Kansas State University State 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest – August 12, 2023
Pictured from left to right are Southwind District 4-H’ers: Kason Botts, Will Maycumber, Jewel Endicott, Austin Maycumber, Seth Shadden, Camryn Wille, Hailey Shadden, Abigail Meiwes, and Coach Casey Diver.
Intermediate Division:
Hailey Shadden….10th Place Individual
Camryn Wille
Kason Botts
Austin Maycumber
Team – 4th Place
Senior Division:
Abigail Meiwes: 1st Place Individual
Jewel Endicott
Seth Shadden
Will Maycumber
Team – 2nd Place
submitted by
Jennifer K. Terrell
District Extension Agent
4-H Youth Development
Cassidy Lutz K-State Research and Extension Family and Consumer Science Agent Southwind District 211 W. Butler Yates Center, KS 66783 620-625-8620
The smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the sound of bells ringing through the halls, and the gathering of friends that you haven’t seen all summer.
I am sure we can all think back to our childhood and remember how the beginning of a new school year brought on excitement, dread, or anxiety.
As a parent, you can help your children get a good start to this school year and ease some of those anxious thoughts and feelings.
For many kids, one of the biggest back-to-school worries is if they will like their teacher. Breaking the ice early is one of the best ways to calm their fears. If personal contact with the teacher is not possible before school starts, try locating the teacher’s picture on a school website or in a yearbook. Helping your child put a face with a name before the first day in the classroom can help them feel more at ease and prepare them for their first interaction.
Familiarizing your child with their environment is another thing you can do to help them avoid nervous tummy aches. If your school offers a walk-through before the first day, this can be a great opportunity for you to meet the teacher, find their desk, or explore the school together. With older children, try asking them to give you a tour of the school and their classroom. Not only will this help refresh their minds, but it will give you an idea of where they will be spending the majority of their time over the next several months.
Go over class supply lists and plan a shopping trip. Having all the needed school supplies can help your child feel prepared. By taking your kids back to school shopping, they will feel supported and encouraged. Allow for a couple of splurges like a cool notebook or a backpack in their favorite color while also keeping basic needs in mind. Even a small fun purchase can make going back to school more enjoyable and give them something to look forward to.
Ease into new routines the week leading up to the first day of school. Switching from a summer schedule to a structured school schedule can be stressful for everyone in a household. Avoid mayhem on the first day of school by getting into the new routine a few days in advance. Set an alarm clock, go through your morning ritual, and make time for a healthy breakfast. Routines help children feel comfortable, and establishing one early will make the first day of school go so much smoother.
After school kicks off, take time to talk as a family about how each day went. Try asking how they like their classes, if they have made any new friends, or what they like most about school thus far. Not only will you learn more about how they are adapting to all the changes, but this will also help strengthen family relationships by bonding over shared conversations.
Don’t let the beginning of a new school year create unnecessary stress for your kids and household. By doing some of these simple things, you can help your children feel prepared and ready to tackle another great school year. For more information, contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620.
Tara Soloman-Smith, Family and Wellness Agent, Sunflower District of Kansas State University’s Extension Office. Submitted photo.
A Loss without a Card
I am talking about ambiguous loss which is often unclear and without closure.
This type of loss is a common part of life but is often the most difficult and stressful one to deal with. I recently learned more about it while viewing a webinar by Dr. Michelle Krehbiel with the University of Nebraska who also refers to University of Minnesota Extension’s A Changing Way of Life: Ambiguous Loss and Farming and Dr. Pauline Boss’s research.
So, what is ambiguous loss? It is a loss that is confusing, uncertain, unverified, and can go and on. It can be a physical loss such as a missing person or having to downsize the farm due to drought or disaster. It can also be psychological such as a loss of a loved as you knew him/her due to dementia or of your own identity due to being newly retired.
We’ve all dealt with something that did not have an official ritual to show that a loss occurred such as: divorce, miscarriage, a financial fall out, addiction, infertility, deployment, immigration, retirement, traumatic brain injury, or a natural disaster. What do we do to not get stuck in this complicated grief? In short, build resilience to lower the stress and anxiety caused by this loss and create a new narrative that one can live with. Here’s a few ways to work towards moving forward.
Name what you are going through
Acknowledge that you have had a loss and name the feelings you are going through. Also do this with other family/friends that are affected.
Make new meaning of the loss
There is no magic recipe that can do this, it will take time and a combination of answers to assist. However, reconstructing your identity within this loss may help. For example, if you struggle with retirement, you may embrace that you are now a full-time grandpa and volunteer.
Normalize Ambivalence
Work towards ‘both and thinking’. It’s ok to have two opposing ideas in your mind at the same time. For example, he is both gone and may return (missing in action soldier); she is both gone and still here (dementia).
Discover Hope
We know this is extremely important in suicide prevention. Hope may look different for you amidst loss but look for ways to discover it.
Seek information and humor
If it’s an illness learn more about what you can do, become an advocate. When dementia gets particularly trying keep that sense of humor or it truly would be overwhelmingly sad.
Engage in Self Care
Dr. Pauline Boss states that respite is essential and no one should feel guilty about taking it. Figure out what it means to you and make time for it!
Evaluate and Build a Circle of Support
Sadness is often treated with human connection. Find, engage, and check in on your ‘community’. This could be faith based, friends/family, mental health, or support groups.
I hope to acknowledge my own and others’ ambiguous losses more adequately. We can all work together for better. For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], or by calling 620-244-3826.
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director of K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts.
The recent stormy weather in southeast Kansas has left some without power for several days this month. In addition to losing power, this meant that some also lost food when their perishable food was not able to be refrigerated properly. So, how can you prepare to keep food safe during the next storm? Check out these tips from FoodSafety.gov:
Put an appliance thermometer in your refrigerator and in your freezer. The temperature in your refrigerator should be 40°F or below and the temperature in your freezer should be 0°F or below. In the case of a future power outage, these thermometers will help you figure out if the food in your refrigerator and freezer is safe.
If the power does go out, try to keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. If unopened, a refrigerator will keep food safe for four hours. A full freezer will maintain its temperature for 48 hours (or 24 hours if it is half full).
Once the power is back on, check the temperature on the appliance thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer to see if the food was kept at a safe temperature. Perishable foods which were not kept at a safe temperature should be thrown away. Never taste food to test if it is safe. When in doubt, throw it out!
To learn more about keeping food safe before, during, and after emergencies, visit bit.ly/preparingforthestorm. Please contact me with questions at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and
Amanda Clasen, 35, is a new K-State Research and Extension- Southwind District agent. She is serving Neosho, Woodson, Bourbon and Allen Counties. They have offices in Erie, Yates Center, Iola and Fort Scott.
Hers is a newly created position, that started June 12, 2023.
“I am the Community Vitality Agent, helping local communities grow by helping identify local needs and highlight the bright spots within the community, as well as working with local collation groups to identify health, childcare and housing needs within our counties,” she said. “I can help local groups find grants for project funding as well as help in assisting with the writing of those grants. We are still expanding on programming for this position as it is a new position, so I am looking into possibly adding Youth Entrepreneurship similar to what Fort Scott currently offers to our other counties in the future.”
“I am housed out of the Erie Office, but travel to each office at least once a week,” she said.
Clasen earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education- Pittsburg State University in 2011, and a Master’s Degree in Adaptive Special Education from P.S.U. in 2015.
“I was a special education preschool teacher for 11 years before taking this position,” she said. “Along side of my teaching duties I served as a Family Engagement Coordinator for three years, helping write grants to provide events within the school to promote stronger parent/family relationships as well as including outside agencies opportunities to share information with parents.”
She was born and raised in Linn, KS, a small rural town in north central Kansas, and currently lives in Erie with husband Mac and three sons, 10 years, 8 years and 3 years-old.
She has been involved in her community through XI Delta PSI.
So far in this job, she is enjoying “Getting to network with local communities and members and see what fun and exciting projects that they have already completed and working towards,” she said. “There are so many hidden ‘gems’ in our small towns and I’m excited to continue to uncover them with getting to know community members.”
With any new job, the beginning can be challenging.
“With this being a new position, there is not currently not an established programming plan, so deciding what communities need or want for programming has been a struggle, but I’m excited to learn!” she said.
Cassidy Lutz K-State Research and Extension Family and Consumer Science Agent Southwind District 211 W. Butler Yates Center, KS 66783 620-625-8620
Being outside during the summertime can feel like a constant battle against nature and all the creepy crawly things. Mosquitos, ticks, and chiggers are some of the hardest pests to fight during this time of year.
Submitted graphic.
A recent wild blackberry picking excursion left me covered in chigger bites and desperate for a solution to the uncontrollable urge to scratch. After doing some research, I found the following information from Mississippi State University Extension.
Chiggers, also called redbugs, have lots of myths surrounding them and how to go about treating their bites. These tiny bugs crawl up to the highest point on a plant and wait for an animal or person to walk by. When they fall onto a person, they typically land on shoes or lower pantlegs and begin to crawl up the body looking for a place to bite. Their ideal feeding grounds are on thin skin, which is why children and women make the perfect targets. They go for soft, light, and moist areas of the body where sun and weather haven’t made the skin tough and dry.
Contrary to what many think, they do not burrow into the skin. Instead, they attach at the base of a hair follicle and inject digestive fluid into the skin. The fluid dissolves skin cells, chemically boring a hole into the skin. Our bodies’ reaction to the saliva and digestive enzymes is to blame for the incessant urge to scratch.
Another common myth about treatment is how to “dry them out”. The best solution to fight these pesky bugs and the reactions they cause is to bathe in hot, soapy water as soon as you can. Many do not notice bites immediately after being outside as they can take a while to settle down and attach. So even if you think you don’t have any or only notice a spot or two, you can prevent a full feast by washing them away quickly. If left alone, chiggers can continue to eat for several days. To help combat the itching sensation, treat bites with calamine lotion or an antihistamine cream, or oral medication. Avoid harsh substances like nail polish or bleach as those can cause further irritation to the skin. If the bites are severe enough, physicians can prescribe anti-itch creams.
Chiggers do not carry diseases like ticks do. They are just incredibly annoying. Any infection that arises from chigger bites is likely due to excessive scratching, so it’s important to fight the urge to scratch. Children are more prone to scratching so clip fingernails to a short length, repeatedly apply calamine lotion, and use antihistamines suitable for their age to help them heal more quickly.
To help reduce the likelihood of running into them, avoid tall grassy and brushy areas. If that’s not possible, wear long pants, boots, and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into tall socks and apply a permethrin-based insect repellent to clothing – not directly to your skin.
Had I known all this before my recent berry-picking experience, I would have taken some precautions and probably prevented some discomfort. For more information, contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620.
Event highlights factors that affect cattle production
Hunter Nickell Southwind Extension District Livestock Production Extension Agent 1006 N. State St. Iola, KS 66749 Office: (620) 365-2242 Cell: (620) 473-3298 [email protected]
PARSONS, Kan. – Outside forces have made managing forage even more important in cattle production, says Kansas State University beef systems specialist Jaymelynn Farney.
High input prices, weather events, insect invasions…they’re all important topics that affect cattle producer’s profits.
Farney said those are topics that will highlight the annual Beef Cattle and Forage Field Day in Parsons on Aug. 3. The field day will be held at the Southeast Research and Extension Center (25092 Ness Road in Parsons) beginning at 8:30 am with registration.
The rest of the program includes an afternoon trip to the field to view a broomsedge control demonstration plot and discussion on interseeding warm season annuals into cool-season perennials. Farney said the field day also includes several indoor presentations, which will be recorded and posted online at www.southeast.ksu.edu/field_days.
Presentations and presenters include:
Let’s Talk about Flies and Ticks, Cassandra Olds, K-State.
Herd dispersal and getting back into production the “Ins and Outs” – Scott Lawson, Oklahoma State University.
Different forms of supplement for stocker steers on pasture – Farney.
Pasture management (or recovery) during drought – Dale Helwig, K-State Cherokee County Extension.
Cull cow demonstration – Wendie Powell, K-State Wildcat Extension District
The field day is free to attend and includes lunch. This year’s field day sponsors include Frontier Farm Credit, Producers Coop, and Zoetis.
K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
So Now What? Tips for Managing Life after Retirement
Your finances are all in order and your bucket list is complete. You are officially ready to retire, right? Not so fast. Research has shown that we need to be concerned about more than just money before and during retirement.
Leaving the workforce has implications for your wallet, of course, but it can also affect relationships, physical and emotional health, and even your ability to live independently for longer periods of time. The good news? You can make a difference in all of these areas by being aware and making smarter, well-informed choices.
Researchers at Kansas State University worked to understand steps individuals can take to live a successful, healthy retirement. Here are four key steps that help avoid common challenges and improve the overall retirement experience.
1. Focus on your fundamental relationships. Retirement can have a significant impact on your most meaningful relationships. It is crucial to have conversations that will establish expectations, lay out plans, and allow others to provide input about their role in your well-deserved free-time.
2. Live a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that retirement has the ability to either improve your health or send you packing to the doctor. Whether you choose the path of pajamas and relaxation or activities galore, it is important to ensure that you are taking adequate care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. It is never too late to develop a healthy lifestyle!
3. Find your balance. Leaving a 40-hour workweek can be tough, and establishing a new normal may not be a breeze for everyone. Some may dive head-first into volunteering, babysitting, socializing, and doing all of their long-desired hobbies. Others might be unsure of what to do with all of their time. Establishing a balance that works for you is an important factor of living a successful retirement.
4. Continue planning for the future. Just because your retirement funds are set does not mean you are done planning and preparing for the years ahead. It is valuable to identify ways in which you can continue to manage your finances, prepare for future medical crises, and prepare your home for long-term living.
Looking to the future can be exciting and stressful all at the same time! It’s never too early to start action planning, taking goals one step at a time, asking for help when needed, and remember to celebrate what you accomplish along the way. Use retirement as a time to thrive and enjoy life, but also to take care of your relationships, yourself, and your future — you deserve it!
For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], or by calling 620-244-3826.
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director of K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts.
The Southwind Extension District interns are hosting three pop up events at the Bourbon County Fair, including junk drawer robotics, a corn seed necklace activity, and a thank you writing booth. Youth of all ages can come to our booths where they can learn how to create a robot out of everyday materials, create a necklace that will germinate a corn seed, and learn how to properly write a thank you card. These are come and go events and will take place in the Cloverleaf Event Center on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
These events will be at the following dates and times:
Junk Drawer Robotics: July 20th from 12 PM to 3 PM
Corn Seed Necklace Activity: July 20th from 11 AM to 12 PM
Thank You Note Booth: July 20th from 11 AM to 3 PM
These events are free and no registration is required. Enjoy visiting the fair and seeing the exhibits, along with attending these interactive activities!
For more information, contact Southwind Extension District Intern Gwenyth Fry at (620) 223-3720 or [email protected].
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The Southwind Extension District is hosting a “Spa and Relaxation Program” in Fort Scott this summer. Youth from ages 7 to 18, along with their mom, grandma, or guardian, are invited to attend a one-day session where they will learn relaxation and stress relieving tips while with making body butter, a foot scrub, and a body scrub. The participants will also put together self-care baskets to take home during the session. This one-time session will be offered on July 27th from 3 PM to 4:30 PM at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
This series is free, but registration is required at bit.ly/southwindspa. Get your registration in soon!
For more information, contact Southwind Extension District Intern Gwenyth Fry at (620) 223-3720 or [email protected].
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Grilling with family and friends is a classic summertime activity, particularly during the month of July which is designated as National Grilling Month! Keep foodborne illness off the menu by following these tips while grilling:
Wash your hands. You should always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before handling food. This is roughly the same amount of time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
Marinate food in the refrigerator. Never marinate food on the counter or outside!
Avoid cross contamination. Never use sauce that was used to marinade raw meat on cooked food and do not put cooked food on a plate that was used for raw meat. If you want to use some of the marinade as a sauce on your cooked food, set aside some of the unused marinade ahead of time for that purpose.
Keep cold food cold. If you are transporting food in a cooler, use an insulated cooler and include enough ice or ice packs to keep the temperature at 40°F or below. Place your cooler in the shade or under shelter to keep it out of direct sunlight.
Cook food to a safe internal temperature. Once food is on the grill, be sure to cook it to a safe internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer. Color is not an indicator of food safety! According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), whole cuts of beef and pork (such as steaks, roasts, and chops) should be cooked to 145°F and then allowed to rest for 3 minutes. Hamburgers made of ground beef or pork should be cooked to 160° All poultry (including ground poultry) should be cooked to at least 165°F.
Keep hot food hot. Once you have grilled meat or poultry, keep it hot (at 140°F or above) until you serve it. This can be done by setting it to the side of the grill rack.
Keep food safe. Do not let raw meat or poultry, cooked food, or cut fresh vegetables and fruits sit out at room temperature for more than two hours before placing them in a refrigerator or freezer. (If the temperature is above 90°F, this timeframe decreases to one hour.)
For more information from the Partnership for Food Safety Education, visit https://www.fightbac.org/grill-master/. You can also find information from the USDA at bit.ly/grillsafely. Contact me with questions at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
It’s county fair time and this means that 4-H’ers have the opportunity to showcase all of their hard work learned on projects throughout the 4-H year. For many, this time of year is a highlight of the 4-H program.
Have you ever wondered what the different colored ribbons attached to exhibits mean? Well, I would like to tell you how 4-H exhibits are evaluated at the local county fair.
At the local county fair, most exhibits are judged on a conference or interview basis. This is where the judge interviews the participant as he or she evaluates the product against a set of standards rather than against other exhibits. The purpose of this judging is to determine what the 4-H’er learned while completing the project. Judges may consider skill level based on age and circumstance, and expect a higher performance from older 4-H’ers, so there is some variance within the standard. Comments are generally provided verbally and sometimes written. After the exhibit is evaluated, the judge then awards a ribbon placing to the exhibit.
In 4-H, we use the Danish Ribbon System where exhibits are placed into four different ribbon groups. A purple ribbon means outstanding on all standards, a blue ribbon exceeds the minimum standards but may have some minor flaws where improvements can be made, a red ribbon meets all minimum standards and may have some visible signs of needed improvement and finally a white ribbon fails to meet the minimum standard for the project. Of the purple ribbons, the judge can select a Champion and Reserve Champion.
In 4-H, we believe that using the Danish Ribbon System gives every 4-H member the recognition deserved for the work that was done and encourage them to follow the motto “to make the best better.” While no evaluation system is perfect, this system helps 4-H develop top quality youth instead of focusing on purple ribbon projects.
I encourage you to visit your local county fair and see all of the amazing work 4-H’ers have on display. And as you walk around, pay close attention to the different ribbon placings attached to projects. You will notice there will be any number of purples, blues, reds, or whites in each of the departments. This is the Danish Ribbon System, where 4-H’ers are encouraged to challenge themselves, set goals, and receive constructive criticism. All things to help young people build essential life skills to thrive.
For more information about 4-H Youth Development, reach out to Jennifer Terrell, District Extension Agent for K-State Research and Extension – Southwind District at [email protected] or 620-223-3720.
