Our Academics
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Master Gardeners: The UCCE Backyard Gardener Connection
Master Gardeners: The UCCE Backyard Gardener Connection
Do you garden in containers, plant a full-fledged vegetable garden, or are you planting edibles among your existing landscape? No matter what your level of gardening experience is, UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners can help you be successful. For nearly 30 years the UCCE Master Gardeners have trained volunteers interested in gardening to become experts that can help County residents have and enjoy beautiful home gardens.
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Fresno County 4-H Youth Learn Valuable Leadership Skills
Fresno County 4-H Youth Learn Valuable Leadership Skills
Members of the 2012-2013 Fresno County 4-H All Star Team have been busy developing leadership skills and sharing them with their fellow 4-H members. In August of 2012, they organized and facilitated Leadership Training Day to help 4-H club officers understand and perform their duties and to help Junior and Teen Leaders become more effective in their project groups. In January 2013, the All Stars attended the Leadership Conference of Regional Teens, where they taught a workshop on Collaborative Leadership to 300 teens and volunteer adults representing 12 counties. They are currently further developing and improving their workshop in preparation for the 2013 UC ANR Statewide Staff Conference.
The All Star Team is currently hard at work carrying out their plan of action, which involves bringing a little cheer to children at a local hospital. They are collecting unused, unwanted T-shirts and recycling them into bags, which will be filled with donations of small toys and school supplies. The bags will be distributed to young patients and their siblings at a series of play days at the hospital. The project is helping youth in our community and helping the All Stars build professional skills for a lifetime that can be used in future leadership roles.
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Fresno County Residents Learn Valuable Nutrition Lessons
Fresno County Residents Learn Valuable Nutrition Lessons Fresno
County has the highest pocket of concentrated poverty in the nation. One-fourth of the population—over 220,000 people—are eligible for CalFresh benefits (formerly food stamps.) The UC CalFresh Nutrition Education program collaborates and leverages UC Cooperative Extension resources to positively impact the nutrition, physical activity, and food buying behaviors of low-income CalFresh-eligible families in Fresno County through direct education and applied research.
CalFresh-eligible youth receive experiential lessons and taste testing designed to introduce them to a variety of healthy foods. In the 2011-12 school year, educators participating in the program reported that compared to the beginning of the year, approximately 96% of students try new foods offered at school more often. CalFresh-eligible adults participate in class-series and workshops centered on meal planning, “stretching” food dollars and feeding their families nutritious meals. Of participants evaluated, 42% of adults reported increasing their variety of fruits consumed. The UC CalFresh Nutrition Education program partners with 29 school districts, private preschools and community agencies to meet the extensive need for nutrition education in Fresno County. Through collaboration with our dedicated partners and educators, we are growing healthy families and communities.
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Families Improve Nutrition and Budget Practices
FAMILIES IMPROVE NUTRITION AND BUDGET PRACTICES
Obesity and chronic diseases have been linked to poverty, lack of physical activity, and poor food habits. Using interactive teaching methods combined with setting individual and family goals, Sua Vang joined other Fresno Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) staff to teach 402 adults, who were at or below the 50% federal poverty level. Almost half (43%) had less than a 12th grade education and half lived outside Fresno County's central city of Fresno. Eight lessons were taught in community group settings or through home-based classes in English, Spanish, and/or Hmong. Lessons focused on skills to plan tasty, cost effective, and nutritious meals by shopping effectively and utilizing healthier food options. Physical activity and food demonstrations were included in each lesson. Pre-post testing showed positive behavior changes. Of the 402 adult program graduates, 93% showed improvement in at least one nutrition practice and 87% showed improvement in at least one food budgeting practice.
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Nutrition Education Through Media is Considered a Credible Source
Nutrition Education Through Media is Considered a Credible Source
Over half-million viewers received nutrition education through 26 television segments. Connie Schneider conducted twelve nutrition segments on Central Valley Public Television’s 0 to 5 in 30 Minutes, a weekly program focusing on issues important to parents and caregivers of children from prenatal to five years old. Connie’s topics ranged from breastfeeding to preventing malnutrition and reading food labels. Shows were aired twice weekly and 11 of Connie’s segments were placed on YouTube. Other Fresno stations utilized Connie's expertise when new research came across the wire service, such as Vitamin D's impact on chronic disease and food safety issues. Nutrition staff members also worked with media. Nelly Carrillo had nine segments teaching nutrition messages from the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program on Univision.
Segments were repeated on Telemundo, which reached approximately 80,000 viewers! Did viewers learn from media nutrition education? Connie's focus group research revealed viewers trusted credible sources, they used the recipes and appreciated local food, nutrition, and health information.
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4-H Youth Develop Important Communication Skills
4-H Youth Develop Important Communication Skills
Public speaking skills are ranked number one among the skill sets of professionals. Other guiding factors for developing public speaking skills include:
Discovering an important component of leadership development
Increasing self-esteem, self confidence, and ability to accept feedback
Expanding skills for planning, preparation and performance
The Fresno County 4-H Program encourages youth to develop and improve communication skills through the annual 4-H Presentation Day; a competition, which allows youth to share their knowledge and skills with others through public speaking and performance. Melanie Curtis encourages members to participate in any way that gets them in front of an audience, practicing their communication skills. The 2009 Presentation Day was attended by 114 youth from 16 Fresno County 4-H Clubs. Presentations ranged from informative public speeches and demonstrations to moving musical performances and entertaining plays written and performed by 4-H club members.
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Positive Youth Development Exhibited in 4-H Teens
Positive Youth Developed Exhibited in 4-H Teens
1,000 4-H members in Fresno County practice learning by doing with skill development. Teens have become engaged in developing leadership characteristics by planning events and activities, teaching skill development sessions at workshops and camps, and inviting present leaders to share their knowledge and talents. Fresno County 4-H Youth Development takes the five C’s of positive youth development seriously. Melanie Curtis encourages teens to practice the five C’s including:
* Competence: A positive view of one’s actions.
* Confidence: An internal sense of overall positive self-worth and selfefficacy.
* Connection: Positive bonds with others; contributing to relationships.
* Character: Respect for norms, a sense of right and wrong, and integrity.
* Caring/Compassion: A sense of sympathy and empathy.
Active teen involvement in 4-H includes a sixth C: Contributions to self, family and community. Service learning opportunities help 4-H teens appreciate the gifts they give and receive in exchanges with others through service such as contributions to the local food bank and conducting special events at youth and senior centers.
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Guidelines To Conserve Water Provies Profitable
Guidelines to Conserve Water Prove Profitable
Pima cotton is valued around the world for producing the finest cotton fabric. Over 90% of the US pima cotton crop is grown in the San Joaquin Valley. Dan Munk and colleagues have developed guidelines to conserve water supplies allowing growers to better manage water and apply deficit irrigation strategies, including:
* Improvements in irrigation timing
* Irrigation system enhancements
* Reducing water for early irrigation events.
When the cotton crops are stressed during development, there is less chance of yield reduction created by water issues. Irrigation management guidelines are a proven tool to assist growers in remaining profitable during a severe drought.
