November NEWSLETTER | 2024

HELLO

Fall

Take a look at our quarterly newsletter!

A Letter from the 21 Central Director

As summer wraps up and we move into fall, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful experiences we've had these past few months.

The 2024 Stafford and Edwards County Fairs, held from July 16-19, were a tremendous success. Both counties were fortunate to enjoy beautiful 80-degree weather, and Stafford County had the added pleasure of showcasing their new fair building. Our agents worked tirelessly, managing both fairs happening in the same week, and their dedication helped everything run smoothly. We are proud of our 4-H members for their outstanding participation and accomplishments. A special thanks also goes out to the community for their enthusiastic support, and to the fair boards for their hard work behind the scenes, ensuring every detail was taken care of.

Looking ahead, I am thrilled to announce the addition of Jewell Glover as our new 4-H agent, starting on September 30. Jewell will be based in St. John and brings a wealth of experience to the role. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural leadership from Texas A&M University and has been serving as a 4-H youth development agent with K-State Research and Extension in Kiowa County, Greensburg, Kansas. We are excited to welcome her to our team and know she will make a positive impact on our 4-H community.

As we move into a busy fall season, school programs are already underway, and the new 4-H year begins on October 1. All of our agents are working on various programs to offer the community, so be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for updated details and upcoming opportunities.

Thank you for your continued support of our 4-H programs and all the work we do here at 21 Central.

Sincerely,

Trisha Greene

21 Central District Director

We hosted an open house in Kinsley on October 4th and another in St. John on October 10th to meet the staff. We served soup for lunch. In addition, we attended a football game in each county and distributed cotton candy to the community.

AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Second annual 4th Grade Ag Day in Stafford County was a success. Looking forward to Ag Day in Edwards County in the Spring 2025.

Our St. John office is now a Servitech drop-off site. The pickup route runs on Tuesdays. Please have your samples dropped off by 9:00 am on Tuesdays. Both of our offices have soil, forage, and water collection resources. If you have any questions about testing or pricing, we recommend calling Servitech directly at 620-227-7509.

Edwards County Wheat Plot:

There will 12 varieties in the wheat plot this year, located just west of Kinsley. We will have a plot tour with K-State wheat specialists, followed by a meal; keep your eye out for more details on the date and time.

Women In Ag Series: Host Site – St. John

The program will return in January/February 2025! While the format will look the same, the topic this coming year will focus on Farm Transition, including motivation for succession planning, communication, financial aspects of estate and transfer plans, and legal aspects of putting your plan into place.

Ag Facebook page:

Soon, our district will be launching an Agriculture and Natural Resources Facebook page for anyone interested in staying up to date on articles released by K-State on agriculture topics and any local ag programs our office is hosting in the area.

RAISING RESILIENT CHILDREN

Raising children today can feel at times like guiding them through a storm—peer pressure, academic demands, and uncertainty loom large. But what if we could equip them with something that helps them stay steady even when the winds are strongest?

A list of “Protective Factors” has been identified that can reduce the negative impact of life’s stressors and adversities on our children. If these factors are fostered in our young children, it is more likely that they will be less vulnerable to the emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders that we have seen emerge in adolescence. If you have a teenager who is struggling these factors can also be a tool kit for healing and bolstering their hearts and minds.

Protective Factors for Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders in Adolescences:

Individual:

Academic achievement/intellectual development
Positive physical development
High self-esteem
Emotional self-regulation
Good coping skills and problem-solving skills
Engagement and connections in two or more: school, peers, athletics, employment, religion, culture

Family:

Family provides structure, limits, rules, monitoring, and predictability
Supportive relationships with family members
Clear expectations for behavior and values

School/community

Presence of mentors and opportunities to develop skills and interests
Opportunities for engagement within school and community
Healthy norms/expectations in the community
Clear expectations for behavior
Physical and psychological safety

NEW 4-H AGENT: Jewell Glover started September 30th!

National 4-H Week: The new 4-H year starts on October 1st. Each year we celebrate National 4-H Week (Oct. 6-12) 4-H members in our district celebrated with announcements at their local school and wearing their 4-H gear for Spirit 4-H day.

Achievement Night: The month of November is when we host achievement night for both counties. This is a wrap up for the 2023-2024 4-H year and celebrate our 4-H members achievements.

(KYLF) Kansas Youth Leadership Forum: This event is for the youth 14-18 years of age before January 1, 2025 to build leadership skills. It is held on November 23-24, 2024 at Rock Springs 4-H Center.