MONTHLY NARRATIVES
(Program Highlights)

RICHLAND COUNTY

CROPPING SYSTEMS
Dale L. Siebert

SOYBEAN PRODUCTION
September started off with the annual soybean plot tour at the Jeff Leinen Farm at Great Bend on September 2. This plot tour is always well attended and of special interest this year was the discussion on soybean cyst nematode. Cyst nematode has been found in Richland County and North Dakota for the first time this year. Cyst nematode is the most serious pest of soybeans across the United States causing millions of dollars in lost production. Producers were urged to soil sample to determine if nematodes were present in fields they plan to plant to soybeans in 2004. More education on this pest is planned for this coming winter.

Soybean harvest was also in full swing in September with yields better than expected. Soybeans were hurt by the hot, dry weather for much of July and August, but it appears we will still have an average yield for the county of 30-35 bushels.

DISASTER EXERCISE
On September 24 I participated in a day long simulated disaster exercise for Richland County officials. The purpose of the exercise was to determine the strengths and weaknesses of Richland County's ability to respond to a disaster, in this case a disaster involving weapons of mass destruction. The exercise revealed some of the strengths in the county's ability to respond and also some potential weak areas that need to be strengthened in the event of a real disaster.

MARKET CLUB FACILITATOR TRAINING
I participated in a day long workshop in Carrington on September 23 related to marketing commodities and market clubs. The training provided some ideas for the market club we currently have in the county, as well as providing some ideas on how we might proceed in starting a local group for livestock marketing. This training was provided for all facilitators from across North Dakota.

SOILS TOUR
On September 9 I participated in a soils tour in the Southeastern part of Richland County for elected officials and township officers. The purpose of the tour was to identify different soil types, where they might be found in the landscape and the productivity value of the soil. It is always amazing to me that we have such a wide variety of soil types in close proximity to each other and how the variability can sometimes be found within a few feet. As always, I found this tour to be educational and a chance to learn more about the soils of Richland County.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE/4-H
Colleen M. Svingen

WOW RETREAT
The statewide Women's Overall Wellness Retreat experienced great success in its fourth year! The most exciting outcome for our local office was that we had nine people from the southeastern area in attendance! Seven participants traveled in a van provided by the our 21^st Century Afterschool Program. (Richland County Extension enjoys many fringe benefits as a result of our collaboration with the afterschool program.) In reviewing the evaluations, everyone in attendance rated entire retreat extremely high. In the areas of knowledge, organization, delivery and appropriateness, all attendees gave the retreat the highest scores possible!

JCEP CONFERENCE
In September I attended JCEP (Joint Council of Extension Professionals) in Salt Lake City, Utah. JCEP is a partnership of professional Extension organizations that focuses on strengthening the efforts of all member organizations. My trip was co-sponsored by the North Dakota 4-H Association and the Extension State Office because I received an Achievement in Service award at the conference. The conference was a great experience. I enjoyed the seminars and appreciated the opportunity to explore both the city and countryside.

TWIN TOWN LEADERSHIP
I was invited to serve on the Twin Town Steering Committee for the 2004 Leadership Program.

I attended last year's training and have appreciated the networks that have developed as a result of my attendance. I look forward to interacting with this year's participants and the opportunity to expand my network. I hope the county will have representation again this year at the training.

FNP
Pamela Leino-Mills

FALL CONFERENCE
FNEP/FNP Fall Conference was in Bismarck this year. The highlight of the conference was a day long workshop presented by Jody Pfarr from the Aha! Process, Inc. The title of her interactive presentation was: A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Jody helped us to understand some important differences between the three major classes in our country (middle, upper, and poverty). The upper and poverty classes are co-cultures in our predominantly middle class culture. Our customers in EFNEP/FNP are people in poverty. It was extremely helpful to learn the "hidden rules" of people in poverty. It is, in fact, crucial to understand those rules in order to effectively communicate with our customers and help them meet their goals in the areas of dietary quality, food safety, food purchasing and food security.

NUTRITION CLASSES
This month I conducted 24 classes for students from the five schools participating in the 21^st Century Afterschool Program. I am using a nutrition/food safety/physical activity curriculum called Professor Popcorn, produced by Purdue Extension. The children have been responding well to the material.

I conducted two classes for NDSCS, especially directed to students/parents living in student housing.

This month I have also done some teaching to the food service staff at Circle of Nations School, and with senior citizens who congregate for lunch and other activities at the Wahpeton Senior Center.

21^st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS
Adrian Biewer

PROGRAMMING
Programming in the sites is in full swing with the General Mills Fitness and Nutrition Activities,

4-H Shooting Sports Program, and additional counseling services broadening our curriculum. Our enrollment remains near last year's numbers, but average daily attendance has increased 6 percent over last year. The Abercrombie and Hankinson sites regularly program for 60-70 students a night each week.

"LIGHTS ON"
We held our national "Lights On" Afterschool Program celebration at Mantador School on October 17. We had 181 students in attendance with some parents also joining in the celebration. Students enjoyed a sub sandwich, juice, and cake. While they were at lunch, they listened to and participated in karoke. On the playground, sack races, an obstacle course, water relay, and sand bag toss had the children squealing with excitement. Door prizes were awarded to everyone.

SHOOTING SPORTS
The Shooting Sports Program moved to Fairmount and Wyndmere this month. A total of 27 more air gun shooters joined the club. Fairmount completed 3 training sessions and began league. Wyndmere completed two training sessions and will start league in future weeks.

The Afterschool Program is beginning a fund raising drive for the Junior Achievement Elementary Economic Education Program. We have volunteers from local banks and businesses that will teach the program to students in our afterschool program. We need to collect funds to purchase the curriculum materials. The program is scheduled to be implemented in January 2004. Junior Achievement is a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching young people about economics and money management.