Francesca Lear

Food Hero designs new resource for older adults

In each newsletter there are suggestions and modifications — sticky notes — that allow each topic to be accessible and customized to ingredients on hand or mobility level.

Francesca Lear | Oct 1, 2024 | News story

For these three, internship program sparked interest in full-time OSU Extension career

The Extension internship provides opportunities for interns to gain hands-on experience as an Extension employee. Four former interns went on to land jobs with OSU Extension, and three are current employees.

Francesca Lear | Sep 26, 2024 | News story

Extension intern organizes ‘show’ clothes drive in Malheur County

Bennett Johnson organized a 2½ week show clothes drive that culminated in the Malheur County Fair.

Francesca Lear | Sep 10, 2024 | News story

OSU Extension research using drones takes flight to detect vole activity

Christy Tanner, an assistant professor of practice based in the Willamette Valley, uses the drone and its two cameras to measure the damage voles are doing to the grass seed crop.

Francesca Lear | Sep 5, 2024 | News story

Gardening classes bring rural older adults together in Jackson County

Cultivating Companions is a partnership with the Jackson County Library District that uses plants as a means of building connection among local older adults.

Francesca Lear | Aug 15, 2024 | News story

OSU Extension establishes Master Gardener program in Malheur County

OSU Extension agricultural educator Russell Smith-Ollivierre worked with local residents after conducting a needs assessment.

Francesca Lear | Jul 15, 2024 | News story

Western Extension directors recognize OSU Outdoor School for equity work

The Extension Outdoor School program has been deeply committed to equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion since the program launched in 2017.

Francesca Lear | Jun 25, 2024 | News story

Extension publication brings more fire education to home landscapes

Every plant in the publication has research behind its ability to contribute to a fire-wise defensible space around your home.

Francesca Lear | Jun 14, 2024 | News story

Oregon Sea Grant Extension reminds boaters to ‘know before you go’

To keep waterways healthy and sewage free, boat holding-tank pumpouts, portable toilet dump stations and floating restrooms are available across Oregon’s popular boating and fishing areas.

Francesca Lear | Jun 13, 2024 | News story

OSU Extension Fire Program celebrates four years of impactful outreach

In addition to hosting more than two dozen webinars that have been viewed by thousands of people, in the last four years the program has facilitated community preparedness partnerships and landscape planning processes.

Francesca Lear | May 31, 2024 | News story

Extension field day highlights use of canines to detect voles

The goal is to use dogs to be more efficient at vole trapping.

Francesca Lear | May 29, 2024 | News story

Umatilla County youth uses 4-H skills to win heifer in national contest

Mickenzie picked up her heifer in November and has been raising the cow on her family farm.

Francesca Lear | May 28, 2024 | News story

OSU Extension trainings provide safety net for stressed farmers and ranchers

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) teaches farmers, ranchers and their family and friends how to interrupt the process that leads to suicide.

Francesca Lear, Kym Pokorny | May 21, 2024 | News story

Extension aims to reach 500 cattle producers on enhanced biosecurity and foreign disease mitigation

The project aims to provide a basic overview and proactive activities and measures that people can take to mitigate production market and financial risks, and the process by which cattle producers can resume business

Francesca Lear | May 8, 2024 | News story

Science of wildfire, provided by OSU Extension, influences art exhibition

The scientists involved were OSU Extension’s Ariel Cowan and Katie Wollstein, who spent several days with the cohort talking about wildfire on Oregon’s high desert rangelands and forests – its ecology, what drives it and the challenges to manage it.

Francesca Lear | Apr 19, 2024 | News story

OSU hosts national conference focused on innovative projects for youths in agriculture

The conference brought together six land grant universities, including OSU, to highlight initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute for Food Agriculture.

Anaïs Alexander, Francesca Lear | Apr 15, 2024 | News story

Oregon State University Extension publications recognized for excellence by national association

Publications produced by the OSU Extension Service received one gold award and two silver awards.

Francesca Lear | Apr 5, 2024 | News story

OSU Extension 4-H connects Portland high school students with careers in aquatic science through lab visit

The overarching goal of this all-day field trip for students from Alliance at Joseph Meek Technical High School was to explore careers in natural resources and hear from those in the field.

Francesca Lear | Mar 28, 2024 | News story