MONTHLY NARRATIVES
(Program Highlights)

RICHLAND COUNTY

CROPPING SYSTEMS
Dale L. Siebert

The Richland County Corn Growers held their annual plot tour on September 3 on the Paul Kummer farm near Colfax.. This annual event helps growers evaluate corn varieties for planting the next season. The tour was attended by representatives of participating seed companies who have a chance to discuss their varieties. As administrator for the corn growers I am involved in planning the event, organizing the seed companies , making contacts with both the companies and farmers to attend and so on. This years event was attended by 75 people, and continues to be popular with both farmers and seed companies for the results that are generated.

West Nile Virus continued to be of concern throughout the month. Richland County continued to have horses diagnosed with the virus and mosquito populations remained heavy throughout the month. I prepared a program about the virus for a local service club during the month. I also continued to receive calls regarding dead birds although that activity slowed down after having three birds test positive and requesting that people not report them any longer since we already had a positive test in the county. Materials were also furnished to the media about the virus during the month to keep the public informed about the status in the county. I worked closely with the Richland County Health Department throughout the month on this topic.

Interest in the new Farm Program continued high during the month as farmers wrestled with the various options available to them. With the release of the NDSU Farm Program Base and Yield Update Calculator and after attending a training program, I publicized the availability of the program and made it available electronically to farmers. I also demonstrated the program to the local market club and made copies of the program available to them. As farmers complete harvest in the next month many of them will turn their attention to the Farm Program and determining their best options.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT/4-H
Colleen M. Svingen

The public is embracing information addressing health issues. In September, Extension held its third annual women's retreat at the Richardton Abbey at Richardton, North Dakota. Committee members from western and eastern North Dakota planned the conference via video conferring and e-mail listserv (many committee members met in person--for the first time--at the conference).

My involvement in this conference is linked to the portion of my salary supported by state funds. Involvement results in numerous opportunities for enrichment for our county programming and we did have Richland residents attend the conference. In the near future we hope to offer a similar format on the eastern side of the state.

Programming Highlights:

State specialists had a direct link to county clients via the video conferencing.

Partnered with West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger to share resources.

National speakers, as well as NDSU state specialists, local agents and WRRMC personnel presented at the conference. Our major speaker for our 2002 conference will keynote the next National Family Consumer Science Conference.

Conference attendees used the Group Decision Center to desensitize after listening to conference speakers and to evaluate the conference.

Samples of Personal Testimony Demonstrating Impact:

"I have always been a large woman but, with each year of involvement in this conference I have gained more acceptance of my size, and have even lost a size. I just feel better about myself."

"My feet haven't hit the ground yet, there is such a need for more of these programs. I see extension as just the place to do more of this sort of thing for women, men, young couples, mother-daughter conferences etc.."

"This conference is just what I needed to give me the confidence to go back to school."

"Can you help me get a conference like this going in our state. It is greatly needed."

FNP (FAMILY NUTRITION PROGRAM)
Pamela Leino-Mills

School has commenced and my August planning has paid off. I taught twelve classes (over 200 Circle of Nations School students, grades 5 - 8) proper hand washing technique and why it is so important. The following week, I worked with all of the same students to prepare healthy vegetable and fruit dips. When I asked them what they needed to do before we began working with food, they all declared: "WASH OUR HANDS!" They washed their hands, and did it well.

This year I will be working once a week with children in the Transitional Dorm at Circle of Nations School. In this class room there is a maximum of 12 kids. During September I held the first class late in the month. The subject was type II diabetes.

This month I taught food safety (one-on-one) to 25 WIC clients. I also held a class at NDSCS for "Other Than Average" students. The topic was Stretching the Food Dollar.

21^st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS
Adrian Biewer

21^st CCLC has been working in conjunction with the Human Development Agent and FNP Agent to develop a parenting website. It contains activities and helpful hints for family recreation, nutrition, literacy, and fitness. The kickoff for signup and promotion will be through the 21^st Century Afterschool Programs.

Adult education classes are finalized for Winter 2002-2003. Classes in quilting, family finance, aerobics, art, computer programs, and child development are planned. Flyers and registration forms will be distributed the first of November.