In this report...

I am pleased to bring you this report of University of Illinois Extension educational activities in Coles County. As the University's outreach to the local people, Extension provides non-biased, research-based information in four program areas. We enable Coles County citizens to develop new skills, solve community problems and improve the quality of their lives.

We reach out to others through:
· Three weekly news columns, news releases and radio announcements, and monthly newsletters mailed to 325 households
· Workshops, seminars, printed information and websites
· Networks established with local agencies and groups within the county
· 110 dedicated volunteers who multiply the efforts of University of Illinois Extension in Coles County

We make a positive difference in people's lives by helping them put knowledge to work.

It is my hope this report will give you insight into how University of Illinois Extension works in Coles County. Please feel free to visit our office and learn more about Extension in Coles County.

Respectfully,

Sharon L. Kuhns

Extension Unit Leader
Coles County

· 52 individuals were trained to use pesticides with minimal environmental impact at the Pesticide Safety Education Program and 100% successfully passed their certification exam.

· Master Gardeners taught two sessions of a week-long summer day camp for youth ages 8-12. Coordinated with Lake Land Summer College for Kids, the 26 participants learned about balances and interactions in the environment by studying the food chain and making compost with a critter condo.

· An intensive soil fertility workshop provided 24 producers and agri-businessmen with knowledge to increase their soil fertility management skills. They learned about the direct economic and environmental impacts as well as the yield determinants of soil fertility.

· 31 individuals attended a winter horse seminar where they learned about Illinois rules and regulations for horse facility construction, pasture management and keeping a horse in good body condition. Sessions were taught by U of I Extension specialists, educators and a local veterinarian.

· 116 Coles County residents received individual phone consultations by Extension Master Gardeners who provided them with appropriate horticulture information for their homes, gardens or landscapes. 15 public presentations were also taught by Master Gardeners. Audience members learned about pruning shrubs and trees, transplanting and dividing perennials, establishing container gardens, decorating with houseplants and more.

· A multi-county workshop for Women in Agriculture had 57 attendees. Participants from east central Illinois learned how to apply for and get a credit rating, food safety standards, landscaping pointers and that humor is healthy. 64% of the attendees rated the workshop as excellent.

· The Plant-a-Row for the Hungry plot was planted, maintained and harvested by the Extension Master Gardeners. 2200 pounds of produce were donated to local food distribution sites. The clientele at the distribution sites received guidelines on storing and using the vegetables from the Family Nutrition Program (FNP) coordinator.

Developing leadership and growth potential
· 18 township officials in Coles County received training about risk management. Those attending stated they will
now consider the risk when they make township decisions.

· City employees were offered information on recognizing and diagnosing insect pests and West Nile Virus. 5 participated in the workshop and used the information in managing area parks and outdoor centers.

· 960 second and third graders receive Illinois Kids for the Earth (IKE) newsletter with details about protecting the environment and ideas for recycling at home and at school. This newsletter is a cooperative venture between the Regional Planning & Development Commission and U of I Extension in Coles County.

· A seminar for Working Women was co-sponsored with the Oakland Historical Foundation. 14 participants learned about reducing stress, organizing their work and home documents, and setting personal priorities and goals.

· Information about updates and workshops for small business owners, tax preparers, greenhouse workers and small acreage owners was provided by direct mail.

Learning healthier lifestyles/strengthening families

· Healthy Moves for Healthy Children, a workshop co-sponsored by Child Care Resource and Referral, taught 24 home and center child care providers the importance of including healthy snacks and physical activity in the daily curriculum.
· 45 participants attended Dining with Diabetes, a 3-session workshop for diabetics and their family members. After four months, 85% reported they had changed one or more of their eating habits and are more aware of the relationship between diabetes and other chronic diseases since attending the workshop.
· A summer day camp taught 15 different youth the importance of healthy snacking and included hands-on preparation of snacks. The camp, taught by the Extension FNP coordinator, was held in cooperation with the local Teen Reach program.
· 4 individuals received research-based information via Extension's teleconference system, to make informed decisions about long-term health care options.
· Newsletters for new parents, pre-school parents, and parents of elementary school students reached 1950 families. Distributed through child care centers, schools and area agencies, the newsletters assisted parents by providing timely information about their baby's development, ideas for nutritious snacks and appropriate portion sizes, and scheduling family time.
· 7 Educable Mentally Handicapped (EMH) middle school students acquired skills to measure liquid and dry ingredients during an 8-session program. They learned the importance of accurate measuring, while preparing healthy snacks for their classmates.
· More than 120 participants learned about diabetes, coping strategies, and nutrition concerns from health care professionals and extension educators at Diabetes Education Day, held in collaboration with the Coles County Public Health Department. 75% rated the program Excellent and 100% stated the program should be offered again.
· More than 1400 issues of Obesity-A National Epidemic (a publication of University of Illinois Extension) have been distributed throughout the county by networking with the Healthy Child Task Force and the ReShaping Coles Coalition.
· 110 EIU students in the Family and Consumer Science Department learned about nutrition, family life and economics programs available through U of I Extension and were encouraged to network with Extension in future career paths.
· 1050 newsletters with information on food safety, purchasing and basic nutrition were distributed monthly through 15 different agencies. Food pantry clients learned to use commodity products to stretch their food dollars and to utilize the food pyramid as a guide to increase dairy, fruit and vegetable consumption.

Acquiring life skills
· 8 4-H clubs, 1 middle school EMH classroom, and 1 alternative education program participated in Walk In My Shoes, a 4-H project that teaches young people about growing older and the physical and sensory changes that occur with age. Participants learned to understand older people better by sharing their experiences. The "hands-on" activities enabled youth to distinguish between the realities of aging and the stereotypes or myths that exist about older adults.

· 7 teen youth leaders, elected to the 4-H Action Board, developed the county 4-H program. They gained leadership skills by adopting a budget, planning fundraisers, and organizing community service projects.

· Preparing Today for Tomorrow's Job helped youth prepare themselves for employment. Topics included: appropriate dress (including where to find affordable clothing i.e. resale shops, clearance racks, etc.), hygiene, application completion, interview preparation, and interviewing tips. Mock interviews, where the students practiced what they learned, were the culmination for the 15 alternative education students.

· 280 4-H members and their families worked together for a successful pork chop dinner as a county 4-H fundraiser. They cooked 6500 pork chops, baked 144 dozen brownies and served 2,790 meals. As a result, partial scholarships were given for 44 4-Hers to attend camp, leadership conference, space camp, junior leadership convention, and National 4-H Congress.

· 31 pints of blood were collected at the 4-H Blood Drive. 4-H members and families gave the 'gift of life' and took pledges from donors to make this a successful community service project.

· 226 fourth graders from Charleston and Oakland participated in Operation Safe Kids, a six-session University of Illinois program. Hands-on lessons taught by staff from various agencies helped the children learn skills to care for themselves in a safe and confident manner when home alone.

· 586 Coles County students participated in the 4-H Butterfly Program, where they learned about the development of a butterfly from larvae to maturity. Third graders in 3 public and 2 parochial schools, as well as developmentally disabled classrooms and an alternative school participated.

· Find Out About 4-H served as an orientation program for new 4-H families. Youth participated in hands-on activities from current 4-H projects and parents were presented an overall picture of the 4-H program structure and the cycle of the 4-H year. Families gained a better understanding of the 4-H program at the club, county and regional level.

The Coles County Extension Council participates in dentifying local needs, providing guidance in program planning and evaluating our programs. The council volunteers during 2003-04 were:

Sara Ames
Lyndsay Fairley
Michael Gass
Martin Goatley
Donna Hale
Larry Hanner
Ruth Hawkins
Brenda Jones
Mike Litteken
Sarah Ramage
Cathy Richards
Ron Sanderson
Becky Schwartz
Vince Welsh

Sharon Kuhns, Unit Leader
Dana Homann, Youth Development Educator
Linda Foster, 4-H Community Worker
Mary Kay Spannagel, Family Nutrition Program
Nancy Breningmeyer, Secretary

University of Illinois Extension in Coles County receives funding from county, state and federal program dollars along with support from local organizations, businesses and individuals.

Contact us at:

University of Illinois Extension
Coles County
707 Windsor Rd., Suite A
Charleston, IL 61920
Phone: 217-345-7034
FAX: 217-348-7940
e-mail: coles_co@extension.uiuc.edu

Office Hours:

Monday- Friday
8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

University of Illinois* U.S. Department of Agriculture *Local Extension Councils Cooperating.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment