USDANEWS VOLUME 56 NO.5 - MAY 1997

Partnering with Latino Berry Growers
"It was difficult at first--but we found a way."

John Smythe, state executive director for the California Farm Service Agency, based in Sacramento, was describing initial attempts by FSA to assist Latino growers of strawberries and raspberries in parts of California. But those initial attempts at outreach ultimately have led to a unique partnership between FSA and the California Latino Agriculture Association.

"The crop should normally be bigger this time of year," observes FSA's John Smythe (left), as he examines strawberry growth in a farmer's field near Salinas, Calif. He is studying the crop with Lourdes Gonzales, spokesperson of the California Latino Agriculture Association. FSA and the Association have entered into a unique partnership, designed to aid Latino growers of strawberries and raspberries in the central coastal area of California.
--Photo by Erica Haspiel-Szlosek

Smythe explained that members of the Association are primarily Spanish-speaking limited-resource growers of strawberries and raspberries, most of whom were former farm workers and who are located in the central coastal area of California. "Until 1995, despite FSA's attempts at outreach to these new growers," he said, "they generally hadn't taken advantage of opportunities to participate in FSA programs."

"But then disastrous flooding that hit Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in March 1995 nearly eliminated their entire strawberry and raspberry crops for the year."

"So they turned to FSA for help."

However, as new participants, the growers were generally unfamiliar with relief programs available to them through FSA. "We had programs to help the growers," noted Vivian Soffa, FSA's county executive director for Monterey County. "But we had to start with the basics to explain how we needed to have their information organized and submitted."

Accordingly, to assist growers in preparing their disaster-aid applications, FSA dispatched 40 agency employees--18 of whom were from out-of-state--to the agency's Monterey Office.

"We did issue loans and make payments to the growers," Soffa affirmed. "But there were still a number of barriers that prevented our agency from being seen initially as responsive by the growers."

She said that until that time, growers--in these two counties--generally had not demonstrated a need for bilingual services from FSA. To compound the difficulties, FSA's disaster assistance programs changed and new regulations were not yet in place to provide direction to agency specialists in California.

Smythe pointed out that three things then happened to improve the situation. First, Association growers appointed a spokesperson, Lourdes Gonzales, who participated in regular meetings between Association members and FSA. "Through those meetings," Smythe affirmed, "the Association has come to better understand FSA procedures, and now aids its members in better preparing the necessary papers to participate in FSA programs."

Second, through Soffa's additional outreach efforts, Association members became interested in serving on the FSA County Committee for Monterey County, as well as committees in adjoining counties. One Association member was elected to that committee by fellow farmers, and a second Association member was appointed as a minority advisor to it.

Third, the Monterey County FSA Office hired a bilingual employee who now translates materials into Spanish and distributes them to Latino growers. "But that wasn't enough; we wanted to build on that," Soffa emphasized. So she has been taking Spanish classes since 1995. "This summer," she noted, "I'll be entering an intensive language program to give me the fluency in Spanish that I feel is critical to have, to help better serve our customers."

"We have had to rethink our traditional ways of doing business," said Soffa. "We've worked hard to find ways to build a relationship with the growers."

"This partnership is truly unique--I don't know of any others of its kind."

--Erica Haspiel-Szlosek

FSIS's Unique Transition Team
USDA went through a major reorganization in October 1994, and a number of program agencies followed suit, including the Food Safety and Inspection Service. In fact, the November-December 1996 issue of the USDA News carried a story about how the agency's headquarters reorganization became effective last November, with anticipated completion of its field alignment by 1999.

But what might be unique about FSIS's reorganization is that it has created a Transition Team with a singularly important goal: to ensure the transition is handled in an effective manner--and causes minimal disruption to its employees and FSIS programs.

"We're pleased to say that, as of May 1, no FSIS employees--either at headquarters or field locations--have yet been involuntarily separated because of our reorganization," affirmed Marlin Waller, leader of the Transition Team. "That's one of the measures we keep looking at, in evaluating whether our Team is meeting that goal--as we reorganize to implement the food safety system of the future."

"We can't eliminate all the change and anxiety that goes with change," Waller acknowledged, "and there may yet be some involuntary separations."

"But we've found that surfacing the issues of concern to employees, and then discussing them with each other and with program managers, has helped us identify ways to make the transition easier."

Waller, on detail to the Transition Team from his FSIS job as a classification officer in Minneapolis, is assigned full-time to overseeing the transition to the "new FSIS." Other members of the 23-person Team represent the various program units of FSIS, its employee union, and three employee organizations.

Waller said the Transition Team also works hard to keep FSIS employees up-to-date on transition progress through agency newsletters, mailings, and briefings, and to ensure a variety of support services are available to employees who want them.

"We're also keeping a database on what happens to every single FSIS employee affected by the reorganization," he said. "This will help the agency evaluate what it could have done better--and may help other agencies facing reorganization."

According to Michele Clarke, a position classification specialist and Transition Team member, one of the values of the Team is its development of 17 specific guiding principles for the transition, on paper, endorsed by the agency's leadership. "For the most part," she pointed out, "these address consistency and fairness across the agency as a whole or offer specific commitments to employees."

"Everybody wants to be fair; having these principles on paper makes it easier for us to follow through as an agency."

For instance, Guiding Principle No. 2 states: "The agency goal is to have a position to offer every FSIS employee wishing to remain with the agency..." GP No. 3 states: "The agency will develop and implement policies and processes for staffing the new organizational structure to ensure consistency and fairness in treatment of employees in similar employment situations."

According to Ray Bolyard, an FSIS resource management specialist and Transition Team member, a main value of the Team has been "the opportunity to be flexible and avoid mistakes." For instance, Transition Team discussions helped agency managers realize it was better to open all 18 FSIS district offices this summer rather than open them in phases, as originally planned.

"Tell it like it is," members of the Transition Team agree, is the watchword for a fair reorganization. "If people know early on what changes are coming," Bolyard said, "they can make sensible plans for their jobs, families, and lives."

--Sharin Sachs

Presenting: The New Woodsy Owl!
"Lend a Hand--Care for the Land" is the new message for a sportier looking Woodsy Owl.

He debuted his new image and theme to thousands of children during national events celebrating Earth Day. Woodsy Owl--an official part of the Forest Service and America's official environmental icon for 26 years--appeared redesigned and revitalized.

"A slim and trim Woodsy Owl now sports a backpack, hiking boots, a t-shirt, and field pants--a look that is smart and safe for exploring the great outdoors," affirmed Pam Godsey, program manager for the natural resources conservation education program in the State and Private Forestry area of the Forest Service, which handles the agency's Woodsy Owl Program.

But why did Woodsy need such an overhaul--and why now?

"In the early '90s Woodsy began to lose popularity," Godsey acknowledged. "Focus groups told us to update him or get rid of him. We knew we had a valuable resource who could reach the American people--so we began to explore ways to change him to make him more appealing and relevant."

"Let's go, Woodsy; there are so many kids and so little time," declares FS research information manager Tim Beaty (right), as he and the "new" Woodsy Owl head off to talk with more young people about Woodsy's new message.--Photo by Janet Sledge

Accordingly, in 1993 the Forest Service teamed up with the Children's Television Workshop. Together they created Woodsy's new look, plus new educational and promotional materials to help children, ages five to eight, understand their roles in the conservation of natural resources in urban and rural communities--characterized by the admonition to 'renew, reuse, and recycle.'

"We updated Woodsy Owl's appearance to make him more relevant to kids of the late '90s and into the new millennium," said FS public affairs specialist Jill Bauermeister. "And his expanded message 'Lend a Hand--Care for the Land' is positive, easily understood, and generates in young children an interest in taking care of our natural resources."

"So you'll find the new Woodsy carrying, in his new backpack, new materials to distribute to children in cities, suburbs, and rural areas."

According to Eva Cuevas, director of the Design Center in the Office of Communications, USDA's general information poster titled "USDA: The People's Department"--which is currently being updated--will include the new Woodsy Owl character.

In addition, OC public affairs specialist Deborah Smith noted that the Agriculture Fact Book for 1997 will also reflect the new Woodsy.

Godsey pointed out that the Forest Service has not discarded Woodsy's 26-year-old message of "Give a Hoot--Don't Pollute!"

"Two generations of adults recognize and use that message today," she said. "We have just expanded the message to include fostering good stewardship for the land."

"Because the modern-day Woodsy will soon be on the Forest Service's home page," said Godsey, "you can say that Woodsy is slim, trim, and will soon be digitized."

--Janet Sledge

...Plus, He Never Runs Out of Leave
USDA is full of employees who have literally spent their lives with the Department. But here's an employee in that elite group who has four legs and a tail--and who celebrated his 21st birthday on May 21.

Yes, this is USDA's employee news publication--and so yes, this is a photo of two USDA employees: ARS's Johann Thiel (left) and ARS's Dudley (right). One of them just celebrated not only his 21st birthday, but also 21 years of research work for the agency in Ames, Iowa.--Photo by Chuck Greiner

Dudley, or more officially known as "Equine 630," is a one-ton, mixed Percheron draft horse who has "spent his life" in research work with the Agricultural Research Service's National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa. According to Steve Bolin, a veterinary medical officer and research leader for enteric diseases and food safety research at the Center, Dudley's job is to donate his blood for tests requiring antibody responses.

"Dudley's blood," he said, "has been used as a blocking agent in the development of new diagnostic tests in animal disease research, as well as in tests for unknown animal viruses, tetanus research, and as a nutrient source for bacterial toxins which we grow in our lab here."

"You could accurately say that Dudley has participated in our research activities during his entire life."

Johann Thiel, supervisor for animal resources at the Center, noted that Dudley's temperament is such that he is easy to work with--and is a willing blood donor.

Flanked by ARS's Johann Thiel (left) and Kris Lager (center), Dudley (right) scrutinizes the message on his 20-year Certificate of Service, which he earned last year--but which just recently arrived in office mail.
--Photo by Chuck Greiner

Dudley has had five caretakers during his 21 years of service in research for ARS. "In fact," laughed his current caretaker, ARS technician Kris Lager, "Dudley--still a 'contributing employee'--attended the retirement parties for at least three of my predecessors."

"And who knows--he might outlast me, too!"

--Linda Cooke

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