Agriculture and Natural Resources

• CropsTV is returning for a second season. This educational program delivers crop production information directly to farmers and agribusinesses and provides the convenience of crop production education at home, in the office, or anywhere there is an internet connection. The Season 2 program features 30 episodes covering a variety of crop management, pest management, nutrient management, and soil and water management topics. Topics were selected from the Integrated Crop Management Conference, Crop Advantage series, and some are exclusive to CropsTV. All episodes will be available for subscribers to view on-demand.
• The Women in Ag Program is offering six educational courses throughout the state: Women Planning Ag Businesses; Managing for Today and Tomorrow – Farm Transition Planning; Women Managing Horses; Women Managing Crops; Annie’s Project farm business management; and Advanced Grain Marketing for Women. The farm management team is leading courses in nine locations in Iowa this winter. Courses are offered through a network of extension educators, including statewide equine and other specialists as well as county-based professionals.

Community and Economic Development

• Marketing Hometown America has been successfully used by Cooperative Extension programs in Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and now ISU Extension and Outreach to help rural communities retain their quality of life and market the value of rural places by teaching them to home in on what people are looking for when they choose a place to live and do business. In January community and economic development specialists will be conducting MHA train-the-trainer sessions for extension educators in Buena Vista and Cass counties.
• Navigating Difference was developed by Washington State University Extension and enables participants to create a safe and welcoming environment for all learners with activities that respect and support individual learning styles. In January community and economic development staff will be conducting virtual Navigating Difference for the IMPACT Social Action Agency in Des Moines and United Way of Central Iowa.

Human Sciences

• Dawn Dunnegan, family wellbeing specialist, collaborated with Child Care Resource & Referral, Early Childhood Iowa, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines County Conservation, and ISU Extension and Outreach Des Moines County to deliver a Growing Up Wild for early learners training. Sixteen individuals (preschool and early elementary teachers, daycare center providers, and in-home childcare providers) gathered at Starr’s Cave Nature and Education Center for the four-hour workshop. They were introduced to the curriculum, shared outdoor experiences, and learned about resources. Participants indicated they would use the activities and plans to support active outdoor play.
• Jill Weber and Amy Jones, food and health specialists, delivered Latinos Living Well in Waterloo. They connected with the ACES clinic (affiliated with Allen College), Black Hawk County Public Health, YMCA, Iowa Workforce Development, and Rosario Garcia (translator) to market and reach potential participants. The ACES clinic provided weekly gas cards and gift cards for fresh produce for the participants. Eight women participated in the series of four classes, learning about diabetes self-management, lifestyle changes, and health-promoting behaviors that support reduced type 2 diabetes risk and complications.

4-H Youth Development

• Iowa PBS has invited 4-H Reporters to engage in Crafts from the Past that focus on teaching a lost art form. Filming begins in January and highlights the following crafts: felting, paper quilling, arranging/foraging dried flowers, making homemade ramen noodles, woodworking, and tatting. Iowa 4-H Reporters will get behind-the-scenes access during Iowa PBS studio filming and partner with them to create additional content. 4-H Reporters have the option to find local craftspeople in their communities and create articles, audio interviews, Instagram reels, or short videos.
• The State 4-H Council has wrapped up their statewide service project. With the help of our 100 county offices, they met and exceeded their original 2,000 item goal by collecting 2,252 winter clothing items. These items were all donated within local communities to organizations in need, such as Youth Shelter Services in Story County, Afghan immigrant families in Polk County, Christian Needs Center in Plymouth County, Helping Services in Winneshiek County, and a women’s rehab center in Marion County.