Week of September 16, 2024
NEWS RELEASES
Cuming County Board of Supervisors Seeking Extension Board Nominations
The Cuming County Board of Supervisors is seeking nominations for individuals interested in serving a three-year term on the Cuming County Extension Board. Extension Board members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Extension Board district lines are defined according to the Cuming County Board of Supervisor districts.
Three positions on the Cuming County Extension Boad are up for appointment. Nominees are needed for District III (Supervisor District served by Judy Mutzenberger). Eric Brockmann has served as District III representative to the Extension Board for two, 3-year terms and is ineligible to run again. Justin Stratmann, District I (Supervisor Steve Meister) and Kelly Dinslage, District VII (Supervisor Norbert Holtz) have both agreed to serve a second 3-year term.
A nominating committee is seeking nominations from interested individuals. A nomination committee will prepare a slate of potential candidates to be submitted to the Cuming County Board of Supervisors for consideration. If you are interested in being a candidate, please feel free to contact Cuming County Extension at 402/372-6006 on or before September 23rd.
According to Extension Educator Alfredo DiCostanzo, the operation of the Cuming County Extension Board should be given serious consideration by all county residents. Extension programs focus on priority needs and issues facing people of Cuming County.
Potential candidates are encouraged to contact the Extension Office or the Cuming County Clerk, Bonnie Vogltance, if you have questions on which supervisor district you reside in.
-30-
SOURCE: Alfredo DiCostanzo, Extension Educator
RELEASE DATE: September 16, 2024
Cuming County Extension Board Meeting
The Cuming County Extension Board will hold their regular meeting on Monday, September 23. The meeting will be held in the Courthouse Meeting Room beginning at 7:00 p.m. The full agenda for the Extension Board meeting is available for review at the Extension Office.
-30-
SOURCE: Alfredo DiCostanzo, Extension Educator
RELEASE DATE: September 9, 2024
Enter the Make It with Wool Contest! The object of the contest is to promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarns; to encourage personal creations in sewing, knitting, crocheting, spinning, and weaving of wool fabrics and yarns; and to recognize creative skills.
The 2024 State Make It with Wool Contest will be November 23 at Lexington Middle School, 1100 N Washington, NE beginning at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to the public Fashion Show at 1:00 p.m.
The divisions determined by age as of January 1, 2024 (national rule), are as follows: Preteen – age 12 and under, Junior – age 13 to 16, Senior – age 17 to 24, Adult – age 25 and over, and Made For Others.
For more information, contact the Nebraska State Director: Andrea Nisley, P.O. Box 757, Lexington, NE 68850 (phone 308-325-6498) anisley1@unl.edu.
The entry form, state brochure and national wool contest guidelines are posted on Dawson County Extension's website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dawson/. Entry forms, fees, wool samples and wool testing fees are due October 15, 2024 to Andrea Nisley. The fabrics/yarns used for the wool contest must be 100% wool or wool blend (minimum 60% wool or specialty wool fiber) for each fashion fabric or yarn used. Specialty wool fibers include alpaca, angora, camel, cashmere, llama, mohair, and vicuna.
More information is available on the National Make It With Wool website: www.makeitwithwool.com.
The National Make It With Wool Contest also has a Fashion/Apparel Design Competition for college students who are currently enrolled in a college-level fashion or apparel design program. Entry deadline is November 1st for the Fashion/Apparel Design Competition. Information, criteria, how to enter and deadline information is given on the National Make It With Wool website.
-30-
SOURCE: Melissa Hagemeister, Extension Associate
RELEASE DATE: September 2, 2024
It is time to begin thinking about bringing the 4-H year to an end. This is the part of the year that many times is the hardest to get excited about, but it is very important. Completing Achievement Applications are a great way to keep track of 4-H involvement throughout a 4-H career.
Previously known as Record Books or Career Portfolios, there is now the new and improved 4-H Achievement Application. Achievement Applications are broken down into three age divisions: Junior (8-11), Intermediate (12-14), and Senior (15-18). Only Senior Achievement Applications are state-eligible. Please know that completing these applications is not required but is a great tool for those working towards awards, scholarships, leadership, etc. We do encourage all 4-H youth to complete an Achievement Application.
There is also a Clover Kid Record Book in which we recommend our youth, ages 5-7 as of January 1, complete. Again, this is not a requirement but a great way to reflect on their beginning 4-H years.
The deadline for Achievement Applications for competition purposes is Friday, October 11th, 2024. These applications can be submitted electronically to the cuming-county@unl.edu email account.
As you work on completing your Achievement Applications, I encourage you to apply for the various county awards. Once a member wins an award they cannot re-apply until they are in the next age division. I encourage you to apply in at least three areas. Take time to study what is available. Please view all the details on our website at: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/cuming/achievement-application/
A complete Achievement Application includes:
• Form 0-11 (completed with signatures, award areas circled, and name)
• Achievement Application – all areas complete (see examples on webpage)
-30-
SOURCE: Melissa Hagemeister, Extension Associate
RELEASE DATE: September 2, 2024
Food, Nutrition, & Health
Hannah Guenther, Extension Educator
Nebraska Extension Serving Cuming County
Week of September 16, 2024
Reduce Your Risk: BPA Exposure
I don't know if I have said this in an article, but I'm back in school! If you had told 19-year-old Hannah that she would be working on her second master's degree (and that she ends up living on a feedlot), she would not have believed you – but alas here we are! I am currently working on my Master of Public Health through UC-Berkeley as a member of their Rural Health Innovation Program. This semester I am currently taking Environmental Health, and it has been fascinating to look beyond the plate to other influences that affect our health trajectory.
Recently, we took a deep dive into BPA's or Bisphenol A. BPA is a chemical compound used in the production of synthetic polymer. It can be found in a variety of everyday products such as water pipes, electronic equipment, paper, toys, and food contact materials (Michalowicz, 2013). You may be familiar with BPA's after they were banned in the use of baby bottles, sippy cups, and formula packaging.
The reason BPA were banned and restricted in use in 2012 is because exposure to BPA has been linked to an elevated risk of obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, as well endocrine disruption. Scary – I know!
To be honest, I thought that BPAs were a non-risk due to their restriction/banning in 2012, but I quickly learned that they are still present, and it is important to recognize where they are and limit your exposure for your health. So here is what you can do to limit your BPA Exposure:
1. Look for "BPA FREE" products. A quick look at your plastic cup, Tupperware, or plate will tell you if BPAs are present or not. If possible, choose BPA free products. Glass is a natural BPA alternative.
2. Choose glass or stainless-steel water bottles. I am not saying that this is your excuse to buy another Stanley cup, but it is recommended to choose stainless steel or glass water bottles to reduce BPA exposure. Single use water bottles can still contain BPA's and are easily transmitted into the drinking water when heated. It is recommended to use reusable water bottles more frequently. If you are purchasing single usage water bottles, do not leave them in the sun or the car so they do not heat.
3. Do not microwave plastic. It is very tempting for me to just throw the entire Tupperware in the microwave to warm up my lunch – but heat is how BPAs can transfer from plastic to our food and water. Try to put food items on/into glass or ceramic before microwaving. If Tupperware or storage containers are glass – they are safe to heat.
4. Email your receipt. Finally, limit your handling of thermal paper receipts. Thermal paper, which is used for printing receipts, is another way that we are exposed to BPAs on a regular basis. Ask to have your receipt emailed to limit handling receipts.
Implement these tips to reduce your risk of BPA exposure!
References: Michałowicz J. Bisphenol A--sources, toxicity and biotransformation. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2014 Mar;37(2):738-58. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2014.02.003. Epub 2014 Feb 8. PMID: 24632011.
# # #
Week of September 2, 2024
Building on Experience: My Next Chapter in Extension
For the past six years I have served Cuming, Stanton, and Colfax counties as a Food, Nutrition, and Health Extension Educator. I didn't quite know what to expect leaving my Family and Consumer Science classroom behind and entering this new position, but looking back it has been challenging, eye opening, always changing, and a catalyst for new opportunities around nutrition and health. So today I am going to utilize this time to share with you what I have learned in my last year six years and where I am headed in the future ...
1. Say YES! Starting out in Extension, I'll be honest, I didn't know what my job truly was. I was obviously familiar with Extension through participating in 4-H throughout high school (did you know I used to show sheep?) but I had no idea it had so many different program areas with experts serving Nebraskans across the state. As a Food, Nutrition, and Health Educator I was charged with reducing chronic disease risk through research-based information, but there are a lot of ways to tackle that challenge. Early on I said "YES" a lot and I am so glad that I did. I taught a variety of programs including Kids in the Kitchen, Veggie IQ, and Instant Pot 101. I was a member of a variety of teams, committees, grants and initiatives. Through saying YES, I got a little taste of a lot of things and it truly allowed me to hone in on my passions and develop my unique platform within our larger organization.
2. If it doesn't exist, create it! One of my favorite things that I have done in my career thus far is create new programs. Food in the Field was one of the first programs that I created in partnership with Franciscan Healthcare. To date it has reached over 900 individuals across Nebraska and Iowa. Remember Instant Pot 101? It was the starting off point to create Healthy Food Fast, an award-winning curriculum centered around culinary education. Both programs came from identifying a need and seeing that there were not resources available to meet that need. I've always been creative, so having the opportunity to create research based materials to impact behavior change has been one of my favorite parts of the job!
3. Food is more than nutrition. It has been so fascinating to see the transformation that has happened around nutrition in the last six years and I am thankful for it. People are realizing that health is more than a number on a scale and food is more than nutrition. Food has social and emotional ties not to mention it's enjoyable! Being healthy means taking care of your social, intellectual, occupational, and spiritual health in addition to your physical health.
I could truly go on and on with the little life lessons that I have gleaned from being a Food, Nutrition and Health Extension Educator in Cuming, Stanton, and Colfax counties, but I think it's important to share with you where I am headed. On September 1st, I start my new position as a statewide Rural Health Extension Educator. This means that I will still be working in Extension but will no longer be located in the Cuming County office. This position will allow me to focus on my passion of serving rural communities with the goal of improving health outcomes and removing barriers to health across the state. It's another tall order! Without the last six years, I would be intimidated to take on such a task but my career to date has truly laid the foundation for me to hit the ground running in this new position. For now, I am asking to continue writing this article because it's another favorite part of my job and I hope that will be able to use it as a way to communicate and connect with the county that got me started.
# # #
Week of August 19, 2024
I know I am not alone when I say, where did the summer go? Making sure backpacks are packed, uniforms are clean, shoes are tied, and breakfast is eaten all before 8 am can lead to a hectic morning. Breakfast is many times the first thing to get pushed aside, but eating breakfast is vital to the success of you and your students! Research has shown that eating breakfast increases attention at school, helps maintain a healthy weight and helps control blood sugar throughout the day.
Today, I am going to share with you some simple back to school breakfasts that are perfect for students and adults alike.
Better Breakfast Equation
Before I begin sharing some healthy back to school breakfasts, it is important to first understand the components of a balanced breakfast. A healthy breakfast includes 3 of the 5 food groups: dairy, whole grains, proteins, fruits, and vegetables. For instance, a bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit and a glass of milk is a great breakfast. By including three of the food groups, you ensure to start your day with protein, vitamins and minerals, and carbohydrates. This is the perfect combination to fuel your day. Here are some other balanced breakfast options:
Egg Muffins
I love a recipe that I can make at the beginning of the week and enjoy throughout – this is one of those recipes. By combining eggs, a couple of tablespoons of milk, salt, and pepper you have the base of a variety of egg muffins! Add ham and cheese or parmesan and spinach. Bake at 375 for 15-20 min and you have an easy grab and go breakfast. Paired with a piece of whole grain toast and a glass of 100% fruit juice and you have a balanced breakfast.
Peanut Butter Toast
It is easy to get overwhelmed at the idea of feeding your kids and yourself in the morning but keeping it simple is key – like peanut butter and jelly simple! One of my favorite fast breakfasts is to toast a piece of whole grain toast and top with peanut butter. Instead of adding jelly, I add fresh fruit like banana, blueberries, or strawberries. I get a serving of grains, protein, and fresh fruit in under 2 minutes' time.
Yogurt Parfait
I think one of the best things I did to make my mornings a little easier was to teach Charlotte how to make her own breakfast. She loves yogurt parfait, and it is simple enough that she can make it! Add ½ cup low fat yogurt to a bowl, top ½ cup frozen or fresh fruit, and add ¼ cup whole grain cereal. It's a three-ingredient breakfast that gives Charlotte the energy she needs to concur 1st grade!
Although it's easy to put breakfast on the backburner, make a priority to eat a balanced breakfast each day because like they say it's the most important meal of the day!
# # #
Common Sense Farming and Ranching
Alfredo DiCostanzo
Livestock Systems Extension Educator
University of Nebraska
Week of September 9, 2024
It was not long ago; we were talking about preparations to prevent heat stress in cattle. Summer came, and it is now nearly gone. Thankfully, heat stress was moderate to low, and we received much needed precipitation at least early in the summer. Now kids are off to school, crickets are chirping, sun rays hit at a different angle, tree foliage is brittle, winds are picking up, and we have had a few nights below °50 F.
Other than it is a nice, transition time, early fall, and the threat of cooler weather, remind us of a few things to do in preparation for winter around the farm or ranch. Preparations for winter vary from getting spring-born calves ready for weaning and sale or backgrounding to getting ready to receive calves at grow yards and feedlots. Generally, other activities such as facilities repairs, upkeep, and upgrading occur currently also.
Pouring that last slab of concrete on the shop, alleyway, apron, or home project may be on your list. If it is not raining or snowing, pouring concrete may take place anytime from now until November, provided it is permitted to cure with an accelerator under blankets. Incidentally, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is forecasting precipitation to be slightly lower than normal for the months of October to December.
Other minor repairs will make life much easier, particularly if we end up with a lot of snow. Re-hanging gates and repairing fences in pens and alleyways will provide greater security and will make it easier to accomplish certain tasks when it is cold and snowy.
Calves weaning in the fall of 2024 will likely bring a premium relative to the past 10 years. This is encouraging and it supports preparing them for a life in the feedlot or grow yard with vaccinations, deworming and other disease prevention practices as suggested by your veterinarian.
Fall cows will be getting ready for breeding soon. Their calves selling in the spring or fall of 2025 should still bring a premium relative to previous years. Preparing to achieve the most breeding success, particularly after we had less precipitation in late summer. Is it time to consider supplementation of young fall-calving cows? If so, there are plenty of options at attractive feed prices.
Calves coming into the grow yard or feedlot may require extra care. Late-summer pasture conditions were not ideal, particularly in the Southwest. Spring-calving cows lost condition, and likely quit milking. Calves coming into the feedlot may need extra care as they transition to life in the yard.
In certain cases, because of the growing interest in adding concrete surfaces to pens, preparations should be made to manage cattle on concrete differently. Aprons require scraping to eliminate manure and mud cover on a regular basis. Loafing areas surfaced with concrete will also require different management approaches.
During extreme cold, manure balls up, from cattle traffic, and prevents cattle from moving about or laying down. Bare concrete, on the other hand, could lead to frozen hair or hide onto the surface. Therefore, planning to build a manure pack on loafing areas will prevent these issues. Adding ample bedding (10 to 15 lb per head to start) to these areas ahead of precipitation events will create a base. Continued bedding at rates between 4 to 8 lb per head as soon as the pack becomes sticky (but before it begins to weep) will keep this area dry and high. Generally, scraping concrete off the apron and around the loafing area occurs ahead of bedding.
A question arises: will new bedding added to the pen affect intake? The answer is yes as cattle will prefer to play around the bedding and will consume some of it. However, this effect does not last more than a few hours. The bedding becomes trampled fast, and cattle lose interest in it as feed.
Other preparations are also taking place: silage harvest and soon, harvest of grain as earlage, high-moisture corn or corn. Certainly, farm shops are busy getting equipment ready for harvest. A good summer carries hope that the harvest will be plentiful. Hopefully, the excitement of harvest will not distract from operator (and other personnel) health and safety.
This is probably a good time to review safety protocols on the farm. Once the decision is made to open fields, remind everyone on the operation of harvest dates. Provide clear directions relative to the right of way. If necessary, install flags (to warn operators) or convex mirrors (to enhance visibility of corner) at blind intersections. Although most individuals involved in sales and service to farm and ranch are familiar with harvest operations, a sign at the entrance indicating harvest is under way will prevent careless driving.
You and your crew have worked hard throughout the year. Fall is a busy time. A little preparation will go a long ways for a productive year. A bit extra preparations will ensure a safe and productive harvest season.
# # #
# # #
Week of August 26, 2024
The business of producing a commodity such as beef, which Cuming County leads in Nebraska and the nation, relies on consumers who are satisfied by the value (wholesomeness, nutrition, and flavor) given price. The beef industry has responded to issues that were evident in the early findings by the National Beef Quality Audit. In 2022, the American consumer paid $7 per pound of beef at the retail level when beef production reached 28.2 billion pounds. In 2007, at similar production (28.1 billion pounds), the retail price for beef was only $3.77 per pound.
This begs two questions: what expenditures the American consumer spends money on? How might an average American consumer perceive expenditures on beef relative to other expenditures?
A recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Consumer Expenditures in 2022 described what the average annual expenditures ($72,967) for an American consumer unit (household including 1.3 earners per household) were. Rather than spending time describing these in extreme detail, it may be wise to prioritize them based on expenditures dedicated for everyday living (survival) followed by expenditures on items that contribute to our future living (insurance premiums), and lastly for quality of life (entertainment).
When thus categorized, one might say that food expense is a top priority followed by shelter. Yet, transportation expenses follow as most individuals must commute to participate in the workforce.
Food expenditures by American consumers in 2022 were the lowest of the three top expenditures for everyday living at 12.8% ($9,300). Shelter was the costliest at $24,200 or 33.3% of annual expenditures. That year, Americans spent $12,300 in transportation or 16.9% of annual expenditures.
Incidentally, annual beef expenditures for at home consumption were only $317 or 3.3% of total food expenditure. Perhaps this is the reason beef consumption is more resilient to changes in beef price than expected.
Overall, consumption of meat, poultry, fish, and eggs costs the average American consumer $1,215 annually or 13% of food expenditures. It makes an American consumer (and voter) wonder what significance, if any, a cap on food prices, particularly meat and poultry, will have on American consumer expenditures. On the other hand, this measure will likely have a greater effect on producers than on consumers.
In 2022, the average American consumer spent only 4.7% ($3,500) of their total expenditures on entertainment and a grand total of 1.3% (under $1,000) on alcohol and tobacco. Of the dollars spent on entertainment, expenditures on pets make up 22% of that total. Owning and caring for a pet is beneficial to those participating in their care.
In contrast, the average American consumer spent 12% ($8,742) of their annual expenditure preparing for the future by investing in pensions and social security. They also spent $3,800 (5.6% of expenditures) on health insurance.
If we were to base our assessment of the American consumer on how TV, radio, and social media commercials depict us, one might surmise that the American consumer is self-centered, irresponsible, and wasteful. Yet, this simple evaluation of data on American consumer expenditures reflects logic, moderation, and planning for their future.
# # #
Week of August 12, 2024
Now that the Cuming County Fair is over, it is time for positive reflection, for kicks and giggles.
If you attended the Cuming County Fair last week, I hope you had the opportunity to witness children having fun.
Why should we pay attention to this? Because genuine laughter and fun reflect happiness, and true happiness is born out of a caring environment.
If you are an adult who participated in a fair event or simply visited the fair, it was difficult to miss children running around playing games and enjoying free time with their siblings, relatives or friends. Yes, there may have been bumps or bruises and even some hurt feelings, but I am sure the net outcome will be happy memories.
At a time when we are all bombarded with gadgetry-derived entertainment and communication, recognizing that children still have fun the old-fashioned way is comforting. There were very few instances where a cell phone was in their hands. (Likely an adult checking on or looking for them.)
What does this reveal? Many positive things. But first, congratulations to parents, extended family, teachers and mentors for creating a loving and nurturing environment where children can be children.
We all know that a solid foundation in childhood creates well-adapted, family-driven, and productive citizens. The proof is represented in the generations of adults that precede these children. The communities in Cuming County are thriving.
So, if you are a parent, relative, teacher or mentor to these students, thank you. Keep doing what you have been doing. The children will be grateful for it.
If you are a visitor who was able to contrast this happy behavior to the tantrum-dominated behavior, likely caused by excessive gadget-based babysitting, perhaps you may be able to suggest to their parents and guardians that happiness does not come from those gadgets. It comes from devoting nurturing time with children whose lives they influence, and by permitting them to simply be children.
# # #
- Reduce Your Risk: BPA Exposure
- Building on Experience: My Next Chapter in Extension
- Back to School Breakfasts
Common Sense Farming & Ranching
News Releases