Forney Students Learn about Erosion and Water Conservation

Kaufman County 4-H in the Classroom Program Assistants are working with teachers to show students what erosion is all about. 4-H Program Assistants Lisa Nalls and Renee Word have been working with schools in the county traveling around with the Stream Trailer and the Rainfall Simulator.

So what is it that we are teaching? "First and foremost we want the student to understand the vital importance of trees, shrubs and other deep rooted native plants that they see daily in their close environment. These deep root networks are essential to allowing the stream banks to stand up to the cutting power of flowing water," explained by Carrie Sharp Texas AgriLife Extension County Agent for 4-H and Youth Development, "But also how rain falls and how the environment we make today effects where the water goes." The 4-H PA's do this by helping students observe the actions that water has on land, buildings, different types of ground cover before making its way to the stream beds using the rain fall simulator. (Bottom Picture with Program Assistant Lisa Nalls.) Secondly, they demonstrate that streams never run straight and that it is unwise to cut across meanders by using the Stream Trailer from the North Texas Water Resource Institute. ( Top Picture with County Agent Carrie Sharp) Thirdly, they talk about floodplains – what they are and how they are beneficial as long as we have been wise enough to not build there.

All of this is done through demonstration for the student to watch and actually see the differences of the ground water and surface water in the run off from a lawn to the water run off from an area with no vegetation. The students can also see the effects from the stream trailer how the water in the streams moves and effects the erosion of the banks and where the sediment actually ends up.

If you would like to have this opportunity for your class or your youth group, contact the Carrie Sharp, 4-H and Youth Development County Agent at the Kaufman County Extension Office - 972-932-9069 to set up a visit with the 4-H in the Classroom Program Assistants.

4-H'ers move to the Outdoors!!

Forget Survivor ‐ this is the way outdoors were meant to be enjoyed, where teamwork and rugged determination are lauded and only the best are rewarded with the ultimate prize ‐ being recognized as the top outdoor team in Texas. Kaufman County 4-H Outdoor and Recreation project member are preparing for the Outdoor Challenge to be held in June of 2010. Just think you and a group of friends could compete in a series of contests to find the best overall outdoors people in the state. 4-H project members will be challenged physically and mentally.

The 4-H members working in teams of 2 will participate in a series of competitions that will test their knowledge in Rifle, Fishing, Archery, Shotgun, Canoeing, Swimming, Orienteering, Camping Skills, Outdoor Safety, and Wildlife Identification.

To prepare for this event the Kaufman County group of 21 heading to Purtis Creek where they spent the weekend in beautiful weather learning and honing their skills. There they took to the water canoeing, found three of the GPS Caches at Purtis Creek and learned how to cook in the outdoors.

The next trip will be to the coast during spring break. If you like the outdoors, come join the fun.

4-H'ers Show the Way

Kaufman County 4-H'ers competed in the District IV 4-H Roundup in TAMU- Commerce with their Educational Presentations. A 4-H educational presentation is a demonstration of a 4-H'ers knowledge and skills in a certain project area. It can be accomplished using props (method demonstration), posters or media presentations (illustrated talk), or it can be you just speaking and convincing, or simply educating, with words alone (public speaking).

Kristen Woods, presented an educational presentation with her new puppy on their first visit to the vet in the junior companion animal division. She placed second at district. Curtis Joles, talked about how to transplant trees for your landscape in the Junior Natural Resources division. He also placed 2nd at district.

For more information on developing an educational presentation or the 4-H Program, contact the Kaufman County Extension office at 972-932-9069

There more to Goats and Lambs than leading them around.

4-H Goat and Lamb project members had a special visit from Dr Dan Turner, Veterinarian from the Risinger Vet Clinic in Terrell, at their monthly project meeting. The members learned how to evaluate their projects for their daily health by learning how to take their temp, how they digest food, how to watch for signs of illness and also they got first hand experience on checking fecal samples for worm eggs.

Meat goat and the Market Lamb projects provide youth with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the industry, production and, more importantly, develop the life skills that are needed to be positive contributors to society. Through these 4-H projects youth learn about selection and evaluation, nutrition and feeding, health and daily care, reproduction, marketing, and much more. Youth learn to accept responsibility, to value hard work, think critically, make decisions, and communicate. In addition, there are several jackpot goat shows that youth can participate in to put on exhibition their meat goat project.

If you would like to participate in one of the workshops that the 4-H Project club is having or if you would like to know more call the Kaufman County Extension Office and talk to Carrie Sharp the Texas AgriLife Extension County Agent for 4-H and Youth Development.

Something Tastey is going on in 4-H

Kaufman County kids are learning to cook and love eating what they cook even more. The 4-H Leader Pandora Feller and FCS agent Katie Phillips have been working with several outstanding youth to learn about the basics of food and nutrition.

The 4-H Food and Nutrition Project encourages youth to learn about nutrition by cooking. This hand-on approach is popular with children who prepare to learn by doing. For the Food Show, children prepared a dish at home and then brought it to the contest site. The children gave a brief presentation and were interviewed by a panel of judges. They were judged on their knowledge of nutrition, food safety and food project experiences.

New this year was the Food Challenge, inspired by competitive cooking shows, such as Iron Chef and The Next Food Network Star. Teams cooked a dish using only a list of ingredients. Part of the “challenge” was that they were not given the instructions on how to prepare the recipe. After preparing the dish, the team prepared a presentation, which included information on how they made the dish, cost and nutritional value.

Encouraging children to cook is a life skill that will serve them all their lives. Cooking can be part of family meal time, which has many benefits, according to Carrie Sharp, 4-H and Youth Development County Agent for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Kaufman County.

Research shows that children who sit down and eat with their families eat more nutritiously than those who don’t: they eat more fruits, vegetables and fiber and less soda and fried foods.

“Families who eat together also have more time and opportunities to communicate and build relationships and these children tend to perform better academically,” Sharp said.

Though you may think it is impossible to get the family together for meals because of busy schedules, the Texas AgriLife Extension offers these tips for making family meal time a ritual at your home:

• Start eating meals together as a family when your kids are young so it becomes a habit.

• Plan when you will eat together as a family.

• During the meal, focus on each other. Turn off the television and phone.

• Talk about fun and happy things and make meal time stress-free. This isn’t the time to nag about homework and chores.

• Encourage your child to try foods, but do not lecture or force your child to eat.

Menus don’t have to be time-consuming and elaborate. The whole point is to spend time with the family. Make quick cooking stir-fry, soups, or no-cook sandwiches and salads.

Katie Phillips, Family and Consumer Science County Agent for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Kaufman County has tips for doing some tasks for meal preparation before hand:

• Wash and cut vegetables or make a fruit salad the night before.

• Cook lean beef or turkey for spaghetti, tacos, or chili and store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to use.

• Consider batch cooking, which can provide leftovers for lunch the next day or supper for two nights in a row.

Winners of the Kaufman County 4-H Food Show and qualifying for the District competition in January are:

Junior Division - Paige Salinas - Breads and Cereals, Jaci Pfeifer - Main Dish, and Emily Matthews - Nutritous Snacks.

Intermediate Division - Michelle Braddock - Main Dish

Senior Division - Hannah Feller - Main Dish

The Food Challenge Team representing Kaufman County will be Michelle Braddock, Paige Salinas, Jaci Pfeifer, and Emily Matthews. (Pictured working on their dish for the competition.)

For more information about the 4-H program or the nutrition and food classes for youths , contact Carrie Sharp, Kaufman County 4-H agent at 972-932-9069.