EXTENSION TRENDS: PAYETTE COUNTY University of Idaho Extension, Payette County • www.uidaho.edu/payette
2019 Impact UI Extension, Payette County faculty work to adapt research to the everyday lives of citizens, empowering them to solve their own problems. UI Extension Educator Karie Boone has developed entirely new programming for small acreage farms and food systems in Payette County. This includes four different classes, an advisory committee and initial assessment of community interests/needs.
2019 By the Numbers • 5,767 direct contacts • 425 youth participants • 242 volunteers • 1,608 volunteer hours • $51,600 extramural funding
Our Advisory Council Special thanks to our volunteers who help shape programming and inform the work we do for UI Extension in Payette County.
UI Extension Educators Karie Boone 208-642-6022 kboone@uidaho.edu
Joey Petuz 208-642-6022 joeyp@uidaho.edu
The main goal of the UI Extension Eat Smart Idaho program is to increase the self-sufficiency and health of food stamp individuals and low-resource families through community-based, informal experiential education that builds basic living skills and decision-making capabilities. UI Extension Educator Joey Peutz is the southern district administrator and Rebecca Luna is Payette County grant funded nutrition instructor. Luna reached 882 youth and adults in 2019. As a result of 2019 efforts, 91% of adult participants showed improvement in one or more diet quality indicators (i.e., eating fruits, vegetables, red and orange vegetables, dark green vegetables, drinking less regular soda (not diet), or sugary drinks, and cooking dinner at home) and 70% of adults showed improvements in one or more physical activity behaviors (i.e., exercising for at least 30 minutes, doing workouts to strengthen muscles, or making small changes to be more active). Peutz offered a yearlong Diabetes Prevention Program to 22 New Plymouth community members in 2019-20. The program is proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in those that are high risk. It was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is designed for people with prediabetes, as well as those who are at high risk for diabetes. This program focused on supporting a 5-7% weight loss and 150 minutes of physical activity each week for participants. Fourteen participants attended 80% or more of the yearlong classes with nine participants losing a minimum of 5% weight, reducing their risk of getting diabetes by 58% (71% for those over the age of 60).
4-H in Payette County Payette County 4-H Youth Development offers many educational opportunities to empower youth to grow and thrive. Youth learned about the care and management of livestock projects through experiential livestock clinics using the UI Extension 4-H Youth Development animal science curriculum. Showmanship education was offered to youth by 4-H staff and volunteers at six different events to achieve project requirements. Plans for a livestock quiz bowl and a livestock judging team are underway in Payette County. Payette County horse volunteers held a Cayuse Camp for southern district youth in December. Community volunteers lead the youth through several stations for learning about the care of horses, tack and anatomy. A collaboration has begun with the Weiser River Trail Association for youth to participate in a trail ride and overnight camp during the summer for a truly “hands-on camping with horses” experience for the youth. Youth members were involved in contests for
hippology, horse bowl and judging. Payette County youth also qualified for and attended a National Horse Judging competition in Colorado in 2019. STEM education for 4-H volunteers was held in February to begin teaching coding for youth to be delivered at club meetings. Plans are to get youth involved with more STEM projects.
On the Horizon Boone is excited about the development of a hands-on teaching farm, completing a community-driven food systems assessment process in Payette County, and working toward action items based on the food systems assessment. Marilyn O'Leary, 4-H coordinator, is excited about increasing STEM educational activities in Payette County for youth. Peutz is excited about building strong partnerships within the community, increasing the impact of health programs and addressing health disparities in Payette County.