The "I Dare You" Leadership Award was presented to Haley Claes and Dayna Peck at the annual 4-H Member and Volunteer Recognition Program on Friday, November 16th.

Claes, an 8-year member of Horse Lovers Unlimited 4-H Club has excelled in project work that includes citizenship, community service, creative arts, hippology, horse, public speaking, and woodworking.

Peck is an independent 4-H member whose project work has included community service, creative arts, leadership, photography, public speaking, and expressive arts.

The "I Dare You" Leadership Award is made available each year by the American Youth Foundation in cooperation with the 4-H program and secondary schools across the United States. The award was first offered in 1941 by William H. Danforth, founder of the Ralston Purina Company, who dared young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of leadership and service. The award takes its name from the book, I Dare You, written by Danforth.

Award recipients demonstrate personal integrity, lead well-rounded lives, are willing to assume responsibilty and are recognized as emerging leaders.

Claes and Peck each received a certificate of recognition, a copy of Danforth's inspirational book, and a scholarship opportunity to attend the American Youth Foundation's National Leadership Conference.

Youth interested in becoming new 4-H members and adults interested in helping local youth develop into competent, caring and contributing adults through new 4-H clubs are invited to attend an upcoming 4-H interest meeting.

A 4-H interest session for parents and youth who are between kindergarten and 12^th grade is set for Wednesday, November 28th from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizens Center, 109 East Main Street in Johnstown, New York.

Individuals planning to participate in this 4-H interest meeting are asked to call 4-H staff at Cornell Cooperative Extension at 518-673-5525, ext. 113 or ext. 114 no later than 12 noon on November 28^th. 

4-H, the youth development program of Cornell Cooperative Extension, provides youth and adults with exciting, interesting and rewarding experiences. 4-H youth development provides opportunities for youth ages 5–19, under the guidance of adult volunteers and Extension staff to pursue projects of particular interest, learn about healthy lifestyles, and participate in programs with a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) focus through neighborhood clubs and individual study.  The core 4-H ideal of practical, “learn- by- doing” experiences encourages youth to inquire, experiment, innovate and think independently.

Just in time for holiday decorating or giving!

Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Mary Ann Charon and Joan Eckler will teach you how to construct your own wreaths during this hands-on workshop. Instructors will demonstrate and participants will make two wreaths—one pinecone wreath and one balsam wreath. All materials will be supplied.

Choose from 2 class times and locations: Tuesday, November 27, 6:00 p.m., Cornell Cooperative Extension Center, 50 East Main Street. Lower Level, (United Methodist Church), Canajoharie or Thursday, November 29, 6:00 p.m., Shirley J. Luck Senior Center, 109 East Main Street, Johnstown. Class size is limited to 15 participants—Register by November 16 (a minimum number of participants is required to hold the class.) Cost is $20 per person payable at registration. To register: Call Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties, 518-673-5525 ext 101.

Eating healthy during the holidays can be challenging, especially when there is a cornucopia of foods to choose from. However, you do not need to give up your favorite Thanksgiving dishes to maintain your weight. By following these tips at your holiday table, you can enjoy both the food and your family without worrying about your health:

"Bridging the Gap Between Research and Real Life"

Over the past four decades, there have been thousands of studies examining the health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids – building blocks our bodies use to create cell membranes and maintain the connections between brain cells.

The medical community’s excitement over this nutrient began when observational studies of non-western diets – in Japan and among Eskimos in Greenland, for example – found significantly lower rates of heart disease and other chronic medical conditions.  (Humans can’t produce omega-3 fatty acids, so we must get them by eating fish, walnuts, flaxseed and green vegetables.)

Dozens have studies have identified these types of correlations. But earlier this year, a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which included 20 clinical trials involving nearly 70,000 people, concluded omega-3 fatty acids did not prevent heart attacks, strokes or deaths from heart disease.

Proponents of omega-3s point out that the authors of the JAMA analysis used the an especially strict standard to determine statistical significance. (Using the typical standard would have found a 9 percent reduction in cardiac deaths.)

But other systematic reviews – like this one by the Cochrane Collaboration – found it unclear whether omega-3 supplements reduce the risk of cardiac deaths.

So, what’s the bottom line?  This is one case where the evidence is truly unclear. One challenge is that longitudinal diet studies are difficult to perform because there are so many variables in what people eat over long periods of time. The it can be tough to differentiate between omega-3s consumed as part of a diet versus those taken in a supplement.  It is clear that foods like salmon, tuna and green vegetables are good for us – and including them in our diets is a step in the right direction. But we need more evidence to determine their exact effects, and to establish whether it’s worthwhile to take omega-3 supplements. 

You can check out the Evidence-Based Living Blog here.

Energy is the ability to do work or produce change.  What uses energy?  Heating, air-conditioning, ventilation, computers, televisions, entertainment systems, appliances, manufacturing, transportation, food storage and preparation and security systems are just some of the things that use energy.

Worldwide energy consumption increased thirty-three percent between 1990 and 2005.  People in the United State consume 21.8 percent of the world’s energy, but they represent less than five percent of the worldwide population.

Did you know that the average house is responsible for twice the greenhouse gas emissions as the average car?  When power plants burn fossil fuels to make electricity, they release greenhouse gases.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asserts that by using less energy at home, at work and in the community, you can reduce these emissions and fight climate change.  Using less energy will also lower your utility bill each month.  According to the EPA if every American household took some of the actions below, we could save 18 billion dollars on our energy bills annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 18 million cars.

What can you do at home to be energy smart? Read the full article by clicking below and download a colorful illustration to help you be energy smart at home.

Posted by Catherine Cochran, Public Affairs Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, on October 26, 2012 at 3:58 PM

Hurricane Sandy could bring wind, flooding, heavy rain and possibly snow to the East Coast, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service urges people to take steps now to ensure they have access to safe food. Power outages and flooding that often result from weather emergencies compromise the safety of stored food, and planning ahead can minimize the risk of foodborne illness.

Imagine beautiful and fragrant daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips in your home in the middle of winter. Learn how to force spring flowering bulbs into early bloom like the commercial growers do.

CCEFM Master Gardener Jay Ephraim will teach you how in this class. Each participant will go home with two pots of bulbs ready for winter forcing. This is a wonderful class to do as an individual, with friends, school-age children or grandchildren. Pots, bulbs and soil will be supplied.

Choose the class time and location that works for you:

Tuesday, October 30, 6:00 p.m., Shirley J. Luck Senior Center, Johnstown
OR
Thursday, November 1, 6:00 p.m., CCEFM Teaching Center, Canajoharie

The class is limited to 10 participants per location. Materials Cost is $10.00 per person, payable at registration.

To register, call CCEFM at 518-673-5525 ext. 101. Please register as early as possible. Due to the cost of supplies, a minimum number of participants is necessary for the class to be held.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org) “There is no one diet for all people with diabetes. There is, however, a ‘recipe’ for eating healthfully that is similar to recommendations for heart health, cancer prevention and weight management.” 

On Thursday, October 18, 2012, Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties will present “Dining with Diabetes” at the Shirley Luck Senior Center, 109 E. Main Street, in Johnstown from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

This workshop-style program is designed to help those with diabetes and their family members learn how to eat well with diabetes.  The class will include meal planning basics, quick meal and snack ideas, how to include sweets, and tips on meals out. 

Dining with Diabetes will be taught by trained Nutrition Program Educator  Jean Budlong.  Refreshments and healthy snacks will be demonstrated and available for tasting. Participants will receive a free diabetes cookbook. 

There is no charge for the program, which is grant funded.  Space is limited and pre-registration is required. To register, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties at 518-673-5525.  Families and/or caretakers are welcome to attend.

Celebrate local food and agriculture during Farm to You Fest 2012! From October 1 to October 7 schools and communities throughout New York State will be celebrating local agriculture during what was officially known as New York Harvest for New York Kids Week.

During the weeklong promotion, school food service directors, teachers, principals, parents, nutritionists, 4-H clubs, librarians, farmers and others are encouraged to organize fun and educational activities for students in pre-school, elementary, high school and even college. Many schools will celebrate local, healthy foods by featuring New York farm products on their school lunch menus. Other examples of celebrations include: classes having a farmer as a guest speaker, students taking a field trip to a local farm or farmers' market, recipe contest and community health fairs.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets' Farm to School Program will be supplying participating schools and organizations with an assortment of promotional and educational materials. A limited supply of materials include: the very popular fruit and vegetable "Trading Cards", harvest charts indicating times when fresh produce is available and "Fascinating Food and Farming Facts" brochures that stimulate "food for thought" for all ages. Those who would like to order supplies should fill out the order form, available on the Department's Farm to School website at http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/f2s/news.html.

This year's Farm to You Fest will be officially celebrated from October 1 through October 7;however, harvest events can and will occur throughout October.