November 2018 Volume: 129 In this Issue: Sheryl Carson Family & Consumer Sciences scarson@ksu.edu Madison Mackley Ag. & Natural Resources mmackley@ksu.edu Joanna Johnson Office Professional joannajohnson@ksu.edu Agriculture Focus, page 2 ~ Natural Needle Drop ~ Millipede Invasion ~ Upcoming Events Family and Consumer Sciences, page 3 ~ Gluten-free Risks in Restaurants ~ Keep Holiday Meats Safe ~ Winter Car Kit 4-H Tidbits, pages 4-5 ~ Achievement Banquet, Enrollment, Fundraiser ~ Project Events November Calendar, page 6 Holiday Office Closings Reminder: The Extension Office will be closed for Veteran s Day on Monday, November 12th. The Office will also be closed for Thanksgiving from Wednesday November 21st through Friday, November 23rd, 2018. New Twitter account The Thomas County Extension Office is now on Twitter! This is one more avenue for you to get news and information relating to agriculture, family consumer science and 4-H. Find us @KSRE_ThomasCo
Agriculture Focus with Madison Mackley Natural Needle Drop We are starting to see very noticeable natural needle drop on some evergreens such as arborvitae, pines and spruce. This is a process where 2- to 4-year-old interior needles turn yellow, then brown, and eventually drop off. Those who aren't familiar with this process often are concerned about the health of the tree. This is a natural phenomenon that occurs every year and does not hurt the tree. However, some years it is much more noticeable than others. Be sure to check that only the older needles are affected --the needles on the tips of the branches should look fine--and that there is no spotting or banding on the needles that are turning yellow. If spotting or banding is noted, take a sample to the extension office for diagnosis. Upcoming Events To Look Out For Nov 12 Extension office CLOSED Nov. 15 Calving School Nov. 16 4-H Achievement Banquet Nov 21-23 Extension office CLOSED Nov 26 4-H Council Meeting Please call the office or email Madison at mmackley@ksu.edu for more information on any of these upcoming events. Millipede Invasion Millipedes, or "thousand-legged worms," are an arthropod relative of insects. They can be distinguished from centipedes by the number of legs per body segment. Millipedes have four legs per segment, while centipedes have only two. Also, the millipedes legs are quite short and often are not seen. Though usually found in damp locations outside, they can become a problem inside the house and cause homeowners a great deal of concern. Millipedes feed primarily on decaying organic material, rarely on living tissue. They do not bite people or damage household furnishings directly, but they will leave a mess and give off an odor if crushed. Millipedes are worm-like and most often brownish-black in color. Millipedes often curl up into a "C" shape if touched. Millipedes require high moisture to survive and often die in a day or two after entering a house. Dead millipede bodies can then be vacuumed up and disposed of. Drying out moist areas inside will also help with control. Sealing and caulking around openings in the foundation will help keep populations low. If this is not enough, spraying Home Pest Control Indoor & Outdoor Insect Killer, or resmethrin in a threefoot band around the outside of the house will take care of them before they get inside.
Family and Consumer Science News with Sheryl Carson Gluten-free Risks in Restaurants If you must eat a gluten-free diet, it can be a challenge to do so in a restaurant. In research conducted by Columbia University, they found that in the restaurants they tested, about one-third of the food labeled as gluten-free, actually contained some gluten. In this study, data was collected from restaurants in Western states and Northeastern states. A portable gluten detection device was used. Each test included date/time, food item, restaurant name and address, presence/absence of a gluten-free label, and presence/absence of gluten. They collect 5,624 tests. Gluten was detected in 27.2% occurrences at breakfast and 34.0% occurrences at dinner. Pizza and pasta labeled as gluten-free had the highest contamination readings. According to FDA regulation, for a food to be labeled as glutenfree, it has to have <20 ppm of gluten. Keep Holiday Meals Safe! For those of us who roast turkey only once a year and need a refresher course: Whether it is a simple meal for two, or a large gathering with a buffet, food safety is a priority at any meal, and especially at the holidays. Nobody wants the gift of foodborne illness! Are you the host for the holiday meal? Reduce your stress by starting a list now to plan the location, food and recipes, activities and games, and what your guests could bring. Put it in a timeline or on a calendar to stay on schedule. Are you buying a fresh or frozen turkey? If you choose fresh, be sure to place an order with your grocer or butcher shop and pick it up 1-2 days before the meal. Frozen turkeys can be purchased any time and stored in the freezer. Pay attention to grocery sales to save some money. Frozen turkeys are best thawed in the refrigerator or in cold water. In the refrigerator, plan on at least five days for a 20 pound turkey. In cold water, allow about 30 minutes per pound of turkey. Do you only have one oven? Use a slow cooker for hot dishes. A table top roaster oven can be used like a regular oven for many items. Even electric pressure cookers can cook up some tasty dishes! Some items, such as dessert or bread can be made ahead and frozen. When cooking the turkey, remember that 325 degrees F is the lowest oven temperature to safely cook turkey. Use a food thermometer to be sure it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Learn more at www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/ topics/holiday.html Winter Car Kit With winter closing in and given how much we re in our vehicles every day, take a few minutes to download the Winter Survival Kit phone app, which helps you find your current location, call 911, contact friends and family and more. Plus, make a quick trip to the store and assemble an emergency kit for your car or truck. Recommended items include: Flashlight & extra batteries Snow & ice scraper Shovel Jumper cables First aid kit Blanket or sleeping bag Snow shovel Non-clumping kitty litter or sand for traction Flares or reflectors Portable cell phone charger Keep gas tank at least half full Information is also available at Ready.gov https:// www.ready.gov/
4-H Tidbits Enrollment 4-H members should continue to re-enroll on the 4HOnline website. Returning members must be enrolled by December 1st in order to participate with 4-H in the 2019 Fair. Once enrolled, members can continue to add and drop projects until May 1st. Just a reminder, there is a $15 program fee per child this year. This can be paid by credit card on the 4HOnline website or you can send a check to the State 4-H Office. Achievement Banquet The Achievement Banquet will be held on November 16th in the 4-H building at 6:30pm. This event will showcase the winners of the 2018 Fair and the achievements of the 4-Hers this past year. Please check with your club leaders to see what you need to bring. Fair Changes The Extension Board and the Fair Board are working together to discuss changes for the 2019 Fair. If you have any comments or concerns regarding Fair rules, you are welcome to attend the monthly Fair Board meetings. They are held on the second Thursday of the month at 8:00pm at the 4-H Building. New livestock weights for Fair 2019: Hogs: 200-325lbs Lambs: 100-165lbs Goats: 50-130lbs Beef: 1000-1550lbs Consignment fees (per animal sold): Beef: $20.00 Hogs, Lambs, Goats: $10.00 Club Attendance For the 2018-2019 year, 4-her s wishing to participate in the livestock sale are required to attend 6 club meetings between the months of August 2018 and July 2019. Members must attend meetings for the club they are enrolled in on 4HOnline. Business must be conducted at the meeting in order for the meeting to qualify for attendance. College students who enroll in 4-H for their final year must still attend 6 meetings either in person or by technology such as Skype. Club members and leaders can check their attendance record by going to the Thomas County Extension website. Click on 4-H Youth Development, followed by Record Keeping. Annual Fundraiser Thomas County s 4-H fundraiser this year will be to sell Gambino s pizzas. 4-H members will sell pizzas mid- December through mid-january. Money should be collected at the time of the sale and each family needs to sell a minimum of 5 pizzas. More details regarding due dates for sale forms and pizza-making day will be announced soon. Volunteers It s that time again and we need your help!! The enrollment date for adult volunteers is the same as that for 4-H members, October 1st. However, we need your renewal forms back as soon as possible. If you are a new volunteer, please contact the office so we can get the forms and instructions to you. Call Joanna at (785) 460-4582 or email joannajohnson@ksu.edu.
4-H Tidbits Robotics SpaceTech Experience This fourth Kansas 4-H SpaceTech Program partnering with the Kansas Cosmosphere will feature Robotics. The experience will begin Friday, November 16, at 4 p.m., and will end on Saturday, November 17, 4 p.m. Participants will learn how to program robots and use sensors. Other engineering activities include making a catapult and launching pencil erasers, plus much more. There will be a tour of the Cosmosphere, a planetarium show, and a digital dome program. For more information, visit the 4-H Website. KSU Swine Day This event will be held on November 15th at the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan, KS. The morning program includes rotations on Swine Nutrition and Management topics while the afternoon includes a Disease Research Update and a Q & A session. Pre-registration is due Nov. 7th, but participants can also pay at the door. For more information, visit the K-State Swine website. Junior Producer Days Save the date for the 2019 Junior Swine Producer Day. It has been scheduled for March 9, 2019 at Weber Hall, Kansas State University in Manhattan. Early registration is due February 22nd and more information will be announced later. Junior Meat Goat Producer Day is scheduled for March 30th. More details about registration will be coming soon. Horse Panorama The 2019 4-H Horse Panorama has been scheduled for January 25-27 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. Registration and contest rules for Horse Panorama will be posted to the Kansas 4-H web site soon on the Horse Events page. Ambassador Training The 2019 Kansas 4-H Ambassador Training will be February 22-23 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. It is open to all county 4-H ambassadors, interested teens, ambassador advisors and Extension staff. The theme is 4-H Ambassadors Go Wild with Leadership. There will be six youth workshops, three adult workshops, two speakers, with lots of fun and fellowship. Registration is due February 10th, 2019 on the CVent system. More information will be posted soon. Kansas 4-H Day with Wildcat Women s Basketball The Kansas Association of Extension 4-H Agents would like to invite you to "JAM the GYM" with us at the K-State vs. University of Kansas Wildcat Women's Basketball on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. Online registration is $22 per person and open to anyone who would like to attend!! Each person who registers will receive a ticket to the game, special game day t-shirt, and a $10 meal voucher to use at the main concession stands during the game. Registration is due December 20th online.
November 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 BB/Air Rifle/Air Pistol Safety meeting & practice 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Robotics SpaceTech Experience Reg. due Daylight Saving Time ends Thomas County Extension Annual Meeting 6:30pm AH Meeting @ 4-H Bldg. 7pm Fairboard Mtg. @ 8pm 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Veteran s Day Veteran s Day GEM Meeting @ Comm. Bldg. 7:30pm KSU Swine Day in Manhattan 4-H Achievement Banquet @ 4-H Bldg. 6:30pm BPG Meeting @ Henry Hall 7:30pm SV Meeting @ 4-H Bldg. 7pm Calving School in Goodland Robotics SpaceTech Experience 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving CC Meeting @ 4-H Bldg. 6:30pm 25 26 4-H Council Mtg. @ 6:30pm 27 28 29 30 December 1 LAST day to Re- Enroll on 4HOnline to participate with 4-H at 2019 Fair!! SS = Shooting Sports AH = Abilene Hustlers BPG = Brewster Prairie Gem Gem = Gem 4-H CC = Colby Comets SV = Solomon Valley
Thomas County Office Complex 350 South Range Ave. Suite 16 Colby, Kansas 67701 Bookmark our website for quick reference to educational and informational resources as well as contact information for all of your questions: http://www.thomas.k-state.edu Check us out on Facebook: K-State Research and Extension Thomas County 4-H K-State Research and Extension and Thomas County Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.