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Author: Nora Rhoades

Stop Trouble with Bubbles: Wash Your Hands

Posted on by Nora Rhoades

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community.

Wash hands:

  • Before, during, and after preparing food
  • Before eating food
  • Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
  • Before and after treating a cut or wound
  • After using the toilet
  • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
  • After handling pet food or pet treats
  • After touching garbage

Follow these five steps every time.

  1. Wetyour hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
  2. Latheryour hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  3. Scrubyour hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  4. Rinseyour hands well under clean, running water.
  5. Dryyour hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and K-State Research and Extension Rapid Response Center

By: Ashley Svaty

Planting Strawberries

Posted on by Nora Rhoades

New strawberry plantings should be set early in the growing season so that mother plants become established while the weather is still cool. The mother plants develop a strong root system during this cool period when soil temperatures are between 65 and 80 degrees F. The most appropriate planting time is late March to mid-April in the northern areas of the state.  Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart.

Later in the season, runners and daughter plants develop. The earlier the mother plants are set, the sooner the first daughter plant will be formed and take root. These first daughter plants will be the largest daughter plants at the end of the growing season and will bear more berries per plant the following spring.  When planting is done later, the higher temperatures stress the mother plants resulting in reduced growth, weaker mother plants and delays in daughter plant formation.  Fewer and smaller daughter plants produce fewer berries, resulting in a smaller crop.

Remove all flowers during the first year. New plants have limited energy reserves that need to go toward establishing the mother plants and making runners rather than making fruit. If fruit is allowed to develop the first year, the amount of fruit produced the second year is drastically reduced due to smaller, weaker daughter plants.

Keep row width at 12 to 18 inches as strawberries bear most on the edges of the row rather than the center.  A rototiller or hoe can be used to keep the row at the recommended width.

4-H Program Internship – Local Job Opportunity

Posted on by Nora Rhoades

The Post Rock District 4-H Program Internships are responsible for assisting with the planning and implementation of the Post Rock District 4-H Youth Development Program. We are looking to hire student professionals to serve through this unique role in paid summer positions. One position will be located in Beloit and the other in Lincoln. Visit postrock.ksu.edu for responsibilities, qualifications and application procedure. Positions are open until filled. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.By: Nora Rhoades

Contact Your Local Extension Office!

Posted on by Nora Rhoades

COVID-19 Continuity of Operations

March 17, 2020

To Whom It May Concern,

The Post Rock District is a dedicated team with a strong skillset, and we will continue to help you solve problems, make sound decisions, and improve quality of life!

Post Rock District programs, meetings, events, and activities will not take place in a face-to-face format, regardless of group size, until further notice. This applies to anything facilitated by staff, volunteers, partners, and directed toward KSRE target audiences. Our team will make reasonable efforts to extend the mission of KSRE to local constituents and to conduct regular business through digital delivery strategies.

Until it is safe for regular face-to-face interaction, the Post Rock District Offices will be implementing a soft closure. This means there will be no walk-in traffic to the offices, and doors will remain locked. Office visits will be granted by appointment only, with social distancing and other relevant health precautions taken into consideration. Additionally, all traffic in and out of the office will be documented, collecting names of all parties and contact phone numbers.

Please visit the Post Rock District website at postrock.ksu.edu for local and district event updates. We are also using email, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep you informed.

Contact a local office by phone to access the Post Rock District Team. While complete contact information, including staff emails, can be found at our website, our office phone numbers are:

Beloit: 785-738-3597
Lincoln: 785-524-4432
Mankato: 785-378-3174
Osborne: 785-346-2521
Smith Center: 785-282-6823

The Post Rock District Board has an approved Continuity of Operations Plan in place, and will update the plan as necessary. K-State Research and Extension is committed to the health, wellness and safety of our staff, volunteers, target audiences, and communities during this time of risk related to COVID-19.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Nora Rhoades
Post Rock District Director
nrhoades@ksu.edu

By: Nora Rhoades

County Fair Season

Posted on by Nora Rhoades

Individuals of all ages are encouraged to exhibit a prized item, creation, and/or skill in Open Class at your county fair. The fair is a great place to see local talent on display and to enjoy entertainment with your friends and family. Contact your local Post Rock District Office for the complete fair schedules and exhibiting guidelines. You can also visit http://www.postrock.k-state.edu/4-h/county-fairs/.

Post Rock District Fair DatesSee you at the fair

Jewell County (Mankato): July 10—13th

Smith County (Smith Center): July 14—18th

Lincoln County (Sylvan Grove): July 27—30th

Osborne County (Osborne): July 28—August 1st

Mitchell County (Beloit): July 27—30th

By:  Nora Rhoades

Fathers Matter

Posted on by Nora Rhoades

Research shows that a father’s positive efatherngagement can improve child well-being whether they live full-time with their children or not.

Fathers make important contributions to their kids’ development—and do so in ways that are different from mother’s contributions. Fathers are more likely to use advanced language around young kids, which promotes vocabulary development. Fathers also tend to prioritize rough-and-tumble play, letting kids explore, and playing more than caretaking, which establish independence and positive social skills. Positive father engagement has been linked to better outcomes on measures of child well-being, such as cognitive development, educational achievement, self-esteem, and pro-social behavior.

Positive fatherhood experiences provide great value for kids. Child Trends shares more information explaining why fathers matter at http://bit.ly/1YvwZuz.

By:  Nora Rhoades