Oceana County Extension
210 Johnson Street
Hart, MI 49420 / P: 231-873-2129
F: 231-873-3710 / E-mail:
Web: msue.msu.edu/Oceana
June 2007
Nutrition Education enhances life for many Oceana County residentsMSU Extension, Family Nutrition Program (FNP) associate Irma Hernandez has worked with a variety of individuals and groups in the past year, to help them improve their understanding of good nutrition.
Hernandez continues to work with several groups of Head Start students, which includes a large migrant population. During one presentation, she demonstrated making “turkey toast” with the class. They took whole-wheat bread and cut it into turkey shapes and spread peanut butter on it using raisins and fruit loops for decorations.
One student said, “My family usually only eats white bread because my mom says that wheat bread tastes bad. I like this turkey toast because the wheat bread tastes good with peanut butter.”
Hernandez also facilitated several presentations at the migrant WIC clinic in Shelby, reaching more than 160 people during the past year. She talked about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables to protect the body against such conditions as heart disease and cancer.
One participant said, “I appreciate knowing that eating fruits and vegetables will help to lower the risk of getting diabetes because I have a cousin with diabetes and I want to avoid suffering like my cousin!”
At another session, Hernandez discussed the dynamics of the USDA’s food guide (MyPyramid) with emphasis on the new physical activity addition. She explained why physical activity was important along with making healthy food choices and eating appropriate serving sizes.
“I see that serving sizes are really not that big and if I cut back on my portions and exercise more often, that will help me get to a healthy weight," one participant said. / Hernandez has worked in a one-on-one capacity with several Oceana County families in a series of presentations. One couple who recently completed the program had a daughter who refused to eat vegetables.
Hernandez discussed how to make eating vegetables more interesting to youngsters. The parents later told her that they gave their daughter broccoli with cheese and how much she loved it. The parents also said, “We have learned that we can disguise vegetables in healthy meals that we prepare from the MSU cookbook and still like what we eat.”
During the past year Hernandez has worked with a large number of WIC families. After one presentation when she discussed stretching food dollars, one participant told her, “Thanks for the shopping list you gave me to keep track of things. I will also start checking to see what I have at home already so I don’t buy the same thing twice. Then I will have more to spend on other things that I really do need.”
A mother who works at the local grocery store recognized Hernandez recently and commented on how much her kindergarten-aged daughter learned during a nutrition series. She said that her daughter came home excited, talking about the importance of eating breakfast and more fruits and vegetables.
“My daughter now comes home and lectures me on why it is important to eat healthy and shop for healthier choices at the grocery store,” she added
To date, Hernandez has worked with more than 550 adults and close to 600 youth in Oceana County. She continues to translate nutrition materials from English to Spanish and to reach new audiences with up-to-date, quality nutrition information.
/ Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facingcommunities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners,the state through Michigan State University and federally through the US Department of Agriculture.
Oceana County 4-H offers successful seat belt safety program
Teenagers sometimes take safety for granted. The 4-H seatbelt safety education program works to help them understand that buckling up is not only the law, but a lifesaving practice.
Oceana County 4-H supervisor N. Joy Hamilton received a grant from the state 4-H office to conduct the program locally with the stipulation that 4-H members be involved in providing the education.
Enter Kara and Kelcey Ingalls, teen 4-Hers from Hesperia, who carried the message about seatbelt safety to their peers by organizing 12 educational sessions. The young ladies contacted three local schools to setup classroom sessions and provided a synopsis display at the Annual Folk Festival in April.
4-H supervisor N. Joy Hamilton and the Ingalls worked to offer information, demonstrations, personal experiences and constant habit reminders that the youths could understand.
All session participants were given the opportunity to design seat beat covers and see demonstrations highlighting how important a seat belt is to one’s life. The Ingalls demonstrated a simple crash and the different results a seat belt would have made by using two toy cars, two eggs and one rubber band. Kara Ingalls placed an egg in a toy car and pushed it into an object to simulate a crash. Kelcey Ingalls placed an egg in the toy car secured with a rubber band and then pushed to simulate a crash. This comparison prompted many participants to say that they would definitely wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle.
The girls also showed how an air bag activates in an accident. One participant commented that, “The car demonstration was the best and it will help me to remember to buckle-up.”
Hamilton reported that 700 youngsters heard the seat belt safety message. She was very proud of the time and energy the two teen 4-H members took in preparing to share the information with others.
Kara Ingalls is currently tabulating the survey that was provided to each of the participants for submission to the State 4-H office to be included in the grant report. / Oceana County Folk Festival celebrates 25th year
The Oceana County Folk Festival gives community members the chance to take a walk back in time and view some historical traditions of the past. Now in its 25th year, the event is sponsored by Oceana MSU Extension and its 4-H Youth Development Program.
N. Joy Hamilton, 4-H program supervisor, has worked with the Folk Festival Committee each year to provide a well-rounded event.
Weeks prior to the event, Hamilton visits local classrooms to talk about the Folk Festival and historical traditions. During her presentation, she shows the students a different historical craft that youngsters may have made long ago.
The Folk Festival committee contacted local individuals who could help tell the story of their exhibits. Jerry Kooi of Montague is a regular participant with his Native American tepee.
The kids enjoy the opportunity to sit in the tepee and Kooi explains its historical and cultural meanings. Another regular at the Folk Festival is the local quilting group. The quilters bring their current project and give visitors an opportunity to try their hands at quilting. They also talk about some of the traditions and history behind quilting.
Local farmer and 4-H leader Kathy Carter gives participants an opportunity to make butter by shaking a small jar of cream, an activity that’s always a crowd pleaser among the kids.
Young visitors are asked to answer questions about what they like the most about Folk Festival. Several refer to liking the many food samples that are offered and sitting in the tepee.
The event has become such a tradition in Oceana County, committee members are hoping to see the event organized for another 25 years.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity employer, Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Coon, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824