Hopkins County 4-H & Youth Program By Johanna Hicks
Several of my previous columns featured major programs that are offered through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Hopkins County. One of the major branches under the large umbrella of Extension is the 4-H & Youth program, so I wanted to focus on some of the accomplishments of our youth. Hopkins County boasts nearly 150 4-H...
A Year in Review – Master Wellness Volunteer Initiative By Johanna Hicks
Note: This is the 4th in a series of “A Year in Review,” highlighting major program efforts in the area of Family & Community Health. In the United States, 80% of all health spending is related to chronic conditions – things like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and...
Agrilife: Hopkins County 4-H Members Featured; Master Wellness Volunteer Training; Jalapeno Cornbread
Hopkins County 4-H Members Featured In the next few weeks, you’ll be reading about the variety of programs, series, workshops, field days, and other events offered through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Hopkins County. We recently held our annual Extension Leadership Banquet to honor our committees, Master Volunteers, 4-H leaders,...
Become a Master Wellness Volunteer! By Johanna Hicks
Become a Master Wellness Volunteer! Be a part of something BIG! In the United States, 86% of all health spending is related to chronic conditions – things like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and many others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these costs can be managed and potentially reduced through education and lifestyle modification. Texas A&M...
Extension Volunteers Recognized
Extension Recognizes Volunteers Every November, our Extension staff recognizes our valuable team of committee members, Leadership Advisory Board, Youth Board, Master Volunteers, and affiliated committees. The Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers alone have contributed 353.85 hours of volunteer work during the first 10 months of 2016. Our Leadership Advisory Board and Youth Board met three times during the year, and our program...
Agrilife: Get in Shape; Christmas Joys Program
Let’s Get in Shape! It seems that there is a growing trend toward health and fitness. From commercials, to Facebook posts, to fitness classes, and “light” menus in restaurants, the message is clear that there are options for helping achieve a few pounds of weight loss or making heathier food choices. The problem often comes in the price tag. Classes, fitness equipment, and special weight-loss products all cost money, and I’m...
Marriage Education and Master Wellness Volunteer Training Offer Winter Opportunities
With the approaching Christmas season, I’m also getting geared up for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s winter workshops. Two fabulous opportunities are available for anyone wanting to participate, and I wanted to get the word out in plenty of time for you to write it on your calendar! Here is a summary of the upcoming events: Twogether in Texas Marriage Education Workshop – As one of the certified providers in the area, this...
Making Holiday Recipes Healthier
Johanna Hicks By Johanna Hicks, Texas AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County Holiday meals can be made healthier without any significant difference in taste by using some basic recipe substitutions or alterations. According to my colleague, Dr. Jenna Anding, specialist in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at Texas A&M University, sugar, fat and sodium content of many holiday recipes can...
Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness By Johanna Hicks
Note: this is the 3rd in a series of “A Year in Review,” highlighting major program efforts in the area of Family & Community Health. Any parent who has had a 1st thru 4th grade child in the Sulphur Springs ISD the past 8 years has probably heard of this camp. The camp, started in 2010, was developed by the Community Health/Wellness Alliance as a way to address childhood health in Hopkins County. Relevance: ...
Three Great Opportunities with Approaching Deadlines By Johanna Hicks
Three Great Opportunities with Approaching Deadlines! If you are the least bit familiar with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Hopkins County, you know that we always have something going on! Extension provides many educational programs, so today, I want to focus on three upcoming events. 1) ¡Si, Yo Puedo Controlar Mi Diabetes! is a 7-lesson series to help individuals manage their type 2 diabetes. This series is slightly different...