K-State Research and Extension Hosted The Weekly Grant County Chamber Coffee

K-State Research and Extension hosted the weekly Grant County Chamber Coffee November 14.

Marieta Hauser thanked Grant County Extension for hosting the coffee,” before turning it over to the “Award winning K-State Outstanding Extension agent of the year Award Monica Walker.”

“I'm very Proud of the Extension Agent Award, for the year, for the state, this was a once in a lifetime event, I serve a great community," Walker said. "The community makes me a good agent, 4H’ers, the community, and people who come to the programs and support us at extension."

What is extension? Why are we called extension? 

"We’re cooperative extension, we are cooperative because we’re funded by federal, state and local levels, we are extension because we’re an extension of the University, education and research, so what we bring to our county comes from the K-State University, so that is why we are called extension," Walker explained.  "We are a resource for everyone. The new K-State president Richard Linton has been a God send, He came out of extension at Perdue. He knows extension and really has helped us."

According to Walker,  President Linton wrote ServSafe curriculum for Extensions years ago.

"He realized the value to having faculty and an office in every county of our state, helped promote us, elevated us to the president’s table now, helped look for more funding," Walker said.  "He has really turned around the extension. K-State extension is looking so much better now." 

Part of the reason why the extension office hosted the coffee was an election.

"We have an extension election every year, when members rotate off," Walker explained.  "We have four advisory committees AG, 4H, FCS and community vitality.  We have to have six members from community on advisory board - a total of 24 members. We are required to have elections in our county to fill up spots, they serve a two-year period. There are ballots at the extension office to vote for advisory members."

Walker requested that everyone vote.

"Some other services we provide, we do pressure canner test to make sure the dial is working accurately, we work with Grant County offering Radon testing for your home, we also have tree and lawn and garden insects ID testing. We have a specialist from Garden City research center who helps identify this, we also offer soil testing for gardens in the spring and nitrate testing.  We have experts to help throughout the state."

Currently Walker said she is doing money for food at Kepley School.

"I help teach 126 students," she said. "I take a mobile kitchen with me. We taught Texas caviar on one and pancakes on one and yogurt parfait. I teach nutrition and help kids understand nutrition and all the food groups, why you need this."

Walker recently taught teen Power girls at the library about nutrition.  She said she enjoys cooking with kids. Walker is a certified counselor to help with Medicare, whether it is getting ready for 65 or explaining what the steps are you need to do for your enrollment plan. She helps people with their prescription drug plan to help save funds, and is a certified application counselor for marketplace if you need help in getting health insurance.

According to Walker, the plan changes every year so it’s good to take a look at this during open enrollment October 15- December 7, every year. She helps with 4H and adult project leaders, stating they just finished their big 4H Junior Banquet this year.

Following Walker's presentation, Grant County Chamber announced  the following up coming events/news:

•Core Community has a new liaison – Krista Cruz

•November 29: Mistle Toe Market at Bear Creek Coffee 6 am-8 pm, Gifts, Food & Fun

•November 29: Christmas Market at Bear Creek Coffee 9 am-5 pm

•November 29: Home Town Holiday, (need talent line entertainment at the gazebo) shoppers save your receipts from retail shops around town from 12-18 and enter for Chamber bucks, will have 3- $100 Chamber Buck prizes (must be present to win).

•December 4: Christmas Parade (call to enter Parade or enter online) arrive at 5:30 pm, judging at 5:45 pm, Parade starts at 6:30 pm, feel free to setup a Booth.

•December 6: Parade of Homes - $20 tickets, get to go see how the homes decorate for the Holidays