As the weather warms up, it is the perfect time to get outside and spend some time with your children or grandchildren. Time spent outside is good not only for&nbsp;your&nbsp;children’s ability to be physically active&nbsp;it is also&nbsp;valuable for their minds, as well.&nbsp;There are many benefits when adults spend time with children, and being outside makes the time even better. &nbsp;Shared experiences strengthen the bond between parents and children and improve the children’s emotional health which in turns encourages nurturing parent behaviors. &nbsp;There is something about the change in season and the fresh air that is good for everyone’s mental and physical health. &nbsp;Besides the environment, there is typically movement involved with being outdoors that is also good for physical and mental health.&nbsp;

So many things are happening outside this time of the year. &nbsp;Trees are growing, plants are no longer dormant, there are insects everywhere and other parts of the natural environment are starting to emerge. Getting outside is a really good opportunity to spend time with your family just having a good time.&nbsp;There can be so many good lessons in getting outside to explore nature and learn about science. &nbsp;Kids are instinctively attracted to nature study.

Outside play is usually less structured which allows for children to explore things&nbsp;they&nbsp;like to do as well as be creative. &nbsp;Unplanned activity gives your children an opportunity to&nbsp;lead the play.&nbsp;They are continually being told what to do and how to do it, so going outside opens up the possibilities for them to engage in self-directed play. Let them choose what they’re going to do. That’s really empowering for them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following a child’s lead during play helps them respond better when&nbsp;you&nbsp;need to&nbsp;them to&nbsp;follow your directions.

Play&nbsp;is truly&nbsp;the work of early childhood.&nbsp;&nbsp;For children, they’re completely learning about their world through play. They are learning cause and effect – they are beginning to understand what happens if I do ‘this’, which&nbsp;builds their&nbsp;self-esteem.&nbsp;Children&nbsp;learn they can&nbsp;make&nbsp;things happen by exploring their world.&nbsp;It can be simple things, such as throwing rocks or drawing in the mud.&nbsp;Being outdoors is an easy way for children to learn&nbsp;they can make things happen.&nbsp;Parents can provide&nbsp;materials for play such as water, sand, chalk, outdoor paint, balls and bubbles.

Outdoor play&nbsp;provides an array of benefits for children’s development. Large motor skills are strengthened as well as coordination and balance. &nbsp;Having&nbsp;a&nbsp;regular outside time during the day teaches children about routines and can&nbsp;they&nbsp;<a></a>learn to&nbsp;anticipate the enjoyment of outside time. &nbsp;Finally, when exploring the outdoors children can have an opportunity to strengthen their social skills and make new friends. &nbsp;Being&nbsp;outside usually makes everyone feel better after the long cold winter. &nbsp;The sun and wind feel good but at the end of the day everyone is tired which leads to a good night’s rest. &nbsp;Time spent outside benefits everyone physically and mentally&nbsp;and is good stress relief!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>As the weather warms up, it is the perfect time to get outside and spend some time with your children or grandchildren. Time spent outside is good not only for&nbsp;your&nbsp;children’s ability to be physically active&nbsp;it is also&nbsp;valuable for their minds, as well.&nbsp;There are many benefits when adults spend time with children, and being outside makes the time even better. &nbsp;Shared experiences strengthen the bond between parents and children and improve the children’s emotional health which in turns encourages nurturing parent behaviors. &nbsp;There is something about the change in season and the fresh air that is good for everyone’s mental and physical health. &nbsp;Besides the environment, there is typically movement involved with being outdoors that is also good for physical and mental health.&nbsp;So many things are happening outside this time of the year. &nbsp;Trees are growing, plants are no longer dormant, there are insects everywhere and other parts of the natural environment are starting to emerge. Getting outside is a really good opportunity to spend time with your family just having a good time.&nbsp;There can be so many good lessons in getting outside to explore nature and learn about science. &nbsp;Kids are instinctively attracted to nature study.Outside play is usually less structured which allows for children to explore things&nbsp;they&nbsp;like to do as well as be creative. &nbsp;Unplanned activity gives your children an opportunity to&nbsp;lead the play.&nbsp;They are continually being told what to do and how to do it, so going outside opens up the possibilities for them to engage in self-directed play. Let them choose what they’re going to do. That’s really empowering for them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following a child’s lead during play helps them respond better when&nbsp;you&nbsp;need to&nbsp;them to&nbsp;follow your directions.Play&nbsp;is truly&nbsp;the work of early childhood.&nbsp;&nbsp;For children, they’re completely learning about their world through play. They are learning cause and effect – they are beginning to understand what happens if I do ‘this’, which&nbsp;builds their&nbsp;self-esteem.&nbsp;Children&nbsp;learn they can&nbsp;make&nbsp;things happen by exploring their world.&nbsp;It can be simple things, such as throwing rocks or drawing in the mud.&nbsp;Being outdoors is an easy way for children to learn&nbsp;they can make things happen.&nbsp;Parents can provide&nbsp;materials for play such as water, sand, chalk, outdoor paint, balls and bubbles.Outdoor play&nbsp;provides an array of benefits for children’s development. Large motor skills are strengthened as well as coordination and balance. &nbsp;Having&nbsp;a&nbsp;regular outside time during the day teaches children about routines and can&nbsp;they&nbsp;<a></a>learn to&nbsp;anticipate the enjoyment of outside time. &nbsp;Finally, when exploring the outdoors children can have an opportunity to strengthen their social skills and make new friends. &nbsp;Being&nbsp;outside usually makes everyone feel better after the long cold winter. &nbsp;The sun and wind feel good but at the end of the day everyone is tired which leads to a good night’s rest. &nbsp;Time spent outside benefits everyone physically and mentally&nbsp;and is good stress relief!Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

KOERNER: Get outside and play

Crabgrass preventers are another name for preemergence herbicides that prevent crabgrass seeds from developing into mature plants. Many people have a somewhat foggy idea of how they work and assume they kill the weed seed.&nbsp; Such is not the case. They do not kill the seed or even keep the seed from germinating but rather kill the young plant after it germinates.&nbsp; Therefore, they do not prevent germination but prevent emergence.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Crabgrass preventers are just that – preventers. With few exceptions they have no effect on existing crabgrass plants, so they must be applied before germination. Additionally, preventers do not last forever once applied to the soil.&nbsp; Microorganisms and natural processes begin to gradually break them down soon after they are applied. If some products are applied too early, they may have lost much of their strength by the time they are needed. Most crabgrass preventers are fairly ineffective after about 60 days, but there is considerable variation among products.&nbsp;

For most of Kansas, crabgrass typically begins to germinate around May 1 or a little later. April 15 is normally a good target date for applying preventer because it gives active ingredients time to evenly disperse in the soil before crabgrass germination starts.&nbsp; Even better, base timing on the bloom of ornamental plants. The Eastern Redbud tree is a good choice for this purpose. When the trees in your area approach full bloom, apply crabgrass preventer. A follow-up application will be needed about 8 weeks later unless you are using Dimension or Barricade.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dimension and Barricade are the only two products that give season-long control of crabgrass from a single application. In fact, they can be applied earlier than April 15 and still have sufficient residual strength to last the season. Barricade can even be applied in late fall for crabgrass control the next season.&nbsp;

Dimension can be applied as early as March 1. Because of the added flexibility in timing, these products are favorites of lawn care companies who have many customers to service in the spring. Though Dimension is usually not applied as early as Barricade, it is the herbicide of choice if it must be applied later than recommended. It is the exception to the rule that preemergence herbicides do not kill existing weeds. Dimension can kill crabgrass as long as it is young (two- to three-leaf stage). Dimension is also the best choice if treating a lawn that was planted late last fall. Normally a preemergence herbicide is not recommended unless the lawn has been mowed two to four times. But Dimension is kind to young tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass seedlings and some formulations can be applied as early as two weeks after the first sign of germination. However, read the label of the specific product you wish to use to ensure that this use is allowed. Lawns established in the fall can be safely treated with Dimension the following spring even if they have not been mowed.&nbsp;

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/2019/11/1573141354634.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>Crabgrass preventers are another name for preemergence herbicides that prevent crabgrass seeds from developing into mature plants. Many people have a somewhat foggy idea of how they work and assume they kill the weed seed.&nbsp; Such is not the case. They do not kill the seed or even keep the seed from germinating but rather kill the young plant after it germinates.&nbsp; Therefore, they do not prevent germination but prevent emergence.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Crabgrass preventers are just that – preventers. With few exceptions they have no effect on existing crabgrass plants, so they must be applied before germination. Additionally, preventers do not last forever once applied to the soil.&nbsp; Microorganisms and natural processes begin to gradually break them down soon after they are applied. If some products are applied too early, they may have lost much of their strength by the time they are needed. Most crabgrass preventers are fairly ineffective after about 60 days, but there is considerable variation among products.&nbsp;For most of Kansas, crabgrass typically begins to germinate around May 1 or a little later. April 15 is normally a good target date for applying preventer because it gives active ingredients time to evenly disperse in the soil before crabgrass germination starts.&nbsp; Even better, base timing on the bloom of ornamental plants. The Eastern Redbud tree is a good choice for this purpose. When the trees in your area approach full bloom, apply crabgrass preventer. A follow-up application will be needed about 8 weeks later unless you are using Dimension or Barricade.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dimension and Barricade are the only two products that give season-long control of crabgrass from a single application. In fact, they can be applied earlier than April 15 and still have sufficient residual strength to last the season. Barricade can even be applied in late fall for crabgrass control the next season.&nbsp;Dimension can be applied as early as March 1. Because of the added flexibility in timing, these products are favorites of lawn care companies who have many customers to service in the spring. Though Dimension is usually not applied as early as Barricade, it is the herbicide of choice if it must be applied later than recommended. It is the exception to the rule that preemergence herbicides do not kill existing weeds. Dimension can kill crabgrass as long as it is young (two- to three-leaf stage). Dimension is also the best choice if treating a lawn that was planted late last fall. Normally a preemergence herbicide is not recommended unless the lawn has been mowed two to four times. But Dimension is kind to young tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass seedlings and some formulations can be applied as early as two weeks after the first sign of germination. However, read the label of the specific product you wish to use to ensure that this use is allowed. Lawns established in the fall can be safely treated with Dimension the following spring even if they have not been mowed.&nbsp;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: Tips on preventing crabgrass in lawns

The&nbsp;good and&nbsp;bad&nbsp;processed foods are everywhere. The term “processed” applies to food that has been altered from a natural state in any way. Minimally processed foods can have a place in healthy diets. Examples include low-fat milk, precut fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables and fruit, roasted nuts, and whole-grain breads. Also, milk and juice that has been fortified with vitamin D and calcium, breakfast cereals with added fiber, canned vegetables, and canned fruits packed in water or natural juice can, and should be, part of a healthy diet, especially when fresh versions are not available or affordable.

Diets that are high in ultra-processed foods have been linked with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, excess calorie intake, and weight gain. This is of great concern as nearly 60% of calories consumed in the U.S. are in the form of&nbsp;ultra-processed&nbsp;food.

Ultra-processed foods have gone through multiple processing, like heating, freezing, milling, dehydrating, and blanching. During these processes, the food’s structure is changed and often other ingredients are added. You will find ultra-processed foods in every food category and these are appealing because they are ready to eat, affordable, and tasty. Examples of ultra-processed foods include: packaged snacks, crackers, chips, cookies, pastries, candies, cakes, soda, packaged breads/rolls, sweetened cereals, boxed pasta and rice dishes, deli meats, hot dogs, sausage, instant soup mixes, and frozen ready-to-eat foods like pizza, entrees, side dishes, and desserts.

In today’s food environment, it is unrealistic to think you can avoid ultra-processed food entirely. Here are some helpful tips:&nbsp;

• Keep track of how much your diet is made up of these foods and then make a few healthier substitutions each week. •When you go to the grocery store, shop the perimeter. The center isles are likely to contain ultra-processed foods. •Prepare meals at home more often and use whole, unprocessed foods. Become an informed consumer and know what you are eating. •Read the ingredient list on food labels and look for added sugar, fat, and salt; substances that are not typically found in a kitchen like hydrogenated oils, colors, emulsifiers, thickeners; and chemical-sounding names you can’t pronounce. These are good indicators that the item is probably ultra-processed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>The&nbsp;good and&nbsp;bad&nbsp;processed foods are everywhere. The term “processed” applies to food that has been altered from a natural state in any way. Minimally processed foods can have a place in healthy diets. Examples include low-fat milk, precut fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables and fruit, roasted nuts, and whole-grain breads. Also, milk and juice that has been fortified with vitamin D and calcium, breakfast cereals with added fiber, canned vegetables, and canned fruits packed in water or natural juice can, and should be, part of a healthy diet, especially when fresh versions are not available or affordable.Diets that are high in ultra-processed foods have been linked with higher risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, excess calorie intake, and weight gain. This is of great concern as nearly 60% of calories consumed in the U.S. are in the form of&nbsp;ultra-processed&nbsp;food.Ultra-processed foods have gone through multiple processing, like heating, freezing, milling, dehydrating, and blanching. During these processes, the food’s structure is changed and often other ingredients are added. You will find ultra-processed foods in every food category and these are appealing because they are ready to eat, affordable, and tasty. Examples of ultra-processed foods include: packaged snacks, crackers, chips, cookies, pastries, candies, cakes, soda, packaged breads/rolls, sweetened cereals, boxed pasta and rice dishes, deli meats, hot dogs, sausage, instant soup mixes, and frozen ready-to-eat foods like pizza, entrees, side dishes, and desserts.In today’s food environment, it is unrealistic to think you can avoid ultra-processed food entirely. Here are some helpful tips:&nbsp;• Keep track of how much your diet is made up of these foods and then make a few healthier substitutions each week. •When you go to the grocery store, shop the perimeter. The center isles are likely to contain ultra-processed foods. •Prepare meals at home more often and use whole, unprocessed foods. Become an informed consumer and know what you are eating. •Read the ingredient list on food labels and look for added sugar, fat, and salt; substances that are not typically found in a kitchen like hydrogenated oils, colors, emulsifiers, thickeners; and chemical-sounding names you can’t pronounce. These are good indicators that the item is probably ultra-processed.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

KOERNER: The good and the bad of processed foods

If you have been following me for the last few weeks, I have been highlighting some of the forty 4-H projects that are available in Kansas!&nbsp;This week’s project highlights Horticulture, Fiber Arts, and Geology which are all good reasons to get outside and explore!

The Horticulture project seems like it would be just be about gardening but the curriculum starts with when, where, and what to plant and continues through selling produce, studying pollination, and food industry careers. Along the way, youth learn about cool versus warm season vegetables, plant parts, and garden tools. Youth also explore seed varieties and preventative pest control. More and more families are interested in growing their own fruit and vegetables and Horticulture is a great project for families to work together!

I love to see the continued activity in our Fiber Arts projects. These include knitting, crochet, quilting, macramé, cross-stitch and other needle work, rug-making, and spinning and weaving. During a day camp last summer at Dilly &amp; Doc, youth used a stick from the yard to make the&nbsp;start of a macramé plant hanger which combined Fiber Arts and Horticulture! Learning about different fibers can provide opportunities to explore how a variety of yarns are made and dyed. More advanced 4-H members may purchase wool and dye it themselves before turning&nbsp;it&nbsp;<a></a>into an item as part of this project.&nbsp;

For youth who love to explore outdoors and always have a pocket full of treasures, the Geology project may be a great fit for them! 4-H Youth learn about rocks, minerals, and fossils. This begins in the local area and expands across Kansas and other regions as the project develops. In addition to collecting a variety of specimens, youth practice record-keeping as they log the location and type of each sample found. They also learn about geological formations as well as types and impacts of erosion. A state 4-H geology trip is scheduled each year in a different part of Kansas providing hands-on learning!

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668177490614.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure>If you have been following me for the last few weeks, I have been highlighting some of the forty 4-H projects that are available in Kansas!&nbsp;This week’s project highlights Horticulture, Fiber Arts, and Geology which are all good reasons to get outside and explore!The Horticulture project seems like it would be just be about gardening but the curriculum starts with when, where, and what to plant and continues through selling produce, studying pollination, and food industry careers. Along the way, youth learn about cool versus warm season vegetables, plant parts, and garden tools. Youth also explore seed varieties and preventative pest control. More and more families are interested in growing their own fruit and vegetables and Horticulture is a great project for families to work together!I love to see the continued activity in our Fiber Arts projects. These include knitting, crochet, quilting, macramé, cross-stitch and other needle work, rug-making, and spinning and weaving. During a day camp last summer at Dilly &amp; Doc, youth used a stick from the yard to make the&nbsp;start of a macramé plant hanger which combined Fiber Arts and Horticulture! Learning about different fibers can provide opportunities to explore how a variety of yarns are made and dyed. More advanced 4-H members may purchase wool and dye it themselves before turning&nbsp;it&nbsp;<a></a>into an item as part of this project.&nbsp;For youth who love to explore outdoors and always have a pocket full of treasures, the Geology project may be a great fit for them! 4-H Youth learn about rocks, minerals, and fossils. This begins in the local area and expands across Kansas and other regions as the project develops. In addition to collecting a variety of specimens, youth practice record-keeping as they log the location and type of each sample found. They also learn about geological formations as well as types and impacts of erosion. A state 4-H geology trip is scheduled each year in a different part of Kansas providing hands-on learning!If you are interested in learning more about&nbsp;these or other&nbsp;4-H projects, check out kansas4-h.org in the Projects section!&nbsp;All projects include communications skills, record keeping,&nbsp;career connections,&nbsp;and opportunities for leadership and community service!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District&nbsp;– Barton&nbsp;Office at&nbsp;620-793-1910.

BERAN: Horticulture, fiber arts, geology 4-H project insights

On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger and Cottonwood Extension district agent Stacy Campbell, discuss area resources for plants and landscaping in Ellis County.

<div><iframe title="As spring approaches area resources available for plants and landscaping" 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=ykxrt-13cb44f-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger and Cottonwood Extension district agent Stacy Campbell, discuss area resources for plants and landscaping in Ellis County.

🎙 Post Podcast: As spring approaches area resources available for plants and landscaping

Tractor farm safety courses will soon be offered by area
K-State Extension district offices. 

The courses, commonly known as HOSTA, or Hazardous Occupation
Safety Training for Agriculture, are a federal requirement
for 14- and 15-year-old kids who plan to work on a farm that is not family owned
and operated, according to Stacy Campbell, Cottonwood Extension District agent.

Area courses include a session on April 22 in Hill City beginning
at 8 a.m., with pre-registration recommended before April 18 by contacting the
local Extension office.

“We do that every year, usually that last weekend in April,”
Campbell said. “I will be going and
helping teach so I can always take kids from here in Ellis County and could
even pick some kids up from Trego County on the way.”

<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/e/area-extension-districts-plans-tractor-safety-courses-for-youth/">Campbell said the course is a full-day, intense course that
includes instruction on machinery maintenance and safety, instruction on how to
stop bleeding and discussion on how to prevent farm accidents. </a>

“We go over some machinery maintenance and how to check
different things. So it's a full day …intense course, but we give them breaks in
and we kind of recap everything, and they take a test at the end of the day,” he
said.

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/9c4f797a-3c5c-4d92-8456-7879bda28896">Another
course is scheduled in Russell on the same day at 8:15 a.m., with registration
due by April 14. On April 29, a course is scheduled in Beloit and in Salina on
May 25.</a>

Campbell emphasized the importance of safety in agriculture,
as it is one of the most hazardous occupations out there. 

“It can be tragic,” he said. “Oftentimes, if they would just
shut the machinery off when they're doing something, that would probably
alleviate a lot of things. So, you know, we talk about those types of things and
just try to kind of bring it home to those kids to be safe.”

“We even have somebody in there coming in again this year,
talking about losing their son in a farm accident,” he said. “Just kind of
driving that point home to these kids that they they're not bulletproof. Nobody
is, and accidents do happen.”

The course also includes instruction on how to operate farm
machinery safely, with follow-up with employers after the student has practical
time working with the equipment with supervision.

That training highlights an ongoing focus on safety
in the industry.

“People get complacent," Campbell said. "We know,
unfortunately, in agriculture, quite a few have a fair amount of the injuries
or deaths. ... We talk
about those types of things and just try to kind of bring it home to
those kids to be safe because agriculture is, and will unfortunately, probably
remain, one of the most hazardous occupations out there."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679689278799.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostTractor farm safety courses will soon be offered by area
K-State Extension district offices. The courses, commonly known as HOSTA, or Hazardous Occupation
Safety Training for Agriculture, are a federal requirement
for 14- and 15-year-old kids who plan to work on a farm that is not family owned
and operated, according to Stacy Campbell, Cottonwood Extension District agent.Area courses include a session on April 22 in Hill City beginning
at 8 a.m., with pre-registration recommended before April 18 by contacting the
local Extension office.<div><iframe title="Area extension districts plans tractor safety courses for youth" 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=ymm9n-13c4e01-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>The cost of the program is $15.“We do that every year, usually that last weekend in April,”
Campbell said. “I will be going and
helping teach so I can always take kids from here in Ellis County and could
even pick some kids up from Trego County on the way.”<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/e/area-extension-districts-plans-tractor-safety-courses-for-youth/">Campbell said the course is a full-day, intense course that
includes instruction on machinery maintenance and safety, instruction on how to
stop bleeding and discussion on how to prevent farm accidents. </a>“We go over some machinery maintenance and how to check
different things. So it's a full day …intense course, but we give them breaks in
and we kind of recap everything, and they take a test at the end of the day,” he
said.<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/9c4f797a-3c5c-4d92-8456-7879bda28896">Another
course is scheduled in Russell on the same day at 8:15 a.m., with registration
due by April 14. On April 29, a course is scheduled in Beloit and in Salina on
May 25.</a>Campbell emphasized the importance of safety in agriculture,
as it is one of the most hazardous occupations out there. “It can be tragic,” he said. “Oftentimes, if they would just
shut the machinery off when they're doing something, that would probably
alleviate a lot of things. So, you know, we talk about those types of things and
just try to kind of bring it home to those kids to be safe.”“We even have somebody in there coming in again this year,
talking about losing their son in a farm accident,” he said. “Just kind of
driving that point home to these kids that they they're not bulletproof. Nobody
is, and accidents do happen.”The course also includes instruction on how to operate farm
machinery safely, with follow-up with employers after the student has practical
time working with the equipment with supervision.That training highlights an ongoing focus on safety
in the industry.“People get complacent," Campbell said. "We know,
unfortunately, in agriculture, quite a few have a fair amount of the injuries
or deaths. ... We talk
about those types of things and just try to kind of bring it home to
those kids to be safe because agriculture is, and will unfortunately, probably
remain, one of the most hazardous occupations out there."

🎙 Tractor farm safety courses offered by K-State Extension

Eating healthy can be a challenge with busy lifestyles, but small changes can benefit your overall health. Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee encourages daily physical activity and replacing some foods with more nutritious options.&nbsp;

“The concept of nutrition includes choosing healthful foods, then after consumption, the body breaks the foods down into the nutrients that provide fuel for our bodies. So, for example, a fresh orange would be more nutritious than a can of orange soda,” Blakeslee said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Blakeslee suggests keeping fruits and vegetables easily accessible, selecting whole grain products, drinking water or unsweetened beverages and replacing salt with spices and herbs.&nbsp;

Improving health at home, school or work can look like setting reminders to get up and move every hour, if possible, or using the stairs at work to add more movement, Blakeslee said.&nbsp;

“Every little bit counts. Try a new fruit or vegetable each week as a family,” Blakeslee said.&nbsp;

Blakeslee offers tips to improve nutritional decisions at home such as:&nbsp;

•Plan meals and snacks.•Make a grocery list to match that plan and stick with the list.•Eat a variety of foods from all food groups.•If fresh produce is not available, canned, frozen or dried can be a great choice.•Avoid meal plans that specify restricting certain foods or food groups.•Learn to cook at home and make it a family activity. When kids actively help prepare meals, they are more likely to eat what they make.&nbsp;

“Remember that food and eating nutritious food should be a happy occasion to create memories and traditions,” Blakeslee said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Eating healthy can be a challenge with busy lifestyles, but small changes can benefit your overall health. Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee encourages daily physical activity and replacing some foods with more nutritious options.&nbsp;“The concept of nutrition includes choosing healthful foods, then after consumption, the body breaks the foods down into the nutrients that provide fuel for our bodies. So, for example, a fresh orange would be more nutritious than a can of orange soda,” Blakeslee said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Blakeslee suggests keeping fruits and vegetables easily accessible, selecting whole grain products, drinking water or unsweetened beverages and replacing salt with spices and herbs.&nbsp;Improving health at home, school or work can look like setting reminders to get up and move every hour, if possible, or using the stairs at work to add more movement, Blakeslee said.&nbsp;“Every little bit counts. Try a new fruit or vegetable each week as a family,” Blakeslee said.&nbsp;Blakeslee offers tips to improve nutritional decisions at home such as:&nbsp;•Plan meals and snacks.•Make a grocery list to match that plan and stick with the list.•Eat a variety of foods from all food groups.•If fresh produce is not available, canned, frozen or dried can be a great choice.•Avoid meal plans that specify restricting certain foods or food groups.•Learn to cook at home and make it a family activity. When kids actively help prepare meals, they are more likely to eat what they make.&nbsp;“Remember that food and eating nutritious food should be a happy occasion to create memories and traditions,” Blakeslee said.&nbsp;Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

KOERNER: March is National Nutrition Month 

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension district agent Stacy Campbell discusses upcoming tractor safety courses.

<div><iframe title="Area extension districts plans tractor safety courses for youth" 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=ymm9n-13c4e01-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Cottonwood Extension district agent Stacy Campbell discusses upcoming tractor safety courses.

🎙 Post Podcast: Area Extension districts plans tractor safety courses for youth

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension

The National Sorghum Yield Contest embraces four objectives:

•Improve sorghum yields across the country,•Transfer knowledge between growers,•Identify top sorghum producers in each state,•Recognize growers for their outstanding yields.

This article contains information from the KSRE publication MF3615&nbsp;National Sorghum Yield Contest: A Summary for Kansas.&nbsp;The full publication is available online at:&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3615.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3615.pdf</a>

Results&nbsp;- five years of data were summarized (2013-2017) from the National Sorghum Yield Contest with a focus on Kansas entries. The data analyzed comprised a total of 175 observations from 38 counties. Most entries were for dryland fields (63%) with an average yield of 139 bushels per acre. For irrigated fields, the average water application was 8 inches, with a yield of 161 bushels per acre. Data entries were split in three groups (high, medium, and low) according to their yield values.

•The high-yielding group included values from 175 to 230 bushels per acre, with an average of 190 bushels per acre. •The medium-yielding group included values from 125 to 175 bushels per acre, with an average value of 150 bushels per acre. •The low-yielding values ranged from 60 to 125 bushels per acre, with an average yield of 110 bushels per acre.

Grain yield reported by the National Agricultural Statistics Service from USDA for the sorghum yield from the same period (2013-2017) ranged from 59 to 91 bushels per acre. Thus, the data from the yield contest is roughly two-fold above the state average.

Conventional tillage presented similar frequencies across yield groups. The high-yielding group presented a large proportion of fields with reduced-till; yet this factor was not significant to explain the yield variations. Irrigated fields prevailed in the high-yielding group 72%;diminishing their frequency within the medium- and low-yielding groups (34 and 19%, respectively).

Crop Management&nbsp;-management practices explained close to 80% of the yield variation. Irrigation was the factor accounting for a large proportion of the yield variation (21%), followed by nitrogen fertilization (18%), and changes in planting date (11%). Row spacing did not vary among yield groups. Most entries (88%) presented a row spacing of 30 inches. The remaining 12% had other variations with narrower rows (10 to 20 inches). No significant yield differences were observed relating to row spacing. High-yielding planting dates ranged from May 1 to June 1. A greater proportion of late-planting dates (after June 1) were found in medium- to low-yielding groups. No distinctive pattern was found regarding plant density among yield groups Irrigated fields had higher seeding rates. Observations with nitrogen fertilization of less than 200 pounds per acre were the most frequent.&nbsp;These low nitrogen fertilization rates were less frequent in the high-yielding group, with the high-yielding group presenting a high frequency of high phosphorus rates (P&gt;25 pounds per acre) and lowest proportion of no phosphorus fertilization.&nbsp;

Summary&nbsp;- the reported management practices implemented by farmers in the five years (2013-2017) analyzed from the National Sorghum Yield Contest&nbsp;impacted the sorghum yields in different magnitudes. The result of the study indicated that the use of irrigation and adequate nitrogen fertilization is critical to maximize sorghum grain yields in Kansas. In addition, planting before June was shown to be a relevant strategy to maximize sorghum yields across the different production regions.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by email at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood ExtensionThe National Sorghum Yield Contest embraces four objectives:•Improve sorghum yields across the country,•Transfer knowledge between growers,•Identify top sorghum producers in each state,•Recognize growers for their outstanding yields.This article contains information from the KSRE publication MF3615&nbsp;National Sorghum Yield Contest: A Summary for Kansas.&nbsp;The full publication is available online at:&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3615.pdf">https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3615.pdf</a>Results&nbsp;- five years of data were summarized (2013-2017) from the National Sorghum Yield Contest with a focus on Kansas entries. The data analyzed comprised a total of 175 observations from 38 counties. Most entries were for dryland fields (63%) with an average yield of 139 bushels per acre. For irrigated fields, the average water application was 8 inches, with a yield of 161 bushels per acre. Data entries were split in three groups (high, medium, and low) according to their yield values.•The high-yielding group included values from 175 to 230 bushels per acre, with an average of 190 bushels per acre. •The medium-yielding group included values from 125 to 175 bushels per acre, with an average value of 150 bushels per acre. •The low-yielding values ranged from 60 to 125 bushels per acre, with an average yield of 110 bushels per acre. Grain yield reported by the National Agricultural Statistics Service from USDA for the sorghum yield from the same period (2013-2017) ranged from 59 to 91 bushels per acre. Thus, the data from the yield contest is roughly two-fold above the state average.Conventional tillage presented similar frequencies across yield groups. The high-yielding group presented a large proportion of fields with reduced-till; yet this factor was not significant to explain the yield variations. Irrigated fields prevailed in the high-yielding group 72%;diminishing their frequency within the medium- and low-yielding groups (34 and 19%, respectively).Crop Management&nbsp;-management practices explained close to 80% of the yield variation. Irrigation was the factor accounting for a large proportion of the yield variation (21%), followed by nitrogen fertilization (18%), and changes in planting date (11%). Row spacing did not vary among yield groups. Most entries (88%) presented a row spacing of 30 inches. The remaining 12% had other variations with narrower rows (10 to 20 inches). No significant yield differences were observed relating to row spacing. High-yielding planting dates ranged from May 1 to June 1. A greater proportion of late-planting dates (after June 1) were found in medium- to low-yielding groups. No distinctive pattern was found regarding plant density among yield groups Irrigated fields had higher seeding rates. Observations with nitrogen fertilization of less than 200 pounds per acre were the most frequent.&nbsp;These low nitrogen fertilization rates were less frequent in the high-yielding group, with the high-yielding group presenting a high frequency of high phosphorus rates (P&gt;25 pounds per acre) and lowest proportion of no phosphorus fertilization.&nbsp;Summary&nbsp;- the reported management practices implemented by farmers in the five years (2013-2017) analyzed from the National Sorghum Yield Contest&nbsp;impacted the sorghum yields in different magnitudes. The result of the study indicated that the use of irrigation and adequate nitrogen fertilization is critical to maximize sorghum grain yields in Kansas. In addition, planting before June was shown to be a relevant strategy to maximize sorghum yields across the different production regions.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by email at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

CAMPBELL: National Sorghum Yield Contest: A summary for Kansas

This week’s 4-H project highlight is Everything STEM! Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math cross over to so many day-to-day areas!

When we think of STEM, we usually think of robotics or Unmanned Aerial Systems but 4-H STEM project learning includes AG Mechanics (welding), Architectural Block Construction&nbsp;(ABC), Computer Science, Electricity/Electronics, Renewable Energy, Rocketry/Aerospace, and Small Engines!&nbsp;

Ag mechanics, small engines, electricity, and ABC all have the potential for pursuing jobs in welding, mechanic work, electricians,&nbsp;drafting,&nbsp;and construction! Additionally, those same interests can lead youth to pursue careers in&nbsp;vo-ag/vo-tech education, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, architecture or architectural engineering.

The rocketry part of the STEM project has been around the longest and helps youth explore all the pieces of aerospace.

You never know what youth with an interest in renewable energy or unmanned aerial systems will develop the next technology to solve issues for all of us! An important part of the STEM project areas is to develop with scientific skills of hypothesis, experimentation, recording of results and the always important, patience and perseverance.

When I think of the wealth of STEM-related jobs in our area, I am amazed at the opportunities. Many manufacturing jobs require STEM skills or understanding to progress. Crop and livestock companies are increasingly using unmanned aerial systems to check watersheds, irrigation systems,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a></a>pest or weed management issues without needing to disturb the soil.&nbsp;There is always a need for good electricians and builders!

In particular, the Ag Mechanics/Welding area has really grown in the last year and I’m excited to continue to&nbsp;see that growth. ABC continues to challenge youth&nbsp;to think spatially and sets them up for construction work, architecture, or construction science.&nbsp;Rocketry will continue to be one of our bigger STEM project areas as it includes the fun of building and then launching your creation!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668177490614.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. " />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. </figcaption>
 </figure>This week’s 4-H project highlight is Everything STEM! Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math cross over to so many day-to-day areas!When we think of STEM, we usually think of robotics or Unmanned Aerial Systems but 4-H STEM project learning includes AG Mechanics (welding), Architectural Block Construction&nbsp;(ABC), Computer Science, Electricity/Electronics, Renewable Energy, Rocketry/Aerospace, and Small Engines!&nbsp;Ag mechanics, small engines, electricity, and ABC all have the potential for pursuing jobs in welding, mechanic work, electricians,&nbsp;drafting,&nbsp;and construction! Additionally, those same interests can lead youth to pursue careers in&nbsp;vo-ag/vo-tech education, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, architecture or architectural engineering.The rocketry part of the STEM project has been around the longest and helps youth explore all the pieces of aerospace.You never know what youth with an interest in renewable energy or unmanned aerial systems will develop the next technology to solve issues for all of us! An important part of the STEM project areas is to develop with scientific skills of hypothesis, experimentation, recording of results and the always important, patience and perseverance.When I think of the wealth of STEM-related jobs in our area, I am amazed at the opportunities. Many manufacturing jobs require STEM skills or understanding to progress. Crop and livestock companies are increasingly using unmanned aerial systems to check watersheds, irrigation systems,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a></a>pest or weed management issues without needing to disturb the soil.&nbsp;There is always a need for good electricians and builders!In particular, the Ag Mechanics/Welding area has really grown in the last year and I’m excited to continue to&nbsp;see that growth. ABC continues to challenge youth&nbsp;to think spatially and sets them up for construction work, architecture, or construction science.&nbsp;Rocketry will continue to be one of our bigger STEM project areas as it includes the fun of building and then launching your creation!If you are interested in learning more about&nbsp;these or other&nbsp;4-H projects, check out kansas4-h.org in the Projects section!&nbsp;All projects include communications skills, record keeping,&nbsp;career connections,&nbsp;and opportunities for leadership and community service!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District&nbsp;– Barton&nbsp;Office at&nbsp;620-793-1910.

BERAN: Spotlight on STEM 4-H projects

Registration
is open now for the K-State Research and Extension’s Walk Kansas program.

The annual
eight-week activity challenge is designed to encourage activity in children and
adults, set to begin on March 26.

“We try
to change things up a little bit each year,” said Cottonwood Extension District Family and Community Wellness agent Monique Koerner. 

This
year, participants can select from several team challenges, from 435 to 1,200 miles.

&nbsp;“Typically, it's a group activity,” Koerner
said. “So, people get teams of four to six people together – you can also do it
solo as well – but there are typically three different trails that people can
choose from based on the activity challenge that they want for those eight
weeks.”

Whether
in a team or solo, she said the goal of the program is to help participants stay
healthy.

“Staying
active and having healthy eating habits can actually reduce our chances of
developing some of those chronic diseases, heart disease, diabetes, those types
of things,” Koerner said. “As we get older, it's important to focus a little
bit more on those things and maybe be more intentional. And so I think that's
what Walk Kansas brings to the table.”

The
program has a dedicated website, <a href="https://www.walkkansasonline.org/">walkkansasonline.org</a>,
where participants register and track the progress of area teams.

“You can
watch your trail on the map as well,” Koerner said. &nbsp;“So, it just makes it a little more fun when
you're doing it together as a team and can choose a trail and watch your
progress on the map and see what other teams are doing.”

There's
a whole health breakdown on it as well with tabs for physical activity
guidelines, basics of exercise and strength training, healthy eating guidelines
including nutritional recipes, stress management, relationship and memory improvement
tips, she said.

While
the website has various tools for encouraging healthy behaviors, only tracking
walk time or steps is required.

“You
also get the weekly newsletter, and you'll have access to all the events I have
planned,” Koerner said. ”And in Ellis County, you'll have access to the online
tracking system, and there's also an app too, so you can sync your devices. So,
that makes it super easy to keep track of your activity.”

Along with the statewide program, the Cottonwood
District participants will have the opportunity to attend a six-week virtual learning series focused on Mediterranean-style eating patterns.

“It's
called Med instead of meds,” Koerner said. “It's just focusing on healthier
eating habits rather than using medications to stay healthy.”

“I'll be
doing some programming around Walk Kansas as well. What we decided to do was
some watch parties and walk parties. The watch parties will meet up at the
office and watch the webinars on Mediterranean-style eating habits, and then
we'll also take some walks together.”

Registration
is not locked into a location, and participants from outside Kansas are welcome,
but participants will be able to see area activities after selecting an Extension
district.

In the
Cottonwood District, the program will wrap up with a taste of what participants learned.

“We will
have like a taste testing event at the end of the program in May, where we'll
be able to gather and mix some of the recipes and see what they taste like,”
Koerner said.

<div><iframe title="Registration open for Walk Kansas" allowtransparency="true" height="600" 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=d3yhp-13b25aa-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=600" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostRegistration
is open now for the K-State Research and Extension’s Walk Kansas program.The annual
eight-week activity challenge is designed to encourage activity in children and
adults, set to begin on March 26.“We try
to change things up a little bit each year,” said Cottonwood Extension District Family and Community Wellness agent Monique Koerner. This
year, participants can select from several team challenges, from 435 to 1,200 miles.&nbsp;“Typically, it's a group activity,” Koerner
said. “So, people get teams of four to six people together – you can also do it
solo as well – but there are typically three different trails that people can
choose from based on the activity challenge that they want for those eight
weeks.”Whether
in a team or solo, she said the goal of the program is to help participants stay
healthy.“Staying
active and having healthy eating habits can actually reduce our chances of
developing some of those chronic diseases, heart disease, diabetes, those types
of things,” Koerner said. “As we get older, it's important to focus a little
bit more on those things and maybe be more intentional. And so I think that's
what Walk Kansas brings to the table.”The
program has a dedicated website, <a href="https://www.walkkansasonline.org/">walkkansasonline.org</a>,
where participants register and track the progress of area teams.“You can
watch your trail on the map as well,” Koerner said. &nbsp;“So, it just makes it a little more fun when
you're doing it together as a team and can choose a trail and watch your
progress on the map and see what other teams are doing.”There's
a whole health breakdown on it as well with tabs for physical activity
guidelines, basics of exercise and strength training, healthy eating guidelines
including nutritional recipes, stress management, relationship and memory improvement
tips, she said.While
the website has various tools for encouraging healthy behaviors, only tracking
walk time or steps is required.Registration
is $10. “You
also get the weekly newsletter, and you'll have access to all the events I have
planned,” Koerner said. ”And in Ellis County, you'll have access to the online
tracking system, and there's also an app too, so you can sync your devices. So,
that makes it super easy to keep track of your activity.”Along with the statewide program, the Cottonwood
District participants will have the opportunity to attend a six-week virtual learning series focused on Mediterranean-style eating patterns.“It's
called Med instead of meds,” Koerner said. “It's just focusing on healthier
eating habits rather than using medications to stay healthy.”“I'll be
doing some programming around Walk Kansas as well. What we decided to do was
some watch parties and walk parties. The watch parties will meet up at the
office and watch the webinars on Mediterranean-style eating habits, and then
we'll also take some walks together.”Registration
is not locked into a location, and participants from outside Kansas are welcome,
but participants will be able to see area activities after selecting an Extension
district.In the
Cottonwood District, the program will wrap up with a taste of what participants learned.“We will
have like a taste testing event at the end of the program in May, where we'll
be able to gather and mix some of the recipes and see what they taste like,”
Koerner said.

🎙 Walk Kansas registration open now

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

If there was a simple $25&nbsp;add on that could be purchased at the automotive parts store, installed in&nbsp;less than 1 hour,&nbsp;with a tool as simple as a screwdriver, that would guarantee an improvement in fuel efficiency of your cars, trucks, and tractors? Would you do it?&nbsp;

For the soil on your property, soil testing could be considered that miracle product. Using a simple soil probe,&nbsp;it takes about 30 minutes to collect a good sample, one trip to town to deliver it to the Extension&nbsp;Office,&nbsp;Coop&nbsp;or ag retailer,&nbsp;it costs&nbsp;about&nbsp;$25, and it will guarantee an improvement in crop production efficiency&nbsp;each growing season,&nbsp;before it needs to be “replaced”. You would think the extension office, Coops&nbsp;or ag retailers&nbsp;would be inundated with samples every spring, but unfortunately that is not the case.&nbsp;

Several surveys&nbsp;from past&nbsp;years&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Southern &amp;&nbsp;Great Plains&nbsp;have continued to show that&nbsp;an overallsmall percentage of&nbsp;farmers&nbsp;soil test regularly,&nbsp;and some of those don’t even follow the soil test recommendation once it is received.&nbsp;

Nothing that could be done offered a greater return on investment than what is possible from a $25&nbsp;soil test.&nbsp;Especially following a low yielding, drought that we experienced last year. Logic would tell us that there should be left-over fertilizer from the last growing season. The only way to know how much,&nbsp;is to&nbsp;properly take&nbsp;soil samples.&nbsp;

The folks who study the adaptation of new technology would tell you that some will study their lesson,decide&nbsp;and quickly move toward early implementation of new technology. Some will watch closely until they see it is successful with others and then move toward implementation. Others will implement the new technology when they determine it is critical for their survival. And a last group will implement a new technology only when it becomes legally mandated.&nbsp;

So, even if there was a cheap,&nbsp;simple&nbsp;add&nbsp;on&nbsp;that&nbsp;guaranteed to increase fuel efficiency there would still be those who would not make the effort to change. After decades of promoting soil testing I guess those of us who work in Extension Education&nbsp;and the commercial ag industry&nbsp;have witnessed this same reluctance to adapt a proven technology.&nbsp;

But even after decades of promoting soil testing we won’t give up. Call your&nbsp;local&nbsp;county&nbsp;or district&nbsp;extension office, Coop or ag retailer&nbsp;for more information about the benefits of soil testing.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictIf there was a simple $25&nbsp;add on that could be purchased at the automotive parts store, installed in&nbsp;less than 1 hour,&nbsp;with a tool as simple as a screwdriver, that would guarantee an improvement in fuel efficiency of your cars, trucks, and tractors? Would you do it?&nbsp;For the soil on your property, soil testing could be considered that miracle product. Using a simple soil probe,&nbsp;it takes about 30 minutes to collect a good sample, one trip to town to deliver it to the Extension&nbsp;Office,&nbsp;Coop&nbsp;or ag retailer,&nbsp;it costs&nbsp;about&nbsp;$25, and it will guarantee an improvement in crop production efficiency&nbsp;each growing season,&nbsp;before it needs to be “replaced”. You would think the extension office, Coops&nbsp;or ag retailers&nbsp;would be inundated with samples every spring, but unfortunately that is not the case.&nbsp;Several surveys&nbsp;from past&nbsp;years&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Southern &amp;&nbsp;Great Plains&nbsp;have continued to show that&nbsp;an overallsmall percentage of&nbsp;farmers&nbsp;soil test regularly,&nbsp;and some of those don’t even follow the soil test recommendation once it is received.&nbsp;Nothing that could be done offered a greater return on investment than what is possible from a $25&nbsp;soil test.&nbsp;Especially following a low yielding, drought that we experienced last year. Logic would tell us that there should be left-over fertilizer from the last growing season. The only way to know how much,&nbsp;is to&nbsp;properly take&nbsp;soil samples.&nbsp;The folks who study the adaptation of new technology would tell you that some will study their lesson,decide&nbsp;and quickly move toward early implementation of new technology. Some will watch closely until they see it is successful with others and then move toward implementation. Others will implement the new technology when they determine it is critical for their survival. And a last group will implement a new technology only when it becomes legally mandated.&nbsp;So, even if there was a cheap,&nbsp;simple&nbsp;add&nbsp;on&nbsp;that&nbsp;guaranteed to increase fuel efficiency there would still be those who would not make the effort to change. After decades of promoting soil testing I guess those of us who work in Extension Education&nbsp;and the commercial ag industry&nbsp;have witnessed this same reluctance to adapt a proven technology.&nbsp;But even after decades of promoting soil testing we won’t give up. Call your&nbsp;local&nbsp;county&nbsp;or district&nbsp;extension office, Coop or ag retailer&nbsp;for more information about the benefits of soil testing.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: It’s soil sampling time for summer crops, forages

It is always a treat to eat out at a favorite restaurant or community event, and as consumers, we expect the food to be safe. &nbsp;We must rely on the food handlers to provide the safest meal possible.&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension in partnership with the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association provides training for all food handlers.&nbsp;The&nbsp;ServSafe&nbsp;program is a national certification program designed to teach safe handling practices to those who serve food to the public.

ServSafe Food Handlers class is scheduled for Monday, March 20, from 1:30-4:30pm at the Cottonwood Extension Office at 601 Main in Hays. &nbsp;The class covers basic food safety, personal hygiene, preventing cross contamination, time and temperature, cleaning and sanitation. &nbsp;The course is&nbsp;for commercial food safety employees and non-profit volunteers. &nbsp;The cost for the course is $15 and covers the cost of the&nbsp;ServSafe®&nbsp;Food Handlers manual, training materials and refreshments. Registration is due by March 17,.&nbsp;&nbsp;Please call the office or email if you have any questions or want to register for the class.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>It is always a treat to eat out at a favorite restaurant or community event, and as consumers, we expect the food to be safe. &nbsp;We must rely on the food handlers to provide the safest meal possible.&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension in partnership with the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association provides training for all food handlers.&nbsp;The&nbsp;ServSafe&nbsp;program is a national certification program designed to teach safe handling practices to those who serve food to the public.ServSafe Food Handlers class is scheduled for Monday, March 20, from 1:30-4:30pm at the Cottonwood Extension Office at 601 Main in Hays. &nbsp;The class covers basic food safety, personal hygiene, preventing cross contamination, time and temperature, cleaning and sanitation. &nbsp;The course is&nbsp;for commercial food safety employees and non-profit volunteers. &nbsp;The cost for the course is $15 and covers the cost of the&nbsp;ServSafe®&nbsp;Food Handlers manual, training materials and refreshments. Registration is due by March 17,.&nbsp;&nbsp;Please call the office or email if you have any questions or want to register for the class.Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

KOERNER: ServSafe food handlers training offered

Live in Kansas and the Midwest for very long, and it becomes commonplace to expect a wide variety of spring and summer weather. Tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and lightning often dominate the news headlines in this part of the country.&nbsp;

But Chip Redmond says those weather hazards can happen most&nbsp;anytime&nbsp;of year.&nbsp;

“You can’t just focus on a couple weeks of the year,” said Redmond, manager of the&nbsp;<a href="https://mesonet.k-state.edu/">Kansas&nbsp;Mesonet</a>, a network of weather monitoring stations throughout the state. “For example, we see tornadoes most often in the spring and early summer, but we could see them year-round. We’ve had tornadoes in December before.”&nbsp;

The National Weather Service in Topeka has designated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/top/swaw">March 6-10 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Kansas</a>, including a statewide tornado drill on Tuesday, March 7 at 10 a.m. All Kansans are urged to participate in the drill by practicing the plans they have in place for seeking shelter from a tornado.&nbsp;

“You’ve got to keep that plan fresh,” Redmond said. “Anytime there’s a wind threat, whether it’s a tornado or severe winds, the best thing to do is to get centrally located in your house – typically a bathroom that has four interior walls around it, or underneath the stairwell in a basement. You want as many walls between you and the outside in all directions.”&nbsp;

Redmond suggests people keep a weather safety kit that includes such items as non-perishable food, blankets, boots, extra clothes, helmets, weather radio, batteries, a charging device for phones and even a map to track the path of the storm while listening to news reports.&nbsp;

He also recommends that parents practice the plan with children well in advance of severe weather threats; doing so helps to ease children’s anxiety in a real emergency.&nbsp;

Though parts of Kansas are starved for rain, flash flooding is also a common threat in spring and summer. It’s also a tricky threat.&nbsp;

“Honestly, flash flooding kills more people than tornadoes in most years,” Redmond said. “That’s because people really underestimate the power of water.”&nbsp;

He said water can quickly rise in areas that people don’t expect – such as across a roadway – and the current is often turbulent.&nbsp;

“There’s a good meteorologist slogan for when&nbsp;water’s&nbsp;on the road: ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown,’” Redmond said. “You don’t know what kind of turbulence and current that water has underneath, and for that matter, you don’t know the state of the road underneath the water. Find another way to your destination.”&nbsp;

To stay safe from lightning, the meteorologist’s advice is ‘When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors.’ Lightning strikes the U.S. 25 million times a year, according to the National Weather Service, accounting for an average of 47 deaths.&nbsp;

“Staying safe in severe weather really is having situational awareness all the time,” Redmond said. “Whether you’re driving down the road or going to bed at night, know the forecast and know what’s going on around you all the time. Forecasts aren’t perfect; they can change very quickly.&nbsp;So&nbsp;make a habit of checking the weather in the morning, during the day and before you go to bed.” &nbsp;

More weather&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/top/swaw">safety tips are available online from the National Weather Service.</a>&nbsp;

More information on Kansas weather conditions, including up-to-date forecasts, is available online from the&nbsp;<a href="https://mesonet.k-state.edu/">Kansas&nbsp;Mesonet</a>.&nbsp;

The National Weather Service issues alerts on severe weather based on the immediacy of a storm. Knowing the terms associated with weather alerts can help you stay safe.&nbsp;

A storm&nbsp;watch&nbsp;means that severe weather has not yet occurred, but weather conditions are expected to produce potentially dangerous weather.&nbsp;

A storm&nbsp;warning&nbsp;means that meteorologists have already observed severe conditions, and dangerous weather is imminent in your area or location. Take appropriate action as quickly and safely as possible.&nbsp;

Sometimes, a weather&nbsp;advisory&nbsp;is issued, indicating a less serious condition compared to warnings, but still requires residents to take appropriate precautions to avoid threats to life or property.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Live in Kansas and the Midwest for very long, and it becomes commonplace to expect a wide variety of spring and summer weather. Tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and lightning often dominate the news headlines in this part of the country.&nbsp;But Chip Redmond says those weather hazards can happen most&nbsp;anytime&nbsp;of year.&nbsp;“You can’t just focus on a couple weeks of the year,” said Redmond, manager of the&nbsp;<a href="https://mesonet.k-state.edu/">Kansas&nbsp;Mesonet</a>, a network of weather monitoring stations throughout the state. “For example, we see tornadoes most often in the spring and early summer, but we could see them year-round. We’ve had tornadoes in December before.”&nbsp;The National Weather Service in Topeka has designated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/top/swaw">March 6-10 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Kansas</a>, including a statewide tornado drill on Tuesday, March 7 at 10 a.m. All Kansans are urged to participate in the drill by practicing the plans they have in place for seeking shelter from a tornado.&nbsp;“You’ve got to keep that plan fresh,” Redmond said. “Anytime there’s a wind threat, whether it’s a tornado or severe winds, the best thing to do is to get centrally located in your house – typically a bathroom that has four interior walls around it, or underneath the stairwell in a basement. You want as many walls between you and the outside in all directions.”&nbsp;Redmond suggests people keep a weather safety kit that includes such items as non-perishable food, blankets, boots, extra clothes, helmets, weather radio, batteries, a charging device for phones and even a map to track the path of the storm while listening to news reports.&nbsp;He also recommends that parents practice the plan with children well in advance of severe weather threats; doing so helps to ease children’s anxiety in a real emergency.&nbsp;Though parts of Kansas are starved for rain, flash flooding is also a common threat in spring and summer. It’s also a tricky threat.&nbsp;“Honestly, flash flooding kills more people than tornadoes in most years,” Redmond said. “That’s because people really underestimate the power of water.”&nbsp;He said water can quickly rise in areas that people don’t expect – such as across a roadway – and the current is often turbulent.&nbsp;“There’s a good meteorologist slogan for when&nbsp;water’s&nbsp;on the road: ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown,’” Redmond said. “You don’t know what kind of turbulence and current that water has underneath, and for that matter, you don’t know the state of the road underneath the water. Find another way to your destination.”&nbsp;To stay safe from lightning, the meteorologist’s advice is ‘When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors.’ Lightning strikes the U.S. 25 million times a year, according to the National Weather Service, accounting for an average of 47 deaths.&nbsp;“Staying safe in severe weather really is having situational awareness all the time,” Redmond said. “Whether you’re driving down the road or going to bed at night, know the forecast and know what’s going on around you all the time. Forecasts aren’t perfect; they can change very quickly.&nbsp;So&nbsp;make a habit of checking the weather in the morning, during the day and before you go to bed.” &nbsp;More weather&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/top/swaw">safety tips are available online from the National Weather Service.</a>&nbsp;More information on Kansas weather conditions, including up-to-date forecasts, is available online from the&nbsp;<a href="https://mesonet.k-state.edu/">Kansas&nbsp;Mesonet</a>.&nbsp;<h2>Weather watch or warning?</h2>The National Weather Service issues alerts on severe weather based on the immediacy of a storm. Knowing the terms associated with weather alerts can help you stay safe.&nbsp;A storm&nbsp;watch&nbsp;means that severe weather has not yet occurred, but weather conditions are expected to produce potentially dangerous weather.&nbsp;A storm&nbsp;warning&nbsp;means that meteorologists have already observed severe conditions, and dangerous weather is imminent in your area or location. Take appropriate action as quickly and safely as possible.&nbsp;Sometimes, a weather&nbsp;advisory&nbsp;is issued, indicating a less serious condition compared to warnings, but still requires residents to take appropriate precautions to avoid threats to life or property.&nbsp;Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>

KOERNER: Severe weather could hit at any time

As I continue to highlight&nbsp;a few of the 40 projects that 4-H offers, my focus&nbsp;this week&nbsp;is on Clothing and Textiles, Forestry, and Woodworking.

One of my favorite projects as a 4-H member was the Clothing and Textiles project! Beyond the practical aspects of learning about fabrics and how to sew, the Clothing and Textiles project also helps youth with learning about fabric care: when something says to wash in cold water, what does that mean? When a label states “dry clean only”, what do you do with that? Another important life skill is learning to calculate the cost per wear; in other words, if you purchase a cheap item but if it falls apart after 3 washings versus a more expensive item that you may wear weekly for 2 years. Which is truly the better purchase? The Buymanship part of Clothing and Textiles also includes how to select an outfit for a particular event and that fits you appropriately while working within a budget.&nbsp;These are important life skills no matter your&nbsp;job and career choice.

As part of the Ag and Natural Resources 4-H curriculum, Forestry provides an opportunity to learn about trees, their impact on our environment, and management. Additionally, the Forestry project encourages youth to go outside and explore. They develop collections of trees&nbsp;and can learn about related careers such as the Forestry Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, ag-management fields,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a></a>National Park Service, and Wildlife and Parks.

The Woodworking project is one of my favorites to view because this is not something in my skill set! The Woodworking project requires that you enjoy working with wood, using tools, and building things such as a table, wooden toy, or a chair. Very practical skills begin with measuring things and using hand tools to learning to safely operate&nbsp;routers and jointers. These are great skills whether you are looking at a career in carpentry or are interested in developing a lifelong hobby.

When you visit a county or the Kansas State Fair this year, I hope that you will take time to view these projects knowing a little more about the learning objectives of our 4-H members!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>As I continue to highlight&nbsp;a few of the 40 projects that 4-H offers, my focus&nbsp;this week&nbsp;is on Clothing and Textiles, Forestry, and Woodworking.One of my favorite projects as a 4-H member was the Clothing and Textiles project! Beyond the practical aspects of learning about fabrics and how to sew, the Clothing and Textiles project also helps youth with learning about fabric care: when something says to wash in cold water, what does that mean? When a label states “dry clean only”, what do you do with that? Another important life skill is learning to calculate the cost per wear; in other words, if you purchase a cheap item but if it falls apart after 3 washings versus a more expensive item that you may wear weekly for 2 years. Which is truly the better purchase? The Buymanship part of Clothing and Textiles also includes how to select an outfit for a particular event and that fits you appropriately while working within a budget.&nbsp;These are important life skills no matter your&nbsp;job and career choice.As part of the Ag and Natural Resources 4-H curriculum, Forestry provides an opportunity to learn about trees, their impact on our environment, and management. Additionally, the Forestry project encourages youth to go outside and explore. They develop collections of trees&nbsp;and can learn about related careers such as the Forestry Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, ag-management fields,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a></a>National Park Service, and Wildlife and Parks.The Woodworking project is one of my favorites to view because this is not something in my skill set! The Woodworking project requires that you enjoy working with wood, using tools, and building things such as a table, wooden toy, or a chair. Very practical skills begin with measuring things and using hand tools to learning to safely operate&nbsp;routers and jointers. These are great skills whether you are looking at a career in carpentry or are interested in developing a lifelong hobby.When you visit a county or the Kansas State Fair this year, I hope that you will take time to view these projects knowing a little more about the learning objectives of our 4-H members!If you are interested in learning more about&nbsp;these or other&nbsp;4-H projects, check out kansas4-h.org in the Projects section!&nbsp;All projects include communications skills, record keeping,&nbsp;career connections,&nbsp;and opportunities for leadership and community service!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;Cottonwood&nbsp;Extension District&nbsp;– Barton&nbsp;Office at&nbsp;620-793-1910.

BERAN: Clothing forestry and woodworking 4-H projects

But Chip Redmond says those weather hazards can happen most anytime of year.&nbsp;

“You can’t just focus on a couple weeks of the year,” said Redmond, manager of the Kansas Mesonet, a network of weather monitoring stations throughout the state. “For example, we see tornadoes most often in the spring and early summer, but we could see them year-round. We’ve had tornadoes in December before.”&nbsp;

The National Weather Service in Topeka has designated March 6-10 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Kansas, including a statewide tornado drill at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 7. All Kansans are urged to participate in the drill by practicing the plans they have in place for seeking shelter from a tornado.&nbsp;

“There’s a good meteorologist slogan for when water’s on the road: ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown,’” Redmond said. “You don’t know what kind of turbulence and current that water has underneath, and for that matter, you don’t know the state of the road underneath the water. Find another way to your destination.”&nbsp;

“Staying safe in severe weather really is having situational awareness all the time,” Redmond said. “Whether you’re driving down the road or going to bed at night, know the forecast and know what’s going on around you all the time. Forecasts aren’t perfect; they can change very quickly. So make a habit of checking the weather in the morning, during the day and before you go to bed.” &nbsp;

More weather safety tips are available online from the National Weather Service.&nbsp;

More information on Kansas weather conditions, including up-to-date forecasts, is available online from the Kansas Mesonet.

What’s the difference between a weather watch and warning?

A storm watch means that severe weather has not yet occurred, but weather conditions are expected to produce potentially dangerous weather.&nbsp;

A storm warning means that meteorologists have already observed severe conditions, and dangerous weather is imminent in your area or location. Take appropriate action as quickly and safely as possible.&nbsp;

Sometimes, a weather advisory is issued, indicating a less serious condition compared to warnings, but still requires residents to take appropriate precautions to avoid threats to life or property.&nbsp;

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

Live in Kansas and the Midwest for very long, and it becomes commonplace to expect a wide variety of spring and summer weather. Tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and lightning often dominate the news headlines in this part of the country.&nbsp;But Chip Redmond says those weather hazards can happen most anytime of year.&nbsp;“You can’t just focus on a couple weeks of the year,” said Redmond, manager of the Kansas Mesonet, a network of weather monitoring stations throughout the state. “For example, we see tornadoes most often in the spring and early summer, but we could see them year-round. We’ve had tornadoes in December before.”&nbsp;The National Weather Service in Topeka has designated March 6-10 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Kansas, including a statewide tornado drill at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 7. All Kansans are urged to participate in the drill by practicing the plans they have in place for seeking shelter from a tornado.&nbsp;“You’ve got to keep that plan fresh,” Redmond said. “Anytime there’s a wind threat, whether it’s a tornado or severe winds, the best thing to do is to get centrally located in your house – typically a bathroom that has four interior walls around it, or underneath the stairwell in a basement. You want as many walls between you and the outside in all directions.”&nbsp;Redmond suggests people keep a weather safety kit that includes such items as non-perishable food, blankets, boots, extra clothes, helmets, weather radio, batteries, a charging device for phones and even a map to track the path of the storm while listening to news reports.&nbsp;He also recommends that parents practice the plan with children well in advance of severe weather threats; doing so helps to ease children’s anxiety in a real emergency.&nbsp;Though parts of Kansas are starved for rain, flash flooding is also a common threat in spring and summer. It’s also a tricky threat.&nbsp;“Honestly, flash flooding kills more people than tornadoes in most years,” Redmond said. “That’s because people really underestimate the power of water.”&nbsp;He said water can quickly rise in areas that people don’t expect – such as across a roadway – and the current is often turbulent.&nbsp;“There’s a good meteorologist slogan for when water’s on the road: ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown,’” Redmond said. “You don’t know what kind of turbulence and current that water has underneath, and for that matter, you don’t know the state of the road underneath the water. Find another way to your destination.”&nbsp;To stay safe from lightning, the meteorologist’s advice is ‘When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors.’ Lightning strikes the U.S. 25 million times a year, according to the National Weather Service, accounting for an average of 47 deaths.&nbsp;“Staying safe in severe weather really is having situational awareness all the time,” Redmond said. “Whether you’re driving down the road or going to bed at night, know the forecast and know what’s going on around you all the time. Forecasts aren’t perfect; they can change very quickly. So make a habit of checking the weather in the morning, during the day and before you go to bed.” &nbsp;More weather safety tips are available online from the National Weather Service.&nbsp;More information on Kansas weather conditions, including up-to-date forecasts, is available online from the Kansas Mesonet.<h2>What’s the difference between a weather watch and warning?</h2>The National Weather Service issues alerts on severe weather based on the immediacy of a storm. Knowing the terms associated with weather alerts can help you stay safe.&nbsp;A storm watch means that severe weather has not yet occurred, but weather conditions are expected to produce potentially dangerous weather.&nbsp;A storm warning means that meteorologists have already observed severe conditions, and dangerous weather is imminent in your area or location. Take appropriate action as quickly and safely as possible.&nbsp;Sometimes, a weather advisory is issued, indicating a less serious condition compared to warnings, but still requires residents to take appropriate precautions to avoid threats to life or property.&nbsp;Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

Koerner: Severe weather can happen anytime

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

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

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

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

CAMPBELL: Kansas grain performance testing report

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BERAN: 4-H project highlights

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

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

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

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

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

KOERNER: What does it feel like to age?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KOERNER: New legislation supporting nursing, pregnant mothers

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

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

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