East Oregonian : E.O., April 28, 2018, Image 5

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My kids have it pretty good
R
ecently, I shared some photographs
with my students. They were pictures
of my life. Images that held the
view — the people I care most about, cows,
fields, my home, and even
the water trough. We were
working on a lesson about
words with pizazz when
we write a story, and I was
excited to share my world
with them.
The kids sat staring
at the large screen in my
room with looks of awe,
helping me think of words
that brought the pictures
to life, but after about the
fourth or fifth picture,
one boy said “I feel
sorry for your boys, Mrs.
Murdock.”
I was completely
confused as I questioned why on earth
the student would feel sorry for them.
And then the confusion turned to shock
as he explained what he was seeing in the
photographs.
“They don’t have a playground, there are
no friends to play with from a neighborhood,
and you said that they don’t have video
games. There’s nothing to do. Don’t they get
bored? I would.”
It got quiet in the room. The other kids
looked at me, and then at him. I don’t
think they knew how to feel either, but
none of them were brave enough to say
anything out loud. I didn’t know what to
say either as I wondered
how could anyone look
at the pictures of my
home, the view, and
everything in between
without seeing that it
has almost “everything”
a person would need in
life? Without responding,
I continued clicking
through about four more
pictures and then one of
the girls toward the back
of the room said all that
needed to be said.
“Mrs. Murdock, I think
they have a playground
bigger than anything I’ve
ever seen. Do your sons know how good
it is? I mean they get all of this space and
fields and, I’ve always wanted animals but
we’ve never had enough room, and” … after
a long pause she said “well, the best part is,
they get to live with you!”
The entire class erupted into a song of
clapping and cheers. It was priceless. I
laughed out loud thinking about the question
she posed: “Do they know how good it is?”
Their playground isn’t clean or fenced in
Their life is full of
weeds and wire,
and a whole lot
of wonderful
people that
often don’t have
neighbors either.
or even surrounded with lush green grass.
Their life is full of weeds and wire, and a
whole lot of wonderful people that often
don’t have neighbors either. What more do
they need?
The sun bounces and reflects more
goodness than average into their world
— and from their world, too. And their
“playground” is never in the same place for
very long. Sometimes it’s under the apple
tree, and other times it’s next to the corral
their dad is fixing. It’s even been inside a
sale barn on bull sale day. They’ve learned
to create the “magic” a playground has
wherever they go, and in my mind, that’s
better than any well-built structure or seesaw
found in a perfect back yard or neighborhood
park. So, yes, sweet girl, to answer your
question, I believe they do know how good
they have it and they’d share it with all of
you if they could.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day. It
was a reminder for me, from the point of
view of a young boy as well as a young girl,
to not feel sorry for the lack of playground
equipment or people surrounding my house.
Ever.
There are times when I wish for a
neighborhood, for friendships in the park,
and for basketball games at a hoop at the
end of the block. But reality for us doesn’t
include those things. And, with each passing
day, I’m seeing and believing that we’re
L indsay M urdock
FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN
meant to have something different than
average or normal. And I’m more than OK
with that.
■
Lindsay Murdock lives in Echo and
teaches in Hermiston.
New research on forest health Facts about the OSU 4-H, Extension
and agricultural research service
and public perceptions
By PAUL OESTER AND
NILS CHRISTOFFERSEN
OSU Forest Extension Wallowa Resources
n the West, forest fires have become
more frequent and intense in the past
50 years. Wallowa Resources, based
out of Enterprise, has partnered with
Oregon State University, University of
Colorado, University of New Hampshire,
and University of Louisville to create
an innovative research collaboration —
Communities and
Forests in Oregon
(CAFOR). This
collaboration was
created to better
understand these
changes and learn
how Northeast Oregon
communities can adapt.
Representatives from
CAFOR will shares
the results of their
long-term study April
25-26 in Enterprise
and Pendleton. Their
findings explore the
connections between forest health, wildfire
risk and economic vitality.
For their study, CAFOR conducted
household surveys across Eastern Oregon
to better understand concerns of residents
in the region. Primary concerns reported
were: 1) overstocking of trees; 2) wildfire,
and 3) slow but steady increases in summer
temperatures. These surveys confirmed
strong public support for active restoration
and management on public and private forest
lands.
CAFOR also conducted an analysis of
long-term weather datasets, confirming that
wildfires and temperatures will continue
to increase four-to-five fold over the next
50 years. Based upon these anticipated
increase in summer temperatures and
wildfires, restoration is critical to the health
of our forests and the well-being of our
communities.
Forest management — particularly on
federal forests — is often divisive. General
agreement exists about reducing wildfire
risk and maintaining forest health, but
opinions differ greatly as to what constitutes
appropriate action. CAFOR’s research can
serve as the foundation for getting multiple
groups to the table to discuss options on
federal lands.
There are already existing groups
that work in this effort, such as
county governments, local landowner
and community initiatives, and the
Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla Forest
Collaboratives. However, these groups need
more support and more voices to engage in
solutions that meet all of our needs.
A lot of investment has been made in
seeking to advance solutions on federal
I
forest land, but it is also critical that similar
effort is directed toward private lands.
Across Eastern Oregon, more than 25
percent of our forested lands are owned by
private landowners, and half of these are
owned by individual families. These forests
influence wildfire risk, forest health, and
wildlife habitat across the landscape and
are a foundational part of a forest-based
economy.
Private landowners in Eastern Oregon are
knowledgeable and care about the health of
the forests, water and lands
they manage. Public and
private owners can work
together to keep these lands,
forests, and water healthy
and sustain local jobs.
These emerging
local partnerships and
collaboration between
landowners are a hopeful
sign. They highlight unique
and effective progress in
northeast Oregon:
• The Lostine Canyon
Community of small
woodland owners is the
first community in Wallowa County to
begin the process of becoming a “Firewise”
community. Becoming a Firewise
Community is an effective way to bring
neighborhoods together, prepare for a
wildfire, and increase overall forest health.
• Partnerships between local landowners
with the United States Forest Service,
Natural Resource Conservation Service,
Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon
State University and local non-profits
have secured over $5 million from the
USDA Regional Conservation Partnership
Program to support fuel, wildlife habitat, and
improved water quality in Baker, Union and
Wallowa counties.
• Family forest landowners in Baker
County formed the Blue Mountain Forest
Cooperative in response to the high cost
of harvest and transportation from smaller
isolated properties.
These types of collaborative
landowner-led partnerships are an important
way to address concerns identified in
CAFOR’s research: increasing wildfire
risk, rising temperatures, and sustaining
natural resource-based jobs. Communities
throughout Eastern Oregon are working to
expand these innovative efforts to ensure the
future of our forests and the people who care
for them. We encourage you to attend these
events to learn more about Eastern Oregon
forests and the people who care for them,
and to become engaged in these efforts.
For more information on CAFOR visit
www.cafor.weeb.com
■
Paul Oester works at OSU Forest
Extension and Nils Christoffersen works for
Wallowa Resources.
Across Eastern
Oregon, more
than 25 percent
of forested
land is owned
by private
landowners.
W
e appreciate the opportunity
assessed value was determined by citizen
to provide a short list of facts
leaders in the county after a careful and
about the service district. Voters
thoughtful analysis of budget needs and
in Umatilla and Morrow counties are
projected revenues. That is the maximum
being asked to consider adding two new
rate and can never change.
service districts to support staff
8. Unique to Umatilla and
and operations of the Oregon
Morrow counties is the location
State University Extension
of two research centers in the
Service programs in 4-H, nutrition
two-county region. The Columbia
education, master gardeners and
Basin Agricultural Research Center
agricultural research. The election
focuses on dryland agriculture
deadline is May 15.
while the Hermiston Agricultural
As public employees of
Research and Extension Center
Oregon State University, we
focuses on irrigated agriculture.
Mary
cannot advocate for or against any
9. The numbers of scientists
Corp
ballot measure or candidate. We
located at these research centers is
Comment
can share the following facts to
equal to if not greater than in 2000.
our communities about what the
Most research conducted by these
proposed service district would do.
faculty is done in Umatilla and
If approved, the service districts
Morrow counties.
would mean:
10. Approximately 30 percent of
1. A stronger 4-H Youth
the proposed funds would support
Development Program. 4-H in
4-H programs.
Umatilla and Morrow counties
11. Due to state budget cuts,
helps thousands in and outside
local research centers were required
of our cities, through clubs,
to find 25 percent of their base
after-schools activities and events
operational budgets from local
Phil
to be successful in school, and
sources.
Hamm
to prepare them with life skills.
12. Subsequently, following
Comment
4-H is an Extension program and
these budget cuts, support funding
not a private or standalone entity.
came from many sources that have
We provide supplies, teaching materials,
proven not to be sustainable and upon the
trainings, volunteer screenings and
advice of the Citizens Leaders Committee
management, facilities and more — all led
the service districts have been proposed
by youth development professionals and
because of the wide impact Extension and
supported by our support staff.
agricultural research has in both counties.
2. Healthy diet and healthy lifestyles.
13. Twenty-five other counties in
Extension programs promote and support
Oregon have established similar Extension
good nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices Service Districts.
for thousands of youth and adults in
14. Where Service Districts support
Umatilla and Morrow counties through
both Extension and research centers in
nutritional education and Master Gardeners. other counties such as Malheur, Klamath
3. A strong billion-dollar regional
and Jackson counties, funding has been
agricultural industry. Thousands of
maintained and not cut by the university.
residents and families throughout
15. Extension has four offices and two
Umatilla and Morrow counties regularly
research centers in these two counties,
use Extension and research services to
with staff numbers approaching 60-80,
depending on time of year. There are about
support and build the regional agricultural
economy. Agricultural production and food 1.5 full time employees in administration to
oversee these operations.
manufacturing represent 17,607 jobs, or
You have arrived at the end of a list of
about 37 percent of the regional workforce.
15 facts about current Extension programs
4. More for our money. For every local
and the proposed service districts. We
dollar invested, Umatilla and Morrow
County Extension and agricultural research appreciate that you are still reading. We
currently brings an additional $5 from state, value your desire to be fully informed. For
federal grants and contracts to the counties. 100-plus years, Extension has partnered
with Umatilla and Morrow counties to
5. This is dedicated funding only for
provide programming and agricultural
Extension activities in the counties where
research. This work contributes to
the funds would be collected. This would
stabilize funding and secure funding for the residents’ ability to remain competitive in a
global economy and live healthy lives. And
future. The fiscal oversight and budgeting
those are the facts.
processes will be directed by the county
■
commissioners.
Mary Corp is a professor of crop and soil
6. OSU does not take an administrative
science and director of the Columbia Basin
overhead fee on county service district
Agricultural Research Center. Phil Hamm
dollars. This will not pay for OSU
is a professor emeritus of plant pathology
positions located in Corvallis or anywhere
and director of the Hermiston Agricultural
else in the state.
Research and Extension Center.
7. The rate of 33 cents per $1,000 of