November 12, 2004
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Benefits of Winter Pasture for Horses
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
Successful Holiday Entertaining
4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
4-H Honors Program Recognizes
Senior Members' Achievements
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Benefits of Winter Pasture for Horses
Source: Bob Coleman
Providing good winter pasture benefits your horses by giving them a superior source of nutrients. It also can save you money on the winter feed bill by extending the grazing season.
Horses on pasture get exercise, are exposed to sunshine and generally are healthier than those kept in stalls.
A non-tall fescue winter pasture also eliminates a pregnant mare's exposure to endophyte-infected fescue. You need to remove these mares from endophyte-infected fescue pastures at 300 days of pregnancy and keep them off until they are at least 40 days in-foal.
Now is the time to start making plans for your winter pastures. Depending on your situation, consider planting annual ryegrass, oats, wheat, rye and triticale for winter grazing. If these are seeded on land that traditionally is not used for pasture, you need to ensure an adequate fence to contain the horses and have a suitable water supply available that will not freeze during the cold winter days.
You will need to properly manage winter pastures. Consider keeping horses off when pastures are wet. Do not let horses graze pastures too early. Grasses should be eight inches tall before grazing and should not be overgrazed below three inches.
Contact the (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service for information on soil testing, seedbed preparation, seeding rate, and planting date of winter forage species for your soil types.
Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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Successful Holiday Entertaining
Source: Sandra Bastin
Foods and festivities are among the many pleasures of the holiday season. The successful holiday gathering is a harmonious blend of organization and flair with everyone thoroughly enjoying the occasion – including you.
Advance planning is the key to a successful party. Guests are more likely to be available when notified early. Also, there is more time for shopping, cooking ahead and freezing, getting your house ready and all other aspects of entertaining. Write or phone each guest with details such as the date, time, place, directions, and type of party or occasion. You may want to generally suggest appropriate attire such as casual or dressy.
Carefully select the menu for the occasion. Factors affecting your choices will include your time and budget, number of guests, their food and beverage preferences, type of gathering and oven, refrigerator and freezer space.
After you have chosen the menu picture it on a plate and ask yourself these questions: Does it offer variety in color, flavor, texture and temperature? Does the menu give guests some healthy alternatives? Is it attractive and appropriate for the season?
It is not necessary to sacrifice quality, quantity and appearance to cut costs. Consider these alternatives. Substitute punch for alcoholic beverages or soft drinks; serve hors d' oeuvres instead or a full-course meal; have a brunch or luncheon rather than a dinner party; incorporate grocery specials and seasonal foods into the menu, and borrow rather than rent extras such as glassware, serving pieces, tables and chairs.
Take an inventory of table linens, serving pieces, flatware, glassware and other necessary items to be sure they are adequate and clean.
Make a checklist of how much time it will take to prepare for the party. List those foods that can be made in advance and refrigerated or frozen. The week of the festivity, make a day-by-day agenda and an hour-by-hour schedule for the day of the event.
If you cannot gracefully handle everything alone, ask a family member or friend to help you or hire an experienced person. A host trying to cope alone may have problems with the myriad of entertaining responsibilities including passing canapés, pouring punch, serving beverages, clearing tables and cleaning up.
Lastly, relax and enjoy the party. If you are having fun, your guests will, too.
For more information on holiday topics, contact the (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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4-H Honors Program Recognizes
Senior Members' Achievements
Source: Jann Burks
Many senior 4-H Youth Development members are working on applications for the Honors Program, which recognizes exemplary accomplishments in citizenship, communication and leadership. This recognition also is an incentive for members to master and share their skills, abilities and knowledge with individuals, groups and their communities.
December 15 is the application deadline.
Senior 4-H members, ages 14 through 19, establish an annual plan of work to achieve personal goals in their projects and other activities. The focus is to develop individual leadership, citizenship and communication skills and help other members achieve these attributes. The experiences are an asset to members throughout their lives.
The Honors Program is not a competition. Instead, members earn points for meeting a specific standard in three achievement levels—bronze, silver and gold.
Members 14 years and older focus on citizenship for the bronze honor. They earn points based on projects and programs, communications activities, participation in other events, and length of 4-H membership.
The silver honor recognition is for 4-Hers ages 15 years and older who already have achieved the bronze honor. The year-long focus is on communications, marketing and leadership in such areas as recruitment and organizational support and communications and marketing experience.
4-H members ages 16 and older may achieve the gold honor, but must have already received the bronze and silver recognitions. The year-long focus is on leadership through community service and community service in individual and group efforts.
A member reaching at least the bronze honor may apply to be a delegate to the National 4-H Congress each fall. Each member achieving a bronze, silver or gold honor recognition will receive a pin and certificate during the 4-H Teen Conference next summer. They also may apply to attend national trips and recognition events.
Gold honor recipients are eligible to apply for The Courier-Journal Award of Excellence based on their honor experiences. The winner receives a $500 savings bond.
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
Contact the (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service for more information on all 4-H Youth Development activities.
Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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