ISU Extension and Outreach, Warren County
909 E 2nd Ave Ste E
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 961-6237
Fax: (515) 961-6017
www.extension.iastate.edu/Warren
Warren County Extension
Council 2012
Every Iowa county has an elected
extension council that guides local
educational programming by partnering
with staff. From needs assessment
through program implementation and
evaluation of outcomes, the council
represents the issues and people of the
county. Members are Lydda Youmans,
Amy Oliver, Carol Mahr, Stephanie Beier,
Mark Davitt, John Monroe, Jason DeLay,
Jason Huntley, and Amy Tlach.
Local Staff
Beth McCutchan
County Youth Coordinator
Kathryn Pierson
Office Manager
Sarah Tessmer
Families Nutrition Program Educator for
Warren & Madison Counties
Cathy Simon
Horticulture Education Coordinator for Warren,
Dallas & Madison Counties
Craig Hertel
Regional Director for Warren, Dallas, Madison
& Polk Counties
ISU Extension and Outreach supports healthy people, environments, and economies
by providing educational opportunities. We meet local needs, improve quality of life, and
help make Warren County a better place to live.
Jason DeLay
Extension Council Chair
Craig Hertel
Regional Director
Healthy People
Regional Preschool Coordinator, Val
Cameron, assisted with engaging,
inspiring, research-based Nature
Explore workshops to support
comprehensive learning with nature.
The Nature Explore workshop was held
at the Annett Nature Center with 28 early
childhood participants representing four
different counties. Kristi Cooper, family
life program specialist facilitated this sixhour workshop.
Val Cameron
Preschool Enrichment Coordinator for Warren,
Madison, Dallas & Adair Counties
Joy Rouse
Families Program Specialist for Central Iowa
Mike White
Viticulture Specialist for State of Iowa
The workshop helped providers discover
how to help children express their
knowledge of and personal interpretation
of the world in more meaningful ways.
The Look-Move-Build-Sketch planning
model is designed to help educators
create multi-faceted art experiences.
This approach encourages children to
work in many modes, reminding both
teachers and learners (especially those
with sensory integration challenges) of
the many ways to experience new ideas
and concepts. The projects explored
during this workshop are inspired by
nature and serve as another way to help
children make deeper connections with
the natural world.
Healthy Environments
Joy Rouse, Families Program
Specialist teaches Providers how to
assess their program.
The Early Childhood Environmental
Rating Scale – Revised (ECERS-R) is
used nationally to assess quality in an
early childhood care group. The
ECERS-R tool assesses the various
interactions that go on in a classroom
between staff and children, co-workers,
parents, and other adults, among the
children themselves, as well as the
interactions children have with the many
materials and activities in the
environment, Also features, such as
space, schedule and materials that
support these interactions. The
assessment has been found to be more
predictive of child outcomes than staff to
child ratio, group size, cost of care, and
even type of care, in either a child care
center or family child care home.
The scale validates strengths and
identifies areas that may need
improvement. Fifteen providers from ten
centers and preschools in six counties
participated. All the participants
indicated they were able to use the scale
to identify specific strengths and
limitations of their program and prioritize
needed changes. Providers reported
making these changes:
•Preschool teachers know to adjust their
2012-2013 schedules to address the
requirement for gross motor equipment
opportunities.
•I have had conversation with the
administration about type and depth of
fall zone material.
•Re-teaching hand washing expectations.
•Currently requesting Head Start Staff to
add cleaning/sanitizing procedures for all
surfaces in Recreation Room after each
use by student or staff.
•Staff meeting regarding playground
maintenance held.
•Owner purchased water cooler.
Fourteen providers have completed all
the class requirements to receive two
points for their Quality Rating System
application.
December 2012
Healthy Economies
Healthy Impact
Mike White, Viticulture Specialist,
arranged for ISU Chemical &
Biological Engineering students to get
real life job experience and help a
small Iowa distillery business prosper.
Wal-Mart grant supports partnership
between Master Gardeners and 4-H.
Broadbent Distillery is a family-owned
and operated distillery in Norwalk that
makes grappa, clear corn whisky and an
oaked whisky. The business was
established in 2011. John Broadbent, Jr.
and Sr., were looking for guidance to
improve their new distillery operation
process for efficiency, safety and
marketing. ISU Chemical Engineering
students were looking for real life
learning experiences for their class final
project. Working closely with father and
son, the ISU students provided cost and
technical design information to help
improve the distillation process. In
January, 2012, Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS) were catalogued and
safety tags were installed; improvements
made in the ozone process; and a larger
distillery sign was placed on their
building.
A priority list of other specific process
improvements were made to be
completed as finances allow, including
improvements in their marketing
program.
As a result of the project, the Broadbent’s
are using the final project reports to
improve the efficiency of their business
and the students gained real-life learning
experiences.
With a Wal-Mart grant, Carlisle’s Three
Rivers 4-H Club with Master Gardener
oversight, and the undaunting leadership
of 4-H volunteers, Susan James and
Brenda Onstot, the 4-H youth planted
and harvested potatoes, pole and bush
beans, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers,
tomatoes, carrots, beets, and herbs.
These were planted, cared for, and
harvested for the benefit of the Wildcat
ABC Daycare.
All 4-H youth involved acquired basic
gardening skills, learning how to plan,
implement and evaluate educational
programs promoting healthy food choices
through working exhibits and educational
presentations.
Their greatest pleasure was working in
the garden with the 75 children enrolled
at Wildcat ABC Daycare and sharing the
harvest.
… and justice for all
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the
basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and
where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status,
parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic
information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or
part of an individual’s income is derived from any public
assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all
programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should
contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice
and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 202509410, or call 800-795-3272 (voice) or 202-720-6382
(TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and
employer.
Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of
Science and Technology, and the United States Department of
Agriculture cooperating.