When the calendar turns to November, I start thinking about next years’ programs. That’s right; 2015 is just around the corner. Our program development committees will welcome new members at our upcoming annual meeting and we will have a meeting with all 24 council members after the first of the year. This group helps give direction to the programming we do in Barton County. At our recent annual conference a lot of attention is being focused on the five grand challenges. They include: water, health, global food systems, community vitality, and developing tomorrow’s leaders. You don’t have to look far to see that these challenges affect the lives of not only Barton County residents, but also people half-way around the world.
Some of the educational programs I will be leading in the months to come relate to health issues. The fact sheet I wrote this year for K-State Research and Extension is titled, Action Plan for Managing Obesity. With the mind boggling statistics about the prevalence and cost of obesity I focus on environmental and behavioral factors that we can do something about. Another health related program is titled, “Age Sense: The Caregiving Journey.” As our population ages, more people will be taking on the role of caregiver. The fact sheet focuses on helping caregivers manage stress and be pointed toward local resources for assistance.
Other educational programs in the works include: “Emergent Literacy: Helping Young Children’s Development through Reading.” I will be sharing this informative fact sheet at a program at the Great Bend Public Library, Wednesday, November 19th, at 5:30 p.m. Next spring look for my programs about “Understanding Reverse Mortgages: Do They Make Sense for You?”, “Shopping Safe at Farmers Markets” and “Garden to Plate: Food Safety for School and Community Gardens.”
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see our Extension programs address, do not hesitate to give me a call or send me an e-mail.
Donna Krug is the Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Barton County. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu