County Extension Staff
Terry Torneten
Regional Extension Education Director
Erica Tunink
Office Manager
Megan Sheldon
Office Assistant
Carolyn Wilson
County Youth Coordinator
Staff Serving Guthrie County,
but based in other counties
Aaron Sauegling
Field Agronomist
Abbie Gaffey
Communities Specialist
Barb Fuller
Nutrition and Health Field Specialist
Clark BreDahl
External Relations Field Specialist
Darrell Busby
Beef Field Specialist
Donna Donald
Family Life Field Specialist
Eldon Everhart
Commercial Horticulture Field Specialist
Jerry Weiss
Swine Field Specialist
Joyce Lash
Resource Management Field Specialist
Ray Reynolds
Youth Field Specialist
Shawn Shouse
Agriculture Engineer Field Specialist
Tom Olsen
Agriculture Economics Field Specialist
Helping families through tough times is manageable with Guthrie County’s Families Together program
ISU Extension of Guthrie County hosted three sessions of the Families Together program. This program was an opportunity for families to learn and develop skills in finance, parenting, relationships and nutrition. Borrowing Smart provided key points to minimizing costs and risks of borrowing.
Healthy Meals in a Hurry, taught participants how to stretch food dollars while preparing healthy meals. Featuring time and cost saving recipes, and a “prepare ahead meals” cookbook.
Our family relationship class pointed out that successful families are willing to give and take, and communicate openly and honestly. Families learned to improve their ability to relate to family members and talk when things get tough.
Youth enjoy healthy and safe environments
Youth in Guthrie County had the opportunity to participate in a free after school program through ISU Extension’s early out after school program. The program was held at Guthrie Center Elementary School and Casey Public Library. The purpose of the after school program was to provide a safe and structured environment for youth to stay on early dismissal days. Youth learned new skills, participated in heart healthy activitiesand enjoyed nutrition snacks. The after school program was funded by Decatorization dollars.
(Front: Sheree McClellan, Teresa Kipp, Jim Clark, Carol Cain. Back: Keith Wilson, Mark Allen, Jim Calvert, Bret Hodges. Not Pictured: Bev Arganbright.)
Guthrie County Extension
Council
Every Iowa county has an elected Extension Council that guides local educational programming by partnering with staff. From needs assessment through program implementation and evaluation of outcomes, the council represents the issues and people of the county.
We have identified these local issues as priority topics for current and future programming:
•Bio-economy
•Youth
•Agriculture
•Healthy lifestyles
We connect you to Iowa State University.
We are your local link to make connections for campus enrollment, continuing education, campus visits, campus exhibits, conferences, camps, and sporting events.
[Youth enjoy healthy and safe environments] continued
ISU Extension in Guthrie County continued a long time tradition in hosting a Progressive Farmer Farm Safety Days in May. Nearly 200 third grade students from Guthrie County schools attended a fun filled day of farm safety at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds. Participants had hands-on opportunities to learn about the dangers that lurk on farms and at their homes; safety stations included: electrical safety, grain safety, power take off (PTO) safety, livestock and animal safety, all terrain vehicle (ATV) safety, and sun safety. 2009 brought a special guest to talk to the youth, a victim of a PTO accident spoke to the youth. The family shared their experience and brought items from the accident for kids to see. Farm Safety days was funded by a Community Grant through Decategorization, community donations and volunteers.
Marketing Your Meat in an Uncertain Economy
The decision to sell, retain ownership, or background cattle is always on the mind of cattle producers. ISU Extension of Guthrie County hosted a beef marketing
seminar that helped producers with making marketing decisions. Guest speakers, Dr. John Lawrence, Dr. Daryl Strohbehn, and Darrell Busby presented on timely topics for the beef industry, including: marketing projections, herd management, and pricing corn co-products. This meeting was supported and sponsored by various community business and organizations.
Impacting Famers Production
ISU Extension in partnership with the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Butler Agronomy of Guthrie Center, sponsor and deliver a Crop Fair that is
open to all producers. Producers attending the 2009 Crop Fair had opportunity to learn firsthand valuable insight on weather patterns, production trends, and economic strategies that have and will impact farmer’s bottom line.
Spend Smart. Eat Smart.
This ISU Extension web site helps people learn more about their food-shopping practices, and changes they could make to save money and eat healthier. A variety of options and interactive activities are available, including short food preparation how-to videos.
Recently, 53% of site users rated it “excellent.” 53% used the cost of food at home calculator option. 79% adjusted one or more food buying habits. 85% increased their understanding of substituting time or knowledge/skills to save money at the supermarket. 88% increased their food-buying skills. 83% increased their ability to identify and include nutritious foods in the family diet.