Extension provided in-service training to improve the knowledge and skills of over 85 child care providers in the areas of nutrition, food safety, discipline, home safety, communication, nutrition and meal management. Backpack Buddies, a monthly parenting newsletter, reached more than 1,500 parents of kindergarten and first grade students in Brown County. Over 1,300 newsletters are distributed bimonthly through food stamp distribution, WIC, Grads and Head Start. Participants learned basic nutrition, meal management, food safety, and budgeting. Nearly 300 farmers in Brown County are licensed to purchase restricted-use chemicals.
Educational activities covering safe handling and use of pesticides continues to be emphasized.
Public meetings to assist farmers with applications for applying for Tobacco Loss Assistance Program and Phase II Tobacco Settlement payments were continued. Grain marketing training was provided to farmers to assist grain farmers as they attempt to increase their profit during the recent low grain prices. An 11-week course was offered from OSU for farmers who wished to expand their marketing skills to all current opportunities. This class was taught at Southern State Community College. OSU Extension conducted a youth livestock judging contest in which over 300 youth participated in at the Brown County Fair.