This and That with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Today’s column is different than most, because I have lots of announcements and topics to cover! So, sit back and enjoy!
4-H Project Show
We are excited to announce the 2016 4-H Project Show. Our Hopkins County 4-H’ers have entered some amazing items – from wood work to metal work, from photography to food! The items will be on display at the Extension Office October 10 thru 14 for public viewing. Be sure to stop by our office at 1200-B W. Houston, and take a look at the work of our youth. You will be impressed!
Master Wellness Volunteer Training
Finding reliable resources of health and wellness information can be a challenge. Since 1906, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has provided Texans with guidance in various health areas and is now planning the 2017 training for volunteers to provide more communities with the education and tools needed for healthy living.
The Master Wellness Volunteer Initiative is an AgriLife Extension program that provides volunteers with 40 hours of training in health and nutrition education. In return, the volunteers agree to give back 40 hours of service. The volunteer opportunities are diverse – assisting with presentations for local community groups, assisting with periodic cooking schools, distributing information at health fairs, and much more. Previous health or wellness training is not required, but an interest in living healthfully and helping others do the same is important.
Hopkins County currently has nine active Master Wellness Volunteers. Backgrounds of the volunteers are very diverse – dietitian, nurse, retired teacher, retired architect, business woman, community volunteers, young mother. They all have one thing in common – the desire to be active and to help others. Some of the many activities in which they were involved include: 4-H foods project workshops; Diabetes series; Ag-in-the-Classroom; Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness; health fairs; Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest; Christmas Joys holiday program; planning meeting input; and many more.
Even though the next training series is a few months away, it isn’t too early to begin making plans to participate if your interests lie in those opportunities. The training is being offered in two formats – face-to-face, or hybrid (combination of face-to-face and on-line). Dates for the face-to-face sessions are Mondays, January 30,February 6, 13, 20, and 27. For those who choose to participate in the hybrid format, the face-to-face sessions will be January 30 and February 27. Cost will be $75, with lunch included on the first and last sessions. Sessions will take place at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston, in Sulphur Springs, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Watch for more information in the future, but if you are interested in participating, please don’t hesitate to call – 903-885-3443.
4-H Robotics/STEM
Interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) has grown considerably in recent years. Hopkins County 4-H is offering sessions for youth to learn more about the topic and we are encouraging youth to join 4-H and join the fun! If your student (grades 3 thru 12) is interested in joining the STEM project meetings, give us a call! The STEM Group meets twice a month at the Sulphur Springs Public Library, under the direction of 4-H leader, Frannie Miller.
By the way, enrollment in Hopkins County 4-H is on-going. If you register prior to November, the fee is $20, which covers the 2016/2017 year. The fee goes up to $25 on November 1st, so take advantage of the early registration!
Christmas Joys Holiday Program
Due to the popularity of this November 7th event, both sessions are full, with waiting lists for both. However, I will do a mini session on Tuesday, November 8, at 1:30 p.m. at the Extension Office. You will receive a goody bag, a booklet of the recipes and instructions, and refreshments, and I will demonstrate the same great ideas. If that date doesn’t work for you, call our office and I’ll give you the dates of other holiday programs in neighboring counties in which I will also be participating (two are daytime and one is an evening event).
Closing Thought
Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down – Jimmy Durante
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
