| Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals
Monthly Digest December 2025 |
|
|
In this edition
- President's Corner
- Help Shape ANREP's New Logo
- 2026 ANREP Awards Nominations Opening Soon!
-
Renew Your ANREP Membership for Conference Registration Discount
- ANREP 15th Biennial Conference Update
- Gulf Coast and Caribbean State of the Science Annual Meeting Call for Abstracts
- Enhancing Extension’s Impact through Collaboration with the Center for Watershed Protection
- Amazing professional development trip to Guatemala supported by ANREP!
- Pennsylvania ANREP recognizes Sanford "Sandy" Smith on his retirement
-
ANREP Professional and Leadership Development Committee Wrap Up A Successful 2025 Webinar Series
|
|
|
| President's Corner...
Kevin Zobrist ANREP President 2025 |
|
|
This is my fourth and final President’s Corner column. I meant for these to be spaced out quarterly, but life happened and the distribution was irregular and like lumps in the Thanksgiving gravy, we ended up with two in a row here at the end. It has been an honor, a privilege, and a pleasure to serve as your 2025 ANREP president. I look forward to continuing to serve ANREP in 2026 in the role of past president. I now hand the reigns over to Leslie Boby, your 2026 president, who will capably lead us in the new year.
|
|
|
Help Shape ANREP's New Logo-Short & Easy Commitment Do you have opinions about logos & design? Join a small working group to update ANREP's logo!
ANREP is refreshing its brand identity- and we need your input! Branding is more than just a logo; it's about creating an identity that reflects our values and connects with members and potential members. This includes updating our logo, color scheme, and taglines to better represent who we are. Why join-We already have great material that highlights our mission and membership, but our logo is ready for a fresh look. As part of this small working group, you'll:
- Share ideas and concepts for the new logo
- Help design a brief member survey to gather input
- Collaborate with a graphic designer to finalize concepts
Commitment: Just four meetings- an easy lift! Your voice will help shape ANREP's future.
Interested? Contact Leslie Boby or sign up here. |
|
|
| 2026 ANREP Awards Nominations Opening Soon! |
2026 ANREP Awards Program nominations open soon. It's not too early to think about outstanding programs, teams or individuals you would like to submit. 2026 winners will be recognized at the Awards Luncheon during the ANREP Biennial Conference in North Carolina, May 12-15. To get ready: -
Check out the ANREP Awards page to see past award winners in each category.
-
Help judge the 2026 ANREP Awards. We need about 30 judges to evaluate this year's award nominations! Please help us with this. Your task will consist of reviewing 1-2 awards categories, and 4-8 award nominations generally over two-three weeks in March. This is a great opportunity to see what your colleagues around the country are up to while helping out your professional organization. If you are new to ANREP it is also a great way to see how to write up a nomination if you plan to nominate yourself or a colleague in the future. But wait there is more! You can put this as a service position on your CV. The more judges that sign up, the fewer awards each of us have to review. Sign up here to get your name on the list.
- Renew your ANREP membership for 2026. Annual invoices will be sent on December 16 to members who paid their 2025 dues. You can always renew in advance by logging into the ANREP website member area.
-
Take a look at the official 2026 Awards Program Guide.
Questions? Please contact Catelyn Turner, 2026 ANREP Awards Committee Chair. |
|
|
| Renew Your ANREP Membership for Conference Registration Discount |
Look for your 2026 annual dues notice in your inbox soon. It is especially important to renew early this year in order to receive the ANREP biennial Conference member registration discount - worth more than the annual dues fee! All members who already renewed for next year, or who joined as new members after October 1, 2025 will receive an email with your discount code after conference registration opens. If you renew after that time, your payment confirmation will include the code. |
|
|
Upcoming professional development opportunities |
|
|
|
ANREP 15th Biennial Conference Update
Get ready to immerse yourself in the natural resource extension world in Wilmington, North Carolina |
| |
|
Charting the Future: ANREP 2026 Conference Field Excursions Await!
Get ready to go beyond the session rooms at the ANREP 2026 Conference in Wilmington, NC! On Wednesday, May 14, from 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM, we're offering a suite of dynamic field excursions designed to put you directly in touch with cutting-edge natural resource challenges and Extension successes in the vibrant coastal plain of North Carolina.
Don't miss this opportunity to connect knowledge with practice! Here's a glimpse of just some of the incredible learning experiences you can choose from:
-
NC Oyster Trail: Bivalves and Bubbles: Dive into North Carolina's "Napa Valley of oysters." This tour, which has a $20 fee, explores the oyster's journey from hatchery seedling (at UNCW's research facility) to shell recycling (at the NC Coastal Federation) and concludes with a taste of the final product at a local brewery. Learn how the NC Oyster Trail boosts tourism, supports local businesses, and drives crucial coastal resiliency efforts.
-
Silvopasture in Practice: Piney Woods Farm Field Excursion: Witness the future of integrated agriculture! Travel to Piney Woods Farm to see a successful, farmer-led silvopasture operation. Learn how the Lanier's have masterfully combined cattle production beneath a maturing stand of loblolly pines, providing critical insight into year-round grazing management, forest thinning, and creating a robust economic and environmental model for the Southeast.
-
NC Ag Innovation Tour: Research Station to Working Farm: Bridge the gap between agricultural science and commercial success. Start at the Castle Hayne Research Station to meet scientists leading cutting-edge trials in specialty crops, and then travel to Lewis Farms, a successful multi-generational operation, to see how they integrate research-based approaches into efficient production and marketing strategies.
-
Festivals, Fire and Flytraps: Exploring Prescribed Fire in Urban Landscapes: Address the ultimate conservation challenge: using essential prescribed fire in rapidly urbanizing environments. Hike through Carolina Beach State Park to see how fire-adapted treasures like the Venus flytrap thrive, then learn how the successful "Fire in the Pines" festival helps land managers communicate this critical practice to a growing public audience.
-
North Carolina's Carnivorous Plants and More: Join a naturalist from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission on an exploration of the unique pocosin and majestic longleaf pine savannas at Holly Shelter Gamelands. This excursion is a chance to spot rare species, including the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker and an array of carnivorous plants, while learning about vital land management practices and conservation threats.
Ready to reserve your spot? Keep an eye on the conference registration for sign-up details, including the specific logistics and any applicable fees for these incredible learning opportunities. Spaces are limited and registration for these valuable professional development tours will fill up quickly!
For more on conference details visit go.ncsu.edu/anrep2026. Registration will be opening soon! Don't miss out on these essential sessions and the opportunity to network with colleagues. |
|
|
Gulf Coast and Caribbean State of the Science Annual Meeting Call for Abstracts March 4-5, 2026 |
The Gulf Coast and Caribbean State of the Science Annual Meeting Series is excited to announce the 2026 State of the Science Meeting in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety and our new collaboration with the Southeast & Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP).
The 2026 State of the Science Meeting will take place on March 2-3, 2026 at the College of Charleston, directly preceding the SCDRP 2026 10th Anniversary Annual Meeting on March 4-5, 2026.
The theme of the 2026 State of the Science Meeting is Change Among our Working Waterfront where attendees will explore evolving challenges faced by coastal communities and fishery workers. The event will explore the health and safety concerns derived from natural disaster impacts, while also presenting forward-looking solutions and opportunities. |
|
|
| Enhancing Extension’s Impact through Collaboration with the Center for Watershed Protection |
By Bill Hubbard
University of Maryland
As a natural resources Extension professional, I am interested in opportunities to partner with various agencies and organizations who share similar goals and missions. I have found over the years that some organizations align more closely with Extension’s mission than others. One organization I have found to be extremely closely aligned is the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) located in Fulton, Maryland, but with satellite offices and partnerships throughout the country. CWP’s dedication to advancing clean water resources and healthy ecosystems through responsible land and water management resonates deeply with my professional objectives.
|
|
|
| Amazing professional development trip to Guatemala supported by ANREP! |
By Angela Gupta
University of Minnesota
This UMN Extension trip included a visit to the US Embassy, several farms and agricultural cooperatives and enabled lots of great networking. |
|
|
| Pennsylvania ANREP recognizes Sanford "Sandy" Smith on his retirement at the end of December |
By Jennifer Fetter
Penn State University
Following an extensive and accomplished career with Penn State University and Penn State Extension, Sandy Smith will retire at the conclusion of 2025. Sandy has been a member of the ANREP since nearly the organization's inception, served as President in 2013, was a founding member of Pennsylvania ANREP, and a founding trustee of the Natural Resources Extension Foundation (NREEF), currently serving as its president. Sandy leaves a lasting legacy through the colleagues he has mentored and supported nationwide. Congratulations, Sandy! |
|
|
| ANREP Professional and Leadership Development Committee Wrap Up A Successful 2025 Webinar Series |
By Holly Campbell, Chair
ANREP Professional Development Committee
The 2025 ANREP Professional and Leadership Development webinar series was a great success. The twelve 30-minute events reached 610 participants, including ANREP members and natural resource professionals from throughout the US and Canada. |
|
|
New postings on the ANREP jobs board | |
|
|
