CountyExtension Staff
Rod Hamer
Transition Manager, Black Hawk County
Rita Baldwin,Saliha Beganovic, Gail Forristall & Deb Mumm
EFNEP/FNP Program Assistants
Lynette Cline & Erica Schauf
Office Assistants
Sue Cook
Growing in the Garden Program Assistant
Kendra Crooks
Urban 4-H & Youth Development
Julie Evenson / Bryan Foster
Consumer Horticulturist
Eleanor Meyerhoff & Diane Wolfe
4-H Program Assistants
Meridith Morgan
CountyYouth Coordinator
Lora Olson
Urban 4-H Program Assistant
Madelyn Ridgeway
County Families Program Specialist
Sandy Scholl
Communities & Economic Development
Mary TeWinkel
Regional 4-H & Youth Development
Rebecca Varnold
CYFAR Program Assistant
Jill Weber
Families: Nutrition & Health
Mike Willett
CIRAS
Allen Ricks, REED
Staff serving Black Hawk County, but based in other counties
Donna Andrusyk, Families: Family Life
Kapil Arora, Ag: Engineering
Amber Bisinger, External Relations
Craig Chase, Ag: Farm Management
George Cummins,Ag: Agronomy
Patrick O’Malley, Horticulture
Brenda Schmitt, Families: Resource Mgmt.
Mark Storlie,Ag: Swine
Dale Thoreson, Ag: Dairy/Beef
Healthy People
Encouraging healthful living is a focus for several Extension programs in Black Hawk County. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) places three staff members in the county, where they work with small groups and individuals in learning to make the food dollar stretch while improving the nutritional values of family meals.
The Family Nutrition Program (FNP) sees Deb Mumm teaching nutrition classes in the public schools. Children and youth are excited by the experiential lessons they learn in this setting.
Community gardens were organized under the auspices of Extension in 2009. The nutritional value of raising fresh vegetables was apparent to the 39 families who participated this year.
For the second year, a wellness focus was added to the Black Hawk County Fair. 4-H youth were encouraged to participate in an afternoon of “Fun and Fitness,” through the cooperation of the local YMCA.
“Strengthening Families” classes continued this year through CYFAR grant funding. This program uses trained facilitators to work with youth and parents in developing healthy habits for communication, respect and values sharing. The classes are coordinated by Madelyn Ridgeway and Donna Andrusyk.
Healthy Environments
Recovery from the devastation of the floods and tornado of 2008 continued throughout the year. Extension helped to meet the needs of citizens through involvement in the Long-Term Recovery Committee andby helping secure financial resourcesfor families having to rebuild from the natural disasters.
Council members and constituents participating in a planning session. Current Extension Council members are Loretta Doepke, Lucy Evans, Kathleen Holmes, Donna Jones, Don Moore, Gloria Paulsen, Mike Pipho, Kevin Sittig, and Lillian Thomas.
BlackHawkCounty 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:
•Support Consumer Horticulture
•Strengthen Youth Programming
•Be innovative in use of technology
We connect you to IowaStateUniversity.
We are your local link to make connections for campus enrollment, continuing education, campus visits, campus exhibits, conferences, camps, and sporting events.
[Healthy Environments] continued
The Extension staff also found ways to reach out to those in need by sponsoring a community Thanksgiving supper for in
the Dunkerton community who had been impacted by the tornado, and by “adopting” a family for the holidays.
Healthy Economies
Six poverty simulations were held in Black Hawk County, led by Jill Weber and Madelyn Ridgeway. These experiences allowed participants to face the challenge of living a “month” in poverty, developing real empathy for those who struggle with economic uncertainty.
The economic challenges facing families in 2009 led the Black Hawk Extension Council to plan a day-long program called “Living with Less.” This event, held in Waterloo, drew a number of participants to sessions led by the programspecialists who serve Black Hawk County. Workshops dealing with family budgeting, healthful food decisions, “green” living, and resource management offered support for people who were facing economic hardship and challenge.
For the third year, farm leasing meetings were held in the summer of 2009, with more than 150 land owners and renters in attendance. Craig Chase, farm economist, provided useful information for reviewing and renewing land leases.
Black Hawk County Extension continues as a partner in Women, Land, and Legacy programs, designed to meet the particular needs of women who are decisions makers for farming operations.
Additionally, Extension staff continue to meet one-on-one with county residents who have particular questions or who are seeking guidance in their economic decisions.
Extension’s Impact
The completion of the “greenhouse project” was anticipated at the new George Washington Carver Academy as 2009 progressed. The greenhouse will be a resource for all of the schools in Black Hawk County, and will also be open for after-hours and summer-time programming. Master Gardening classes and gardening symposia will also be held there. The greenhouse opened in August 2009.
Very active and growing 4-H clubs and a developing urban presence through 4-H, an enthusiastic Master Gardener Club and filled-to-capacity Master Gardener classes, large numbers of farmers trained in safe pesticide use and manure handling planning, food safety classes and adult nutrition education – all of these and more point to an active and vibrant Extension program in Black Hawk County.