This week I want to talk about red flags and what they are. Too often, a relationship becomes very painful and even dangerous before anyone seeks help. Certain feelings and behaviors can alert you to an abusive relationship. These are called red flags and can be seen as a warning sign that changes need to be made before things get dangerous.
Every person will have different red flags based on how they were raised and their feelings. Continue reading “Red Flags”
This past summer, my husband and I went on vacation to Kentucky. We decided to try to take our dog, Brie with us. We had never traveled very far with our dog, so we made sure to do some extra planning to find dog friendly camp grounds and even restaurants. Brie traveled well and it ended up being a great trip! I am looking forward to the next vacation we get to take our four legged friend on. A few of our Harvey County 4-H’ers will be doing just that next weekend at the Kansas 4-H Dog Conference!
The Kansas 4-H Dog Conference and Quiz Bowl will be October 21-22 at Rock Springs 4-H Center. The theme is “Dogs ‘Я’ Game.” Three Harvey County 4-H’ers and an adult sponsor will be attending, and so will their dogs! Conference attendees, those with two legs and four, will get to stay in one of the cottages at Rock Springs 4-H Center.
The conference will have a special “Minute to 4-H It” contest, a Dogopoly Hunt, dog skill-a-thon, quiz bowl, plus s’mores and much more. Youth will learn how quiz bowls work in a fun environment with lots of hands-on activities to teach new dog skills.
Harvey County 4-H’ers attending will get to choose from several educational sessions including Freestyle Dog Dancing, Obedience Training Games, Leather Dog Collar Stamping, and Creepy Crawlies that Can Hurt your Dog.
These conference attendees and their dogs have been working hard this year in the Harvey County 4-H Dog Care and Training program with the support of the County Volunteer Leader, Anna Schurter. Anna works with the entire group of 4-H Dog program participants and their animals weekly, helping to establish training techniques for dogs and owners with all levels of experience. The Harvey County 4-H Dog Care and Training project is open to all youth ages 5-18 who enroll in Harvey County 4-H. Members have the opportunity to work with their dogs weekly, participate in a county spring and summer dog show, qualify to compete at the State Fair dog show, and attend the Kansas 4-H Dog Conference in October.
It is National Domestic Violence month in October and this is the perfect time to bring awareness and prevention for future domestic violence actions.
Domestic Violence is described as physical and emotional by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating. Examples are: hitting, name calling, put-downs, sexual abuse, intimidation, stalking and threating.
Which wheat fields are most likely to be infested with Hessian fly in the fall? It depends on residue management, variety, planting date, the presence of nearby volunteer wheat, the use of insecticide seed treatments, and crop rotation.
Residue management. Undisturbed stubble favors survival. Experience has shown that, where soil management practices allow, thorough incorporation of the stubble can be a useful management technique. Continue reading “Factors that Influence Hessian Fly Fall Infestations”
Roses can be the most noticeable and beautiful plant in the landscape! There are some issues roses can have though. Rose rosette is a more destructive disease than rose mosaic virus. It is a serious problem in Kansas on wild roses (Rosa multiflora) in pastures and hedges. It is also found in domestic rose plantings. Infection is thought to start with rapid elongation of a new shoot. The rapid shoot growth may continue for several weeks to a length of two to three feet. Following shoot elongation, a witches’ broom or clustering of small branches occurs. The stems develop excessive thorniness and produce small, deformed leaves with a reddish-purple pigmentation. Stems and petioles of Rosa multiflora plants may have reddish blotches or streaks.
Have you been craving a raisin fritter? According to the Goessel Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum, raisin fritters or Porzelke, were a traditional Mennonite treat made especially for New Year’s Day. The term Porzelke means “tumbling over”; these treats turn over by themselves (when they are done on one side) after being dropped into hot oil. Personally, I think they taste like a fresh donut mixed with a biscuit and rolled in sugar. Is your mouth watering yet? Luckily, you won’t have to wait until New Year’s Day to try one.
The Harvey County 4-H Junior Leaders have sold homemade New Year’s cookies each year at the Taste of Newton festival for many years, and this year will not be any different. This teen leadership group sells the traditional German Mennonite treats as their main fundraiser for the program year. The funds generated at our booth at the Taste of Newton help to support the 4-H Junior Leaders in many service and team building projects throughout the year, such as their Salvation Army angel tree donations and food drives.
Look for the 4-H flag and tan tent at the Taste of Newton festival on Thursday October 12thfrom 5:30-9:00 PM. Pick up a New Year’s Cookie, or ten, for a taste of tradition and to support local teen leaders in 4-H!
A weed is a plant out of place! Dandelion sure fits that definition! Dandelion is a perennial herb that forms a rosette in lawns and gardens. Inflorescence composed of yellow ray florets that give rise to a “puffball” head. New plants germinate primarily in the fall (late September). Mid-October and November is the most effective time to control broadleaf weeds, including dandelions in lawns. Dandelion usually produces a flush of new plants in late September. These young plants are small and easily controlled with herbicides such as 2,4-D or combination products (Trimec, Weed-B-Gon, Weed-Out) that contain 2,4-D, MCPP and Dicamba. Even established dandelions are more easily controlled in the fall rather than in the spring because they are actively moving materials from the top portion of the plant to the roots. Herbicides will translocate to the roots as well and will kill the plant from the roots up. Be sure to choose a day that is 50 degrees or higher. The better the weed is growing, the more weed killer will be moved from the leaves to the roots. Cold temperatures will slow or stop this process. Weed Free Zone (also sold under the name of Speed Zone) contains the three active ingredients mentioned above plus carfentrazone. It gives a quicker response than the other products mentioned and will work better when temperatures drop below 50 degrees.
