Amanda Clasen- Community Vitality Agent    

October 2023

Crisp autumn air will make anyone want to be outside and enjoying the seasons changing. Spring and Fall are the most opportune times of the year to work on making your yard and community appearance more inviting. Fall allows preparation for winter months ahead while spring invites us out of our “hibernation” to prepare and enjoy the incoming spring months. Organizing a community cleanup is a great way for community members and neighbors to make a change and show pride in their local community while improving the physical appearances.

Hosting a community clean-up campaign also helps improve the health of the community by eliminating habitation for rodents and insects to live, provides an avenue for residents to become more involved and show visible results and will create a good impression on visitors and potential employers. Organizing your Clean up campaign into seven areas will help make your campaign a successful event.

K-State Community Specialist Nadine Sigle & Former Community PRIDE Program Coordinator Daniel Kahl offer the following advise on how to plan and organize a successful Community Clean up.

1. Organize for success: A Clean-up effort should start with some planning and organizing from a group willing to take initiative to form a core planning committee. Those on the committee could include, but not limited to: Realtors, health professionals, parents, Chamber members, Elected officials, Local media, Civic/youth Organizations, Churches.
2. Plan for Clear Goals: Take photos to document and assist in prioritizing projects. Before and after photos are helpful if reporting is necessary to donated services or resources for the clean up effort. When Ranking projects, consider health, visual impact, safety, resources available to your effort and the likely hood of a successful project completion. K-State Research and Extension is an excellent resource to help in identifying areas of concerns.
3. Develop a plan: Develop a detailed plan that includes what projects are being completed and by who. Also include if there is a deadline for the completion of the project. If there are protentional cost involved in the clean up effort, develop a budget and where the financing or fundraising efforts may come from.
4. Advertise: A good advertising campaign will get others in the community excited to participate in the effort of the community beautification. Contact local media, post pictures and information to local social media stories as well as prepare flyers to be placed around town.
5. Volunteers: Be prepared to accommodate individuals that show up to assist after hearing about the project. Think of Friendships, family network, co-works, etc., that may provide resources or helpful contacts.
6. Execute your Project: The Safety of all volunteers should be the most important part of your execution. Depending on weather situations, have water and drinks available. Encourage workers to come appropriately dressed (Bright colors, appropriate shoes, etc.). Make sure all volunteers know where to take litter that is collected during the clean up effort.
7. Sustain the effort: Make sure to publicly thank all volunteers and cooperating businesses for their efforts in the clean-up. Recognizing a “Yard of the Week” or “Most Improved Property” are great ways to help sustain efforts. Use before and after photos to show the effect of the clean up and to keep the excitement of the beautification going long after the effort.

Find more information on conducting a Community Clean up in your community in “Conducting a Community Clean-up/Fix-up Campaign” publication from K-State Research & Extension found at http://bit.ly/1HU7Bcq, or contact Community Vitality Agent Amanda Clasen and [email protected] or any Southwind District Extension office.  Make sure to join our Monthly e-newsletter for Health and Wellness at http://bit.ly/southwindnews

Amanda Clasen- Community Vitality Agent
September 2023

As I have started to settle into my new position as the Community Vitality Agent for Southwind District and make my way around to communities within our district, there are many great projects and discussions that communities and groups are doing and supporting. I have been asked several times over the past three months, “What does the job of a Community Vitality agent consist of?”

The foundation of community vitality is to help communities become a prosperous place to live, work, play, and thrive through identifying the bright and dark spots in that community, while encouraging growth in population and sustainability.

Vitality is defined as “the state of being strong and active” and “the power giving continuance to life.”

By a community having strong vitality, we are setting our local businesses up for financial prosperity as well as enriching the lives of current and potential residents. It also encourages individuals to become more involved in making their communities shine.

Part of a strong community is using the guidelines of the Seven Community Capitals.

Rarely do communities possess ALL community capitals, but all possess some community capitals.

The capitals can create a foundation for expanding community capital areas, building on current capitals, or working to create opportunities in capitals that a community is currently lacking.

I encourage you to think of the bright spots that your community has that fall into each of the capitals listed below, and also think about projects that you can see your community benefiting from in each of these as well.

Natural Capital: The quality and quantity of natural and environmental resources existing in a community. Includes all natural aspects of community. Assets of clean water, clean air, wildlife, parks, lakes, good soil, landscape – all are examples of natural capital.
Cultural Capital: The values, norms, beliefs, and traditions that people inherit from the family, school, and community. assets may include local beliefs, values, history, foods, festivals, cultural heritage, art, etc.
Human Capital: Investments are those investments that add to the health, education, well-being and self-esteem of people.
Social Capital: Represents the “glue” that holds a community together and whose presence can spur the type of economic growth that brings benefits to the entire community. Examples include leadership, working together, mutual trust, and sense of a shared future.
Political Capital: The ability to influence and enforce rules, regulations, and standards. Communities should allow all groups to have opportunities for leadership and engagement, and to have a voice in public issues.
Financial Capital: Includes forms of money used to increase capacity of the unit that accesses it. These include: savings, debt capital, investment capital, tax revenue, tax abatement and grants. Other examples of financial capital are investments, fair wages, internal and external sources of income.
Built Capital includes all human-constructed infrastructure such as sewers, water systems, machinery, roads, electronic communication, buildings, and housing.

Think about the following questions, What is it that you love about the community you live in?

If you could change one thing about your community, what would it be?

What dialogue and with who, would you need to have a discussion with to make that change happen?

For more information please contact Amanda Clasen, Community Vitality Agent, at [email protected] or at any Southwind Extension office.

The virtual learning series, Living Well Wednesday, is set to kick off the 2023 Fall Series in October. This program is offered by K-State Research and Extension Family and Consumer Science Agents and Specialists from across the state. This year’s fall series will focus on topics of interest to parents and individuals who work with youth. Topics will help those around kids recognize warning signs of dangerous behavior and risk factors.

The fall series kicks off on October 4^th with “It’s Not So Kool to JUUL”. Guest presenter Donna Gerstner with Livewell Finney County Health Coalition in Garden City says vaping is the newest epidemic among young, stating further that 25% of Kansas High School students currently vape or have vaped. Discussion on the dangers of vaping, preventative measures, and helpful ways to identify smoking devices will help prepare parents to talk to their kids about this new epidemic and reduce the chance that their child will partake in this dangerous and addicting activity.

For the second session on November 1^st, Erin Tynon, Pottawatomie County Family and Consumer Science Agent, and guest speaker Christine Perez, a licensed clinical professional counselor, will present “Teen Stress and Anxiety: How Worried do Parents Need to be?”. This session will examine the current state of teen mental health and help parents decipher what stress is normal in teenagers versus when to seek professional help. By preparing what to say and do when teens talk about their stressors, parents will know how to talk about these tricky topics and when to seek professional help.

The last session on December 6^th is “Rapid Development of Baby Brains and Why It Matters”. Presenters Bradford Wiles, K-State Research and Extension Child Development Specialist, and Family and Consumer Science Agents Tristen Cope and Monique Koerner will discuss how impactful early years in a child’s life are on the outcome of their entire future. In this session, participants will see why positive early childhood experiences are critical for babies, how stress and trauma impact brain development at a young age, and what they can do to provide protective factors for healthy brain development in babies.

All three sessions will be at 12:10 – 1 p.m. on Zoom. To register, visit www.ksre.k-state.edu/fcs/livingwellwed/. All sessions will be recorded for later viewing. Recordings will be posted on the Living Well Wednesday Website and are assessible through the  link previously referenced. For more information, contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620.

Renovating Fescue Lawns After Drought Loss

Unfortunately, this is the second year in a row that we are facing drought conditions going into the fall. Our fescue lawns have really taken a beating the last two years and many have almost completely died out. I know some lawns still look green, but you would be surprised at how much of your lawn is actually crabgrass and not fescue. If you are thinking about renovating your lawn, September is the time to do it. Renovating doesn’t have to be done by plowing under the current turf and starting from scratch. Instead, lawns can be thickened up by overseeding.

To start the overseeding process, mow the grass short (1-1.5 inches) and remove the clippings. This will make it easier to get good seed-soil contact and increase the amount of light that will reach the young seedlings. The success of overseeding is dependant on good seed-soil contact. Thatch can prevent the seed from reaching the soil and germinating. If the thatch layer is ¾ inch or more, use a sod cutter to remove it. A power rake can also be used to reduce a thatch layer.

Next, the soil should be prepared for the seed. Holes must be made into the soil for the seeds to fall into. A verticut machine can be used. It has solid vertical blades that can be set to cut furrows into the soil. Another option is to use a core aerator. This machine will punch holes into the soil and deposit the cores on the surface of the ground. Each hole will produce an excellent environment for seed germination and growth. Machines to do such work can often be rented, so check around.

Fertilizer should then be applied at the rate suggested by a soil test or a starter fertilizer should be used at the rate suggested on the bag.

Seeding is the next step. For overseeding, use half the amount needed compared to seeding bare ground. For tall fescue, the normal rate for bare seeding is 6 to 8 pounds per 1000 square feet so the overseeding rate would be 3 to 4 pounds per 1000 square feet. You don’t necessarily have to overseed with the same variety you planted before. The quality of a lawn by can be raised by overseeding with a fescue variety that has better growth habits. Many stores carry blends of several newer high-quality tall fescues.

Finally, water everything in and then keep the seedbed constantly moist for rapid germination. This might be a bit tricky considering how dry the soil is. Frequent light waterings are better than deeper, infrequent watering as the seedlings become established.

Fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer again 4 to 6 weeks after seeding to keep plants growing well and to build up food reserves.

On a side note, many homeowners often want to overseed bare spots under trees, but have minimal luck. The turf will sprout as fall progresses and will get established by winter. It continues to look good going into spring. However, the next summer it begins to die out again – despite any care it is given.

In many cases, this is due to too much shade or the type of turf planted isn’t a good fit for the location. Tall fescue is the only widely used lawn turf in Kansas that can survive some shade. All other cool and warm season turfs need more sunlight.

Instead of establishing grass under trees, consider underplanting the tree with shade tolerant ornamental plants. Examples include ground covers such as vinca minor vines, Boston ivy or liriope, or plants such as hostas or hardy ferns.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension 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.

Sericea Lespedeza is labeled as a noxious weed by the state of Kansas. This means
landowners are required by law to control the weed. In the Southwind District, landowners and
producers continue to fight this weed on rangeland, pasture, and small acreages. There are
multiple herbicides and cultural practices that can help control sericea, but proper timing is
very important. Our district has experienced below average rainfall most of the summer, and
producers that usually target sericea in June with Tricoplyr likely weren’t able to make their
applications, or their applications may not have been effective. August and September offer a
second chance at controlling this tough weed.
The month of August, and into early September offer a great chance at controlling
sericea while it is actively blooming. Targeting the plant while it blooms not only kills the top
growth of the weed, but it also prevents the plants from producing a viable seed.
As many landowners have figured out, sericea is a prolific seed producer. A single stem
can produce upwards of 1500 seeds, equating to over 300 pounds of seed per acre in pure
stands of sericea. With this many seeds being added to the soil’s seedbank, killing off existing
plants will only provide space for new seeds to germinate, so keeping this plant from producing
seed is vital in achieving good control and eradicating the weed species.
Herbicides containing metsulfuron are recommended while sericea is blooming.
Recommended rates for broadcast spraying commonly found herbicides are: 0.5 oz/acre Escort
XP, 0.625 oz/acre Cimarron Plus, and 2.5 to 3 oz/acre Chaparral. All herbicides containing
metsulfuron should be mixe with a non-ionic surfactant (NIS).
For producers looking to spot spray sericea, a tank mix of Escort + a NIS can achieve
good control: 1.0 oz Escort + 1 qt NIS in 100 gal water, or 5 grams Escort + 1.5 floz NIS in 5 gal
water. Adding .5 fl oz PastureGard HL per gallon tank mix can increase control.
Burning sericea lespedeza in the fall is gaining interest across the state. Where herbicide
applications can cost upwards of $20 per acre, burning pastures can cost around $0.20 per acre.
Burning sericea while it is blooming or developing its seed in late-August to mid-September can
remove top growth, and prevent the plant from producing a viable seed.
Burning sericea can be a challenge for producers. In the Southwind district, tall fescue is
the dominant species, and is actively growing in August and September. It is often stockpiled
for late fall and winter grazing. In these situations, burning is not recommended.
Burning is recommended in non-ag situations, native pastures, and in pure stands of
sericea. If properly done, patches of pure stands of sericea can be burned in fescue pastures,
but the risk of the fire spreading is always there.
Burning also will cause scarification on the existing sericea seeds in the soil and cause
them to germinate, often appearing to make the situation worse.

While you are not able to prevent the new germination of sericea plants, you can use
this opportunity to kill the new, weak plants. Waiting 4 weeks after burning, you can go back to
the area and spray the new growth with herbicides containing Trycoplyr. A popular choice is
Remedy Ultra. Remedy Ultra can be broadcast sprayed at 1.5 pint/ acre, or spot sprayed at a 1
% solution vol/vol (1 gal of Remedy ultra/100gal water, or 6.5 fl oz in 5 gal of water).
Many landowners prefer to mow sericea. Repeated mowing can prevent the spread of
sericea and weaken the stand, but it will not likely kill the plants completely.
Mowing in the fall can follow the same ideas as burning. Mowing while the sericea is
blooming can prevent a viable seed from being produced. The new growth can then be sprayed
with Tricoplyr at the same rates mentioned above.
Producers have several options to try and control Sericea Lespedeza. Often times
greater percent control can be achieved by using more than one control method. For more
recommendations contact Chad Guthrie, Crop Production and Forage Management Agent, or
Hunter Nickell, Livestock Production Agent, at any Southwind Extension District Office. Office
Locations in Erie, Fort Scott, Iola, and Yates Center.

4-H members from the Southwind Extension District excelled at the annual Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes event on August 19-20 in Kansas State University’s Weber Hall. Participants from the Southwind Extension District were MaKinlee Bloesser, Hailey Shadden, Marley Sutton, McKinley Sutton, Kendyl Bloesser, Emery Yoho, Chanlynn Wrestler, Carly Dreher, Kyser Nemecek, Brady Hurt, Tate Crystal, Carla Nemecek (coach), Byron Fry, and Reegan McDaniel. The Southwind District is especially proud that 4-H members represented 4-H Clubs from Allen, Bourbon, Neosho, and Woodson Counties.

4-H members learned gained new knowledge and worked on livestock skills to be competitive in the Sweepstakes event which consisted of blending scores in four contests. Southwind Extension District completed the weekend by being named the 2023 Reserve Champion State 4-H Sweepstake Team. The top ten individual Sweepstakes winners for Southwind were Tate Crystal 3^rd; Reegan McDaniel 4^th and Carly Dreher 9^th after excelling in all contests.

The Livestock Quiz Bowl started with a qualifying exam. The twelve teams with the highest average scores advanced to the quiz bowl competition. Southwind #1 (Crystal, Dreher, Hurt, Nemecek) was seated first after the test and was later named the 3^rd Overall Quiz Bowl Team. Southwind #2 (Fry, Yoho, McDaniel, Wrestler) earned 6^th best team.

The Livestock Judging contest consisted of nine judging classes and four sets of reasons with 212 contestants and 41 teams from across Kansas. Southwind #1 (Dreher, Crystal, Hurt, Nemecek) was 1^st in Sheep; 1^st in Hogs; 3^rd in Cattle, and 1^st in Reasons and named Champion Team Overall. Individual livestock judging results are as follows:

• Brady Hurt – High Individual Reasons; 2^nd Sheep; 6^th Swine; 3^rd Overall
• Kyser Nemecek – 2^nd Reasons; High Individual Sheep; High Individual Swine; 5^th Overall
• Carly Dreher – 3^rd Reasons; 6^th Sheep; 3^rd Swine; 8^th Overall
• Tate Crystal – 9^th Reasons; 10^th Beef; 10^th Overall

The Meats Judging contest was based on the identification of thirty retail cuts, six placings classes, and three sets of reasons. The Intermediate Meats Judging Team continues to shine and was named Champion Team for the second consecutive year. Members include Hailey Shadden, Marley Sutton, Kendyl Bloesser, and MaKinlee Bloesser and they were 1^st in Placings; and 1^st in Retail ID. Individual intermediate meats judging results are as follows:

• Marley Sutton – 4^th Retail ID; 5^th Placings; 3^rd Overall
• Hailey Shadden – 1^st Retail ID; 4^th Overall
• MaKinlee Bloesser – 5^th Retail ID; 7^th Placings; 5^th Overall
• Kendyl Bloesser – 6^th Retail ID; 4^th Placings; 6^th Overall
• McKinley Sutton – 3^rd Placings; 9^th Overall

Senior Meats Judging results include: Southwind #1 (Fry, Crystal, McDaniel, Dreher) was 4^th in Placings, 3^rd in Reasons, 4^th in Retail ID and Third Team Overall. Individual senior meat judging results are as follows:

• Byron Fry – 5^th Retail ID; 4^th Overall
• Reegan McDaniel – 7^th Reasons
• Brady Hurt – 10^th Reasons

In the Livestock Skillathon, 4-H members rotated individually through stations that addressed six areas of animal science. Those included feedstuffs, breed identification, equipment identification, meat identification, wool evaluation, and a written test. There was also a team component where members worked together on evaluating quality assurance protocols and judging wool. Out of 30 teams and 156 individuals, Southwind #1 (Crystal, Dreher, Hurt, Nemecek) was 4^th in Exam, 2^nd in Practicum; and Reserve Champion Team Overall. Southwind #2 (McDaniel, Wrestler, Yoho, Fry) was 3^rd in Exam, 4^th in Practicum; 3^rd Team Overall. Southwind #3 (Sutton, Sutton, K. Bloesser, Shadden) was 6^th in Practicum and 11^th Overall Team. Individual Skillathon results are as follows:

• Reegan McDaniel – 4^th Exam; 5^th Practicum; 4^th Overall
• Tate Crystal – 4^th Practicum; 6^th Overall
• Hailey Shadden – 9^th Overall

This group worked hard and studied a great deal of material to prepare for four state contests. To be named the Champion Livestock Judging Team, Reserve and 3^rd Skillathon Teams, 3^rd & 6^th Quiz Bowl Team Teams, Champion Intermediate & 3^rd Senior Meats Judging Teams, and Reserve Champion Sweepstakes Team at the state contests shows how hard these 4-H members pushed each other to “Make the Best Better.”  The Southwind District is grateful for the support of their parents and very proud of their accomplishments and look forward to future growth and learning.

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K-State, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.  K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.