Extension goes online to keep youth, families and farmers engaged

The University of Missouri Extension may have shut down its offices but the organization continues to serve the public.

“Right now, our offices are closed,” Butler County Engagement and 4-H Specialist Stephanie Milner said. “We’re all working from home until May 15. … We’re doing a lot of classes through Zoom and Facebook and trying to connect by phone or email.”

Milner said that several in-person programs have been canceled, as well as face-to-face meetings.

“We had several 4-H programs canceled but we may do virtual clubs,” she said. “After-school programs, in-school programs, Earth Day programs (and) the career day program in Greenville (have been called off). We’ve canceled human development and grandparents meetings.”

Several events have also been canceled in Stoddard County, according to 4-H Youth Development Specialist Kristi Baker.

• The Youth Farm Animal Art Show that was scheduled to be held at the Stoddard County Courthouse on March 24-April 3 was been canceled. Entries were received as scheduled and judged.

“We received over 200 entries from Stoddard County schools but the opening reception and exhibit for the public were canceled,” Baker said. “Instead we went on our Stoddard County Extension Facebook page live (facebook.com/stoddardcountyextension) to present awards to winning artwork. By going live on Facebook, we reached 4,827 people, had 1,514 engagements, 282 comments (People were able to comment and ask questions during this live presentation) and 35 shares for a total of 2,400 views. By going live on Facebook, more people were able to see and participate in this exhibit. This was an amazing response from the community.”

• The University of Missouri Extension Council’s annual dinner has been postponed to a later date to be determined.

• 4-H Horse Camp scheduled for April 4 at the Three Rivers College Farm in Fairdealing was postponed until summer.

• Ag Day for Southeast Missouri schools, scheduled for May 8 at the Stoddard County Fairgrounds, has been postponed until fall. The event has tentatively been rescheduled for Oct. 15.

“Youth and adults are able to access programs and information through our 4-H Facebook page (facebook.com/StoddardCounty4H) or our extension page (facebook.com/stoddardcountyextension),” Baker said.

People in tandem with extension personnel have teamed up to create “innovative and engaging ways” to educate the public, according to a MU Extension press release.

Chelsea Corkins, county engagement specialist in 4-H youth development in Saline County, along with Blake Gazaway, Velynda Cameron and other 4-H specialists across the state, created a nine-week plan for Missouri youths that includes brief daily lessons via Zoom on a variety of topics.

The plan includes 30-minute 4-H Facebook Live sessions, such as “Simple Machines and Engineering Design,” in which Corkins explores science-based topics through hands-on lessons youths can easily replicate at home and a daily demonstration showcase, giving youths a forum to post videos showing their work on the “skill of the day,” according to a press release.

The MU Extension continues to work with farmers.

“We’re trying to get all the information out there, getting it out through email, Facebook and other social media,” Milner said.

Agriculture specialists have moved workshops online, including Joseph LaRose’s daylong “Digging Deep on Cover Crops and Soil Health.” Essential pesticide applicator training continues, as agronomist Pat Miller presents the mandatory instructional video via Zoom, sharing her screen to ensure all those who’ve registered are present.

The University of Missouri is also producing content on COVID-19.

“The university is heading up coronavirus research,” Milner said. “They’re doing research, and we do have publications on our Facebook pages. We’re not allowed to teach anything (about it) right now.”

MU Extension launched a statewide COVID-19 resources website (extension2.missouri.edu/covid-19-resources-public) to help Missouri families, communities, businesses and workers navigate this pandemic and response. This frequently updated centralized hub collects reliable and carefully sourced content from MU Extension and elsewhere, according to a MU Extension press release.

MU and the University of Missouri System are developing resources such as Show-Me ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) sessions for Missouri health care professionals on how to protect, diagnose and treat patients with COVID-19 and how to safeguard their communities.

The UM System Presidential Fellows, a contingent of academic ambassadors originally tasked to speak at events throughout the state, will develop TEDx-like video talks that will be delivered online.

The Missouri Small Business Development Centers website (sbdc.missouri.edu) has assembled a variety of relevant content, including the step-by-step guide, “Business Disruption Response: What’s Next?” Businesses can find information specific to managing their work forces.