Extension At A Glance - Lubbock County

Transcription

1 Extension At A Glance - Lubbock County Texas AgriLife Extension Service-Lubbock County! (806) ! Fax (806) ! Physical Address: 916 Main, Suite 201! Lubbock, TX 79401! Mailing Address: P.O. Box 10536! Lubbock, TX Agriculture & Natural Resources / 4-H and Youth Development / Family and Consumer Sciences / Community Development MISSION Improving the lives of people, businesses, and communities across Texas and beyond through high-quality, relevant education. Volume Third Quarter Issue 3 In This Issue: Texas County Ag Agents Visit Lubbock Drought Education Exhibit Ag Awareness Efforts at the South Plains Fair Upcoming Ag Events New 4-H Year off to a Great Start 4-H Achievement Banquet Recognition 4-H Day at Fuddrucker s one day 4-H Building Strong Families Conference Better Living For Texans Do Well, Be Well with diabetes Texas Extension Education Association Food Protection Management Agriculture and Natural Resources Texas County Ag Agents Visit Lubbock County Agricultural Agents across the South Plains served as hosts at the annual state meeting of Texas County Agricultural Agents Association that was held in Lubbock July 29 - August 1. Agents and their families from all across the Lone Star State got a taste of West Texas hospitality. Total attendance was almost 300. While they were in Lubbock, the agents heard from a panel of Commodity Association representatives (most are headquartered in this district), were able to view some of the ranch photography of Wyman Meinzer, (state photographer of Texas), experienced a night at the Cactus Theater and a family night at the American Windpower Center. They also participated in agricultural tours highlighting crop production, livestock production, and horticultural production of this region. The D2 Agents were assisted in their efforts by: Lubbock Convention and Tourism Bureau, The Lubbock Master Gardeners, the West Texas Grape Growers Association, the Overton Hotel Staff and numerous tour hosts and sponsors. Issue Addressed: Public Education & Agricultural Awareness. Photo provided by Warren McCleskey, Wildcat 4-H Club Member Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid, service or accommodation in order to participate in Extension sponsored meetings are encouraged to contact the County Extension Office at to determine how reasonable accommodations can be made. Educational program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

2 Extension at a Glance - 3 rd Quarter 2012 Page 2 Drought Education Exhibit RobertScott, County Extension Agent - Ag and Natural Resources Mary Alice Roberts, BLT Extension Assistant The 2012 growing season proved to be another hot year of below average rainfall, although it was better than the historic drought of The Lubbock County Staff exhibited a display in the Merchant s building of the South Plains Fair regarding the Extension Drought Education Network. Also, our own Lubbock Master Gardener Association prepared an educational exhibit on landscape water conservation entitled, Does Your Lawn Have a Drinking Problem? These displays were viewed by an estimated 80,000 South Plains residents. Many thanks to the 24 volunteers who helped man the exhibit and to the Master Gardeners. Other volunteers were from the various FCS related agencies and committees. Master Gardeners also signed people up for their newsletter and created interest in the upcoming 2013 class. Issue Water Education. demonstrations at the Southwest Dairy Producers mobile dairy classroom that reach 790 direct contacts, and display of the Texas Farm Bureau mobile ag learning barn that many adults as well as youngsters enjoyed viewing. Also, an exhibit by Benton Kastman, a local member of the Texas Beekeepers Association, was displayed. Issue addressed: Agricultural Education and Awareness Upcoming Ag Events RobertScott, County Extension Agent - Ag and Natural Resources November! Major Stock Show sign up will be held November 7 th - 8th. All 4-H ers planning to exhibit in the 2013 County and Major Stock Shows will be signing up at that time.! State swine validation for swine will be held in November. All swine to be exhibited in the Lubbock County Show or any of the major stock shows will be tagged at this time. December! The High Plains Ag Conference will be held December 7 th. The conference will award 5 CEU s to private applicator license holders. The topics to be covered include Sorghum, Cotton and water issues.! The first annual High Plains Veterinary Symposium will be held December 16 th. The Veterinarians in attendance will receive 6 hours of Continuing Education hours toward their licenses. 4-H and Youth Development Ag Awareness Efforts at the South Plains Fair Lubbock County 4-H Clubs had another successful year in the operation of the Children s 4-H Barnyard at the South Plains Fair. An estimated 75,000-80,000 South Plains residents viewed the exhibits in the Barnyard. A different 4- H Club manned the exhibits each day, totaling more than 260 volunteers. For many area children, this is their first opportunity to see a farm animal up close. In addition to 40 large animals and approximately 120 poultry on display, other Ag Awareness efforts included live milking New 4-H Year off to a Great Start We just began the new 4-H year officially on September 1. 4-H ers and volunteers must enroll every year to maintain their 4-H membership. This is done for both through an online registration program called 4-H Connect. 4-H ers age 9 years old or in the 3 rd grade through 12 th grade must pay an enrollment fee which is $20 through October 31. On November 1, it will go up to $25; enrollment is open throughout the year. Clovers (youth ages 5-8) are not required to pay an enrollment fee. Please click on the 4-H enrollment link on the county

3 Extension at a Glance - 3 rd Quarter 2012 Page 3 website at to complete this process. 4-H Achievement Banquet Recognition Congratulations to our newest 4-H Gold Star recipients: Caleb Fabila from the Wildcat 4-H Club, Ben Schwertner of the Cooper 4-H Club and Jake McMillin of the Shallowater 4-H Club. They were recognized at the County Achievement Banquet which was held in August. Michele Dansby was also recognized as the South Plains Distinguished Leader recipient for Lubbock County. Each of them will also be recognized at the District 4-H Gold Star Banquet which will be held on November 19. This year, we again recognized over 200 youth and adults for their achievements throughout the past year at the County Achievement Banquet. We were also pleased to recognize both Tractor Supply Stores and Patti Jones as Friends of 4-H. 4-H Day at Fuddrucker s For the third year, Fuddrucker s has continued to have 4-H Day at Fuddrucker s once a month. On October 23, November 20 and December 18, you may support Lubbock County 4-H by eating at Fuddrucker s and placing your receipt in the 4-H Box by the cash register. Fuddrucker s will donate 15% of your receipt to the Texas 4-H Scholarship Fund and Lubbock County 4-H.. On Saturday, October 13, Lubbock County 4-H ers joined other 4-H ers across Texas in conducting One Day 4-H. For this years project we conducted Americans Supporting Americans which involved manning three banners for the Lubbock community to sign to show our appreciation to our military. Approximately 500 individuals signed the three banners which were set up at both Tractor Supply locations and the South Plains Mall. The banners have been put together and mailed to a military troop in Afghanistan.

4 Extension at a Glance - 3 rd Quarter 2012 Page 4 Family and Consumer Sciences Building Strong Families Conference The Building Strong Families Board meets monthly to plan the 2012 conference. This conference will be held October 25, 2012 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Results will be included in the next quarterly newsletter and annual report. Registration is $10.00 ($20.00 after Oct 22) and offers 6 CEU s. The Conference brochure and registration information is available on our website or at Issue Addressed: Parenting Better Living for Texans Mary Alice Roberts, BLT Extension Assistant! Better Living for Texans qualified senior citizens centers are receiving a monthly nutrition program. This past quarter programs included: Healthy Eating After 50; Make Better Beverage Choices; and Smart Snacking. The program was delivered to 370 senior citizens.! Maggie Trejo and Mae Simmons Community Centers Youth Food Service Camp Programs received nutrition Education twice a month in July and once in August reaching 268 youth. Mary Alice Roberts, BLT Extension Assistant reports on the following programs: Better Living for Texans (BLT) three lesson series Back to Basics was taught for clients of Catholic Charities, The Parenting Cottage and Walker House. These lessons will be evaluated as a BLT series. Weekly Nutrition Education classes for preschoolers attending My Father s House Child Development Center learned more about food groups of My Plate. A schoolage summer class covering My Plate continued through mid August at My Father s House Child Development Center. Mae Simmons, Maggie Trejo, Copper Rawlings and 19 th Street Senior Community Centers received Nutrition Education lessons monthly. The topics were: Healthy Eating After 50 and Smart Snacking. First United Methodist Church Grand Parents Raising Our Children s Kids (ROCK) care givers received nutrition information this quarter. My Plate lessons continued for Summer Food Service Kids Camp at Mae Simmons and Maggie Trejo Community Centers. Choosing My Plate was presented by TTU Dietetic Intern Melanie Ridnour to participants attending pre-natal classes at the Stork s Nest. Better Living for Texans programs were highlighted during an orientation class introducing Extension to Dietetic Intern students at Texas Tech University. Ten interns will complete community nutrition rotations with our FCS agent and BLT extension assistant this year. This quarter we had one Texas Tech University Dietetic Intern helping with presentations. July and August topics of discussion on Ag Talk on Fox Radio 950 included how to stay hydrated in hot weather and how to pack a safe lunch. Total contacts for July 50,681; August 50,336 and September 216 Issue Addressed: Nutrition and Health Do Well, Be Well with diabetes Diabetes occurs when the body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin it makes does not work properly. While diabetes is not curable, it is manageable. Skills are needed to effectively manage diabetes, but education is not always available. Through the use of Do Well, Be Well and Cooking Well with Diabetes, program participants are improving their blood glucose management, thereby reducing their risks for complications and to attain their highest possible level of wellness. The Cooking Well with Diabetes program provides the practical application of the knowledge and skills gained in the Do Well, Be Well With Diabetes.

5 Extension at a Glance - 3 rd Quarter 2012 Page 5 A combined Do Well, Be Well/Cooking Well With Diabetes series is held on Tuesdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Arnett-Benson Health Clinic on Clovis Hwy, in cooperation with the Community Health Center of Lubbock. Twelve classes were held reaching 18 individuals = 55 contacts. In addition, a new 8-week series will be offered beginning in November. Dietetic Interns assist when available. Issue Addressed: Nutrition and Health Texas Extension Education Association The Lunch Bunch TEEA Club in Lubbock County met recently to plan programs for 2012 and 2013 and to get reports from the State Meeting in Wichita Falls. Programs will include: Eating Healthy Texas Style, Redress How to Recruit, Container Gardening: How Does Your Garden Grow?, and Saving From a Rainy Day: Rainwater Harvesting. Food Protection Management Two Food Protection Management Certification classes were offered during this quarter. One was held in Plainview and one in Lubbock. The Hale County CEA-FCS Agent, Deana Sageser and Lubbock CEA-FCS Agent, team teach these classes. This course is truly a help for food establishments in meeting legal requirements and developing strategies to insure safe food service. Ten completed the 2-day class and 9 passed the test for certification. Issue Addressed: Nutrition and Health, CRED Lubbock County Extension Staff P.O. Box 10536, Lubbock, TX Main, Suite 201, Lubbock TX (806) Fax: (806) C. Mark Brown, CEA-Ag Ronda D. Alexander, CEA-4-H Robert Scott, CEA-Ag E. Kay Davis, CEA-FCS Commercial products and trade names are mentioned for information purposes only. No guarantee or endorsement by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service is intended or implied. We will seek to provide reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities for any of our meetings. We request that you contact Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - (806) , as soon as possible to advise us of the auxiliary aid or service that you will require.