County weed superintendent attends continuing education classes

Brian Hiett, the Cheyenne County weed superintendent, recently attended the Nebraska Weed Control Fall Training Seminar, held in Kearney. This was the third opportunity during 2014 to obtain 10 of the required 20 hours of continuing education needed by county weed superintendents statewide.

All 13 of Nebraska’s Weed Management Area groups gave an update during the two-day training. The results show thousands of acres of noxious and invasive plants being monitored, mapped, and controlled as well as successful awareness and outreach being accomplished.

Additional topic’s presented included the new superintendent’s First-Year Panel facilitated by Charles Brooks, Phelps County; Worst Weed Year Ever?, by Mitch Coffin, Nebraska Department of Agriculture; Herbicide and Timing by Chuck Wilcox, Dow AgroSciences; Yea-End Review by Mike Reed, Douglas County, and all six NWCA Region Directors; Using Private Applicators Training as an Opportunity to Educate by NWCA President Brian Crabtree, Hamilton County.

The second-day topics included NWCA Web Page update by webmaster Marty Craig, Dawson/Gosper County; How to Host a Meeting by Rob Schultz, Hall/Howard County; A Big Research Effort by Lil Miss Atrazine, Roni McClellen; What Makes a Good Story by Lori Potter, writer and reporter for the Kearney Hub; Results of a Safety Audit by Bruce Rumsey, Clay County; Communicating with County Boards by Ivan Klein, Buffalo County Supervisor and Max Birkel, Butler County Supervisor and Weed Superintendent. The last few minutes of the day were spent “Looking Ahead as an Association – What changes, if any, do we need to make?”

As with every NWCA training, superintendents answered morning and afternoon roll call. Each day ends with an exam that superintendents must complete and pass to obtain the hours needed.

There is one remaining opportunity for continuing education hours for 2014. The Nebraska Association of County Officials Conference will be held Dec.10-12 in Omaha.