Hello, readers! My name is Emily Lafon and I am responsible for Community Engagement here at OSU Extension Service in Lane County. Did you know that our faculty members win awards and are recognized on a regular basis for their research, program creation and more? Did you also know that all of our programs are specialized for specific skills but we also do a ton of collaboration among departments and programs? I want to help you know Extension and celebrate some of the cool, unique and creative programs, recognition and faculty successes that have occurred in the past three months. Here’s a glimpse at some of the exciting programming happening through Extension in Lane County:
Virtual canopy program: a VR forestry and logging experience for high schoolers
- Our very own Forestry agent, Lauren Grand, created a virtual reality program for high school students that simulates forestry work and also focuses on education and safety in the logging and forestry industry. This is a first of its kind and has been utilized by more than 200 students already. Check out more about the program here.
New crop of Master Gardeners are sprouting
- At the beginning of February our newest cohort of trainees began their journey to become certified Master Gardeners. This hands-on, in-depth training runs from February through mid-April. This year’s cohort of 29 trainees will be learning about topics including botany, plant diseases, pests, sustainable gardening practices, and regional horticulture. Trainees must also complete ongoing continuing education volunteer hours to maintain their certification. We are thrilled to have our new group of Master Gardeners training this spring. For more information on the Master Gardener program, click here.
- Did you know that in 2024 our Master Gardeners had more than 10,000 volunteer hours?! That’s an equivalent of $254,401, a massive savings for Extension. Without our knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers we wouldn’t be able to reach as many people as we do. We are forever grateful for our wonderful volunteers. Other highlights from 2024 include:
- Saw 1,021 plant clinic cases
- Held 100 workshops/classes
- Reached 6,918 people through email, in person contacts and phone calls
- Earned 1,564 CEU’s
Another successful year for Adulting 101
- 4-H Adulting 101 has wrapped up for 2025! This 4-H Life Skills Series consisted of 10 classes over five weeks, where 22 teens ages 12–18 met to learn skills to help them as they enter adulthood. The series had guest educators to teach youth various topics, such as: cooking, food preservation, CPR and First Aid certification, self-defense, car basics, mental health & overall wellbeing, emergency preparedness, and budgeting basics. This series was $75 for attendees and all participants got to take home materials such as a car roadside kit, first aid kit, yoga mats, cutting boards, and more. Lane County 4-H is the home of this 4-H series that is quickly spreading around Oregon and beyond. Check out more details on the program here and stay tuned for the 2026 series!
Emergency preparedness: empowering youth
- Be prepared, not scared! That’s the motto 4-H Program Coordinator Melinda Garcia shares with youth participants at her free emergency preparedness classes. Melinda has taught this class in Eugene, Florence, McKenzie and other locations around the county to give as many youth as possible opportunities to participate. The class features guest speakers, crafts and participants go home with their very own “go bag” for emergencies. Check out our events page to learn more about upcoming 4-H emergency prep workshops!
4-H lane County Embryology Program
In 2023, 4-H started an embryology program in a handful of schools around the county. The 4-H Embryology program in Lane County partners with teachers and other educators to supply curriculum, eggs, incubators, candeling, and brooders for youth to learn about, and participate in, egg development and hatching. We run the programs from February through June and each program takes place over about twenty-four days.
In 2025, they added more classrooms including two in Florence, for a total of 21 classrooms hatching eggs and teaching students the curriculum. Schools who participated this year included Applegate Elementary, Elmira and Veneta, Thurston, the 4J School District, the Bethel School District, and Siuslaw Elementary. This activity proved to be educational and engaging for youth in the schools who participated and was a welcome addition to curriculum. Our 4-H staff who oversaw this program were Kate Hammarback and Sandi Anderson What a fun experience for our local youth!
Welcome new Master Food Preserver trainees!
- A new batch of Master Food Preservers (MFPs) began training in February to become certified. MFPs are trained volunteers with the OSU Extension Service that support their communities with timely and relevant information about food access, food safety, and food preservation. This year’s training runs through the end of April. Are you passionate about promoting food safety and security in your community? Learn more about becoming a certified volunteer today.
More Extension Programs to Brag About
- Small Farms – Helps rural land stewards and small-scale farmers to explore possibilities and solve problems. We provide research-based resources for the community, offering educational programming, technical assistance and farmer networking opportunities.
- Some great events, classes and online programs are coming up! Check out a complete list here.
- Juntos- Recently was awarded a grant from ASPIRE to support the work around college/postsecondary access. The grant supports both youth and adult learners. Congratulations, Juntos and Open Campus Team!
As you can see, we have been busy around the office and community educating the fine folks of Lane County and beyond. We are incredibly lucky to work with such talented, smart, creative and diverse people at Extension and I am thrilled to be able to share some accomplishments with you. Stay well out there, readers. We hope to see you at upcoming events around the county!
Sincerely,
Emily