K-State Extension Plays Host To Chamber Coffee

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The weather outside was frightful, but that didn’t stop the community from attending the weekly Chamber Coffee November 8. The K-State Extension Service played host to this week’s coffee, provided a nice spread of food and gave an educational presentation about what the Extension office is, and what services they offer.

Extension Agent Monica Walker introduced the staff at the Ulysses Extension office and was excited to say the office is now fully staffed. Walker takes care of Family and Community Wellness/4-H Youth Development.

Walker explained why the office is called “Extension.”

“We were created by the Land Grant Universities, back in 1914 the Smith-Lever Act established us,” Walker said. “We’re a cooperative extension and the cooperative word comes from, we are funded federally, state, and local so it’s a joint funding effort on those different levels.”

Extension brings unbiased university education and research to the local county as part of the land grant university.

“So we’re an extension of K-State to Grant County,” Walker said. “The whole United States is covered by Land Grant Universities and every county is covered by an extension office in some way.”

Walker said the big thing about land grant universities is it opens the door to university education for the middle class, “For the working people, the farmers, the ranchers,” Walker added. “Because before that college education was only for the elites and the top few percent.

“We’re proud to be a part of the K-State Land Grant University,” Walker added.

Among the services offered at the Ulysses office is Medicare counseling; Walker is a certified application counselor for the Health Insurance Marketplace; pressure canner testing; home water test kits; radon test kits; tree, lawn and garden diagnostics; insect identification; soil samples; pesticide applicator licenses, and nitrate testing.

Walker has helped get the community garden started in Ulysses with the Impact Ulysses Coalition and said four fruit trees have recently been planted there - two apple trees, a peach tree and a cherry tree.

“I’m excited about the community gardens,” Walker added. “It’s kind of winding down now, but we’re hoping to kick those off strong in the spring.”

Tara Anderson does nutritional and physical education for lower income families, and said she has been busy in local schools so far this school year.

“We have been going to Kepley for a 10-session junior chef class which is really heavily-focused on cooking,” Anderson said. “We learn about nutrition and physical activity, but they get to learn a lot of cooking skills, so they really enjoy it.”

Anderson has also been doing junior chef at Sullivan Elementary school Tiger Trails After School Program with third through fifth graders.

Anderson will begin an adult class November 18 called Create Better Health, which is a four-session series covering dietary guidelines and physical activity recommendations. The class is every Monday at 5:30 p.m. through December 9.

Lakin Cherry, Agriculture and Natural Resources/4-H Youth Development agent said she is starting a livestock judging team with the 4-H kids and their first contest will be December 13 in Hutchinson.

“That’s a really big program I’m working on right now, we meet about once a week,” Cherry said. “We learn about evaluating animals, what you need to look for because obviously in market animals you’re going to look for heavier muscle because those are the animals we eat. With breeding you’re going to look for structure and balance because those all will be breeding on new offspring.”

Cherry teaches the kids what to look for when they get their own animals ready for the fair in July.

Cherry also performs a lot of the soil and water testing.

Upcoming Events

Chamber of commerce director Marita Hauser announced upcoming events, including an EMT class that begins in January with an informational meeting planned at 10 a.m., December 14. Contact the EMS office at 620-356-3400 if interested.

Grant County Library is currently sponsoring Coats for Kids; donate gently used and freshly laundered coats, hats and gloves to the Grant County Library that will be given to children in need.

Ginger’s Hope will have a Diabetes Self Management, Education and Support Seminar at Bear Creek Coffee. The pre-diabetes class will be from 6-8 p.m., November 15 and diabetic class will be from 9 a.m. until noon, November 16. Call (620) 575-5779 to register.

Restored By Grace is having a drawing November 20 for two guns, a meat package, a women’s gift basket and a photo session by Captured by Caitlyn. The cost is $10 and can be purchased at Restored by Grace, Ulysses Veterinary Hospital, and Bear Creek Coffee. The Grant County Gives event will help repair the roof at Restored by Grace.

The Christmas Light Parade is December 5 and the chamber is now accepting registrations, and the Chamber’s Silent Auction is November 23 at the Historic Adobe Museum. Tickets are $20.