Mike, Shelly Wimer Inducted Into 4-H Hall of Fame

On August 18th, Mike and 1984 Worth County grad Shelly Wimer were inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame for Ringgold County at the Iowa State Fair recently.

They were recognized for serving Ringgold County 4-H for over two decades. They began when their children joined 4-H, and they became leaders of the Junior Farmers 4-H Club, which they led for eight years. During their time as leaders, they improved the Ringgold County Fairgrounds.

After their children aged out of 4-H, Mike joined the Ringgold County Fair Board, where he continues to serve. They dedicate countless hours before and during the fair to ensure everything runs smoothly.

 

Hundley Whaley Field Day September 3rd

The 48th annual Hundley-Whaley Annual Farm, Field, and Family Day will be held September 3rd in Albany.

Registration will start at 4 pm. There will be wagon tours at 5 pm and 6 pm, followed by a free dinner at 7 pm. Awards will be presented afterwards.

There will also be a health and resource fair that evening. Northwest Health Services, Preferred Family Healthcare, and Mosaic Medical Center of Albany will be there. The Health Care Simulator Van will be there to show people lifesaving techniques. There will be exhibits from 4-H, fresh from the farm tastings, and more.

 

$11 Million for Food Stamp Education Axed; Worth County Extension to Get Own Youth Program Associate

Jennifer Osborn of University Extension told the Worth County Commission as well as Monday’s Extension meeting that $11 million worth of Food Stamp Education funding (SNAP) for the state was eliminated in the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” recently signed by President Donald Trump. That means that plenty of specialist positions will be eliminated. University Extension will be able to keep the curriculum that they developed over the years; they will have to find another way to deliver it.

In better news for the area, Worth County will have its own Youth Program Associate. Funding for that position will come from the state, the Extension Council, and the Worth County Progress Organization. There are two applicants for the position, and the next step will be interviews.

The hope is that a Youth Program Associate will be able to revitalize 4-H around the county; in past years, there have been 40-50 kids involved in the county. But travel sports, school athletics becoming a year-round program just to stay competitive, and pressure on kids to work has hurt 4-H participation. The goal now for the state is for every county to have its own YPA.

The new Strategic Plan for Worth County has been put together; the next goal will be to identify and work with existing resources.

At Monday evening’s Extension meeting, Kyle Dignan reported that the Livestock Show that was held with Gentry County this year was a success. There were more participants involved, and chickens and rabbits were shown for the first time. The tentative plan is to have it at the same time next year.

Gwen Funk reported on All-America Selections, which researches and tests the best garden items that people can grow. They are one of the oldest such organizations, having started in 1932. They have 200 places around the US, including nine in Missouri, including at the Hundley-Whaley Farm in Albany.

There are many vegetables that have stood the test of time, such as the Imperator Carrot, which was given an award by the organization in 1933. But they are constantly looking to develop new food plants and flowers which will thrive today.

Many of the new items they selected include varieties such as the Black Forest Ridge Dahlia, which can handle both drought and flooding. Hundley-Whaley has experienced both this year. Despite that, nearly all of theirs germinated.

Among other vegetables and flowers Ms. Funk highlighted that got awards were the Konstance Kohlrabi, a purple kohlrabi, the Purple Magic Broccoli, which is purple as its name implies, the Captain Magnifica Dianthus Carnation, the Dekka Maxx Pink Petunia, the Bauer Lettuce, which can grow in almost any setting, the Yellow Red Heart Snapdragon, and the 1984 Tomato Celebrity, which has stood the test of time for 40 years.

A new regional mental health task force was formed a few years ago by Judge Robert Rice, and there is a lot of interest in improving peoples’ mental health in the area. Research has shown a lot of mental health benefits from gardening, including stress and anxiety reduction, mood enhancement, mindfulness, focus, improved attention span, especially for people with ADHD, memory retention, self-esteem, connection, belonging, exercise benefits, improved Vitamin D exposure from being in the sunlight, and improved sleep cycles.

 

 

Allendale Arrows Receive Grant from FCS

On Monday, FCS Financial awarded grants to 113 FFA chapters and 4-H clubs around Missouri to do community improvement grants. The Allendale Arrows received a $500 grant to add flowers and mulch to the Allendale Park.

A new round of grants will be available for 2026 starting January 1st.

Grant projects awarded include landscaping, painting, building picnic tables, and improving community parks. FCS awarded more than $364,000 in grants through its Shaping Rural Missouri grant.

 

Missouri State Fair Set for August 13th to 23rd

The Missouri State Fair will not feature concerts at the grandstands this year, but the annual event will continue as it has since 1901. With many county fairs within the state and state fairs in surrounding states being canceled, many anticipated the same would occur in Missouri. The only time the state fair had ever been canceled was in 1943 and 1944 as a result of World War II. On Thursday, June 11, 2020, Governor Mike Parson surprised many when he publicly announced the Missouri State Fair will continue while acknowledging it will look different compared to previous years.

"The Missouri State Fair will not be canceled on my watch," said Governor Parson. "This will look different, but we will have a fair."

Shortly after the Governor's announcement, the Missouri State Fair issued a news release.

"Our hearts broke as we watched COVID-19 cancel fairs, festivals and expositions around the world. We know the countless hours our exhibitors and fair families have put into taking care of their livestock and 4-H and FFA projects. Our priority continues to be the promotion of excellence in Missouri agriculture and our future agriculture leaders," stated the release.

Missouri Cattlemen's Association Executive Vice President Mike Deering referred to the state fair as a youth leadership development event for young people in rural and urban areas alike.

"Many youth throughout the state exhibit livestock and other projects at the Missouri State Fair teaching them many valuable skills, including responsibility, work ethic and respect. We applaud the Governor, Missouri State Fair Commission, Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn and all involved for standing up for the youth and ensuring they have the opportunity to exhibit their projects," said Deering. "Beyond those who exhibit projects, many visitors to the state fair get a firsthand look at agriculture and learn a lot about how they are connected to agriculture even if they live in downtown St. Louis."

Mozingo Lake to Host Area 4-H Camp

A 4-H camp for the region will be held at Mozingo State Park from Wednesday, June 1st to Friday, June 3rd. It is being put on by Holt, Nodaway, Atchison, and Worth County 4-H clubs and is open to the rest of the region as well. The Missouri Department of Conservation will come one day to do lessons on fishing and fishing lines. There will also be arts and crafts, walking, and nature. There are five youth cabins there as well as a huge dining hall. There will be 40 kids from around the area attending including 8 from Worth County. They will be supervised by 8 adult counselors.

Sheridan Shamrocks Help Paint the Park

Sheridan Shamrocks met on Monday, April 4 at 4 p.m. at Sheridan Grocery and Café. Liz Lyle called the meeting to order. Megan Cassavaugh led the Pledges. No correspondence to share. Alysa Lyle provided the Secretary & Treasurer’s reports, both of which were approved. Karla Parman, YEA, reported on the Mozingo Camp, Crowder Camp, the Monsanto Grant, and the Clover Kid Day Camp. Nominations were taken for Citizen of the Year. Marybeth Taute & Juan Alarcon were voted Sheridan’s Citizens of the Year. They will be asked to ride the float in the parade and a certificate will be presented at a later date. A bake sale will be held during the city wide yard sales on May 21. A biscuits and gravy breakfast will be held on Saturday of Defiance Days. No new business to report. Meeting was adjourned at 4:18 p.m. Vicky Murphy and Karen Wray were present as representatives of Bags of Hope. Members assisted Vicky & Karen by filling bags with donated items to be taken to children that will be hospitalized. Marybeth Taute provided refreshments. Members present (other than listed above) were Rebecca Parman, Daniel Parman, Elias Alarcon, Matthew Petersen, Maddie Taute, Lindajoy Petersen, Levi Cassavaugh, Andrew Alarcon, and Allison Larison. Adults present (other than those listed above) included Ramona Parman and Miranda Lyle.

Sheridan Shamrocks gathered on Saturday, May 7 at 1:00 p.m. to paint in the Sheridan Park. Members helping included Alysa and Liz Lyle, Allison Larison, Elias & Andrew Alarcon, Matthew & Lindajoy Petersen, and Megan & Levi Cassavaugh. Adults supervising included Karla Parman, Miranda Lyle, Christie Petersen, and Julie Cassavaugh. Volunteers that helped paint included Emily Thomas and Mollie Blaine. Thanks to Snakebite (Andy & Kim Welch) for allowing us to use their scraper, ladder, and paint pans. Special thanks to Sheridan Grocery & Café (Marybeth Taute & Juan Alarcon) for the refreshing water. Paint and brushes were provided by the Sheridan CBC. Thanks to Barry Lyle for donating the water sealant for the merry-go-round, toddler play area, and the picnic tables. Shamrocks also wish to thank Paxson Welding & Tire (Tyler & Sharon Paxson) for use of their facilities.

Director of Ag Announces Grants for 4-H, FFA Youth Programs

Director of Agriculture, Dr. Jon Hagler announced the recipients of the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Building Our American Communities grant program. Twenty-seven Missouri 4-H clubs and 14 chapters of the National FFA Organization received grants for 2011.

Youth organizations throughout Missouri submitted proposals for their projects for consideration for the grants, which range from $100 to $500. The Building Our American Communities program has been supporting youth projects in Missouri since the 1970s.

"The Building Our American Communities program is an outstanding opportunity for young people to be involved in their hometowns and to truly make a difference in those communities," said Director Hagler. "Young people are the future of Missouri's agriculture industry and I am proud to see their initiative and commitment to service featured in each of these projects."

Grants were awarded to 4-H clubs in Gasconade, St. François, Pulaski, Vernon, Barton, Cole, Morgan, Nodaway, Livingston, Audrain and Pike counties and within the City of St. Louis. FFA chapters receiving grants included programs in Eugene, Russellville, Jefferson City, Stover, Farmington, Perryville, Liberal, Lamar, Ozark, Barnard, Tina, Chillicothe, Mexico and Bowling Green.

The grants were awarded to fund specific projects in each of the local areas. Projects selected for funding are expected to benefit rural communities and promote community development. 4-H clubs and FFA chapters awarded 2011 grants must complete their projects no later than Sept. 1, 2011.

Projects may include improvements to existing facilities, grounds or buildings that are used by various groups or organizations in the applicant's community. Previously funded projects have included landscape and beautification projects, safety improvements for local fairgrounds and small renovations on damaged and aged public use structures.

For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture or visit mda.mo.gov.

All NW Missouri 4-H Invited to Lock-In

All area 4-H'ers grades 6 and up are invited to attend a 4-H Lock - In on Friday, Feb 25 at the Chillicothe YMCA. The evening will begin at 11 pm Friday night and end at 6 am on Saturday morning. Youth will participate in games, activities, swimming, and much more!

Youth who are not currently members of 4-H, but wish to join may also attend. We will have sign up forms and information on 4-H in our Region and Livingston County.

Admission is $7 by Wednesday, February 23 ($12 after the February 23 or at the door). All youth must have a signed 4-H health form to attend. If you have any questions, contact the MU Extension office at 660/646-0811 or murphyse@missouri.edu.