By Linna Jones
Clarion Staff
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension for Desha County offers a variety of programs and resources for county residents.
The State of Arkansas Extension Program offers a variety of programs, but each office selects programs that will benefit their areas. The Desha County office, located at 310 Oak Street in McGehee, offers information and services such as pesticide training, soil sample testing, 4-H programs, Extension Get Fit classes, SNAP education, cooking classes and healthy eating, financial program for high school in Dumas and McGehee, and Family life and best care training. The office is open Monday -Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm The Desha county office uses committees to select the top five projects that will benefit the county and its residents.
The agriculture agents provide research demonstrations around the county, pesticide training, farm safety, weed management and animal forages.
Pesticide training is provided by the Desha County Ag Extension agent in January and February. To buy chemicals producers must have a license. The program is available to producers and farm workers. Recipients are certified through the state plant board. The class lasts 4 hours in person or online. The plant board offers certifications for 4 year and 1 year license. Participants will have to receive training for any pesticides.
Soil sample testing provides information on your plants fertility needs, type of soil and what your plant needs are for your garden, crops or even scrubs for home owners and producers. A sample size is a quart size bag or a box provided by the extension office. Samples will need to include the location of the soil sample and type of plant, like corn, peas, or okra, to be planted in the location. The soil testing test for three plant types to be planted in the soil area and diagnose any the nutrition needs for that area. The service is free to the public with the exception of Nematodes and manure samples. They have 50-100 home owners participate and can test every year or every other year. Participants will need to include their name, address, phone number, email and what they will be planting.
They also have a tri-county Master Gardeners group. To be a master gardener, participants will have to have 40 hour continuous training, they meet once a month and host projects in community. The program is open to everyone.
The 4-H program offers several state level opportunities for 4-H participants from 5-19. The Desha County 4-H program offers clubs that work to teach parliamentary procedure, cooking classes, clubs in schools and life skills. They also offer specialized courses in ATV training, shooting sports, and STEM activities.
In addition to learning about leadership, the 4-H students learn about team building and often participate in community service.
“We try to teach life skills. We do it in different clubs and different schools,” Reed said.
Once a year they host ORAMAS, a District and State event style competition. Participants compete in a variety of activities including BB gun shooting, know the parts of a bicycle and how to put it together, and have knowledge of the types of fish and parts of a fishing rod.
The Desha County office offers activities such as in state and county summer camps, fishing derbies, guest speakers and field trips. This summer they will have a geologist come to visit with the 4-H students. Volunteers are welcomed, and all volunteers will have to go through a background check.
The Exercise Get Fit is an exercise base program for anyone 18 years old or older can participate. The program is geared toward older adults, but anyone is welcomed to join. The program works to improve and sustain everyday living; prevent falls, and help keep people in everyday living activities. . The program also provides social opportunities for participants. Reed hosts the program two days a week in McGehee, but said if there is interest a group can be started in Dumas. Usually there is a leader for the group and leader training is available. The program cost $20 a year per person. Participants can sign up by calling the extension office.
The SNAP Ed is a state program that is federally funded. The program teaches about nutrition and healthy living for all SNAP eligible people, schools and locations. They go to the food pantry to hand out healthy recipes for the food items available for distribution.
They offer cooking classes and how to prepare healthy food with fresh ingredients. Reed once taught a program on Mediterranean cooking class.
The extension office also provides financial training for high school students called “Get Real, Here's the Deal”. The program teaches students about budgeting, banking, and credit card management. Students participate in a simulation where they receive an occupation, pay taxes on their income, and live on a budget for everyday living after taxes. Students also learn how to prepare for an interview and what to expect at a job.
The Family life program is a 10 hour training course in the county for daycare workers that need hours in continuing education units. Participants can also access training online with Best Care Connected, a 5 hour online training course. For more information on any Desha County Extension office programs can learn more about programs at https://www.uaex.uada.edu/counties/desha/default.aspx or contact the office at (870) 222-3972.
They are a part of the University of Arkansas System Cooperative Extension Service's statewide network and the U of A System's Division of Agriculture. Their mission is to provide research-based information through non-formal education to help all Arkansans improve their economic well-being and the quality of their lives. Whether it's agriculture, 4-H, family and Consumer science, or community development, our Desha County office is at your service.
The Desha County office is staffed by Heather Reed, Staff Chair, Leta Lampkin, Administrative Assistant III and Gabe Pace, the new County Extension Agent-Agriculture. Reed is the Family and Consumer Science Agent/Staff Chair. She started working at the extension office August 16, 2011. Her family includes her husband, Nick and her two daughters, Madalyn Day and Annabella Day. She enjoys Riding horses and spending time family.
“As an Extension Agent I enjoy implementing programs to meet the needs of target audiences and give resources and information to clientele of program activities. I deliver programs through workshops, and hands-on activities. I like interacting with people on a one-on-one basis,” Reed said.
Lampkin started working part-time at the extension office in 2006-2007 and started full time in June of 2008. She enjoys working at the extension office because it provides a wealth of information on horticulture and meeting new people is also a plus. She likes to help clients find the answer to their yard, garden, and crop questions. During her free time, she enjoys gardening; working in her yard; going on RV trips with her husband and her four dogs, fishing; going to plant nurseries, playing the piano and going to church.
Their agents and staff serve the people of Dumas, McGehee, Arkansas City, and other Desha County towns by providing free unbiased, research-based advice for farmers and families.
They can help you with 4-H youth development, soil testing, insecticide recommendations, weed id, produce safety, animals and forages, money management, parenting, food safety and preservation, nutrition and so much more.
