New Vitamin D Recommendations

Research shows that vitamin D may play a role in lowering the risk of certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, immune and infectious disorders, physical performance and some autoimmune diseases. Engage in outdoor activity whenever possible and let the sun work its magic. Just 20 minutes of direct sunlight (prior to applying sunscreen) will stimulate adequate vitamin D production in individuals under age 70.

Help Your Kids Have a Healthy Holiday

Eat Right

- Set a good example for children by eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains with meals or as snacks.

- Let children decide on the dinner vegetables or what goes into salads.

- Offer children a choice of fruits for lunch.

- Use cut-up vegetables as part of afternoon snacks.

- Let children select and help prepare a whole grain side dish.

- While shopping, allow children to pick a new fruit or vegetable to try later at home.

- Decorate plates or serving dishes with fruit slices.

Be Physically Active

- Give gifts that encourage physical activity - active games or sporting equipment.

- Be active and get your family to join you. Have fun together. Play with the kids or pets. Go for a walk, tumble in the leaves, or play catch.

- Instead of sitting through TV commercials, get up and move. Remember to limit TV watching and computer time.

Kids in the Kitchen

- Depending on their age, children can help shop for, clean, peel, or cut up fruits and vegetables.

Mallory Wood Honored

When you think Miss America what comes to mind? 4-H!!!!! No, well it should. Katie Stamm, former Miss America, is an Indiana 4-H alumni.

It is with MUCH excitement that Mallory Wood, a Warrick County 4-H member, was recently honored with a scholarship given in Katie Stamm's name. The scholarship recognizes Mallory for her exemplary 4-H accomplishments. Congratulations Mallory!

Dining with Diabetes

Dining with Diabetes four part series will begin on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at the St. Mary's Warrick Hospital, Phillips Room at 10a.m. This program series includes lunch and all materials and recipes. This is a cooking school for diabetics or those who care for them. Educational programs each Tuesday will inform the group on various aspects related to Diabetes. Please log onto www.extension.purdue.edu/warrick for registration information. You can also contact the Purdue Extension Office in Warrick County at 897-6100, we are located on the first floor of the Boonville Courthouse.

4-H2O

During October, Warrick County youth at St. John's Elementary and Boonville Middle School will join young people across the nation as part of 4-H National Youth Science Day. Youth will be conducting the same experiment:4-H2o.



4-H2o teaches youth how carbon dioxide can affect aquatic animals and plants. To view more about the experiment check out the National Youth Science Day site.

Making A Difference

"Making A Difference" Conference scheduled for Saturday, October 30th at Ivy Tech Community College Campus, Evansville, IN sponsored by Purdue Extension. The conference will begin with registration at 8:30am CDT and the first concurrent session will begin at 9:00am. The program will include 12 concurrent sessions and a keynote as well as booth presentations throughout the day. The conference will end at 2:30pm and does also feature two tours of the Ronald McDonald house. Registrations are being taken at Purdue Extension in Vanderburgh County, 13301 Darmstadt Rd., Evansville IN 47725 and will be $15 which includes lunch. Please log onto the Warrick County Purdue Extension website for reservation forms at warrickces@purdue.edu. Sessions will include information on Children and Families; Food and Health; and Home & Family. You won't want to miss it!

Walks Across Indiana

Walks Across Indiana 5KRun/Walk will be held in Warrick County on October 2, 2010 at the Warrick County 4-H Fairgrounds, 133 E. Old Degonia Rd., Boonville, IN beginning at 9:00am (CDT). All proceeds will benefit Helping Hands of Warrick County. INShape Indiana is a sponsor and supporter of Walks Across Indiana along with Purdue University Extension. Registration before 9/24/10 is $15.00 and after this date $20.00 for the event. Registration forms are available at the Purdue Extension Office and any Helping Hands member organization as well as on-line with Greater Evansville.

Warrick County 4-H Fair, July 12 - 17, 2010

COME TO THE WARRICK COUNTY 4-H FAIR! Lots of FUN and entertainment for ALL! Highlights of 4-H Youth Activities/Exhibits and Adult Open Class Exhibits. Eat Homemade Breakfast prepared by the Extension Homemakers and sample the variety of food booths for delightful fair temptations each evening including the 4-H Council Food Booth. The 4-H Junior Leaders offer a lunchtime menu. Enjoy the many arena event offerings to top of each evening. See you at the FAIR!

4-H Poster Ideas

The Warrick County 4-H Fair is less than 2 weeks away. This time of year brings lots of fun and last minute preparation for 4-H Exhibits. As you work on posters, here are some things to think about.

• Know your 4-H project requirements that are found in the Warrick County 4-H Handbook.



• Look at resource books and websites related to the subject. When using websites make sure the information is from a reliable source.



• Brainstorm



• Get ideas from others



• When visiting other fairs, look at the exhibits but DO NOT COPY.



• Always cite your sources. For posters, you can list your sources on the back of the poster.

Sources for this blog entry: Steve McKinley, Extension Specialist and Amy Nierman, Extension Educator

4-H Fair Open Class Exhibits

The time is NOW to prepare your fair Open Class Exhibits! Please see the Warrick County Web Site for exhibit guidelines. Divisions are available for exhibiting in Foods, Wood Crafts, Flowers, Garden, Food Preservation, Crafts, Refinishing, Needlework, Clothing, Sweatshirts, and more!

Purdue Home & Family Conference

Three Warrick County Extension Homemakers attended Purdue Home and Family Conference in June. Terri Dicus, County Vice President, attended as recipient of the I LEAD scholarship award from the Daisy Maes and Friends Club. She also participated in the Sew Now Style Show and entered a silent auction item from Warrick County to help raise funds for the Indiana Extension Homemaker Association. Della Shiver, incoming County Treasurer, also attended from the Paradise Club. Linda Shaw, county First Timer award winner and president of the Friends Night Out Club, also attended. Janet Turner, Country Friends Club, submitted her County winning Cultural Arts Needlework picture, representing Warrick County.

New 4-H Exhibit Tags

For the 2010 Warrick County 4-H Fair, we are using a new exhibit tag. Here is what it will look like.

The new tag makes it easier for us to have accurate fair results. 4-H members can pick up their exhibit tags from 1:00 until 3:00 on Sunday, July 11th at the 4-H Center.

Purdue Helps Families Stretch Dollars

Last week marked the launching of the Purdue Dollar Stretcher Program in Warrick County. The Purdue Dollar Stretcher program is a finanacial simulation for families. The program is hands-on and is designed to help families plug spending leaks and adapt to our changing economy. The Castle Community 4-H Club hosted the program at their June meeting. Thanks to the 4-H Club members and their parents for participating in this important program.

Don't forget to to enroll in Indiana Saves!

4-H: No Animals Required

Last week marked the annual 4-H Speech and Demo contest. We heard 10 speeches and 10 demos, and they were all wonderful. So, why blog about this event and not others? Here are some reasons:

1. Many people associate 4-H with animals. Frequently, when I tell people what I do as a career I hear "4-H, that's that thing you have to have animals to be in". NOT TRUE!

2. Everyone needs communication skills! We use them every day to communicate with family members, co-workers, and teachers.

3. 4-H allows youth to develop communication skills in a safe environment. Last week, I heard 2 third grade youth clearly explain how they benefit from 4-H community service projects to anaudience of about 25 people. WOW!

4. Employers hire employees that can communicate. The ability to communicate the written and verbal word often are cited as one of the top skills employers desire.

4-H fosters life skills. This event reminded me how important speech and demonstration contests are, and I am so glad we have one in Warrick County with such great participation. All done without animals!

Internet Safety: What Kids and Parents Need to Know

Last month, Renate Jobst, Extension Educator in Perry County, came to on of our leaders meeting to teach some principles of Internet safety. Her power point presentation will be up on our website for a few months. Please, please take a look at it as it contains information everyone using the Internet needs to know.

Indiana Saves.org Save More/Spend Less! Sign up on the Indiana Saves website to become an Indiana Saver! It's not how much $ you make, it's what you do with what $ you have! Save Today!

April is National Financial Literacy Month, with a nationwide focus on maintaining healthy $ management habits and having a basic understanding of personal finance concepts. As you all well know, the more educated we are as consumers about how to budget our money, not spend beyond our means, use credit cards wisely and more, the better prepared we will be to handle job loss, foreclosure and other financial stressors.

Warrick County Home to the Horse of the Year

Congratulations to Travis Fortune and his pony Lickety Split. Lickety was named the Indiana 4-H Horse of the Year at a ceremony held at the Hoosier Horse Fair and Expo.

Month of the Military Child

April is the month of the military child. Check out our Operation: Military Kids programs at http://www.operationmilitarykids.org/public/home.aspx

4-H: Something for Everyone

4-H has something for everyone; youth grades K-12 join 4-H to learn about science, engineering, technology, community service, nutrition, exercise and more. In 4-H clubs, camps, in-school and afterschool programs, youth learn leadership, citizenship and life skills while they participate in experiences that prepare them to be successful adults.

Today 4-H touches the lives of more than seven million youth across America in urban, suburban and rural communities. To learn about joining 4-H call Purdue Extension Warrick County at 897-6100 or visit us on-line at http://www.ces.purdue.edu/warrick/ before May 1.

March is National Nutrition Month

National Nutrition Month is celebrated in the month of March each year. In recognition, a Fruit and Vegetable Challenge, to increase consumption of produce, would be a great goal for all of us. Challenge yourself to consume at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables everyday. Plan a variety of fruits and vegetable consumption daily including dark green and orange/yellow produce. Fruits and vegetables aid in reducing the onset of a variety of diseases prevalent in our society including some forms of cancer. Make sure you present yourself appropriately to all your family members by serving as a role model in enjoying fruits and vegetables at mealtimes. Youth today do not eat enough fruits and vegetables and should be encouraged at a young age. Try new fruits and vegetables you have not tried before and prepare them in differnt forms. For example, cooked or raw vegetables. Fruits and vegetables also supply our bodies with plenty of fiber. Set your fruit and vegetable consumption goal today!

Did you know?

Youth who are 4-H members are:
25 percent more likely to contribute to their families, themselves, and their communities.
More likely to see themselves going to college compared to other youth.
41 percent less likely to engage in risk/problem behavior.
Higher scores on goal setting and goal management.

4-H Tractor Supply Company Paper Clover Promotion

4-H Paper Clovers are paper representations of the 4-H clover that are sold for $1 or more by Tractor Supply Company store clerks and prominently displayed in-store. The paper clovers will be sold March 26th through Sunday April 14th.

Science, Science, Science

If you love science, make sure you check out our new 4-H Chemistry Project.

4-H Open Enrollment

You can join Warrick County 4-H now by visiting the Purdue Extension Warrick County website or come to a 4-H open enrollment. 4-H open enrollment will be held on March 9th and April 29th from 6:00-8:00 in the Extension office.

AMERICA SAVES WEEK is February 22 - 28, 2010. "Build Wealth, Not Debt" Purdue Extension offers a variety of educational programs on basic financial money management.