Early Career Leadership
Type: Nomination of a group, possibly including the nominator
Category: Achievement - Early Career Leadership
1. AWARD NAME: EARLY CAREER LEADERSHIP AWARD
2. NOMINATOR:
Sheila Dunning
University of Florida IFAS/Okaloosa County Extension
Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent II
5479 Old Bethel Road
Crestview, FL 32536
850-689-5850
3. NOMINEE:
Brooke R. Saari
University of Florida IFAS/Walton and Okaloosa Counties
Sea Grant/Marine Extension Agent I
5479 Old Bethel Road
Crestview, FL 32536
850-689-5850
4. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In the short three years that she has been employed with Extension, Brooke has proven herself to be a true leader and valuable asset to the University and the two counties she serves. Ms. Saari has become a respected educator and reliable source of information to clientele and the community. Brooke has been instrumental in educating both adults and youth of Okaloosa and Walton Counties on the importance of area natural resources by utilizing many delivery methods including presentations, publications, workshops, hands-on demonstrations, camps, field trips, guided tours and festivals. She has established numerous community partnerships that have enabled her to enhance her programs and better serve clientele. Brooke’s leadership has been essential in the establishment of the Walton County Earth Day Festival, coordination of the Eco-Nomic Living Expo seminars and the development of Coastal Dune Lake Education program.
Okaloosa and Walton Counties coastal and marine resources, including a vast dune system across 50 miles of coastline, a barrier island, numerous bayous, and the 27 miles encompassing the Choctawhatchee Bay which provide recreational opportunities for 250,000 residents and approximately 3.5 million tourists with a related economic impact of over $1.1 billion annually. Additionally, these waters support a commercial fishery fleet of nearly 26,000 vessels and are part of a watershed that connects nine Alabama counties and six Florida counties. Brooke recognized the importance of Watershed Education and Environmental Stewardship in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, even before coming to work for Extension, and developed her educational programs around these topics.
When Ms. Saari was hired in February 2008, she began identifying environmental issues facing her counties and pursued resources, agencies and educational methods to address the problems. Brooke partnered with agents from 4-H and Family and Consumer Science to create the Reach Out with Science (ROWS) program that provided at-risk youth with an opportunity to appreciate the natural environment and learn new skills. She contacted many community organizations including the Tourist Development Council and the Florida State Parks system to create, organize and coordinate the first Walton County Earth Day Festival, which included interactive educational displays, hands-on demonstrations and guided tours of unique ecosystems. Additionally, Brooke took on a leadership role in organizing educational seminars for both the Sustainable Government Conference and the Eco-Nomic Living Expo. By the following year, Ms. Saari added Rain Barrel building workshops, all three modules of the Florida Master Naturalist program, Grasses in Classes, Coastal Dune Lake Awareness, Wildlife Lighting workshops, and Fishing Regulation Changes programs to her educational efforts.
More recently, in response to the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill disaster that occurred in the northern Gulf of Mexico, Brooke responded to the public demand by publishing newspaper articles, adding website links and coordinating a special newsletter for district subscribers. The impacts of Brooke’s program further support her leadership ability. Over 12,500 hits and downloads were recorded on the Walton and Okaloosa County extension websites and over 325,000 readership was recorded for the newspapers. The Walton County Earth Day Festival yielded over 800 attendees for its first three years. Florida Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals (FANREP) recognized the Sustainable Government Conference with an Innovative Program Award. Over 50 homeowners have built and installed rain barrels, potentially saving each participant 1,300 gallons of water annually. A strong volunteer base has been established from the 100 Master Naturalist graduates of the coastal, wetland and uplands modules. Shoreline and dune restoration grass plants have been secured through partnerships with Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, Natural Resources Conservation Services and Bay Area Resource Council, allowing nine schools to grow enough plants to restore nearly five miles of waterfront property as part of the Grasses in Classes program. Coastal Dune Lake homeowners have been trained on Florida Friendly Landscaping practices. Charter fishermen have been educated on fish venting and the impact of new regulations. Finally, $15,000 in grant funding from U.S. Fish and Wildlife has enabled Brooke to supply coastal residents with wildlife friendly lighting, potentially allowing for a more successful turtle nesting season. Many of these programs are ongoing with an increase in participation.
In addition to developing and delivering critical programs to address the identified issues in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, Brooke has demonstrated her leadership by coordination of the Northwest Natural Resources Program Implementation Team, presentation at the Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals Conference, service on the FANREP Abstract Committee, participation in the Coastal Dune Advisory Committee, development of the strategic plan for Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area Outreach Committee and through community organization activities such as Eglin Air Force Base Sea Turtle Monitoring and as a member of the Emerald Coast Wildlife Marine Mammal Stranding Team. Ms. Saari has recently completed the Natural Resource Leadership Institute training and has presented abstracts at both the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals and the National Marine Educators Association national meetings. Early in her career, Brooke Saari has proven to be a true leader.
