EXTENSION AGENT, FAMILY &amp; COMMUNITY WELLNESS opportunity in Cottonwood District. 

Primary office in GREAT BEND, KS, with another in Hays. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure. Application deadline: 3/14/23.

K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646666489658.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>EXTENSION AGENT, FAMILY &amp; COMMUNITY WELLNESS opportunity in Cottonwood District. Primary office in GREAT BEND, KS, with another in Hays. See&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs">www.ksre.ksu.edu/jobs</a>for responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedure. Application deadline: 3/14/23. K-State Research and Extension is an EOE of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Background check required.

CAMPBELL: Kansas grain performance testing report

4-H offers 40 different project areas for youth to explore and learn! I’d like to highlight a few of them over the next few weeks.

The Foods and Nutrition project is about much more than the cookies, cakes, and pies that you see on display during the fair. The Foods and Nutrition project provides opportunities for youth to learn the basics of measuring, following a recipe, and kitchen safety. As youth advance through the project, they learn about terminology, food safety, food labels/nutrition, and budgeting.&nbsp;We encourage youth to be active participants in planning and preparing meals at home as necessary life skills; it just isn’t feasible to bring a casserole to the fair!

For youth interested in the outdoors, the Wildlife project provides opportunities to learn about wildlife behavior, habitat requirements, how wildlife species fit into nature’s scheme, how they are managed, and how they relate to humans. Youth progress through learning about reptiles and amphibians, about habitat, and about birds through more advanced topics of the importance of insects and flowers, identifying seed shapes, characteristics of mammals, the significance of wetlands, and the effect of humans on&nbsp;wildlife habitat. We have an excellent resource in the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to reinforce these learning opportunities as well as Kansas 4-H events such as the annual Insect Spectacular!

Photography is a project that has changed a bit over the years as the quality of cell phone cameras has dramatically improved. Photography was one of my own favorite projects and I bought my first good camera when I graduated from high school. It was a sad day when Dale Riggs had to tell me that he could no longer repair my trusty Minolta which had captured thousands of photos and&nbsp;was&nbsp;utilized during my journalism course of study! Photography is about much more than&nbsp;hitting the button on your phone to take quality pictures that share a story. The photography project walks youth through the basics of how a camera works, basic composition, and organizing a photo story to learning shutter speeds, the Rule of Thirds, and the differences between normal, wide angle, telephoto, and zoom. Additional 4-H events include annual Shutterbugs workshops for youth to learn, practice, and explore!

I hope this sparks an interest in a youth in your world and gives you more information as you look at 4-H projects showcased during the county fair.

If you are interested in learning more about 4-H projects, check out kansas4-h.org in the Projects section!&nbsp;All projects include communications skills, record keeping,&nbsp;career connections,&nbsp;and opportunities for leadership and community service!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District&nbsp;– Barton&nbsp;Office at&nbsp;620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Project Highlight 2.6.20234-H offers 40 different project areas for youth to explore and learn! I’d like to highlight a few of them over the next few weeks.The Foods and Nutrition project is about much more than the cookies, cakes, and pies that you see on display during the fair. The Foods and Nutrition project provides opportunities for youth to learn the basics of measuring, following a recipe, and kitchen safety. As youth advance through the project, they learn about terminology, food safety, food labels/nutrition, and budgeting.&nbsp;We encourage youth to be active participants in planning and preparing meals at home as necessary life skills; it just isn’t feasible to bring a casserole to the fair!For youth interested in the outdoors, the Wildlife project provides opportunities to learn about wildlife behavior, habitat requirements, how wildlife species fit into nature’s scheme, how they are managed, and how they relate to humans. Youth progress through learning about reptiles and amphibians, about habitat, and about birds through more advanced topics of the importance of insects and flowers, identifying seed shapes, characteristics of mammals, the significance of wetlands, and the effect of humans on&nbsp;wildlife habitat. We have an excellent resource in the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to reinforce these learning opportunities as well as Kansas 4-H events such as the annual Insect Spectacular!Photography is a project that has changed a bit over the years as the quality of cell phone cameras has dramatically improved. Photography was one of my own favorite projects and I bought my first good camera when I graduated from high school. It was a sad day when Dale Riggs had to tell me that he could no longer repair my trusty Minolta which had captured thousands of photos and&nbsp;was&nbsp;utilized during my journalism course of study! Photography is about much more than&nbsp;hitting the button on your phone to take quality pictures that share a story. The photography project walks youth through the basics of how a camera works, basic composition, and organizing a photo story to learning shutter speeds, the Rule of Thirds, and the differences between normal, wide angle, telephoto, and zoom. Additional 4-H events include annual Shutterbugs workshops for youth to learn, practice, and explore!I hope this sparks an interest in a youth in your world and gives you more information as you look at 4-H projects showcased during the county fair.If you are interested in learning more about 4-H projects, check out kansas4-h.org in the Projects section!&nbsp;All projects include communications skills, record keeping,&nbsp;career connections,&nbsp;and opportunities for leadership and community service!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District&nbsp;– Barton&nbsp;Office at&nbsp;620-793-1910.

BERAN: 4-H project highlights

Have you ever wondered what it was like to have a vision impairment, hearing impairment or not be able to smell or feel something? These are things that happen naturally as we age, yet few of us think about this until we are older. What if you could temporarily experience this to help understand what it is like to be an older person. We have a K-State program that can help us do just that. Gray for a Day is a simulation experience that utilizes an empathic approach to educate individuals on the age-related sensory and functional challenges that some older adults might face.

Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow Donna Krug, District 
Director and Family Consumer Science Agent, while she conducted the 
simulation with a high school class in Great Bend. The class was very 
engaged, asked questions, and were good sports while using the props to 
see what it “feels like” as we age. There are several objectives we hope
 to accomplish by presenting this program. The first is to understand 
how the senses and functional abilities can decline with age. We also 
hope to personally experience age-related sensory and functional decline
 with the simulations. By understanding the influence of sensory and 
functional decline on daily life, the hope is to encourage one to 
develop the skills necessary to effectively interact with someone who 
may be experiencing age-related sensory and functional declines. 
Finally, we hope to impart understanding that by taking steps to improve
 or maintain your health now that this will contribute to sensory and 
functional well-being in the future.

These activities work great 
with people of all ages. It can spark great conversations between old 
and young people alike. Please call or email if you are interested in 
Gray for A Day presentation for your class or organization.

Monique
 Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State 
Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 
785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Have you ever wondered what it was like to have a vision impairment, hearing impairment or not be able to smell or feel something? These are things that happen naturally as we age, yet few of us think about this until we are older. What if you could temporarily experience this to help understand what it is like to be an older person. We have a K-State program that can help us do just that. Gray for a Day is a simulation experience that utilizes an empathic approach to educate individuals on the age-related sensory and functional challenges that some older adults might face.Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow Donna Krug, District 
Director and Family Consumer Science Agent, while she conducted the 
simulation with a high school class in Great Bend. The class was very 
engaged, asked questions, and were good sports while using the props to 
see what it “feels like” as we age. There are several objectives we hope
 to accomplish by presenting this program. The first is to understand 
how the senses and functional abilities can decline with age. We also 
hope to personally experience age-related sensory and functional decline
 with the simulations. By understanding the influence of sensory and 
functional decline on daily life, the hope is to encourage one to 
develop the skills necessary to effectively interact with someone who 
may be experiencing age-related sensory and functional declines. 
Finally, we hope to impart understanding that by taking steps to improve
 or maintain your health now that this will contribute to sensory and 
functional well-being in the future.These activities work great 
with people of all ages. It can spark great conversations between old 
and young people alike. Please call or email if you are interested in 
Gray for A Day presentation for your class or organization.Monique
 Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State 
Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 
785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.&nbsp;

KOERNER: What does it feel like to age?

On Dec. 29, the following federal bills were signed into law, expanding federal protections for both pregnant and breastfeeding workers.&nbsp;

PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act:&nbsp;PUMP stands for Providing Urgent Maternal&nbsp;Protections.&nbsp;The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act expands the legal right to receive pumping breaks and private space to nearly 9 million more workers, including teachers, registered nurses, farmworkers, and many others.&nbsp;&nbsp;The PUMP Act makes several important changes to the Break Time for Nursing Mothers law that you may already be familiar with. &nbsp;The Break Time for Nursing Mothers law, required employers since 2010 to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for lactating employees to pump milk during the workday. &nbsp;The 2022 PUMP act closed some of the loopholes in the original law.&nbsp;The legislation’s requirement to provide lactation break time and space to previously uncovered workers (teachers, registered nurses, farmworkers, and others) went into effect on December 29, 2022. &nbsp;The law’s expanded enforcement&nbsp;provision&nbsp;goes into effect on April 28, 2023.&nbsp;More information can be found here:

<a href="https://worklifelaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PUMP-Act-Explainer.pdf">https://worklifelaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PUMP-Act-Explainer.pdf</a>

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act&nbsp;(PWFA):&nbsp;Gives pregnant and postpartum workers, including breastfeeding employees, a right to reasonable workplace accommodations, including lactation accommodations.&nbsp;&nbsp;PWFA guarantees workers the affirmative right to receive&nbsp;reasonable&nbsp;accommodations for known limitations stemming from pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions unless the requested accommodations would pose an “undue hardship” to the employer. &nbsp;The PWFA goes into effect on June 27, 2023. &nbsp;This act closes a gap that left pregnant and postpartum workers without remedy if they needed accommodations in order&nbsp;to prevent health complications and keep working.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;More information about the PWFA can be found here:

<a href="https://www.abetterbalance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PWFA-Explainer-_-Final.pdf">https://www.abetterbalance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PWFA-Explainer-_-Final.pdf</a>

Both of these pieces of legislation have been in the making for about 10 years. &nbsp;It is exciting to see the hard work by many in the pregnancy and lactation fields see this come to fruition. &nbsp;I enjoy supporting employers and employees to make these accommodations work for everyone. &nbsp;There are two programs in Kansas that support employers in becoming breastfeeding friendly. They include the Business Case for Breastfeeding and the Breastfeeding Welcome Here program both supported by the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition<a></a>.&nbsp;Part of a healthy community is supporting mothers and families in reaching their breastfeeding&nbsp;and motheringgoals. Please let me know if you have any questions about the new legislation or helping your business become more breastfeeding friendly.

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Dec. 29, the following federal bills were signed into law, expanding federal protections for both pregnant and breastfeeding workers.&nbsp;PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act:&nbsp;PUMP stands for Providing Urgent Maternal&nbsp;Protections.&nbsp;The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act expands the legal right to receive pumping breaks and private space to nearly 9 million more workers, including teachers, registered nurses, farmworkers, and many others.&nbsp;&nbsp;The PUMP Act makes several important changes to the Break Time for Nursing Mothers law that you may already be familiar with. &nbsp;The Break Time for Nursing Mothers law, required employers since 2010 to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for lactating employees to pump milk during the workday. &nbsp;The 2022 PUMP act closed some of the loopholes in the original law.&nbsp;The legislation’s requirement to provide lactation break time and space to previously uncovered workers (teachers, registered nurses, farmworkers, and others) went into effect on December 29, 2022. &nbsp;The law’s expanded enforcement&nbsp;provision&nbsp;goes into effect on April 28, 2023.&nbsp;More information can be found here:<a href="https://worklifelaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PUMP-Act-Explainer.pdf">https://worklifelaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PUMP-Act-Explainer.pdf</a>Pregnant Workers Fairness Act&nbsp;(PWFA):&nbsp;Gives pregnant and postpartum workers, including breastfeeding employees, a right to reasonable workplace accommodations, including lactation accommodations.&nbsp;&nbsp;PWFA guarantees workers the affirmative right to receive&nbsp;reasonable&nbsp;accommodations for known limitations stemming from pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions unless the requested accommodations would pose an “undue hardship” to the employer. &nbsp;The PWFA goes into effect on June 27, 2023. &nbsp;This act closes a gap that left pregnant and postpartum workers without remedy if they needed accommodations in order&nbsp;to prevent health complications and keep working.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;More information about the PWFA can be found here:<a href="https://www.abetterbalance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PWFA-Explainer-_-Final.pdf">https://www.abetterbalance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PWFA-Explainer-_-Final.pdf</a>Both of these pieces of legislation have been in the making for about 10 years. &nbsp;It is exciting to see the hard work by many in the pregnancy and lactation fields see this come to fruition. &nbsp;I enjoy supporting employers and employees to make these accommodations work for everyone. &nbsp;There are two programs in Kansas that support employers in becoming breastfeeding friendly. They include the Business Case for Breastfeeding and the Breastfeeding Welcome Here program both supported by the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition<a></a>.&nbsp;Part of a healthy community is supporting mothers and families in reaching their breastfeeding&nbsp;and motheringgoals. Please let me know if you have any questions about the new legislation or helping your business become more breastfeeding friendly.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

KOERNER: New legislation supporting nursing, pregnant mothers

As I clean out my office in preparation for the next&nbsp;Cottonwood Team member,&nbsp;I have found some treasures. Lists of program participants remind me of the many wonderful people in our communities that I have&nbsp;enjoyed meeting.&nbsp;While no two days as an Extension Educator are exactly alike, I hope that you know how important building relationships within the Cottonwood District has been to me. Today I’m going to share a couple of memories from my career that tested my quick thinking and positive attitude.

I found the attendance sheet for an “Interiors Update” program I organized several years ago. I had lined up several vendors and a main speaker and reserved the meeting room at the Great Bend Recreation Center. Excitement was in the air when the 70 participants arrived to learn about trends in&nbsp;home&nbsp;decorating. A few minutes before the program was set to begin, the main speaker had not arrived. A phone call confirmed that the speaker had the wrong date on their calendar and was not coming. Yikes! What was I going to do?&nbsp;

I had a quick huddle with the three ladies who had brought samples of their&nbsp;work&nbsp;to show&nbsp;and asked if each of them could share 10-15 minutes about their businesses&nbsp;related to interior decorating. Debbie Deutsch, Debbie Stevens, and Lisa&nbsp;Libeer, stepped up and did a wonderful job in the spur of the moment. In fact, as everyone was leaving, they commented that it was one of the best presentations they had ever been to. Whew!&nbsp;Everything worked out.

Another memory from 1999 that had a happy ending was related to the 4-H Chicken Barbecue at the Barton County Fair. The barbecue committee had really stepped up that year because we had a brand new 4-H Agent who was learning the ropes. The day of the barbecue, I was assisting with preparations, and I asked which&nbsp;refrigerator the coleslaw was in? We found out that the&nbsp;detail of ordering the&nbsp;coleslaw had not&nbsp;happened.&nbsp;

The next hour&nbsp;or so,&nbsp;I made phone calls to all the places in Great Bend that had coleslaw on their menu to see how much of it we could purchase for our barbecue.&nbsp;The next step was to bring the Extension van to town to pick up the 2500 servings of coleslaw I had tracked down. I don’t think anyone who enjoyed the traditional chicken barbecue&nbsp;later that day&nbsp;had any idea of the stress we had&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;related to the coleslaw. In fact, the next morning the first phone call at the office was from a lady wanting to know where we had gotten the coleslaw, because it was&nbsp;soooo&nbsp;good. I had to be honest and tell her I wasn’t sure which coleslaw she had gotten, because we had gotten it from four places! Again, everything worked out.

Now, as I begin the next chapter of my life, called retirement, I am excited to see&nbsp;what the future holds for K-State Research and Extension and the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;I am happy to announce that Jay Harris has been named as the new Cottonwood District Director/Community Vitality Agent. Jay brings some knowledge about Extension to the table and is excited to begin his duties in early March. His primary office will be in Hays but he looks forward to building relationships within the Barton County communities as well.&nbsp;By mid-February a position announcement will open for a Family and Community Wellness agent in the Great Bend office. I trust that you will show Jay and the rest of the Cottonwood&nbsp;team the same support and active participation that you have shown me during my career. Thanks for the memories!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>As I clean out my office in preparation for the next&nbsp;Cottonwood Team member,&nbsp;I have found some treasures. Lists of program participants remind me of the many wonderful people in our communities that I have&nbsp;enjoyed meeting.&nbsp;While no two days as an Extension Educator are exactly alike, I hope that you know how important building relationships within the Cottonwood District has been to me. Today I’m going to share a couple of memories from my career that tested my quick thinking and positive attitude.I found the attendance sheet for an “Interiors Update” program I organized several years ago. I had lined up several vendors and a main speaker and reserved the meeting room at the Great Bend Recreation Center. Excitement was in the air when the 70 participants arrived to learn about trends in&nbsp;home&nbsp;decorating. A few minutes before the program was set to begin, the main speaker had not arrived. A phone call confirmed that the speaker had the wrong date on their calendar and was not coming. Yikes! What was I going to do?&nbsp;I had a quick huddle with the three ladies who had brought samples of their&nbsp;work&nbsp;to show&nbsp;and asked if each of them could share 10-15 minutes about their businesses&nbsp;related to interior decorating. Debbie Deutsch, Debbie Stevens, and Lisa&nbsp;Libeer, stepped up and did a wonderful job in the spur of the moment. In fact, as everyone was leaving, they commented that it was one of the best presentations they had ever been to. Whew!&nbsp;Everything worked out.Another memory from 1999 that had a happy ending was related to the 4-H Chicken Barbecue at the Barton County Fair. The barbecue committee had really stepped up that year because we had a brand new 4-H Agent who was learning the ropes. The day of the barbecue, I was assisting with preparations, and I asked which&nbsp;refrigerator the coleslaw was in? We found out that the&nbsp;detail of ordering the&nbsp;coleslaw had not&nbsp;happened.&nbsp;The next hour&nbsp;or so,&nbsp;I made phone calls to all the places in Great Bend that had coleslaw on their menu to see how much of it we could purchase for our barbecue.&nbsp;The next step was to bring the Extension van to town to pick up the 2500 servings of coleslaw I had tracked down. I don’t think anyone who enjoyed the traditional chicken barbecue&nbsp;later that day&nbsp;had any idea of the stress we had&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;related to the coleslaw. In fact, the next morning the first phone call at the office was from a lady wanting to know where we had gotten the coleslaw, because it was&nbsp;soooo&nbsp;good. I had to be honest and tell her I wasn’t sure which coleslaw she had gotten, because we had gotten it from four places! Again, everything worked out.Now, as I begin the next chapter of my life, called retirement, I am excited to see&nbsp;what the future holds for K-State Research and Extension and the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;I am happy to announce that Jay Harris has been named as the new Cottonwood District Director/Community Vitality Agent. Jay brings some knowledge about Extension to the table and is excited to begin his duties in early March. His primary office will be in Hays but he looks forward to building relationships within the Barton County communities as well.&nbsp;By mid-February a position announcement will open for a Family and Community Wellness agent in the Great Bend office. I trust that you will show Jay and the rest of the Cottonwood&nbsp;team the same support and active participation that you have shown me during my career. Thanks for the memories!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Thanks for the memories

The Cottonwood
Extension District’s Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program is set to return in
2023, offering area seniors an opportunity to increase their fitness levels in
a relaxed group setting.

“We're
officially getting rolling this year on classes,” said Cottonwood Extension
District Family and Community Wellness Agent Monique Koerner. “Stay
strong, stay healthy is an evidence-based strength training program. It's
designed for older adults, so it'll be twice a week, about an hour-long class.
And it'll go for eight weeks.”

The
program is set to kick of Jan. 26 with an orientation class. 

“If you
just want to come see what it's all about, see what exercises we do, we'll do
that and fill out some paperwork,” Koerner said. “And then the first class will
start February 7, and we'll go on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.”

The classes
will be held in the back room of the Cottonwood Extension District office, 601
Main.

“During the
about hour-long class, we'll start with some warmup exercises just to kind of
get the blood flow into our muscles,” Koerner said. “And then, we'll do eight
strengthening exercises. And again, those will be with or without weights,
depending upon the level that you're at. And then, at the end, we'll do some
cool-down stretches. So it's really geared toward increasing flexibility,
strength and balance.”

At the
start of the classes, she said exercise would be performed weight free and
added as the weeks progress. The most important aspect of the course,
rather than quickly working to build muscle, is to increase movement.

Whatever
the goal of participating in the class, she said, the exercise can be adapted
to fit their ability and desire.

“This
class is really designed to meet people where they're at and also meet them
where they want their goals to be,” Koerner said. “We can adapt exercises based
on the needs of the participant as well.”

But as
the participants move through the classes, she said even small gains can have a
significant impact.

“One of
the other goals of the program is to not only prevent falls but just help
people continue living independently,” Koerner said. “I think that's important
to a lot of people.”

While
the program is not new to Hays, the 2023 sessions will be the first for Koerner.
As a new instructor, she said the class would be limited to only 10
participants, but at least five must sign up to offer the program.

For more
information, call the district office at 628-9430. 

“Just
give us a call if you have any questions and get signed up,” Koerner said. “I'm
excited to do this for our community. And I think it'll be fun to watch the
progress that's been made with individuals that participate.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674580267719.jpg" alt="Courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostThe Cottonwood
Extension District’s Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program is set to return in
2023, offering area seniors an opportunity to increase their fitness levels in
a relaxed group setting.“We're
officially getting rolling this year on classes,” said Cottonwood Extension
District Family and Community Wellness Agent Monique Koerner. “Stay
strong, stay healthy is an evidence-based strength training program. It's
designed for older adults, so it'll be twice a week, about an hour-long class.
And it'll go for eight weeks.”The
program is set to kick of Jan. 26 with an orientation class. <div><iframe title="🎙 Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program returns to Hays" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=t3bu7-1370ce8-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>“If you
just want to come see what it's all about, see what exercises we do, we'll do
that and fill out some paperwork,” Koerner said. “And then the first class will
start February 7, and we'll go on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.”The classes
will be held in the back room of the Cottonwood Extension District office, 601
Main.“During the
about hour-long class, we'll start with some warmup exercises just to kind of
get the blood flow into our muscles,” Koerner said. “And then, we'll do eight
strengthening exercises. And again, those will be with or without weights,
depending upon the level that you're at. And then, at the end, we'll do some
cool-down stretches. So it's really geared toward increasing flexibility,
strength and balance.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>At the
start of the classes, she said exercise would be performed weight free and
added as the weeks progress. The most important aspect of the course,
rather than quickly working to build muscle, is to increase movement.Whatever
the goal of participating in the class, she said, the exercise can be adapted
to fit their ability and desire.“This
class is really designed to meet people where they're at and also meet them
where they want their goals to be,” Koerner said. “We can adapt exercises based
on the needs of the participant as well.”But as
the participants move through the classes, she said even small gains can have a
significant impact.“One of
the other goals of the program is to not only prevent falls but just help
people continue living independently,” Koerner said. “I think that's important
to a lot of people.”While
the program is not new to Hays, the 2023 sessions will be the first for Koerner.
As a new instructor, she said the class would be limited to only 10
participants, but at least five must sign up to offer the program.Cost to participate is $20.For more
information, call the district office at 628-9430. “Just
give us a call if you have any questions and get signed up,” Koerner said. “I'm
excited to do this for our community. And I think it'll be fun to watch the
progress that's been made with individuals that participate.”

🎙 Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program returns to Hays for 2023

The start of a new year is always a good time to ask the question, “How are we doing?” The "we" here is K-State Research and Extension. Officials with a statewide network that has provided unbiased, research-based information on issues important to Kansans for 108 years are reaching out to learn more about how the organization can best serve residents of the state.

K-State Research and Extension has released a public survey to ask current and prospective users about the information needs. Gregg Hadley, director of extension, said the brief survey will inform the organization’s&nbsp;efforts to provide education and information in every Kansas county.&nbsp;

“The services we provide are designed to improve Kansans’ lives and communities through education and engagement,” Hadley said. The results of this survey will help our dedicated extension specialists, agents and researchers provide information and assistance that best meet the needs of our K-State Research and Extension users.&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension has offices in every Kansas county, including extension agents and others who provide information and programs specific to local needs.

Any Kansas resident over age 18 is eligible to take the survey in English&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ST2ZLM5">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ST2ZLM5</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;or Spanish &nbsp;<a href="http://www,surveymonkey.com/r/SRH9W59">http://www,surveymonkey.com/r/SRH9W59</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;New Boston Creative Group LLC of Manhattan is conducting the survey.

I hope many of you who are reading this will take a few minutes and go to the survey link and complete it. We want to hear from you!&nbsp;Questions regarding the survey can be directed to Jerry Grasso, director of communications solutions for K-State Research and Extension at 785-532-5806 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jerry.grasso@ksu.edu">jerry.grasso@ksu.edu</a>

Retirement Celebration is set for Kansas Day​

It seems fitting that as my Extension career winds down and I begin the next chapter that we have a celebration on Kansas Day. Plus,&nbsp;it works well for some of my family to join me for the day.&nbsp;I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with so many people within our communities. You have made my Extension career&nbsp;satisfying and full of wonderful memories. The come and go celebration is set for Sunday, the 29th, from 1-3 PM at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th.&nbsp;I’m working on a photo display that&nbsp;dates back to&nbsp;the 90’s. If you come by the Activity Center next Sunday, you may even find a photo of yourself!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach Donna at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The start of a new year is always a good time to ask the question, “How are we doing?” The "we" here is K-State Research and Extension. Officials with a statewide network that has provided unbiased, research-based information on issues important to Kansans for 108 years are reaching out to learn more about how the organization can best serve residents of the state.K-State Research and Extension has released a public survey to ask current and prospective users about the information needs. Gregg Hadley, director of extension, said the brief survey will inform the organization’s&nbsp;efforts to provide education and information in every Kansas county.&nbsp;“The services we provide are designed to improve Kansans’ lives and communities through education and engagement,” Hadley said. The results of this survey will help our dedicated extension specialists, agents and researchers provide information and assistance that best meet the needs of our K-State Research and Extension users.&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension has offices in every Kansas county, including extension agents and others who provide information and programs specific to local needs.Any Kansas resident over age 18 is eligible to take the survey in English&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ST2ZLM5">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ST2ZLM5</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;or Spanish &nbsp;<a href="http://www,surveymonkey.com/r/SRH9W59">http://www,surveymonkey.com/r/SRH9W59</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;New Boston Creative Group LLC of Manhattan is conducting the survey.I hope many of you who are reading this will take a few minutes and go to the survey link and complete it. We want to hear from you!&nbsp;Questions regarding the survey can be directed to Jerry Grasso, director of communications solutions for K-State Research and Extension at 785-532-5806 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jerry.grasso@ksu.edu">jerry.grasso@ksu.edu</a>Retirement Celebration is set for Kansas Day​It seems fitting that as my Extension career winds down and I begin the next chapter that we have a celebration on Kansas Day. Plus,&nbsp;it works well for some of my family to join me for the day.&nbsp;I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with so many people within our communities. You have made my Extension career&nbsp;satisfying and full of wonderful memories. The come and go celebration is set for Sunday, the 29th, from 1-3 PM at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th.&nbsp;I’m working on a photo display that&nbsp;dates back to&nbsp;the 90’s. If you come by the Activity Center next Sunday, you may even find a photo of yourself!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach Donna at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674143803305.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KRUG: Extension seeks input from Kansas residents

Recently, I introduced you to a fact sheet I wrote that focuses on healthy living. A long and healthy life doesn’t just happen. Everyday choices influence the quality of life you experience. Decisions start before your feet hit the floor in the morning. For instance, you make a decision whether or not to set an alarm or what time to set the alarm. Many decisions during the day are food centered. Perhaps you think you just make three food decisions daily: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Well, think again. You choose how much or what kind of milk to pour on your cereal, whether to have a second helping of lasagna, if you will eat that pastry or drink soda or coffee at the office, and on and on.&nbsp;

Other important decisions revolve around physical activity. Take the stairs or elevator? Exercise before or after work? Watch TV or go for a walk? Since&nbsp;all of&nbsp;these decisions affect how your day goes, it is important to consider making a few common-sense changes. Many serious health problems are directly related to personal habits or behavior. Having a written plan is an important first step in regaining or maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The bullet points that revolve around eating habits include:&nbsp;

•Start your day with breakfast •Include a fruit or vegetable with every meal or snack •Reduce portion sizes •Eat slowly and eat only until you are no longer hungry •Choose to eat more nutrient-dense foods •Eat whole foods instead of highly processed foods.

Along with choosing to consume healthier food, many people can a achieve a healthy lifestyle by increasing physical activity. Start by investing in a good pair of walking shoes and walk around your neighborhood or indoor exercise facility. Make sure you start slow, especially if you have been inactive for&nbsp;a period of time. Find a buddy to exercise with. It will help to have someone to hold you accountable for increasing you level of physical activity.

The most important part of an action plan is to choose something you want to do. If your doctor or a family member tells you that you need to walk more, but&nbsp;that is not something you want to do, it will most likely not be successful. Next, it needs to be something reasonable, such as something you can expect to be able to accomplish in a week or a month. A true action plan is behavior specific. Losing weight is not a behavior; cutting out a 20 ounce soda every day is. An action plan answers these questions: What? How much? When? How often?

The final piece of a successful action plan is to assess the confidence level that you will fulfill the contract. On a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 represents little confidence and 10 represents total confidence, your plan should rank at least a 7.&nbsp;

I have a few action plan magnets that are write on/wipe off. If you are one of the first three people to stop by either of our Cottonwood offices, you will receive it. I hope your year is off to a great start!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at:&nbsp;(620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Recently, I introduced you to a fact sheet I wrote that focuses on healthy living. A long and healthy life doesn’t just happen. Everyday choices influence the quality of life you experience. Decisions start before your feet hit the floor in the morning. For instance, you make a decision whether or not to set an alarm or what time to set the alarm. Many decisions during the day are food centered. Perhaps you think you just make three food decisions daily: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Well, think again. You choose how much or what kind of milk to pour on your cereal, whether to have a second helping of lasagna, if you will eat that pastry or drink soda or coffee at the office, and on and on.&nbsp;Other important decisions revolve around physical activity. Take the stairs or elevator? Exercise before or after work? Watch TV or go for a walk? Since&nbsp;all of&nbsp;these decisions affect how your day goes, it is important to consider making a few common-sense changes. Many serious health problems are directly related to personal habits or behavior. Having a written plan is an important first step in regaining or maintaining a healthy lifestyle.The bullet points that revolve around eating habits include:&nbsp;•Start your day with breakfast •Include a fruit or vegetable with every meal or snack •Reduce portion sizes •Eat slowly and eat only until you are no longer hungry •Choose to eat more nutrient-dense foods •Eat whole foods instead of highly processed foods.Along with choosing to consume healthier food, many people can a achieve a healthy lifestyle by increasing physical activity. Start by investing in a good pair of walking shoes and walk around your neighborhood or indoor exercise facility. Make sure you start slow, especially if you have been inactive for&nbsp;a period of time. Find a buddy to exercise with. It will help to have someone to hold you accountable for increasing you level of physical activity.The most important part of an action plan is to choose something you want to do. If your doctor or a family member tells you that you need to walk more, but&nbsp;that is not something you want to do, it will most likely not be successful. Next, it needs to be something reasonable, such as something you can expect to be able to accomplish in a week or a month. A true action plan is behavior specific. Losing weight is not a behavior; cutting out a 20 ounce soda every day is. An action plan answers these questions: What? How much? When? How often?The final piece of a successful action plan is to assess the confidence level that you will fulfill the contract. On a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 represents little confidence and 10 represents total confidence, your plan should rank at least a 7.&nbsp;I have a few action plan magnets that are write on/wipe off. If you are one of the first three people to stop by either of our Cottonwood offices, you will receive it. I hope your year is off to a great start!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at:&nbsp;(620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Making an action plan for the New Year

One of the best ways to keep your mind and body functioning at its best is to exercise. &nbsp;When I worked with small children we always used to say, “the best exercise for the brain is exercise!” &nbsp;The same holds true as we age. &nbsp;

Exercise produces a wide range of benefits for not only our physical health,&nbsp;but also mental health. &nbsp;Regular participation in strengthening exercises can help you build muscle and increase bone density. &nbsp;It can also help relieve stress and reduce depression symptoms.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program focuses on improving the health and well being of older adults. &nbsp;The goal of the program is to provide safe, structured and effective strength training for older adults. &nbsp;No one is too inactive to participate. &nbsp;Strength training promotes quality of life and independence, especially for adults over age 60. &nbsp;Stay Strong, Stay&nbsp;Healthy&nbsp;is an evidence-based program that has been shown to increase strength, balance,&nbsp;and flexibility.

You might be asking yourself, “I wonder what we’ll do?” &nbsp;It is an eight-week program that meets twice a week for one-hour. &nbsp;We will do warm up exercises, easy strengthening exercises, with or without weights, based on your preference, and finish with cool-down stretches. &nbsp;The best part is there is no membership fees like at a gym and there is no special clothes or equipment needed. &nbsp;We will have weights available if you want to use them. &nbsp;You will work at your own pace and progress as you are able. &nbsp;There are modifications to the exercises based on your own fitness level.

If you would like more information before signing up,&nbsp;I will hold an orientation class which will introduce the program and exercises. &nbsp;The orientation class will be&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;January 26, 2023 at 10:00am&nbsp;at our office in Hays, located at 601 Main Street.

Regular classes will begin Feb. 7 and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am for eight weeks. All classes will be held at our office in Hays located at 601 Main. &nbsp;There will be a one-time fee of $20 to participate in the eight-week program. &nbsp;Please call the office if you have any questions or email Monique at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

Come join me for some fun and get healthier and stronger in 2023!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>One of the best ways to keep your mind and body functioning at its best is to exercise. &nbsp;When I worked with small children we always used to say, “the best exercise for the brain is exercise!” &nbsp;The same holds true as we age. &nbsp;Exercise produces a wide range of benefits for not only our physical health,&nbsp;but also mental health. &nbsp;Regular participation in strengthening exercises can help you build muscle and increase bone density. &nbsp;It can also help relieve stress and reduce depression symptoms.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Stay Strong, Stay Healthy program focuses on improving the health and well being of older adults. &nbsp;The goal of the program is to provide safe, structured and effective strength training for older adults. &nbsp;No one is too inactive to participate. &nbsp;Strength training promotes quality of life and independence, especially for adults over age 60. &nbsp;Stay Strong, Stay&nbsp;Healthy&nbsp;is an evidence-based program that has been shown to increase strength, balance,&nbsp;and flexibility.You might be asking yourself, “I wonder what we’ll do?” &nbsp;It is an eight-week program that meets twice a week for one-hour. &nbsp;We will do warm up exercises, easy strengthening exercises, with or without weights, based on your preference, and finish with cool-down stretches. &nbsp;The best part is there is no membership fees like at a gym and there is no special clothes or equipment needed. &nbsp;We will have weights available if you want to use them. &nbsp;You will work at your own pace and progress as you are able. &nbsp;There are modifications to the exercises based on your own fitness level.If you would like more information before signing up,&nbsp;I will hold an orientation class which will introduce the program and exercises. &nbsp;The orientation class will be&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;January 26, 2023 at 10:00am&nbsp;at our office in Hays, located at 601 Main Street.Regular classes will begin Feb. 7 and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am for eight weeks. All classes will be held at our office in Hays located at 601 Main. &nbsp;There will be a one-time fee of $20 to participate in the eight-week program. &nbsp;Please call the office if you have any questions or email Monique at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>Come join me for some fun and get healthier and stronger in 2023!Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

KOERNER: Stay strong, stay healthy 

An upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on the basics of land management, leasing and conservation for landlords and tenants.&nbsp;

“The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women" will be a four-part&nbsp;workshop&nbsp;series&nbsp;conducted throughout the state.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District in both Great Bend and Hays&nbsp;will be offering these workshops.&nbsp;

The series will focus on writing agricultural lease agreements, landlord-tenant relationships, negotiations and conservation practices. Workshops will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, and Feb. 8.&nbsp;

The series of workshops cost $50 per person&nbsp;which&nbsp;includes dinner each night and participants should plan to attend each session.&nbsp;A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, although in-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers.&nbsp;

Registration is required by Jan. 13 and can be completed at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/events">www.agmanager.info/events</a>.

For more information, contact Cottonwood Extension at 785-628-9430&nbsp;or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

Cottonwood Extension DistrictAn upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on the basics of land management, leasing and conservation for landlords and tenants.&nbsp;“The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women" will be a four-part&nbsp;workshop&nbsp;series&nbsp;conducted throughout the state.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District in both Great Bend and Hays&nbsp;will be offering these workshops.&nbsp;The series will focus on writing agricultural lease agreements, landlord-tenant relationships, negotiations and conservation practices. Workshops will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, and Feb. 8.&nbsp;The series of workshops cost $50 per person&nbsp;which&nbsp;includes dinner each night and participants should plan to attend each session.&nbsp;A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, although in-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers.&nbsp;Registration is required by Jan. 13 and can be completed at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/events">www.agmanager.info/events</a>.For more information, contact Cottonwood Extension at 785-628-9430&nbsp;or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Extension schedules land management, leasing workshops

This week kicks off one of my favorite partnerships with USD 428! Great&nbsp;Bend Reads was new to me last year and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to present to the students of all 5 grade schools as they read a book as families and as&nbsp;a school&nbsp;community.&nbsp;

The librarians and staff coordinate a multitude of activities and incentives for the students to participate over several weeks as they read the book.&nbsp;

This year’s book, “Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows” by Asia&nbsp;Citrois a fun book about how scientists work while expanding imaginations! As someone who grew up loving books and libraries, this is right up my alley!&nbsp;By the way, did you know that 4-H also has a Reading Project?&nbsp;

For my part of the students’ lessons, I will be sharing 4-H curriculum about the Pet Project and the Veterinary Science Project! It will give us a chance to talk about problem-solving and creative solutions.&nbsp;

While I look forward to working with the grade school students, I am very excited about some volunteers. I’ve had the opportunity to work with the Junior and Senior students in Jennifer Hopkins’ Jobs for America’s Graduates&nbsp;(JAG)&nbsp;program&nbsp;at Great Bend High School&nbsp;over the last few weeks. We jumped into&nbsp;a Community Vitality curriculum which focused on leadership and communication skills. When I shared about&nbsp;GBReads&nbsp;with the class, several students asked if they could help out!&nbsp;We have worked on ages and stages of youth development as well as program planning and facilitation skills.

Having the opportunity to work with and watch both groups learn and develop is what I love about my job! Will it go perfectly? Nope! Will we learn as many things as presenters as the grade school students? Absolutely!&nbsp;

If you know a Great Bend grade school student, be sure to ask them about Zoey and Sassafras. Better yet, grab their book and read with them!&nbsp;

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure>This week kicks off one of my favorite partnerships with USD 428! Great&nbsp;Bend Reads was new to me last year and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to present to the students of all 5 grade schools as they read a book as families and as&nbsp;a school&nbsp;community.&nbsp;The librarians and staff coordinate a multitude of activities and incentives for the students to participate over several weeks as they read the book.&nbsp;This year’s book, “Zoey and Sassafras: Dragons and Marshmallows” by Asia&nbsp;Citrois a fun book about how scientists work while expanding imaginations! As someone who grew up loving books and libraries, this is right up my alley!&nbsp;By the way, did you know that 4-H also has a Reading Project?&nbsp;For my part of the students’ lessons, I will be sharing 4-H curriculum about the Pet Project and the Veterinary Science Project! It will give us a chance to talk about problem-solving and creative solutions.&nbsp;While I look forward to working with the grade school students, I am very excited about some volunteers. I’ve had the opportunity to work with the Junior and Senior students in Jennifer Hopkins’ Jobs for America’s Graduates&nbsp;(JAG)&nbsp;program&nbsp;at Great Bend High School&nbsp;over the last few weeks. We jumped into&nbsp;a Community Vitality curriculum which focused on leadership and communication skills. When I shared about&nbsp;GBReads&nbsp;with the class, several students asked if they could help out!&nbsp;We have worked on ages and stages of youth development as well as program planning and facilitation skills.Having the opportunity to work with and watch both groups learn and develop is what I love about my job! Will it go perfectly? Nope! Will we learn as many things as presenters as the grade school students? Absolutely!&nbsp;If you know a Great Bend grade school student, be sure to ask them about Zoey and Sassafras. Better yet, grab their book and read with them!&nbsp;Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District&nbsp;– Barton&nbsp;Office at&nbsp;620-793-1910.

BERAN: A week of Great (Bend) Reads

Farmers and ranchers are invited to a&nbsp;90-minute&nbsp;program focusing on tax changes in agriculture. The program will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, followed by a complimentary lunch courtesy of our sponsors.&nbsp;It will be held at the Cottonwood Extension meeting room, 601 Main, Hays.&nbsp;

Roger McEowen, professor of agricultural law and taxation at Washburn University will address late 2022 tax legislation impacting 2022 farm returns including the provisions&nbsp;that recently expired and those that have been extended. Further items addressed will be deferred payment contracts; pre-purchasing inputs; weather-related livestock sales; employee retention credit and more.&nbsp;

McEowen is heard each weekday by over 2 million listeners on Sirius XM and is a weekly guest on RFD-TV.&nbsp;

A minimum of 10 people&nbsp;are&nbsp;required to hold this program.&nbsp;RSVP requested by Monday, Jan. 9. Call 785-628-9430 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tam3@ksu.edu">tam3@ksu.edu</a>

Cottonwood Extension DistrictFarmers and ranchers are invited to a&nbsp;90-minute&nbsp;program focusing on tax changes in agriculture. The program will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, followed by a complimentary lunch courtesy of our sponsors.&nbsp;It will be held at the Cottonwood Extension meeting room, 601 Main, Hays.&nbsp;Roger McEowen, professor of agricultural law and taxation at Washburn University will address late 2022 tax legislation impacting 2022 farm returns including the provisions&nbsp;that recently expired and those that have been extended. Further items addressed will be deferred payment contracts; pre-purchasing inputs; weather-related livestock sales; employee retention credit and more.&nbsp;McEowen is heard each weekday by over 2 million listeners on Sirius XM and is a weekly guest on RFD-TV.&nbsp;A minimum of 10 people&nbsp;are&nbsp;required to hold this program.&nbsp;RSVP requested by Monday, Jan. 9. Call 785-628-9430 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tam3@ksu.edu">tam3@ksu.edu</a>

Extension program will focus on tax changes for farmers, ranchers 

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

Have you heard about radon? &nbsp;Do you wonder if your home is at risk for high radon levels?&nbsp;Would you like to learn more about radon and its risks?&nbsp;January is&nbsp;National Radon Action Month and&nbsp;Kansas Radon Action Month.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wednesday, Jan. 11,&nbsp;at 12:15 p.m. Living Well Wednesday will offer an online webinar, “Know Your Risks."

The webinar will be presented by Brian Hanson, from the Kansas Radon Program.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can register online or scan the QR code found on the Cottonwood Extension Facebook Page. &nbsp;If you cannot watch on the 11th, the webinar will be recorded and placed on the KSRE Living Well Wednesday website.

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas produced naturally in some soils&nbsp;and&nbsp;is prevalent in Kansas. &nbsp;Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths in non-smokers. &nbsp;Radon levels are low outdoors because its effects are diluted, but indoor levels can build and lead to lung cancer. &nbsp;Kansas soils generate significant amounts of radon leading to the potential for homes to have elevated concentrations of this naturally-occurring&nbsp;class A carcinogen.

The only way to know if there is radon in a home is to test. Winter is the best time for testing when homes are closed up from outside air. Radon screening kits can be purchased at the Extension Office for $7. &nbsp;The self-mailer kit includes full instructions for completing the test and returning it to a lab for analysis. &nbsp;We also have information booklets if you would like more information or are buying or selling a home. &nbsp;Stop by or call the office for more information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672870161990.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictHave you heard about radon? &nbsp;Do you wonder if your home is at risk for high radon levels?&nbsp;Would you like to learn more about radon and its risks?&nbsp;January is&nbsp;National Radon Action Month and&nbsp;Kansas Radon Action Month.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wednesday, Jan. 11,&nbsp;at 12:15 p.m. Living Well Wednesday will offer an online webinar, “Know Your Risks."The webinar will be presented by Brian Hanson, from the Kansas Radon Program.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can register online or scan the QR code found on the Cottonwood Extension Facebook Page. &nbsp;If you cannot watch on the 11th, the webinar will be recorded and placed on the KSRE Living Well Wednesday website.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Radon is a colorless, odorless gas produced naturally in some soils&nbsp;and&nbsp;is prevalent in Kansas. &nbsp;Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths in non-smokers. &nbsp;Radon levels are low outdoors because its effects are diluted, but indoor levels can build and lead to lung cancer. &nbsp;Kansas soils generate significant amounts of radon leading to the potential for homes to have elevated concentrations of this naturally-occurring&nbsp;class A carcinogen.The only way to know if there is radon in a home is to test. Winter is the best time for testing when homes are closed up from outside air. Radon screening kits can be purchased at the Extension Office for $7. &nbsp;The self-mailer kit includes full instructions for completing the test and returning it to a lab for analysis. &nbsp;We also have information booklets if you would like more information or are buying or selling a home. &nbsp;Stop by or call the office for more information.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

KOERNER: Radon — know your risks

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District, Hays

K-State Research and Extension will host the&nbsp;20th&nbsp;annual&nbsp;Cover Your Acres Winter Conference&nbsp;in Oberlin for crop producers and consultants on Jan. 17 and 18.&nbsp;

Cover Your Acres is a producer-driven meeting focused on new ideas and research-based updates in crop production in northwest Kansas and the central High Plains region.

The conference, which typically draws more than 400 attendees from Kansas and other states, highlights the latest technology, methods, and conservation practices to improve crop production in the region.&nbsp;

Are you able to help your neighbor? There were numerous suicides in the Kansas ag community in&nbsp;2022. The&nbsp;skills provided in this session will help you notice when someone is struggling and help you help them.

Cover Crops, Grazing, and Soil Health in Western KS: A review of recent research on integrating covers with livestock, the economics, and what changes in soil quality are being observed.

Current Financial Status of NW Kansas Farms: Using data from northwest Kansas farms, we take a look at opportunities for profitability and where&nbsp;producers should be alert for possible concerns.&nbsp;

Dryland and Limited-irrigation&nbsp;Row-Crop Decisions:&nbsp;We’ll take a look at recent research in corn seeding&nbsp;rates, planting dates, long-term dryland rotations, and matching cropping options to water supply.&nbsp;

Grain Market Outlook: A deeper look at local, domestic, and global drivers in 2023&nbsp;

Make Your Plan: Weed Management 2023: The&nbsp;latest in label changes, product updates, trial data, and&nbsp;most importantly, using that to&nbsp;make a plan.

Nutrient Management Strategies: How does fertility&nbsp;management change with today’s fertilizer prices?&nbsp;Where are there dollars on the table from improved&nbsp;fertility management? We’ll take a look&nbsp;at&nbsp;Oils, and Surfactants, and Drift Agents, Oh My!&nbsp;We’ll discuss when to utilize the many products on&nbsp;the market to maximize herbicide efficacy.

Weather Outlook and&nbsp;Mesonet&nbsp;Tools: We’ll take a look at the outlook for the coming year as well as the tools and data available to you from the Kansas&nbsp;Mesonet.

Wheat: The crop with 9 lives: A look at recent research in Kansas on yield components of wheat and what realistic expectations and management opportunities are for the 2023 crop.

When to Hold Them, When to Trade Them? A panel discussion with producers, dealership experts, bankers, and economists on the topic of machinery management

The program is the same each day, you can choose which day you want to attend.&nbsp;To register go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.northwest.ksu.edu/coveryouracres">www.northwest.ksu.edu/coveryouracres</a>. &nbsp;For questions, call 785-462-6281.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574181994278.png" alt="Campbell&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Campbell&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District, HaysK-State Research and Extension will host the&nbsp;20th&nbsp;annual&nbsp;Cover Your Acres Winter Conference&nbsp;in Oberlin for crop producers and consultants on Jan. 17 and 18.&nbsp;Cover Your Acres is a producer-driven meeting focused on new ideas and research-based updates in crop production in northwest Kansas and the central High Plains region.The conference, which typically draws more than 400 attendees from Kansas and other states, highlights the latest technology, methods, and conservation practices to improve crop production in the region.&nbsp;2023 Speaker Topics:&nbsp;Are you able to help your neighbor? There were numerous suicides in the Kansas ag community in&nbsp;2022. The&nbsp;skills provided in this session will help you notice when someone is struggling and help you help them.Cover Crops, Grazing, and Soil Health in Western KS: A review of recent research on integrating covers with livestock, the economics, and what changes in soil quality are being observed. Current Financial Status of NW Kansas Farms: Using data from northwest Kansas farms, we take a look at opportunities for profitability and where&nbsp;producers should be alert for possible concerns.&nbsp;Dryland and Limited-irrigation&nbsp;Row-Crop Decisions:&nbsp;We’ll take a look at recent research in corn seeding&nbsp;rates, planting dates, long-term dryland rotations, and matching cropping options to water supply.&nbsp;Grain Market Outlook: A deeper look at local, domestic, and global drivers in 2023&nbsp;Make Your Plan: Weed Management 2023: The&nbsp;latest in label changes, product updates, trial data, and&nbsp;most importantly, using that to&nbsp;make a plan.Nutrient Management Strategies: How does fertility&nbsp;management change with today’s fertilizer prices?&nbsp;Where are there dollars on the table from improved&nbsp;fertility management? We’ll take a look&nbsp;at&nbsp;Oils, and Surfactants, and Drift Agents, Oh My!&nbsp;We’ll discuss when to utilize the many products on&nbsp;the market to maximize herbicide efficacy. Weather Outlook and&nbsp;Mesonet&nbsp;Tools: We’ll take a look at the outlook for the coming year as well as the tools and data available to you from the Kansas&nbsp;Mesonet. Wheat: The crop with 9 lives: A look at recent research in Kansas on yield components of wheat and what realistic expectations and management opportunities are for the 2023 crop. When to Hold Them, When to Trade Them? A panel discussion with producers, dealership experts, bankers, and economists on the topic of machinery managementThe program is the same each day, you can choose which day you want to attend.&nbsp;To register go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.northwest.ksu.edu/coveryouracres">www.northwest.ksu.edu/coveryouracres</a>. &nbsp;For questions, call 785-462-6281.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

Cover Your Acres conference scheduled this month in NW Kan.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School Boards is embracing a new role with the agency in 2023.

"This is something I'm pretty excited about, after 40 years of lobbying, having a little bit of a different focus," Tallman said. "It's really to try to look more in depth at, what are the issues around trying to do improvement of our schools, meeting the goals of the Kansans can vision that the state board has set out, trying to do a little more deeper research into, what are our challenges, what things are working?"

Part of that research is already happening with visits to schools, including one here in central Kansas.

"One of the things that I did over the last month or so was visit our three Kansas Blue Ribbon schools," Tallman said. "That's a national designation of being a Blue Ribbon School in Kansas. I visited Cottonwood Elementary in Andover, R.L. Wright in Sedgwick, which is in southern Harvey County and then Morris Hill school, which is actually on the base at Fort Riley. I talked to school leaders there about what they think drove the fact that they were recognized for high achievement."

One emphasis for Tallman in his new role will be learning more about the needs of Kansas schools before kids enter kindergarten.

"One of the most important things that we can do to help kids succeed, particularly if they come from kind of disadvantaged backgrounds is stronger early childhood education programs," Tallman said. "Before the holiday break, the SPARK committee in state government, with some of the federal COVID dollars that they have to spend, has recommended millions of dollars to go into some efforts around early childhood education. I want to do a little more exploring about what that's going to mean, some of the work our state has done. We've had a federal grant to try to develop and expand early childhood programs. I want to look at some of the things that districts are doing in that area."

The main statehouse lobbying efforts for KASB will be led by Leah Fliter, a long-time lobbyist and former school board member.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582221969260.jpeg" alt="Mark Tallman Kansas Association of School Boards" />
 <figcaption>Mark Tallman Kansas Association of School Boards</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Mark Tallman with the Kansas Association of School Boards is embracing a new role with the agency in 2023."This is something I'm pretty excited about, after 40 years of lobbying, having a little bit of a different focus," Tallman said. "It's really to try to look more in depth at, what are the issues around trying to do improvement of our schools, meeting the goals of the Kansans can vision that the state board has set out, trying to do a little more deeper research into, what are our challenges, what things are working?"Part of that research is already happening with visits to schools, including one here in central Kansas."One of the things that I did over the last month or so was visit our three Kansas Blue Ribbon schools," Tallman said. "That's a national designation of being a Blue Ribbon School in Kansas. I visited Cottonwood Elementary in Andover, R.L. Wright in Sedgwick, which is in southern Harvey County and then Morris Hill school, which is actually on the base at Fort Riley. I talked to school leaders there about what they think drove the fact that they were recognized for high achievement."One emphasis for Tallman in his new role will be learning more about the needs of Kansas schools before kids enter kindergarten."One of the most important things that we can do to help kids succeed, particularly if they come from kind of disadvantaged backgrounds is stronger early childhood education programs," Tallman said. "Before the holiday break, the SPARK committee in state government, with some of the federal COVID dollars that they have to spend, has recommended millions of dollars to go into some efforts around early childhood education. I want to do a little more exploring about what that's going to mean, some of the work our state has done. We've had a federal grant to try to develop and expand early childhood programs. I want to look at some of the things that districts are doing in that area."The main statehouse lobbying efforts for KASB will be led by Leah Fliter, a long-time lobbyist and former school board member.

Tallman begins new role with Kan. Association of School Boards

As I prepare to retire on Feb. 3, I thought I would use my column space to share some of my “favorite” days as an Extension agent.

	•	Teaching Stay Strong Stay Healthy to well more than 300 older adults during the past 10 years. Folks aged 60-95 have enriched my life as much as I have theirs!

	•	Sharing my expertise related to fermenting sauerkraut or Kimchi with others in Extension, both in Kansas, Iowa and across the country. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the excitement in the 59 fermentation workshop participants in Barton and Ellis counties.

	•	Helping Medicare-eligible adults review their prescription drug plan during open enrollment for the past nine years. It is always rewarding when we find a plan that will save someone a significant amount of money.

	•	Kids Ag Day, always on Wednesday after Labor Day, is the perfect chance to share with fourth graders from across the county where their food comes from.

	•	Sharing an Organwise presentation “Healthy from the inside out” with pre-schoolers and first graders. Little ones need to be introduced to what is healthy and what is not.

	•	Teaching “High-speed handwashing” to kids of all ages. 

	•	Watching kids grow up in the 4-H Youth Development program. I have been around long enough that I am meeting the next generation!

	•	Teaching bicycle safety rules to school-agers and promoting safe bicycling to the entire community.

	•	Seeing the 10 fact sheets I have written in the past being published and used by Extension colleagues from around the state and shared with FCE members.

	•	Teaching a sewing workshop for 4-H youth–making pillowcases, backpacks, pajama pants or walker bags to learn life skills. 

	•	Collaborating with partners from across our county, through Be Well Barton County or Central Kansas Partnership. “Many hands really do make light work.”

	•	Developing a positive relationship with the executive board, team members, and YOU throughout my 37- year Extension career. 

As you can see it was hard to narrow my favorite days down to a few. It’s been a good run!

Many of you are asking me who the next district director will be when I retire. The Cottonwood Executive Board will be announcing the next district director/community vitality agent soon. I know you will provide them with opportunities to experience “favorite” days too.

Happy New Year from the Cottonwood District team!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu.

As I prepare to retire on Feb. 3, I thought I would use my column space to share some of my “favorite” days as an Extension agent.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug</figcaption>
 </figure>	•	Teaching Stay Strong Stay Healthy to well more than 300 older adults during the past 10 years. Folks aged 60-95 have enriched my life as much as I have theirs!	•	Sharing my expertise related to fermenting sauerkraut or Kimchi with others in Extension, both in Kansas, Iowa and across the country. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the excitement in the 59 fermentation workshop participants in Barton and Ellis counties.	•	Helping Medicare-eligible adults review their prescription drug plan during open enrollment for the past nine years. It is always rewarding when we find a plan that will save someone a significant amount of money.	•	Kids Ag Day, always on Wednesday after Labor Day, is the perfect chance to share with fourth graders from across the county where their food comes from.	•	Sharing an Organwise presentation “Healthy from the inside out” with pre-schoolers and first graders. Little ones need to be introduced to what is healthy and what is not.	•	Teaching “High-speed handwashing” to kids of all ages. 	•	Watching kids grow up in the 4-H Youth Development program. I have been around long enough that I am meeting the next generation!	•	Teaching bicycle safety rules to school-agers and promoting safe bicycling to the entire community.	•	Seeing the 10 fact sheets I have written in the past being published and used by Extension colleagues from around the state and shared with FCE members.	•	Teaching a sewing workshop for 4-H youth–making pillowcases, backpacks, pajama pants or walker bags to learn life skills. 	•	Collaborating with partners from across our county, through Be Well Barton County or Central Kansas Partnership. “Many hands really do make light work.”	•	Developing a positive relationship with the executive board, team members, and YOU throughout my 37- year Extension career. As you can see it was hard to narrow my favorite days down to a few. It’s been a good run!Many of you are asking me who the next district director will be when I retire. The Cottonwood Executive Board will be announcing the next district director/community vitality agent soon. I know you will provide them with opportunities to experience “favorite” days too.Happy New Year from the Cottonwood District team!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu.

KRUG: My favorite days as an Extension agent

The November 2022 ag climate update showed exceptional drought conditions across the state.

The Kansas ag-climate update is a joint effort between the K-State Extension climate and extension specialists.

Every month the update includes a brief summary of that month, agronomic impacts, relevant maps and graphs, one-month temperature and precipitation outlooks, monthly extremes, and notable highlights.

The statewide average temperature for November was 41.2°F, or 2.1°F below normal.&nbsp; This ranks as the 49th&nbsp;coldest November out of the last 128 years, dating back to 1895.

November was the first below normal month statewide since March. &nbsp;All divisions finished the month below normal; departures ranged from -2.9°F in the southwest to -1.6°F in northeast Kansas.&nbsp;

The statewide average precipitation for November was 1.44”, or 0.14” above normal.

This was the first above-normal month statewide since May. Five of the nine climate divisions finished the month above normal, but northwest and west central remained very dry, both receiving less than 10 percent of their normal monthly precipitation.

Combined with last month, the three western Kansas climate divisions rank in their top five for the driest October-November on record. 

The 0.15-inch total for west central Kansas is the driest October-November on record in that division, breaking the old record of 0.16 inches set in 1939. &nbsp; View the entire November 2022 Ag-Climate Update, including the accompanying maps and graphics, at&nbsp;<a href="http://climate.k-state.edu/ag/updates/">http://climate.k-state.edu/ag/updates/</a>

&nbsp;Information provided by&nbsp;Xiaomao&nbsp;Lin, State Climatologist,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:xlin@ksu.edu">xlin@ksu.edu</a>

Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe November 2022 ag climate update showed exceptional drought conditions across the state.The Kansas ag-climate update is a joint effort between the K-State Extension climate and extension specialists.Every month the update includes a brief summary of that month, agronomic impacts, relevant maps and graphs, one-month temperature and precipitation outlooks, monthly extremes, and notable highlights.The statewide average temperature for November was 41.2°F, or 2.1°F below normal.&nbsp; This ranks as the 49th&nbsp;coldest November out of the last 128 years, dating back to 1895.November was the first below normal month statewide since March. &nbsp;All divisions finished the month below normal; departures ranged from -2.9°F in the southwest to -1.6°F in northeast Kansas.&nbsp;The statewide average precipitation for November was 1.44”, or 0.14” above normal.This was the first above-normal month statewide since May. Five of the nine climate divisions finished the month above normal, but northwest and west central remained very dry, both receiving less than 10 percent of their normal monthly precipitation.Combined with last month, the three western Kansas climate divisions rank in their top five for the driest October-November on record. The 0.15-inch total for west central Kansas is the driest October-November on record in that division, breaking the old record of 0.16 inches set in 1939. &nbsp; View the entire November 2022 Ag-Climate Update, including the accompanying maps and graphics, at&nbsp;<a href="http://climate.k-state.edu/ag/updates/">http://climate.k-state.edu/ag/updates/</a>&nbsp;Information provided by&nbsp;Xiaomao&nbsp;Lin, State Climatologist,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:xlin@ksu.edu">xlin@ksu.edu</a>Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

Kansas ag-climate update shows exceptional drought across state

Stacy Campbell &amp; Alicia Boor Cottonwood Extension District

“The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women" will be a four-part workshop&nbsp;series&nbsp;conducted throughout the state.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District in both Great Bend and Hays&nbsp;will be offering these workshops.&nbsp;

The series will focus on writing agricultural lease agreements, landlord-tenant relationships, negotiations and conservation practices. Workshops will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, and Feb.8.&nbsp;

The series of workshops cost $50 per person, which&nbsp;includes dinner each night and participants should plan to attend each session.&nbsp;A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, although in-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers.&nbsp;

Registration is required by Jan. 13 and may be completed at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/events">www.agmanager.info/events</a>that’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/events">www.agmanager.info/events</a>

If you need further information, contact Cottonwood Extension at 785-628-9430&nbsp;or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

Stacy Campbell &amp; Alicia Boor Cottonwood Extension DistrictAn upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on the basics of land management, leasing and conservation for landlords and tenants.&nbsp;“The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women" will be a four-part workshop&nbsp;series&nbsp;conducted throughout the state.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District in both Great Bend and Hays&nbsp;will be offering these workshops.&nbsp;The series will focus on writing agricultural lease agreements, landlord-tenant relationships, negotiations and conservation practices. Workshops will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, and Feb.8.&nbsp;The series of workshops cost $50 per person, which&nbsp;includes dinner each night and participants should plan to attend each session.&nbsp;A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, although in-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers.&nbsp;Registration is required by Jan. 13 and may be completed at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/events">www.agmanager.info/events</a>that’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/events">www.agmanager.info/events</a>If you need further information, contact Cottonwood Extension at 785-628-9430&nbsp;or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

Multi-state land management, leasing workshop planned for Women in Ag

A new planner is one of my favorite things! Yes, I need it to keep me organized but I love opening a new planner with the potential for a new year!

A new year of fun – where do we plan family gatherings, vacations, or time with friends? What celebrations need to be a priority?

A new year of work – who can I impact through my work? Where do I plan programs with 4-H families, schools, or libraries for learning opportunities?

A new year of volunteering – where can I connect with my church family, with my community, or with other organizations to improve life around me?

A new year of partnerships – how can I&nbsp;collaborate&nbsp;with colleagues and community partners to better our connections and combined impact?

A new year of personal and professional development – where and how can I improve myself?

All of these questions relate to opening a new planner! In fairness, I started my new planner for 2023 back in October as I began adding priority dates for the new year.

We’ll have a couple of graduations to celebrate in our immediate family, as well as&nbsp;weddings and new babies for friends.&nbsp;

I have already filled in many dates for work events and activities for several months and I’m excited about the potential this&nbsp;brings for interacting with 4-H families, locally and regionally, as well as youth across our school districts. Important dates include 4-H Club Days which provide our 4-H members with an opportunity for learning in Communication Skills, a regional 4-H Fiber Arts Day, and presenting as a part of GBReads.&nbsp;

Volunteering includes serving as a cantor for my church and an officer in a state cattle organization that I am&nbsp;enthusiastic&nbsp;about. These provide moments to share my gifts while receiving so much in return as I refuel myself.

I consider myself a life-long learner and that has impacts both personal and professional. I have several opportunities to attend trainings and conferences this year and I look forward to expanding my thought process and my skill set.

I see all the possibilities of a new planner and a new year! What does a new planner hold for you?&nbsp;I am wishing you a new year of learning, of good work, and finding how you impact the world around you!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure>A new planner is one of my favorite things! Yes, I need it to keep me organized but I love opening a new planner with the potential for a new year!A new year of fun – where do we plan family gatherings, vacations, or time with friends? What celebrations need to be a priority?A new year of work – who can I impact through my work? Where do I plan programs with 4-H families, schools, or libraries for learning opportunities?A new year of volunteering – where can I connect with my church family, with my community, or with other organizations to improve life around me?A new year of partnerships – how can I&nbsp;collaborate&nbsp;with colleagues and community partners to better our connections and combined impact?A new year of personal and professional development – where and how can I improve myself?All of these questions relate to opening a new planner! In fairness, I started my new planner for 2023 back in October as I began adding priority dates for the new year.We’ll have a couple of graduations to celebrate in our immediate family, as well as&nbsp;weddings and new babies for friends.&nbsp;I have already filled in many dates for work events and activities for several months and I’m excited about the potential this&nbsp;brings for interacting with 4-H families, locally and regionally, as well as youth across our school districts. Important dates include 4-H Club Days which provide our 4-H members with an opportunity for learning in Communication Skills, a regional 4-H Fiber Arts Day, and presenting as a part of GBReads.&nbsp;Volunteering includes serving as a cantor for my church and an officer in a state cattle organization that I am&nbsp;enthusiastic&nbsp;about. These provide moments to share my gifts while receiving so much in return as I refuel myself.I consider myself a life-long learner and that has impacts both personal and professional. I have several opportunities to attend trainings and conferences this year and I look forward to expanding my thought process and my skill set.I see all the possibilities of a new planner and a new year! What does a new planner hold for you?&nbsp;I am wishing you a new year of learning, of good work, and finding how you impact the world around you!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District&nbsp;– Barton&nbsp;Office at&nbsp;620-793-1910.