County News

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach - Woodbury County will start a new series for the garden and food enthusiasts in May.  The first workshop of the series is Growing Herbs and will be held at Earl May Nursery and Garden Center located at 4101 War Eagle Dr., Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday May 18 starting at 10 a.m.  The second workshop of the series, Using and Preserving Herbs, will be held at Woodbury County Extension, 4301 Sergeant Rd. Ste. #209, Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday, June 20 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. 

Helping young athletes make smart nutrition practices is the focus of a program from Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach for coaches, teachers, and athletic directors. “Parents depend on teachers and coaches to give their players accurate information about training diets, supplements, and fluids,” said Jody Gatewood, ISU Extension Assistant State Nutrition Specialist. “These sessions are designed to help coaches and others know what kind of advice they can offer.”

Iowans can beat the mid-winter blues with the Eco Family Virtual Conference. Families can save money on household expenses, spend quality time together and live green in 2013 by participating in the conference, said Kristi Cooper, conference organizer and family life specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Iowa State horticulturists who support Hortline (phone calls and emails) have assembled frequently asked questions on a Yard and Garden FAQs website at http://expert.hort.iastate.edu/.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will offer manure applicator certification workshops for dry/solid manure operators on seven different dates and locations in February.

The Woodbury County 4-H Foundation has established a mini-grant program which is designed to encourage 4-H members and clubs to carryout projects which will benefit the community. The Foundation will provide up to $100 in matching funds to help clubs or individual 4-H’ers get the money they need to complete a community project. This is the second year mini-grants have been offered. Please click here to view the complete set of guidelines.

Iowa State University is offering a spring 2013 online course covering the production and management of vegetable crops. Web-based Vegetable Crop Production and Management (HORT 493) will be taught by Ajay Nair, vegetable specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

It might be easy to assume that young ones are not impacted by tragic events in other parts of the country, but children have a keen sense of radar and pick up on adults’ body language, conversations, and news media stories. Malisa Rader, a family life program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, suggests parents be reassuring, monitor their TV viewing when children are present and watch for signs of stress in their children.