BEDFORD – Purdue Extension Lawrence County 4-H Youth Development Educator Lesley Lodmell presented the commissioner with the quarterly report.
From October to December 2023, the office provided 112 education hours through 78 different programs. More than 1,994 people participated in those programs. More than 9,637 people were reached via social media.
Vet 107
The Vet 107 series, in partnership with Spring Mill Veterinary Services Dr. Jerry Rusch and Dr. Ellen Burcham, includes hands-on demos utilizing live animals to teach skills and practices to producers they can perform on their farms.
Passing It On: Farm Transition to the Next Generation
The average age of farmers continues to increase as sode the need to transition farms from generation to generation. In December 2023, nearly 50 participants attended a full-day workshop featuring industry-leading speakers from out of state and locally. When given action steps on what they planned to do after the program, nearly 85 percent planned to work on frame plans related to transition.
Smoothies, Hummus, Salsa, Art – Oh My!
Thanks to funding from PRemier Companies through the Indiana 4-H Foundation, the county could purchase a Smoothie and Spin Art Bike to teach local youth about nutrition, mental health, and physical activity. Over 1,700 youth and adults have interacted with the bike at five events.
Captain Cash
With the increased costs of goods and services, individuals must know how to manage their money to ensure lifetime financial wellness. Learning how to spend, save, earn, and borrow money at a young age can help students be prepared to make intelligent financial decisions as they enter adulthood. Captain Cash was developed to help third graders learn about earning, saving, spending, and borrowing money. Students in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Springville Academy, and Needmore Elementary participated in the program.
CATCH
Visiting local schools and sharing CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is fun and engaging, allowing many hands-on opportunities to learn about nutrition. While visiting third graders in Mrs. Bellush’s class, students learned about the sugar content in drinks, the importance of drinking water, and health benefits. They also sampled fruit smoothies and how to make smoothies in a bag.
Lodmell also honored the community partners who make programs possible. They include Cambridge Square, Mitchell Parks Board, Land of Limestone Master Gardeners, and Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District.
