Noble County Program Highlights
Strengthening Families and Communities • Leadership Noble, a county leadership program, completed its 12th program year and 10 individuals completed the program improving the participants’ leadership skills and gaining a comprehensive examination of the working of the county. • Extension worked with the Noble County Community Foundation to secure $50,000 in funding for a new scholarship fund to benefit students seeking post-secondary education. • In order to assist families facing unemployment from a local manufacturing plant scheduled to close in 2009, the FCS educator conducted a series of Managing Between Jobs programs for 173 employees. Topics addressed included: identifying daily habits that can impact financial security, tracking expenses and making spending plans, deciding which bills to pay first, and talking with creditors. An additional session is planned which will address the emotional impact of unemployment. Comments from the resource team who coordinate the retraining program have been positive and employees have requested numerous copies of the factsheets that were recommended during the presentations. • What is Extension? was the title of a presentation made by the FCS and 4-H educators for students at Muskingum College enrolled in an undergraduate and a graduate education class on Family Centered Practices. The goal was to inform future teachers about the resources available through Extension for use with students in the classroom or their families. Only 14% of the students previously knew about Extension. Comments from students included: “The agency is a great source of information for students and teachers”, “I hope to use them when I do my student teaching”, and “I plan to incorporate nutrition information on serving/portion sizes in my science lesson plans and I also intend to purchase several of the 4-H school enrichment curriculum books.” This presentation has been delivered each semester since Autumn, 2006. • Designed to aid parent in helping their children adjust to the changes that result from a divorce, Helping Children Cope with Divorce is a bi-monthly program that has been conducted since May, 1993, and has reached a total of 797 people since its inception. The program is mandated by the Court of Common Pleas. When asked is they planned to use the information learned in the program, the mean response was 4.7 (on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being “strongly agree”). Parents indicated that the most important things learned in the program included: be fair and listen to children; do not put children in the middle; how to help my children deal with the divorce; and how to understand children’s views and feelings. • Conducted by the FCS program assistant, the Family Nutrition Program (now the SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is designed to help families who qualify or food stamps to stretch their food dollars to feed their families. Educational programs provided information on nutrition, food safety, food budgeting, and food security. 422 people participated with 84% gaining knowledge and 72% planning to make changes to improve their daily diets. • 4-H Volunteers - The volunteer base for youth programming continues to grow. Over 120 adults serve as 4-H advisors, middle managers and committee members. These volunteers contribute countless hours of service to 4-H clubs, the 4-H Council, Junior Fair Livestock and Sale Committee and other 4-H activities and events in helping to develop life skills in the youth they work with. Preparing Youth for Success • 4-H in Noble County: In 2008, six hundred forty-seven youth were involved in the 4-H program. 481 members participated in at least one of the twenty-six 4-H community clubs and 166 participated in 4-H School Enrichment and Special Interest programs. 4-H members completed 1,343 4-H projects learning the importance of record keeping, budgeting, decision making, time management, responsibility and communication skills. • Teen Leadership: Through programs such as Junior Leaders, Camp Counselor Training, and Junior Fairboard, 85 teens were provided leadership training and development. The teens are involved in planning and conducting many aspects of the 4-H program and utilized program planning, public speaking, time management, conflict resolution and communication skills to accomplish these tasks. They are also involved in community service and mentoring activities. These teen leaders on average contribute more than 100 hours of volunteer service to county and community-based activities and events. • 4-H Camp: One hundred three youth participated in 4-H Camp this summer. Campers were involved in a variety of activities that helped develop their basic life skills. Teamwork, decision making, time management, and cooperation were several of the skills developed through the group living dynamics at 4-H Camp. Enhancing Agriculture and the Environment • Pesticide Re-certification- 30 pesticide applicators attended a training session covering restricted use pesticides. These individuals were taught proper application methods, calibration techniques, record keeping requirements and information about new pesticides on the market. After meeting comments by participants confirm the re-certification session offered by Extension helped applicators understand the correct and safe use of pesticides. • Beef Cattle Marketing- Sixty producers attended a 2.5 hr. meeting to learn methods of marketing beef cattle. Many options were presented for the farm managers to consider. Examples and scenarios were presented so farm managers could determine if one method would fit better into their operation. After meeting evaluations led to a determination that a minimum of 26 percent of those attending would use what they learned to change their current marketing procedures. • Ag School Days – Over 150 third grade students from Noble County participated in Ag. School Days held at the Eastern Agricultural Research Station. Youth attending the event increased their knowledge of agriculture and the environment and the role that farmers play in the production of wholesome and nutritious foods. • Quality Assurance: Three county-wide Quality Assurance trainings were conducted to teach humane animal care, record-keeping and essential animal production practices. These were attended by 495 youth and adults. The Quality Assurance sessions focused on food safety with meat animals and the importance of ethical treatment of animals. Participants gained decision making and management skills that will ensure a safe and wholesome food supply. Advancing Employment and Income Opportunities • Noble County joined with the economic development entities in Morgan, Muskingum, and Guernsey counties to complete a study of a large industrial site in three of the four counties. Four development options were created as a result of the work. • Work was completed on a study of the OH SR 78/37 corridor stretching more than 100 miles from Monroe County to Fairfield County. Short, intermediate, and long term improvement recommendations were developed. • Extension administers on behalf of the Noble County Commissioners a revolving business loan program that has provided over $50,000 in business loans to two businesses in the county helped to create 5 jobs.
Noble County Program Highlights
We are pleased to share with you some of the highlights of our 2005 educational programs and activities conducted by the Noble County Extension faculty and staff.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Timber Production and Marketing: Timber land as a percent of total land area continues to increase. Normally, timber land was utilized as a recreational resource with an occasional timber and/or firewood harvest. Newsletter articles and a Timber Management Conference with 47 participants are used to emphasize the need for a timber management and harvest plan. Presently three producers are utilizing the Service Forester and/or Consulting Forester to develop a Management Plan beginning with owner objectives and timber stand improvement work. One producer was able to increase his income from a timber harvest by $26,000 by using a Consulting Forester.
Pasture Nutrient Management: Wet warm winters have recently caused major pasture damage by livestock during winter feeding. As numbers been fed increase and tractors used to distribute baled forage become larger, pasture damage can cause serious soil loss. Two meetings with 78 participants have emphasized “Winter Feeding Options to Reduce Pasture Damage.” Four producers have arranged bales in or near feeding areas. Frequent changes to feeding locations have reduced pasture damage and helped better distribute nutrients from manure and uneaten forage.
Family and Consumer Sciences
Helping Children Cope with Divorce: Designed to aid parents in helping their children adjust to the changes that result from a divorce, this monthly program has been conducted since May, 1993 and has reached a total of 680 people since its inception (48 people in 2005). The program is mandated by the Court of Common Pleas. Evaluations revealed that following the program, 92 percent agreed/strongly agreed that children can make a healthy adjustment after the divorce, and 88 percent agreed/strongly agreed that the program would be beneficial in helping them assist children with the adjustment to divorce. Participants were married an average of 10 years and their average age was 34 years old. Participants learned how to tell children about divorce, how to recognize and deal with children’s reactions to divorce, and how to keep children out of the crossfire between parents’ conflicts. This multi-disciplinary effort is a collaboration between the Extension Family & Consumer Sciences program, the court, and a licensed social worker.
Dining with Diabetes: A collaborative effort with the West Virginia University Extension Service, a local hospital and the local health department, this series of three in-depth classes focused on meal planning, food preparation, and tips for managing the diet for diabetics and their family members. Participants gained a better understanding of how the intake of fats and sugars can impact their blood sugar levels, how a special assessment process can help them evaluate their food consumption, and how preparing favorite foods can easily be accomplished with minor alterations. A six-month follow-up reunion was held to reinforce basic principles. As a result, participants received answers to pertinent questions, and learned more about new insulin products and their impact on dietary habits and they learned how to assemble an emergency kit of supplies and foods.
Food Pyramid in the Schools: Sixty-three 4th grade students learned about the Food Guide Pyramid in a presentation conducted by Extension. They learned about the nutrients provided by each group, what actual serving sizes are through a hands-on activity, and they learned to match various foods to each group through a relay game. Teachers reported that the information presented appeared in the science portion of the proficiency tests administered to the students.
Food Safety Training: Food service staff and members of the food committee for 4-H Camp Piedmont participated in a training in which they learned food safety procedures while receiving, handling, preparing, and serving meals and snacks at the camp. They learned about safe temperatures, risks involved in cross-contamination, and how to thaw foods safely. During the training, participants had the opportunity to assess each work station in the camp kitchen and make recommendations to improve standards and for the purchase of needed equipment in order to comply with food safety procedures. On a ten-point evaluation at the completion of the program, the average score was eight.
4-H Youth Development
4-H in Noble County: In 2005, five hundred seventy-seven youth were involved in the 4-H program. 457 members participated in at least one of the 26 4-H community clubs and 158 participated in 4-H School Enrichment programs.
4-H Camp: Ninety-six youth participated in 4-H Camp this summer. Campers were involved in a variety of activities that helped develop their basic life skills. Teamwork, decision making, time management, and cooperation were several of the skills developed through the group living dynamics at 4-H Camp.
4-H Camp Counselors: Twenty-four Noble County 4-H camp counselors participated in four training sessions and a multi-county Camp Counselor Training to prepare for working with youth at camp. Teens gained skills in program planning, risk management and team building during the training sessions. In a post-camp survey, these teens indicated that the camp counselor experience helped them to be more responsible, a better team player and to make decisions which affect others.
4-H Junior Leaders: The 4-H Junior Leaders Club was re-established after not functioning for many years. The county-wide club consisted of 25 older teens and focused on leadership development, community service, career exploration and social interaction activities. The Junior Leaders participated in the Noble County Relay for Life and raised over $500 for the American Cancer Society.
Quality Assurance: Three county-wide Quality Assurance trainings were conducted to teach animal health, care and management skills. These were attended by 375 youth and adults. The Quality Assurance sessions focused on food safety with meat animals and the importance of ethical treatment of animals. Participants gained decision making and management skills that will ensure a safe and wholesome food supply.
4-H Volunteers: The volunteer base for youth programming continues to grow. Over 110 adults serve as 4-H advisors, middle managers and committee members. These volunteers contribute countless hours of service to 4-H clubs, the 4-H Council, Junior Fair Livestock and Sale Committee and other 4-H activities and events in helping to develop life skills in the youth they work with.
Community Development
Industrial Site Improvement Fund: The Noble Co. CD program authored a $352,000 grant request to the new Ohio Industrial Site Improvement Fund for site improvements at a proposed medical waste facility in the county. In July of 2005, the state awarded $325,000 to the county in conjunction with the project. The project is slated to create a minimum of 25 new jobs in the county.
Noble County Community Foundation (NCCF): The NCCF was created in January of 2005 as an affiliate fund of the Marietta Community Foundation. A three thousand dollar grant was received from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and a one thousand grant was received from AEP Ohio. The AEP grant was used to create a web presence for the NCCF at www.nccfohio.org. The NCCF made three small grants in its first year of operation totaling $1000.
Enterprise Zone: Despite substantial changes in the Ohio’s tax structure, the Noble County Enterprise Zone program worked with two local businesses on tax incentives for 2005. One business, employing over 100 workers, agreed on an incentive that will invest over $3M in new manufacturing equipment and inventory. The office also worked with a second employer, new to the county that will invest over $10 M and will employ over 100 new workers.
Industrial Site Development: Working with the Noble County Chamber of Commerce, the CD program worked with an environmental engineering firm to complete a Phase II environmental review of a 20+ acre site owned by the Chamber. The site was subdivided into two parcels and sold in 2005 to two local businesses. One of the parcels is under development and will be the home of a new drying kiln for wooden pallets that will enter the international market.
