Articles

The Iowa 4-H Center is seeking volunteers to help spruce up the camping center on Spring Volunteer Day April 27. The center’s volunteer day coincides with Global Youth Service Day, April 26-28, a weekend of service throughout the world.

National 4-H Council has received a $500,000 gift from the Monsanto Company to drive the continued expansion of the National 4-H Volunteer Initiative. The new grant will fund several initiatives including continued outreach to attract and retain 4-H volunteers in 39 states, including Iowa.

The Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open has some changes for its 2013 occasion, beginning with an earlier date on Wednesday, June 26, at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames, the day before Iowa State’s annual Iowa Swine Day.

The city of Ottumwa and Himar Hernandez, a community and economic development specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, were featured on NBC’s TODAY Show in a piece on how communities adapt to changing populations. The show aired April 12 on NBC and is available to view online.

Iowa State University student Nick Boddicker was recognized by the National Swine Improvement Federation with its Lauren L. Christian Memorial Graduate Student Award. Boddicker, a Newhall native, is a doctoral student in animal breeding and genetics, including the use of genetic traits as a means of improving animal health.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach welcomes three nutrition and health specialists to its team. The three specialists, Mary Krisco, Rachel Wall and Katie Knobbe, will provide nutrition and health education across the state.

Planting flowers at a local park, preparing a community meal, sharing stories with older adults or performing random acts of kindness: These are a few examples of service projects that Iowa youth will engage in during Global Youth Service Day, April 26-28.

When the kids start clamoring for a kitten or a dog or a hamster, how should parents respond? During April, family life specialists Donna Donald and Lori Hayungs talk about when and whether children should have pets in the Science of Parenting blog from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Spring begins the farmers’ market season across Iowa. As Iowans seek fresh produce and support local growers, they should follow general guidelines to make sure locally-grown food is safe to eat, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialists say.