The Southwind Extension District 4-H Livestock Judging Team of Jillian Keller (Piqua), Brody Nemecek (Iola), Haydon Schaaf (Uniontown), and Clay Brillhart (Fort Scott) recently participated at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO.  By the narrow margin of only one point, these youth were named Reserve National Champions to a team from Texas. They were selected as the only team to represent Kansas 4-H because they were the State Champion 4-H Livestock Judging Team in August, 2018. With 24 teams and 97 youth in the contest, this group had to work hard to receive national recognition.

In addition to being the second team overall, they were also 3^rd in Reasons, 2^nd in Sheep and 2^nd in Goats. Individually results include: Brody Nemecek – 3^rd in Swine and 8^th Overall; Clay Brillhart – 4^th in Hogs, 8^th in Goats and 9^th Overall; Jillian Keller – 2^nd in Sheep and 2^nd in Goats; Haydon Schaaf – 7^th in Sheep and 8^th in Reasons. The team continues to be coached by Carla Nemecek, Southwind District Director. John Emmerson, a former member of a Southwind team who participated at the National Western, served as Assistant Coach.

As a reward for their talents, the top two teams were awarded an invitation to compete internationally at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland and at the Charleville Show in the Republic of Ireland, June 19 – June 3, 2019. The contests are only a small piece of the international trip that will include agriculture seminars and opportunities to enhance leadership skills through interaction with the citizens of the UK and Ireland. The trip is limited to only nine American teams each year, and this is the first time a combined Southwind District team will participate. In 2005, a Neosho County 4-H team – Ryan Page, Trent Page, Clem Neely and Bailey Shaw were able to participate in the Scotland contest.

Although exciting for Southwind 4-H members, this opportunity comes with a price tag of about $6500 per person to attend. Fundraising efforts will soon be underway to send these youth on an international trip of a lifetime. Should you be interested in investing in this unique 4-H opportunity, please contact the Southwind Extension District at 620.365.2242.

Fast Food or Healthy Food? You Can Do Both with Planning and Smart Choices

Many commit to healthy eating as a New Year’s resolution and halfway into the month of January, they may be finding it a challenge. Time to cook and busy schedules top the list of what make healthy eating hard. In the rush of daily life, eating at fast food restaurants is often the default choice for getting through the to-do list.

The concern, says K-State Research and Extension nutrition specialist Sandy Procter, is that many fast food choices can lead to unhealthy eating.

In October, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control released results of a study from 2013 to 2016 concluding that more than one in three adults consume fast food on any given day.

“It’s not the fast food that’s the problem,” Procter said. “It’s the net result of portions that are too big and sometimes contain unhealthy ingredients.”

Convenience is the No. 1 reason why most people choose fast food. The relatively inexpensive cost, the fact that we like it and a lack of alternatives are other top reasons.

“I don’t think we are going to change the fact that many adults on many days of the week take fast food as an option, but I think if we look into it a little more deeply, we can all be better in control of what that means to our health and our diets in general,” Procter said.

She added that one key to avoiding unhealthy choices at fast food restaurants is to plan ahead. That could mean packing your lunch – or even part of the meal — the night before to avoid rushing out without food in the morning.

“When I say part of a lunch, that really helps,” Procter said. “If you do have to grab some fast food, you don’t have to accept what they offer as sides. You don’t have to get the full meal deal. You can order a small, single sandwich or wrap…and add those foods that you chose to bring along with you.”

Plus, planning ahead saves money and helps control the amount you eat.

“A lot of times, you can get those less expensive sandwiches,” Procter said. “They may cost less, and the portioning of those is going to be a lot healthier. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with fast food, but it becomes a problem when the portions are so large and the choices we make contain unhealthy aspects. We can do a lot about those just as wise consumers.”

Procter noted that consumers also can check out nutrition information online for many restaurant chains.

“So even if it’s not posted at the point of sale, you can find out about those choices that you automatically make,” she said, adding that knowing nutrition information could help you cut calories and eat more healthfully.

“It’s about taking control of the way I would like things to be, and finding a way to make it work for me. I think that is part of my job as a responsible consumer.”

Additional tips that Procter provided for avoiding unhealthy choices when eating on-the-go include:

• Split meals with a family member or friend. Portion sizes are often too large for one, but just right for two.
• Pack snacks or parts of a meal for traveling, especially when flying. You can supplement with small, healthy choices in the airport.
• Choose water instead of sodas or other high-calorie drinks.
• Consider purchasing a ‘Kids Meal,’ even if you have to pay a small up-charge.
• Go light on the add-ons, such as dressing, cheese, macaroni salad, heavy sauces and other toppings.

For more ideas on healthy eating, contact Kathy at [email protected] or by phone at 620-365-2242. Check out the Southwind Extension District website at www.southwind.ksu.edu.

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Strength Training Program for Older Adults,

Your Ticket to Better Health

Our bodies are made for activity, but modern conveniences allow us to be increasingly inactive. Building strength promotes quality of life and independence, especially for adults over 50. Here’s the good news, Stay Strong, Stay Healthy strength training program is being offered in your community.

This eight week program can help you get started on the road to better health. Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is built on simple, strength- building exercises that will improve balance and flexibility, too. No one is too inactive to participate. You’ll start at a level that’s right for you. Instruction is provided by Joy Miller, Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent with K-State Research and Extension Southwind District.

The class meets for one hour, two times each week at Buck Run Community Center on Monday and Friday at 8:30 a.m. The fee is $20 for the eight week series. Registration and first session will be held Monday, January 21st. Call Joy Miller at 620-223-3720 for more details.

Kansas State University provides nutrition classes which help with food choices and exercise for Bourbon County residents.

Malynda Payne currently teaches both Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program classes as well as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education for K-State. Mary Daniels also teaches SNAP-Ed programs in the area.

Recently, FortScott.Biz interviewed Malynda Payne about the classes. Her answers are below.

What is the purpose?

“EFNEP- Our program is hands-on and teaches new skills that you can use at home every day—from planning, shopping and cooking tips to simple solutions for healthy eating and daily physical activity.  The program is designed to show families how they can prepare and eat more meals at home, bring more fruits and vegetables into their diets, make healthy drink choices, control portion sizes and many other healthy choices. These classes are provided for free. 

SNAP-Ed programs are nutrition education programs provided at no cost to Kansas families with limited resources.  Our goal is to provide nutrition education to individuals and families who receive food assistance or who are eligible to receive food assistance.”

Who is sponsoring it and who is the target population?

“The two classes that I am currently starting up in Fort Scott are an Eat Smart, Move More Class.  This class is geared towards families that are wanting to learn how to cook and prepare healthy meals for their families and do this on a budget.  Also, I am starting a class called Eat Smart, Live Strong.  It is designed to improve fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity for people 55+participating in or eligible for SNAP. 

 These classes are typically targeted for those receiving food assistance.  However, I will never turn anyone away.  As long as 50% of my audience is lower income, I can justify the class.  That means if they are on disability, social security, live in public housing, receive food assistance etc. then I can classify the class as my target. They don’t have to actually be receiving food assistance.  They only have to qualify for it and most older folks on Social Security would qualify.”

Where located:

“I have been holding my classes at the Professional Building in Fort Scott.  Most people will know it as the Newman Young Clinic building.  Mary Daniels offers a class the second Thursday of each month at the Scott View apartments at 2 p.m. and the third Thursday of each month at Calvary Crossing also at 2 p.m.”

When: 

“Eat Smart, Move More is  Each Wednesday 12:30-2 p.m.and the Eat Smart, Live Strong is each Friday morning 10:30-noon.  Both of these classes are starting fresh so everyone that comes will be new! They will both be at the Professional Building 710 W. 8th Street.”

Why: 

“We offer these classes to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy food and lifestyle choices that prevent obesity

 

These classes are offered FREE of charge to those wishing to participate.”

Bagworms are a yearly pest in our area and can cause considerable damage. Most homeowners typically don’t get too concerned about bagworm control until they see large bags present on plants. By then it is too late and the damage is already done! Now is the time to get your treatment game plan ready.

Bagworms overwinter as eggs deposited in the female bags. From mid-May through mid-June, larvae hatch from the eggs and exit from the bottom opening of the old bag. Larvae begin constructing their miniature silk-lined bags immediately. Only after the bags have been completed do the larvae begin actual feeding activities. And as the larvae grow, so do their bags. By mid-to late August when feeding activities are complete, larvae firmly anchor their bags to the twigs and branches on which they were feeding.

Bagworms are most commonly found on eastern red cedar and junipers. However, bagworms can attack arborvitae, spruce and pine. Broadleaf trees, shrubs and ornamentals can also serve as a host to bagworms. After bagworms have defoliated a host plant, they are capable of migrating in search of additional food sources. They may attack the same species from which they came or a completely different species.

The damage caused by bagworm feeding can be minimal to severe. As larvae enter their later development stages, they require greater amounts of food. Sometimes in what seems to be just overnight, bagworms can completely defoliate a tree. Several successive years of heavy foliar feeding can result in the death a tree, especially with conifers.

There are two ways to control bagworms – cultural and chemical. Cultural practice is used by those who do not want to utilize insecticidal sprays to control bagworms. Instead, bagworms are eliminated by handpicking individual bags from plants. This is best done in the winter months when bags stand out against a trees background color. Keep in mind that a single missed bag could result in a thousand new bagworm larvae. Of course handpicking becomes impractical when a host is literally covered with bags or it is too tall to make handpicking possible.

Chemical control is most effective when larvae are in their early developmental stages. Generally, bagworm larvae will begin emerging from the overwintering bag by mid-to late May. Hatching does not happen overnight. Instead, hatching can continue for 4 to 5 weeks. Controls applied in late summer are often a waste of time and expense because the larvae are large, tough and may have stopped feeding. Now is the time to find the correct insecticide and get the sprayers out and ready for the job ahead.

For more information on bagworm control, please contact me at one of our Southwind Extension District office locations.