Making Seasonal Centerpieces

Just a reminder about the Quick Bites Session Thursday from 12 - 1 p.m. at the Oktibbeha County Extension Service. Lynette will do her regular demo and you can construct your centerpiece along with her.

Here is the link to her Facebook page with several photos of the construction process along with a list of supplies and suggested materials for you. Please bring your supplies to Thursday's session if you would like to work along side Lynnette. Either way, it will be fun!
The link to the photos -  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.956407375056.2346158.26508798&type=1&l=97e5e48d54

Mechanics needed for the centerpiece:

• container
• 1/3 block floral foam, hydrated by free-float method
• waterproof tape

Floral materials:

• bare branch with multi-laterals
• 3 sunflowers or 3 large mass flowers
• 3 stems of spray chrysanthemum poms
• filler flower such as solidago

The collected foliages: in this design, coleus, abelia, maple leaves, nandina berries.

The steps are listed in the facebook photos. Click on the first photo to enlarge it and the instructions for that step are listed below the photo. Click the right arrow next to the enlarged photo to see the next step and instructions.

For more information please call 323-5916.

Honey...Natures Nectar

Come join us this Thursday from 12-1 and learn about Honey, it is the sweet gift from nature! Discover the benefits of honey as Dr. Breland shares information and tips about ways to use honey, cooking with honey, and storing honey. The presenter is Dr. Judith Breland, County Extension Director, Stone County

Beef Up the Blood Supply

Come and join us for a free hamburger and help "Beef up the Blood Supply". The MSU Collegiate Cattlemen's Association and the Oktibbeha County Cattlemen's Association are sponsoring a blood drive on Thursday, October 27th outside of the Colvard Student Union from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The first 100 people to donate blood will receive a free hamburger.

Farmers learn about their Crops!

Over 40 forest farmers in attendance at today's Pine Plantation Management Short Course and over 30 forage producers attending this weekends Warm Season Forage Tour!! What a great week so far for Oktibbeha Extension!! Check out our events for upcoming educational programs!

Northeast District 4-H Horse Show

Oktibbeha Extension is very excited about hosting the 2011 Northeast District 4-H Horse Show this week at the MS Horse Park!! Free admission come and cheer on our Oktibbeha County 4-H'ers!! Free admission! Come and cheer on the Oktibbeha County4-H'ers!

Savings for Summer (Quick Bites)

Time:  12 - 1 p.m. - bring your lunch
Date:  April 28, 2011, Thursday
Location:  Oktibbeha County Extension Conference Room
Speaker:   Susan Cosgrove, Family Resource Management, Newton County, will help prepare us for our summer with some tips, "$avings for $ummer: Plans, Trips, & Tips for Making the Most With Your Money".

Equine Interest Group Meeting

Date: April 18, 2011

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Oktibbeha County Extension Service

Topic: Dean Jousan, Extension 4-H Livestock Specialist, will be present to give a 4-H Horse Show and Con-test Update; Dr. Jim Watson, State Veterinarian, will give a disease and heath care update on the issues that may be affecting equine across the state; and a representative from the Vet School, will present on Foal Care and Development.

Call Julie White (323-5916) for more information

Home Gardens (Quick Bites)

Date:  April 14, 2011, Thursday
Time:  12 - 1 p.m. - bring your lunch
Location:  Oktibbeha County Extension Conference Room
Speaker:   Dr. Lelia Kelly, Consumer Horticulture Specialist, will have some great info on making our home gardens spectacular for the spring!

Women in Agriculture Conference

Date: April 12-14, 2011

Location: Bost Extension Center, MSU Campus

Topics:  Participants will get the opportunity to learn about managing finances in the current economic environment and find out how the Mississippi Market Maker initiative can increase the visibility of their businesses. There also will be an interactive agriculture and forestry tour. New this year is a Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce candidates’ forum. Candidates Cindy Hyde-Smith, Max Phillips and Dannie Reed have confirmed that they will participate in the forum. The conference registration fee is $50, and attendees will have the option to choose either an annual or lifetime membership.

                                                       Please call 323-5916 for more information or to register

Wood ID Workshop

Date:  April 12, 2011

Time:  8 a.m. – noon

Location:  Oktibbeha County Extension

Topics:  Identifying wood, softwood anatomy, hardwood anatomy and hands on wood identification.  Foresters will earn 3 hours of continuing forestry education , category 1-CF hours.

Please call 323-5916 to register by April 11^th.

Beef Cattle Boot Camp

Date: April 8, 2011

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Location: Prairie Research Station

Topics: Performance Data Collection, Calving Assistance, Parasite Control, Cattle Behavior and Welfare, Weed Control, Poisonous Plant ID, Diet Transitions, Fence Building, Freezer Beef

Cost: Registration fees for the Beef Cattle Boot Camp are$35 per person.

Call Julie White (323-5916) for more information or to register

Cool Season Forage Tour/Oktibbeha County Cattlemen’s Meeting

Date:  April 5, 2010

Time:  5:00 p.m.

Location:  MSU Leveck Research Unit (South Farm)

Program:  This tour will cover some of the cool-season forage research and demonstrations. 

RSVP:  For meal reservations please call by April 1, 2011 (323-5916)

Oktibbeha County Cattlemen's Meeting

The Oktibbeha County Cattlemen will have a meeting on February 24, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the Oktibbeha County Extension Office. Ms. LeAnn Peters from the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association will be speaking at the meeting about the benefits of being a memeber of the association. A steak supper will be served. Please call 323-5916 if you plan to attend.

Master Gardner Volunteer Training Program

The new curriculum for the Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program is completed and we are now ready to offer our new class this spring. The dates of training are February 15, 17, 22, 24, March 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, and March 24. 2011. These classes are on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Class schedule is enclosed. The location of the training is in the conference room at the Oktibbeha Count...y Extension Service located at 106 Felix Long Drive, Starkville, MS.
The program trains individuals who want to serve the County Extension Office as horticultural volunteers to assist in Extension horticultural programs, 4-H youth horticulture training and community service projects. You work under the direction of the County Extension Director on projects of your mutual agreement.
The program requires 40 hours of initial training given to the trainee by Extension Specialists. After that person has satisfactorily completed an additional 40 hours of volunteer time in his or her county during the 12 months following the training received he or she may be certified as an official Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.

ServSafe Certification Class

There will be a ServSafe training held March 30 and 31, 2011 at the Oktibbeha County Extension Service. Food service establishments needing ServSafe certification may sign up, pay, and receive a book at the MSU- Extension Service Oktibbeha County Extension Service, which is located at 106 Felix Long Drive, Starkville, MS. The office is open from 8 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. –5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The last day to register is February 28, 2011. Extension Service’s ServSafe class is 14-hours and participants are expected to have read, studied, and know the answers to all questions in the book before they come to class.

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise Brown Bag Edcuational Series

	If any of your resolutions involve financial health, you may want to enroll in our 12-week Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise Financial Education series during the noon hour each Wednesday, starting January 19 and ending April 6 at the Oktibbeha County Extension Service.