29 minute read
Craft Time
Back-To-School PENCIL CRAFT
Written by Ashley Wedding
Photo by Jamie Alexander
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS WEDNESDAY, AUG 10
It’s hard to believe that summer is over and it’s time for a new school year. This pencil-inspired craft is a perfect way to get in the back-to-school mood.
This craft couldn’t be easier and is so versatile. Use these cute containers as a planter, organization, a teacher gift or really, anything!
All you need is a spare metal can - any size is fine. Grab some yellow and pink paint and some paint brushes. And painters tape makes this job a lot easier and helps with clean lines.
Prepare for a few coats to get full coverage.
Easy peasy, right?!
Happy crafting, friends!
If you make these adorable crafts, be sure to tag a photo of them on our social media accounts! We would love to see them!
ASHLEY WEDDING is the editor of Owensboro Parent Magazine. She enjoys everyday adventures with her husband, Drew, and their three kids, Avery, Reed and Mason.
Community
THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MAKE HENDERSON GREAT
Meet Ava Claire!
2022 CoverKids Contest Winner
After receiving almost a hundred entries and thousands of votes, we have a winner for our 2022 Henderson Family CoverKids Contest.
Meet Ava Claire Overton! Ava is the two-year-old daughter of Wes and Ashley Overton and little sister to Dakota, Allie and Avery. Anyone who is around Ava Claire can’t help but smile because she has such a happy and bubbly personality. She is a very sociable little girl and loves being around people, especially other children.
You are sure to find her playing outside when the weather is nice, and she loves playing with her siblings and all things Bluey.
Ava Claire is a very strong little girl. Her mother, Ashley, said, “One thing I would like for the community to know about our sweet girl is how determined she is. Despite entering this world 16 weeks early at just over one pound, she has overcome so many obstacles and is thriving today. She has never let any of her medical issues or diagnoses slow her down. It truly is an honor to be parents to such a small miracle and see her grow and make progress every day!”
Charlie Joyner
HENDERSON’S FIRST EASTERSEALS CHILD AMBASSADOR
Charlie Joyner, an eight-year-old Henderson native, sat at a table with his mother to discuss the honor bestowed on him of being named Child Ambassador for Easterseals 2022.
“By sharing his story as Easterseals Ambassador for 2022 Charlie and his family are helping speak for thousands of children, many of whom can’t speak for themselves. Charlie is doing a fantastic job representing everyone we serve. His positive attitude is inspiring and it makes him fun to be around” says Kelly Blandford Schneider, President and CEO of Easterseals Rehabilitation Center.
“He is the 1st ambassador from Henderson,” adds Libby Joyner, Charlie’s mother. The adorable boy with big brown eyes and glasses smiles and radiates enthusiasm. When asked why he thinks he was chosen as ambassador he proudly claims, “I’m a hard worker and have a good attitude.” Libby adds that he maintains a positive attitude daily. “He is the happiest kid I’ve ever known. I don’t remember the last time he had a bad day. He’s always smiling.”
CHALLENGING BEGINNINGS
Despite his sunny disposition, life has been physically challenging for him. Libby shared the trials he faced beginning with his premature birth. Knowing he had intestinal complications during pregnancy was compounded by his early entry into the world. “My water broke at 30 weeks. The doctors think he had a stroke sometime during labor. That caused the cerebral palsy.” Charlie’s little body was stiff and unmanageable. “His legs were so stiff I had a hard time even getting him in his car seat.” Thanks in no small part to Easterseals, the young man has exceeded all expectations. Regular therapy, as well as, sheer determination has pushed Charlie along his way to physical restoration. “When we first started at Easterseals he was three years old. We brought him in on a board. He couldn’t walk at all. Because of the therapy he gets there, he is now mobile.” On this day he briskly walks with a walker to where he needs to go. His next step, which he is currently working towards, is to move from the walker to canes. “I’ll be able to walk faster with canes instead of this thing,” Charlie exclaimed “I’ll be able to do more stuff. Fit in more places.” Libby adds, “and not run over my toes!” However, his goal is to walk without any assistance at all. Charlie, a student at Spottsville Elementary, also has an aide there, Alexa Young, who assists him and will remain with him throughout his high school career.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CHARLIE
There isn’t much that keeps him down. He sets lofty goals for himself and works hard toward achieving them. Charlie aspires to one day be able to walk on his own well enough to play soccer. He recently participated in a soapbox derby. Already knowing what he wants to be when he grows up is yet another sign of his confidence and resolute attitude. A mechanic. His mother said he has had a lifelong obsession with cars, trucks, boats, and tractors. His father, Randy Joyner, teaches him the skills needed to work on a motor until Charlie is old enough to graduate high school and get certified in the trade. “He is a daddy’s boy for sure,” Libby says while Charlie is smiling ear to ear. Charlie will be attending the upcoming Frog Follies event on behalf of Easterseals, which as one may assume, he is over the moon with anticipation. “He loves any kind of motor. He always takes apart everything and puts it back together,” his mom shares, adding that he and his dad are “big buddies” with their love of cars. Charlie has an older brother, 12-year-old Trey, with whom he says he likes to “play and fight” which garners a nod and laughter from his mom.
Charlie doesn’t feel offended when kids at school ask him what is wrong with his legs. “I just tell them that my legs don’t work the same way yours do,” which he says is normally a sufficient answer. In fact, Charlie doesn’t mind speaking to anyone about his disability. “I don’t get nervous when I talk in front of people.” Libby contributes his outgoing personality to one of the reasons he was selected as ambassador.
Easterseals depends on community support including donations to operate at the level of excellence they require. Please visit their website at www.easterseals. com, then search the Evansville location for more about this organization and information to donate. HF
AMANDA WAGGENER is a blogger for the Huffington Post, author of No Grit No Pearl blog site and is a native of Henderson. She and her husband are the parents of two teenagers who they are raising with as much zeal as they can muster.
TAKING ROOT
AS A LITTLE GARDENER
Written by Lyndi Mauk • Photos by Darrin Phegley
“In my capacity, I was born to serve. I found that as I’ve grown, sometimes serving is wearing different hats whatever that may be. I felt called to serve and that was going to be my purpose,” said Natasha McKinney, owner of 1st Kids Care.
Natasha is a Henderson native and a single mother to three biological children (ages 20, 10 and 6) and one foster child (age 2). Before opening her licensed and certified in-home daycare center, she spent most of her adult life working in the food industry after going to culinary school. After receiving a medically complex foster child, she decided to leave her corporate job.
Owning her own daycare not only would provide her income, but it gave her the opportunity to help serve those in her community. It was important to her that her foster child be surrounded by peers. “I wanted her to be able to have interaction and connection. The kids are very receptive to her being special needs. I think it is good for them to experience someone who is different from them because it teaches them a lot,” said the proud mother and daycare owner.
A Day in the Life of 1st Kids Care
Natasha opened her daycare center in 2021. She currently has seven kids, including her foster daughter, she cares for ranging from three months to two years old. She explained how she loves what she does. “We really try to incorporate nature here.” She has to have a curriculum and lesson plans just as every other daycare center.
Natasha loves to learn and try new things. Recently, she signed up to receive a subscription box every month from another country. “We just got a box from Thailand. It had 12-15 different snacks in it,” she expressed. “Everything has been enjoyable. It is a great way to bring culture here, too!”
It is important to her for the children she cares for to have a creative and investigative atmosphere. “Yesterday, we were watering the herbs and there was a tiny baby frog. That sparked so much curiosity! We can learn our colors outside by asking ‘Where is the blue sky?’ without being forced to sit inside
at a table. Everyday is different. We go with the flow. I like that we have that flexibility to meet the children’s needs. I don’t set time limits on anything, unless they are into something before lunch and I’ll set a timer. We have a routine, and we have consistency. They know those cues of what to expect,” she explained.
The Benefits of Using a Food Program
After the first month of being a certified in-home daycare, Natasha signed up with a food program through Our Daily Bread. They serve Tennessee and Kentucky. It is a reimbursement program, in which you have to serve certain components throughout the day.
Each child has to have x amounts of fruits, x amounts of veggies, a whole grain each day, no more than two meatless options, etc. Natasha explained how she was very overwhelmed at first, but those who join are provided a trainer and support person who helps walk you through the process. They are a phone call or email away. Everything is done online through their program. At the end of the month, Natasha submits her menu. Her support person checks her menu to make sure it meets their qualifications. Once approved, she will purchase her menu items and they reimburse her, which is a blessing. She couldn’t express enough how it has been a Godsend program for her and her daycare center.
It has helped having a culinary background, too. She may have fettuccine alfredo on Monday but make a bigger batch and add chicken and broccoli to have again on Friday. She tries to get creative with eggs and will make a quiche and freeze it for later, too. “It doesn’t allow us to serve sugars and yogurts have to be low count. It is strict, but it guides them to make good nutritional choices and guides them to eat more fruits and vegetables.”
Natasha explained how the grant application itself was a very easy process. The terms you had to agree to were: (1) Have an outdoor space to hold a raised garden bed (2) Be able to maintain and take care of it daily (3) Take pictures and post and (4) Give back to the community. Any veggies or fruits they grow will be used in her center first, then donated to the children’s families and whatever extras they have will be given back to the community. “We are excited and ready to give back!” expressed the enthusiastic owner. “We are going to set up a table out front and put a sign up that says, ‘FREE’ with a garden sign.” The sign reads, “Taking Root. This garden was supported by our Daily Bread.”
The process of the materials being delivered and placed in her yard was amazing. “He came to my house, had the wood, built it in the front yard, shoveled and wheelbarrowed the soil in and then he brought in different seeds and vegetables and let me and the children pick out what we wanted.” She explained how it was hard to keep the kids out of the garden at first because the day it was built they were all outside and around it. However, she has encouraged them to only watch the garden with their little eyes and water it to help it grow. Everything they used is organic with no pesticides, and the kids have really enjoyed watching everything transform.“ They are really hands-on with watering. We tried to plant beans and strawberries. Those were things they could pick and eat right out there.” They also planted herbs and cucumbers from seeds. Natasha loves how this is a sensory experience for them, too!
Before the garden bed was built, Natasha and the kids started a little early by planting some herbs inside. She explained how they are very curious with everything that grows. She even made an indoor compost bin. If they have any scraps, they know they can throw them in there. “I hope as they start to grow older and mature, that they learn what
is inside now goes outside and what was growing outside now goes inside.” She is hoping at some point they can make some kind of bread and incorporate some grain and mash it up to make flour. The possibilities are endless.
The Planting Continues
“My family was farmers. I grew up in the country and always said I would never live in the country again because I like to have my pizza delivered,” chuckled Natasha. “But, it is a little bit of the country here. It teaches them to be sustainable. We can save rain water to water our plants. We can grow vegetables that feed our family. So many of us weren’t taught that or don’t know how to do it or don’t know where to start. It gave the children a place to start,” said the joyful caregiver.
She feels like she is taking part of her childhood and recreating that within her daycare center. “It’s been very encouraging for them and investigative because they are very curious. They look in amazement at ‘I did that.’ They don’t understand the full circle concept yet, but they will.” Although Natasha grew up on a farm and worked most of her life in the culinary world, this is her first time having a garden of this size herself, so it’s been really exciting for her, too.
Natasha loves what she does. “I’m thankful that I am here. I still obviously could serve a lot more if the opportunity arose. I am trying to expand, but I have to find some commercial property.” If she were to expand, she would hire staff. Her goal would be to have a small center with around 25 kids. She is currently enrolled in a course through the community college that will allow her to be a director of her own center if those doors open up for her.
Everyday is an adventure for Natasha and the children she feels so blessed to care for each day. Usually during morning arrival, they have free play during the mornings until 8am for breakfast. They may play with gross motor toys or sensory bins. After breakfast, they go outside. “We live outside when we can. We sing songs, read books and blow bubbles.” They do yoga or counting songs on TV, but they rarely have the TV on. She chuckled and said maybe during nap time she might sit but other than that she is engaged with them as much as she can be. The opportunities for learning are endless. “Anything you make exciting, they will enjoy to learn!” HF
LYNDI MAUK, editor of Henderson Family Magazine, was born and raised in the Bluegrass State. She is grateful to be going through life alongside her husband and best friend, Brandon, and being a mother to their two kids.
Challenge Me 4-H
“We walked into the room, and I don’t think you could see any bigger smiles on their faces. It was awesome. They loved it. There was no hesitation from any of them,” said Ella Fourqurean, a Henderson County 4-H Youth Development agent.
Written by Lyndi Mauk • Photos by Darrin Phegley
Ella Fourqurean began her career with the University of Kentucky’s 4-H program in January 2020. “It’s been a learning curve,” stated Ella, remembering back to how everything soon changed once covid hit a couple months later. Ella grew up on a farm in Gracey, KY where her family raised livestock, predominantly cattle. She showed pigs growing up while her brother showed goats. After graduating in 2013 from Trigg County High School, Ella continued her education at Murray State University where she earned her Bachelors in Animal Science and her Masters in Agriculture. During her time at MSU, she was the head Student Herdsman at the swine farm at Murray State. They raised show pigs for kids across the country by going to sales in states such as Oklahoma, Indiana and Texas and would also host online sales for states as far as Colorado and as far south as Mississippi and Georgia.
During Ella’s last semester of graduate school, her and her classmates were asked to provide pigs for a program called “Challenge Me 4-H.” “This is one of my all-time favorite programs in which I’ve been a part since I started teaching in 1993!” exclaimed Dr. Kimberly Bellah, Associate Professor of Agricultural Education at Murray State University.
The program itself was started by Jonathan Sink, who was a 4-H member at the time, and he wanted to form a program where special education students could thrive in an environment with livestock. Through different grants they received, they were able to host the first ever “Challenge Me 4-H” program in Spring 2019 and Ella had a front row seat.
Dr. Bellah explained, “With the total program of agricultural education including classroom and laboratory experiences, leadership development through the FFA, and experiential learning through Supervised Agricultural Experiences, we know that agricultural education serves all students in a variety of ways. Our classes are filled with learners who are all gifted and talented in some way or another, but not always in the ways that traditional academics measure giftedness. However, agricultural teachers work
diligently to provide an inclusive space for all students in their classes. When it comes to the Supervised Agricultural Experience and FFA aspects, though, we do not see as much participation from students with moderate to severe learning differences. Most often that is because those agricultural teachers lack the confidence and efficacy in themselves to provide experiences for these students. In short, they may be afraid that they will place their learners who are differently abled into unsafe situations - physically and emotionally. So, the agricultural teachers may believe they are ‘helping’ the students by allowing them a pass from these expectations of the program.”
The Program Layout
“Challenge Me 4-H” is a 3-week program in which high school special education students work alongside college “buddies” to show livestock. They meet one day a week for two hours. The first week they are introduced to their buddies—Murray State Agricultural students. The students get to know the college students, play games and get introduced to the livestock. The second week is all hands-on, where the special education students have the opportunity to wash the livestock. The third week is the livestock show where the students show their livestock and are judged just as any livestock show would be.
When Ella was part of this program in its first year, the special education students came from Trigg County High School to the Expo Center at Murray. The grad students were then teamed up with students from the high school, ranging from Freshman to Seniors. Pigs were used for the program, and Ella was able to be a judge for the show. “I tell everybody all the time I really didn’t feel like I was in the moment at that time.” As much as she enjoyed participating with her classmates, she felt as though she was in such a time of busyness with school projects and thinking about her future when she graduated in a few short months that she didn’t
take it all in. Ella recalls a student who hid under the
table and wouldn’t come out during the first week back in 2019. With the biggest grin, Ella said, “By the last week, he was laying beside the pigs!”
“We began the Challenge Me program in 2019 for two reasons: one, to provide opportunities for students with differing learning abilities to interact with and learn how to care for livestock in a (mock) competitive situation; and, two, to assist my Murray State University agricultural education preservice teachers in building their own confidence that these students can participate. They can engage. They are capable and able. We may need to make modifications and we may need to spend more time supervising, but that is one of the key words of that component of the agricultural education model: Supervised Agricultural Experiences. When my students see what these students can
and will do, it provides them a level of confidence in themselves and for their future students—all students—that propels them into their careers as future agricultural educators. This program is as much for the future of agricultural teachers as it is for the present of the students with differing learning abilities,” expressed the enthusiastic professor.
Bringing a New Program to Henderson
When Ella started as an agent in January 2020, she was told she would want to have a program that is hers. Livestock is the area she works with, and she already worked with the high school’s special education students during the months of September-May. Every month the students will come over and do an activity. Within 4-H, there are seven core areas and within those areas the youth development agents try to provide different programs relating to science, technology, etc.
“I was trying to brainstorm what I should do to bring a unique program here, and it honestly didn’t hit me until we were sitting here in a meeting with the livestock committee that is part of the fair board,” Ella explained. “They have a group of special needs kids coming out
to the livestock show at the fair, and it hit me like the broad side of a building.” Ella thought, “We could do a show!”
That night she started putting pieces together and contacting people and everything fell into place. Unfortunately, they did not have pigs to show but Ella approached Heather Fehd and her daughter, Montana, and asked if she could use their dairy goats. JT Payne was generous enough to let them use part of his greenhouse at the high school. Murray students came to the high school for the first two meetings on Friday, April 29 and Friday, May 6. The students met their MSU buddies for the first time and were introduced to the goats during the first meeting. During the second meeting, the students used dry shampoo to have hands-on experience to get to know the goats. They also made goats out of a larger version of tinker toys and were able to mimic walking the goats around to perform a mock show. Their official show was held on Friday, May 13.
They were able to provide the students with t-shirts, trophies, back numbers and brushes. There was a show ring and they put plants down to make everything pretty around the show area. The students helped get the goats ready, and they wanted to help take everything down. They packed gates, shoveled, etc. Each student was able to go home with a framed picture of themselves with a goat. There were about 20 special education students who participated and around five Murray State students. After the show, the “Build-A-Sandwich” food truck supplied food and lunch for the students to have a picnic. A percent of all their
sales goes to autism groups.
There was only one judge, Terry Burkes—a nationally known judge. He has judged at all the big Texas shows and across the country, and he used to work with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Ella said Terry’s smile was so big watching these students show their goats.
McCallister (“Mac”) Killian, who participated in both the 2019 and the 2022 programs, said, “The Challenge Me Program has made such an immeasurable impact on my life! In 2019, I had the pleasure of seeing the students have their ah ha moment! This year I felt the same way when the students were showing their goats. I also was truly amazed with the students’ ability to work with the livestock. Prior to this experience, I honestly wouldn’t think the amount of independent care of livestock could be given from a person with special needs. These students were so excited and loving of all the livestock; it was truly an amazing experience that I hope I can continue to be a part of in my future career!”
The Future of Challenge Me 4-H
Murray State will remain as the partner for the “Challenge Me 4-H” program here in Henderson County. Next year, they have it worked out to where it will be an assignment within Dr. Bellah’s agricultural class at Murray State. Murray State students need a certain amount of hours outside of the classroom, so it’s an opportunity for Murray’s students to get that part of their curriculum while assisting our students here at Henderson County High School.
The show was open to the public, but next year Ella would like to make the event bigger with more community involvement. She would love to see sponsors for t-shirts and other materials. Ella would also like to find pigs to add to their show alongside the goats.
This program will take place the same time each year—end of April into beginning of May. Although it is unique in Henderson as of now, Ella would like to see it in other offices throughout Kentucky. Since she was at Murray State when the program began, that is really how it was able to come to life here in Henderson County.
Ella was so happy with how smoothly this first year went. There were no hiccups. Everyone had a smile on their face. Ella explained, “We had one student, Christopher. His dad came, and he was so excited. He wanted to introduce his dad to everyone. The spotlight was on them, and it was their show!” It was touching for all to see.
“What I enjoyed most was seeing their faces—seeing the looks on their faces when they went out into the show ring for the first time. You could see they
were so excited to go out there. One student looked at the judge and said he would be first that day. They were just so confident,” exclaimed the 4-H agent.
When Ella was in college, she was also on the Team Purebred Junior Board for two years from 2016-2018 where she served as the national President from 2017-2018. Kids across the country apply to be on these boards. You interview and give a speech. Ella had a friend who was on the board, and she helped work a weekend with her in Mississippi. Her friend encouraged her to apply. Within those two years, she traveled to shows all around the country. “I knew when I did that, I wanted to be within youth development of some type. I just didn’t know what that looked like,” Ella said.
When Ella came off the board, she was in graduate school and her last two semesters were headed her way. The job opening for her current position popped up after she graduated. She applied, and the rest is history. “It has been a blessing. I am so glad that I am here and able to bring a program like this to Henderson!” HF
LYNDI MAUK, editor of Henderson Family Magazine, was born and raised in the Bluegrass State. She is grateful to be going through life alongside her husband and best friend, Brandon, and being a mother to their two kids.
henderson extension office
INTRODUCING JESSICA BUCKMAN
The Henderson County Cooperative Extension Office is excited to introduce their new Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources-Jessica Buckman. Jessica started as the ANR agent in December of 2021 after the position was empty for two years.
Jessica brings a wide range of knowledge to assist the farming community of Henderson County. Her love for the agriculture industry started early on. By growing up on a farm in Union County, she knows what it is like to not only work on a farm but also joins with education and hands-on experience under her belt. Jessica graduated from Murray State University with her Bachelors in Animal Science and will continue her education working towards her master’s degree. She wants to become more advanced in the grain/crop side of agriculture, so she hopes to pursue her masters within this area of study. In high school, Jessica was involved in 4-H and FFA. In college, she was involved in the Block and Bridle club, rode on the Equestrian Team and participated in three internships. Two of them being at the UK Research Center in Princeton, KY. There, she worked with the forage research department, alongside forage specialist- Dr. Chris Teutsch. She also spent one summer as a 4-H intern at the Union County Extension Office.
Jessica’s role is very broad with no day ever being the same. “I am most excited about learning and meeting new people. After my internships in college, I got a taste of what it’s like to be an Extension agent and made it a goal of mine before I graduated college that I wanted a job like this. I knew I really enjoyed it, so luckily this opened up not long after I graduated. One of my favorite things about my position is getting to help people.”
Currently, Jessica’s main focus is learning the office procedures and expectations of her position and learning more about the county and what the needs are. This will help her decide what programs to offer our local farmers. Jessica will provide programs where specialists will come in from the University of Kentucky and teach on specific topics. For example, a beef specialist from Lexington, KY is scheduled to come in August to talk about different record keeping techniques on an app he has created. It’s a way for farmers to keep track of cattle records and keep them upto-date.
Outside of planning programs for our local farmers, Jessica talks every Tuesday morning on WSON radio. She shares what is currently happening in the farming industry and provides information on upcoming events and/or programs our local farmers may want to attend. This is only one of the many avenues used to spread information to our farming community. Farmers can always check out their Facebook page- Henderson County Agriculture, or sign up for their mailing list.
It is very important to Jessica to bring fresh, new ideas and offerings to Henderson County. With that being said, she would like to have more programs and get out to the farms to build relationships, know the farmers by name and be able to do research-based projects out on the farms. Jessica plans to offer a grain marketing program because this would be very beneficial to the farmers with the fluctuating prices. These are only a few of the ideas she has been brainstorming to bring to the Henderson community.
Jessica has been working hard during her first seven months in her new agent position and being hands-on and available in all areas is one of the many goals she has. A couple programs that Jessica has offered is private applicator training, so that farmers can update their private applicator cards, as this is necessary in order to be able to spray chemicals on their farm and must be updated every three years. She also teaches BQCA (Beef Quality Care Assurance) in order for producers to receive their BQCA card. This is a way to ensure that quality care and proper action is being demonstrated in the beef industry. Most ag programs will be held in the winter months when farmers are not busy in the fields.
When Jessica isn’t in the office she is normally preparing for her upcoming wedding in October, working on their family’s cattle farm or riding her horse.
Jessica hopes to be of help not only to local farmers but to provide advice to local students interested in pursuing a background in agriculture. She said, “Internships give you a big advantage. They are going to look at that on your resume. Being involved in college with the different organizations and clubs and just making sure you are getting out there and interacting with other people. That will give you a chance to learn about different careers and talk to people in different positions that may have the kind of job you are pursuing. It’s a great idea to take advantage of career fairs and any mock interviews that colleges may offer. It’s always been important to me to get out of my comfort zone and get involved in different events/organizations throughout college in order to accomplish goals. This is a tactic I use with my job also and it really helps!”
Jessica continues to push herself by partnering and working alongside agents from surrounding counties because it will help her grow, learn and provide Henderson County farmers with the programs and information needed to be successful, and Jessica is so excited to be the agent assisting our farming community! For questions about upcoming programs, you may reach Jessica at 270-826-8387. HF
