s agricultural production income (Kearl, 1988). The infrastructure, expertise, and resources are in place for promoting and marketing alfalfa, one of the most environmentally friendly crops. Wyoming’s certified seed industry has grown phenomenally in recent years. Wyoming has an excellent climate for producing high-quality seed and the infrastructure to accommodate many more acres, in addition to specialty seed crops.

Total certified seed acreage increased from 12,905 acres in 1997 to 22,844 acres in 1999, an increase of 39 percent per year. Total value of certified seed to contractors was $22.1 million (Univ. Wyo. Seed Cert. Serv., 1999).

With integrated weed management, the Leopold Center (Ann. Report, 1999) estimates herbicide use can be reduced by 75 percent. Improved forage species have shown promise in reducing herbicide use when integrated with other methods for long-term noxious weed control (Whitson and Koch, 1998).

Strategies: A team approach and the sustainable model will be used to develop educational programs that provide producers and others with decision-making information regarding:

• Alternative crops, alternative rotations, value-added opportunities, and niche marketing. Examples include horticultural industries, organic certification, specialized seed crops, premium hay markets, fallow alternatives, and integration of livestock and cropping systems.
   

• Integration of cropping practices that mitigate non-point source pollution of surface water and groundwater, reduce erosion, and improve soils. Examples include cover crop use, conservation tillage, buffer strips, precision agriculture, fertilizer efficiency, and irrigation management.
   

• Development of an integrated approach to disease and pest management.
   

• On-site farm and ranch demonstrations and evaluations of new products and practices.
   

• Pursuit of external funding for on-site farm and ranch demonstrations and applied research on sustainable practices and economic development opportunities.

• Increased net returns from adoption of alternative cropping systems.
   

• Increased awareness and use of risk-reduction strategies.
   

• Reduced soil losses through adoption of improved crop management.
   

• Increased water quality through environmentally friendly crop and soil management.
   

• Reduced pesticide use.

Objective: Educate rural and suburban landowners who operate on relatively few acres about best management practices.

Justification: Agricultural land is being converted into non-agricultural uses across the United States (Versterby et al., 1994) and the Rocky Mountain Region. Wyoming is predicted to follow suit, and the trend already is occurring in some counties. Population in the western Wyoming Rocky Mountain counties grew by 7 to 18 percent from 1990 to 1995 (Woods and Pole, 1996), but all counties did not experience the same growth rate. Rocky Mountain counties containing or bordering national forest wilderness areas experienced population gains from 1970 to 1985 (Rudzitis and Johansen, 1989), especially those regions with abundant public lands, wildlife, and open spaces.

Converting agricultural lands into small land holdings by nonresidents for recreation and investment potentials has increased dramatically in recent years. This trend, coupled with sales of Wyoming ranches and farms to people with non-agricultural interests who often continue managing the holding as an economic unit, will likely continue to increase.

In some communities, there has been a substantial increase in the number of homeowners building on small acreages. These individuals must be held to the same standards of land management as those who use soil and water resources.

• Develop collaborative partnerships with other agencies. Develop educational programs that provide resource management options and enterprise assessment techniques to rural and suburban landowners through these collaborative partnerships.
   

• Provide Web-based resources to assist small landowners with resource management, enterprise analysis, and ecological impacts.
   

• Develop educational programs that promote sustainable alternatives to pesticides for disease and pest management.
   

• Educate rural landowners to the impacts of land use practices on rural ecology.

• Increased understanding of resource management options.
   

• Increased appreciation for ecological impacts of resource use practices.

Objective: Provide education to communities, homeowners, and youth in sustainable and environmentally sound horticulture practices.

Justification: Urbanization is expected to continue, and so is the need for horticultural education. An average of $203 per capita per year is spent on landscaping, gardening, and horticultural products (USDA-ERS, 1998). This figure projects to over $97 million in Wyoming.

The UW CES Master Gardener Program grew out of a movement in the early 1970s to provide research based horticultural information to consumers via the land-grant system. The program emphasized growing plants by the principles of integrated pest management (IPM), sustainable agriculture, and horticulture. Recently, 118 certificates of recognition were sent to 84 active master gardeners. Approximately 160 master gardeners were trained in the past year.

Urban horticulture is one of the fastest growing and most inclusive parts of agriculture both nationally and in the state. Consumer misuse of pesticides and fertilizers is an important source of environmental pollution and contamination. Homeowners also contribute a potential for introduced noxious plants and the problems they pose for the ecosystem.

• Educate volunteers to assist with horticultural diagnosis, respond to inquiries, and make recommendations.
   

• Develop Web pages and 1-800 number communication models to answer basic horticulture inquiries.
   

• Promote sustainable horticultural education programs for youth.
   

• Provide education for homeowners and urban land managers in horticulturally adapted species, selection, care, and management.
   

• Deliver education in public and private landscaping principles and practices.
   

• Provide education in proper use and management of pesticides and biological products.
   

• Educate clientele in diagnosis, control, and mitigation of horticultural disease and insect infestations.
   

• Provide education to homeowners in the care, preparation, and storage of garden products.

• Homeowners will use their knowledge of variety selection, fertilizer and pesticide use, and water efficiency to become economically and ecologically proficient.
   

• Homeowners will learn how to manage plant diseases, insect invaders and weed problems, in addition to learning improved cultural practices for lawns, gardens, and ornamentals.
   

• Homeowners and urban land managers will adopt proper landscaping techniques to aesthetically and ecologically enhance their local environments.
   

• Homeowners will increase their awareness of pesticide safety and handling practices.
   

• Homeowners will use proper and safe practices to handle and store garden products.

Situation: Numerous Wyoming communities have identified youth issues as a priority, and Wyoming’s commitment to sustaining its 4-H program remains strong. More than 7,400 youth participate in the traditional 4-H club program. Search Institute research suggests the more developmental assets youth have, the less likely they are to engage in high-risk behaviors. Extension youth development programs build many assets over an extended period of time, including positive relationships with adults, parents, and teachers. Life skills education prepares youth to be contributing citizens.

4-H and youth development programs evolve from subject matter knowledge and skills, self-development, and social interaction among people of different backgrounds, experiences, and ages. Youth develop good work habits by sharing ideas and helping each other. Most project work is done in or near the home, so families can work and be together. 4-H projects are real-life experiences that help members take responsibility for their own actions.

According to the 1991 U.S. Secretary of Labor’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) report, five competencies (resource management, ability to use information, ability to understand systems, technology use, and personal qualities) and three foundation skills (interpersonal, basic, and thinking) were found to be critical for future employment. 4-H and youth development activities nurture and instill these skills and qualities in Wyoming’s young people, enabling them to become self-directing, productive members of society.

Wyoming is not immune to high-risk behaviors among its youth. The 1999 Youth Risk Surveillance revealed how Wyoming fared in comparison to 41 other states. Wyoming ranked third highest in drinking and driving, current alcohol use, and drinking before age 13; second in the use of inhalants, injected drug use, steroid use, and suicide; and first in smokeless tobacco and cocaine use (Center for Disease Control, 1997). When the majority of youth in a community are involved in structured activities, the incidence of these high-risk behaviors can be greatly decreased (Healthy Communities Healthy Youth, Search Institute, 1993).

The Wyoming 4-H and Youth Development Program gives youth an educational opportunity outside of the classroom and collaborates with other youth groups and youth development and education agencies. In 1999, more than 17,000 contacts were made in nontraditional settings; however, there are 148,000 Wyoming youth, so 4-H has the potential to reach many more young people in the future.

Goal: UW CES will engage in educational programs and use trained volunteers to create supportive environments. Programming will give youth an opportunity to build assets and life skills essential for a productive, healthy lifestyle, and youth and adult interaction will enrich family relationships.

Objective: UW CES will foster asset building and life skills development in Wyoming youth through traditional 4-H delivery methods.

Justification: To be successful in today’s world, young people must have basic life skills. Through traditional club work and project goals, 4-H members learn how to be effective leaders and citizens in their communities. 4-H educational programming fosters responsibility, builds strong character, and develops communication skills that are essential to building a productive workforce.

• Enhance activities that provide statewide learning opportunities for youth such as presentations, projects, contests, fairs, and leadership camps.
   

• Use the statewide 4-H and Youth Development Initiative Team to evaluate current project areas, activities, and events to determine program feasibility and recommend additions and/or eliminations.
   

• Use the National 4-H Cooperative Curriculum to provide guidance and up-to-date information to volunteer leaders and youth.

• Enhanced life skills, such as strong character, responsibility, teamwork, communication, high self-esteem, and workforce preparation, for youth participants.
   

• Stronger family relationships.
   

• Recognition of youth as an important community resource.
   

• 4-H will serve as a recruitment tool for the University of Wyoming.

Objective: UW CES will benefit and complement the current 4-H program by offering life skills education to nontraditional audiences.

Justification: While 4-H projects and clubs will remain the backbone of UW CES development efforts, additional youth can be reached through collaboration with other community youth groups and nontraditional delivery methods.

• Take advantage of external resources, community collaborations, and alternative delivery methods to enhance the 4-H program.
   

• Seek external funding sources to assist in delivering programs to nontraditional audiences.
   

• Build collaborations with existing youth development organizations such as schools, school-to-work, youth services, and Ag in the Classroom.
   

• Enhance delivery methods to reach diverse youth audiences through innovative programs such as K-3, after-school, CYFAR, Healthy Communities and Healthy Youth, and youth entrepreneurship.
   

• Develop a reporting system to track youth reached by nontraditional youth development programs.

• Improved life skills will help young people become capable and productive adults.
   

• Recognition of youth as an important community resource.
   

• Lower incidence of risky behaviors among youth due to educational programs and community collaborations that promote healthy behaviors.
   

• Stronger families and communities.
   

• Increased credibility and visibility of UW CES in communities.

Objective: UW CES will empower volunteers to become key players in 4-H and youth development programs.

Justification: Historically, UW CES has been effective in recruiting volunteers to assist with the high quality 4-H program. In 1999, the Wyoming 4-H program recognized 2,767 volunteer leaders. This number represents at least one leader for every three youth. Long-term relationships between volunteer leaders and youth contribute to the success of the 4-H and Youth Development Program.

• Incorporate a variety of training methods, such as "train-the-trainer" and mentoring efforts, to effectively enable volunteer leaders to work with young people.
   

• Expand the volunteer base to assist with youth development programming efforts.
   

• Expand a volunteer recognition system to encourage and retain leaders in youth development programming.

• Long-term retention of quality leaders, resulting in a consistent and effective program.
   

• Greater use of trained volunteers to expand programming efforts in a time of limited resources.
   

• Interaction between adult volunteers and youth will instill positive behaviors.
   

• Provide a lifelong learning opportunity for adults through volunteer programs.
   

• Strengthened family relationships in a positive learning environment.

Because of Wyoming’s rural status, most residents do not have easy access to registered dietitians and preventive and therapeutic health care services. Additionally, clinical dietetic counseling is not reimbursed by Medicare and many other insurance carriers. These facts limit local availability of nutrition information from nutrition professionals in Wyoming. UW CES educators can and do provide general food and nutrition information, and they are well connected to other community- and state-based resources. The information and connections prove invaluable to a wide range of clientele who are making better informed food- and nutrition-related choices.

Many Wyoming families and individuals are at nutritional risk because of limited resources. In 1998, the state’s poverty rate was 12.1 percent. More than 26,000 Wyoming residents (5 percent of the population) receive food stamps, and 31 percent of Wyoming children who attend school qualify for free or reduced price meals. The elderly, many of whom have limited resources, make up approximately 9 percent of Wyoming’s population. In the 1998 Wyoming Hunger Survey, emergency food providers reported a 20 percent usage increase. Prolonged use of emergency food supplies could lead to impaired health due to inadequate nutrient content and increase future health-care costs. (Virginia Cooperative Extension conducted a cost benefit analysis and reported that for every $1 spent for nutrition education, $10.64 will be saved in future health care costs.) Wyoming leads the nation in terms of having had the largest decline in income ($5,600) over a 20-year period among the poorest families (lowest 20 percent). (Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute, January 2000.)

Food safety is a presidential and national CSREES initiative for good reason. Based on the disturbing rates of foodborne illness nationwide, Wyoming’s annual burden translates into 568 serious illnesses that result in hospitalization, 133,000 cases of gastrointestinal illness, and nine deaths.

Goal: Improve the health of Wyoming citizens through wise nutrition and health decisions and safe food handling practices.

Objective: Educate people about the benefits of active living and healthful eating.

Justification: In mid-1998, a think tank of 27 individuals, representing a range of education- and health related disciplines at the community, state, and university levels, unequivocally endorsed UW CES as best qualified to organize, coordinate, and conduct an umbrella program that addresses the major nutrition related health risks faced by Wyoming adults and youth. The group supporting this effort has grown to a 57-member network, representing 12 local, state, and regional organizations, institutions, and trade groups; six programs within two Wyoming state government departments; 17 county-based UW CES offices; and seven departments or programs located on the UW campus in Laramie.

In terms of potential cost savings, effective nutrition education that focuses on obesity can substantially impact Wyoming’s estimated $69 million obesity-related health care costs and the additional $58 million spent by Wyoming residents on ineffective weight loss ploys each year. Additionally, improvements in eating and physical activity attitudes and behaviors can reduce health-care costs related to decreased heart disease, stroke, certain forms of cancer, and diabetes.

• Partner effectively with key nutrition and health leaders at the community and state levels to focus on priorities, strengthen efforts, reduce duplication, and improve outcomes.
   

• Conduct nutrition and health education programs designed to lower health care costs or extend the health care resources of individuals and families by decreasing the risk of chronic disease.
   

• Provide Web sites and other targeted nutrition resources to Wyoming residents so they may obtain reliable, accurate, science-based information and make healthier choices.
   

• Counteract misinformation, confusing health claims, and changing lifestyles that negatively influence nutrition choices.
   

• Use appropriate media, information exchange systems, and educational activities to improve the general public’s nutrition decision-making skills.

• Improved nutritional health among Wyoming residents will translate into increased immunity, resilience, and physical and emotional vigor, reducing the severity of illness or length of time individuals are sick and enhancing quality of life. Health care costs for individuals, families, and the state of Wyoming are consequently lowered, and people’s well-being is improved.
   

• Wise food choices practiced by limited resource families mean that food dollars last longer each month and provide healthy, nutritious meals.
   

• Money spent on products with misleading or fraudulent claims will be saved.

Objective: Limited resource individuals and families will acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and changed behaviors for nutritionally sound diets, and this will contribute to their personal development.

Justification: With a statewide poverty rate of 12.1 percent in 1998 and more than 26,000 Wyoming residents receiving food stamps, UW CES will help families and individuals "eat better for less."

• Conduct nutrition education programs for limited resource audiences that improve food and nutrition choices and skills and extend financial resources in five areas: basic nutrition, meal planning, shopping skills, food preparation, and food safety and sanitation. (An example is the current UW CES Cent$ible Nutrition Program, funded by matching state and federal funds.)
   

• Establish a referral network and work collaboratively with agencies reaching limited resource audiences to strengthen the safety net entitlements provide.
   

• Seek outside funding sources to ensure continuation of educational programs.

• Participants will make positive changes in food selection, improve their ability to manage food resources, and show improvement in one or more food safety practices.
   

• Newfound knowledge will lead to decreased hunger, increased food security, and decreased health care costs for participants.
   

• Outside funding coupled with stronger links to and collaboration with other agencies will lead to more individuals and families receiving sound nutrition information.

Objective: Encourage safe food-handling practices through collaborative educational programs.

Justification: At the county and state levels, UW CES is an essential partner in the Wyoming Food Safety Coalition (WFSC), a 70-member multi-institutional, multidisciplinary partnership that has become the primary source of food safety education throughout the state. The heart of WFSC is a core of 20 locally trained teams, each of which includes a county-based UW CES educator. In FY99, WFSC trained 215 supervisors, 1,180 food handlers, and 1,237 school-aged students; provided in-house training to 424 individuals; and reached 1,526 consumers through educational programs. Essential to WFSC’s productivity and quality work is the support and coordination provided by UW CES at the state level.

Food safety at the consumer level is also a major priority. UW CES extension educators respond to thousands of food safety calls each year. Consumers need a reliable source for information on safe food handling practices. There are increasing concerns of virulent bacteria, such as E.coli 0157:H7 and salmonella enteintidis, and for food preservation methods like irradiation and home canning.

• Partner with food safety leaders to strengthen educational outcomes.
   

• Conduct food safety education programs designed to reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses and promote risk management in food service establishments.
   

• Implement technologies and respond to clientele food safety questions.

• In an era when micro-organisms are becoming more virulent and more difficult to control and kill, better risk management practices in food service establishments and homes will result in fewer cases of food poisoning.

Objective: Identify and respond effectively to emerging issues and questions related to food, nutrition, and food safety that are important for Wyoming residents.

Justification: As a result of active research, the fields of food, nutrition, and food safety are changing rapidly. For example, recent research has yielded an astounding amount of information about phytochemicals, a category of substances hardly known 10 years ago. New food products regularly appear on store shelves. In addition to valuable information and legitimate products, these types of advances in research, coupled with keen public interest and a vigorous marketplace, also foster the rapid proliferation of nutrition misinformation.

UW CES can play a uniquely valuable role in achieving this objective. In addition to being ever alert to food and nutrition information circulating in the media, field-based UW CES educators are closely in tune with relevant issues developing within their communities. State-based specialists are well connected to sources of information in other states and at the federal level, as well as to state-level counterparts in other agencies and organizations.

• Monitor changes at the local, state, regional, and national levels that have important implications for Wyoming residents related to food, nutrition, and food safety.
   

• Work with counterparts in other agencies and organizations to effectively address important new issues and specific questions through the most appropriate and efficient channels.
   

• Provide consumers with research-based information in the form of peer-reviewed Web sites, educational programs, bulletins, resource materials, and professional expertise, so they have the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions.
   

• Adapt or develop and make available high-quality, science-based resources that address priority program areas or important emerging issues; examples of these resources include Wyoming specific food and nutrition Web sites and on-line resources, handouts, bulletins, interactive teaching tools, and "train-the-trainer" presentation packages.

• Informed decisions will improve health, save money otherwise spent on ineffective and/or harmful products, and reduce health care costs associated with inappropriate therapies and with delay of legitimate treatment.
   

• Reduced stress on individuals and families resulting from improved health and money saved.
   

• Key issues and trends addressed proactively.
   

• Educational materials and programs adopted nationally because they effectively address priority areas and emerging issues.
   

• Wyoming residents make informed decisions because they have access to information that is accurate, science-based, meaningful, and motivating.
   

• Programs are funded or strengthened through dollars secured and collaborative efforts.

Situation: An educational programming initiative was established in this area to consider the profound influence of natural resource issues on the economy, quality of life, and "custom and culture" of Wyoming communities. Rangeland resource management and associated environmental issues permeate nearly every aspect of life in Wyoming. Livestock production is largely dependent upon native rangelands, which also provide critical wildlife habitat, water resources, oil, gas, mineral reserves, and recreational opportunities. Wyoming’s current economy is closely associated with the use of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources by U.S. and global economies. As a popular tourist destination, the state acts as a reservoir of rural and wildland resources.

Wyoming natural resources are abundant and diverse. A variety of ecosystems, from near-pristine wilderness, forests, and rangelands to urban landscapes, make Wyoming a unique and inviting place. Many consider Wyoming to be in a transitional period. Our emphasis has shifted from extractive and commodity natural resource development to an attempt to sustain these industries while providing for the amenities associated with Wyoming landscapes. Demand and expectations are often conflicting when determining appropriate management strategies for Wyoming’s wide-open spaces, wildlife, and public lands. Nearly half of the land in Wyoming is publically owned, and public sentiment, management policies, and regulations continually change. The demand for science-based information, education, and technical expertise in developing sustainable management strategies, evaluating public policy, and addressing complex natural resource issues is increasing in Wyoming. UW CES is uniquely qualified to address these issues. We are connected to the university and have a non-advocacy relationship with all interests. The public must have confidence that UW CES educators and specialists are both knowledgeable and objective in their development and delivery of educational programs.

As an "upstream state" with a small population and semi-arid climate, there is critical concern in Wyoming over water resources and the increasing demand from lower basin states. Water quality and quantity policies, particularly those related to non-point source pollution, continue to be crucial statewide issues.

The integrity of Wyoming’s natural resource base and the state’s diverse ecosystems will be a central focus of UW CES educational programs. Natural resource related educational programs will be designed to foster an understanding of Wyoming ecosystem functions as related to the people of the state and their economic viability. Educational programs will provide science-based options for resolving environmental and natural resource management issues and will incorporate an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving and conflict resolution. Educational program development will be a collaborative effort involving the university and clientele, including landowners, federal and state agency personnel, youth, conservation interests, industry representatives, and the general public.

Goal: UW CES will be the premier source of accurate and objective educational sustainable rangeland resource management programming.

Objective: Wyoming rangeland resource issues will be addressed through an integrated educational approach to meet the complex needs of statewide clientele.

Justification: Rangeland resource issues seldom respond to purely technological or single-discipline solutions. UW CES acknowledges that social, economic, cultural, and political dimensions also must be addressed in the resolution of rangeland resource issues. An institutional structure that promotes and supports interdisciplinary approaches is necessary when developing educational programming.

• Educational needs assessment, program development and delivery, and evaluation will be accomplished by multidisciplinary rangeland resource program teams. These teams may include area extension educators, program specialists, UW faculty, stakeholders, and consultants.
   

• Applied research, demonstrations, and educational materials will promote an integrated approach to rangeland resource issues.
   

• State initiative teams and area rangeland resource program teams will be formed soon after the strategic plan’s implementation.
   

• Applied research and demonstration sites, with accompanying educational materials related to integrated rangeland resource management, will be established in all extension areas within three years.
   

• Extension educators will receive in-service training opportunities to improve or maintain their knowledge of rangeland resource subject matter, current issues, and their proficiency in employing integrated management approaches.

• Increased collaborative efforts among extension educators, faculty, clientele, and stakeholders.
   

• Improved efficiency and effectiveness in addressing clientele needs.
   

• Increased interaction among campus-based faculty and extension educators.
   

• Improved communication among faculty and academic professionals.

Objective: Rangeland resource issues in Wyoming will be addressed through participation and leadership in collaborative processes (i.e., coordinated resource management).

Justification: People who have diverse interests, cultural backgrounds, values, and technical expertise are passionately involved in Wyoming rangeland resource issues. Long-term solutions to these issues are realized only when all stakeholder interests are considered. The trend for public involvement in rangeland resource management decisions is increasing, and conflicting viewpoints are becoming more apparent.

With nearly 100 active coordinated resource management groups, Wyoming is widely recognized as a leader in resolving natural resource conflicts and improving stewardship. However, implementation of collaborative processes creates a significant demand for trained and competent facilitators, technical advisors, and process participants.

• Develop and provide expertise on conflict resolution to assist individuals, firms, and agencies in addressing natural resource conflicts.
   

• Expand UW CES’ educational role to include facilitation, technical assistance, or representation as a stakeholder in the collaborative process.
   

• Extension educators (independent of discipline) will receive training in conflict resolution and participation in collaborative processes. Additional discipline specific and/or facilitator training may be provided to personnel involved in natural resource conflict resolution.

• Improved communication among participants and the development of an appreciation for other viewpoints.
   

• Reduced rangeland resource conflicts.
   

• Increased use of collaborative processes to address rangeland resource issues.
   

• Reduced regulatory and litigious responses to rangeland resource issues.
   

• Resolution of rangeland resource conflicts.
   

• Realization that collaborative approaches are a more efficient use of public resources when compared to litigation and arbitration.

Objective: Educational programs will target non-technical audiences to increase understanding and appreciation for sustainable rangeland resource management.

Justification: Public perceptions and opinions often drive rangeland resource issues and public policy responses. Rangeland resource conflicts are perennial in the absence of balanced and objective information. Public education is a proactive approach to minimizing rangeland resource conflicts, formulating sound public policy, and mitigating existing situations. An understanding and appreciation for rangeland resources, ecological processes, and sustainable management is life enriching, and developing this attitude in young people is vital.

• Use the entire media spectrum to disseminate information regarding ecological processes, successes in sustainable management, stewardship, multiple use of rangeland resources, economic contributions of natural resource industries, and UW CES’ rangeland resource programming efforts.
   

• Promote and support educational rangeland resource programs for youth, including 4-H projects, wildlife habitat evaluation, range judging, Ag in the Classroom, and natural resource camps.
   

• Increase access to existing rangeland resource programming by encouraging participation from nontraditional audiences.
   

• Produce and disseminate news releases and other productions to educate the public about rangeland resources and management programs.
   

• Review and modify, as necessary, existing written and audiovisual natural resource education materials. Create new materials as the need arises and resources allow.
   

• Encourage broader participation in existing natural resource programming through expanded mailing lists and more effective advertising and marketing.

• Increased appreciation, knowledge, and understanding of rangeland resource management by the general public.
   

• Increased participation by non-technical audiences in rangeland resource issues and public policy debates.
   

• A more informed public capable of formulating an opinion on rangeland resource management issues.

Objective: Educational programs for Wyoming agricultural producers, landowners, and other rangeland resource managers will promote natural resource sustainability and stewardship.

Justification: The sustainable rangeland resource management involves economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable strategies, which also sustain the "custom and culture" of rural communities and agricultural production from natural landscapes. Sustainability is often the unacknowledged common ground between landowners, agricultural producers, conservationists, and public land managers. Extension educators are uniquely positioned to provide educational experiences that demonstrate this commonality when addressing Wyoming rangeland resource issues.

• Provide comprehensive educational programs in the following areas:

  • Sustainable grazing management (private and public rangelands, small acreage landowners)

  • Rangeland management and monitoring

  • Intensive non-native pasture management

  • Riparian management (non-point source pollution) and water quality

  • Integrated management of invasive species on wildlands (noxious weeds, insect pests, poisonous plants, etc.)

  • Wildlife habitat enhancement

  • Integrated management processes
     

• State and area rangeland resource specialists will stay abreast of research progress and trends related to the above strategies and will provide up-to-date information, educational programming, newsletters, etc., in a user-friendly form for clients and extension educators.

• Improved long-term profitability, economic stability, and property values of Wyoming ranches.
   

• Increased adoption of sustainable rangeland resource management strategies.
   

• Reduced spread and impact of invasive species.
   

• Reduced non-point source pollution, improved fisheries habitat, and enhanced wildlife and recreation opportunities.
   

• Increased implementation of rangeland monitoring programs.
   

• Decreased influence of public policy on natural resource management decisions (monitoring information to support management strategies).
   

• Increased implementation of integrated management strategies.
   

• Reduced dependence upon public rangelands for livestock forage (improved economic stability).
   

• Increased knowledge, appreciation, and understanding regarding sustainable management strategies for small acreage landowners.

Objective: UW CES will provide educational programs that address public policy influences on rangeland resource management issues in Wyoming.

Justification: Public land management policies have a profound influence on Wyoming landowners, agricultural producers, and rural communities. The majority of Wyoming ranches are dependent upon forage from federal and state lands during some portion of the annual production cycle. The economic viability of many ranches (especially in western Wyoming) is directly dependent upon forage availability.

• Rangeland resource program teams will consider current policies in needs assessment and development and implementation of educational programs.
   

• Specific educational programs may be developed to address existing or potential policy decisions (i.e., threatened and endangered species, grazing permit renewal, rangeland reform, standards and guidelines for grazing, consumptive use restrictions, etc.).
   

• UW CES will collaborate with federal and state agencies and other stakeholders to ensure timely and objective responses to public policies.
   

• Rangeland resource specialists and program team members will monitor public policies that affect resource use in Wyoming and the surrounding region. Specialists and team members will develop educational programs and materials to explain policies to stakeholders and the general public.
   

• Emerging rangeland resource and environmental issues will be addressed with as little bias as possible by newly developed educational programs, as soon as reliable information is available.

• Reduced negative impacts of public land policies on Wyoming landowners and agricultural producers.
   

• Increased development of sound rangeland resource management policies by land management agencies.
   

• Increased understanding and appreciation for public land policy influence on Wyoming landowners and agricultural producers.

Situation: With its roots in agriculture and rural communities, UW CES is uniquely qualified and positioned to assist rural Americans chart a bright future. UW CES believes that individuals and families are the cornerstone of strong communities and, in turn, that strong communities can strengthen individuals and families. Stable communities also attract investment and outside industries; businesses choose to locate in places where their workers can be productive and secure.

Wyoming residents are known for being independent and industrious. Stagnation of the state’s economy has deprived most Wyoming communities and their residents of the ability to prosper, and many communities have actually experienced a downturn (WY Business Plan and Steering Committee; Center for Budget and Policy Priorities Report, 2000). Historically, the economic viability of Wyoming’s small communities and rural households has depended upon the agricultural, mineral, and energy industries. These industries are no longer sufficient to sustain the economy and keep young people in the state. As a result, Wyoming residents and communities are and will continue to face fiscal challenges.

An estimated 70 percent of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. In 1996, the national consumer debt exceeded $1 trillion and one million households filed personal bankruptcies. Limited-resource agricultural households exist on income far below the average for all U.S. households and must rely heavily on alternative incomes (USDA, 2000). A lack of financial knowledge contributes to poor financial choices that can harm both individuals and communities. Households that lack basic financial management skills are more susceptible to high debt, damaged credit records, and overpayment or underpayment of financial products and services. Due to the changing structure of our economy, financial knowledge is an essential survival tool. Family instability, increased foreclosure risks, and decreased equity in homes and local businesses threaten lower-income rural communities (Woodstock Institute, 2000).

Wyoming has languished while other states have benefited from the economic boom that is sweeping the nation. In 1997, Wyoming reported the lowest overall employment growth rate of all states (Wyoming Employment Resources Division, 1998). The number of businesses failing with a loss to one or more creditors decreased annually from 1988 through 1994 but has increased annually since 1995. Wyoming’s economy is resource dependent. While agriculture and the extractive industries always will be important, the future of Wyoming communities depends upon the economic diversity and sustainability of its business climate and its people. The market downturn for our nation’s farmers and ranchers has affected Wyoming’s agriculture industry as well. From 1987 to 1997, total receipts from livestock and crops declined 28 percent statewide; total agriculture proprietor income has dropped 31 percent (USDA, 1997).

The 1999-2004 UW Academic Plan recommends that UW CES expand its role in community resources and economic development. This mission and visibility in local communities will require greater citizen involvement in planning, implementing, and evaluating extension programs. UW CES plays a unique role in addressing certain issues, because it is the only outreach arm of the university located in every county. Accordingly, UW CES is committed to enhancing Wyoming communities and households.

Goal: Enhance Wyoming communities and the financial well-being of households through relevant integrated educational and resource management programs.

Objective: Community issues will be addressed using a multidisciplinary educational approach.

Justification: Rural areas are more isolated from knowledge sources and often lack information necessary to economic decision making due to their smaller populations and more specialized economic base. External forces affect Wyoming communities as well. As the federal government gives more responsibility to states and state governments pass it to counties, problem solving and decision making will be vested at the community level. The need for a knowledgeable citizenry coincides with a responsibility to maintain economic, familial, and community integrity. Each community must decide whether and how it wants to seek economic growth and development.

The Wyoming Business Plan and Steering Committee notes that per capita income growth statewide from 1994 to 1996 was less than 60 percent of the national average. While neighboring states enjoyed a 13 percent job growth rate, Wyoming lagged behind with only an 8 percent growth rate. In a 1998 study of new business formation conducted by Wyoming Department of Employment, the survival rate of start-up businesses after four years in business with the same owner(s) was 38.4 percent. The national average was 47.3 percent (SBA, 1998). Wyoming communities must diversify their economies to provide a solid base for the future. This can be accomplished through multidisciplinary, system-wide approaches that yield long-term, positive results when dealing with change.

• Identify emerging local and state issues and develop multidisciplinary teams to address these concerns through community collaboration and education programs.
   

• Assist state and community leaders in planning for demographic, population, and related policy changes.
   

• Provide leadership in educating Wyoming’s community leaders, individuals, and households to better address issues affecting them.
   

• Analyze economic situations and policy changes to determine the economic impacts on local, county, and regional economies.

• Greater partnerships and collaboration within communities.
   

• Improved problem-solving abilities through increased decision-making, leadership, and problem resolution skills in community leaders, youth leaders, and the volunteer support base.
   

• Economically strengthened communities through integrated, multidisciplinary approaches.

Objective: Decision-makers and enterprises will gain expertise to make better economic decisions, diversify economic activities, manage resources, and develop effective financial plans.

Justification: Managing agricultural businesses and household finances offers some unique and complex challenges. Income is irregular and uncertain and often includes other in-kind benefits. The farm, ranch, and home competing for surplus cash and household expenditures are often co-mingled with business expenses. Agricultural households find it difficult to manage family finances because of the large expenses required to sustain the family agricultural business. The majority of limited-resource ranch households rely heavily on additional off-farm and ranch income. Although many rural people have skills and talents that could potentially generate income, they often do not have the information that can help them to develop economically viable alternative enterprises. New technology and the change from an industrial-based economy to a service- and information-based economy have dramatically increased opportunities for micro-enterprises and home-based businesses. These businesses are recognized as viable income generating opportunities.

• Deliver educational programs in enterprise development, including micro-enterprises, home-based businesses, and agricultural financial management, designed to teach how to establish and maintain an economically viable business enterprise and develop decision-making skills.
   

• Develop and support youth entrepreneurship and incorporate it into existing programs.
   

• Utilize all media outlets to increase residents’ understanding of economics and the role of individuals, households, businesses, and institutions in building and maintaining a strong economy.
   

• Deliver educational programs in developing alternative enterprises.
   

• Deliver educational programs and training in integrated management designed to assist people in efficient resource management and alternative uses of existing resources.

• Improved business management skills, resulting in decisions that contribute to a sustainable, diverse economy.
   

• Fostered entrepreneurial spirit in youth that can improve Wyoming employment possibilities and retain young people to fuel the economy.
   

• Traditional agricultural enterprises will complement economic diversity.
   

• Improved viability of existing businesses to compete at the national and/or global level.
   

• Improved economic opportunities for alternative agricultural household incomes.
   

• Increased opportunities for sustainable community development.

Objective: Increase Wyoming residents’ knowledge and understanding of consumer and household economic issues by offering educational programs that focus on lifelong financial management and decision-making skills.

Justification: The 1997 UW College of Agriculture Strategic Plan states that with the changes in family structure and educational systems, traditional sources of knowledge and skills basic to independent living are decreasing. Financial education is a necessity for reducing poverty. Low-income households are challenged by lack of basic financial skills. People with limited resources are often unprepared for handling financial emergencies. As available credit increases, many lower-income households have access to credit but lack the knowledge to handle debt. Income inequity among Wyoming households has increased since the 1970s. An analysis of income disparities by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute (January 2000) documented Wyoming as one of 18 states with large income gaps between the top fifth and the poorest fifth of families. Wyoming showed the largest gap—more than $5,600. The poverty rate in Wyoming increased from 7.9 percent in 1980 to 12.1 percent in 1998 (USDA, 2000). Credit card debt results in households that are more vulnerable to economic downturns, credit problems, and bankruptcy.

In some Wyoming communities, access to research-based, unbiased financial information and education is limited. Education for individuals at all income levels and at all stages of life is crucial for basic independent living, as well as quality of life enhancement.

• Deliver educational programs in agricultural and household financial management, including low-income financial management and youth and young adult financial management programs, designed to develop solid decision-making skills.
   

• Deliver educational programs and unbiased information to assist individuals in becoming smart consumers and making wise purchases.
   

• Use all media outlets to increase residents’ understanding of economics and the role of individuals, households, businesses, and institutions in building and maintaining a strong economy.

• Improved financial behavior and resource management skills will result in decisions that contribute to a sustainable economy.
   

• Improved consumer awareness, savings, and spending habits will increase net wealth and financial well- being of Wyoming households.
   

• Reduced personal debt will strengthen the economic security of Wyoming households.
   

• Improved decision-making skills.