Return to flip book view

Cameron County Extension Newsletter Fall 2023Cameron County Extension Quarterly NewsletterTexas A&M AgriLife Extension is a unique educationagency that provides programs, tools, andresources on a local and statewide level that teachpeople how to improve agriculture and foodproduction, advance health practices, protect theenvironment, strengthen the economy, and enrichyouth. In all 254 counties, County Extension Agentsserve families, youth, communities and businessesthroughout the state.What We Do October - December Marco Ponce County Extension Agent Agriculture & Natural Resources Tony Reisinger County Extension Agent Coastal & Marine Resources Lilian Mezquida County Extension Agent Family & Community HealthGloria Carter Cooperative Extension Agent Family & Community Health Jennifer Herrera County Extension AgentHorticulture Analisa Sanchez County Extension Agent 4-H & Youth DevelopmentStephanie Bowman Cooperative Extension Agent 4-H & Youth Development Beatriz Loya EFNEP Agent Nidia Garcia BLT - Extension Agent Kristina Loredo BLT - Extension Agent Our Staff Agriculture & Natural Resources Coastal & Marine Horticulture 4-H & Youth DevelopmentCEP 4-H & Youth Development.Family & Community HealthCEP Family & Community HealthBetter Living For Texans Expanded Food & Nutrition In This IssueVisit us: www.facebook.com/agrilife.cameron https://cameron.agrilife.org/Contact Us:956-361-8236 cameron-tx@tamu.edu

Agriculture & Natural Resources Coastal & Marine Horticulture 4-H & Youth Development Family & Community Health 02030405060708Table of contentsCameron County Extension Newsletter CEP 4-H & Youth Development CEP Family & Community Health Better Living For Texans 0901Expanded Food & Nutrition ProgramBetter Living For Texans 10

Agriculture & Natural Resources By: Marco Ponce, County Extension Agent - Agriculture & Natural Resources Cameron County Extension Newsletter 01Beef Cattle and Forage Production Workshop 70Participantsattended Topics of discussion included: Projected Reservoir Levels for 2024 Precipitation Forecast for 2024County Extension Agents from Cameron and Hidalgo Countiescollaborated with the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Coordinator toconduct a Drought Contingency Irrigation and Water SupplyConference that was held at the District 12 Extension Center inWeslaco. Irrigation and F ertilizer Strategies for Dr ought Irrigation District Forecast for 2024 Agricultural Cost Share Programs Topics Discussed: Management Practices bySuccessful ProducersBeef Cattle Market OutlookIrrigation Water OutlookUSDA-NRCS Programs forManagement of PasturesA Veterinary Gun Demonstration RGV Drought Contingency and Water Supply WorkshopWater Well Testing Campaign and Educational ProgramCEA Marco Poncecollected watersamples fromCameron Countyindividual landowners forwater qualitytestingThe samplesunderwenttesting NitratesSalinityFecal ColiformAn educational session wasorganized to discuss the findingswith the landowners, covering topicslike Contaminants in Well Water andCommon Contaminants Found inSouth Texas.

Cameron County Extension Newsletter 02Our South Texas Border and Rio Grande Valley TMNChapters hosted the 25th State Texas MasterNaturalist Annual Meeting on October 12 - 15th. 500MasterNaturalists 48Master NaturalistChapters 213Counties This quarter our Cameron County shrimp fleet continued toencounter high fuel costs, and low shrimp prices due toimports. Some fleets are readopting cambered doors whichsave ~20% on fuel due to their design. We introduced thesedoors years ago, but they had problems which have beenovercome. “Two Cameron County vessels tested a new bycatchreduction device, Tom’s fisheye in January, for increasedbycatch reduction.“ Bycatch Reduction DevicesCoastal & Marine By: Tony Reisinger, County Extension Agent - Coastal & Marine STATE TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST ANNUAL MEETING Viewing the annular solar eclipse was the highlight ofthe event at the El Sauz Ranch near Port Mansfield. Cookie view of eclipse is shown in the photo 2819Master Naturalists 4082Youth Contacts13, 270Volunteer Hours $421, 986Value

60+ParticipantsMaster Gardener's Fall Festival & Plant Sale BeekeepingRainwater HarvestingContainer GardeningPollinator GardeningCompostingA variety of children's activitiesThe festival featured numerous educationalbooths such as: 500+in attendance The Master Gardener Training consisted of an extensive curriculum coveringEntomology, Vegetable and Fruit Production. A Rancho Lomitas Native Plant Tour, andSan Benito Wetlands Tour. HorticultureCameron County Extension Newsletter 03By: Jennifer Herrera, County Extension Agent - Horticulture Covered Topics:The RGV Small Acreage Program aims to promote thegrowth of herb farmers in the region.Fundamental principles ofcultivating herbsHow to obtain nursery licenseLocal markets Creating value added productsCameron County Master Gardeners 13Master GardenerInterns completedtheir hybridtraining The Master Gardeners, along with CEA JenniferHerrera, hosted multiple workshops coveringtopics such as Native Trees, Desert Rose Care,and Mushrooms, which were attended by over50 participants.

ONE DAY 4-H 4-H & Youth Development By: Analisa Sanchez, County Extension Agent - 4-H & Youth Development FOOD SHOW FOOD CHALLENGE Cameron County Extension Newsletter 04 ids, ows, & More1,900studentsCameron County 4-H students engaged andlearned kitchen safety as they prepared for theirDistrict Competition held in Falfurrias, TX. The Cameron County 4-H Clubs collaborated tocontribute essential items to the RGV Credit Union's"Gifts for Teens" Drive. Additionally, they participated inthe RGVLS Citrus and Vegetable Show. The event cateredto an impressiveattendance of 1,900fourth-gradestudents acrossboth counties. The Cameron County 4-H joined hands tosupport the national day of giving “One Day 4-H”by assisting in the unloading of over 300pumpkins at the First Methodist Church AnnualPumpkin Patch. In November, theCameron and HidalgoCounty ExtensionOffice collaborated tohost an AgricultureAwareness Day, alsoknown as, "Kids, Kows,and More." 300+ pumpkinsOur 4-H clubs came together and organized aThanksgiving Holiday Help, in partnership with theCameron County Farm Bureau, and generously donated30 Thanksgiving meals to families in Cameron County! 30 Turkeys

Cameron County Extension Newsletter 054-H & Youth Development By: Stephanie Bowman, Cooperative Extension Agent - 4-H & Youth Development Students participated in a field trip to theUniversity of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg,TX to tour the campus and learn about collegelife and career pathways. In partnership with the Texas Afterschool Centersfor Education program (ACE), the Heroes 4-Healthinitiative was also implemented at Santa RosaHigh School in the form of a newly chartered 4-Hclub focused on safe and healthy grilling. Juntos program families from Berta CabazaMiddle School and Veterans Memorial High Schoolin San Benito, TX completed a 5-session familyworkshop series (143 contacts) as well as aChristmas-themed family night (36 contacts) October November During the holidays, Juntos 4-H Club was alsoactive in collecting food and toy donations forunderserved families. DecemberHeroes 4-Health In November, 15 middle school students at IDEAAcademy-Riverview completed the Heroes 4-Health Curriculum. TASR - 4H CLUB Heroes 4-Health Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness Nutrition Series

Cameron County Extension Newsletter 06City of Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda & CEA Lilian MezquidaBilingual Child Care Conference - October 12-Week Strong People StrongBodies Program wassuccessfully completed by ourLos Fresnos and San BenitoGroups.Family and Community Health By: Lilian Mezquida, County Extension Agent - Family and Community HealthDiabetes Conference - NovemberMayor Norma SepulvedaDr. Dusty Luna Hidalgo CEA Joanne UresteOn November 18th, 2023, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension incollaboration with the City of Harlingen hosted a DiabetesConference at the Harlingen Community Center. .Attendees had the opportunity to take advantage of freescreenings, receive valuable information, and participate incooking demonstrations featuring diabetic-friendly recipesParticipants attendedthe Bilingual ChildCare Conference Strong People Strong Bodies - December Los Fresnos San Benito Testimonial Comment - Testimonial Comment - “ My A1C wentfrom 6 to 5.1 ”“ I no longer have legpain anymore ”

Cameron County Extension Newsletter 07BALANCED LIVING Holiday Stress Management A Taste of Latin American HeritageThe six weekly lessons allow participants to discover the primaryfoods of the Latin American Diet Pyramid and how to preparethem easily. Balance timeManage stressFeed your body Rest your bodyTwenty-plus parent volunteers from the LaFeria Independent School District’s Family &Community Engagement departmentparticipated in the weekly sessions facilitatedby Agent, Carter. Family & Community Health Agent Gloria Carterfacilitated multiple sessions on Managing StressDuring the Holidays for the parent volunteers ofthe Harlingen Consolidated School District’s(HCISD) Family & Community Engagementdepartment.THE PROGRAM RESULTED WITH OVER 30 PARTICIPANTSFamily & Community Health By: Gloria Carter, Cooperative Extension Agent - Family & Community Health Agent Carter facilitated the “Oldways A Taste of Latin American Heritage” nutrition curriculum for theparent volunteers of the HCISD’s Family & Community Engagement department in October,November, and December.Approximately 40 participants from various schools attended the sessions.

Cameron County Extension Newsletter 03Cameron County Extension Newsletter 08By: Kristina Loredo, Extension Agent - Better Living for TexansGrowing and Nourishing Healthy CommunitiesBrownsville Wellness Center, La Feria New Hope Community Garden, and Perez Elementaryparticipated and completed The Growing And Nourishing Healthy communities Program. The Brownsville Wellness Center has recently added two raised bedgardens to their existing three, thanks to the enthusiasticparticipation of its members.La Feria New Hope Community Garden Perez Elementary in BrownsvilleEvery Friday morning, participants gathered at the La Feria NewHope Community Garden to work on one of its nine garden beds. Perez Elementary students eagerly gathered Lettuce, SwissChard, and Parsley from their school garden to share with theirlibrary's mascot, Buttercup the Bunny.Brownsville Wellness CenterLearnLGEG allows kids to grow through an interdisciplinary programcombining academic achievement, gardening, nutrient-dense foodexperiences, physical activity, and school & family engagement.GrowEat Go

Healthy, affordable, and gluten-free recipes that cateredto the needs of parents of autistic children. Cameron County Extension Newsletter 09 Students Better Living For Texans By: Nidia Garcia, Extension Agent - Better Living for Texans Choose Healthy!Participants were taught “A Fresh Start to a Healthier You!” is a four-sessionnutrition program that teaches how to cook nutritiousmeals, cut down on grocery spending, and increasefruit and vegetable intake.A Fresh Start to a Healthier You! Fall 2023 collaboration with theAutism in My Life Organization atBrownsville's Centro CulturalCommunity CenterHealthy Carbohydrates !This program consists of four sessionsthat will equip teenagers with theknowledge and skills to select healthyfood and drink options, increasephysical activity, and consume morefruits, vegetables, whole grains, andlow-fat dairy products. A total of 82 sixth gradersfrom Oliveira Middle Schoolcompleted the “ChooseHealthy Nutrition Program”. 90Adult ParticipantsEnrolled Brownsville ISD Adult ACE Program “Healthy Carbohydrates" is a four-session program that emphasizeson the importance of consuminghealthful carbohydrates inappropriate amounts to minimizethe risk of chronic illnesses.

Adult Program Using hands-on experiences, EFNEP adult participants complete a eight lesson series on stretching food dollars, improvingeating habits, and practicing food safety principles. As a result of participation in EFNEP, participants will learn to preparemore meals and snacks at home, be more active, control portion size, and have more energy. EFNEP MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCEYouth Program The EFNEP Youth program is directed toward low-income school-age youth. These students participate in a six week seriesof fun and educational lessons on good nutrition and food safety as part of summer programs and classroom and after-school activities. Through fun and engaging activities, youth learn to build a healthy plate, set limits on sugar, fats, andsodium, be active, food safety, and to practice healthy behaviors. In Texas, ethnically diverse EFNEP nutrition associates reach youth and adult groups whose principal language may beEnglish or Spanish. During the 4th Quarter of 2023: Cameron County Extension Newsletter 10Expanded Food and Nutrition Education ProgramBy: Beatriz Loya, Extension Agent - EFNEPSUPPORTING TEXAS FAMILIES WITH GREATEST NEED SINCE 1969 The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) helps young families and youth with limited resources—thosemost at risk to suffer from hunger, food insecurity, and the inability to connect with available support systems. EFNEP offerspractical lessons in basic nutrition, food preparation, food budget management, and food safety in settings convenient forthe participants. Program graduates reflect significant, lasting improvement in eating behaviors and healthy food habits.Texas has a need for EFNEP—2022 data show that percent of Texas families with children under the age of 18 were livingbelow poverty level, compared to 14 percent of U.S. families. EFNEP REACHES DIVERSE AUDIENCESStudies have shown that for every $1 spent onEFNEP, $10 were estimated to be saved in healthcare costs and $2 saved in food costs byparticipants. For Texas, this is $43 million inestimated health care cost savings and almost$8.6 million in food costs.During the 4th Qtr. of 2023, 46 volunteers donated588 hours of work to EFNEP in Texas. At the Texasvolunteer rate of $31.80/hr., this volunteer is has aminimum dollar value of $18,698.40. Volunteersmake a difference in their own communities andcontribute to EFNEP’s continued successVOLUNTEERS STRENGTHEN EFNEPVOLUNTEERS STRENGTHEN EFNEP1,513 youth contacts weremade through the EFNEPYouth program 1,146 youth contacts graduatedfrom the EFNEP Youth program 100% of EFNEP participants havechildren under the age of 1998% of the Adult participantsshowed improvement in one ormore diet quality indicators96% of the Youth participants showedimprovement in diet quality indicators. 197 families enrolled in EFNEP