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CROPPING SYSTEMS
Dale L. Siebert
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Richland County Extension Advisory
Committee met May 5 in Mantador to finalize work on their mission
statement. In addition, Karen Zotz, Assistant Director, Nutrition and
Family Life, gave a presentation on the future of the NDSU Extension
Service. The committee was also given a discussion piece to use with the
public to gather information on how we can better reach them with
programming. Election of officers was also held with Harvey Link of
Wahpeton elected Chairman; Leon Bladow, Hankinson; Vice-Chairman and Cindy
Erbes of Colfax, Secretary. The next meeting of this group is planned for
late summer.
GPS WORKSHOP
On May 13 I attended a GPS Workshop in Fargo
on the various guidance systems that are available in agriculture today.
Following explanations of the Ag Leader and Greenstar Systems, a field
demonstration was held to show how the systems work and practical
applications for agriculture.
SAFE KIDS DAY CAMPS
I participated in Safe Kids Day Camps in
Abercrombie and Wahpeton during May. At the camps I presented a session on
Lawn Mower Safety emphasizing safe mowing practices and hazards that
children need to be aware of when they are mowing the lawn. The workshops
were well received and will be expanded to other areas next year.
CROP AND GARDEN
The month of May always brings a lot of
agronomy and horticulture questions. While many can be answered with a
phone call, others require a farm or home visit. Others require
significant research to determine an answer to the question. Many times
this type of contact is gratifying to the customer as they were able to
find the information they wanted and it also gives me an important contact
and a chance to work one on one with county residents and this type of
contact continues to be an important piece of our work.
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE/4-H
Colleen M. Svingen
STEPPING DOWN THE COUNTS
The past six weeks have given the some of
competitive county employees something new to look forward to on Monday
mornings. Deb�s (administrative assistant) subtle suggestion of starting
an in-house walking program became a reality when we partnered with Public
Health, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Dakota Clinic.
County employees were given the opportunity to participate in the
Stepping Down the Counts program and reap the great benefits of
participation. An introductory meeting by Blue Cross/Blue Shield PERS
program reviewed the benefits of the PERS health insurance and healthy
food choices. Each person in attendance received a free pedometer. Public
health offered all employees free blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose
checks. Dakota Clinic offered body composition reports. All screenings
followed the HIPA guidelines. The data will be used to compile before and
after results.
Teri (secretary) has had a huge role in the success of this program.
Teri, Deb and I reviewed materials to supplement the program. Teri sends
daily messages via e-mail to the participants, keeps track of the totals
when the team captains report steps on Monday mornings and is in charge of
the prize committee.
We kicked the program off with a noon barbeque on the courthouse lawn.
It is fun to witness employees enjoying their break with a swift walk. I
believe we have already impacted county employee�s health as well as
provided opportunities for employees to interact with their co-workers.
Another unexpected benefit is that the law enforcement employees are
sharing their weight room equipment with all of the county employees.
SAFE KIDS DAY CAMPS
Many entities helped with safety day camps
in the county. I originally planned to coordinate three camps in the
county, but due to conflicting schedules ended up with just two camps. The
first camp was held in the elementary school in Abercrombie for grades
four through six. The second camp was held in Wahpeton in our local park.
Each camp had twelve sessions with presenters from: the sheriff�s
department, NDSCS nursing students, Breck/Wahp ambulance and rural first
responders, NDSU campus staff, local power companies and fire departments,
SEMCA and local county agents. We borrowed Farm Bureau displays, RDO and
local farmers loaned us tractors for the PTO demonstration, and True
Value, Loopy�s and Pamida of Wahpeton loaned us supplies to help with
demonstration sessions. And KBMW helped promote the event by sharing their
air time with extension. Our student evaluations were very valuable due to
an entire community�s cooperation and effort
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
It is nice to have the advisory committee in
place to aid in finding resources and easing and expediting getting into
school systems, etc. and helping us promote and support our activities.
OTHER EVENTS
Other events of the month were: attending
the annual 4-H update in Carrington and Spring IVAN update; presenting the
United Way proposal targeting 4-H funding; and continued participation in
the Richland/ Wilkin Healthy Communities activities and 21st
Century Board.
FNP
Pamela Leino-Mills
CLASSES
School ended this month, but before the last
day of school, I conducted eleven classes and post-evaluations for the
students in the Afterschool Program. I also conducted two classes for the
CNS food service staff.
CYFAR CONFERENCE
I spent a week in Seattle at the Children,
Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Conference with four colleagues who
work in other North Dakota counties. The conference gave me valuable tools
with which to enhance my effectiveness with the population I serve as a
nutrition and food safety educator.
SURGERY
This work month was shortened for me because
I had orthoscopic surgery on both my knees, from which I am recovering
very nicely.
21st CENTURY COMMUNITY
LEARNING CENTERS
Adrian Biewer
FISHING TOURNAMENT
This month we started afterschool summer
programming by kicking off with a Walmart fishing tournament at Silver
Lake Recreation Area south of Rutland on Tuesday, June 15. The day was
rainy but the fish weren�t bothered by it and cooperated with our young
anglers. Walmart provided us with prizes, an angler courtesy packet with
bobbers, hooks, insect repellent, band aids, and other supplies, and
organization materials. We had over 50 fishermen and ten parents in
attendance from the afterschool program and Sargent County that caught
lots of fish.
Prizes were awarded for the top three spots in five
categories including walleye, northern pike, perch, and the ugliest fish.
1st place prizes included rod and reel combos or tackle boxes. 2nd place
was a tackle kit full of fishing tackle. Third place winners received a
Easy Out hook remover. Nathanya Jones won the largest ugly fish award with
a 2 1/2 # sucker with Haley Oster placing second. A five-way tie knotted
up the perch category resulting in a draw for placing. Hunter Evanson was
the lucky angler to draw first place with Casey Koenig second, and Logan
Metzen, Jordan Lindsey, and Kaleb Siemienewski tied for third. The walleye
category was a close race right to the end with a fish caught by Taylor
Oster coming in the last ten minutes to sneak into third place. Kaleb
Siemienewski�s 16 inch 2.4# fish took top honors. Halley Oster placed
second. The northern category was wide open until the end. With over 20
pike caught, it was anybody�s game right to the end. Austin Fiechtner won
the pike category with a 2# fish, Dan Hangaard 2nd, and Nate Devorak
third. Austin Fiechtner took big fish honors.
We gave away hourly prizes in a drawing so that everyone went home with
a prize. Hot dogs, chips, fruit, and juice were served for lunch and
Snackables for our afternoon snack. We would like to thank the afterschool
coordinators, parents, Dale Siebert, and Tim Phalen for helping with the
event.
Lake Tewaukon
Our annual trip to Lake Tewaukon started out
with a perfect day. Our participants fished for an hour until everyone
arrived. The refuge staff put on two hours of science-related activities
for our students. The first session examined the food chain understanding
the predator/prey relationship. The students got to touch animal furs and
identify them as predator or a prey species. The second activity was a
project using natural plant dyes from plants in the area to make a simple
art project. Students were given instruction on how early settlers learned
to use our native plants.
After a grilled lunch on the east side of the lake, our anglers
returned to action. Angling success was slow. However, Logan Metzen
brought in a three pound walleye and Schultz wrestled an honest two pound
bullhead into shore. Participants capped the day by enjoying our
traditional stop at the Lidgerwood Dairy Lane. We would like to thank the
refuge staff for their educational and interesting part in our fun-filled
day.
BUFFALO STATE PARK
The afterschool program travels to Buffalo
State Park on Thursday, June 24. They will participate in science
activities with the park staff during the morning and swim in the new
swimming pond in the afternoon.
Our summer school tutoring sessions have begun in the schools with good
numbers of students attending. The length of summer school sessions varies
by each district with most wrapping up in June.
NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of Agriculture
and Applied Science, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Duane
Hauck, Interim Director, Fargo, North Dakota. Distributed in furtherance
of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. We offer our programs
and facilities to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin,
religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam era veterans status, or sexual
orientation; and are an equal opportunity employer. This publication will
be made available in alternative format upon request to people with
disabilities (701) 231-7881. |
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