Help Wanted:

Iowa State University Extension & Outreach

Winnebago County

Summer Program Intern

Part time-temporary position with flexible work time. Assist with planning and implementation of the Winnebago County Extension 4-H program and office clerical work. Must enjoy working with youth, and have strong organizational and computer skills. Knowledge of ISU Extension and 4-H helpful.

Applications accepted until April 1st. Application and job description can be obtained from the Winnebago County Extension and Outreach, 183 1st Ave E., Thompson, IA 50438, phone
641-584-2261, online at www.extension.iastate.edu/winnebago or email (merrifie@iastate.edu).

We are an AA/EEO Employer

Registration closes March 31!

Mushroom certifications to be offered in April and May

AMES, Iowa - Upcoming in-person classes through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will teach those hoping to sell wild-harvested mushrooms in the state to distinguish safe mushrooms from potentially poisonous lookalikes.

In order to legally sell wild harvested mushrooms in the state, mushroom harvesters must complete a certification workshop every three years. Registration is open to out-of-state individuals wishing to harvest or sell in the state, but participants from out of state should keep in mind that additional local restrictions may be required to sell in their home state. Those who obtained a Morel Certification in 2019 can renew their certification during this time as well.

The classes, taught by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Plant Pathology Diagnostician Lina Rodriguez Salamanca and Leonor Leandro, who teaches mycology at Iowa State, will cover eight common mushrooms (15 species). Several new species have been introduced for the 2022 session, including Chicken of the Woods, Hen of the Woods, Chanterelles, Lion’s Mane, Pheasant Back and Black Trumpet.

This is the first year in which various new mushrooms are included. People interested in morels only and certified in the past have the option to recertify online. No first-time certification is offered online.

“We have many more resources for mushroom enthusiasts at the safe mushroom foraging page. When harvesting wild edibles, proper identification and handling knowledge, as well as sensitivity and toxicity awareness, are equally important,” explained Rodriguez Salamanca.

To Obtain a Wild Mushroom Certification:

Registration is $60 and will close March 31. Participants should attend one of the following workshops:

• April 9, 2-5 p.m., in person, at Iowa State campus (room 1302, building ATRB). Register at https://go.iastate.edu/DHGC7N
• May 7, 2-5 p.m., in person at Iowa State campus (room 1302, building ATRB). Register at https://go.iastate.edu/DHGC7N

To Renew a Morel Mushroom ONLY Certification:

Those certified in 2019 are eligible to recertify and should check if they received the recertification link at the email provided during registration in 2019. Certification number is required at webinar login.

Registration is $40 and will close March 31. Classes require a minimum of 10 participants and will otherwise not be held. Participants should attend one of the following virtual workshops:

• April 14, 6-8 p.m. via Webex, mandatory pretest April 13, 6-6:30 p.m.
• April 15, 3-5 p.m. via Webex, mandatory pretest April 14, noon-12:30 pm.

Those hoping to renew a Morel only certification before 2019 can email pidc@iastate.edu with a photo of the certificate attached, including a readable name and certificate number.

‘Money Smart: When Money Is Short’ Statewide Series Begins April 4

March 18, 2022, 8:38 am | Carol Ehlers, Barb Wollan, Jeannette Mukayisire

AMES, Iowa – Over half of Iowans report feeling anxious when thinking about their personal finances and just under half report feeling stressed when discussing their finances. The anxiety and stress of some Iowans is greater, particularly those who find themselves unemployed or with reduced household income.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a free virtual series, “Money Smart: When Money Is Short – Prioritizing Bills, Protecting Credit and Managing Debt,” on Mondays, April 4, 11 and 18, from noon to 1 p.m. or 6-7 p.m. Participation in the three-part series is free and open to the public.

“The virtual series provides tools to help manage money effectively, make better financial decisions and live according to your priorities,” said Carol Ehlers, a human sciences specialist in financial health and wellbeing with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Participants will improve their financial wellbeing by developing an emergency spending plan, creating a prioritized bill paying strategy based on future consequences, developing skills to improve their own credit and learning strategies to manage debt.

The topics – prioritizing bills, protecting credit and managing debt – are presented in one-hour online Zoom sessions.

Individuals may choose to register for either the noon series or the 6 p.m. series; the sessions will cover the same content. Human sciences specialists in financial health and wellbeing with ISU Extension and Outreach will lead the program using research-based strategies to decide which bills and monthly expenses to pay first, how to protect one’s credit record, and strategies to manage debt even when money is short.

The three-part series is free but pre-registration is required online by Friday, April 1. Register for the noon to 1 p.m. series at https://go.iastate.edu/BDFB5U or the 6-7 p.m. series at https://go.iastate.edu/W2U1NZ.

Individuals who register will receive an email confirmation with the Zoom link and class information.

Questions can be directed to Carol Ehlers at 712-732-5056 or xehlers@iastate.edu.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program will be hosting live-streamed Private and Commercial Continuing Instruction Courses (P-CIC & C-CIC) online training this spring as an additional opportunity for private and commercial pesticide applicators to be trained. Attendees will need a computer and a good internet connection to participate in the programs. Applicators can register by going to the Extension Store (https://store.extension.iastate.edu) and searching for “Live Streamed”.

Here is the schedule for the statewide CIC reshow dates and times:

Private Continuing Instruction Courses

• February 28, 1-3:30 p.m.

• April 5, 6-8:30 p.m.

Commercial Continuing Instruction Courses

• Commercial Ag Weed, Insect, and Plant Disease Management (CCA CEU’s Available), Categories 1A, 1B, and 1C

o February 28, 9-11:30 a.m.

o March 10, 1-3:30 p.m.

o March 29, 9-11:30 a.m.

• Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators, Categories 3O, 3T, and 3OT

o March 10, 9-11:30 a.m.

o March 29, 1-3:30 p.m.

o April 5, 1-3:30 p.m.

Contacts:

Kathleen Wilson, Pesticide Safety Education Program, 515-294-1122, kmwilson@iastate.edu

Related website:

www.extension.iastate.edu/PSEP

https://store.extension.iastate.edu/

Money Smart Week Offers ‘Spend Smart. Eat Smart.’ to Help Consumers with Their Food Budget

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach program will be featured during April 11 livestream event

AMES, Iowa – Iowans can learn how to “Spend Smart. Eat Smart.” during the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s 20th annual Money Smart Week, April 9-16. “Spend Smart. Eat Smart.” is a nutrition education resource from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and will be featured during a Facebook Live event on April 11.

Money Smart Week is a 100% virtual event, and each day features a 30-minute livestreaming presentation via Facebook Live with select resources on various financial topics. The week-long initiative aims to help people, especially those hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, better manage their personal finances through the coordinated efforts of experts and educators across the country. Diverse financial issues such as credit, buying or refinancing a home, and understanding Social Security benefits will be featured each day.

On Monday, April 11, 1-1:30 p.m. CDT, Money Smart Week will host “Spend Smart. Eat Smart.” featuring Suzanne Bartholomae and Christine Hradek with ISU Extension and Outreach. The presentation focuses on budgeting for food and highlights the tools and resources of the “Spend Smart. Eat Smart.” website and app.

“With inflation at an all-time high, families and households are starting to feel the pinch. The presentation reviews some recommended guidelines for spending on groceries along with some strategies to start and stick with a food budget,” said Bartholomae, an assistant professor and state extension specialist in financial health and wellbeing.

ISU Extension and Outreach encourages Iowans to check out the weeklong event that features free workshops, tools and resources to help them with their personal finances.

“We hope Iowans take advantage of these events that are free and open to the public. We’re especially excited about bringing ‘Spend Smart. Eat Smart.’ user-friendly tools to consumers. The website, app and other tools will help viewers make informed decisions on grocery purchases and take charge of their food budget with planning strategies that make sense for their household,” said Hradek, coordinator for SNAP-Ed and EFNEP.

Iowans who want help with food budgets or other financial concerns are invited to contact an extension financial educator by telephone or email. During confidential, individual conversations, educators can help walk through ideas and options to create or revise a budget, set priorities for bill payment, connect with community resources to stretch incomes and other personal financial issues — free of charge.

Human sciences specialists in financial health and wellbeing can share trusted web-based resources, tools and worksheets used or developed by ISU Extension and Outreach. For contact information, see the list of specialists. You also can leave a phone message at ISU Extension and Outreach’s toll-free Iowa Concern hotline (800-447-1985) to have someone get back to you. For more information, visit the Managing Personal Finances in Tough Times webpage. Visit Spend Smart. Eat Smart. to access information and tools to make eating well on a budget easier to do.

Money Smart Week was created by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in 2002. It is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is among several partnering organizations that participate. For more information, please visit the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, https://www.moneysmartweek.org/

If you’re struggling with Parkinson’s disease or know someone who is, it’s helpful to know where to find support on the journey. Learn about the causes and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and how treatments work, as well as therapeutic activities to do at home.

Intended audience: Adults of any age

Format: Three 1-hour workshops

Contact Info:

Sara Sprouse

sprouse@iastate.edu

(319) 293-3039

Primary Instructor:

Cindy Thompson

cpthom08@iastate.edu

(319) 334-8013

Sessions:

1. Tuesday, 04/12/2022 1:00 PM
2. Tuesday, 04/19/2022 1:00 PM
3. Tuesday, 04/26/2022 1:00 PM

Register Online

More information about event

Last Chance Private Pesticide Continuing Instruction Course

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program will be offering a “Last Chance” Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for private pesticide applicators on April 13, 14 and 15, 2022, at county extension offices throughout the state. The course will fulfill 2021 recertification requirements for private pesticide applicators.

A list of the county offices offering this course can be found on the Pesticide Safety Education Program website (www.extension.iastate.edu/PSEP/). The course will run for approximately two and a half hours. The registration fee is $20. To register or to obtain additional information about the course, contact the Extension office where you would like to attend.

The course will fulfill 2021-2022 recertification requirements for private pesticide applicators. Topics to be covered include:

· Review of pesticide labels, especially recent changes in pesticides

· Review of pesticide labels as restricted entry intervals and preharvest intervals impacted pesticide use decisions this year

· Review of pesticide use and the environment

· Updates on pests and pest management in your area, including insects, weeds and diseases.

Contact:

Carol Pilcher, Pesticide Safety Education Program, ISU Department of Entomology, 515-294-1122, cpilcher@iastate.edu

Kathleen Wilson, Pesticide Safety Education Program, ISU Department of Entomology; 515-294-1122, kmwilson@iastate.edu

4-H Families/FFA Exhibitors,

This year’s Winnebago County Sheep Weigh In will look different! Due to staff shortage, we will not be holding a weigh in on site. You have two options to weigh in.

They are:

Worth County Sheep Weigh in: April 16th from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Kossuth County Sheep Weigh in May 7th from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Please let the Winnebago County Extension Office know prior to the above weigh ins which one you will be attending and if you will need retina scanned. You will also need to come to the office to get Winnebago County tags.

For specific questions about the weigh in sites or process, please call the Worth County Extension Office at 641-324-1531 or the Kossuth County Extension Office at 515-295-2469.