Belknap County Programs

UNH Cooperative Extension provides Belknap County citizens with research-based education and information, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions that strengthen youth, families and communities, sustain natural resources, and improve the economy. As a university outreach program, we have a network of professional Extension staff located in NH’s ten counties. We work with UNH researchers and local volunteers to design and conduct educational programs that meet societal, environmental and economic needs.  

• 4-H Youth Development
• Agricultural Resources
• Family and Consumer Resources
• Forestry
• Nutrition Connections
  

4-H Youth Development - Becky Levesque

Becky Levesque is the Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development providing opportunities for 273 Belknap County youth 5 – 18 years. 134 volunteers (94 female and 40 male) mentored young people in projects of interest.  Using the “learn by doing” model, young people improve project and life skills including public speaking, parliamentary procedures, leadership development, and an appreciation of community through service projects. Global Positioning Systems, Aerospace, and Animal & Plant Science programs are delivered to encourage young people to apply science, engineering, and technology principles and practices in their everyday lives, provide post-secondary educational and career oriented direction.

• 22 4-H groups represent the following communities: 19% Alton, 18% Barnstead, 12% Tilton, 10% Laconia, 10% New Hampton, 9% Sanbornton, 7% Belmont, 7% Gilmanton, 5% Gilford, 3% Meredith
• 22 Food Stamp eligible youth participated in the “Food Is Fun” correspondence course which covers food safety, eating nutritional foods, physical activity, and reading labels.
• 135 young people demonstrated higher level communication skills at the Belknap County 4-H Fair through exhibits, animal shows, animal science quizzes, hands on activities, and teaching the general public about agriculture, science, and technology.
• 25 youth completed record keeping books for review. An additional 9 teens completed training on resume development. 14 youth participated in panel interviews
• 14 youth interviewed for county and state 4-H awards, interviews prepare teens for job interviews.
• 8 teens attended the state wide career trips, 28 participated in UNH Teen Leadership Conference, 46 attended 4-H camp.
• 12 volunteers participated in formal local, state and/or regional training to increase their skill in positive youth development techniques.
• 9 youth and adults learned techniques in Safe Food Handling in preparation for running a food booth.
• A focused effort to strengthen the county wide teen club has served as a venue to engage young adolescents that are not involved in sports. Through collaborations with juvenile diversion programs, 4 teens have been referred to the teen club for positive programming. One of these young men attends regularly, calls when questions arise, has taken multiple leadership roles, and demonstrates an understanding of parliamentary procedure. The group’s focus is leadership, community service, and specialized projects of interest. (fishing, GIS, audio/video equipment, and Business Management to name a few.) Quote from a 15 year old participant: “I have developed organizational skills, the ability to work with others, and most of all the ability to understand animals and people. It really helped me out as a person, getting a sense of responsibility at an early age”.

Top of page

Agricultural Resources - Amy Ouellette

The Agricultural Resources program in Belknap County provides research-based information on soil science, integrated pest management, fruit and vegetable production, lawn care, pasture and hay land, nursery/bedding plant production and landscaping. During 2008, 262 phone calls and 27 drop-in inquiries were handled and 55 site visits were made by Belknap County’s Agriculture Educator, Amy Ouellette. In addition, 451 Belknap County residents attended workshops and presentations taught or planned by Amy and 282 phone calls were answered by Extension’s Family, Home and Garden Education Hot-Line (1-877-EXT-GROW). This toll-free line, staffed by Master Gardeners, is open M – F, 9 am until 2 pm.

Program Highlights in 2008:

• Eighty six licensed pesticide applicators were educated and received re-certification credits necessary to maintain their pesticide licenses. This group includes farmers, landscapers, exterminators and employees of greenhouses, golf courses and towns. Participants learned about environmental and human safety related to pesticides, sprayer calibration, integrated pest management, pesticide storage and proper disposal of pesticides.
• The extended summer rains caused widespread fungal diseases of plants throughout the lakes region. In July, Amy diagnosed plant diseases at a local farm and made recommendations for pesticide application, saving two substantial crops. The farmer managed to harvest almost 100% of these 14 acres, which yielded over $100,000 in revenue.
• One hundred twelve home gardeners attended eight workshops on fruit production, native pollinators, maintaining fields for wildlife, pruning ornamental plants, vegetable gardening, soil preparation for gardening, pesticide safety, turf maintenance and landscaping.
• Soil test results were analyzed and fertilizer recommendations were written for 101 gardens, 24 corn, forage and pastures, 15 commercial fruit or vegetable operations, 5 commercial landscapers, and 20 golf courses or town athletic fields.
• Forty three Master Gardeners contributed almost 800 hours of service in Belknap County in 2008. Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who share their enthusiasm for gardening by contributing to community projects and extending the reach of the Extension’s Agricultural Resources program. Master Gardeners contributed funds to the Belknap County Jail garden program and Amy Ouellette provided technical information to Superintendent Grenier throughout the growing season.
• Fifty three site visits were made to farms, garden centers, and municipal properties. Five state specialists in agriculture from UNH accompanied Amy Ouellette on these site visits. Recommendations on integrated pest management reduced pest injury (from plant disease and insects), saving producers money and reducing the impact of pesticides on the environment, primarily Lake Winnipesaukee and the region’s smaller lakes.

Top of page

Family and Consumer Resources - Suzanne Cagle

Suzanne Cagle is Extension Educator of Family & Consumer Resources for Belknap County. FCR programs fall into three broad subject areas:  Food Safety & Nutrition, Resource Management, and Child Development.  Information is available through one-day workshops, workshop series, publications, and direct consultation.  Over five hundred individuals participated in the various programs offered this year.  In addition, more than 600 families received parenting information through the Cradle Crier and Toddler Tales newsletter series.  

• Food Safety and Nutrition: The CDC estimates that 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths occur annually from food-borne illness.  FCR food safety programs target knowledge and behavior within the food service environment that is known to be connected to a reduction in risk such as good personal hygiene practices, preventing cross contamination, and controlling time and temperature conditions of food. The SAFE-Safety Awareness in the Food Environment program was offered 8 times this year to 125 food service workers in restaurants, schools, and other community organizations.
• Family Resource Management:  Many families are currently feeling increasing financial pressure.  Family Resource Management programs focus on increasing knowledge and skills in a variety of areas, including: identifying goals and developing a spending/savings plan, understanding credit and reducing overall debt, stretching resources, and becoming a more educated consumer. Workshops and series were offered 10 times in Belknap County in a variety of locations including at workplaces, the Laconia library, the Carey house, and the Belknap County House of Corrections.  126 people participated in Family Resource Management programs.  
• Parenting and Child Development:  Research indicates that when we increase positive, age appropriate experiences in childhood and support healthy adult/child relationships, we decrease the risks that children will engage in risky or anti-social behaviors as they move into adulthood.  To that end, the FCR Child Development programs focus on providing adult caregivers and role models with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance the experiences and relationships of children. Parenting programs were offered at the Meredith Community Center, Laconia Adult Ed., Gilford Elementary School and LRGH.  Workshops focused on providing caregivers with information about their child’s development, setting age appropriate expectations, using positive discipline strategies, and dealing effectively with conflict and stress.  89 caregivers participated in these programs. Workshops relating to child development were also offered to child care professionals in Belknap County.  69 local child care providers participated in programs designed to provide knowledge and resources to enhance children’s success. 

Top of page

Forestry and Wildlife- Andy Fast

Andy Fast is Extension Educator of Forest Resources for Belknap County. The Forestry and Wildlife program provides education to citizens, natural resource professionals and municipalities. Information is delivered through programs, site visits, walk-ins, telephone and email. Over 500 direct contacts were made this year.

Forest Stewardship: 

• 366 landowners were assisted through email and telephone conversations on a wide variety of forest resource and wildlife subjects. In addition, 63 landowners participated in 44 woodland exams covering 2,370 acres. A wide variety of topics were discussed including: wildlife habitat enhancement, silviculture, selling timber, forest management planning, the Current Use program, forest harvesting laws, conservation easements, forest ecology, recreational trails, how to hire a logger or forester, federal cost-share programs and chain saw safety.
• 53 referrals were made to consulting foresters for services including: stewardship plan preparation, timber stand improvement, timber sale preparation and administration, wildlife habitat enhancement, cost-share activities, boundary line identification, Current Use maps, and road layout.  
• Andy continued to provide technical assistance, outreach, and project review for Environmental Quality Assistance Program (EQIP) in Belknap County through a new MOU between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Forestry and Wildlife staff. 

2008 Tornado Damage Response:
In response to the 2008 tornado, Andy assisted 24 residents through email and phone calls as well as 11 residents through site visits that covered 202 acres. In addition to site visits, a comprehensive website was developed to provide information about storm damage, safety tips for cleanup, and to provide access to other state agency resources pertaining to disaster assistance and cleanup.

Financial Assistance to Landowners:
Reviewed and approved 3 cost-shared forest stewardship plans covering 247 acres.  The EQIP stewardship plan cost-share payments were $5229.  Reviewed and approved 3 acres of cost-shared timber stand improvement (TSI).  The EQIP TSI cost-share was $165. Assisted in the development of 2 WHIP prescribed fire plans. The prescribed fire plans and associated inventory cost-share payments were $8000.

Top of page

Nutrition Connections - Brenda Carey

Brenda Carey is an Extension Program Associate for the Nutrition Connections program in Belknap County. Nutrition Connections helps people living in or near poverty acquire the knowledge and skills needed to make changes in behavior, improve diets and to get more for their food dollars. Education is offered in the areas of nutrition, money management, food preparation, food safety, menu planning and smart shopping. Nutrition Connections also works with schools that meet income criteria.

Research has documented the effectiveness of this program for increasing the nutritional well-being of the families it serves. A national survey in 2007 showed that 92% of those “graduating” from these programs improved their dietary intake. This included an increase of about 1.4 servings per day of fruits and vegetables.

Nutrition Connections, through the national Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), saves families and tax payers money. Multiple cost benefit analyses in several states highlight the value of the program and document that for every dollar invested in EFNEP, benefits can reach as high as $10.64 from reduced health care costs. Another study showed that for every $1 to implement the program, $2.48 is saved on food expenditures, reducing the need for emergency food assistance.

In Belknap County, 337 youth and 260 adults with 521 family members participated in Nutrition Connections programming during the program year 2008. This includes one-time classes as well as people enrolled in a series of classes.

Data from pre/post surveys for adults taking a series of lessons indicate the following percentage of adults changed their behavior after they completed Nutrition Connections classes in 2007-2008:

• Overall, 85% of the adults who took a series of classes (usually 5-6 lessons), showed improvement in one or more nutrition practices. These include planning meals, comparing prices, not running out of food before the end of the month and shopping with a grocery list.
• Overall, 88% showed improvement in at least one of the following: making healthy food choices, preparing foods without adding salt, reading nutrition labels and making sure their children ate breakfast.
• Overall, 60% showed improvement in food safety such as thawing and/or storing foods properly. Food safety is critical to avoiding food borne illness Food borne illness can result in days lost from work or from school and increased health care costs.
  
  Teacher feedback from Belknap County schools is extremely exciting and positive. A few of the student changes observed by teachers include:

• Students are eating more fruits and vegetables.
• Students are eating breakfast more often.
• Students are going home and “teaching” their families about what they have learned.
• Students are making better choices at the grocery stores.
• Students are reading labels.
• Students are bringing healthier snacks from home.

Overall, people who participate in Nutrition Connections programs are making improved health/nutrition choices for themselves and their families. The implications to making smart nutrition choices are financial, emotional and physical. Nutrition Connections helps people learn how to become more self reliant and more independent. We provide the education to people so they have the tools, awareness and knowledge to make healthier choices.

Top of page