County Engagement – Kathy, Jody & Kathleen In November and December 2018, we received 124 phone calls, which included over 8 information calls for county government. We had 32 visitors. In November our Facebook page reached 1763 people through 8 posts supported by 108 post engagements, and in December 2957 people through 13 posts supported by 167 post engagements with popular posts included: Beginning Farmer informational meeting & Administrative Assistant position job announcements. Over 1,355 pieces of educational material were handed out, mailed or delivered to literature racks and passed out at workshops. Other services included processing 13 soil tests.

The office was closed to the public Thurs, Nov 15th due to weather; Nov 22 & 23 for the Thanksgiving Holiday; Fri, Dec 7 to attend a regional training; and Dec 24, 2018 – Jan 1, 2019 for Christmas, New Years and MU Winter Break. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

County Engagement & Community Economic Development – Mistti Ritter The County Engagement Specialist in Community Economic Development (CES CED) position began Nov 1, 2018.

In Nov & Dec I attended on campus general MU Extension employee orientation and also a training on supervising

employees. I participated, along with county office staff, trainings on maintaining the county website, Quickbook

accounting systems, extension council election balloting procedures; purchasing; and general procedures of the

county extension offices. And, I oversaw an extension transfer of information with Kathy Maddox related to her

duties and services to the office related to elections, events, stakeholder communication and council support.

In Nov and Dec, I attended the Jeff Co. Extension Council Meeting and Holiday Dinner.

On Nov 2, I assist Melissa Scheer to host the Jeff Co. 4-H Awards Banquet at Jefferson College

On Fri, Dec 7th, the office was closed as all staff and specialists along with several Extension Council

members attended a cultural awareness-themed workshop at the St. Louis County office.

In Nov, Debi Kelly & I met with Jeff Co. Emergency Management.

In December, I began assisting MU Extension Health in submitting a grant to Jefferson County Foundation

to support a Missouri ECHO Asthma Education program and new extension health educator for Jefferson

County and working out of the Hillsboro office. This continues the work previously done by Debi Kelly as

CD and Melissa Scheer as the MU Extension Jefferson Foundation Liaison.

I will be attending several MU Extension Community Economic Development-related conferences and training

in late January and late March to begin training up on these responsibilities and opportunities for our county.

My immediate goals for the position begin with continuing to explore the community conversation held in

February 2017 to better understand our county’s needs, and find ways to support the Social Entrepreneur

strategies to support Extension Council activities as introduced to the regional workshop in Oct 2018.

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County

Engagement

Food & Nutrition

Program

4-H Youth

Development Community Economic

Development Horticulture/

Local Foods

JEFFERSON COUNTY MONTHLY REPORT: Nov & Dec 2018

A guide to your local University Extension involvement and connections in providing information and problem solving to county residents

Horticulture/Local Food – Debi Kelly

November

Agriculture

Attended a Beginning Farmer Conference in Boulder CO. Lessons learned at the conference will assist in

the Beginning Farmer Grant for this area.

Participated in the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors meeting.

Attended the St. Louis AgriBusiness Club luncheon where the

presentation was "Farmers of Tomorrow", a study by Osborn Barr

of St. Louis.

Interviewed with radio station KTJJ in Farmington about

beginning farmers and the need to replace the aging farmers of

today.

Held the “Kick-Off Meeting” for the Beginning Farmer Grant with 28 beginning farmers in attendance. The

meeting allowed the team members insight into the topics of interest these individuals wanted to learn.

Horticulture

As a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Team, participated in a zoom meeting for the USDA Midwest

Crop Growers Project, a four state grant looking at the effects of climate change on specialty crop producers.

Presented at the Jefferson County Master Gardener Bimonthly Meeting.

Participated in the Great Plains Growers Conference Planning Committee to continue the finalization of the

conference that will be held in January in St. Joseph, MO. This is a four state conference for specialty crop

producers.

As the Principal Investigator for the new awarded Specialty Crop Block Grant entitled “Fostering the

Specialty Crop Industry”, the advisory team met with the consultant for the grant in Columbia. The grant

hopes to discover needs to strengthen specialty crop producers across the state.

Community Development

Met in Columbia with the Metro Food Team to continue work on local food systems in the metro areas of the

state.

Participated in the Metro Food Team subcommittee planning for the local food system conference to be held

in February 21, 2019.

Attended the zoom meeting to learn about a new program to be piloted across the state - Mississippi Youth

Preparedness Initiative (MyPI).

Other

Attended the Extension Council meeting.

Participated in the Urban East Region Staff Meeting at the St. Louis office.

Along with Melissa Scheer, continued with the transition and training of the County Program Director to

Mistti Ritter.

December

Agriculture

Met with the Extension Council’s Ag Committee along with board members from the Jefferson County Soil

and Water Conservation District to continue planning the 95th Annual Soils and Crops Conference to be held

March 16, 2019.

Participated in the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors meeting.

Continued with the updating of the Grow Your Farm course.

Attended the USDA – NIFA Small Business Innovation Research Grant webinar as the grant panel manager.

- continued

Horticulture

Spent a day mentoring the new horticulture specialist for both St. Louis and St. Charles counties, Justin

Keay.

As a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Team, participated in a zoom meeting for the USDA Midwest

Crop Growers Project.

Participated in the Great Plains Growers Conference Planning Committee to put the final touches on the

conference to be held in January in St. Joseph MO

Continued working with the consultant on the Specialty Crop Block Grant.

Met and assisted a specialty crop producer in preparation for a meeting with AgrAbility and the Resource

Services for the Blind. And on a second day met with all three as a horticulture advisor to the specialty crop

business plan.

Community Development

Attended the Metro Food Team zoom meeting to continue work on local food systems in the metro areas of

the state.

Participated in the Metro Food Team subcommittee planning for the local food system conference.

Other

Attended the Extension Council Holiday dinner.

Participated in the Urban East Region Staff Meeting at the St. Louis office.

Attended a zoom meeting with Mistti Ritter and the Asthma Readiness Team from campus to discuss

submitting a grant to the Jefferson Foundation. Mistti will take leadership with this project as it moves

forward.

Attended the Navigating Difference – Work More Effectively across Cultural Difference Workshop at the

Kirkwood Extension office.

Along with Melissa Scheer, continued with the transition and training of the County Program Director to

Mistti Ritter. Back to the top

Congratulations to Kathy Maddox, Graphical &

Technical Administrative Associate, for her 21

years of devoted service to Jefferson County

Extension and the citizens of Jefferson County. Kathy was always happy to help anyone who called or

walked through the door. She did it with a smile on her

face and joy in her heart. She was a true asset to the

office and MU Extension. She will be missed. Kathy’s

last day in the office was Friday, December 21, 2018

and officially retired Jan 1, 2019.

Kathy is shown with a Proclamation on behalf of the

Jefferson County Council as presented to her by past

Jefferson County Program Director Dean Wilson at the

December Council Holiday Dinner.

4-H Youth Development – Melissa Scheer

Since the last report and In November and December, Melissa did the following: 4-H Banquet was November 2! Wow! I still can’t believe I woke up the morning of the Banquet sick, sick, sick! It was amazing

great work from Mistti Ritter, Kathleen Firle and a host of others that were able to take the script, piles of awards and lists of recipients and have a successful event. I was so sorry to miss it! I heard from lots of folks that it went great! Please see the newsletter for details and photos.

Thank you to Jim Terry and Mike Minicky who represented the Extension Council and County Council at the 4-H Banquet.

I advised the Pro-Farmer 4-H Club Nov 5 at their monthly meeting. Jessica Jakerty is now the club leader!

I advised the Rockwood Rangers 4-H Club on Nov 9 at their monthly meeting. They elected officers, continued enrolling for the new year and planned their club activities for the year.

I worked on the new Healthy Habits 4-H Program, funded by a grant from Wal-Mart. Teens ages 12-18 will be teachers of health and nutrition programs to younger youth. We had planning meetings on 11/8 & 12/13 (via Zoom) and 11/20 in St. Louis.

I am on the state-wide 4-H CVent Enrollment system planning committee. We meet on 11/12. I worked to gather data about our region’s 4-H events for administration. At this point, 4-H staff are still making decisions about how the new system will be used. At this time, I do now know of county 4-H events that will use CVent.

Met with staff and youth at Bridges Alternative school for Youth Futures: College within Reach (11/14, 11/19, 11/27). Youth took worked on elevator speeches, goal setting and continued discussing their plans for life after high school. Cornita Robinson meets with youth. I also had our CYFAR Grant Coach Visit Sunday 11/18 in St. Louis, regular staff meeting (12/6)

Kathleen and I completed the Winter 4-H Newsletter and mailed and emailed it to families on 12/4. Kathleen did a great job for her first 4-H newsletter.

I visited West St Francois County Middle school for an Afterschool Program Quality Assessment (12/5).

Supported youth and managed risk at the Hillsboro’s Chamber of Commerce Parade Saturday 12/8. Youth, volunteers and their well-dressed animals represented 4-H and walked in the parade handing out candy. We again won the best dressed animal contest. (continued)

Kathleen helped me to update the registration materials for 2019 Embryology Hatching Chicks in the Classroom program. I emailed information and materials to the list on 12/10. Jody Ferguson is processing payments and invoices and Kathleen is helping with registrations.

I traveled to Washington DC (12/10-12) to the National 4-H Conference Center to co-chair the Homeless Youth Subcommittee of the 4-H Program Leaders Working Group Access, Equity and Belonging Committee. The group accomplished a lot of work and is working on a journal article that will help youth development professionals know more about working with youth and families who are homeless.

As a facilitator for 4-H 101, the Missouri new staff 4-H training, I met with the team in Columbia (12/17) to plan the training in that will take place in Feb 2019.

I visited Fox 4-H Club (12/14), I led an activity about Career interests and we talked about projects.

Staff meetings I participated in included: Regional Staff meeting (11/20, 11/18), 4-H staffing plan meeting (11/20 in St. Louis) & 4-H Category Meeting (12/18), Youth Experiencing Homelessness Meeting (via Zoom) 11/21, ESP Professional Association meetings (11/26 via Zoom, 12/17 in Columbia).

Our office was closed for a snow day 11/15 and the 4-H Council Meeting was canceled. I took vacation 11/5-6, 11/8-9, 12/21, 12/24 and sick 11/2. We all were on winter break leave 12/26-28 & 12/31.

Co-County Program Director work includes:

Work with Jody Ferguson to get Mistti up to speed with QuickBooks and office finances. Worked on end-of year budget vs actual and spending plans. I am delighted that Mistti is able to catch up so quickly. She is a wonderful asset to Jefferson County. She and I also completed reviews with support staff (12/19-20). I’ll continue to support Mistti in terms of office policies and fiscal procedures till she is ready.

Our MU Extension support staff jobs were finally approved and posted. The positions will close for applications on 1/3/2019.

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FNEP Program – Gidget Mudd & Darla Wood

FNEP Monthly Program Report

Notes for FNEP team, CPDs, council members: First Saturday of the month May through October, Kids Korner and Healthy Change Workshops at De Soto Farmers Market. Finished up all of the programming at Crystal City Elementary and Crystal City Library.

Gidget Mudd Nov. 2018/Dec. 2018

Site Name List curricula name (acronym) or SNAP Outreach Youth Grade Level(s) (if not adult audience)

Pevely Elementary Show Me Nutrition Kindergarten

Athena Elementary Show Me Nutrition Kindergarten

Sunrise Elementary Show Me Nutrition 6th/7th and 8th Grade

DeSoto Library Kids In The Kitchen Homeschool Group

A Safe Place Eating Smart, Being Active1 Adult

Vineland Elementary Fun With Food and Fitness 1st Grade

Vineland Elementary Food Group Express 2nd Grade

Darla Wood - November 2018

Site Name County Jefferson

List curricula name (acronym) or SNAP Outreach

Youth Grade Level(s)

DeSoto Public Library Jefferson Kids in the Kitchen Youth

A Safe Place Jefferson Eating Smart and Being Active Adult

High Ridge Elementary Jefferson Food Group Express 2nd

High Ridge Elementary Jefferson Building My Body 3rd

House Springs Elementary Jefferson Choosing the Food Groups 4th

Hillsboro Primary Jefferson Adventures in Nutrition K

Darla Wood - December 2018

Site Name County Jefferson

List curricula name (acronym) or SNAP Outreach

Youth Grade Level(s)

The Safe Place Jefferson ESBA Adult

DeSoto Public Library Jefferson KIK Youth

Murphy Elementary Jefferson Choosing Foods for Me Youth 4th

House Springs Elementary Jefferson Choosing Foods for Me Youth 4th

High Ridge Elementary Jefferson Choosing the Food Groups Youth 3rd Back to the top

If you have any questions regarding programs and functions, please feel free to ask the staff