November 2023 eNews

Giving Tuesday November 28

As you consider donating to your favorite non-profit organization during Giving Tuesday, please keep Sedgwick County Extension in mind.

Donate Here

Horticulture

Welcome New Horticulture Agent Abbey Draut!

Abbey Draut began serving as the Sedgwick County horticulture extension agent, effective October 30.



Draut earned her bachelor’s degree in plant and soil sciences from Texas Tech University. She has most recently been employed as a production manager for Johnson’s Garden Center in Wichita, Kansas. 

Horticulture agents develop and deliver educational programs related, but not limited, to horticulture crop production; marketing and economics; conservation of natural resources; horticulture waste management; and landscape maintenance and improvement.  

Horticulture Industry Training

Scheduled for November 15th

The 2023 Commercial Pesticide Applicator Training Workshop, for those that work as applicators of turf and ornamental pest management products, will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 from 8:00am to 5:00pm at the K-State Research & Extension Education Center, 7001 W. 21^st St. N. in Wichita, KS.   

Anyone who commercially applies pesticides for control of insects, diseases, weeds, or other pests is required by the Kansas Department of Agriculture to be certified in order to ensure the safe use of pesticides within our communities. Once certified, commercial applicators must renew their licenses every 3 years by either receiving continuing education credits (such as through the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Training Workshop) or by examination. This process verifies that a commercial pesticide applicator has adequate knowledge of the types of pesticide application that he or she intends to perform, before legally being allowed to do so. Ongoing education and training programs such as this one give consumer’s confidence that the person applying pesticides to their lawn and landscape is knowledgeable and qualified to safely do so.

The 2023 Commercial Pesticide Applicator Training Workshop, hosted by the K-State Research & Extension office in Sedgwick County, is the largest training opportunity in South Central Kansas for commercial pesticide applicators. Training topics will include weed, insect, and disease identification and management for turfgrass and ornamental plants, as well as an update on Kansas laws for pesticide applicators. For a brochure with complete schedule details and event information, Click Here.

The registration fee is $70 through November 3^rd, 2023. After November 3^rd, registration will be $85.00 per person. Registration will close on Friday, November 10^th, 2023. Register online Here.

For more information, contact:

Matthew McKernan at 316-660-0140, mckernan@ksu.edu or Nancy Richardson at 316-660-0144, nancy77@ksu.edu. 

Join the K-State Garden Hour for a new webinar presentation this month, on Wednesday, November 1^st, 2023 to learn more about “Plants Gone Wild! – Controlling Invasive Plants”. Many plants we love in the garden have the potential to grow wild and upset the ecological balance of our area. Everyone, including gardeners, need to be aware of plants that can take over your landscape, woodlands, and pastures. Learn about which plants you should be on the lookout for, and discover management strategies for their control. Presentations are live from Noon to 1pm, and also recorded and posted online. Register for upcoming webinars or find past recordings online    Here.

Aging and Medicare

Look at Your Medicare Part D Options for 2024

It's important to review your Medicare Part D plan annually during the Annual Open Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) to ensure it continues to meet your medication needs and budget. The KSRE SHICK office is already fully booked for Open Enrollment, but we can add you to our waiting list or you can look at your options on your own. Read More

Community Vitality

First Friday e-Call--

Lessons Learned from

ORP Rural Champions: Housing

The First Friday e-call for November is scheduled for Friday, November 3, 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Kerri Falletti, Grassroots Strategy Developer, Office of Local Prosperity & Rural Champions will lead this session.

The purpose of the First Friday e-Call is to increase the local community's knowledge of the experts, education, and economic resources available to help small businesses and entrepreneurs and to share innovations in community development. 

Register Here

Questions?  Contact Nancy Daniels at nkdaniels@ksu.edu

SNAP-Ed/EFNEP

Free Nutrition Classes

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offers FREE nutrition education classes that help improve the whole family’s health through good nutrition and food budgeting tips. EFNEP offers classes in English and Spanish for families with young children, pregnant persons, and youth grades 6-12. If you are eligible for or receiving SNAP, TANF, WIC, free/reduced lunches, or Head Start these classes are for you!

SNAP-Ed also offers FREE nutrition education classes for youth grades 3-12, adults, families, and seniors. If you are eligible for or receiving SNAP, TANF, WIC, or free/reduced lunches – we are here to serve you!

EFNEP and SNAP-Ed also partner with organizations serving low-resource individuals including food pantries, health clinics, job-readiness sites, schools with more than 50% of students receiving free or reduced lunches, and more. Is your site interested in partnering with us? Email or call us at 316-660-0119 to learn more.

Family Life

For the Sake of My Family

The fall season has already begun. It is the perfect time to prepare our house for the long and inevitable winter. Putting in all our effort now will save money by keeping the cold out, the heat in, and our pockets happy. Ask yourself: Is my house ready for winter in thirteen weeks? Well, it's time to check and ensure everything is for the ready for the weather; we won't know how it will come.

Read More English

Read More Spanish

Health and Nutrition

Give the Gift of Health This Holiday Season

For many of us, Thanksgiving kicks off the giving season. If donating to a local food pantry is on your “to-do” list, consider giving the gift of health by donating nutrient-rich, non-perishable food items this holiday season. Here are some healthy donation suggestions:

·        Fruit

o  Canned fruit packed in water or 100% juice

o  Dried fruit

o  100% fruit juice

·        Vegetables

o  Low-sodium or no-salt added canned vegetables

o  Low-sodium soups

·        Grains

o  Whole-grain crackers, brown rice, whole-grain pasta, oatmeal, whole-grain breakfast cereal

·        Protein

o  Canned beans (no-salt-added or low-sodium) or dried beans (kidney, navy, pinto, garbanzo, great northern, black), lentils

o  Canned tuna or salmon (water-packed)

o  Canned chicken

o  Walnuts, pecans, peanuts, almonds

o  Nut butter

·        Dairy

o  Nonfat dry milk, evaporated milk, or shelf-stable milk

Contact your local food pantry to find out what other items they may need. To learn more about which foods are safe to donate, visit Here.

4-H and Youth Development

4-H Members' Outstanding Accomplishments

November marks a wonderful time in 4-H as we gear up for the new year but are also preparing to celebrate our fantastic members and their achievements this past year. Each November, we host an Achievement ceremony to celebrate members of all ages in a variety of areas. First, each year a member is in 4-H, they may earn a pin if they are involved and committed to learning and growth. After 10 years of steady involvement, a member can apply for the coveted Key award, marking excellence achieved in leadership. This year, four members have earned their key award, and we are very proud of them. We also congratulate members in all age groups for outstanding work in their individual projects. Winners are chosen in three age categories, Junior, Intermediate, and Senior, for all of the over 30 projects available to them. These members have been putting significant investment of time and effort into their projects over the past year and have had a very impactful learning experience. Finally, we get to express our gratitude for the many volunteers we have at the club, county, and state level who are so willing to give their time to help support positive youth development through 4-H programs. Without these outstanding volunteers, we would not have a 4-H program and are looking forward to expressing our thanks for all of their hard work. Contact the Extension Office to learn more about 4-H and how your family can join!

Get Involved!

K-State Research and Extension — Sedgwick County exists to serve the people of south central Kansas. Our mission thrives because of community support. We offer many opportunities for volunteers to offer their time and skills, from gardening to youth development to programming support.

Learn more about ways to support our programming and the needs of the community. 

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event space?

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

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