By Donna Krug District Director Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office

No doubt you, or someone you know, was affected by the wind storm that passed through our state last week. While the weather predictions earlier in the week were spot on, it was still hard to comprehend what needed to be done in preparation.

The following day a phone call from my regional extension director, who was in the midst of her own property clean-up effort in Lincoln County, was quick to check on the well being of our staff and offices.

Within an hour of that call, I received a call from our director of K-State Research and Extension, making sure we knew of their concern and support. The concern shown by our KSRE administration made me proud to be part of the Extension team.

A few hours later, I received an e-mail from Dr. Hadley with information about behavioral health resource support for those directly affected by the fires in our area. The Kansas Department of Agriculture has agreed to cross list those resources on its site. 

A couple of excellent links have been posted on our Cottonwood Extension website if you are in need of any of these relief services. 

<a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/news-events/kansas-wildfire-recovery-resources-december-2021">Kansas Wildfire Recovery Resources December 2021 (ks.gov)</a>

<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/community/natural-disasters/">Natural Disasters-Community-Research and Extension (K-State.edu)</a>

The KDA website has up-to-date information related to emergency hay distribution, livestock welfare, disposal of disaster debris, specialty crop losses, insurance problems and other topics. 

The good news is that you can count on the help and support from Extension to continue. This is not the first time a disaster like this has happened, so we are reaching out to colleagues who have been part of previous wildfire response efforts. 

The best way to contact anyone from our Cottonwood Extension team during the next couple of weeks will be to send an e-mail to either of the following addresses: BT@listserv.ksu.edu or el@listserv.ksu.edu 

This past weekend, my daughter’s family gave me a bracelet with a message on the inside to “Focus on the positive.” As we celebrate the holidays with our families my hope is that you can look past the many challenges you have experienced this year and focus on the positive. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Cottonwood Extension District!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension - Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research &amp; Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

By Donna Krug District Director Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend officeNo doubt you, or someone you know, was affected by the wind storm that passed through our state last week. While the weather predictions earlier in the week were spot on, it was still hard to comprehend what needed to be done in preparation.The following day a phone call from my regional extension director, who was in the midst of her own property clean-up effort in Lincoln County, was quick to check on the well being of our staff and offices.Within an hour of that call, I received a call from our director of K-State Research and Extension, making sure we knew of their concern and support. The concern shown by our KSRE administration made me proud to be part of the Extension team.A few hours later, I received an e-mail from Dr. Hadley with information about behavioral health resource support for those directly affected by the fires in our area. The Kansas Department of Agriculture has agreed to cross list those resources on its site. A couple of excellent links have been posted on our Cottonwood Extension website if you are in need of any of these relief services. <a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/news-events/kansas-wildfire-recovery-resources-december-2021">Kansas Wildfire Recovery Resources December 2021 (ks.gov)</a><a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/community/natural-disasters/">Natural Disasters-Community-Research and Extension (K-State.edu)</a>The KDA website has up-to-date information related to emergency hay distribution, livestock welfare, disposal of disaster debris, specialty crop losses, insurance problems and other topics. The good news is that you can count on the help and support from Extension to continue. This is not the first time a disaster like this has happened, so we are reaching out to colleagues who have been part of previous wildfire response efforts. The best way to contact anyone from our Cottonwood Extension team during the next couple of weeks will be to send an e-mail to either of the following addresses: BT@listserv.ksu.edu or el@listserv.ksu.edu This past weekend, my daughter’s family gave me a bracelet with a message on the inside to “Focus on the positive.” As we celebrate the holidays with our families my hope is that you can look past the many challenges you have experienced this year and focus on the positive. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Cottonwood Extension District!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension - Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu K-State Research &amp; Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

K-State Research, Extension providing disaster response

By Stacy Campbell Agriculture &amp; Natural Resources Extension Agent Cottonwood Extension District

Kansas Wildfire Recovery Resources

As I sit trying to write this news column, I am at a loss for what to type. The devastating wildfires have left a lot of us in the agriculture community numb, or maybe more appropriately for those directly impacted in tears and shock.

Fortunately, we live in a country that was founded on courage, determination, resiliency and true grit! Many people and organizations have quickly stepped up to lend assistance and help however they can.

There are many GoFundMe accounts and other ways to donate directly to help individuals and families.

From an agriculture standpoint if you wish to donate monetarily, KLA and the Kansas Livestock Foundation will be assisting in the efforts to support ranchers affected by numerous fires and high winds across the state Dec. 15. To provide monetary donations click the link below. Donations may be tax deductible and&nbsp;100 percent of all donations will be distributed to producers impacted by the weather event. Membership will not be required to receive funds.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kla.org/affiliates/kansas-livestock-foundation/donations" target="_blank">https://www.kla.org/affiliates/kansas-livestock-foundation/donations</a>

<a href="https://www.hitchpin.com/december-15" target="_blank">HitchPin</a>&nbsp;is an online platform that connects producers with products they need. During this disaster, the team at HitchPin has stepped up to add an option on their platform to allow disaster victims with specific needs to post those needs and get connected with members of the community who can provide and/or donate those products and services.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hitchpin.com/december-15" target="_blank">https://www.hitchpin.com/december-15</a>

Donations of Hay and Supplies

Donations of hay and other agricultural supplies are being collected to help those who have been affected by this week's wildfires. The greatest need at this time is hay and stock water tanks, but fencing supplies will also be in need soon. Please deliver donations to:

Heartland Regional Stockyards,&nbsp;907 NW 3rd Street,&nbsp;Plainville, Kansas Contact the auction market at 785-688-4080, Landon Schneider at 785-259-3234 or Brandon Hamel at 785-434-6280.

RUSSELL COUNTY: Russell County Fairgrounds,&nbsp;702 Fairway Drive, Russell, KS Accepting hay and supply distributions.&nbsp;Call extension agent Marcia Geir at 785-483-3157 to arrange a drop-off.

Lane County/surrounding counties: A supply donation site has been set up at&nbsp;3 E. Road 120, Dighton, Kansas. To coordinate a drop-off, call Erik Steffens at 620-397-1687.&nbsp;

If you are an agriculture producer who has been directly impacted by the wildfires or high winds and have lost livestock, feed supplies and fence you need&nbsp;to contact your County FSA Office ASAP.

<a href="https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ks&amp;agency=fsa" target="_blank">https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ks&amp;agency=fsa</a>

Lastly this web site by the Kansas Department of Agriculture has a lot of resources and Who’s Who to contact if you are a farmer and rancher impacted by this disaster, as well as the resources listed above.

<a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/news-events/kansas-wildfire-recovery-resources-december-2021" target="_blank">https://agriculture.ks.gov/news-events/kansas-wildfire-recovery-resources-december-2021</a>

If you have any questions or if Cottonwood Extension and its’ Agents can help you, please give us a call.

Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources 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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640036486831.jpeg" alt="Wildfire photo taken Dec 16. Photo courtesy of Stacy Campbell" />
 <figcaption>Wildfire photo taken Dec 16. Photo courtesy of Stacy Campbell</figcaption>
 </figure>By Stacy Campbell Agriculture &amp; Natural Resources Extension Agent Cottonwood Extension DistrictKansas Wildfire Recovery ResourcesAs I sit trying to write this news column, I am at a loss for what to type. The devastating wildfires have left a lot of us in the agriculture community numb, or maybe more appropriately for those directly impacted in tears and shock.Fortunately, we live in a country that was founded on courage, determination, resiliency and true grit! Many people and organizations have quickly stepped up to lend assistance and help however they can.There are many GoFundMe accounts and other ways to donate directly to help individuals and families.From an agriculture standpoint if you wish to donate monetarily, KLA and the Kansas Livestock Foundation will be assisting in the efforts to support ranchers affected by numerous fires and high winds across the state Dec. 15. To provide monetary donations click the link below. Donations may be tax deductible and&nbsp;100 percent of all donations will be distributed to producers impacted by the weather event. Membership will not be required to receive funds.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kla.org/affiliates/kansas-livestock-foundation/donations" target="_blank">https://www.kla.org/affiliates/kansas-livestock-foundation/donations</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640036609602.jpeg" alt="Wildfire photo taken Dec 16. Photo courtesy of Stacy Campbell" />
 <figcaption>Wildfire photo taken Dec 16. Photo courtesy of Stacy Campbell</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.hitchpin.com/december-15" target="_blank">HitchPin</a>&nbsp;is an online platform that connects producers with products they need. During this disaster, the team at HitchPin has stepped up to add an option on their platform to allow disaster victims with specific needs to post those needs and get connected with members of the community who can provide and/or donate those products and services.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hitchpin.com/december-15" target="_blank">https://www.hitchpin.com/december-15</a>Donations of Hay and SuppliesDonations of hay and other agricultural supplies are being collected to help those who have been affected by this week's wildfires. The greatest need at this time is hay and stock water tanks, but fencing supplies will also be in need soon. Please deliver donations to:PLAINVILLE AREA:Heartland Regional Stockyards,&nbsp;907 NW 3rd Street,&nbsp;Plainville, Kansas Contact the auction market at 785-688-4080, Landon Schneider at 785-259-3234 or Brandon Hamel at 785-434-6280. RUSSELL COUNTY: Russell County Fairgrounds,&nbsp;702 Fairway Drive, Russell, KS Accepting hay and supply distributions.&nbsp;Call extension agent Marcia Geir at 785-483-3157 to arrange a drop-off. Lane County/surrounding counties: A supply donation site has been set up at&nbsp;3 E. Road 120, Dighton, Kansas. To coordinate a drop-off, call Erik Steffens at 620-397-1687.&nbsp;If you are an agriculture producer who has been directly impacted by the wildfires or high winds and have lost livestock, feed supplies and fence you need&nbsp;to contact your County FSA Office ASAP.<a href="https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ks&amp;agency=fsa" target="_blank">https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ks&amp;agency=fsa</a>Lastly this web site by the Kansas Department of Agriculture has a lot of resources and Who’s Who to contact if you are a farmer and rancher impacted by this disaster, as well as the resources listed above.<a href="https://agriculture.ks.gov/news-events/kansas-wildfire-recovery-resources-december-2021" target="_blank">https://agriculture.ks.gov/news-events/kansas-wildfire-recovery-resources-december-2021</a>If you have any questions or if Cottonwood Extension and its’ Agents can help you, please give us a call.Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources 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.

Campbell: Kansas wildfire recovery resources

On Jan. 23 the Kansas Association of Extension 4-H Agents have again planned&nbsp;4-H Day with the Wildcat Women’s Basketball.

"It's just a fun way to show spirit. It shows that connection to K State and to 4-H and it's just a cool, cool event," said Cottonwood Extension District agent Susan Schlichting.

The game is scheduled for 1 p.m., with the Wildcats set to take on Oklahoma University.

For $22, participants will receive a ticket into the game, a game day t-shirt, and a $10 meal voucher.

The online registration deadline is Tuesday, Dec.21 and can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://conta.cc/3cbHDDI" target="_blank">https://conta.cc/3cbHDDI</a>

"They usually have a big block of 4-H or so we're putting on that green pride in their stadium and can see it all across the room," Schlichting said "It's pretty cool."

<div><iframe title="4-H Day with the Wildcat Women’s Basketball set for Jan." 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=9vipg-115dbf0-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostOn Jan. 23 the Kansas Association of Extension 4-H Agents have again planned&nbsp;4-H Day with the Wildcat Women’s Basketball."It's just a fun way to show spirit. It shows that connection to K State and to 4-H and it's just a cool, cool event," said Cottonwood Extension District agent Susan Schlichting.The game is scheduled for 1 p.m., with the Wildcats set to take on Oklahoma University.For $22, participants will receive a ticket into the game, a game day t-shirt, and a $10 meal voucher.The online registration deadline is Tuesday, Dec.21 and can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://conta.cc/3cbHDDI" target="_blank">https://conta.cc/3cbHDDI</a>"They usually have a big block of 4-H or so we're putting on that green pride in their stadium and can see it all across the room," Schlichting said "It's pretty cool."

🎙 4-H Day with the Wildcat Women’s Basketball set for Jan.

Can the weather get any crazier? When we do have crazy weather, there is always a chance we may have a power outage. Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research and Extension Food Safety Specialist shares these important tips:&nbsp;

Keep the freezer full to keep foods frozen longer. During a power outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A full freezer will hold temperature about 48 hours.

After a Power Outage, never&nbsp;taste food to determine its safety.&nbsp;When In Doubt, Throw It Out! Follow these tips for unsafe foods from the refrigerator:

Learn more about power outage food safety at <a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html">www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html</a>

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Can the weather get any crazier? When we do have crazy weather, there is always a chance we may have a power outage. Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research and Extension Food Safety Specialist shares these important tips:&nbsp;Keep the freezer full to keep foods frozen longer. During a power outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A full freezer will hold temperature about 48 hours.<ul>
 <li>The refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours. If the power is off longer, you can transfer food to a cooler and fill with ice or frozen gel packs. Make sure there is enough ice to keep food in the cooler at 40°F or below. Add more ice to the cooler as it begins to melt.</li><li>A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full).</li><li>Obtain dry ice or block ice if your power is going to be out for a prolonged period. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot freezer for 2 days.&nbsp;(Caution: Do not touch dry ice with bare hands or place it in direct contact with food.)</li><li>In freezers, food in the front, in the door, or in small, thin packages will defrost faster than large, thick items or food in the back or bottom of the unit.</li>
 </ul>After a Power Outage, never&nbsp;taste food to determine its safety.&nbsp;When In Doubt, Throw It Out! Follow these tips for unsafe foods from the refrigerator:<ul>
 <li>Discard the following if your refrigerator has been without power for more than 4 hours:&nbsp;</li><li>raw, cooked, or leftover meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and egg substitutes;</li><li>luncheon meat and hot dogs;</li><li>casseroles, soups, stews, and pizza;</li><li>mixed salads (i.e., chicken, tuna, macaroni, potato);</li><li>gravy and stuffing;</li><li>milk, cream, yogurt, sour cream, and soft cheeses;</li><li>cut fruits and vegetables (fresh);</li><li>cooked vegetables;</li><li>fruit and vegetable juices (opened);</li><li>creamy-based salad dressing;</li><li>batters and doughs (i.e., pancake batter, cookie dough);</li><li>custard, chiffon, or cheese pies;</li><li>cream-filled pastries; and</li><li>garlic stored in oil.</li><li>Discard opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, and horseradish if they were held above 50 °F for over 8 hours.</li><li>Discard any foods like bread or salad greens that may have become contaminated by juices dripping from raw meat, poultry, or fish.</li><li>In general, if any food has an unusual odor, color, or texture,&nbsp;throw it out.</li>
 </ul>These are Safe-to-Eat Foods:<ul>
 <li>High-acid foods such as mustard, ketchup, relishes, pickles, non-creamy salad dressings, jams, and jellies; however, they may spoil sooner.</li><li>Foods that don't actually require refrigeration. These foods may be used unless they turn moldy or have an unusual odor;&nbsp;</li><li>whole fruits and vegetables (fresh);</li><li>fruit and vegetable juices (unopened);</li><li>dried fruits and coconut;</li><li>baked goods such as fruit pies, bread, rolls, muffins, and cakes (except those with cream cheese frosting or cream fillings);</li><li>hard and processed cheeses;</li><li>butter and margarine;</li><li>fresh herbs and spices;</li><li>flour; and</li><li>nuts</li>
 </ul>Learn more about power outage food safety at <a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html">www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html</a>	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Can the weather get any crazier?

It is easy to feel sluggish during or just after the holidays because of all our indulgences. Traveling and guests bring us in contact with more opportunities to spread germs. Keeping somewhat regular in what and how much we eat and drink can get us off to a good start in 2022.

Good luck with maintaining your healthy diet plan through a busy holiday season!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or <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 &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>It is easy to feel sluggish during or just after the holidays because of all our indulgences. Traveling and guests bring us in contact with more opportunities to spread germs. Keeping somewhat regular in what and how much we eat and drink can get us off to a good start in 2022.To control the amount of food you eat:<ul>
 <li>Don’t go to a social event starved. Eat or drink something healthy before leaving home.</li><li>Move yourself or the tempting food out of easy reach.</li><li>Don’t skip breakfast. Beginning the day with food revs up your metabolism so that you use more calories than when you skip breakfast.</li><li>Keep up or even increase your physical activity to better control appetite as well as use up extra calories.</li><li>At a party have a low-calorie beverage or water in your hand.</li><li>Consider having fewer items on your plate or menu. Potlucks can spell disaster for weight control.</li>
 </ul>To lower the fat content in your diet:<ul>
 <li>Cut the fat content of a traditional recipe by one-third to one-half. This works best in gravies, sauces, puddings, quick breads, liquid salad dressings, or mashed potatoes. An easy way to cut the fat in baked goods would be to replace up to half the fat with applesauce.</li><li>Top vegetables with lemon juice instead of butter for a zesty flavor.</li><li>Use more spices and herbs to enhance the flavor of muffins, casseroles, soups, or sauces.</li><li>Choose carefully at the salad bar. Salad dressings and mixed salads are usually high in fat.</li><li>Marinate low-fat meats, fish, and poultry to add flavor but reduce the oil in the marinade.</li>
 </ul>To lower sodium in your diet:<ul>
 <li>Gradually cut down the amount of salt you usually use in favorite recipes.</li><li>Avoid recipes with ingredients high in salt content, like those with cured meats.</li><li>Use low or reduced sodium cheese in recipes.</li><li>Cut out processed foods that have a high sodium content. Opt for using spices and herbs to provide extra flavor.</li>
 </ul>Good luck with maintaining your healthy diet plan through a busy holiday season!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Healthy holiday eating tips

Collecting a representative silage sample is a difficult task and should involve more than just taking a few handfuls of silage from the face of the pile or the bunker silo.&nbsp; Corn silage and sorghum silages are a mixture of stover and grain.&nbsp; In some cases, small grain silages may also contain grain.&nbsp; This presence of grain in the silage creates some special challenges when obtaining a representative sample.

The best way to obtain a representative sample would be to first deface the amount of silage needed for a daily feeding.&nbsp; In an ideal setting, approximately 12inches of the entire face would be fed each day. The defaced silage should be mixed with a loader or a mixer wagon prior to sampling and feeding.

Once the silage is mixed, take a small scoop and scoop 15-20 samples from around the silage into a clean bucket.&nbsp; When scooping, try to scoop a similar amount with each scoop.&nbsp; Scooping will reduce the loss of finer particles from the samples.&nbsp; Simply grabbing a handful will generally reduce the amount of fine particles and increase the amount of the larger particles of stover.&nbsp; Next, blend the contents of the bucket by hand, rolling, or dumping on a small tarp and repeatedly lifting alternate corners of the tarp to mix the sample.&nbsp; Once the sample is mixed, if not already in a pile on a clean table, dump into a single pile and begin to quarter the sample into equal portions.&nbsp; You want to send about one pound of sample to the lab.&nbsp; So depending on the amount of material you have collected, continue to divide the sample into pie shaped portions until you have one pound of material for the sample being shipped to the lab.&nbsp; Make sure you include all the fine particles in the sample being shipped.&nbsp; An alternative method to dividing the sample into pie shaped portions would be to simply scoop 4-6 amounts into the sample bag until you have a one-pound sample, taking care to include all fines etc. in the sample.

Frequently we are asked how often one should submit samples to the lab.&nbsp; It really depends on the amount of silage you are feeding and the consistency of the silage mass that you created.&nbsp; For smaller feeding operations, once a month sampling is generally adequate as long as the silage is consistent.&nbsp; However, if the composition of the silage is variable, then more frequent sampling would be needed.&nbsp; In larger feeding operations, weekly or twice weekly sampling is recommended.&nbsp; On-farm moisture determination is recommended one to two times each week.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592579538317.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Collecting a representative silage sample is a difficult task and should involve more than just taking a few handfuls of silage from the face of the pile or the bunker silo.&nbsp; Corn silage and sorghum silages are a mixture of stover and grain.&nbsp; In some cases, small grain silages may also contain grain.&nbsp; This presence of grain in the silage creates some special challenges when obtaining a representative sample.The best way to obtain a representative sample would be to first deface the amount of silage needed for a daily feeding.&nbsp; In an ideal setting, approximately 12inches of the entire face would be fed each day. The defaced silage should be mixed with a loader or a mixer wagon prior to sampling and feeding.Once the silage is mixed, take a small scoop and scoop 15-20 samples from around the silage into a clean bucket.&nbsp; When scooping, try to scoop a similar amount with each scoop.&nbsp; Scooping will reduce the loss of finer particles from the samples.&nbsp; Simply grabbing a handful will generally reduce the amount of fine particles and increase the amount of the larger particles of stover.&nbsp; Next, blend the contents of the bucket by hand, rolling, or dumping on a small tarp and repeatedly lifting alternate corners of the tarp to mix the sample.&nbsp; Once the sample is mixed, if not already in a pile on a clean table, dump into a single pile and begin to quarter the sample into equal portions.&nbsp; You want to send about one pound of sample to the lab.&nbsp; So depending on the amount of material you have collected, continue to divide the sample into pie shaped portions until you have one pound of material for the sample being shipped to the lab.&nbsp; Make sure you include all the fine particles in the sample being shipped.&nbsp; An alternative method to dividing the sample into pie shaped portions would be to simply scoop 4-6 amounts into the sample bag until you have a one-pound sample, taking care to include all fines etc. in the sample.Frequently we are asked how often one should submit samples to the lab.&nbsp; It really depends on the amount of silage you are feeding and the consistency of the silage mass that you created.&nbsp; For smaller feeding operations, once a month sampling is generally adequate as long as the silage is consistent.&nbsp; However, if the composition of the silage is variable, then more frequent sampling would be needed.&nbsp; In larger feeding operations, weekly or twice weekly sampling is recommended.&nbsp; On-farm moisture determination is recommended one to two times each week.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

BOOR: Collecting a proper silage sample

Festive times for giving and sharing should not include sharing foodborne illness. Thanks to University of Minnesota for these 12 common unsafe food handling practices that occur when folk are not paying attention to food safety.&nbsp;

One undercooked leg of lamb - Got meat? Get a thermometer! No matter how you slice it, using a food or meat thermometer is the only way to tell if food has reached a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria. Using a thermometer will keep you from overcooking food too.&nbsp;

Two dirty cutting boards - It is good to have two cutting boards: one to prepare raw meat and poultry, the other to prepare ready-to-eat foods like fruits, salads, and vegetables. Wash cutting boards in hot soapy water between uses.

Three harried hosts - Mistakes happen when people are busy and distracted trying to meet the needs of their guests.&nbsp; Make a list of tasks that need to be done along with directions and assign tasks to guests as they arrive.

Four unsafe temperatures - Foods should not be at room temperature for more than 2&nbsp;hours. This includes preparation time. Keep hot foods hot (140 degrees F or warmer). Keep cold foods cold (40 degrees F&nbsp;or colder) by nesting dishes in bowls of ice.

Five wet dish towels - It’s best to air-dry dishes. Wet dish towels can harbor bacteria and spread it to clean dishes. Sometimes dish towels end up on your guest’s shoulder or ‘dirty’ countertops.

Six warm meat and cheese trays - Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can multiply at refrigeration temperatures. It’s been found in soft cheeses like Brie, feta, Camembert, blue-veined and Mexican-style cheese and in ready-to-eat cold cuts. Make small platters of meat and cheese trays. Replace with fresh refrigerated platters when empty.

Seven sick aunties - Don’t prepare food when you are sick. Viruses cause more and more foodborne illnesses. Wash hands before and after handling food for at least 20 seconds. Avoid handling food with bare hands. Use gloves, spoons, tongs or paper towels instead.

Eight unwashed hands - Wash hands with soap and water to the tune of “Jingle Bells” before feasting.&nbsp; Announce, “We will be eating in 5 minutes. Please wash your hands before eating.

Nine potentially hazardous foods – Bacteria loves to grow in food made with dairy products, shell eggs, meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, baked or boiled potatoes, cooked beans and lentils, rice or pasta. Keep these foods out of the temperature danger zone (40&nbsp;to 140 degrees F).

Ten dirty fingers - The 10 most common causes of spreading disease are your fingers! Put chips, mints, peanuts and other ‘finger food’ in pourable containers or provide a spoon or tongs so each person doesn’t touch the food.

Eleven finger lickers - Don’t use the cooking spoon or your finger to sample the food while it is being prepared or served. Use a clean spoon each time you taste test.

Twelve plates of leftovers - Immediately refrigerate and cool leftover food in long shallow pans. Leave uncovered for quick cooling. Cover when cool.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Festive times for giving and sharing should not include sharing foodborne illness. Thanks to University of Minnesota for these 12 common unsafe food handling practices that occur when folk are not paying attention to food safety.&nbsp;One undercooked leg of lamb - Got meat? Get a thermometer! No matter how you slice it, using a food or meat thermometer is the only way to tell if food has reached a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria. Using a thermometer will keep you from overcooking food too.&nbsp;Two dirty cutting boards - It is good to have two cutting boards: one to prepare raw meat and poultry, the other to prepare ready-to-eat foods like fruits, salads, and vegetables. Wash cutting boards in hot soapy water between uses.Three harried hosts - Mistakes happen when people are busy and distracted trying to meet the needs of their guests.&nbsp; Make a list of tasks that need to be done along with directions and assign tasks to guests as they arrive.Four unsafe temperatures - Foods should not be at room temperature for more than 2&nbsp;hours. This includes preparation time. Keep hot foods hot (140 degrees F or warmer). Keep cold foods cold (40 degrees F&nbsp;or colder) by nesting dishes in bowls of ice.Five wet dish towels - It’s best to air-dry dishes. Wet dish towels can harbor bacteria and spread it to clean dishes. Sometimes dish towels end up on your guest’s shoulder or ‘dirty’ countertops.Six warm meat and cheese trays - Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can multiply at refrigeration temperatures. It’s been found in soft cheeses like Brie, feta, Camembert, blue-veined and Mexican-style cheese and in ready-to-eat cold cuts. Make small platters of meat and cheese trays. Replace with fresh refrigerated platters when empty.Seven sick aunties - Don’t prepare food when you are sick. Viruses cause more and more foodborne illnesses. Wash hands before and after handling food for at least 20 seconds. Avoid handling food with bare hands. Use gloves, spoons, tongs or paper towels instead.Eight unwashed hands - Wash hands with soap and water to the tune of “Jingle Bells” before feasting.&nbsp; Announce, “We will be eating in 5 minutes. Please wash your hands before eating.Nine potentially hazardous foods – Bacteria loves to grow in food made with dairy products, shell eggs, meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, baked or boiled potatoes, cooked beans and lentils, rice or pasta. Keep these foods out of the temperature danger zone (40&nbsp;to 140 degrees F).Ten dirty fingers - The 10 most common causes of spreading disease are your fingers! Put chips, mints, peanuts and other ‘finger food’ in pourable containers or provide a spoon or tongs so each person doesn’t touch the food.Eleven finger lickers - Don’t use the cooking spoon or your finger to sample the food while it is being prepared or served. Use a clean spoon each time you taste test.Twelve plates of leftovers - Immediately refrigerate and cool leftover food in long shallow pans. Leave uncovered for quick cooling. Cover when cool.	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: 12 food safety mistakes of the holiday season 

I am often asked what exactly is “K-State Research and Extension” and about the Cottonwood Extension District. Those are great questions and I hope that I can answer for you.

K-State Research and Extension is a statewide network of educators sharing unbiased, research-based information and expertise on issues important to Kansas.&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a partner in the nationwide land-grant system of universities that was created in the 1860s to educate people from all walks of life and to generate and distribute useful public knowledge. K-State scientists and extension faculty can draw on the expertise and accumulated studies and discoveries of the land-grant system, other universities, state and federal agencies, and industry. Headquartered on campus in Manhattan, K-State Research and Extension includes statewide county or district extension offices, research centers, and experiment fields supported by county, state, federal, and private funds.

It is dedicated to a safe, sustainable, competitive food and fiber system and to strong, healthy communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis and education.

With 131 years of research and 104 years of extension, K-State Research and Extension has been improving the quality of life and standard of living for Kansans for a century. Research completed is used by extension agents and others to help solve community issues.

This integrated system connects the university to every county through locally based educators who serve as sources of objective information. The Cottonwood Extension District was established July 1, 2017 and includes Barton and Ellis counties. An extension district addresses the changing demographics in Kansas as well as providing the ability for extension agents to be more specialized in their programming while providing education to a broader audience. Each county continues to have an office with access to research and educational opportunities in all program areas. There are currently seven extension agents across the Cottonwood Extension District covering crop production, livestock production, family and consumer science, family and community wellness, horticulture, and positive youth development.

If you have questions about what Extension can do for you? Give us a call! Quite a few years ago, I had a co-worker get cheese dip on his favorite tie and our first call was to Donna at the Extension Office to see what the best cleaning options were! Our ag agents can provide a wealth of information about improving production processes; family and community wellness agents provide educational opportunities for our communities to improve their health on physical, mental, and emotional levels. 4-H Youth Development agents are active with school, after-school, library, and recreation center programs in addition to traditional 4-H club activities!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>I am often asked what exactly is “K-State Research and Extension” and about the Cottonwood Extension District. Those are great questions and I hope that I can answer for you.K-State Research and Extension is a statewide network of educators sharing unbiased, research-based information and expertise on issues important to Kansas.&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a partner in the nationwide land-grant system of universities that was created in the 1860s to educate people from all walks of life and to generate and distribute useful public knowledge. K-State scientists and extension faculty can draw on the expertise and accumulated studies and discoveries of the land-grant system, other universities, state and federal agencies, and industry. Headquartered on campus in Manhattan, K-State Research and Extension includes statewide county or district extension offices, research centers, and experiment fields supported by county, state, federal, and private funds.It is dedicated to a safe, sustainable, competitive food and fiber system and to strong, healthy communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis and education.With 131 years of research and 104 years of extension, K-State Research and Extension has been improving the quality of life and standard of living for Kansans for a century. Research completed is used by extension agents and others to help solve community issues.This integrated system connects the university to every county through locally based educators who serve as sources of objective information. The Cottonwood Extension District was established July 1, 2017 and includes Barton and Ellis counties. An extension district addresses the changing demographics in Kansas as well as providing the ability for extension agents to be more specialized in their programming while providing education to a broader audience. Each county continues to have an office with access to research and educational opportunities in all program areas. There are currently seven extension agents across the Cottonwood Extension District covering crop production, livestock production, family and consumer science, family and community wellness, horticulture, and positive youth development.If you have questions about what Extension can do for you? Give us a call! Quite a few years ago, I had a co-worker get cheese dip on his favorite tie and our first call was to Donna at the Extension Office to see what the best cleaning options were! Our ag agents can provide a wealth of information about improving production processes; family and community wellness agents provide educational opportunities for our communities to improve their health on physical, mental, and emotional levels. 4-H Youth Development agents are active with school, after-school, library, and recreation center programs in addition to traditional 4-H club activities!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H and Youth Development related questions, email Michelle at <a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a> or call 620-793-1910.

BERAN: A closer look at your Extension district

The Childcare Task Force of Ellis County has announced the release of its county community survey to assess the true childcare needs of Ellis County. This digital survey will close Dec. 31. Individuals and organizations wishing to participate in this survey may access it <a href="https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6saCzCHCBiGmVpQ">HERE</a> or the QR code below.

The task force’s goal is to acquire 1,000 surveys. Once the survey results are finalized, the data will be utilized to apply for grant funding the task force will use to assist current childcare providers with their needs and incentivize new providers to begin offering childcare. Data from this survey will be shared with the public once available in January or February of 2022.

The Chamber in Hays, Kansas began organizing the Childcare Task Force of Ellis County in September 2021, after the Childcare Aware of Ellis County Point-in-Time survey identified that Ellis County has lost at least sixteen childcare providers since 2019.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3bf41c0b-99d4-4aaa-adf3-1445ac87477e">RELATED:&nbsp;🎙 As lack of child care plagues Ellis County, new task force looks for solutions</a>

Comprised of individuals, businesses, and organizations, this task force has members representing early childhood education, USD 489, USD 388, childcare centers, in-home childcare providers, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Childcare Aware of Kansas, KSU Research and Extension and Cottonwood Extension District, HaysMed, Fort Hays State University, Grow Hays, 111th Kansas Legislative District, Heartland Community Foundation, parents, and area employers.

The next meeting for the Childcare Task Force of Ellis County will take place on December 8th at 6:00 p.m. at the Hays Welcome Center at 2700 Vine Street. For more information about this task force or to get involved in the process of addressing our county’s childcare needs, please contact Sarah Wasinger at <a href="mailto:sarah@hayschamber.com">sarah@hayschamber.com</a> or call 785-628-8201.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634743366242.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseThe Childcare Task Force of Ellis County has announced the release of its county community survey to assess the true childcare needs of Ellis County. This digital survey will close Dec. 31. Individuals and organizations wishing to participate in this survey may access it <a href="https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6saCzCHCBiGmVpQ">HERE</a> or the QR code below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637593555425.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The task force’s goal is to acquire 1,000 surveys. Once the survey results are finalized, the data will be utilized to apply for grant funding the task force will use to assist current childcare providers with their needs and incentivize new providers to begin offering childcare. Data from this survey will be shared with the public once available in January or February of 2022.The Chamber in Hays, Kansas began organizing the Childcare Task Force of Ellis County in September 2021, after the Childcare Aware of Ellis County Point-in-Time survey identified that Ellis County has lost at least sixteen childcare providers since 2019.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3bf41c0b-99d4-4aaa-adf3-1445ac87477e">RELATED:&nbsp;🎙 As lack of child care plagues Ellis County, new task force looks for solutions</a>Comprised of individuals, businesses, and organizations, this task force has members representing early childhood education, USD 489, USD 388, childcare centers, in-home childcare providers, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Childcare Aware of Kansas, KSU Research and Extension and Cottonwood Extension District, HaysMed, Fort Hays State University, Grow Hays, 111th Kansas Legislative District, Heartland Community Foundation, parents, and area employers.The next meeting for the Childcare Task Force of Ellis County will take place on December 8th at 6:00 p.m. at the Hays Welcome Center at 2700 Vine Street. For more information about this task force or to get involved in the process of addressing our county’s childcare needs, please contact Sarah Wasinger at <a href="mailto:sarah@hayschamber.com">sarah@hayschamber.com</a> or call 785-628-8201.

Childcare Task Force of Ellis County announces needs survey

To the community members of Barton and Ellis Counties,&nbsp;

I am writing this letter with appreciation and gratitude. Change is never easy, but always constant.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the beginning of November, I announced to the constituents of the Cottonwood Extension District that I had been offered a new career opportunity and elected to take the position, which I will start at the beginning of December.&nbsp;

Being the horticulture agent for both Ellis and Barton counties has been such a rewarding experience and is one that has helped shape me not only as a professional but as a person in general. When I first landed my job with K-State Research &amp; Extension, I had no idea how much the communities of Barton and Ellis Counties would impact my life. I would like to thank you all for trusting my knowledge and supporting the programs I hosted in each community over the past two and a half years. I am so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to work with and become friends with many of you in these communities and will miss serving as your horticulture agent.&nbsp;

As I transition out of my position with K-State Research &amp; Extension, I would encourage you all to continue to support Cottonwood Extension programming. There are many amazing programs and so much knowledge that can be obtained through publications and interactive classes. After I leave, the Extension Master Gardeners, along with fellow agents will happily assist you with any horticulture-related questions and can be reached at our offices in Hays and Great Bend.&nbsp;You may also find horticulture information through the University at&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/" target="_blank">https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/</a>.&nbsp;

Thank you again and I extend my best wishes for the future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="written by: Lauren Walz - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by: Lauren Walz - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>To the community members of Barton and Ellis Counties,&nbsp;I am writing this letter with appreciation and gratitude. Change is never easy, but always constant.&nbsp;&nbsp;At the beginning of November, I announced to the constituents of the Cottonwood Extension District that I had been offered a new career opportunity and elected to take the position, which I will start at the beginning of December.&nbsp;Being the horticulture agent for both Ellis and Barton counties has been such a rewarding experience and is one that has helped shape me not only as a professional but as a person in general. When I first landed my job with K-State Research &amp; Extension, I had no idea how much the communities of Barton and Ellis Counties would impact my life. I would like to thank you all for trusting my knowledge and supporting the programs I hosted in each community over the past two and a half years. I am so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to work with and become friends with many of you in these communities and will miss serving as your horticulture agent.&nbsp;As I transition out of my position with K-State Research &amp; Extension, I would encourage you all to continue to support Cottonwood Extension programming. There are many amazing programs and so much knowledge that can be obtained through publications and interactive classes. After I leave, the Extension Master Gardeners, along with fellow agents will happily assist you with any horticulture-related questions and can be reached at our offices in Hays and Great Bend.&nbsp;You may also find horticulture information through the University at&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/" target="_blank">https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/</a>.&nbsp;Thank you again and I extend my best wishes for the future.Sincerely, &nbsp;Lauren Walz&nbsp;

WALZ: Blooming a new beginning 

	The season of Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all of our blessings and all that we have.&nbsp; So how is being grateful different from being thankful?&nbsp;

	“Thank you for the birthday present”, “thank you for dinner”, and “thank you for picking up the dry cleaning” are easy words to say. And don’t get me wrong, I do believe we need to say “thank you”.&nbsp; My children will tell you that I made them write a thank you note for every birthday present and graduation card. I wanted them to express their appreciation to family and friends. A quick thank you note can make a difference in someone’s day.

	I believe that gratefulness is a something that develops over time. Maybe you are grateful for close lifelong friends. Maybe you are grateful for your childhood opportunities. If I asked my kids to write a letter of gratitude I believe the letter would be written to someone who has made a difference in their life. It might be a friend, relative, teacher or a significant other. If you are truly grateful, you should easily be able to share how this person’s behavior affected your life. John F Kennedy said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”&nbsp;

	Jodi Schulz, Michigan State University Extension, explains “Remember that being grateful is about appreciating what one has, as opposed to what one wants. Being thankful or thanking someone often implies you are acknowledging your thanks for something that someone has given you.”&nbsp;

	Last year I presented a program “Staying Positive as we Age” and one portion of the program focused on being grateful. One suggestion to stay positive was to keep a gratitude journal and to write down three things each day that you are grateful for. It does take practice but your level of gratitude will develop and become deeper over time.

	Parents who show gratefulness often will pass that on to their children and they will develop an attitude of gratitude. Modeling being grateful is the first step in teaching children to be grateful. Also talking about the meaning behind a gift will give the child a better understanding of why they should be thankful for a gift but also why they can be grateful for that gift that came their way.&nbsp;

	Teaching and learning gratefulness is not a simple process but the benefits will pay off. Studies have shown that being grateful can boost the immune system and decrease depression. It is not a simple cure for mental health issues but it definitely helps with a positive outlook on life.&nbsp;

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>	The season of Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all of our blessings and all that we have.&nbsp; So how is being grateful different from being thankful?&nbsp;	“Thank you for the birthday present”, “thank you for dinner”, and “thank you for picking up the dry cleaning” are easy words to say. And don’t get me wrong, I do believe we need to say “thank you”.&nbsp; My children will tell you that I made them write a thank you note for every birthday present and graduation card. I wanted them to express their appreciation to family and friends. A quick thank you note can make a difference in someone’s day.	I believe that gratefulness is a something that develops over time. Maybe you are grateful for close lifelong friends. Maybe you are grateful for your childhood opportunities. If I asked my kids to write a letter of gratitude I believe the letter would be written to someone who has made a difference in their life. It might be a friend, relative, teacher or a significant other. If you are truly grateful, you should easily be able to share how this person’s behavior affected your life. John F Kennedy said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”&nbsp;	Jodi Schulz, Michigan State University Extension, explains “Remember that being grateful is about appreciating what one has, as opposed to what one wants. Being thankful or thanking someone often implies you are acknowledging your thanks for something that someone has given you.”&nbsp;	Last year I presented a program “Staying Positive as we Age” and one portion of the program focused on being grateful. One suggestion to stay positive was to keep a gratitude journal and to write down three things each day that you are grateful for. It does take practice but your level of gratitude will develop and become deeper over time.	Parents who show gratefulness often will pass that on to their children and they will develop an attitude of gratitude. Modeling being grateful is the first step in teaching children to be grateful. Also talking about the meaning behind a gift will give the child a better understanding of why they should be thankful for a gift but also why they can be grateful for that gift that came their way.&nbsp;	Teaching and learning gratefulness is not a simple process but the benefits will pay off. Studies have shown that being grateful can boost the immune system and decrease depression. It is not a simple cure for mental health issues but it definitely helps with a positive outlook on life.&nbsp;	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Gratitude and thankfulness

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

K-State Research and Extension and the Cottonwood District are hosting a regional Crop Pest Management School at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main Street in Great Bend on Thursday, Dec. 9. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The school is to aid producers, consultants and commercial applicators in identifying and managing crop disease, insect and weed problems. CEU’s for commercial applicators of 7 hours for the 1A certification along with the 1 core hour will be offered. Certified Crop Advisor Credits will also be available. &nbsp;

Several K-State Research &amp; Extension specialists will be presenting. Topics being covered are: a research update on liquid applications;&nbsp; getting the most from your herbicide applications;&nbsp; common weeds - identification and characteristics;&nbsp; identifying and controlling common corn insects;&nbsp; corn diseases – including stalk rots, bacterial leaf streak and Goss’s Wilt;&nbsp; weed research update;&nbsp; and combatting wheat diseases. &nbsp;

Cost to attend is $50, if registered by December 1. After Dec. 1, cost is $75 to pre-register or at the door.&nbsp;

Registration is requested online at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.sunflower.ksu.edu/agronomy">www.sunflower.ksu.edu/agronomy</a>&nbsp;

If needing further information, call us in Great Bend 620-793-1910 or Hays 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615992626413.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictK-State Research and Extension and the Cottonwood District are hosting a regional Crop Pest Management School at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 723 Main Street in Great Bend on Thursday, Dec. 9. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.The school is to aid producers, consultants and commercial applicators in identifying and managing crop disease, insect and weed problems. CEU’s for commercial applicators of 7 hours for the 1A certification along with the 1 core hour will be offered. Certified Crop Advisor Credits will also be available. &nbsp;Several K-State Research &amp; Extension specialists will be presenting. Topics being covered are: a research update on liquid applications;&nbsp; getting the most from your herbicide applications;&nbsp; common weeds - identification and characteristics;&nbsp; identifying and controlling common corn insects;&nbsp; corn diseases – including stalk rots, bacterial leaf streak and Goss’s Wilt;&nbsp; weed research update;&nbsp; and combatting wheat diseases. &nbsp;Cost to attend is $50, if registered by December 1. After Dec. 1, cost is $75 to pre-register or at the door.&nbsp;Registration is requested online at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.sunflower.ksu.edu/agronomy">www.sunflower.ksu.edu/agronomy</a>&nbsp;If needing further information, call us in Great Bend 620-793-1910 or Hays 785-628-9430.

Crop Pest Management School is next month in Great Bend

Kansas State Research and Extension is bringing you a series of short online cattle programs. These programs will be held every Thursday&nbsp;from December 2 to January 6 (excluding December 30th)&nbsp;at 10:00 am. These programs will cover a different topic every week, but focus&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;topics and dates for these programs are:&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State Research and Extension is bringing you a series of short online cattle programs. These programs will be held every Thursday&nbsp;from December 2 to January 6 (excluding December 30th)&nbsp;at 10:00 am. These programs will cover a different topic every week, but focus&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;topics and dates for these programs are:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>December 2nd&nbsp;–&nbsp;Tax Program with Clay Simons, Executive Agriculture Economist&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>December&nbsp;9th&nbsp;–&nbsp;Co grazing - Dr. Allison Crane, KSU Sheep &amp; Goat Specialist&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>December&nbsp;16th&nbsp;–&nbsp;Early Cow Calf Health – TBD&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>December&nbsp;23th&nbsp;–&nbsp;Utilizing Cover Crop - TBD&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>January 6th&nbsp;- Fertility in Heifers – Sandy Johnson, Extension Beef Specialist&nbsp; To join the meeting go&nbsp;to https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6F5F44OS3RvkwSi&nbsp;and provide us your name and email. A link will then be sent to the email that you provide to join the meetings. If you have any question or need help singing up, please call&nbsp;Alicia Boor, at 620-793-1910.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li>
 </ul>

BOOR: Cattle conversations online series - Round 3 

If you pay a visit to our office at 1800 12th Street in Great Bend, no doubt you will see evidence of our upcoming move. Boxes are everywhere and plans are being fine tuned for moving the heaviest items by the end of November. Our new office location is 3007 10th Street. The building was originally built by the gas company, and now houses the Barton County Food Bank, and other offices. We will be in the west wing of the building, and we will have ample parking in front of our office. I am excited that the agent offices will each have a window! We will also have a nice sized meeting room.

I still remember when we moved from the 1st floor of the Barton County Courthouse during a very hot week in July of 1995. My then 12-year-old son, Adam, was great help as we moved loads and loads of boxes. Now, 26 years later, it’s time to prioritize the items we will actually use and lighten the load. (I wonder if Adam would be excited if I invited him to help with our move this time!) Many if not all our publications can be printed on demand, so the need to have a room full of publications is not as necessary as it was then.&nbsp;

It looks like our office will need to be closed to the public Monday, November 29th through Wednesday, December 1st. Those are the dates that our heaviest furniture will be moved, along with moving all our technology and phones. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that mother nature provides good weather during that week. Watch our Cottonwood Extension District website and FaceBook page as we share more specific announcements.

Mark January 6th on your calendars and plan to join us for our Great Bend Chamber coffee, ribbon cutting and open house!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <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 &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension.</figcaption>
 </figure>If you pay a visit to our office at 1800 12th Street in Great Bend, no doubt you will see evidence of our upcoming move. Boxes are everywhere and plans are being fine tuned for moving the heaviest items by the end of November. Our new office location is 3007 10th Street. The building was originally built by the gas company, and now houses the Barton County Food Bank, and other offices. We will be in the west wing of the building, and we will have ample parking in front of our office. I am excited that the agent offices will each have a window! We will also have a nice sized meeting room.I still remember when we moved from the 1st floor of the Barton County Courthouse during a very hot week in July of 1995. My then 12-year-old son, Adam, was great help as we moved loads and loads of boxes. Now, 26 years later, it’s time to prioritize the items we will actually use and lighten the load. (I wonder if Adam would be excited if I invited him to help with our move this time!) Many if not all our publications can be printed on demand, so the need to have a room full of publications is not as necessary as it was then.&nbsp;It looks like our office will need to be closed to the public Monday, November 29th through Wednesday, December 1st. Those are the dates that our heaviest furniture will be moved, along with moving all our technology and phones. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that mother nature provides good weather during that week. Watch our Cottonwood Extension District website and FaceBook page as we share more specific announcements.Mark January 6th on your calendars and plan to join us for our Great Bend Chamber coffee, ribbon cutting and open house!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

KRUG: Extension office move in Great Bend is upon us

	If you’ve ever planned a Thanksgiving feast, you know that the cost of everything can add up quickly! Here are some practical ideas for saving money on your holiday feast:

* Ham or turkey, not both.&nbsp; Choose one meat or main dish and plan the rest of your meal around it. This not only saves the cost of the additional meat, but also the cost of special side dishes that go with it. &nbsp;

* Balance “expensive” and “cheap” dishes. Mashed potatoes are less expensive to make than a creamy vegetable casserole; a pumpkin pie is generally cheaper to make than a cheesecake. Limit the number of dishes requiring expensive ingredients. Choose your family’s favorites and serve less expensive dishes to complement them.&nbsp;

* Trim down extras.&nbsp; Do you really need three different vegetable casseroles and four desserts? Try to cut out at least one extra that no one will miss from each food category. Steamed broccoli will cost less than a casserole with five extra ingredients.&nbsp;

* Serve inexpensive beverages.&nbsp; Alcohol, sodas, punch and fruit juices can be expensive additions to your Thanksgiving shopping list.&nbsp; Water, coffee, iced tea and lemonade are inexpensive alternatives.

* Take advantage of sales.&nbsp; In the weeks before Thanksgiving, grocery stores run fantastic specials on traditional holiday foods. They hope that while you’re visiting their stores to get the specials, you’ll also buy lots of other things. Be a savvy shopper. Take advantage of each week’s specials without falling into the extra spending trap. &nbsp;

* Stock up on seasonal bargains for future meals.&nbsp; Special holiday foods are seldom offered at a better price any other time of year. If your food budget allows, buy extras now which can be served for family meals in the future. Canned pumpkin is full of Vitamin A and can enhance muffins and breads all year long.&nbsp; Fresh cranberries can go directly into the freezer for use in future salads and sauces. Turkey is a delicious, low-calorie meat which can provide inexpensive family meals to come.&nbsp;

* Look for substitutions. Many holiday recipes call for expensive ingredients you may not normally keep on hand. Before you invest in special ingredients you’ll use for only one recipe, check the substitution guide in your favorite cookbook or at www.foodsubs.com to see if there’s anything you can substitute. Just type “buttermilk” in the search bar and the options for making your own buttermilk will be shared.&nbsp;

* Choose the right bird.&nbsp; Extension experts recommend purchasing about ½ to 1 pound of turkey for each person at the table.&nbsp; The higher estimate will allow for leftovers.&nbsp; If you don’t want to pay for or deal with leftovers, choose a bird within the lower weight range.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>	If you’ve ever planned a Thanksgiving feast, you know that the cost of everything can add up quickly! Here are some practical ideas for saving money on your holiday feast:	* Ham or turkey, not both.&nbsp; Choose one meat or main dish and plan the rest of your meal around it. This not only saves the cost of the additional meat, but also the cost of special side dishes that go with it. &nbsp;	* Balance “expensive” and “cheap” dishes. Mashed potatoes are less expensive to make than a creamy vegetable casserole; a pumpkin pie is generally cheaper to make than a cheesecake. Limit the number of dishes requiring expensive ingredients. Choose your family’s favorites and serve less expensive dishes to complement them.&nbsp;	* Trim down extras.&nbsp; Do you really need three different vegetable casseroles and four desserts? Try to cut out at least one extra that no one will miss from each food category. Steamed broccoli will cost less than a casserole with five extra ingredients.&nbsp;	* Serve inexpensive beverages.&nbsp; Alcohol, sodas, punch and fruit juices can be expensive additions to your Thanksgiving shopping list.&nbsp; Water, coffee, iced tea and lemonade are inexpensive alternatives.	* Take advantage of sales.&nbsp; In the weeks before Thanksgiving, grocery stores run fantastic specials on traditional holiday foods. They hope that while you’re visiting their stores to get the specials, you’ll also buy lots of other things. Be a savvy shopper. Take advantage of each week’s specials without falling into the extra spending trap. &nbsp;	* Stock up on seasonal bargains for future meals.&nbsp; Special holiday foods are seldom offered at a better price any other time of year. If your food budget allows, buy extras now which can be served for family meals in the future. Canned pumpkin is full of Vitamin A and can enhance muffins and breads all year long.&nbsp; Fresh cranberries can go directly into the freezer for use in future salads and sauces. Turkey is a delicious, low-calorie meat which can provide inexpensive family meals to come.&nbsp;	* Look for substitutions. Many holiday recipes call for expensive ingredients you may not normally keep on hand. Before you invest in special ingredients you’ll use for only one recipe, check the substitution guide in your favorite cookbook or at www.foodsubs.com to see if there’s anything you can substitute. Just type “buttermilk” in the search bar and the options for making your own buttermilk will be shared.&nbsp;	* Choose the right bird.&nbsp; Extension experts recommend purchasing about ½ to 1 pound of turkey for each person at the table.&nbsp; The higher estimate will allow for leftovers.&nbsp; If you don’t want to pay for or deal with leftovers, choose a bird within the lower weight range.	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Feast on these Thanksgiving savings

	What is the most nutritional U.S. vegetable? The natural components in sweet potatoes help the body resist some of our most common deadly diseases. So, overall, the sweet potato is close to being a superfood.

	Fresh sweet potatoes are a best buy because they come with their skin. The skin has nutrients of its own. Plus, it helps make a sweet potato´s fiber content equivalent to the fiber in a bowl of oatmeal.

	Sweet potatoes also are a great source of vitamin E and beta-carotene (vitamin A). These antioxidants bolster the human immune system. They provide protection against cancer, heart disease and stroke. Some evidence suggests they even help delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

	Sweet potatoes also are basically fat- and cholesterol-free, setting them apart from other vitamin E sources such as nuts, avocadoes and vegetable oils. In addition, sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index, which is important to both diabetics and carbohydrate counters for maintaining steady blood- glucose levels. A low glycemic index means you digest them slowly. Another benefit of that, of course, is they make you feel full longer.&nbsp;

	Sweet potatoes provide from one-third to one-half of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, another immune system booster. Sweet potatoes are also an important source of vitamin B6 and iron.&nbsp; They contain folate, a B vitamin that´s essential for cell growth and reproduction. They´re among the top three food sources of potassium, which helps maintain normal blood pressure and the body´s heart and nerve functions.

	It doesn’t hurt that the sweet potato is fairly low in calories. And, it’s virtually sodium-free, all-in-all a great choice for eating year-round. If handled gently, unwashed sweet potatoes can store well for weeks or even months in a dry, cool (55-60 F) location.&nbsp; Sweet potatoes are only washed right before cooking because moisture promotes spoilage.&nbsp;

	Add sweet potatoes to your shopping list and enjoy the upcoming holidays.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>	What is the most nutritional U.S. vegetable? The natural components in sweet potatoes help the body resist some of our most common deadly diseases. So, overall, the sweet potato is close to being a superfood.	Fresh sweet potatoes are a best buy because they come with their skin. The skin has nutrients of its own. Plus, it helps make a sweet potato´s fiber content equivalent to the fiber in a bowl of oatmeal.	Sweet potatoes also are a great source of vitamin E and beta-carotene (vitamin A). These antioxidants bolster the human immune system. They provide protection against cancer, heart disease and stroke. Some evidence suggests they even help delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease.	Sweet potatoes also are basically fat- and cholesterol-free, setting them apart from other vitamin E sources such as nuts, avocadoes and vegetable oils. In addition, sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index, which is important to both diabetics and carbohydrate counters for maintaining steady blood- glucose levels. A low glycemic index means you digest them slowly. Another benefit of that, of course, is they make you feel full longer.&nbsp;	Sweet potatoes provide from one-third to one-half of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, another immune system booster. Sweet potatoes are also an important source of vitamin B6 and iron.&nbsp; They contain folate, a B vitamin that´s essential for cell growth and reproduction. They´re among the top three food sources of potassium, which helps maintain normal blood pressure and the body´s heart and nerve functions.	It doesn’t hurt that the sweet potato is fairly low in calories. And, it’s virtually sodium-free, all-in-all a great choice for eating year-round. If handled gently, unwashed sweet potatoes can store well for weeks or even months in a dry, cool (55-60 F) location.&nbsp; Sweet potatoes are only washed right before cooking because moisture promotes spoilage.&nbsp;	Add sweet potatoes to your shopping list and enjoy the upcoming holidays.&nbsp;	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Super sweet potatoes 

Five years ago this month, our Barton and Ellis County Extension boards took the first steps to create the Cottonwood Extension District. By June of 2017 we received official word that our operational agreement had been approved by the Attorney General’s office. Today more than half of the counties in Kansas are part of an Extension District. The district concept provides an opportunity for team members to specialize in certain subject matter areas and streamline some of the operations.&nbsp;

Today I want to share the most recent election results, which will bring some new faces to our eight-member Executive Board beginning in 2022. Newly elected to a four-year term in Ellis County are Donna Maskus and Kelsey Stremel. Receiving the most votes in Barton County were Lori Waters and Lexi Straub. These four individuals will be joining Kathie Rondeau, Dick Dougherty, Tatum Kimzey, and Allen Roth, as we look to provide relevant and impactful Extension programming in the year ahead.

I want to publicly thank the outgoing board members who really helped lay the groundwork as the Cottonwood District formed. There were extra committee meetings related to office policies and budget considerations. After all, we were taking two counties’ Extension programs and fine tuning them to create an Extension District that would meet the needs of you, the taxpayer. Deanna Essmiller and Natalie Fullerton, in Barton County and Nathan Leiker and Ramie Wasinger, from Ellis County, completed their 4-year terms. Each one of them had served additional years on their county boards before the Cottonwood District formed.&nbsp;

I am not sure of the combined number of years of volunteer service the four outgoing board members have, but it would be impressive. And that is what I appreciate so much about the Extension Education system in Kansas. We are known as a grassroots organization that places oversight of our Extension programming in the hands of those closest to us.&nbsp;

If you are reading this and would like to get involved with the Extension programming in the Cottonwood Extension District, please give me a call or send an e-mail. Shortly after the first of the year we will be adding members to our Program Development Committees in the four areas that Extension is involved with: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Science, 4-H and Youth Development, and Community Development.&nbsp;

Don’t be shy. I look forward to your call!

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <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 for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Five years ago this month, our Barton and Ellis County Extension boards took the first steps to create the Cottonwood Extension District. By June of 2017 we received official word that our operational agreement had been approved by the Attorney General’s office. Today more than half of the counties in Kansas are part of an Extension District. The district concept provides an opportunity for team members to specialize in certain subject matter areas and streamline some of the operations.&nbsp;Today I want to share the most recent election results, which will bring some new faces to our eight-member Executive Board beginning in 2022. Newly elected to a four-year term in Ellis County are Donna Maskus and Kelsey Stremel. Receiving the most votes in Barton County were Lori Waters and Lexi Straub. These four individuals will be joining Kathie Rondeau, Dick Dougherty, Tatum Kimzey, and Allen Roth, as we look to provide relevant and impactful Extension programming in the year ahead.I want to publicly thank the outgoing board members who really helped lay the groundwork as the Cottonwood District formed. There were extra committee meetings related to office policies and budget considerations. After all, we were taking two counties’ Extension programs and fine tuning them to create an Extension District that would meet the needs of you, the taxpayer. Deanna Essmiller and Natalie Fullerton, in Barton County and Nathan Leiker and Ramie Wasinger, from Ellis County, completed their 4-year terms. Each one of them had served additional years on their county boards before the Cottonwood District formed.&nbsp;I am not sure of the combined number of years of volunteer service the four outgoing board members have, but it would be impressive. And that is what I appreciate so much about the Extension Education system in Kansas. We are known as a grassroots organization that places oversight of our Extension programming in the hands of those closest to us.&nbsp;If you are reading this and would like to get involved with the Extension programming in the Cottonwood Extension District, please give me a call or send an e-mail. Shortly after the first of the year we will be adding members to our Program Development Committees in the four areas that Extension is involved with: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Science, 4-H and Youth Development, and Community Development.&nbsp;Don’t be shy. I look forward to your call!Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent for K-State Research &amp; Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Election results in the Cottonwood Extension District

In just a couple of weeks, we’ll be celebrating one of my favorite 4-H events in the annual Achievement Celebration!

The 4-H year begins in October with 4-H members selecting projects, setting goals, and working on those project areas throughout the year. Hopefully, along the way, they share their knowledge with friends, a school class, or present a demonstration or illustrated talk about their project. We also hope that they will find ways to give back to their communities in one or more of their project areas.

Project learning, leadership, and citizenship are hallmarks of the 4-H program and it is always important to celebrate successful learning! Often the most important lessons don’t come with blue ribbons but do come from perseverance, thinking of others, and working through challenges.

4-H members complete record books which highlight their activities and involvement for the year and provide a platform to work on written communication skills as well as provide a record for someday filling out scholarship or job applications! 4-H members are also encouraged to complete a project record for one or more of their projects. The project record goes into detail about when, where, and what project learning occurred; what challenges were faced and how they overcame the challenge. For our younger 4-H members, this includes a place for a parent to note what they believed their child learned from the program and I love reading these! Older 4-H members have an opportunity for top-placing project records to compete at the regional and, potentially, state level. While record keeping isn’t the most glamorous part of 4-H, our banks and accountants appreciate that we develop good record keeping skills!

Even putting the Achievement Celebration together is project learning as this is handled by a committee of youth and parents so they practice including others, creativity, and teamwork. We are looking forward to an evening to “Show Your True Colors” in 4-H!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579114162620.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>In just a couple of weeks, we’ll be celebrating one of my favorite 4-H events in the annual Achievement Celebration!The 4-H year begins in October with 4-H members selecting projects, setting goals, and working on those project areas throughout the year. Hopefully, along the way, they share their knowledge with friends, a school class, or present a demonstration or illustrated talk about their project. We also hope that they will find ways to give back to their communities in one or more of their project areas.Project learning, leadership, and citizenship are hallmarks of the 4-H program and it is always important to celebrate successful learning! Often the most important lessons don’t come with blue ribbons but do come from perseverance, thinking of others, and working through challenges.4-H members complete record books which highlight their activities and involvement for the year and provide a platform to work on written communication skills as well as provide a record for someday filling out scholarship or job applications! 4-H members are also encouraged to complete a project record for one or more of their projects. The project record goes into detail about when, where, and what project learning occurred; what challenges were faced and how they overcame the challenge. For our younger 4-H members, this includes a place for a parent to note what they believed their child learned from the program and I love reading these! Older 4-H members have an opportunity for top-placing project records to compete at the regional and, potentially, state level. While record keeping isn’t the most glamorous part of 4-H, our banks and accountants appreciate that we develop good record keeping skills!Even putting the Achievement Celebration together is project learning as this is handled by a committee of youth and parents so they practice including others, creativity, and teamwork. We are looking forward to an evening to “Show Your True Colors” in 4-H!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District – Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H and Youth Development related questions, email Michelle at <a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a> or call 620-793-1910.

BERAN: 'Show Your True Colors' with 4-H

As October draws to an end, so does family history month.

But Susan Schlichting, Cottonwood Extension District agent, said as the holidays approach, now is a perfect time to consider learning and recording those histories as families gather together.

"Now is the time to kind of be thinking about how you lay that groundwork for getting together and making purposeful conversations around family history as you gather with grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and to learn more about that history of your family," she said.

And with cellphones, she said documenting those histories is easier than ever.

"Hopefully people take time to write down the stories or record the stories," Schlichting said. "We all carry phones with us. They all have recording devices in them. You could record those stories and share them on digitally if writing it down is not your thing."

And while it may not seem a pressing issue, she said as time passes, treasured family memories and stories can be lost forever if care is not taken to document them.

"Get it documented, because those stories get lost over time if you don't," Schlichting said. "It happens so often in families and, and no one seems to have the interest in taking it on and running with it after they're gone. And so it does just go away."

While she said studying family history can help bring families closer together, evidence shows tangible benefits for youth.

"There's a group out of Emory University that's been doing a bunch of research about family stories and how important they are to teen development and helping kids to learn," she said. "Not only just the good stories about your family, but the challenges your family faced in the past, or maybe how they went through some up and down times and how they came through those in a good way.

"It helps the teens to become more resilient themselves because they've heard the stories of their great grandparents and the struggles they had along the way. ... If you can help instill those kinds of things in kids, they can learn that they have that strength in them as well."

Schlichting said from her past, she has seen first-hand how powerful learning family histories can be.

"I think about that as I grew up, just down the road from the family farm where we started in this country and always heard those stories about how great-great-grandma came over here with two small children by herself because she had no place to be over in the old country," she said. "Her husband had died and they were living in a house owned by a collective farm. And so he passed away and she and the kids were out on the out on the road.

"So they had to find someplace to be and they came to this country and started and formed a farm and went forward from there and in a good way, you know, so our family still has that farm in the family to this day. And (with) those kinds of stories, if you can help instill those kinds of things in kids, they can learn that they have that strength in them as well."

Along with various internet resources to document family histories available, Schlichting said 4-H could also be an asset.

"There are several 4-H project books that are out there that help kids to learn that process of telling the stories, documenting the stories and researching their family history," she said. "And they can get those through your local extension office."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635533106495.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Holidays present a perfect time to document family histories" 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=x5uxw-111ab7b-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostAs October draws to an end, so does family history month.But Susan Schlichting, Cottonwood Extension District agent, said as the holidays approach, now is a perfect time to consider learning and recording those histories as families gather together."Now is the time to kind of be thinking about how you lay that groundwork for getting together and making purposeful conversations around family history as you gather with grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and to learn more about that history of your family," she said.And with cellphones, she said documenting those histories is easier than ever."Hopefully people take time to write down the stories or record the stories," Schlichting said. "We all carry phones with us. They all have recording devices in them. You could record those stories and share them on digitally if writing it down is not your thing."And while it may not seem a pressing issue, she said as time passes, treasured family memories and stories can be lost forever if care is not taken to document them."Get it documented, because those stories get lost over time if you don't," Schlichting said. "It happens so often in families and, and no one seems to have the interest in taking it on and running with it after they're gone. And so it does just go away."While she said studying family history can help bring families closer together, evidence shows tangible benefits for youth."There's a group out of Emory University that's been doing a bunch of research about family stories and how important they are to teen development and helping kids to learn," she said. "Not only just the good stories about your family, but the challenges your family faced in the past, or maybe how they went through some up and down times and how they came through those in a good way."It helps the teens to become more resilient themselves because they've heard the stories of their great grandparents and the struggles they had along the way. ... If you can help instill those kinds of things in kids, they can learn that they have that strength in them as well."Schlichting said from her past, she has seen first-hand how powerful learning family histories can be."I think about that as I grew up, just down the road from the family farm where we started in this country and always heard those stories about how great-great-grandma came over here with two small children by herself because she had no place to be over in the old country," she said. "Her husband had died and they were living in a house owned by a collective farm. And so he passed away and she and the kids were out on the out on the road."So they had to find someplace to be and they came to this country and started and formed a farm and went forward from there and in a good way, you know, so our family still has that farm in the family to this day. And (with) those kinds of stories, if you can help instill those kinds of things in kids, they can learn that they have that strength in them as well."Along with various internet resources to document family histories available, Schlichting said 4-H could also be an asset."There are several 4-H project books that are out there that help kids to learn that process of telling the stories, documenting the stories and researching their family history," she said. "And they can get those through your local extension office."

Holidays present a perfect time to document family histories

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Cropland can be quite susceptible to wind erosion under some conditions. Winter wheat and other fall-planted crop fields also may be susceptible during periods of low cover in the winter and early spring. Recent wind conditions have been conducive to erosion given the peak wind gusts that have been recorded in Kansas over the last few days. On Thursday, the maximum wind speed recorded at the Agricultural Research Center – Hays was 45 mph. <a href="https://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/maxmin/">https://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/maxmin/</a>&nbsp;

For information on emergency measures to control wind erosion in cropland <a href="https://bit.ly/3Cu0nd9">https://bit.ly/3Cu0nd9</a> or do a search for KSU eupdate, issue 823

Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources 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 calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635523431160.jpeg" alt="Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictCropland can be quite susceptible to wind erosion under some conditions. Winter wheat and other fall-planted crop fields also may be susceptible during periods of low cover in the winter and early spring. Recent wind conditions have been conducive to erosion given the peak wind gusts that have been recorded in Kansas over the last few days. On Thursday, the maximum wind speed recorded at the Agricultural Research Center – Hays was 45 mph. <a href="https://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/maxmin/">https://mesonet.k-state.edu/weather/maxmin/</a>&nbsp;For information on emergency measures to control wind erosion in cropland <a href="https://bit.ly/3Cu0nd9">https://bit.ly/3Cu0nd9</a> or do a search for KSU eupdate, issue 823<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635523519859.png" alt="Blowing soil in Colby on Oct. 11, 2020. Photo by Lucas Haag, K-State Research and Extension" />
 <figcaption>Blowing soil in Colby on Oct. 11, 2020. Photo by Lucas Haag, K-State Research and Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources 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 calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Emergency measures to control wind erosion

Most people know family members, friends, neighbors or co-workers whose lives have been touched by some form of cancer. And, while cancer research on both prevention and treatment is ongoing, findings suggest that changes in lifestyle can reduce the risks of some cancers.

A K-State publication “Lower Your Risk of Breast Cancer” by Sandy Proctor, K-State Nutrition specialist, describes actions women can take to reduce the risk of this type of cancer. In the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cancer after skin cancer. In Kansas, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer.&nbsp;

Some risks are not controllable. If you are a female and you are over 50 your risk is higher. If you have a family member who has had breast cancer, you are also at greater risk. However, there are risks that are controllable. The first important step is to maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can increase the risk of breast cancer and losing weight can decrease the risk.&nbsp;

Another important lifestyle step is to eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruits and whole grain foods. The third important practice is to exercise. Studies have shown that women who exercise four or more hours a week have lower risk of breast cancer.&nbsp;

Limiting the amount of alcohol consumed is also important. The risk increases as the amount of alcohol increases. The use of hormone replacement therapy is also a possible risk. Check with your health care professional about alternative options.&nbsp;

A key strategy to preventing breast cancer is early detection. The most common screening is a mammogram or x-ray of the breast. If there is not a family history of breast cancer, it is suggested that women age 45-54 get a mammogram every year. Women age 55 and older can choose to have a screening every other year or continue with an annual mammogram. If there is a family history of breast cancer, your physician will likely set up a schedule with earlier screenings.&nbsp;

The full publication written by Sandy Proctor and Marcia Locke can be found at <a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3536A.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3536A.pdf</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Most people know family members, friends, neighbors or co-workers whose lives have been touched by some form of cancer. And, while cancer research on both prevention and treatment is ongoing, findings suggest that changes in lifestyle can reduce the risks of some cancers.A K-State publication “Lower Your Risk of Breast Cancer” by Sandy Proctor, K-State Nutrition specialist, describes actions women can take to reduce the risk of this type of cancer. In the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cancer after skin cancer. In Kansas, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer.&nbsp;Some risks are not controllable. If you are a female and you are over 50 your risk is higher. If you have a family member who has had breast cancer, you are also at greater risk. However, there are risks that are controllable. The first important step is to maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can increase the risk of breast cancer and losing weight can decrease the risk.&nbsp;Another important lifestyle step is to eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruits and whole grain foods. The third important practice is to exercise. Studies have shown that women who exercise four or more hours a week have lower risk of breast cancer.&nbsp;Limiting the amount of alcohol consumed is also important. The risk increases as the amount of alcohol increases. The use of hormone replacement therapy is also a possible risk. Check with your health care professional about alternative options.&nbsp;A key strategy to preventing breast cancer is early detection. The most common screening is a mammogram or x-ray of the breast. If there is not a family history of breast cancer, it is suggested that women age 45-54 get a mammogram every year. Women age 55 and older can choose to have a screening every other year or continue with an annual mammogram. If there is a family history of breast cancer, your physician will likely set up a schedule with earlier screenings.&nbsp;The full publication written by Sandy Proctor and Marcia Locke can be found at <a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3536A.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3536A.pdf</a>	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>