Expand Your Horizons By Johanna Hicks
Expand Your Horizons! Texas A&M AgriLife Extension prides itself in quality volunteers and collaborators. Because of feedback from several people, we are bringing a workshop to Sulphur Springs which will have far-reaching impact, not only on Hopkins County, but also in surrounding counties. The Certified Volunteer Training for Judging Fairs, Festivals, and Events, will take place on two separate days, with each...
Epic Fail: 97% to be Exact By Johanna Hicks
Epic Fail: 97% to be Exact Many news pieces come across my desk daily, but one really caught my attention. Since a large part of my job is food safety and health, I thought this information was worth sharing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that new research shows consumer are failing to properly clean their hands when it comes to washing them before meals – 97%! The study showed that rushed and improper...
July-Lots of Good Things Coming By Johanna Hicks
July – Lots of Good Things Coming! June is over and July is here! Where has the time gone? The 8th annual “Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness” was another huge success and the survey results proved that the camp participants learned some facts that many adults do not know. Examples: “How many steps equal 1 mile?, How many food groups should be included in breakfast?, Nuts and eggs are part of which food group?” I hope...
Help Save Lives this July 4th By Johanna Hicks
Help Save Lives This July Fourth! For the past 242 years, on July Fourth, Americans have celebrated the birth of our great nation. We set off fireworks, fly American flags, attend special concerts, and partake in backyard barbecues and pool parties galore. But as the celebrations wind down and friends and families head home, it’s vital we all work together to spread this life-saving message: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. This...
Summer is Here-Too Much Sun Hurts By Johanna Hicks
Summer is Here – Too Much Sun Hurts Followers of my Facebook page (Hopkins County Family & Community Health) have already seen this information, but I thought it was worth repeating. With summer here, more and more people will be outdoors for vacation, swimming, or playing. Just a few serious sunburns can increase your child’s risk of skin cancer later in life. Their skin needs protection from the sun’s harmful...
CPR, Kids Camp, and 4-H Project Tour Day By Johanna Hicks
Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED and Basic First Aid Offered Have you taken CRP and First Aid, but your certification expired? Does your place of employment require this certification? Do you want to receive the training for your own personal benefit? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, I have a solution for you! A few weeks ago, a colleague from Upshur County contacted me about the possibility...
Profile: Johanna Hicks…Her Life Makes a “Dairy” Good Story!
Everyone in Hopkins County knows Johanna Hicks, Hopkins County Extension agent with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office which she shares locally with fellow agent Mario Villarino and office manager Barbara Sanders. Over the years, she has become a local food celebrity with her many Dairy Foods contests, cooking and tasting events. As a Dairy Festival board member, she helped create this year’s exciting “Whipped...
Are You Ready for the Whipped Challenge and Other Upcoming Events? By Johanna Hicks
Are You Ready for the Whipped Challenge? The buzz is building and plans are in full swing as we prepare for the 2018 Hopkins County Dairy Festival “Whipped” Challenge. Businesses, civic clubs, churches, schools, and organizations are encouraged to enter a team. So, what is the “Whipped Challenge?” If you have ever watched the popular show called “Chopped” on the Food Network, we are patterning our event after that...
Happy Mother’s Day & Summer Camps for Kids By Johanna Hicks
Happy Mother’s Day Sunday is a special day for moms all across the country. Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Father’s Day,...
Are You at Nutrition Risk? By Johanna Hicks
Are You at Nutrition Risk? I recently had the privilege of implementing a nutrition program targeted toward the 55+ crowd, and we had some very good discussions! We started off by taking a quiz, followed by reviewing some nutrients that are often lacking in the diets of older adults. Take the quiz below to see if you are at nutrition risk: 1) Have you changed the kind or amount of food you eat because of a...
