Twelve Greene County youth have been actively participating on the Greene County 4-H Livestock Judging Team and have received high honors. They have attended the Iowa Beef Expo, Iowa Pork Producers Youth Judging Contest, Wapello County Judging Contest, and the State 4-H Livestock Judging Competition. These youth have been practicing every other week, and sometimes more year-round, to prepare for competitions. During this time, they have focused on different areas of evaluation such as structure, nutrition, balance, muscling/fat, genetics, yields, and gaining other valuable livestock knowledge. Coach CJ Muir and Samantha Hardaway have lined up opportunities for youth to learn from area professionals. They have got to work with Reagan Gibson, Iowa State University Livestock Judging Team member; Colby Burch, industry professional and former national champion; and Gary Welter, former national champion. The team has also gone on multiple field visits with local area producers. These opportunities have sparked interest in youth to pursue a career field similar to this in the future. All of this hard work has paid off as they have earned the spot of Champion Skillathon Team, placed within the top 10 overall in several competitions, and placed in the top 15 individuals overall in competitions with hundreds of participants. Greene County is excited to see where these youth go in the future. 

The Greene County Extension office hosted a make-and-take meal during Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Week for families busy in the spring. Clients brought their crock pots and filled them with ingredients for a nice meal when they arrived home that evening. During this session, they made Tuscan Chicken with Pasta and Garlic Bread. This session was hosted again during National 4-H Week, where families made Chicken Enchilada Casserole and Cilantro Lime Rice. Families love signing up for these classes because it allows them to learn an easy recipe and they can have dinner prepared that evening. 

Office Manager Cindy Adamson hosted a homemade noodle-making class in March. Participants learned how to make homemade egg noodles from scratch. They then got to enjoy them with chicken and noodle casserole.

On November 6, the Greene County Middle School fifth-grade class enjoyed a culinary program featuring the Kids in the Kitchen and Books for Cooks curriculum. Eighty-five youth rotated through stations where they got to make taco seasoning and learn about herbs and spices, make salsa, learn about dairy products and try a variety of milks, make their own splendid fruit salad, learn about types of grains and season popcorn, learn about knife cutting skills, fruits versus vegetables, handwashing, and MyPlate. This was a jam-packed afternoon for young people who had a blast.

The youth project workshops held in preparation for the Greene County Fair had a profound impact on the participants and the community. Greene County 4-H partnered with local businesses for all 18 project workshops to utilize the knowledge of community experts to create their project for the fair. In turn, this nearly doubled the number of projects at the 2024 Greene County Fair and allowed youth to explore a project area they might not have tried otherwise. These workshops included a variety of project areas such as floral arranging, woodworking, embroidery, barrel racing, photography, cake decorating, and visual arts, providing a platform for young individuals to engage in hands-on learning experiences and complete projects to showcase at the fair.

The exhibition at the Greene County Fair not only highlighted the talents and hard work of the youth but also fostered a sense of pride and 4-H spirit. It was uplifting to see Clover Hall full of projects from the youth who had been working hard this year. The opportunity to showcase these exhibits allowed them to explore new opportunities, support local businesses, and expand the Greene County Fair. 

Five weekly sessions of Raising School Ready Readers are a great way to get your children to love reading. Rosa Gonzalez did just that for five families. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Greene County and the Greene County Library Association partnered to encourage literary learning between parent and child. This program helps busy parents discover simple ways to help turn everyday routines and experiences into learning opportunities for reading and writing skills. 

In partnership with Iowa Central Community College and the Greene County Career Academy, the Career Exploration Camps for youth in grades 1-8 have made a significant impact on the community. These camps, offered twice a month and focusing on specific career paths, have provided young participants with invaluable insights into various professions.

The primary goal of this program is to encourage youth to pursue these career-oriented classes when they reach high school. By exposing them to different career options early on, the camps have sparked interest and enthusiasm in fields such as healthcare, welding, culinary arts, computer science, woodworking, and more.

Youth have been extremely excited for camp and continue to return to learn more about each career field. These camps have been held through this partnership for three years, and it is always heartwarming to hear kids say when they leave, “I want to be a welder someday,” or “I didn’t know I could take a class like this in high school, that’s so cool!”

In November 2024, seven women from Greene County attended the Women Managing Farm Finances program, a 12-hour course designed to enhance financial literacy and management skills in agriculture. Participants explored their personal attitudes toward money, compared farm record-keeping systems, and gained a practical understanding of constructing and analyzing balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow budgets. The course introduced managerial accounting concepts, enabling attendees to use financial statements to evaluate and improve farm business performance. Interactive learning methods, including case studies, quizzes, and group activities, fostered engagement and understanding in a supportive environment modeled after Annie’s Project. Participants reported significant knowledge gains and left equipped with tools to make informed financial decisions for their farm businesses.

On April 30, residents of Greene County witnessed an uplifting community event despite some rainy weather. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Alliant Energy, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Greene County joined forces to host a residential tree distribution event. This initiative aimed to enhance the local environment and promote community engagement.

Held in the parking lot at 104 W. Washington St., a diverse selection of hardwood, ornamental, and evergreen trees were offered for just $25 each. The enthusiasm of the community was evident as over 300 trees were distributed by the dedicated staff of the Greene County Extension office.

Shaila Claibourn, urban and community forestry technician with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, played a pivotal role in coordinating the event. Despite the rain, extension staff found the day to be incredibly rewarding, witnessing the community's commitment to improving the environment while beautifying the community.

This event not only provided residents with beautiful trees to enhance their properties but also fostered a sense of community and environmental stewardship. The partnership between these organizations exemplifies the positive impact of collaborative efforts in promoting sustainability and community well-being.

In the summer of 2024, 19 day camps were held for youth in grades K-8, providing a vibrant and enriching experience for over 250 Greene County youth. These camps offered a diverse range of activities, including arts and crafts, STEM learning, science experiments, culinary exploration, gardening, crime camp, and outdoor adventures. These experiences were offered thanks to a new position at the Greene County Extension Office, summer youth program coordinator, Lizzy Hoyle. Youth enjoyed building a relationship with our new staff members while exploring new interests. Some favorite experiences were kayaking, learning about edible plants, making lemonade, messy science activities, and learning something new. During the summer, we were able to utilize our new outdoor classroom for lunch each day, outdoor play, and when things got a little bit messy!

ISU Extension and Outreach engages Iowa’s farmers, producers, and agribusinesses with innovative agricultural education. They use our research-based information and resources to make decisions about producing healthy food, protecting natural resources, optimizing input costs, and growing the economic base of Iowa agriculture.

In Greene County, conserving and being good stewards of the land is an important piece of the agricultural industry. During the summer of 2024, the Master Conservationist program worked to “Plant the Seeds of Conservation” in eight Iowa counties. The program was offered in partnership with ISU Extension and Outreach Greene County, Boone and Greene County Conservation, the Iowa DNR, Ledges State Park, Soil and Water Conservation District(s), the Iowa Department of Land Stewardship, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Participants visited local and state parks in Greene and Boone counties to learn about geology, forestry, prairies, aquatics, and various conservation practices in Iowa from experts. Program lessons included an immersive creek walk and aquatic species identification, prairie plant species counting in an original Iowa prairie, and forestry ‘stand counts.’  Learning about and participating in these practices had a positive impact and inspired participants to be involved in conservation efforts in their daily lives.