October is a busy month here at the ISU Extension and Outreach Montgomery County office! On October 4th, Rachel Bergren joined our team as the new County Youth Coordinator. 4-H enrollment is underway and we recently celebrated National 4-H Week across the county!
It's also time to start preparing for cooler weather as fall sets in and farmers harvest their crops, home gardeners do the same. In addition, we'll be hosting a Commercial Pesticide Training on Oct. 19 in Montgomery County. Stay up to date with new programs and events happening in Montgomery County in coming newsletters.
As we cruise through the month of October, let's slow down to recognize the beauty of this season. Whether your family spends endless hours in the field, weekend nights cheering on your favorite sports teams, or gearing up for hunting season ... take care of each other, pay it forward and act with kindness. As ISU Extension and Outreach Vice President, Cathann Kress, recently wrote on her blog, "when we are kind, we are brave... And that's how we achieve a strong Iowa". Step out in kindness, be brave and play your part in creating a #StrongIowa. Check out her full blog post here.
Feel free contact me anytime. Happy Fall!
- Chelsea Cousins, Program Coordinator
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Yard and Garden:
Storing Fall Garden Produce
While farmers work in the fields to harvest their crops, home gardeners can do the same. With luck there’s more than anyone can use in a week or two, which means storage is needed. After harvesting, cure winter squash (except for the acorn types) at a temperature of 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 80 to 85 percent. Curing helps to harden the skin on winter squash and heal any cuts and scratches. Read more here.
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Commercial Pesticide Training in Montgomery County Oct. 19
Montgomery County office will host an Aquatic, Forest and Right-of-Way Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Contact Angela Silva at the Extension office to register 712-623-2592. Read more here.
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Science of Parenting: Make Technology Family Friendly
As more adults and children want or already have a cell phone, tablet or other device, families may begin to wonder: How much technology is too much – or not enough? This is a decision every parent needs to make. This month the Science of Parenting Bloggers will discuss how technology can be family friendly, how to support the positive use of social media with family members, and how to set boundaries for a healthy balance of technology and face-to-face social interaction. Read more here.
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Farm Bill Safety Net Payments Provide Producers Small Cushion
Final data on 2015 county level yields was recently released by the USDA Farm Service Agency. This is the final information needed for calculating payment rates under the Agriculture Risk Coverage-County (ARC-CO) program.
The Marketing Year Average (MYA) prices for the marketing year starting Sept. 1, 2015 and ending Aug. 31, 2016 were $3.61 for corn and $8.95 for soybeans. Read more here.
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Bergren Hired as
County Youth Coordinator
The Montgomery County Extension Council and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are pleased to announce the hiring of Rachel Bergren as Montgomery County’s Youth Coordinator. As the County Youth Coordinator, her primary duties are to strengthen youth development through research-based education and interactive learning opportunities. Read more here.
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Celebrate CyDay With Us!
ISU Extension and Outreach Montgomery County is celebrating CyDay Friday on October 28th by providing Harvest Hospitality to Montgomery County farmers and truckers. Join us in our front parking lot as we distribute snacks, refreshments and Cyclone gear to area farmers. We also invite you to stop by our office to get a Cyclone tattoo, sign up for a door prize including ISU athletic tickets, and learn more about Extension and Outreach! See you on October 28th! Don't forget to wear your Cyclone gear!
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Join 4-H!
4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential through youth-adult partnerships and research-based experiences. 4-H youth programs provide opportunities to develop skills they can use now and throughout their life. Iowa 4-H builds upon a century of experience as it fosters positive youth development that is based on the needs and strengths of youth, their families, and communities.
Youth in Montgomery County can join the Clover kids program in Kindergarten-3rd grade, and the community club program in 4th-12th grade. Contact Rachel Bergren for more information!
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Ease Family Caregiving Burdens
Providing care for aging parents, a spouse or loved one, or other family members can be a stressful responsibility and overwhelming experience. ISU Extension and Outreach offers “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” to help family caregivers find the support they need. “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is a series of six weekly sessions aimed at helping individuals who are caring for their loved one, family or friends. Classes are offered by certified trainers who conduct the weekly series. Read more here. If you're interested in attending a course, please contact Chelsea at the Extension office at 712-623-2592.
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October 19: STEM After-school Program @ YMCA
Red Oak Clover Kids @ 5 PM
October 20: Stanton Clover Kids @ 3:30 PM
October 26: STEM After-school Program @ YMCA
Annual 4-H Leader Training @ 6 PM
October 27: Red Oak Trick or Treat @ 4:30 PM
October 28: CyDay Friday // Harvest Hospitality
October 29: Stanton Trick or Treat @ 3 PM
November 2: STEM After-school Program @ YMCA
Villisca Clover Kids @ 6 PM
November 9: Youth Committee Meeting @ 7 PM
November 10: Harvest Hospitality
November 13: 4-H Awards Night @ 4 PM
November 16: Red Oak Clover Kids @ 5 PM
November 17: Stanton Clover Kids @ 3:30 PM
November 21: Extension Council Meeting
November 24: HAPPY THANKSGIVING
November 25: Office closed
November 30: Beef Check-Off
December 7: Women Marketing Grain Event
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Did you know that ISU Extension and Outreach helps residents with 7 different hotlines? Questions can be answered on anything from cooking, horticulture, financial questions and much more. There are also many referrals available. Check out all of the hotlines and bookmark this page!
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Extension Events From Our Neighbors
Tuesday, October 18 in Atlantic: Caregiver Relationships
Call 712-243-1132
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