Ofe Attends Continuing Education For Weed Superintendents

Bruce Ofe, Antelope County Weed Superintendent recently attended Spring Training on April 6 and 7 held at the Ramada Inn in Kearney.  The theme for event was called “Spring Into Action”.
 
Wednesday’s topics included: New Solutions for 2016, Craig Davidson, Dow AgroSciences; Revising the Watch List and Other Invasive Species Lists, Chris Helzer, Director of Science, Nature Conservancy of Nebraska; General Vegetation Management, Andrew Skibo, Technical Development Specialist, SePRO Corporation.  The morning session concluded with Brent Meyer, Lancaster County weed superintendent showing three informational noxious weed videos.
 
The afternoon session had speakers Andrew Skibo from the SePRO Corporation talking on Aquatic and Algae Management; Mitch Coffin, Program Manager with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture speaking on 10 and 15 day notices.  The first days training ended with Marty Craig, Dawson and Gosper counties weed superintendent demonstrating the NWCA Weed Mapper and Inspection Program.
 
Thursday’s topics included:  Weed Free Forage and Gravel Pit Inspections, Todd Boller, Fillmore county weed superintendent and Rob Schultz, Hall and Howard counties weed superintendent; Coping With Difficult People, Bill Podraza, Leadership Instructor, Unique Technique Inc.; Noxious and Invasive Weed presentations, Rod Stolcpart, Rock County weed superintendent, Becky Paulsen, Seward County weed superintendent, Mike Reed, Douglas County weed superintendent and Bruce Rumsey, Clay County weed superintendent.  Final speaker for the day was Bob Walters, Business Development Director for FieldWatch, Inc.
 
This event was the second of four opportunities to obtain hours of continuing education.  Each superintendent must answer roll call twice per day, complete and pass the exam at the end of each day to receive his or her hours of continuing education credit. The NWCA Education Committee works hard to create trainings that will have learning opportunities for new and “seasoned” superintendents, while following the guidelines mandated by the Noxious Weed Act.  The next continuing education classes will be held in Kearney at the Ramada Inn.  New Superintendent training will be November 1.  Fall Training for all weed superintendents will be held November 2 and 3, 2016