November 2022 Edition

4-H Youth Development
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Country Ham Curing and Cooking; Can It Get Better?

     A Kentucky 4-H tradition is the country ham project. Green County 4-H is taking applications for youth to learn how to cure a country ham.  This project is open to local youth.  The deadline is December 9 with the registration fee of $60.00 which covers project cost including the two hams for youth ages 9-18.  Siblings or adults may also participate at $40 for one ham. If this sounds like a project you would like to learn more about, contact Green County 4-H.

     We are limited to the number of youth who can  participate so it will be first come first serve.  Youth ages 9-18 are required to give a speech about their ham at the Kentucky State Fair.  Green County will put their hams in cure on January 16, which is Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day and no school. Youth learn to appreciate the value that is added to raw commodities. Contact
the 4-H office for an application.
► Deadline December 9 with completed ham contract and fees.  Ham contracts available at our office and on our website.     

     The Country Ham Recipe Contest is a contest for 4-H'er members ages 11-18 that encourage youth to explore Country Ham as an ingredient in their own cooking. Youth will create and submit an original recipe that uses country ham.  The initial recipes will be judged.  Youth do not have to participate in the curing project to compete in the cooking event.

     There will be two recipe classes this year, and young people can enter one recipe in each of the two classes. For the 2023 State fair, these divisions will be sweet and savory. The top 4 in each of the two classes will compete at the state fair on August 24th. 

     Youth interested in participating must register by December 9 by calling the 4-H office and submit their recipe by April 1, 2023. 

Talking to Your Children About Money During the Holidays
 Jennifer Hunter,Assistant Director of Family and Consumer Sciences and Alex Elswick, Extension Associate

     Even if they do not earn money, children influence the family’s budget with their needs and wants. This is especially true during the holiday season when their wants tend to outweigh needs, which makes the season a perfect time to begin talking to your children about money management.

     Often children, particularly teens, have an unrealistic view of their family’s financial situation. As parents, it’s important for you to have age-appropriate conversations with your children about money. Talk to them about prices, monthly expenses, budgets and debt. If you have a holiday savings account that you periodically contribute to, let your children know. It’s important for them to realize that money for the holidays takes planning and preparation and does not appear magically overnight.

     Be as honest as possible about your financial situation. If you cannot afford something, let them know. Do not let them believe you have more disposable income than you really do. While family finances may not be the easiest conversation to have with your children, discussing them now allows children to learn important financial lessons that can help them as they grow into young adults.

     You can also encourage the importance of giving over receiving and let your children be involved in the giving process. If they have an allowance, maybe they would like to use it to buy gifts for friends and family members. If not, you can always talk to them about homemade gifts or free gifts of time, companionship and assistance that are often more important to some people than monetary items.

For more information on family financial resources, contact the Green Extension office.

Make Breakfast a Part of Back to School
Ingrid Adams, Associate Extension Professor

     Some of you may feel like there’s never enough time for breakfast in the morning, but eating breakfast is such an important way to begin the day. With young people starting back to school soon, try to make eating a healthy breakfast part of your family’s routine. You may be surprised by the results.

     Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast before school tend to have higher attendance records, higher overall test scores, better concentration and an easier time solving problems. Eating breakfast helps curb overeating later in the day and helps maintain a healthy weight.

     Planning your meal the night before can help save time in the morning. Think about what you’d like to serve or ask your children what they’d like to eat. Set the table with the plates, utensils and cups you’ll need. Some mixes, like for waffles or muffins, can be made beforehand. Adding fruit to yogurt the night before can provide a quick morning grab-and-go option.

     If you have time, ideally breakfast should include a protein to help young people stay focused and full until lunchtime, a carbohydrate to give them energy and a fruit or vegetable to add essential vitamins and minerals to their diet. While this may seem like a lot, it can be easily achieved. Examples of potential meals include an omelet with chopped vegetables and a piece of whole wheat toast or peanut butter with sliced strawberries or bananas on whole grain bread.

     Remember breakfast doesn’t have to be complex. Simple items such as a bowl of whole grain
cereal with low fat milk and topped with fruit, instant oatmeal with fresh fruit and nuts, small bagels or whole wheat toast are easy to
prepare while still giving young people the nutrition they need.

     You may also want to check out the breakfast menu at your children’s school. Just make sure they arrive early enough to eat it. More information on raising healthy young people is available at the Green County Cooperative Extension Service.

Share Your Talents with 4-H’ers
Kim Leger, 4-H Youth Development Specialist

     4-H volunteers are the backbone of the organization, donating their time and energy and sharing their interests with youth. 4-H is always looking for caring adults to join our programs and positively impact the lives of young Kentuckians. Chances are, if you have an interest or a hobby so does a
4-H’er. Kentucky 4-H has members who are interested in fine arts, natural resources,engineering, scrapbooking, foods and nutrition, financial management and so much more.

    A research paper published in the Journal of Extension showed that 4-H members benefitted by having caring adults in their lives. In the study, 64 percent of the survey participants said their volunteer leaders made them feel important and actively listened to them. Most importantly, 74 percent of youth in the survey reported that their volunteer leaders paid attention to them. 

     Parents of 4-H’ers are welcome to volunteer, but you don’t have to be parent of a 4-H’er or even have children to be an effective adult volunteer. We are looking for adult volunteers who are good listeners, supportive and have an understanding of positive youth development.

     You can share your hobby or passion with youth by volunteering at any level at which you are comfortable. Kentucky 4-H has opportunities for adult volunteers who are resource leaders and volunteer for only a short time and opportunities for club and project leaders who share and guide young people on a regular basis.

     For more information on becoming a 4-H volunteer, contact the Green County Extension office.