2025 Highlights and 2026 Aspirations

2025 Highlights and 2026 Aspirations

Welcome to the final episode for Season 1 of our "We are Extension" podcast! Sit back, relax, or do chores while listening to us in the background for this special year-end episode! In this episode, Elesha, Communications Coordinator, speaks with some of the Douglas County, KS Extension staff and volunteers as they reflect on their highlights of the year and what they are looking forward to for 2026! Resources * 4-H and Youth Development [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/4-h/] * Agriculture [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/agriculture/] * Community Development [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/community-development/] * Community Health and Wellness [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/health-wellness/] * Cooking Classes [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/health-wellness/classes.html] * Extension Master Food Volunteers [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/health-wellness/masterfood-volunteers.html] * LiveWell of Douglas County [https://livewelldgks.org/] * Natural Resources [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/natural-resources/] * Lawn and Garden [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/lawn-garden/] * Extension Master Gardeners [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/lawn-garden/master-gardener.html] * Our Website [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/] * Our Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/KSE.DouglasCounty] * Our Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ksedouglas/]

Buying Food on a Budget - Thriving Together

It's rare to hear someone say, "Wow, that was cheap!" after going grocery shopping lately, us included! Everyone has different responsibilities and capacities when it comes to this shopping, meal planning, and more! This Thriving Together episode hopes to help you, no matter where you are in your food-prep / grocery-budget journey! Join in on the conversation as your hosts Kaitlyn Peine, Community Health and Wellness Extension Agent [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/about/staff/kaitlynpeine.html], and Ginny Barnard, LiveWell of Douglas County Executive Director [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/about/staff/ginny-barnard.html], speak on timely and useful tips for "Buying Food on a Budget". They provide tips and tricks for meal planning, cooking once and eating multiple times, and smart store and kitchen practices! K- State Extension Resources The Well-Stocked Kitchen: Refrigerated and Frozen Foods [https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/well-stocked-kitchen-refrigerated-and-frozen-foods_MF3517.pdf] - K-State Extension PDF The Well-Stocked Kitchen: Pantry and Nonrefrigerated Foods [https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/download/well-stocked-kitchen-pantry-and-nonrefrigerated-foods_MF3516] - K-State Extension PDF Cooking Basics: Make a Meal from What's on Hand [https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/making-a-meal-from-whats-on-hand-cooking-basics_MF3534.pdf] - K-State Extension PDF Healthy Connections: Family Meals in a Snap [https://bookstore.ksre.k-state.edu/download/healthy-connections-family-meals-in-a-snap-fact-sheet_MF3695] - K-State Extension PDF Other Resources 5-Day Meal Planning Worksheet [https://iastate.app.box.com/s/nwecdndbm5ighioz3suu] Mastering Mealtime: How Meal Planning Can Save Time and Money [https://eat-move-save.extension.illinois.edu/blog/mastering-mealtime-how-meal-planning-can-save-time-and-money] Eating Healthy on a Budget: The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Meal Planning [https://extension.usu.edu/createbetterhealth/blog/menuplan] Spend Smart. Eat Smart. [https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/]

Building Capacity Through Partnership

Enjoy another look behind the scenes of Extension! Our Director, Marlin Bates [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/about/staff/marlinbates.html], is joined by Johnson County Extension Director, Tara Markley [https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/about/staff/agents/tara-markley/] as they tackle the topic of partnership! "We can't do our jobs in isolation, especially when we want to achieve systemic and community-wide change. What does that successful partnership look like?" Learn how both directors take on the responsibilities of building partnerships to positively impact their communities. In this episode, they discuss their past experience as co-facilitators who led discussions with their peers on this topic. They'll discuss: * partnership strengths * partnership roadblocks * tips for building impactful relationships This episode is sure to benefit anyone whose work can benefit from establishing strong and lasting partnerships. Whether you are confident in forming a meaningful partnership or unsure, there is something to take away from today's podcast! Resources Partnership Playbook: Initiating a Partnership - Michigan State University Extension [https://msu-prod.dotcmscloud.com/news/the-partnership-playbook-initiating-a-partnership] Partnership Playbook: Strategies for Effective Collaboration - Michigan State University Extension PDF [https://www.canr.msu.edu/4h/uploads/files/Partnership%20Playbook%20-%20General%20Resource.pdf] The Collaboration Continuum - Tamarack Institute Graph [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/images/community_development/con-of-collab.JPG]

Feed the Soil and the Soil will Feed You - Rooted in Ag

We welcome back Margit K., our Agriculture Agent [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/about/staff/margit-kaltenekker.html], for another episode of Rooted in Ag! She is joined by her guest, Green Cover's Keith B [https://greencover.com/keith-berns/]., and they talk regenerative agriculture. More specifically, the cover crops side of regenerative agriculture and how they can build resilience, biologically, agronomically, and economically. Learn how to be a "student of the soil" as these two experts talk about the benefits and a little about how to navigate the risks of transitioning over to regenerative agriculture. Our non-farmer listeners can enjoy a brief lesson on the soil and a little bit about all the hard work it does in the "farm to table" process! Resources About Cover Crops Web Page [https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/extension/soil-management/cover-crops.html] Green Cover Free Educational Resources [https://greencover.com/resources/] Soil Tests at Douglas County Extension [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/news-events/soil-test/] Douglas County Conservation District Cost Share Programs [https://www.douglasccd.com/cost-share-programs.html] Haney Test Interpretation Guide (PDF) [https://www.agsoilregen.com/_files/ugd/ccd5e7_5e2a0b4e015d487483adef042e23b7d9.pdf] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON OUR AGRICULTURE NEWS AND EVENTS PAGE [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/%7b%7bf:66020470%7d%7d]

Framework to Build Leadership in Youth - Beyond Ready

We all know the saying that every building needs a solid foundation to stand strong. However, it is seldom noted that the framework is also crucial in supporting the interconnected parts that carry the building's load. The same can be said for the youth in our community. Having a good foundation is just the start. Listen in as Nancy, our 4-H Youth Development Program Assistant [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/about/staff/nancy-noyes.html], shares her experience with her co-host, 4-H alum, and daughter, Claire. Learn from the perspectives of both the parent and the child on how being raised in 4-H helped build a solid framework of skills that are being used well into adulthood. Resources 4-H Team Judging - Winning at Life Skills [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/news-events/newsletters/4-h-articles/winning-at-life-skills.html] Kansas 4-H Photography Judging Contest [https://www.kansas4-h.org/educational-experiences/project-based-events/contests/photography-judging.html] Horse Judging - Kansas 4-H [https://www.kansas4-h.org/educational-experiences/project-based-events/contests/horse-judging/] Interested in joining 4-H, or simply learning more about it? 4-H of Douglas County Program Area Web Page [https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/program-areas/4-h/]