Merry Christmas from the Extension Staff By Johanna Hicks
Christmas is a joyous time for reflecting on the birth and life of Jesus, and how we are impacted by the ultimate gift He gave us. One of my favorite family traditions is that of pulling out a collection of Christmas books, mostly children’s books. I remember growing up in Cleburne, TX, sitting on my daddy’s lap as a child, listening as he read story books to my family....
Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness By Johanna Hicks
Note: this is the 3rd in a series of “A Year in Review,” highlighting major program efforts in the area of Family & Community Health. Any parent who has had a 1st thru 4th grade child in the Sulphur Springs ISD the past 8 years has probably heard of this camp. The camp, started in 2010, was developed by the Community Health/Wellness Alliance as a way to address childhood health in Hopkins County. Relevance: ...
A Year in Review – Diabetes Education By Johanna Hicks
A Year in Review – Diabetes Education For the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of the major program impacts from 2018. Many people are not aware of the positive influence that Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has on the health and well-being of individuals. This week, I want to focus on the diabetes education program in Hopkins...
What’s for Dinner Tonight? By Johanna Hicks
Many of you may remember the very first “Dinner Tonight” program held in Hopkins County. The event took place at the Civic Center with approximately 125 attendees. The program included cooking demonstrations by Extension Family & Community Health educators, and we had a celebrity tasting panel composed of county officials and media personalities. “Dinner Tonight” was developed to provide busy families with quick,...
MyPlate Jeopardy By Johanna Hicks
MyPlate Jeopardy I grew up watching the television game show, “Jeopardy,” and marveled at the intelligence of the competitors. As I grew older, wiser, and more experienced, the mental challenge was refreshing, and my ability to answer several questions was invigorating. As an educator, I’m always looking for fresh ideas to bring educational programs to life. That made me think about the influences that inspired me to...
Tailgating and Picnicking Safely this Football Season By Johanna Hicks
Texans are crazy about football. However, this is also middle school and high school cross country, volleyball, and tennis season. Sports fans are out in full force to support their favorite high school, college, and professional teams. Tailgating is often associated with football season, so don’t let your fun be spoiled by foodborne illness. Foodborne illness, with its stomach cramps, diarrhea,...
So Many Choices: Events and More By Johanna Hicks
So Many Choices! We make decisions every day – what to wear, what to eat, how to spend our day, whether or not to answer the phone, what to watch on TV, whom to text or call, and even things we don’t think about, like where to sit, what to read (whether in the newspaper, on your phone, on your computer, on your smart watch, etc.) We literally make hundreds of choices, if not thousands, every day. At the...
July-Lots of Good Things Coming By Johanna Hicks
July – Lots of Good Things Coming! June is over and July is here! Where has the time gone? The 8th annual “Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness” was another huge success and the survey results proved that the camp participants learned some facts that many adults do not know. Examples: “How many steps equal 1 mile?, How many food groups should be included in breakfast?, Nuts and eggs are part of which food group?” I hope...
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Test Your Knowledge By Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Test Your Knowledge During the past two months, I have presented programs for civic groups pertaining to Hopkins County Extension and what we have to offer. Although our volunteers and 4-H leaders are familiar with the variety of programs, workshops, program series, and events we offer, many people are simply unaware of who we are and what we do. So, before you read any further, take a...
Diabetes, Urban Myths, and More By Johanna Hicks
Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes Time certainly flies! The spring series of “Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes” is just a few short weeks away, and plans have already begun to provide a quality, informative, and impactful program. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with diabetes, this series is for you! Here are the topics to be covered and a brief synopsis of each: Monday, April 9: “Getting Started: How Food Affects...
