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.

Food for Families - Annual Food Drive

Kay Bain Presents the Annual Food for Families Food Drive
Dates: October 1, 2020 – December 17, 2010
Times: 8 a.m. – 12 noon and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Local Drop Off Location: Oktibbeha County Extension Office
All food donated will go the support the food pantry at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Starkville.

Cogongrass Awareness Meetings

The Oktibbeha County Cattlemen and Forest Farmers are hosting Cogongrass Awareness meetings on November 9, 2010 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Congongrass is an invasive weed that has entered Oktibbeha County. Jim Handcock from MFC and Dr. John Byrd from MSU-ES will be assisting participants with identification and treatments of... the weed. Please call 323-5916 if you plan to attend.

Potty Training: When Is It Time?

Potty Training:  When Is It Time?

Dr. Carla C. Stanford, CFLE

MSU Extension Service

Area Agent, Child & Family Development

carlas@ext.msstate.edu

There has been much ado about potty training, also known as toilet learning.  When to start?  How to start?  We could make a series out of this but for now, let’s focus on WHEN to start.

When you notice certain behaviors in a child, it could be time to start potty training. Below are some questions that should be asked when considering potty training a child.

1. Is the child at least 18 to 20 months old?  (On average, a child’s elimination muscles are physically not ready until this age.)  Nationally, the average age for female training is 22 to 24 months and 26 months for males.

2. Can the child stay dry for long periods of time throughout the day?

3. Can child remain dry for at least most of the night?

4. Is child uncomfortable when wearing a wet or soiled diaper?

The answers to these questions should be “yes” when considering the beginning of potty training.  Good luck as you work through this process with your child!

Dr. Stanford is a nationally certified Family Life Educator currently serving as Child and Family Development Agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.  For more information on child and family development or to book an event, contact Stanford at (662) 489-3910 or email her at carlas@ext.msstate.edu .  Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or group affiliation, age, disability, or veteran status.