Cherokee County Extension

Welcome to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Cherokee County!

When you need to make decisions that affect your family, community, business, or farm, look to Cherokee County Extension and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for unbiased, research-based information and education to help you make better decisions.

We hope you find our web site useful. Use the top and side navigation bars to quickly find and access topics and information of interest to you.

Upcoming Extension Events

February 6 - Heifer Development Meeting, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Spencer
February 7 - 2012 Ag Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Western Iowa Tech Community College, Cherokee (Extension Climatologist Elwynn Taylor will speak at 2 p.m.)
February 7 - Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course, 9:30-11:30 a.m.., Western Iowa Tech Community College, Cherokee
February 7 - Spend Smart, Eat Smart, 9:30-10:25 a.m.., Western Iowa Tech Community College, Cherokee
February 7 - Eat Better Today, Feel Better for Life, 10:35-11:30 a.m.., Western Iowa Tech Community College, Cherokee
February 8 - Commercial Ag Weed, Insect, & Plant Disease Management Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (categories 1A, 1B, 1C & 10), 8:45-11:30 a.m., Cherokee County Extension Office
February 8 - Spring Seed Starting "Learning with Lunch", noon-1 p.m., Western Iowa Tech Community College
February 17 - Food Safety Workshop for Fruit & Vegetable Growers, LeMars Convention Center
9:30 a.m.-noon: "Organic Seeds & Weeds"
1-4:30 p.m.: "Keep the Quality: Post-Harvest Handling for the Market Farm"
February 22 - Seed Treatment Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (categories 4 & 10), 8:45-11 a.m., Cherokee County Extension Office
February 23 - Dry Manure Certification Workshop, 9 a.m., Buena Vista County Extension Office, Storm Lake
February 23 - Cherokee County Extension Council Meeting and FY 2013 Budget Hearing, 7 p.m., Cherokee County Extension Office
February 27 - Commercial Manure Applicator Certification Reshow by Appointment Only, 9 a.m., Cherokee County Extension Office
February 28 - PQA Plus Training, 10 a.m.-noon, Cherokee County Extension Office
February 28 - TQA Training, 1-3 p.m., Cherokee County Extension Office
February 28 - Confinement Site Manure Applicator Certification Program, 7 p.m., Western Iowa Tech Community College, Cherokee
March 6 - 2012 Iowa Pork Regional Conference, 1-4:30 p.m., Carroll County Extension Office, Carroll
March 7 - 2012 Iowa Pork Regional Conference, 1-4:30 p.m., NW Iowa Community College, Sheldon
March 7 - Ornamental & Turfgrass Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (categories 2, 3O, 3OT, 10), 1:15-4 p.m., Cherokee County Extension Office
March 12 - Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Sand Seed Service Basement Meeting Room, Marcus
March 12 - Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course, 7-9 p.m.., Western Iowa Tech Community College, Cherokee
March 12 - Management of Resistant Weeds, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Clay County Regional Events Center, Spencer
March 14 - Certified Handlers Continuing Instruction Course (categoriey H), 8:45-11 a.m., Cherokee County Extension Office
March 15 - 4-H FSQA Training, 1:30 p.m., Cherokee County Extension Office
March 16 - Cherokee County Extension & Farm Bureau Chamber Coffee, 9:30 a.m.
March 20 - Commercial Pesticide Application Continuing Instruction Course Reshow by Appointment Only, 9 a.m.
March 21 - Commercial Manure Applicator Certification Reshow by Appointment Only, 9 a.m.-noon
March 21 - Confinement Site Manure Applicator Certification Reshow by Appointment Only, 1-3 p.m.
March 27 - Business Succession Planning Seminar, 6:30-9 p.m., Cherokee County Extension Office
March 29 - Cherokee County Extension Council Meeting, 7 p.m.

Clover Kids: For information on enrolling in Clover Kids and/or meeting dates and locations, please contact Brenda Medick, County Youth Coordinator, at medick@iastate.edu or (712) 225-6196.

(Click on the program titles if they are underlined to view a copy of the program flyer or brochure or scroll to the "Events" section at the bottom of this page to obtain additional information on upcoming events.)

Some pages are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader. You may download a free copy of the program by clicking on this link - Adobe Reader.

News from Cherokee County Extension

IowaProduce.org Website and Newsletter
(Posted on 1/20/2012)
IowaProduce.org is a website focusing on Iowa's commercial fruit and vegetable industry. You can also sign up for a monthly newsletter that addresses in-season production issues, coming events, and other stories of interest.

Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Options
(Posted on 12/29/2011)
Click here to download a copy of the 2011-2012 Private Pesticide Applicator Certification brochure and registration form as well as additional information regarding private pesticide applicator certification.

"Learning with Lunch" Series Continues Through April 2012
(Posted on 12/29/2011)
Would you like to fit some quality education into your lunch break? Click on the title above to find out what's coming up.

Dare to Excel Newsletter - Parents: Connect with Kids during Holidays
(Posted on 12/8/2011)
ISU Extension and Outreach offers the Dare to Excel newsletter each month during the school year, September through May, to help parents help their children become better learners.

PQA PLUS® and TQA® TRAINING SESSIONS
(Posted on 12/5/2011)
Need to renew your certification? Here is a list of upcoming trainings that will be offered in Plymouth and Cherokee Counties.

Weather-related Announcements
(Posted on 12/5/2011)
If you question the status of a scheduled event or program, please listen to KCHE Radio (92.1 FM) for weather-related announcements. We will also try to post announcements on our web site. You may also call our office at 712-225-6196. In the event our office is closed due to weather conditions, please refer to our web site or listen to KCHE.

Iowa 4-H Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) Training and Testing
(Posted on 12/1/2011)
FSQA requiirements are now based on grade level rather than age. Find out more about FSQA requirements and training/testing locations.

Getting Your Family Ready for Winter
(Posted on 10/31/2011)
It's hard to believe, but the Iowa winter is going to be here before long. It is time to prepare for the season ahead. ISU Extension has many resources available to help you cope with the winter season.

Sally Wilkie Inducted into Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame
(Posted on 9/9/2011)
Sally Wilkie of Cherokee County was inducted into the 2011 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, August 21.

Home Energy Publications
(Posted on 9/6/2011)
As summer winds down, fall eases in and winter looms ahead, Iowans can turn to four Iowa Energy Center publications for tips on how they can cut costs and increase efficiencies for their home energy usage.

It's Food Preservation Season!
(Posted on 7/28/2011)
Are there special concerns in canning tomatoes? Where can I get replacement parts for my pressure canner? What kind of vinegar is best for making pickles? Why is open kettle canning not safe? Here are some resources you can use for answers to your questions about home food preservation.

New County and City Demographic Data Released
(Posted on 6/15/2011)
2010 Census information on age, household and family relationships, and some basic housing data is now available for Cherokee County and its cities and towns.

Cherokee County 4-H is on Facebook!
(Posted on 3/15/2011)
Find out what's happening on our Facebook page.

Cherokee County 4-H Foundation - Promoting Youth
(Posted on 1/20/2011)
The Cherokee County 4-H Foundation was formed in 1990 to support, promote, and assist in the education and development of 4-H members in Cherokee County by recognizing and encouraging participation in worthwhile 4-H experiences and activities.

School Expenses May Qualify for Tax Credit
(Posted on 8/19/2010)
The Iowa Income Tax Return includes a credit for eligible education expenses for K-12 students. Many Iowans can reduce their income tax bills by keeping records of qualifying expenses.

Emerald Ash Borer Information Resources
(Posted on 5/17/2010)
The new discovery of the emerald ash borer in northeastern Iowa has increased interest in this insect and what Iowans can do to protect ash trees.

Managing Tough Times
(Posted on 3/1/2010)
Tips from ISU Extension and eXtension.org to help you weather tough financial times.

Spend Smart. Eat Smart.
(Posted on 2/1/2010)
Extension's Spend Smart Eat Smart website features dollar-saving tips, interactive activities, recipe videos and more.

ISU Design West Seeks Project Ideas
(Posted on 11/1/2009)
Learn more about this unique program and projects they are involved in.

Events

02/22/2012 Seed Treatment Commercial Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course
02/23/2012 Cherokee County Extension Council Meeting/Public Hearing on Proposed FY 2013 Budget
02/27/2012 Commercial Manure Applicator Certification Reshow-Cherokee County
02/28/2012 PQA Plus Training
02/28/2012 TQA Training

Complete listing of Events for this County http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/Calendar/ShowList.asp?County=Cherokee&CountiesScope=
View the complete ISU Extension events calendar http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/Calendar/ShowList.asp?County=