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FOOD SUPLEMENT NUTRITION EDUCATION (FSNE)

Both FSNE and FCS faculty retired in 2017, so there was a lull in programming. The FSNE faculty position was filled in January 2018, and UME is planning to fill the FCS faculty position by June, 2018.

FSNE is a federally –funded program that provides nutrition education to low-income families of St. Mary’s County. The program’s aim is to help participants make healthy food choices, improve their shopping skills, and increase their physical activity. FNSE also provides nutrition education to professionals (teachers and child care providers) who work with low-income families, thus expanding the reach of the FSNE Program. Programs are provided in settings convenient to low-income learners throughout the community. Many printed materials are available in both English and Spanish.

In St. Mary’s County, the FSNE educator works with four Title I elementary schools and four Head Start centers, training teachers and bringing nutrition education programs to parents and youth alike at school-sponsored, Judy Center, and Head Start-sponsored events. Gardening for healthy eating is also a component of FSNE’s work; individual Title I schools work with the FSNE educator to maintain student-involved school gardens with resources and financial support provided by FSNE. In addition, monthly nutrition newsletters are sent home throughout the school year with every student in all four schools, approximately 2,400 families in 2017. In 2017, a total of 2,276 adult and youth participated in the FSNE education program.

UME ST. MARY’S STAFF:

Chris Seubert, Southern Area Extension Director

Christine Allred, Agent Associate, 4-H

Mary Antonelli, Agent Associate, MG Nicole Basenback, Extension Program Asst, WS Benjamin Beale, Senior Agent, AG Erin Carney, Agent, FCS

Barbara Dobbins, Program Mgmt Specialist, 4-H Jamie Fleming, Administrative Assistant II Kalyn Petrillo, Agent Associate, FSNE Melissa Russell, Administrative Assistant I

Greg Simpson, Coordinator, NM

Jackie Takacs, Senior Agent, Watershed Restoration Specialist

The University of Maryland Extension (UME) programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital

status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.

St. Mary’s County Annual Report 2017

University of Maryland Extension St. Mary’s County 26737 Radio Station Way, Suite E-2 Leonardtown, MD 20650 Phone: (301)-475-4484

EXENTIONSADVISORY COUNCIL (EAC)

The St. Mary’s EAC is a group of representatives from the county who contribute to the overall program development of the Extension Office in program areas. Members help in identifying problem areas and establish program priorities. Members also maintain adequate fiscal internal control procedures, assist with informing the public about Extension programs, and assist in building support for Extension Programs. We would like to thank our members for 2017: Wes Cory (President), Weylin Anderson (Vice President), George Baroniak, Delores Mag-nani, Lisa McCoy, Bubby Norris, Ann Richards, John Richards, Jerry Spence, and Mary Wood.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES (FCS) FCS programs are designed to promote healthy lifestyles among youth and adult community members to reduce their risk of food-borne ill-ness and chronic diseases and conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. In the past, FCS has trained many county residents about food safety, nutrition and wellness through several training pro-grams:

“Food Safety is for Everyone and Nutrition, Health and Wellness.” Agency staff, volunteers, youth, parents, and other adults who acquire food safety, nutrition, and physical activity knowledge and skills, enabling them to make healthier lifestyle choices for them-selves and those in their care.

“Growing Healthy Habits and ReFresh.” In-school youth receive nutrition education that aligns with and supports state curriculum.

“Let’s Move Child Care and I am Moving, I am Learning; and Youth Gardening/Growing Healthy Habits.” Teachers and child care pro-viders are trained to implement nutrition, food and gardening, and healthy lifestyle curricular activities in the classroom and afterschool.

“Market to Mealtime.” Demonstrations and presentations at Farmer’s Markets, along with the farm-to-school initiative reach shoppers and students and have the aim of increasing consump-tion of fruits and vegetables and supporting the local economy through agriculture education and outreach.

“School Wellness Leaders: Champions for Change.” Youth and adult residents are engaged through by community partnership efforts that address systems and environmental changes to influ-ence their eating and physical activity behaviors. Note: This is a statewide research and education initiative that UME-St. Mary’s and St. Mary’s County Public Schools have been participating in.

2017 FSNE Program Highlights: 200 participants for child care provider training in So. MD cluster. 50 adults participated in Food Safety and Preservation classes. 700 students were active in the Farm to School program.

AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES (AGNR)

St. Mary’s County is home to a variety of agricultural enterprises, including tobacco, row crops, vegetables, greenhouse and nursery crops, as well as hay and livestock. Agriculture has experienced a significant amount of recent change as farmers adopt enter-prises that allow them to remain profitable and sustain operations.

University of Maryland Extension strives to provide the practical tools and information that farmers need to adapt to such changes. Using non-biased, research-based information and the network of extension agents and specialists throughout the state, farmers and those seeking alternative crops have direct access to the latest technology, marketing, and production information.

2017 Program Highlights: Driving economic growth. Knowledge gains regarding cropping practices and advances in technology are key compo-

nents to increased profitability. Providing relevant information producers can use to improve their operations is a cor-nerstone of the UME Agricultural Program.

Increasing the number of successful beginning farmers in the region through participation in the Maryland Collaborative for Beginning Farmer Success. 200 farmers participated in the training.

Provide direct consultation to agricultural producers solving a diverse array of production and marketing issues. Each year, an average of 300 field consolations are conducted with growers and 500 fact sheets, bulletins, or written recom-mendations are distributed to agricultural producers.

Assist farmers transitioning to other enterprises including vegetable, cut flower and burley tobacco production, green-house and nursery operations, forage production, and grape production.

Conduct various workshops and conferences including the Southern Maryland Vegetable Conference, Southern Mary-land Crops Conference, Hay and Pasture Conference, Vegetable Production Twilight Tour, Beginning Greenhouse Pro-duction Workshop, and Grape Growers Workshop. 368 sessions reaching 2,669 participants were conducted.

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT The 4-H Youth Development Program enables youth to reach their fullest potential as responsible, caring citizens by increasing knowledge, life skills, engagement, and par-ticipation in community development. UME 4-H program staff work directly with adult and teen volunteers providing them the materials, training, guidance, and sup-port needed to facilitate the positive development of youth.

Each youth member enrolls annually in one or more 4-H projects. Most 4-H projects fall into one of four categories: animal science, environmental science, human sci-ence, or engineering and technology. The 4-H outreach programs provide school en-richment and target at-risk youth in after-school programs. The St. Mary’s program

also participates in the “Maryland 4-H Military Clubs” program through a chartered 4-H club and other activities at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, including leadership, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and fine arts. Primary areas of focus within the local 4-H program include volunteerism, youth leadership and character development, club and individual projects, nutrition and fitness awareness, agriculture, environmental awareness, public speaking, visual arts, and robotics. 4-H youth development programs foster the elements of belonging, independence, generosity, and mastery. Youth leadership development through club officer training and public speaking contests. 4-H after school programs explore leadership, healthy living, and agricultural connections. 4-H camping programs through a day camp experience. Workshops for fine arts discovery in photography, sewing, arts and crafts, and cooking/baking workshops. Workshops to provide youth hands-on learning opportunities in 4-H project areas such as animal science (e.g. horse,

livestock, poultry, dogs, etc.), STEM, archery, photography, public speaking, and leadership. Community service opportunities through club and group events.

2017 Program Highlights: Enrolled more than 700 children in short-term or special interest 4-H clubs and activities, including more than 700 in

agriculture and other STEM programs; Aided by 138 certified 4-H volunteers, and 5 new volunteers; 4-H members entered 1,338 County Fair exhibits; and recorded over 35,000 4-H volunteer hours.

AGRICULTURAL NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT (NM) The local NM program is coordinated by Greg Simpson, a Maryland Nutri-ent Management Advisor. The NM Advisor conducts farm visits, process-es soil, manure, and plant tissue tests and also provides technical support to any farm operator in the county who requests it. Upon gathering in-formation from a farm operation, the advisor provides recommendations for the efficient use of both chemical and organic nutrients. These rec-ommendations are provided to each producer in the form of a “Nutrient Management Plan.” The goal of this plan is to maximize crop yields while minimizing nutrient losses into the environment. Upon receiving a plan, farm operators have the information and tools required to remain in compliance with Maryland Nutrient Management regulations. Salary, training, mileage, and program expenses are funded through a grant from the Department of Agriculture.

During 2017, NM plans covering a total of 10,887 acres were completed, and they covered 329 tracts of land farmed within St. Mary’s County. Of these plans, a total of 40 were prepared for those operations partici-pating in the Maryland Cover Crop Program, and 15 were prepared for operations participating in the Maryland Transport Program. A total of 484 NM plans were developed.

The NM Advisor also assists Ben Beale, the County AG Extension Agent/Educator, in conducting various farm visits and nutrient-related seminars throughout the year.

MASTER GADENER (MG)

The MG program mission is to train and support volunteer horticultural educators who put their knowledge to work for the citizens of St. Mary’s County. In 2017, the MG program consisted of 66 active volunteers and six interns, who per-formed 2,564 hours of volunteer service. By organizing the “Ask a Master Gardener” plant clinics and attending public events, including the St. Mary County Fair, the Easter Egg Festival, Heritage Day at Colton’s Point, and River Fest. The MG answer questions and solve problems for gardeners throughout the county. A few of the many projects in 2017 included: Held 34 “Ask a Master Gardener” plant clin-

ics at local libraries and additional sessions at the Farmer’s Market.

Certified five properties as Bay Wise, which promotes landscape practices that help pro-tect our waterways.

Presented monthly horticultural demonstra-tions from July through November at the Home-Grown Farmer’s Market.

Taught gardening classes through the con-tinuing education program of the College of Southern Maryland.

Assisted in the maintenance of 19 garden entrance signs at county parks, as well as historic and native garden beds at historic sites throughout the county.

Assisted in the detection and prevention of devastating invasive pests.

WATERSHED PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PROGRAM (WPRP)

WPRP is administered through the University of Maryland Extension—Sea Grant Extension Program through the work of the regional faculty member and local program assistant. These individuals provide programing in water-shed management and restoration, watershed and environmental sciences education, and aquaculture within Southern Maryland. Specifically, they: Engaged with the local LUGM and NRCS offices in the two-year milestone

and WIP directives. Assisted the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association in planning and im-

plementing on-the-ground projects that resulted in quantifiable reduc-tion in non-point sources of pollution.

Supported the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association in the pursuit of funding opportunities for planning and implementation efforts.

Conducted Stormwater BMP workshops that have a direct connection to watershed improvements, enhanced water quality and habitat or envi-ronmental science education.

Participated in the St. Mary’s County Fair, Earth Day on the Square, RiverFest at Historic St. Mary’s City, and Plant-a-Palooza.

Consulted one-on-one with homeowners and farmers on pond manage-ment strategies and provided recertification from local aquatic pesticide applicators certification course.

Provided technical assistance to a new local watershed association, Friends of St Clements Bay, in support of watershed projects.

WATERSHED STEWARD ACADEMY (WSA) WSA program mission is to train and support community leaders in St. Mary’s County to serve as Master Watershed Stewards (MWS) in the protection, restoration, and conserva-tion of watersheds, working to reduce the negative impacts of stormwater runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. MWS are leaders who engage communities to be proactive about local stormwater management. Stewards help identify areas in the St. Mary’s county that are in need of stormwater management and help the County meet its Watershed Im-plementation Plan (WIP) goals. Ten Master Watershed Stewards were certified in 2017 from the inaugural class, and the second certi-fication course will be conducted in 2018.