MONTHLY NARRATIVES
(Program Highlights)

RICHLAND COUNTY

CROPPING SYSTEMS
Dale L. Siebert

FARM PROGRAM YIELD AND UPDATE CALCULATOR

The 2002 Farm Bill has generated a lot of interest and discussion as farmers try to determine the best option for participation on their farm unit. To assist them in doing that I have been utilizing the 2002 Farm Bill Base and Yield Calculator, a computer based program, developed by the NDSU Agribusiness

Department. Individuals have been furnished copies of the program to utilize on their own and I have assisted individuals in the office who either do not have computers or expertise to run the program. During November two educational sessions were also held in the county with the first at Colfax, November 13, and the second at NDSCS on November 15 with cooperation from the Adult Farm Management Instructors in both locations. The sessions were held in computer labs with FSA personnel on hand to answer questions, I then gave a demonstration of the program and producers then had time to enter their own farm numbers in the program to compare the different participation options. A total of 30 producers were assisted in this manner. Similar sessions are planned in December and more will be planned throughout the winter if needed.

AG HALL OF FAME

I continue to represent the North Dakota Association of Extension Agents on the AG Hall of Fame Committee. This committee is part of the North Dakota Winter Show and is made up of members of many of the different commodity and agricultural associated groups in North Dakota. A committee meeting was held on November 7 in Valley City to determine the honorees for the coming Winter Show. The individuals selected will be announced shortly and will be honored during the 2003 Winter Show. I consider it an honor to sit on this committee to be able to recognize those individuals who have contributed to the success of North Dakota Agriculture.

4-H YOUTH

The annual 4-H Awards Night was held on November 3 in Wahpeton. In honor of the 4-H Centennial this year I developed a 4-H trivia game to be used at Awards Night. The purpose of the trivia was to allow them to look at their past, where the program has come from and to reflect on changes that have occurred and will continue into the future. The trivia was a hit with those attending.

I also participated in the 4-H Project Day held in Hankinson on November 16. I utilized the 4-H Technology trunks available and taught sessions on using GPS and robotic legos. Youth are much more adept at accepting this technology and it was fun to see their interest and participation.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT/4-H
Colleen M. Svingen

Please refer to pictorial narratives attached regarding 4-H Fun Day and 4-H Awards Night.



21^st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS
Adrian Biewer

EXTENSION WEBSITE

This month Deb Evenson and I are working to improve our 21^st Century Afterschool website. We are expanding the website to include information supporting parents in providing for and surviving their child's education. Homework tips, information on educational programs, discipline strategies, and a monthly guest editor will be new features of the site. We are also linking all the afterschool sites in the consortium so that information is more easily accessed through the school sites. The school sites are placing program information, pictures, and program calendars on their school websites.

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/richland/21stcclc/21sthome.htm

AFTERSCHOOL INSERVICE

The afterschool staff will be participating in an inservice in January. Pat Groven, director for South Valley Special Education Services, will be presenting ideas and information for working with children with ADD and hyperactivity set for January 7.

EVALUATION

NDSU delivered our evaluation in October. The results are very encouraging. Since they have started the program, 60 percent of elementary students feel that they are doing better in school. Overall results from the teacher surveys confirm that approximately 30 percent of students participating in the afterschool program are doing better in school. The biggest surprise was the influence of the program on boys. A 20 percent improvement in studying hard for tests was noted.

FNP (FAMILY NUTRITION PROGRAM)
Pamela Leino-Mills

LIFE SKILLS CLASSES

November flew by. That is what happens when one's days are full, and full they have been. In the Life Skills classes (5^th - 8^th grades), we prepared two types of "healthy" pizzas. We discussed why people think of pizza as "junk" food. They were able to tell me why the pizzas we made in our classes were actually a balanced, fairly low fat meal. Most of the students said they would make such pizzas at home. They were surprised that the pizzas tasted so good. With these students, I also did a lesson on beverages, stressing the importance of milk and water and the over-consumption of pop. Their eyes literally opened wide when each of them saw the amount of sugar s/he consumed in a day, a week, and a month through consumption of pop. I was gratified when they were able to tell me why drinking enough fluid was so important. Many of them have started carrying water bottles around with them.

With the students in the Transitional Dorm, I did a lesson on The Three Sisters (squash, corn and beans). This lesson emphasized how well these vegetables grow together and how well the nutrients compliment each other in the body. A second lesson involved preparation of a quick healthy snack or part of a meal. They made Quesadillas, and were able to tell me what was important about each ingredient. Lesson three was preparation of fruit leather and dried fruit. Though done in a safer manner (in today's world), these foods were traditional ways of preserving fruit. The fourth week the students prepared a "healthy" low fat, low sugar Christmas snack. Again, they were surprised that it tasted so good. They were able to tell me why such snacks are important alternatives to richer candies and cookies-to help prevent or control type 2 diabetes.

PATHWAYS DIABETES EDUCATION PROGRAM

I spent two days with the 7^th and 8^th graders, in their health classes, continuing the Pathways Diabetes Education Program, stressing healthy lifestyles through physical activity, eating well, focusing on one's strengths, and learning from their ancestors. This is becoming increasingly rewarding because of the good questions and input generated by some of the students.

This month I had a very large group of students attend the lecture I gave on attuned eating. It was quite an interactive class. The feedback from the students was gratifying.