College of Ag Says Strik’s Position to be Filled
Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences is planning to replace long-term Berry Crops Extension Specialist Bernadine Strik when she retires at the end of this year, despite not having received continuing service level funding from the Oregon Legislature.
“This position is too important to not fill,” said Staci Simonich, the College’s executive associate dean. “We are disappointed we didn’t get continuing service level, but we have to go ahead with this hire.”
Staci Simonich, |
Simonich added that the College administration opted to fill Strik’s position at the expense of other positions. “We are having to cancel hiring other vacancies in the College in order to make this hire,” she said.
“These are really important crops for the state, and Bernadine’s contributions are so significant, we can’t leave that position unfilled.” Simonich said.
Strik has served as Extension berry crops specialist for 34 years, taking over at a time when there were about 1,200 acres in blueberries in Oregon and the industry was in its infancy. There now are more than 15,000 acres in blueberries in Oregon. Her research has played a key role in that expansion, according to industry sources, as well as in developments in international blueberry production.
Strik also has had significant impact in research and extension programs for red and black raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, cranberry and kiwiberry crops, according to sources, and she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses and trained 23 graduate students for an advanced degree.
Depending on the year, the berry crops Strik serves have a farmgate value of between $125 million and $150 million.
Simonich said she expects a high degree of interest in Strik’s position, in part because the industry expects by year’s end to have in place a one million dollar endowment to support the position’s programs. The industry was $90,000 short of meeting the $1 million goal as of earlier this summer.
“I think the fact that we will have an endowment will help attract some of the best people across the nation,” Simonich said.
The position and program will be similar to Strik’s position, Simonich said. “It will be heavy in research and teaching for the berry research program at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center and the OSU lead on the USDA/ARS-OSU Cooperative Breeding Program for berries.”
She expected the College to be interviewing candidates in early fall and have someone in place by the time Strik retires on December 31.