Dec. 6, 2012

AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Poinsettias for the holidays

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

Bring holiday cheer to the elderly

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

4-H Livestock Judging opportunities abound

Poinsettias for the holidays

Source: Rick Durham, UK horticulture specialist

Traditional red and green colors are well represented in the flowers available for the holidays. Poinsettias, the most popular and spectacular holiday flowers, can combine both these colors.

The poinsettia was named for Joel Robert Poinsett, an amateur botanist and the first United States ambassador to Mexico. He became fascinated with these native plants and sent poinsettias home to Greenville, S. C., in 1825. Although Poinsett later was war secretary under President Martin Van Buren, he is better known for the plant named after him.

The Aztecs cultivated poinsettias for medicinal purposes and as a dye. Missionaries to Mexico used the brightly colored plants in nativity processions, possibly beginning the holiday connection that continues today.

Poinsettias are the most popular potted plant grown in the United States, with annual sales exceeding 70 million plants. In Kentucky, some tobacco greenhouse operators have learned how to grow poinsettias. More than 60 varieties and 500,000 plants are grown and sold in Kentucky each year.

The three to six bloom red poinsettia is the most frequently used, but several other sizes, shapes and colors are available. Colors range from creamy white to yellow through shades of pink to the traditional red. The colorful plant parts often referred to as "flowers" actually are modified leaves called "bracts." The yellow centers are really the "flowers." Some poinsettias have marbled pink and white bracts; others may have pink flecks on red. Poinsettia bracts are very long lasting, providing a nice decorative plant for the holiday season.

Consumers can buy miniatures as well as poinsettia trees and hanging baskets.

The poinsettia is not poisonous to people or pets, but is classified as a non-edible plant material.

Extensive university research and laboratory testing have proven that poinsettias are not poisonous. One scientific study concluded that no toxicity occurred at ingestion levels much higher than those likely to take place in a home. The main information resource for most poison control centers states that a 50-pound child would have to ingest more than 500 poinsettia leaves to surpass an experimental dose.

Some people have skin sensitivity to the white milky sap produced when a part of the plant is broken or injured. Ingesting a plant part may cause some discomfort. Active young children, who are apt to put just about anything in their mouths, and curious cats might choke on fibrous poinsettia foliage. Therefore it is a good practice to put poinsettias and all other non-edible plants out of children's and pets' reach.

Poinsettias will remain beautiful far beyond the holiday season when cared for properly. Keep these tips in mind.

Choose a plant with small, tightly clustered yellow buds in the center and crisp, bright, undamaged foliage.

At home, put the poinsettia in a room with bright, natural light. Ideally, plant foliage should be exposed to direct sunlight one or more hours daily.

Avoid locations where there are drafts and close heat sources. Do not put the plant on top of a television set or near a radiator.

Water the plant when the soil becomes dry; drooping leaves may indicate it needs watering. Be sure to discard excess water in the drip saucer.

If you want to keep a poinsettia after the holiday season, fertilize it with ordinary houseplant fertilizer a few weeks after buying it.

For more information on indoor gardening, 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.

-30-

Bring holiday cheer to the elderly

Source: Amy Hosier, UK extension specialist for family life aging care

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, but for some older adults, especially those living alone or in long-term care, holidays can be met with stress, confusion and feelings of sadness and loneliness, often intensified because holidays can be further reminders of the loss of loved ones, health and even independence. During this time of year, older adults can become isolated from their friends, family and community, leading to an increased risk of depression. There are several ways to make the holidays brighter and more tolerable, however.

One of the greatest gifts you can give an older adult is your time. Make it a point to talk with the older adults in your family, neighborhood and those living in long-term care. Listen to their stories, learn from them and try to put yourself in their shoes.

Include older relatives and friends in as much of your family’s holiday celebration as possible. This may include taking the holiday celebration to them. Remind older adults why and how they are important to you and your entire family.

Invite your elderly neighbor over for some of your holiday celebrations, especially if they would otherwise spend the holidays alone.

Holiday cards can mean a lot to older adults, and with loss, it is not uncommon for cards to diminish in number with every passing year. For some older adults, mail is the only communication they receive from friends and family. Make an effort to send a card with an upbeat greeting and update about your life and family. Cards filled with bad news, such as updates on those who died or fell ill, can be upsetting and stressful. If an older adult needs help reading or writing a card, take time to sit with them.

Help older adults decorate for the holidays. Offer to help them hang lights, carry boxes and prepare the house. If they are in an assisted living facility or nursing home, make the holidays brighter by bringing favorite or meaningful decorations. If the person uses a wheelchair, or is confined to a bed, place the decorations in places that will be most visible to accommodate their needs.

Encourage older adults to attend holiday celebrations and events. Social activities and events to look forward to can be meaningful and can contribute to feelings of belonging and well-being. If an older adult typically throws his or her own party, you can help plan and carry out the event if need be. You may decide to throw a holiday party in honor of a special loved one just to let them know how much they mean to you and others. This can be an uplifting celebration and help keep the older adult connected with their friends and community.

The (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service offers many holiday programs that will appeal to all ages. Some upcoming programs include (AGENTS: LIST YOUR UPCOMING EVENTS HERE).

For more information on aging-related topics, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

- 30 –

4-H Livestock Judging opportunities abound

Source: Jason P’Pool, extension associate for youth livestock programs

4-H Livestock Judging is a great way for young people to learn more about the animals they love and learn valuable life skills, such as decision making and critical thinking, in the process.

One of the great things about livestock judging is you only need to have an interest in livestock to participate. Owning livestock or coming from an agricultural background are not participation requirements.

In livestock judging, young people learn about the various traits of breeding and market livestock, including hogs, beef cattle, sheep and meat goats. They see several animals and rank them based on how closely they meet the ideal traits and then give oral reasons for why they placed the animals in that order.

At the beginning of each calendar year, counties form livestock judging teams of interested 4-H’ers. Leaders group teams by age from Cloverbuds to senior 4-H’ers.Teams train and learn within their county and regional clinics with either a 4-H youth development agent or a Certified Livestock Volunteer.

In June, Kentucky hosts the State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest. The top senior level 4-H’ers at this contest are invited to attend Top 12 week in July. For a month, this group goes through intensive training about livestock judging in Kentucky and Indiana. From this group, eight are chosen to represent Kentucky as the 4-H All-Star Livestock Judging Team. Members of the 2012 team included Travis Drumm and Jacob Embry of Clark County, Renee Laurent of Caldwell County, Allison Tarvin of Bracken County, Jacob Barnes of Harrison County, Audree Harper of Calloway County and Adam Miller and Taylor Ray of Shelby County.

This team travels and competes in 4-H Livestock Judging contests around the nation on the weekends in late summer. Top finishes this year included first place team finishes in the Swine Division of the Ak-sar-ben 4-H Livestock Exposition in Nebraska and in the Sheep Division at the Keystone International Livestock Exposition in Pennsylvania. Drumm was the top overall individual in the Sheep Division, and Embry was the top overall individual in the Beef Cattle Division at the Pennsylvania competition.

The top four members of the all-star team are selected as the Kentucky 4-H Livestock Judging Gold Team and represent Kentucky at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest held each November in Louisville during the North American International Livestock Exposition. Drumm, Embry, Laurent and Tarvin were members of the 2012 team.

More information on livestock judging opportunities are available through your (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

-30-