Frontier Extension District Supporters,
Below are recent programming highlights from the K-State Research and Extension, Frontier District. Our focus is on providing educational programs that focus on solving grand challenges around water, health, global food systems, community vitality, and developing tomorrow's leaders. The district covers Anderson, Franklin and Osage Counties in Kansas. For more information, just click on the box below to visit our website.
Sincerely,
Fran
Mary Frances Richmond, Ph.D.
Frontier Extension District Director
frichmon@ksu.edu
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Frontier District couple receives a
Master Farmer-Farm Homemaker Award
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Gary and Delores Rieck, Burligame, received recognition this spring as a 2018 Kansas Master Farmer-Master Farm Homemaker, at ceremonies held in Manhattan. Kansas State University and Kansas Farmer magazine co-sponsor the program of honoring deserving Kansas farm families.The Riecks' farming operation started out with 25 gilts in a farrow-to-finish system. Today, the Riecks have transitioned to feeding cattle and farming soybeans and grass hay. They also have acreage dedicated to the Conservation Reserve Program. Son George works on statistical analysis for GPS crop mapping. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife, April, and two children, Holt and Cabe. Daughter Gwen Hoy and her husband, Josh, operate an agri-tourism program in the Flint Hills. They have a daughter named Josie.
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4-Hers Demonstrate Public Speaking Skills
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One of the most remembered experiences taught in the 4-H Youth Development program is acquiring the ability to speak comfortably in front of an audience. To develop that life-long skill, 4-Hers practice writing and delivering presentations throughout the 4-H year. Annually, they are given the opportunity at 4-H Club Day to showcase their skills in competition before a judge. Presentations range from delivering
project talks, demonstrations, and public speaking, to participation in parliamentary procedure demonstrations, music and dramatic events. Dozens of 4-Hers from the Frontier District's three counties competed for honors at Club Days held in Pomona this spring. Overall winners advanced to compete at regional and state events.
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Nearly fifty individuals and community groups attended a Grant Writing Workshop in Garnett to learn more about writing successful grant proposals. Presented by Nancy Daniels, Community Vitality Specialist with K-State Research and Extension, the training was offered for those who had no idea where to start, to those who had experience but were looking for ways to improve their approach. Daniels explained that "the magic that happens in a local community when people find out they don't have to wait to get something done, that they can do it themselves, is incredible."
When asked what they planned to do as a result of the workshop, participants responded: "Go home and write a grant." "Use my knowledge to better and improve the city's beautification and infrastructure." "Ask more questions from grantors before applying." "Finish writing the two grants I have started...with improvements."Make a list of our group's needs, see if a grant can make it viable, and then get to work."
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The Ripple Effects of Childcare
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The Frontier Extension District is leading the effort in Franklin County to create awareness of inter-generational poverty and its alleviation. Ripples of Change is a relationship-based, life skills education effort that meets weekly in Ottawa. Recently, participants were challenged with identifying and addressing an issue or barrier that they and many others in poverty experience. The participants did a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of the resources available in the community. Childcare was identified as a challenge and barrier to many participants seeking and maintaining employment and stability for their family.
In January, Ripples of Change participants hosted a childcare forum. Approximately 40 county and city officials, school administrators, Head Start administrators, child care providers and community members participated in the forum. A core group continues to meet and has identified the need to conduct a child care needs assessment. The group is working with a doctoral student at Kansas State University to conduct the needs assessment and focus groups. The assessment will be utilized by the group to identify possible solutions to address the childcare issue.
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Fun and Learning Over Spring Break
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In order to provide educational opportunities for youth during the week of Spring Break, the Frontier Extension District offered a healthy homemade pretzel class for youth in third through fifth grades. Approximately 45 youth participated in the classes that were offered across the district in Lyndon, Garnett, and Ottawa. During each class, youth were able to make, try, and sample a healthy pretzel recipe as well as practice their baking and measuring skills, food safety, and teamwork. Participants were also able to learn about MyPlate and the grain group, whole grains, and the difference between whole wheat flour and white flour.
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Container Gardens Increase in Popularity
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Because consumers are interested in where their food comes from and what goes into growing it, many people today are wanting to grow their own produce. However, traditional gardening can be difficult as many families do not have yard space for a garden. Container gardening is increasing in popularity as a way to grow fresh produce as well as flowers without taking up much space. Eighty garden enthusiasts attended meetings this spring to learn about growing flowers and vegetables in containers from Ryan Schaub, Frontier Extension District Horticulture Agent. Participants learned that container gardens can also have their own set of challenges, such as finding plants that fit into the area, finding soil-less potting soil, how often to water and fertilize, and utilizing effective design principles when planting in a container.
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Eastern Kansas Grazing School held in Ottawa
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A two-day "Eastern Kansas Grazing School" was hosted by the Frontier Extension District in Ottawa. The school is annually planned by a group of six Extension Agents in eastern Kansas and a NRCS Range Specialist. This year 33 participants learned the importance and benefits of a managed grazing system.
Managed grazing or controlling where and when livestock species graze an area of land has numerous advantages over continuous grazing. Management intensive grazing (MIG) involves moving animals through a series of pastures in an effort to match the forage availability to the animals' production needs. Managers can rotate livestock through a series of paddocks as forage availability allows, moving them from an area where the animals have completely utilized the available forages and have achieved a desirable residue height - the amount of forage left that has not been grazed.
One of the major advantages of this grazing system is it allows the land and forages to rest and accumulate growth after they have been defoliated through grazing, without the risk of animals coming back and grazing them again before they have had the opportunity to regrow and replenish nutrient stored in the plant. Managing where and when livestock graze can improve land and pasture conditions, enhance livestock production, and encourage an increase in forage utilization.
Participant comments included:
"The meeting was a wealth of information and on the farm activities were really helpful. I realized how much I didn't know, and all the take home materials gives one time to digest all the information. Well worth the money spent."
" My lack of becoming VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE is on my ability to absorb the great amounts of information that was offered. Thank You!"
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Frontier Extension District
offices are located at:
Garnett Office
411 S. Oak, PO Box 423
Garnett, KS 66032
785 448 6826
785 448 6153
Lyndon Office
128 W. 15th , PO Box 400
Lyndon, KS 66456
785 828 4438
785 828 3427 (fax)
Ottawa Office
1418 S. Main, Suite 2
Ottawa, KS 66067
785 229 3520
785 229 3537 (fax)
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