Visit extension.unl.edu for more information. Nebraska Extension - Fillmore Co. 1340 G Street Geneva, NE 68361

402-759-3712 | brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu

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February 2017Narrative Report Brandy VanDeWalle

Extension Educator, Fillmore/Clay Counties AgricultureCroppingSystems&RiskManagement

InFillmoreCounty,Itaught140farmersfromfivecountiesaboutupdatesonpesticidesafety,regulationsandotherissuesimpactingusageofpesticides,includingherbicideresistanceissues.IsharedsomeresultsfromtheNebraskaOn-FarmResearchNetworkaswell. IcoordinatedtheFarmers&RanchersCollegeprogramonFebruary22ndonStrengtheningNebraska’sAgEconomyinitiative.Specifically,Itaughtfarmersaboutthecomponentsthatgoonbalancesheets,basiccashflowsheetmanagementandincomestatements.Threeothercolleaguestaughtaboutfarmlandleases,cropproductionpracticesthatreducecosts,livestockproductionpracticesthatreducecosts,renewingloansindifficulttimesandbasicsoffinancialdocuments.Ialsotaughtparticipantsbasicstressmanagementandimplicationsstresscancauseinloweconomictimes.Therewere24participantswhoattendedtheprogram;unfortunatelywith75-degreeweather,notmanychosetoparticipate.Thoseinattendanceremarkedabouthowgoodtheprogramwasthough. Sixty-threewomeninvolvedinagricultureattendedtheTips&TricksfortheAgWoman,whichwasthelastofthe2016-17Farmers&RanchersCollegeprograms.DebbieLyons-Blythe,aKansasmomandrancherprovidedanupliftingpresentationontheimportantrolewomenhaveinagriculturalproduction.Hermessagealsoprovidedbasic‘agvocacy’tipsthatcanbeusedwhenspeakingwithnon-agriculturalconsumers.Asabloggerofthekidscowsandgrass.com,hermessageresonatedwellwithparticipantswhorecordedtheywereextremelysatisfiedwiththeprogram.Crops - Youth The2ndAnnualRegionalYouthCropScoutingCompetitionwillbeheldinIndianainAugust;ImetwithISUandPurdueextensionfacultytostarttheplanningstagesfortheprogram.

Upcoming Events: March 2nd - Pesticide Safety Ed

Program, Bruning March 3rd - Eclipse Planning March 3rd - CWF Planning, York March 6th - Fillmore Co. Ext. Bd March 8th - State Fair Webinar March 9th - Southeast District

Visioning w/ Maria Walker March 10th - CSI workshop, Geneva March 10th - CSI workshop, Clay

Center March 13th - Clover Kid Club Mtg.

(Fillmore Co.) March 14th - Clover Kid Club Mtg.,

(Clay Co.) March 15th - County Website Web March 16th - 4-H Educator Training March 17-18th - Geneva Rural Living

Expo March 20-21st - NW Missouri State

student shadowing me March 21st - Clay Co. 4-H Open

House March 22nd - FCDC Bd Mtg. March 27th - Clay Co. 4-H Council

Mtg. March 29th - Evaluation w/ John

Westra March 30th - EAB workshop, Clay

Center April 3rd - Fillmore Co. Ext. Board

4-H Youth Development AprogramwasheldforClayandFillmorecountyclubleadersand4-Hcouncilmemberstorecognizethemfortheirhardworkwithaspecialmealbeingserved.Inadditiontoupdatesstaffhasbeenworkingonwiththe4-Hprogram,ItaughtthetenparticipantsabouttheRealColorspersonalityindicator.Participantsenjoyedtheupdateandprovidedfeedbackonresourcesneededfromstafftobesuccessfulintheirroles.

ItaughtyouthabouttheendusesofcropsattheFillmoreCounty4-HKickOffparty.Approximately40youthand20adultsparticipatedintheprogramthatprovidedyouthhands-onactivitiestheymightexperienceinthe4-Hprogram.Statewide Issue Teams STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) Careers

Itaught44secondgradeyouthanewlydevelopedlessonplan,SoilisNotaDirtyWord.Thehands-onlessonemphasizedthethreemajorsoilparticles,componentsofsoilandimplicationsforplantsinvarioussoiltypes.ThelessonwaswellreceivedandIwillbesharingthiswiththeSTEMcareersteamasa‘grabandgo’lessonplanthatcanbeusedstatewide. AsaresultoftheJanuaryteammeeting,agroupofExtensionstaffhasdecidedtocreatelessonsforteacherstouseregardingthesolareclipseeventthatwilloccuronAugust21,2017.Moreplanningisneededtodeterminethefeasibleorneedfortheprogram.Community, Organizational & Professional Development IparticipatedintheAnnualMeetingoftheFillmoreCountyDevelopmentCorporationasVicePresident;IwillserveasPresidentforthe2017year. AhighlightofFebruarywastheopportunitytoattendtheJointCouncilofExtensionProfessionalsconferenceinOrlando,Florida.InmyroleaspresidentoftheNCEAAgSection,IparticipatedinthenationalNACAAmeeting,presentedaposter.Thekeynotespeaker,DanGallagherprovidedanexcellentpresentationon‘theself-awareleader’thatfocusedonhowaself-awareleaderdemonstratesthatpracticesinclusiveandcollaborativeprincipleswillsignificantlyoutproducethosewhodependonlyonthemselves.News Columns & Blog Posts February1st-WindbreakRenovationFebruary8th-StrengtheningNebraska’sAgEconomyFebruary15th-Tips&TricksfortheAgWomenFebruary22nd-4-HTeachesLifeSkills