4-H Beef

In the beef project, youth will learn all aspects of the beef industry by raising a market steer or building your own herd by raising heifers and cows.

There is 4-H Curriculum that can be purchased for anyone interested in the beef project. Here is a breakdown of what youth can learn at different levels:

Things to Learn/Do in the Project

Age 7-9

• Identify breeds of beef cattle

• Learn the parts of a calf

• Compare animal differences 

• Halter break a calf

Age 10-13

• Learn about cattle feeds and how they are digested

• Judge beef cattle and present oral reasons

• Show a calf and learn showing techniques

Age 14 and Older

• Use performance data to make breeding decisions

• Evaluate beef carcasses and identify meat products

• Explore impact of technology and career opportunities in the beef industry

In addition to the curriculum, youth are also offered the opportunity to attend project meetings held by volunteers. Each year, youth are able to demonstrate their hard work locally at the county fair and depending on age and placing, the Kansas State Fair. There are other local and state shows available to youth as well.

The beef project is a great opportunity for youth to learn important life skills. For more information about this project or the workshop, contact Jennifer K. Terrell, 4-H Youth Development for K-State Research and Extension – Southwind District at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

The K-State Garden Hour – a popular online program featuring horticulture experts from across the state – will highlight best plants for a beginning landscape on Wednesday, March 3^rd from noon to 1 p.m. Learn how to choose the right plants for your landscape including tough plants that will grow well for any level of gardener.

Garden hour programs will continue two times a month through the summer. To register and participate in the K-State Garden Hour, visit www.ksre-learn.com/KStateGardenHour-register

For more information, please contact Krista Harding, horticulture agent, at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

Submitted by: Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District Director

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Sir Winston Churchill

Conflict is challenging – I don’t enjoy it and I dread when I know in advance that conflict is headed my way. Most people perceive “conflict” as a difficulty rather than as an opportunity. Those who view conflict as the difficulty in every opportunity are not necessarily pes­simists, however they may not be viewing the conflict as a creative dynamic. The reality is, no matter what you do or how you act, there will always be some conflict — especially when you serve as a community board member.

Conflict can be both positive and negative. Conflict allows people to learn about a problem from different sides, and often the most creative ideas and solutions emerge from conflict. Negative aspects of conflict can involve frustration or confusion and sometimes lead to violence. The key to approaching conflict constructively is to recognize it as a process to be managed, not something to be avoided or eliminated.

Managing conflict requires certain skills and techniques that may not always be easy to implement.

For example, when a person learns to paint it involves learning strokes and techniques to create an image. However, only after continuous practice does the person finally become an artist. You may think of conflict management as an art that benefits everyone through learning the skills, but it takes practice implementing the tech­niques to be a skilled conflict manager.

The skills and techniques outlined here work best when the person applying them carries the attitude that conflict is about a problem that needs solving, rather than something to win.

Listen Actively

Listening involves more than simply hearing the words spoken, it also requires active involvement that includes understanding, acknowledging, and responding. To make sure you understand what the person has said summarize by saying out loud, “What I think I heard you say was … Is that right?”

Keep Emotions in Check

Although Newton is famous for stating, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction,” he was referring to objects, not people. Objects react, but people can chose not to. You can’t change your emotions, but you can decide how you want to act.

Separate People from the Problem

In every conflict there exists both the content of the problem and the human relationships. As a consequence, “people and the problem” often become entangled in discussions that sometimes lead to treating people and the problem as one.

Reframe

Reframing is a powerful method to reinterpret a state­ment or comment into a problem-solving frame. For example, if someone is yelling and screaming, don’t think of the person as being disrespectful and rude, but reframe your perception of that person as having limited skills in communication. (Easier said than done, right?) In addition, help the other person reframe the conflict into a problem by asking for their advice. For example, “What would you suggest I do?” “Knowing what my interests are, what would you do if you were in my shoes?” 

Conflict is just a part of our lives. Let’s work together to turn a little conflict into a lot of opportunity. For more information about leadership and community vitality, visit the Southwind Extension website at www.southwind.k-state.edu or find us on Facebook.

Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1006 N. State, Iola, KS 66749

1Many people believe that memory loss and aging go hand-in-hand. That would assume that as a person gets older his or her memory begins to fail. While some change may be expected as you age, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something about it in the absence of a brain disease, such as Alzheimer’s Disease. You can be proactive in using some strategies and lifestyle adaptations.

Southwind Extension District Agent, Barbara Stockebrand, will be presenting a Texas A&M created workshop series on “Master of Memory” on March 4, 11, and 18 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The 3-lesson series helps participants understand how memory works and what may affect memory. All sessions will be presented by Zoom, so it will be easy to attend and participate from the comforts of your home.

“Master of Memory” has been found to help participants identify and use strategies to improve memory function. Participants will learn there are different ways to learn new things and different memory strategies; how different foods and nutrients may affect brain function and medications that may affect memory; medical conditions that affect memory and may be reversible, along with how exercise benefits the body and mind.

Call 620-625-8620 to register for this free educational opportunity. Registration is necessary to receive the Zoom link to take part in the program.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Even though the calendar says that we are only half-way through winter, the seed catalogs are telling us spring is just around the corner by the number of mailings they are sending out. I think I have already received six or seven!

I thoroughly enjoy flipping through the catalogs and planning what new plants I want to try this year. I’m sure many of you do the exactly the same. But do you understand all of the terminology that you see in seed catalogs? A clear understanding of the lingo used in the catalogs is needed so that you can be the most successful with your plantings.

When shopping for perennials, you will encounter the term “hardiness zone”. The United States (lower 48) is broken up into 8 hardiness zones based upon the lowest average winter temperature for the area. Southeast Kansas is located in zone 6. Knowing what zone your garden is in and seeing what zone the plant is hardy to will help you pick plants that will survive the winter. However, keep in mind that your individual planting areas might include a “microclimate.” A microclimate is an area that the soil, moisture, humidity, heat, wind or other conditions affect the viability of individual plants. So think about your planting site before ordering.

If you are looking at tomatoes, you will probably see the words determinant and indeterminate. These words refer to how large the plants get and how they grow. Determinant types tend to stay more compact and bushy. These are best suited for a smaller garden. Indeterminate types tend to get tall and just keep getting taller over the summer. If you want a tall plant to impress your neighbor, this is the one!

“Days to harvest” refers to the average number of days it usually takes after you set out transplants before you can expect your first harvest. This is highly variable and just because you count back the right number of days from the Fourth of July, doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have ripe tomatoes by then. I have a friend that ordered in an array of sunflower seeds last year in preparation for a September wedding. The “days to harvest” was supposed to be around 70-75 days. So, she counted back from the wedding date and planted accordingly. Unfortunately, they bloomed about day 52 thanks to high heat! It just goes to show us that Mother Nature always wins regardless of our planning.

Terms such as AAS (All American Selections) and Perennial Plant of the Year, indicate that those varieties have been trialed for many years in trial gardens through the United States and have been shown to be outstanding performers. They are often worthy of a place in the garden.

Looking for plants that have disease tolerance or disease resistance is good. But the two terms have different meanings. A plant listed as disease tolerant will probably get a disease common to the plant, but it may not be so bad that treatment is needed. The disease probably won’t affect the appearance much. Disease resistance means the plant has been bred to resist common disease problems and will probably not get the disease. One of the best examples of this is in roses. Some roses will be listed as disease resistant to black spot and then some will be listed as disease tolerant to black spot.

Seed catalogs can be somewhat overwhelming. But if you do your homework and know the lingo, you will be able to pick out the best suited plants for your garden.

If you have questions on variety selection as you browse through your catalogs, please contact me. I would be happy to visit with you.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Submitted by Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District

Funny story – I wrote this paragraph for my column in February of 2019 and apparently, I had no idea what was in my future, our future, only one year later!  “As we are all aware, we are living in a time of rapid change. There have always been changes taking place in our communities, but the different thing today seems to be the rate of change. It happens so fast that we sometimes feel we can hardly keep up. No doubt, with emerging community issues and school activities in full swing, I can relate to struggling to keep up with change.” 

I bring this to your attention because the Southwind Extension District is offering a way to help you navigate this constant change by offering a virtual Community Board Leadership Series. Whether you are elected, appointed, or even volunteered to serve or work with a team this series will help you learn the skills necessary to be successful.

The series will be offered on Tuesdays & Thursdays, February 16, 18, 23 and 25 from Noon to 1:00 pm. Workshop participants will meet virtually and upon registration will receive a link to participate in the live, web-based discussion. Sessions will include Organizing/Leading Effective Meetings, Generations & Behavioral Management, Understanding Fellow Board Members and Conflict Management, and then we will wrap up with Strategic Planning to learn more about establishing a common mission and vision for the board, and how to plan priorities for the future.

We are all busy – and some days in can be overwhelming. Personally, I admit that thinking about all of my personal and professional obligations can be downright stressful. This time of the year, many organizations are reorganizing and looking for volunteer leaders. Regardless of your age, I challenge you to consider your leadership role within your community and look for avenues to serve. It may be through an after-school program, 4-H project leader, local government, or even in your church.

Pre-registration for the event is required by February 12, 2021. The cost of $20 covers for all four sessions for one board member.  Each registration buys a seat, which can be rotated by participants.  Registration also includes a copy of the meeting materials that will be mailed prior to the workshop. Registration is available at www.bit.ly/BoardLeadership2021 or by going to www.southwind.k-state.edu. If you have questions or would prefer to register by phone, please contact Carla Nemecek at the Southwind Extension District, 620-365-2242.

Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749

…

K-State Research and Extension is conducting a series of virtual Board Leadership workshops across the Southwind District February 16, 18, 23 & 25.

Designed to provide basic training for members of community-based boards, the series will be hosted by local Extension professionals from the Southwind and Wildcat Extension Districts, and participants are invited to join from any remote location of their choice.

Informed and committed board members are the key to healthy, effective boards and committees in our Kansas communities.  K-State Research and Extension’s Board Leadership Series will provide an opportunity for board members to learn the basics of being a good board member.  Whether you are a member of a church board, a township board, a United Way agency board, or a rural water board, this training is appropriate for you.

The series will kick-off on February 16 with Organizing/Leading Effective Meetings.  During this session, participants will learn about their roles and responsibilities as a board member, basics of parliamentary procedure, and strategies to make meetings more productive and effective.

On February 18, the topic will be Generations & Behavioral Management. This session will explore how personalities and generational differences affect the decision-making process.

The February 23 session will cover Understanding Fellow Board Members and Conflict Management. Participants will learn how to manage conflict in a way that is productive, not destructive, to the board.

Strategic Planning will be the final topic on February 25.  Participants will learn about establishing a common mission and vision for the board, and how to plan priorities for the future.

All sessions will be conducted from Noon to 1:00 pm. Workshop participants will meet virtually and upon registration will receive a link to participate in the live, web-based discussion.

Pre-registration for the event is required by February 12, 2021. The cost of $20 covers for all four sessions for one board member.  Each registration buys a seat, which can be rotated by participants.  Registration also includes a copy of the meeting materials that will be mailed prior to the workshop. Registration is available at www.bit.ly/BoardLeadership2021 or by going to www.southwind.k-state.edu. If you have questions or would prefer to register by phone, please contact Carla Nemecek at the Southwind Extension District, 620-365-2242.

Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749