April Extension Connection Sullivan County 2017

USPS-525-100

Extension Connection

YOUR LINK TO LOCAL, RESEARCH-BASED SOLUTIONS TO BETTER YOUR LIFE

VOLUME LXXXXVIII NO. 4

APRIL 2017

Ag Literacy Week activities took place throughout the county March 20-24. Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County staff read this year’s book, The Grapes Grow Sweet, to the Liberty Public Library’s Book Worm Club!

Upcoming U pcoming Events Events & Programs Programs

Issue Isssue sue Highlights Hiigh ghliigh ghts

Sullivan Worksite Wellness Coordinator Training

Small Ruminant Grazing: The Trouble with Worms

Horse Bowl Trivia Challenge 4 Horse-Crazy Kids

Spring Tips for Fruit Gardens

High School Senior Scholarships Application Deadline How to Write a Business Plan Introduction to Farming Senior Expo 2017 Livestock Reproduction Workshop Farmers’ Market Clean Eating 9th Annual Garden Tour See page 12 for more events!

Lumens Not Watts: A New Way to Shop for Lights 10 Surprising Foods You Should Be Refrigerating Community Guest Editorial: Carol Montana, SC Democrat CCE Sullivan Spotlights See page 14 for Fast Facts celebrating Earth Day and a “colorful” April recipe to complement any meal.

Welcome W elcome to to the the Issue!

Issue!

Table Table of of Contents Contents

Page 3 Letter from the Executive Director

Page 9 10 Surprising Foods You Should Be Refrigerating

Page 17 9th Annual Sullivan County Garden Tour

Page 4 Small Ruminant Grazing: The Trouble with Worms

Page 10 Industry Knowledge 4 Horse-Crazy Kids

Page 18 Community Guest Editorial of the Month

Page 5 Farmers’ Market Clean Eating Farm to Table Brunch

Page 11 4-H: Not Just Another Youth Program

Page 19 Free Gardening Seminars

Page 6 Spring Tips: Fruit Gardens

Page 12 Upcoming Events

Page 22 Opportunities for You

Page 7 Lumens Not Watts: A New Way to Shop for Lights

Page 13 Cornell Country BBQ

Page 24 Sponsorships

Page 14 April Focus: Fast Facts, Cool Tools, & News to Use!

Page 26 Business Incubator Program Workshops

Page 16 In Case You Missed It

Page 28 Sponsor the Garden Tour!

Page 8 5 Things to Do to Feel Better This Spring Allergy Season

Page 20 CCESC Spotlights

The Extension Connection (USPS-525-100) is published monthly for $25.00 enrollment by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, located at 64 Ferndale-Loomis Road, Suite 1, Liberty, NY 12754-2903. Entered at Liberty, New York, as a periodical class matter.

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EXTENSION CONNECTION

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2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Donna Willi..............................President Robert Kaplan..................Vice President John Kiefer...............................Secretary Dawn Boyes.............................Treasurer Amy Erlwein Pamela Fisk Christopher Gozza Sonja Hedlund John “JP” Lang Earl Myers Klu Padu Luisa Parker Glenn Pontier Terri Ward, Legislative Rep.

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Edited by: Nicole Slevin & Colleen Monaghan

Produced by: Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

NOTICE: Official endorsement of advertisers and their products is not intended by the acceptance of their advertisements for the Extension Connection.

STAFF MEMBERS Colleen Monaghan............................................................................Executive Director SueAnn Boyd......................................................................Healthy Schools Coordinator Wanda Cruz..............................................................Healthy Communities Coordinator Emily Devore.............................................................Healthy Communities Coordinator Dayna Gaeta.........................................................Community Horticulture Coordinator Marylin Jones..........................................................................4-H Program Coordinator Bonnie Lewis..........................................................................Dependent Care Educator Michelle Lipari...............................................................................Agriculture Educator Vincent LoCascio..................................................ESNY Community Nutrition Educator Erica Lynch.......................................................................Catskills Kitchen Coordinator Melinda Meddaugh.....................................................Ag & Food Systems Team Leader Barbara Moran...............................................4-H Animal Science Program Coordinator Nicole Slevin.........................................................................Communications Manager Kaitlyn Smith............................................................Administrative & Program Assistant Tara VanHorn.......................................................................................Finance Manager Malinda Ware.................................Health & Community Development Program Leader Sean Welsh..........................Energy & Consumer Educator and Operations Coordinator John Wilcox.......................................................................Building & Grounds Manager

Extension Connection

April 2017

Dear Friends of Extension: Hello friends. As we begin the final thaw, sowing, and spring cleanup season, we at Extension wish you all a happy and productive spring. For us, April is another time of reflection. We finish closing our financial books the last week in March and begin the independent auditing process the first week of April. This annual exercise helps CCE Sullivan leadership understand where there are holes in our forecasting process, consider if programs need additional funding to sustain or grow them, and to evaluate internal controls. While an annual independent audit is a significant expense, ranging from $5-10,000 each year, the Extension board and executive staff feel strongly that making the investment is the right thing to do by Sullivan County taxpayers and potential funders. We are confident in having another clean audit and will share the results with you on our website following approval by the board.

In addition to the annual financial review, the CCESC board and staff will be revisiting our 20152020 strategic plan this year to do a mid-way evaluation of our progress. The four key areas of the plan focus on community engagement, core quality programming, resource stability, and leveraging regional networks. Reviewing progress of the strategic plan along the same timeline as the audit ensures that during the day-to-day operating of the organization and delivering programs, we are “putting our money where our mouth is”, “walking the talk”, and staying true to who we say we are.

At the same time, the CCESC Program Advisory Committee will be focusing on selecting some specific outcomes for each of our program areas, and making sure we’re measuring them in a meaningful way. We already measure numbers in lots of ways, most of them dictated by our funders.

This effort will ensure that the programs p g we are investing g in are making impacts that are important to folks in Sullivan County.

Because the monthly newsletter provides you with educational articles and information about upcoming opportunities, I want this page to make sure you know that in addition to bringing you high quality programs that can help you make your life better, we are constantly looking at ways to be better. The old 4-H mantra of “Making the Best Better!” isn’t just for kids. It’s an ideal that CCE Sullivan strives towards every day. We are obliged, because that’s our mission; and because YOU deserve it. Thanks for helping us do better every day by giving us your feedback, ideas, and participation. I hope that this update makes you feel good about your investments of time, money, and friendship to CCE Sullivan.

I look forward to seeing you all at our spring and summer activities. Cheers!

Warm Regards,

Colleen Monaghan, Executive Director, cm638@cornell.edu

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Extension Connection

April 2017

SMALL RUMINANT GRAZING: THE TROUBLE WITH WORMS Submitted by Michelle Lipari, Agriculture Educator If you have raised sheep or goats on pasture for at least a couple of years, you probably know a bit about the problem of internal parasites, AKA “worms”. You may already know that pasture-borne parasites such as the dreaded haemonchus contortus, or “barberpole worm”, co-evolved with sheep and goats, as evidenced by their life cycle: The adult worms reproduce in a sheep or goat’s gut, depositing thousands of eggs onto the pasture in the animal’s feces, where the larvae hatch and migrate a few inches up the blades of grass to wait for another sheep or goat to come along and ingest them, starting the cycle anew. While most animals can shrug off a small infestation of haemonchus, a large parasite load causes anemia, loss of body condition, and eventually death, especially in young lambs and kids.

While barberpole worm and the other most important pasture-borne parasites can be controlled with chemical dewormers, misuse (e.g., treating too frequently or treating all animals regardless of need) leads to dewormer-resistant parasites.

When one type of dewormer loses its effectiveness due to parasite resistance, the farmer can still move on to one of the other types of dewormers—but if this is not done carefully, you can end up with a parasite population resistant to multiple dewormers, until eventually chemical dewormers are simply no longer an option.

This has been a serious problem for years in the southeastern U.S., where shorter winters mean a longer parasite season, but it is an increasingly important issue on northern sheep and goat farms, too.

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A 2010 study out of Delaware State University examined parasites’ level of resistance to the four types of commercially available dewormers on 33 sheep and goat farms in the mid-Atlantic region, with some pretty eye-opening results: • Benzimidazoles (“white” drenches, e.g. Safeguard® or Valbazen®) were ineffective on • 97% of farms tested; • Ivermectin (Ivomec®) was ineffective on 79% of farms; • Moxidectin (Cydectin®), essentially a more potent relative of ivermectin, was ineffective on 48% of farms; • Levamisole (Prohibit TM), the last line of defense, was already ineffective on 27% of farms.

But my animals haven’t had any worms. What does all of this have to do with me?

If you’ve never had to deal with a worm problem in your own herd, this might all sound a bit overblown. But if you want to raise enough sheep or goats to call it a business, you want to raise them on pasture, and you plan to make the best use of your pasture resources—and especially if you plan to have a spring or summer lambing or kidding—then chances are very good that you’ll eventually deal with a worm problem.

In a recent survey of 165 sheep and goat farmers from across New England, 72% listed internal parasites as the most costly management issue on their operation. For comparison, mastitis came in second at 6%. And of those who didn’t list internal parasites as their most costly problem, nearly all listed it as their second costliest.

So how do you explain to the farmers who swear they have never had to spend a penny on dewormer in all their years raising goats? It could certainly be thanks to their skilled management. Maybe they have

Extension Connection

April 2017

unwittingly been applying IPM strategies that limit the parasite population, such as well-timed rotational grazing or starting out with animals that carry a strong genetic resistance to internal parasites. If they have loads of pasture and only a handful of goats at any given time, the pastures may have a low enough concentration of parasites that it may never be much of an issue. Or if they have only had her goats for four or five years, the parasite population may have just not built up enough to cause noticeable problems… yet.

Even though they haven’t lost any lambs or seen any bottlejaw, internal parasites might already be costing them money. By the time you are losing animals to worms, they have probably been affecting your bottom line more subtly for some time, forcing your lambs to redirect energy from adding body condition toward instead having to fight off a parasite infestation.

What can you do about all of this?

You can head off internal parasites by implementing IPM strategies before you have a problem. There are lots of resources that can help you understand how to strategically manage your grazing, your flock’s genetics, and your deworming regimen to keep internal parasites under control and deal with dewormer resistance. But first you have to take the matter seriously.

Especially considering how quickly dewormers can become ineffective, any sheep or goat farmer who has had to deal with a serious internal parasite problem will tell you the same thing, “Prevention is the best medicine”.

Source: Adapted from Sam Anderson, Cornell Small Farms Program

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Extension Connection

April 2017

SPRING TIPS FOR THE FRUIT GARDEN Submitted by Dayna Gaeta, Community Hort. Coordinator Pruning, removing mulch from strawberries, and fertilizing blueberries are some of the activities in the fruit garden during spring.

Late winter and early spring is the time to order bare-root fruiting trees and shrubs if you haven’t done so already. They will be shipped before they start to grow, in time for planting in your area. They will need to be planted immediately upon arrival, so plan your spot now.

Make sure when ordering fruit trees that you get at least two different selections for best cross pollination and fruiting. Some selections are listed as “self-pollinating”, and not needing a partner, but fruiting usually is better with a second tree. Choose these self-pollinating ones, when available, if you only have room for one tree.

Also pay attention to the space you have for a tree or trees, and the mature sizes listed. You often can find varieties, particularly of apples, that come in various sizes. This usually is related to what “understock” or “rootstock” the desirable variety is “grafted” onto.

As soon as the buds start to swell, it’s time to begin pruning apple, plum, and cherry trees. Remove any dead, diseased, or broken branches, as well as crossing and crowded branches, as well as twiggy, nonproductive growth.

Plum trees should be pruned to an open center (no central top stem), while apple and cherry trees grow best pruned to a modified leader in which the center is more closed and tree is more upright (main upright stem was pruned off when planted or prior, and a second upright stem

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has taken its place). Modified leader pruning results in a bit more open tree, letting more light into the interior, and with stronger stems.

Spray horticultural oil on fruit trees, such as apples, plums, and cherries, to smother any overwintering insects. Choose a calm day when temperatures are above 40 degrees F, and be sure to cover all sides of the branches. You can also apply it to evergreens to control spider mites and other insects. Carefully follow the instructions on the label for proper usage.

Check strawberry plants twice a week for signs of new growth in early spring. As soon as you see sprouts, remove the hay or straw mulch and spread it in the rows to help control weeds. A topdressing of an inch or two of compost will give plants a boost. If rabbits are plentiful in your yard or neighborhood, you may need to surround your planting with a rabbit fence.

ANNUAL TREE & SHRUB SALE Jan 1 - Apr 4 Soil & Water Conservation District 845-292-6552 Extension Connection

April 2017

Check apple, cherry, and other fruit trees for nests of tent caterpillars.

Blast low-lying nests with water to destroy them, or knock them to the ground and destroy them. A spray of BtK (make sure to get the “K” form of this bacterial spray) will kill emerging caterpillars, but is not toxic to beneficial insects, birds, or humans.

Blueberries benefit from an acidic fertilizer each year. Apply one half pound of ammonium sulfate when the bushes start blooming, and another half-pound four to six weeks later. If the leaves turn yellow with green veins, they may have an iron deficiency. Applying two to three ounces of ferrous sulfate or iron chelate around the base of the plants will help this.

If you have red raspberries and didn’t get them pruned after harvest last year, do so now. Keep in mind the summer-bearing varieties produce fruit on one-year old canes. So prune out those that fruited last year to direct plant energy into the newer canes.

You can prune all canes from fallbearing varieties, as they produce fruits on new canes at the end of the first growing season. Pruning now will direct all their energy into a bountiful fall crop.

Source: Written by Charlie Nardozzi, Garden Consultant GardeningwithCharlie.com http://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/springfrt17. html

LUMENS NOT WATTS: A NEW WAY TO SHOP FOR LIGHTS Submitted by Sean Welsh, Energy and Consumer Educator Light bulbs are getting better. Newer bulbs — like halogen incandescents, CFLs and LEDs — last longer and use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, saving you money on your energy bills. In fact, since 2012, everyday light bulbs have to meet new Department of Energy standards for how much energy they use. Bulbs that don’t will be phased out over the next couple of years.

Along with this move to more efficient bulbs, comes a new way to shop for them.

What Are Lumens?

For years, people have chosen light bulbs by the watt, learning over time about how bright a typical 40-watt or 60-watt bulb is. But wattage tells you only how much energy a bulb uses — not how bright it is.

With newer light bulbs designed to use less energy, wattage is no longer a reliable way to gauge a light bulb’s brightness. That takes lumens. lumens = brightness | watts = energy Lumens measure brightness. A standard 60-watt incandescent bulb, for example, produces about 800 lumens of light. By comparison, a CFL bulb produces that same 800 lumens using less than 15 watts.

How Bright a Light?

This chart shows the number of lumens produced by common incandescent bulbs. If you’re looking to buy a bulb that will give you the amount of light you used to get from a 60-watt bulb, you’ll now look for 800 lumens.

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You can use lumens to compare the brightness of any bulb, regardless of the technology behind it, and regardless of whether it’s a halogen incandescent, CFL, or LED. Using lumens helps you compare “apples to apples” when you shop for light bulbs. Once you know how bright a bulb you want, you can compare other factors, like the yearly energy cost.

A Label to Help You Shop When you shop for light bulbs, you’ll also want to think about light appearance, or color temperature. Light appearance ranges from warm to cool. Warmer light looks more yellow, like the light from a traditional incandescent bulb, cooler light appears more blue.

To find out the light appearance of a light bulb, look at the Lighting Facts label on the package. The Lighting Facts label gives you information you need to compare different bulbs.

It tells you: • Brightness (in lumens) • Yearly estimated energy cost • Expected bulb life (in years) • Light appearance (how warm or cool the light will look) • Wattage (the energy used) • If the bulb contains mercury

The label may include the Energy Star logo if the bulb meets the energy efficiency and performance standards of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy’s Energy Star program.

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April 2017

For more on Energy Star standards, visit energystar.gov.

On the Bulb The number of lumens will be printed on the bulb. If the bulb is a CFL, it may be on the bulb’s base. CFLs also will include a web address, epa.gov/cfl, for information on safe recycling and disposal. CFLs contain mercury, so cleanup and disposal require some care and attention.

For More Information Learn more about shopping for light bulbs at energysavers.gov/lighting.

Source: (FTC.gov, 2017) retrieved from https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/ articles/0164-shopping-light-bulbs

5 THINGS TO DO TO FEEL BETTER THIS SPRING ALLERGY SEASON Submitted by Malinda Ware, Health & Community Leader air is with a HEPA room air cleaner rated with a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). For those with central air, change your air filters every three months and use filters with a MERV rating of 11 or 12.

Nobody said spring allergies would be fun, but you never thought it would be this bad. What if you had some simple ways to avoid the sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, and runny nose that come in the spring?

4. Wait to smell that “fresh” air

“People think they’re doing everything they can to battle spring allergies,” says allergist Stephen Tilles, MD, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

“But many still find themselves under siege from pollen and other allergens that appear once the weather starts to warm up. What they don’t realize is that by following a few simple rules they can make life a lot more pleasant, and their allergies more bearable.”

1. Spring cleaning can spruce up your nasal passages Sweeping up the cobwebs that gathered over the winter is good for more than just making your house look better. A deep house scrub can help eliminate existing allergens and clear the air. It’s especially important to get rid of mold, which builds up in bathrooms and basements and is a major allergen – especially in spring months when there’s lots of moisture.

Because your pets have spent a lot of time indoors over the winter, fur, saliva and dander have probably collected. Vacuuming frequently and washing upholstery and pet beds can help.

2. The power of pollen Some people with allergies may not realize that symptoms they think are allergy-related, might actually

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Spring comes and you just want to open your windows and let in the fresh air. Don’t do it. Opening your windows allows pollen to drift inside, settle into your carpet, furniture and upholstery and continue to make you miserable. So keep your house and car windows shut during allergy season. Use your air conditioning with the new air filter you just put in. be asthma. Studies have shown that nearly two-thirds of those with asthma also have an allergy, which can make the spring season particularly difficult. If you can’t get rid of a cough, or get winded easily, you might have asthma related to allergies and should see an allergist.

An allergist can identify the source of your asthma, and help you treat your allergies to improve symptoms.

3. Time to clear the air Despite what you may have heard, the best way to clean the air in your home is not with an ionic air filter.

The ionization changes the charge on a particle of pollen or dust and the particle sticks to the next thing it comes into contact with, often a wall or surface. There is usually not enough air flow to effectively filter many particles, so ionic filters don’t provide much benefit for allergy sufferers. There is also a health risk which comes from the ozone they produce. The best way to clean the

Extension Connection

April 2017

5. Don’t trust “Dr. Google” You know you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet, but it’s so tempting to look up cures for your symptoms. Instead, consult an allergist. An allergist is trained in how to identify your allergens and treat your symptoms. They can suggest the most appropriate medications to treat your allergies and asthma. You might even benefit from allergy shots (immunotherapy) which can greatly alleviate allergic suffering.

If you think you might be one of the more than 50 million Americans that suffer from allergy and asthma, ACAAI can help you find an allergist in your area.

Source: http://acaai.org/news/5-thingsdo-feel-better-during-spring-allergyseason

10 SUPRISING FOODS YOU SHOULD BE REFRIGERATING Submitted by Malinda Ware, Health & Community Leader

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You know milk, meat and eggs belong in the fridge. But what about less obvious foods? Keep these 10 foods cold and they’ll stay safe and taste great longer.

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1. Tortillas Some tortillas are prone to molding.

That’s why the fine print on many tortilla packages recommends refrigerating after opening. Chill them and they’ll stay in tip-top shape until the expiration date on the package.

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2. Salami Cured meats including salami are less likely to harbor bacteria than cooked meats, but that doesn’t mean they’re always 100-percent safe. A 2006 study of 1,020 dry Italian salamis found that 23 percent of them contained the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.

Cured meats also can contain other harmful bacteria such as E. coli. Store opened salami in the refrigerator for up to three to four weeks to slow potential bacterial growth.

3. Ripe Bananas It’s fine to ripen bananas on the kitchen counter. Trouble is, they keep ripening, and ripening and ripening.

Once they’re ready to eat, pop them in the fridge. If their skins turn brown, don’t worry, they’re still fine.

4. Nuts Nuts’ fragile unsaturated fats go rancid quickly. While that won’t hurt your health, it’s definitely bad news for flavor. Keep nuts tasting their best by stowing them in a moisture-

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tight plastic or glass container in the refrigerator for up to a year.

flavors. Chill yours after opening and you can enjoy it for six months.

10. Pecan and Pumpkin Pies

5. Maple Syrup Maple syrup has a surprisingly short shelf life. So if yours is sitting in your pantry, it’s time to relocate it to the fridge. Stored in a glass container or a tin, maple syrup usually can stay fresh for up to a year. However, if you notice any mold growth, be sure to toss it immediately.

Made with eggs, these treats are magnets for bacteria. Fresh from the oven, they’re okay to eat at room temperature for up to two hours and only one hour if it is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. After that, they should go straight into the fridge for a maximum of three days.

6. Dried Fruit

Source:

Dried fruit has less moisture than fresh fruit, so it doesn’t spoil as quickly, but it still needs refrigeration for maximum freshness. Keep it in the main compartment of your refrigerator for up to six months.

Written by Karen Ansel, MS, RDN, CDN

7. Ketchup Restaurants may leave their ketchup on the table, but that doesn’t mean you should. While its high acid content will keep most bacteria at

Extension Connection

April 2017

http://www.eatright.org/resource/ homefoodsafety/four-steps/refrigerate/10surprising-foods-you-should-be-refrigerating

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Extension Connection

April 2017

4-H: NOT JUST ANOTHER YOUTH PROGRAM Submitted by Kaitlyn Smith, Program Assistant Over the course of 4-H’s history, countless numbers of youth from all walks of life have benefited by being a part of the 4-H Youth Development program. A conversation with a 4-H alumni usually ends up with them giving a passionate speech about how 4-H made a difference in their lives.

But, is there any proof behind it? Or is 4-H just another “youth program”?

A study from Tufts University helps to answer just that. The research team set out to see if 4-H actually made a measurable difference in participants’ lives by conducting a seven year study involving 4-H members, non-4-H members, and youth members from other types of youth development programs.

The name of the study is The Positive Development of Youth: Report of the Findings from the First Seven Years of the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. This study was designed to test the idea that when adolescent strengths align with family, school, and community resources, positive youth development (PYD) will occur. These resources were identified as community-based/ out-of-school youth development programs such as 4-H, Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, YMCA, and scouting. Areas like competence, confidence, character, connection, and caring—also known as the five C’s of youth development—were concentrated on. By the end of the seven year study, the research team had more than 7,000 participants in 44 states.

The individual characteristics the team studied was behavioral and cognitive strengths, such as whether youth could select positive life goals,

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optimize what he or she needed to achieve those goals, and compensate for obstacles that stood in the way.

They also concentrated on career goals related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

The results of the research are as follows: “Developmental Assets: In general, 4-H youth appear to have higher levels of the developmental assets that the 4-H Study has found most important in promoting PYD: relationship with others, and in particular, caring, competent, and committed adults, such as parents, teachers, and mentors. In Grade 11, 4-H youth reported that they had more mentors than did comparison youth.

Contribution and Active/Engaged Citizenship: In the point-in-time sample, 4-H youth are 3 times as likely as youth in other OST programs to have higher scores for Contribution, and 1.6 times as likely to have higher scores for PYD. Consistent with the results from Grades 5 to 10, we find that, through Grade 11, 4-H youth in the longitudinal sample are 2.1 times more likely than other youth to make contributions to their communities. These same youth are also 1.8 times more likely to have higher scores on measures of active and engaged citizenship. Education: For educational measures assessed in the point-in-time sample, 4-H participants are 1.5 times as likely as youth in other OST programs to report high academic competence and 1.7 times as likely as youth in other OST programs to report high engagement in school. Healthy Living: On health measures in the longitudinal analyses, 4-H participants are 1.6 times as likely as other youth to report healthy habits and 2.4 times as likely to delay sexual intercourse. They are less likely

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than youth in other OST programs to engage in delinquent behaviors by Grade 11. Science: In the longitudinal sample, 4-H participants are 1.6 times as likely as youth in other OST programs to participate in science, engineering, or computer technology programs in Grade 11. In the point-intime sample, 4-H participants are 1.4 times as likely as youth in other OST programs to plan to pursue a career in science. Similarly, 4-H girls are 1.4 times as likely as girls in other OST programs to plan to pursue a career in science.”

The researcher’s final comments on the findings stated that there was consistently greater levels of contributions and predictability by 4-H youth in regards to healthy living, educational outcomes, and STEM. The research team believes that this indicates that 4-H youth are thriving across a substantial portion of their lives. They also expect these indicators to hold true into the youth’s adult lives, providing them with necessary skills needed for success in many different fields. “Why do these advantages exist for 4-H youth?

There are numerous explanations of course. But one, we believe, is key. 4-H youth appear to have higher levels of the developmental assets that the 4-H Study has found most important in promoting PYD: relationships and, in particular, caring, competent, and committed adults, such as parents, teachers, and mentors.”

The research in its entirety can be found on the Tufts University website, www.ase.tufts.edu.

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April Focus: Fast Facts, Cool Tools, &

March is National

Learn Spanish

• African-American Women’s Fitness • American Cancer Society • Celebrate Diversity • Community Service • National Mental Health • National Older Americans • National Food

Nice to meet you. How are you? I’m great. .... . . . . . . . . . . .

Mucho gusto. ¿Cómo está?

Estoy muy bien.

Month!

More than half the stars found in the Milky Way Galaxy, where Earth is located, are older than the 4.5 billion year old sun.

The U.S. federal government is composed of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, whose powers are vested by the U.S. Constitution in the Congress, the President, and the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, respectively.

SURPRISING EARTH DAY FACTS

66% of Cornell’s Ithaca campus waste was diverted from landfills in 2012 thanks to recycling and composting efforts.

Though Earth Day may now be synonymous with small-scale tree planting and volunteer cleanup projects, the first Earth Day actually had its sights set on bigger political projects. Earth Day demonstrations created public support for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, authorized by Congress in December 1970. Earth Day also contributed to the passage of the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Endangered Species acts.

Earth Day may have been conceived in 1970, but it didn’t

Learn English Epicurean, adjective Fond of or adapted to luxury or indulgence in sensual pleasures; having luxurious tastes or habits, especially in eating and drinking.

truly go global until 1990. That year, more than 200 million people participated in environmental activities in more than 141 countries. This year, more than 1 billion people are expected to participate in 192 countries.

There are actually two Earth Days — the April 22 holiday and the one celebrated on March 20, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in southern latitudes. To this day, at the exact moment of the equinox, when the sun crosses the plane of the equator and day and night are equal length, the Japanese Peace Bell is rung at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, followed by two minutes of silent prayer or meditation. The Equinox was chosen as a symbol of harmony in nature and a time to dedicate efforts to peace and care of the Earth.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/28904-fun-facts-earth-day.html

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Extension Connection

April 2017

News to Use! Plus a Special Vegetarian Recipe

Colorful Rice Salad Yields about 6 servings

INGREDIENTS Dressing: 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon thawed orange juice concentrate 1 ½ teaspoon olive oil ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 4 cloves garlic, crushed ½ teaspoon curry spice Salad: 2 cups cooked brown rice 1 cup raisins 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed ½ cup frozen corn, thawed ½ cup thinly sliced green onions 1 15.5 ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed & drained ½ cup green pepper, diced ½ cup celery, chopped ½ cup carrots, shredded

DIRECTIONS Combine all salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar. Cover tightly and shake until well blended.

Pour dressing over salad mixture and toss well to coat. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

Source: Modified by CUCE-Tioga County from http://www.southernfood.about.com/od/ricesalads/r/bln535.htm

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Extension Connection

April 2017

PUBLIC PRESENATATIONS ON TO DISTRICT LEVEL March 4, 2017 CCESC 4-H staff hosted another successful Public Presentations event with 115 youth and 25 volunteers. Twenty six (26) Sullivan County participants have been nominated to move up to the District Public Presentations competition in April!

Way to go 4-H’ers!

Worksite Wellness initiative at the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce First Friday Breakfast held at fellow worksite wellness partner Ideal Snacks’ location to highlight the policies and practices they have been working on to improve the health of their employees.

PUBLIC SPACES WITH SULLIVAN RENAISSANCE March 11

FAMACHA: GOATS & SHEEP March 5 The CCESC ag team hosted Cornell sheep and goat experts, Dr. tatiana Stanton and Rich Toebe, to educate 25 participants in integrated parasite management and fecal egg analysis, keeping the Cornell/Sullivan County connection strong!

AG LIT WEEK ALL BOOKED March 7 With generous support from the Sullivan County Farm Bureau, CCE Sullivan’s Community Horticulture program delivered this year’s dual language book, The Grapes Grow Sweet, to all seven school districts for the New York Agriculture in the Classroom 2017 Ag Literacy Week. Every district in the county was able to share the book with 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms, and libraries too!

The Creating Healthy Schools and Communities team joined Sullivan Renaissance in bringing Project for Public Spaces to Monticello and Kauneonga Lake in preparation for Sullivan Renaissance’s Annual Conference. More than 150 people came together to be inspired to make changes to their communities that make healthy choices, easy choices.

EASY PEAZY EMPANADAS WITH BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

March 9 The CCESC 4-H Shooting Sports program hosted 30 volunteers at its annual Safety Night at the Extension Education Center.

This event is the kick-off to the 2017 Shooting Sports season!

IDEAL CHAMBER BREAKFAST March 10 CCESC Creating Healthy Communities staff represented Extension and the Page 16

NATIONAL AG DAY AT MISS MONTICELLO DINER March 21 In Celebration of National Agriculture Day, Miss Monticello Diner donated 10% of every check to CCESC, raising $300!

Ag-related materials were shared at the diner and select ingredients were locally sourced.

WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT March 21 CCESC Communications Manager and Administrative Assistant attended the Annual Women’s Conference at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, as part of CCE Sullivan’s commitment to encouraging and developing a strong, professional workforce.

March 13 Once again the Catskills Kitchen hosted 15 Boys & Girls Club children at a cooking class! Celebrity Chef from Fat Boiz taught the students to make easy peazy empanadas and everyone got to take some home!

INTERGENERATIONAL TEXTILE GROUP March 17

4-H SHOOTING SPORTS AIMS AT SAFETY

Conservation raise and release program came in at 360 chicks! Delivery in May.

The Intergenerational Textile Group met for their monthly gathering. Youth and adults work together to knit or crochet projects for Sullivan County residents who need them most. This program is free and open to the public. Stop in the 3rd Friday of the month at 7:00 pm.

YOUTH HELP REPOPULATE COUNTY WILD PHEASANTS March 20 The most 4-H youth members ever to order day-old pheasant chicks for the Department of Environmental

Extension Connection

April 2017

CREATING HEALTHY SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES CONVENING March 21-22 The CCESC Creating Healthy Schools and Communities team joined their peers from across the state at the NYS Department of Health’s Annual Convening in Syracuse. This 2 day gathering promotes peer-to-peer sharing and innovation across communities working to make their physical environments, schools, and worksites a healthier place for their constituents.

CATSKILLS KITCHEN CLASS SELLS OUT March 25 The CCESC Catskills Kitchen and guest chef Victoria Ingrassia hosted a full house of 17 participants for our first Artisanal Bread Making workshop. Due to a full waiting list, another class will be offered this year.

$300 donated to

County 4-H Public Presentations hosts

115 youth and 25 volunteers, 26 nominated for district level

NEW BOARD ORIENTATION March 28 The CCESC board of directors hosted a New Board Member Orientation and board/staff dinner to introduce new members of the board to the CCE system and staff. A shared vision and passion, and great food from Yiasou Cafe made for a wonderful evening!

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Sold Out! CCESC plans second Artisanal Bread Making Class in Catskills Kitchen

CCESC by local diner

DAIRY PROCESSING REGULATIONS

PROJECT EXPLORE NIGHT FOR 4-H VOLUNTEERS

March 29

March 29

Dairy Processing Regulations were on everyone’s mind at this CCESC educational workshop attended by 9 farmers and food entrepreneurs aiming to sell milk products.

To follow up on volunteer training earlier this year, the CCESC 4-H staff hosted Project Explore Night for volunteers. This training provided tools and resources for volunteers to use in planning project work and activities for 4-H clubs and members.

Extension Connection

April 2017

COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS BELONG TO YOU Written by Carol Montana, Editor, Sullivan County Democrat Where do you turn when you want to find out what’s going on in your community? When you want the latest local news? When you’re shopping for something? Where do you turn when you’re looking for an event to bring the family to next weekend?

You turn to your local newspaper – your local community newspaper.

An article in the trade journal Editor & Publisher says that despite the doom and gloom surrounding print newspapers, “Small, community newspapers across the country are not just surviving, but—in many cases—actually thriving.”

Community newspapers are “thriving” for several reasons. Our

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reporters know the players. When there’s breaking news, we can pick up the phone and immediately get connected to those in the know.

And when you have a reputation for honesty and integrity, those in the know respond quickly and completely. That allows us to bring you the whole story in a timely manner.

In the article referenced above, Heather Goodwin Henline, publisher and general manager of InterMountain in Elkins, W.Va. said, “Perhaps our greatest advantage is we have content no one else does.”

We’re with Heather on that one.

We cover local events of all kinds: meetings, sporting events, gatherings, accidents, fires, business, health, education, and even significant

Extension Connection

April 2017

anniversaries and birthdays. We know the history and the names of the people who live and work here and contribute to our lives.

The bottom line is that we’re different from major market newspapers, and that makes us happy. We want to be your local community newspaper.

Our reporters, our publisher, and our editors like the fact that you know our names when you see us at a local event.

The Sullivan County Democrat has been around for 125 years. We’ve always been a community newspaper – your community newspaper. And because of your friendship and loyalty as our readers, we plan on being your community newspaper for a good long time.

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Extension Connection

April 2017

CCE Sullivan Spotlights

4-H Spotlight Farm Spotlight WINTERTON FARM was established in 2010 in Bloomingburg, NY. This farm is owned and operated by Kent Findley and Erika Malmgreen where they grow a variety of vegetables under cover and in the field, over 1000 lavender plants, loofah sponges, and maple syrup.

Winterton Farm is dedicated to both producing quality products and sharing their enthusiasm for agriculture in the form of agritourism.

They host events and tours for schools, field trips, participate at farmers’ markets, the NYS Maple Tour, and will educate over 150 girl scouts from 8 different troops!

Last year, Winterton Farm donated a farm tour of its beautiful lavendar fields to the CCESC Gala.

This year the farm was proud to partner with the Bashakill Vineyards to produce a delicious, organic lavender wine.

JR SHOOTING SPORTS INSTRUCTORS: EMILY L., DUSTYN & WAYNE K. traveled to Ballston Spa in February to undergo training to become certified Junior Instructors for the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports program.

Emily L. received certification for Rifle while Dustyn K. and Wayne K. both received certification for Archery.

In addition to Shooting Sports activities, Emily, a seven year member of the 4-H program, has been very active in a wide range of project work, including visual and fine arts, rabbits, horticulture, public speaking, cultural education, and community service.

Wayne is a four year member with diverse project pursuits including rabbits, horticulture, public speaking, textiles, and community service.

His brother Dustyn, another four year member, has pursued projects like animal and veterinary science, rabbits and STEM, public speaking, horticulture, and community service.

These three teen 4-H Shooting Sports Junior Instructors will assist the volunteer certified adult instructors of the program by demonstrating and modeling correct technique and safe behaviors, as well as providing additional safety and coaching support for youth skills development.

Sullivan County 4-H Shooting Sports is excited to add these 4-H members to the instructors ranks.

Congratulations on your certification!

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April 2017

Program Spotlight AG LITERACY WEEK In celebration of NY agriculture, volunteers throughout the county read The Grapes Grow Sweet by Mary Tuft to 2nd and 3rd graders. Students and teachers benefited from handson lessons and received follow-up activities. The book was donated to classroom libraries with a bookplate recognizing the donor, Sullivan County Farm Bureau. 2,000 books were donated last year and thousands participated.

“We really enjoyed the story and the juice tasting that brought it to life! What a great way to relate text to self and text to the world. Our ENL students appreciated the dual language experience that came from the literature as well!! The book, juice, and tasting cups have been making their way through second grade and the book will be given to our school library to be shared with the rest of the school.” - Leah Exner, teacher at Benjamin Cosor Elementary School

CCE Sullivan Spotlights

Volunteer Spotlight ED LUTZ is among the most dedicated, trained 4-H volunteers who spend their free time passing down valuable knowledge to the next generation.

Ed has gone to New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Training in Ballston Spa for several years. He is certified to teach Rifle, Shotgun, Archery, Pistol, and Hunting & Environmental Education. Ed is also the carpenter for the program. By building bow stands, quivers, and many other pieces of handy equipment, he helps to keep the cost of the 4-H Shooting Sports program at a minimum. He is also a great fund-raiser!

This year, Ed will be taking his 4-H training to the next level. In May, he will attend the National 4-H Shooting Sports Training held in New Mexico to become certified to teach at the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Training. Ed will become certified to train the instructors in either the Rifle or Archery discipline.

We are truly grateful to Ed and all that he has done for the program. We are also very excited to see him become a New York State Training Instructor!

Nominate a Star Know someone who deserves dese erves the shine of the spotlight ht? spotlight?

Email Nicole Slevin: nas96@cornell.edu

Partner Spotlight MISS MONTICELLO DINER teamed up with Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County on National Agriculture Day, March 21, to celebrate by donating 10% of every check to the organization.

The Nikolados family displayed materials contributed by CCESC including table tents with the new Farmers’ Market schedule, informational rack cards highlighting local vegetable and maple farms, and eye-catching placemats with surprising NYS ag facts.

The diner featured delicious, locally sourced ingredients and the Sullivan County Democrat covered the event (see page 18). At 10% of every check, plus individual donations from the public and the Nikolados family, CCESC raised $300 in support of local agriculture and community partnerships.

Thank you Miss Monticello Diner!

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Host your own fundraiser to beneĂĽt CCESC!

Contact Nicole Slevin at nas96@cornell.edu.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EVERYBODY

SULLIVANCCE.ORG | 845-292-6180

Earle & Elizabeth Wilde Scholarship For high school seniors | Award: $2,000

Deadline to apply: April 15

Open to graduating high school seniors from the Sullivan County area who plan to continue their education in an agricultural related field at either the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill or Morrisville.

Skoda Family Scholarship Fund For high school seniors | Award: $500- $4,000

Deadline to apply: April 15

Open to graduating high school seniors from the Sullivan County area who will attend Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA and major in Agriculture. Orange County graduating high school students who plan to attend Delaware Valley College and major in Agriculture and students from Sullivan County currently enrolled in Delaware Valley College majoring in Agriculture may also apply.

4-H Livestock Auction Scholarship For high school seniors | Award: $500

Deadline to apply: June 1

Open to enrolled 4-H members who are high school seniors with a B or better GPA and actively participated in the Sullivan County 4-H Livestock Auction for at least 2 years.

Family & Consumer Science Scholarship For general public | Amount Varies

Deadline to apply: Rolling

To stimulate interest in human ecology/ home eco-nomics. In the event of financial limitations that prevent a Sullivan County resident from receiving educational services, program fees may be partially or entirely covered by this scholarship. Sponsored by community homemakers groups & Sullivan Renaissance. Inquire with CCESC. Agriculture & Community Horticulture Scholarship For general public | Amount Varies

Deadline to apply: Rolling

To stimulate interest in agricultural and community horticulture related topics. In the event of financial limitations that prevent a Sullivan County resident from receiving educational services, program fees may be partially or entirely covered by this scholarship. Sponsored by our friends at Sullivan Renaissance. Inquire with CCESC.

DHI Report

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