From the Editor: 

As editor of the Focus, I wanted to let you know that the District III Extension Educator team has been working hard to improve the Focus.  We hope you have enjoyed the change that includes the “special focus” on one area of programming each month.  We continually strive to make the articles timely and relevant to you as a reader.  We hope that as you read the articles, if you have questions or would like further information, you will contact the author(s).  We have recently put the Focus on the internet at http://extension.ag.uidaho.edu/district3/.  You can then click on the issue of Focus you would like to read.

Shannon Williams, Focus Editor

Page 1:  County Fair Steers Identified with Electronic ID Tags, Summer Vacation

Page 2:  Update on the National Animal Identification System in Idaho,

                Pre-Conditioning Now the Norm

Page 3:  Western Cow-Calf Resource Manual, Pastures Sometime Forgotten

Page 4:  Curly Top Disease of Tomatoes, Service Learning in Cassia County

Page 5:  Instant 4-H Project, Just Add Youth

Page 6:  4-H Frequently Asked Questions, Wildlife Day Camp

Page 7:  Money on the Bookshelf Graduation, Lamb Camp Rocks!

Page 8:  Funtastic Fridays in Challis,  Quality Assurance Counts in Junior Livestock

Page 9:  4-H Youth Serving Their Communities,  Benefits from Volunteering in 4-H

Page 10:  4-H Shooting Sports Trailer Fun for Everyone

Jason K. Ahola, University of Idaho Extension Beef Specialist, Caldwell

A summer vacation is something most of us eagerly anticipate.  However, if we do not plan and budget for our retreats, a vacation could easily break the bank.

When you travel this summer make the most of your time and most importantly your travel dollars.  The following is a list of money saving travel ideas:

·        Vacation at national parks: Not only do you get to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, you also get budget friendly park entrance fees (ranging from free to $15) and camping is $15 dollars a night at most locations.  If you are traveling in a motor home or travel trailer, you can park overnight in a Wal-Mart parking lot for free. 

·        Rent a place: Get together with friends or family and rent a home or condo.  This is cost effective because splitting the cost of a rental can be less than a hotel.   You can also cook your own meals rather than eating out.  Make sure that as a group you agree on a vacation destination that fits your budget and your travel plans, so problems don’t arise later.

·        Shop hotels for best prices: Call hotels directly to get the best rates available. 

·        Pack a cooler:  If you are driving, pack a cooler full of drinks, snacks and meals for the trip, so you can avoid higher priced items along the way.  You can easily stop at a grocery store to refill your cooler.

·        Keep an eye out for good deals: Most vacation spots have publications available for tourists that have guides for hotels, restaurants, activities, and attractions.  They also usually include coupons for these services.  Talk to locals and ask them what restaurants they would recommend and what activities and attractions are the best deals in the area.  Also, use the internet to research deals and affordable entertainment before your vacation.

For a memorable and enjoyable vacation, plan ahead, stick to your budget, and have fun. 

Excerpted from Positive Parenting Strategies ( TLCPress )

The van is stuffed to the rooftop, the kids are happily strapped into their seats and you're off on the vacation of your dreams. As you roll along, contemplating lazy days on the beach with that new novel you've saved for vacation, you are interrupted by a civil uprising in the rear passenger compartment. "I'm hungry. I'm tired. How much farther! I have to go pee! Joey is looking at me."

If traveling with young children is not one of your favorite experiences, try some of the following suggestions for keeping young travelers occupied.

Activity Bag - Be prepared with an activity bag containing items that you have saved only for use in the vehicle. Depending on the age of your children, include some of the following:

Books, paper, envelopes, games, puzzles, a small flashlight, finger puppets, small toys, activity and coloring books, crayons (pencil crayons are the least messy), pre-taped stories (record your own from your child's favorite books), stickers, binoculars (great for reading hard to see road signs), wallet with credit cards cut from old Christmas cards and play money), stop watch (to record time spent traveling, see how many cars go past in 1 to 5 minutes, keep track of a 10 minute no talking time).

Play Binoculars - Tape two small paper cups together. Cut holes in the bottoms to look through. Put colored cellophane over the tops to make colored viewing. You can also use two toilet tissue rolls and have your child decorate them.

Travel Tray - A cookie sheet with a felt covered bottom makes a good playing surface. The edges keep things from falling off and the felt side can be used for making pictures from felt scraps. Magnetic letters, shapes and toys stick to the tray as well.

Travel Pillow - Make a personal travel pillow by using fabric markers, permanent markers or paint to decorate a T-Shirt or use a favorite one that they've outgrown. Sew the sleeve and waist openings shut. Stuff the shirt and sew the neck opening closed.

Pop Top - A plastic pop top bottle filled half way with water, frozen and then topped up with water for the trip makes a refreshing drink container that won't leave sticky spills on the upholstery.

Travel Log - Before you leave, involve your child in planning the trip and writing or emailing for information from areas you plan to visit. Collect a map, writing and drawing paper, plastic protector sheets and other supplies in a ring binder. Older children can help calculate distances, plan and record travel routes, keep track of brochures and receipts for expenses, and journal experiences and observations. You can also include paper games, puzzles and activity sheets in the binder.

See a Sign - Draw pictures of commonly used road signs and have the child watch for them and mark them off whenever he sees one you've drawn. Older children might enjoy starting a notebook of road signs and adding drawings of new signs as they see them.

Alphabet Signs - Make a list of all the letters of the alphabet. Look for signs beginning with each of the letters and write them down beside that letter.

Travel Zoo - Make a list of all the animals, birds and other wild life you see on the trip. You could make headings to classify them and have your child find something to fit into each. Find an animal that flies, a black and white animal, an animal with horns or antlers, an animal with 2 legs, or an animal with a long tail. Your child can even help make these up or find new ways to classify animals when they see one that doesn't fit into the list.

Buckle up, pass out the supplies and have a great summer trip!

Back to Top

Page 2.  District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural Producers

Background

The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is being developed by the USDA in order to prevent, contain, and eliminate disease threats in the U.S. livestock herd.  The NAIS is strictly a livestock disease control program, and is being administered by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.  Ultimately, the goal of the NAIS is to have a system in place for the trace-back of livestock associated with a disease outbreak within 48 hours after discovery of the outbreak.  This is a federal program; however, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is overseeing its implementation in Idaho.

The speed of NAIS implementation increased dramatically when the first case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was found in a Holstein cow in Washington (December 2003) and more recently in beef cows in Texas and Alabama.  These events substantially affected the export of U.S. beef to Japan and Korea, two of the largest consumers of U.S. beef.  According to several industry sources, closure of these export markets since late 2003 has cost the industry several billion dollars – in 2003, the U.S. exported $3.3 billion in beef, and a fraction of that in 2004 and 2005.  If these export markets had not closed, it is possible that cattlemen could be receiving substantially more for feeder and fed cattle today.  Therefore, in addition to physically protecting U.S. livestock from disease, the NAIS will also help U.S. livestock industries avoid economic losses by assuring domestic and international consumers of a safe and healthy food supply.

Components of the NAIS

The concept of an animal identification program is not new; but the process of developing the NAIS has been quite challenging.  The USDA released two important documents in 2005 which provided detailed information on the NAIS.  Additional documents have been released in 2006 to further clarify several aspects of the NAIS.  According to these documents (available at www.usda.gov/nais), the proposed structure of the NAIS will include: 1) premises registration by livestock producers, 2) individual animal identification with a unique 15-digit number, and 3) reporting of animal movements.  Currently, the NAIS is a voluntary program.  However, if specific goals set by USDA are not met by specified dates, it is expected that the program will be mandated by the USDA – as early as January 2009.  The goals that have been outlined primarily involve the 1) registration of a specific percentage of premises in the U.S., 2) individual identification of a specific percent of U.S. animals with 15-digit Animal Identification Number (AIN) tags (which will likely be via electronic identification, or EID, ear tags), and 3) collection of individual animal movements and submission of data to one of several centralized animal tracking databases.  More specific information on how animal movement data will be collected, submitted, and managed is expected to be released from USDA throughout 2006 and 2007.

The First Step:  Premises Registration

The NAIS will continue to develop for several years; however, the ISDA has begun registering “Premises” for producers in Idaho on a voluntary basis.  Throughout the U.S., over 250,000 Premises have been registered to date.  Producers interested in registering their premises should contact ISDA directly (208-332-8570).  To access other important information about the NAIS, resources are available through USDA’s website (http://www.usda.gov/nais) and ISDA’s website (http://idahoag.us/) by clicking on “Animals” and then on “Animal Identification.”

Back to Top

Pre-Conditioning Now the Norm   Jim Hawkins, Extension Educator, Custer County

For the past several years producers who have pre-conditioned their calves have been able to garner a price premium, up to $6-8 per hundredweight, for their efforts.  Recent trends, see Figure 1, would indicate that pre-conditioning is now the accepted (and expected) practice in the beef industry.

Video Cattle Auctions Show a Niche Becoming the Norm

By Steve Blank, Hayley Boriss, Larry Forero and Glenn Nader

Driving this trend is cattle performance and health.  Pre-conditioned calves are healthier on arrival at the lot; stay healthier (less death loss); go on feed quicker and generally out perform calves straight off the cow.  Begrudgingly buyers still take cattle that are not pre-conditioned, but as they see more and more cattle that are pre-conditioned out perform those that are not, the resistance to purchasing those that are not is increasing and the price offered is decreasing.

What this means to those producers who have not incorporated a pre-conditioning program into their management practices is fewer dollars being offered.  Discounts deeper than the premiums once paid will become the “norm.” 

Now is the time for those producers who have not been pre-conditioning their calves to start making plans to do so.  All indications would say that you will be selling into a declining market.  Everything a producer can do to improve their market position will be to your benefit.

Page 3.  District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural Producers

Western Cow-Calf Resource Manual Can Help Producers with Management Decisions

Shannon Williams, Extension Educator, Lemhi County, Jason Ahola, University of Idaho Beef Specialist

Beef producers make decisions every day about their operation.  In an industry that is in constant change, sound, researched-based information can assist a producer in making good decisions.  The recently updated “Cow-Calf Management Guide and Cattle Producer’s Library” contains this type of information.

Published as a three-ring binder filled with more than 230 researched-based fact sheets on all aspects of beef-cattle production, this manual is one of the most complete set of up-to-date, informative material available in the beef industry.  It covers topics such as reproduction, nutrition, management, finance, genetics, drought, quality assurance, health and pasture.  The unique characteristic about this book is that stays current.  On a yearly basis, livestock specialists and extension educators from 12 Western states review each and every fact sheet.  If a fact is out-dated and not pertinent, it is removed.  If an article requires updating, it is done and new fact sheets are added.  Producers who own one of the manuals receive the updated information each year.

As producers look forward to fall management decisions, they can review the many fact sheets on how to calculate breakeven selling price for overwintering calves and the costs and returns of custom-feeding cattle.  There are also fact sheets that compare the advantages and disadvantages of retained ownership and a checklist on selecting a custom feedlot.  The fact sheets on feeding and marketing culls cows address the amount of price seasonality that is typically present in the marketplace and provides several tables to help producers estimate the financial gains they may generate by feed out culls cows.

The manual also includes several fact sheets on weaning management, rations for newly-weaned calves and the pros and cons of five different weaning times, as well as more that 50 fact sheets on cattle health, including calf vaccination protocols and parasite-control options. 

In addition to the fact sheets in the Library section, a Management Guide is also included.   The Management Guide portion helps to remind beef producers of critical times where attention to more intense management practices can return big dividends The Management Guide portion provides producers with a list of the specific fact sheets that contain information related to the biological cycle of the cow, including specific events that occur in a beef cow’s life (e.g. the last trimester of pregnancy, calving, breeding, grazing, weaning, etc.)  Readers are also provided with a list of specific fact sheets that contain information to help them address specific problems they may be experiencing (e.g. a high incidence of calving difficulty, weak calves, cows not becoming pregnant, etc.).  Overall, this publication suggests management strategies that beef cattle operations can adopt in order to improve profitability.  Selected fact sheets can be previewed at http://www.avs.uidaho.edu/wbrc/samples.html.  To order the printed book in a 3-ring binder or CD-ROM version, producers may contact their local Extension office or the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Idaho (208-885-6045) or email to angelic@uidaho.edu.

Pastures - Sometimes the Forgotten Stepchild

Steve Hines, Extension Educator, Lincoln County

As I drive through our Extension District, from Custer County to Cassia County, and every other county in the state as well, I see one crop that just seems to be the forgotten stepchild of the farm or ranch. This crop is pasture. Many of the pastures I see are abused, misused, and just plain mismanaged. I have to wonder; how many extra tons of forage we could produce for our livestock if we learned to manage our pastures better, or at least if we managed them as well as we know we should. I attended a pasture school in Washington State. The old farmer who owned the place we visited was named Charlie. Charlie has a lot of years of wisdom and trial and error on his side. Charlie told us a statement about his operation that, I think, really hits home. He said, “I know better than I do”. In other words, Charlie was saying he didn’t always manage his grass properly, even though he has the knowledge to do so. I suspect there are a lot of producers out there “who know better than they do”.

Cattle, horses, sheep, goats and every other domestic ungulate like to eat grass. Animals do well on grass and, given good grass to eat, they produce well. Now I am not suggesting that we do away with all other feed types in favor of grass, but if you have grass in your operation, it can pay dividends in extra forage if you learn to manage it properly. Grass puts on two new sets of roots every year, one in the spring, and one in the fall (late summer). The new roots become tillers and the grass regenerates itself as such. In the spring as the new roots come on, grass has good vegetative growth. The roots are new and healthy and things within the plant are going along great. Cool season grasses (the type most common to us) grow well until about the first day of summer. At this point, due to day length, they start shutting down and the vegetative growth decreases. The plant is shedding the roots it developed in the spring and thus, late summer production of cool season grasses noticeably declines. As the days start to cool again, the grass will start developing another set of new roots. Vegetative growth will increase again for a while in the fall. This fall growth is very important for what you will see in your pastures next spring. The grass plant is trying to build new roots, grow new vegetative material, and store extra carbohydrates. If you want to help your grass along, an application of phosphorus fertilizer in late August or early September can aid in good root development. As the plant goes into late fall and finally freezes, what it was able to develop and store in the fall sets the stage for what happens in the spring. The set of roots developed in the fall will be shed, but, in theory, there are plenty of carbohydrate reserves to start the new growth when spring arrives. Now, in order to use the carbohydrate reserves, they have to be present in the spring. You cannot graze them off and expect your grass to do well. The longstanding school of thought was that grass stored all the carbohydrates in the roots, so after the grass froze, you could graze it to the ground with no deficit to the plant. In actuality, carbohydrates are stored mostly in the lower 3-6” of the grass stem. If this lower section of the plant is grazed off in the fall, so is most of the energy needed to kick start the plant in the spring before new leaves are developed and photosynthesis can take over. Managing grazing to leave some stem intact can get the grass up and going two weeks earlier in the spring. Ultimately, this will be a grass plant that is stronger, more healthy, and able to compete with early season weeds.

Back to Top

Page 4.  District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural Producers

Curly Top Disease of Tomatoes

Jo Ann Robbins, Extension Educator, Jerome County

Many gardeners in the Magic Valley have tomato plants that develop upward curling leaves, leathery foliage and a peculiar dull yellowing of the entire plant.  Leaf veins turn purple, no more fruit is set and the stunted plants eventually die.  Often plants with these symptoms are scattered, with neighbors in the same row being perfectly healthy.

These are symptoms of the curly top virus, a disease carried by leafhoppers that fed on the plant a week or two earlier.  The leafhoppers blow in on the wind and have acquired the virus from infected crop plants or weeds such as wild mustards and Russian thistle.  Other crops such as beans, beets, cucumbers, spinach, squash, peppers, and Swiss chard can be affected.  Even some flowers are reported to be affected.  Other maladies, such as nutrient deficiency, aster yellows, and other virus diseases can cause similar symptoms.  These, however, will generally not be spotty in occurrence.

There is no control for the leafhopper, since flight of the hoppers is impossible to predict.  Furthermore, a single feeding of an infected hopper will infect a plant.  Shading the plants with row covers or companion plants can help.  Research has shown that low humidity levels and plants surrounded by bare soil are more susceptible to leafhopper feeding.

Some tomato varieties seem particularly susceptible to this disease, but there are no resistant types.

Plant more tomato plant than you think you will need and plant more than one variety to assure a crop for your use.  After a plant is infected, because a leafhopper is needed to transmit the virus, spread from the sick plants to the healthy ones in your garden is unlikely.  Removal of the plant is suggested mostly because it will produce little to no fruit and eventually die anyway.

For more information on raising tomatoes in your home garden, see "Tomatoes for the Home Garden, CIS 667, available through your local extension office or online at http://info.ag.uidaho.edu.

Service Learning in Cassia County

Grace Wittman, Extension Educator, Cassia County

It has been said that youth learn leadership from hands on real situations rather than in a classroom.  Cassia County teens are stepping up their leadership roles in the community by participating in a service learning project this year.  The teen’s met and decided to take their yearly community service project to the next level.  Instead of just caroling at the retirement home at Christmas they make several yearly visits to let the people living there know they are loved and remembered.

Cassia County teens made Christmas cards, Valentines, Easter pots with candy, Mothers Day cards, and went caroling for the holidays.  The teens personally delivered each of the items to the people living in the Warren House that is located in Burley, Idaho.  As time progressed through the project, the teens realized that what they were doing really did make a difference.  When the teens would visit the Warren House they would see their cards or gifts being proudly displayed in the rooms.  Residents may have not recognized individual faces, but they remembered them as a group.  Some of the people are quoted as saying “I remember you guys, you brought me the wonderful egg at Easter.”  The teens took personal pride in taking time to not only deliver their gifts but also to take a minute and talk with the people in each room.  The teens felt that this added a personal touch to their visits.

The teens felt that this project has helped them realize how important it is to remember those who are older and to let them know that they are important.  This has been a truly rewarding experience for the Cassia County Teen Association.  They have grown and learned so much.  The teens plan to continue their work at Warren House, but would like to do more for their community and broaden their reach and impact as leaders.

Back to Top

Page 5.  District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural Producers

Instant 4-H Project - Just Add Youth

Katie Hoffman, Lemhi County Intern

Since 2001, Lemhi County has been giving youth an opportunity to complete 4H projects in a week. Lemhi County Project Camp is a 5 day long program designed to give youth an opportunity to start and finish a full fledged 4H project in five days. This gives many youth throughout the county an opportunity to participate in 4H programs that they normally would not be able to commit to because of the time involved throughout the summer. They have an opportunity to take three projects from a variety of projects offered. The youth participate in club meetings, project meetings, service learning, fundraising, and even hold a club party. The youth elect officers and conduct club business every morning before they split into several project groups throughout the day. The projects and record books are collected by the Extension Office and delivered in the Lemhi County Fair where the projects are on display for the public to admire and to be judged.

This year the youth participated in projects like Art, Rabbit, Theater, and Shooting Sports on Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday. Friday the youth held a Fair and Party in which each member gave demonstrations, a fashion show and rabbit show were held and the youth shared lunch and games. The Salmon BLM office and 4H leaders helped prepare a dutch oven lunch for the youth participating and led the Dutch Oven project. The entire event was held at the Sacagawea Interpretive Center.

The variety of projects stretches from Accessorizing your Room to Sport Fishing offering something for everyone. The classes last from one and a half hours to two full hours of hands on activities and lessons. The youth this year were able to get their hair professionally done in Making the Most of Me project, go fishing in Sport Fishing, shoot air rifles in Shooting Sports and paint picture frames in Tole Painting. Cloverbuds are encouraged to participate in projects like Rabbit, Art and Outdoor Cooking while youth age 14 and up served as teen leaders. Many talented local volunteers and leaders shared their abilities and talents with youth ages 7 to 16. Local business provided tours during field trips and lent their expertise as project guest speakers.

Project Camp has continued to grow in popularity and the number of youth participating grows every year. It is a wonderful opportunity for many of Lemhi County’s youth to get involved in the 4H program. It not only encourages youth to participate but many leaders are able to attend for a week when they would not be able to lead a project for the entire summer. Local businesses are actively involved and it is some much valued advertisement for them as well as 4H. It seems that project camp is a refreshing alternative to summer long 4H involvement. It gives youth the opportunity to learn by doing and gain a sense of accomplishment when their project is displayed at the fair, without taking up the whole summer.

Back To Top

Page 6.  District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural Producers

4-H Frequently Asked Questions

4-H and Cooperative Extension celebrated 100 years of serving people in 2003.  4-H is the largest out of school youth organization in the United States.  The program began in the U.S. and has spread to over 80 countries worldwide.  4-H is in big cities, small towns and rural areas in every country.  It doesn’t matter where you live, 4-H isn’t far away.

What is 4-H?

4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.

Who is in charge of 4-H?

At the State level, 4-H is sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service of University of Idaho. The people in charge locally are the Extension Educators and County 4-H Program Coordinators in each county. Funding for 4-H is provided through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the University of Idaho and County Commissioners.

How many people are in 4-H?

In FY 2002, there were 6,772,817 young people and 761,242 volunteer adult and teen leaders in 4-H nationwide.

1,710,892 were members of 105,085 4-H clubs.

2,394,041 were members of 95,279 4-H special interest groups.

3,844,002 were in 120,189 4-H school-enrichment groups.

61,871 were in 4-H individual study programs.

5,657 enrolled in 4-H instructional TV.

84,695 were in 7,688 school-aged child care.

239,367 attended 4-H-conducted camps.

How can I become a 4-H Member or Volunteer?
Call the county Extension office or a local 4-H leader if you know one. Talk to someone you know who belongs to 4-H. Find out if there is room in a club near you. If not, it's easy to start a new club with some of your friends or other interested young people and one or two adults willing to help.

Wildlife Day Camp

Tina Dickard, 4-H Coordinator, Jerome County

You really missed out on a wonderful day if you did not attend the second annual Wildlife Camp on May 20^th in Hagerman.  The all day event was hosted at the Billingsley Creek State Park with a total of 125 youth and adult participants from all eight Magic Valley counties.  The day started with a talk about migratory birds, and what a beautiful day it was!  Participants were divided into three groups and the stations were:

• Nature walk – down to the Billingsly Creek “pond”, on the way back the group stopped and made bird feeders from pinecones, covering them in peanut butter and then rolling them in bird food (they had as much peanut butter and bird seed on themselves as the pine cones!)
• Fossil excavation – participants lerned to excavate (digging; using hands and brushes) in the sand
• Leaf prints – made from paper mache` with flower seed included, participants also worked on their wildlife journals

Everyone prepared lunch; painted t-shirts (their own original design); and made plaster tracks.  After lunch a presentation was given by Annette Rousseau with the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument.  Youth then excavated a site and recorded their own find in their journals.

There were several families who attended this wonderful camp together.  They said it was great fun for the whole family and a educational experience for youth  to learn about the environment around them.

The planning committee would like to thank everyone who attended and helped out.  Next year the third annual Wildlife Day Camp will include fishing in Blaine County!

Back To Top

Page 7.  District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural Producers

Jerome North Side Head Start Holds "Money on the Bookshelf" Graduation

Lyle Hansen, Extension Educator, Personal Finance, Jerome County

Three to five year olds from the Jerome North Side Head Start celebrated their Money on the Bookshelf graduation on May 16^th and 19^th at a ceremony in the yard.

Each child was presented with a completion certificate and personalized piggy bank to encourage the children to save for the future.  The children scampered around the grass showing off their new piggy banks. One child proclaimed her bank was painted in her favorite color and another little girl said she was going to put “money and dollars” in her piggy bank.

Children are never too young to learn to be responsible with money. Judy Crist, Director of North Side Head Start said, “What a cute idea to teach money management to three to five year olds!”  Kathy McKenzie and the teachers and volunteers of North Side Head Start appreciated the efforts of all the participants.

The Money on the Bookshelf curriculum is a series of children books that teach about money. Over the last year, more than 100 Jerome North Side Head Start youth have participated in monthly Money on the Bookshelf presentations.  The children learn financial lessons through fun activities. After reading the relevant topics in the children’s books, the students discuss the lesson concepts. Various money management ideas are covered in the children’s books including allocating resources, decision making, goal setting, positive interactions, prioritizing, problem-solving skills, recognizing resources, and saving.   This innovative, national award winning program aims to help children have good educational experiences with and about money. 

For further information or questions you can contact

Lyle Hansen

University of Idaho Extension Educator, Jerome County

324-7578

lhansen@uidaho.edu

Lamb Camp Rocks!

Cindy Kinder, Area 4-H Youth Educator

4-H Lamb Camp was hosted at the Blaine County Fairgrounds in Carey on June 8^th.  Youth from six counties united to learn about animal husbandry, sheep by-products, and fair preparation.  Eighty-one youth and 22 adults listened to multiple stories about sheep history and the culture in central Idaho; stories were told by third generation sheep rancher John Peavey. Youth also learned about shearing sheep and were able to watch a few sheep sheared by professional Ed Wilde.  Once the wool was removed LuAnn Craner explained how hats, clothes, candles and other crafty and necessary items can be made from wool.  Campers were also able to observe animal behavior as four sheep were on hand to teach youth about flight zones, flocking instinct and lead animals.  Some participants received a special treat when they were able to observe a nursing lamb for the first time.

Many youth tasted lamb for the first time at lunch.  Faulkner Land and Livestock and the Gooding Basque Association sponsored a traditional Basque lamb lunch with all the fixing’s including lamb roast and chops, rice pudding, and wine cake.  The Basque Museum & Culture Center was also present to showcase the Basque Culture and to show a few fancy dance steps that the campers tried to learn.

The Barn Yard Olympics challenged youth about the knowledge they gained throughout the day.  The hay stacking contest made sure youth knew what to feed their lambs and the feed and water relay also made sure youth were raising a good quality meat product.  The wheel barrel race challenged youth to be ready for the fair and clean up that green stuff in the stalls.  All three teams each won a Olympic challenge and received grand prizes, Lamb Camp medallions.

Throughout the day, chants of, “We are the Suffolk’s”, “We are the Columbia’s” and “We are the Hampshire’s” filled the camp.   The day ended with a camp fire and families were encouraged to attend the hot dog and marshmallow roast.  Many moms and dads were also able to enjoy the fireside songs.  Every youth who participated at camp came away with a bag full of goodies including a rope halter, recipes for lamb, stickers, a trailing of the sheep program and other educational items.

A BIG thank you to the program speakers including; John Peavey, Lori Harrison; USDA, Greg Scott; Nutrena, Cindy Kinder; University of Idaho Extension, Helen, Tessa and Michelle Faulkner, Kay Billington, Kathy Whittaker, Lu Ann Craner, and Patty Miller; The Basque Museum and Culture Center.

Special thank you to those that helped sponsor the program; Idaho Wool Growers Association, Idaho BEHAVE working group, Idaho 4-H Endowment,

Back To Top

Page 8.  District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural Producers

Funtastic Fridays in Challis

Kathleen Durfee, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation

If you happened to visit the Land of the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center between March 24^th and April 28^th, you probably saw and heard happy, excited children.  During this time, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation teamed up with Custer County 4-H to present a six-week program for children in third through fifth grades.  This program was made possible through the generous donations of Thompson Creek Mining, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Custer County 4-H Leaders Council and the Idaho 4-H Endowment.

During the six-week event a different topic, activity and project accompanied each educational program.  All the activities were interactive and jam packed with fun things to do and learn.  Week one activities included building a tree, reading tree rings and eating a leaf model made from fruit and Jell-O.  Week two focused on water safety; Ed Lyon, IDPR boating program coordinator, demonstrated the proper fit of a life jacket, and the correct way to enter and move about in a canoe.  There were a few frenzied moments at the life jacket relay while trying to find the right jacket.  Participants were challenged to build a floatable boat from twigs, sticks and pinecones and learned what not to do from the Bullheaded Bullfrog.

The third week’s activities focused on animal tracks and food chains.  Youth and adults played “Quick Frozen Critters” and created animal track hats.  Week four found the kids learning about mining and local geology.  The crystal growing experiment with salt and Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing was a big hit!  Most participants didn’t know that ingredients in toothpaste came from mines.

During week five; Rich Gummersall, IDPR-OHV education coordinator, brought several all terrain vehicles and an educational trailer.  Each child climbed aboard an ATV to find the perfect fit to the machine and a helmet.  The rest of the day was spent on trail etiquette.  For the final program, Challis emergency medical technicians taught a short course on safety and first aid, everyone cooked lunch on a stick, set up tents, learned how to use a compass, made their own compass and held a graduation ceremony with the parents.  Each participant also told what they liked best about Funtastic Fridays and what they learned.

Everyone had an excellent time and were sad to see the programs come to an end.  Thank you to all the guest presenters, volunteers, donors, participants and parents who helped make the program a success.

Quality Assurance Counts in Junior Livestock Programs

Shannon Williams, Extension Educator, Lemhi County

Lemhi County 4-H members and leaders focused on “quality assurance” at the 6^th annual Livestock Day Camp.  This year’s event was coordinated by Becky Stephanishen, volunteer leader, and the Salmon Swine 4-H Club.  The youth of the club determined the topics for the day after reviewing the new Youth Beef Quality Assurance manual and the CD and book on Pork Quality Assurance. 

Youth learned about drug residues from hands-on activities that explained what residue is and how it can be avoided.  At the animal health workshop, youth and adults practiced giving proper injections to oranges, limes, lemons and grapefruit.  They read medication labels and discussed the important information contained on a label.  Cupcakes were the topic of discussion at the animal carcass quality session.  These weren’t ordinary cupcakes!  Some of the cupcakes contained “residues”, “injection site blemishes”, and “stress”.  Animal movement and identification gave the youth the opportunity to examine electronic identification tags, visual tags, discuss bio-security, disease, contamination, and prevention.  They then applied all of the principles as they played the “animal movement” game.  Dallas Dupree, of Lakota Custom Meats shared with the youth his responsibility in assuring consumers receive a quality product.  At each station, youth discussed “key words” in quality assurance.  They included these words on the Quality Assurance Bingo Card.  As the end of the day, the youth played quality assurance bingo.  Winners had to define each of the terms that completed their bingo.

The 29 youth, 6 teen leaders, and 10 adults recognize that junior livestock participants have a responsibility to the buyers / consumers to produce a quality product.  The buyers at Market Animal sales purchase animals not only to support the youth, to have a quality product for them to consume.

Back To Top

Page 9.  District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural Producers

4-H Youth Serving Their Communities

Cindy A. Kinder and Donna R. Gillespie, Area 4-H Extension Educators

Recently the 4-H clubs from Camas County conducted their annual community service project.  Members and leaders participated in cleaning up the streets, school and park in Fairfield, ending the day with a hotdog feed.

Camas County 4-H Clubs are proud to be part of the effort to keep their community clean.  Community service projects are not a requirement for 4-H clubs but most would feel their year was not complete without giving something back to the community. 

A University of Idaho study indicates that Idaho youth involved in 4-H are more likely to develop a deep sense of compassion and caring for others than other youth.  Research shows that 4-H members are more likely to empathize with others in difficult circumstances and significantly differ from their peers in how much they care about others’ feelings.  4-H members also reported that they were more likely to have been involved in a project to make life better for other people, given money or time to a charity or other organization that helps people, and to have spent time helping people who are poor, hungry, sick or unable to care for themselves.

4-H members have been volunteering for over 100 years because they know the importance of the work they do and that this work makes them feel better.  People who perform acts of kindness agree that doing a kind deed for someone else makes them feel good. After performing kind acts, volunteers show improvements in stress-related health problems such as sleeplessness, acid stomach, obesity, headaches and backaches, depression, colds and flu and even cancer.

4-H members also do service projects that benefit animals as well as people by making blankets for animal shelter cages and houses for blue birds.  Many traditional projects are done annually such as cleaning up roadways, helping an elderly neighbor with spring yard work or painting public buildings and fences. 

For community service ideas contact the local school, churches, senior citizen center, or local government offices.

Benefits from Volunteering in Youth Programs

Donna R. Gillespie, Area 4-H Youth Educator

4-H provides an opportunity for you to share your expertise and what you enjoy doing.  Service to others is a great way to help yourself, volunteers enjoy added benefits such as:

• Participation in family traditions
• Learning values and benefits by giving back to their community
• Being involved with family while serving
• Testing leadership skills and staying productive
• Feeling good about themselves and gaining positive self-worth
• Volunteering can help with stress, anxiety and inner conflict
• Learning new skills and gaining an understanding of how people and programs work in the world around you
• Social contacts allow for interaction and cooperation.  It’s fun to be part of an organization, especially one that serves.
• Opportunities for job enhancement, career exploration and recognition
• Connect youth to the community in which they live
• Open new horizons for youth with exchange trips and visits to other communities
• Recognize and encourage youth so they feel noticed and important
• Teach youth how to think, not what to think
• Develop creative thinking in young people by giving then a chance to make decisions on their own
• Help youth learn specific project skills, 4-H members have fun with projects while “learning by doing”

4-H would not be possible without the dedication of volunteers.  Whatever role you choose, you can be sure your efforts will help young people achieve their goals while having fun!

Back To Top

Page 10.  District III Extension Focus - Extension Educators and Research Specialists Providing Information for Area Families and Agricultural Producers

4-H Shooting Sports Trailor - Fun for Everyone

Donna R. Gillespie, Area 4-H Youth Educator

Since 2002 there has been an Idaho 4-H Shooting Sports Mobile Range in operation in southern Idaho.  The National Rifle Association sponsored trailer is currently housed by and reserved through the Minidoka County Extension Office.  This mobile range is designed to promote the Idaho 4-H Shooting Sports program and can be used as a fundraiser for county level 4-H Shooting Sports Programs at events such as county fairs or other public events.

A $30 per day fee will be charged to the County Extension Office or Idaho 4-H Instructor that uses the mobile range in an educational or shooting sports promotional situation.  This fee will be assessed for days that the range is in operation. Transport and storage days will not be charged.   The range equipment includes: 3 air rifles, paper and metal targets, ammunition (lead pellets), two CO₂ tanks, and safety glasses.  The person who checks out the shooting range is responsible for picking it up and is responsible for returning it unless other arrangements are approved.  The trailer/range is licensed and insured by the University of Idaho, however, the person who checks out the range is responsible for any damage incurred to the range while in their possession and will be charged for the repair.  Normal wear and tear such as flat tires will be taken care of from the use fees.

At each Extension sponsored event or activity that a 4-H Shooting Sports Mobile Range is used there must be an Certified Idaho 4-H Shooting Sports Rifle or Pistol Instructor responsible to oversee the use of the trailer while it is in operation in their county.  This responsible party must conduct training regarding safety and proper use of the equipment for all volunteers who staff the exhibit at a public event or activity.  There must always be an adult in attendance at the exhibit that has received this safety training from an Idaho  4-H certified rifle or pistol instructor or Hunter Education Instructor.

The trailer is designed to have two shooters at a time maximum.  Pistols are to be used only in the presence of 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors who have been certified in pistol.  For most general public events it is recommended that rifles be used for the safety consideration of muzzle control.  All shooters and people assisting shooters must wear eye protection and a barrier must be erected behind and to the side of the firing line to keep spectators without eye protection at a safe distance.

To learn the about the availability of the mobile range and a list of Certified Idaho 4-H Shooting Sports Rifle or Pistol Instructors contact the Minidoka County Extension Office at 436-7184 or Minidoka@uidaho.edu.

 
Back To Top          District III Home          Extension Home

2006 University of Idaho. All rights reserved.
Copyright | Webmaster | Disclaimer

Computer Use Policy