Steps for Addressing Change
Change can happen in big or small ways in both our professional and personal lives. You may be leading the change or participating in the process. You may want something to change, but do not want to be the one that changes! In The Power of Presence, Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others (2012), K. Hedges shares five things to consider when faced with change.
Step 1: Make room for reflection time
Reflection time involves letting thoughts come to us, which helps overcome functional fixedness.
Step 2: Focus on solutions, not problems
If we keep our attention on what’s wrong or on our failures, those thoughts will dominate our minds. Alternatively, if we choose to focus on what’s working or what’s possible, those thoughts become more vivid.
Step 3: Strike while the Aha! Moments are hot
You’ll have far greater success with change if you can capture that moment and act quickly, or at least create a path to action.
Step 4: Just Do It (at least in a small way)
People make incremental change, gain confidence and perspective, and then try the next goal.
Step 5: Find your flow
Set a goal for yourself that causes you to extend your capabilities or puts you on the path of mastery. The joy of the flow is in the process.
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Updated Core Competency Training
2022 has brought many new employees to NRCS and SWCDs across the state. If you are one of our newer employees – welcome! We are so happy to have you with us. To help orient you to the work we do in Minnesota, the Technical Training and Certification Program has developed a series of Core Competency training modules. They contain foundational knowledge of soil and water conservation in three categories: Soils, Water Quality and Conservation Planning. The modules are recommended for all employees, regardless of position. You can access the self-paced modules anytime at the MNC3 training website. Instructions on creating an account and registering for courses can be found here. If you see something you like, find a broken link, or notice something that needs improvement, we always welcome feedback. Please let us know what you think.
Area 5 Beef Education Tour
Livestock enterprises often dictate what crops, harvest methods, nutrient management styles, and timeframes the operators work from. This series of trainings will continue with a farm tour on a 3,000 head beef feedlot and 400 head cow calf operation. Participants will see a snapshot view of what it takes to operate and succeed in the daily life of this type of livestock management. Animals require care seven days a week, rain or shine, with cropping as an additional component of this farm plan. Hear first-hand what’s on the producer’s mind as they are planning and what they consider – knowing it can all change with little notice.
This series of educational tours aims to give participants an introduction and overview of the livestock industry to help them better understand planning considerations when working with livestock producers. Following the tour, participants will hear firsthand from the operator about the planning considerations they make in the field that is influenced by livestock needs. This training is planned from 1-4 pm, January 19 and will be held partially outdoors, so appropriate dress for very cold conditions will be required. A snack and drink will be offered to participants, but no other lunch will be provided. Additional educational tours on a hog operation will be held in the future as part of this on-going training series to provide planners a better understanding of the livestock industries within their counties.
Date: Thursday, January 19th (Backup snow date January 20th)
Time: 1:00-4:00 PM
Location: Blac X Farms Inc, 272 121st Street, Garretson, SD
For those interested, you can register here.
Questions? Please contact Dawn Madison at dawn.madison@icloud.com or 507-360-1564.
Upcoming Events
UMN Extension’s “Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops” webinar series summary. Pull up a chair and join in or bring the conversation with you as you go about your day. Whatever works best for you, join us this winter to discuss some of the key issues and questions around commodity crop production facing Minnesota farmers today through the “Strategic Farming: Let’s Talk Crops” webinar series. This live, online program will provide up-to-date, research-based information to help optimize your crop management strategies for 2023. Sessions will be held over Zoom, which can be accessed via your computer, phone or other mobile device, and run from 9:00 to 10:00 am Wednesdays, January 11 through March 29, 2023. Sessions will be very informal and open to all interested. Each session will start with a brief presentation by the discussion leaders for the day, followed by discussion framed around farmer/participant questions on the topic.
Nitrogen: Minnesota’s Grand Challenge and Compelling Opportunity Conference. University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center (MAWRC) Nitrogen: Minnesota's Grand Challenge and Compelling Opportunity Conference brings experts together to focus entirely on this valuable input. Current topics in crop production and environmental stewardship will be relevant and informative for today's agricultural producers and professionals and anyone else who appreciates high-quality, research-based information.
Nutrient Management Conference. University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center (MAWRC)’s Nutrient Management Conference brings experts together to focus on nutrient management. Current topics in crop production and environmental stewardship will be relevant and informative for today's agricultural producers and professionals and anyone else who appreciates high-quality, research-based information.
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Minnesota Wetland Professional Certification Program |
The MWPCP is busy planning the 2023 training schedule. The course schedule will be announced in January. At that time, an email will go out to all MWPCP and Wetland Conservation Act contacts. The courses will also be listed on the MWPCP website. Registration for all courses will open in March of 2023.
Technical Training & Certification Program Trainings
Related Partner Trainings
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December
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Through June 2023
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Agroforestry and USDA Webinar Series, USDA National Agroforestry Center, Online
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January
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Jan 5-6
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Harmful Algal Bloom Research Symposium, North Central Region Water Network, virtual
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Jan 11
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Let's Talk Weather, Economics and Supply Chains, UMN Extension, Online
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Jan 18
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Let's Talk Corn Insects, UMN Extension, Online
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Jan 19-21
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On Common Ground: Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Ames, IA
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Jan 23-25
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Midwest Cover Crops Council’s Annual Meeting/South Dakota Soil Health Coalition’s Annual Soil Health Conference, MCCC and SDSHC, Sioux Falls, SD
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Jan 24-26
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MECA's 35th Annual Conference and Pre-Conference Workshops, MECA, St. Cloud
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Jan 25
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Let's Talk Climate Factors and Nitrogen Management, UMN Extension, Online
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February
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Feb 21-23
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28th Annual Wetland Science Conference, Wisconsin Wetlands Association, Stevens Point, WI
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March
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March 8-9
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Sustainable Farming Association Midwest Soil Health Summit, SFA, Alexandria, MN
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Not all training takes place in a classroom. Check out the links below to learn at a time and place of your choosing.
We’ve also put together a searchable library of recorded modules, webinars, videos and other resources to help our staff and partners find professional development information on a variety of topics. You can visit BWSR's Online Learning page to find web-based technical training resources sorted by category.
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Program Contacts
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