Episodes

  • Two new extension districts - with Jim Lindquist

    Two new extension districts - with Jim Lindquist
    Jul 23 2020

    K-State Research and Extension is all about improving lives, livelihoods and communities. To do that, the organization is constantly looking for ways to do so more efficiently and effectively. One approach that’s had widespread success over the last several years has been combining individual county offices into multi-county districts, which allows for specialization, sustainability and other advantages. On July 1, Kansas added two more extension districts, bringing the number to 20. Finney and Scott Counties formed the West Plains District, and Dickinson and Marion County created the Chisholm Trail District.

    Guest for this episode:

    Jim Lindquist is the associate director for field operations with K-State Research and Extension. He has held numerous positions in his 40+ years as a leader in extension.

    Links to resources:

    • Map and contact information for K-State Research and Extension districts and counties
    • K-State Research and Extension homepage
    • K-State Research and Extension COVID-19 Resources page
    • Kansas State University COVID-19 updates

    The Extension Files is a product of K-State Research and Extension, which is Kansas State University’s outreach and education system. We have an office in every one of Kansas’ 105 counties.

    The goal for K-State Research and Extension is to be everyday Kansans’ trusted source for relevant, unbiased research and information to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future.

    In Kansas, extension agents’ expertise and deep network of connections cover a wide array of topics:

    • food (from livestock and crop production to preparation and preservation)
    • families and community
    • 4-H youth development
    • finances
    • health in all stages of life
    • gardening
    • landscaping
    • … and much more

    Check out the K-State Research and Extension website to learn more. The quickest way to find us on Facebook and Twitter is to search for #KSRE.

    To provide feedback about this podcast, email us at ksrenews@ksu.edu.

     
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    34 mins
  • Childhood adversity and toxic stress - with Rebecca McFarland

    Childhood adversity and toxic stress - with Rebecca McFarland
    Jul 9 2020

    Toxic stress is harmful to all of us and, over the last few months, it’s obviously increased around the world. But not all kinds of stress are harmful; good stress helps us in a variety of ways including building resilience. Some, but not all, types of negative stresses result in long-term effects.

    For children, learning how to deal with all types of stress is critically important, as lessons learned and effects of some types of stress can have lifelong implications. Our guest in this episode has researched and published information on the impact of adversity and toxic stress in childhood. She offers a wealth of information about how families and communities can take steps to help improve children’s lives both now and for the future.

    Guest for this episode:

    Rebecca McFarland is the family and child development agent for K-State Research and Extension’s Frontier District, which has offices in Garnett, Lyndon and Ottawa.

    Links to resources:

    • Understanding the Impact of Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress
    • News story: K-State expert: Communities can help reduce children’s stress
    • K-State Research and Extension homepage
    • K-State Research and Extension COVID-19 Resources page
    • Kansas State University COVID-19 updates

    The Extension Files is a product of K-State Research and Extension, which is Kansas State University’s outreach and education system. We have an office in every one of Kansas’ 105 counties.

    The goal for K-State Research and Extension is to be everyday Kansans’ trusted source for relevant, unbiased research and information to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future.

    In Kansas, extension agents’ expertise and deep network of connections cover a wide array of topics:

    • food (from livestock and crop production to preparation and preservation)
    • families and community
    • 4-H youth development
    • finances
    • health in all stages of life
    • gardening
    • landscaping
    • … and much more

    Check out the K-State Research and Extension website to learn more. The quickest way to find us on Facebook and Twitter is to search for #KSRE.

    To provide feedback about this podcast, email us at ksrenews@ksu.edu.

     
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    39 mins
  • Safety practices and food safety updates - with Karen Blakeslee and Londa Nwadike

    Safety practices and food safety updates - with Karen Blakeslee and Londa Nwadike
    Jun 23 2020

    Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began, we welcomed a pair of food safety experts on the podcast to help us understand what was going on. Now that a few months have passed, we welcome them back to talk about how the scientific understanding of the novel coronavirus has grown and changed. We talk about the importance of handwashing, masks and other safety precautions, whether we need to sanitize our groceries upon returning home, and how K-State Research and Extension has helped support best practices for farmers markets.

    Guests for this episode:

    • Karen Blakeslee is the coordinator of the Rapid Response Center for K-State Food Science faculty as well as Human Nutrition faculty to answer questions about food. She is a member of the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry in the College of Agriculture and is based in Manhattan.
    • Londa Nwadike, assistant professor and extension consumer food safety specialist with a unique joint appointment for Kansas State University and the University of Missouri. She works at K-State’s Olathe campus and Mizzou’s Jackson County office.

    Links to Resources:

    • K-State Research and Extension Food Safety and COVID-19 webpage
    • K-State Food Safety Rapid Response Center
    • K-State Research and Extension homepage
    • K-State Research and Extension COVID-19 Resources page
    • Kansas State University COVID-19 updates

    The Extension Files is a product of K-State Research and Extension, which is Kansas State University’s outreach and education system. We have an office in every one of Kansas’ 105 counties.

    The goal for K-State Research and Extension is to be everyday Kansans’ trusted source for relevant, unbiased research and information to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future.

    In Kansas, extension agents’ expertise and deep network of connections cover a wide array of topics:

    • food (from livestock and crop production to preparation and preservation)
    • families and community
    • 4-H youth development
    • finances
    • health in all stages of life
    • gardening
    • landscaping
    • … and much more

    Check out the K-State Research and Extension website to learn more. The quickest way to find us on Facebook and Twitter is to search for #KSRE.

    To provide feedback about this podcast, email us at ksrenews@ksu.edu.
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    45 mins
  • Rethinking retirement plans post-pandemic - with Elizabeth Kiss

    Rethinking retirement plans post-pandemic - with Elizabeth Kiss
    Jun 4 2020
    In connection with the covid-19 health crisis, workers have lost their jobs outright, have been laid off with no recall to work date, have been furloughed, or are generally working fewer hours than they previously were. Those who are self-employed, work in the gig economy, and small business owners have also experienced reductions in income. While the economy is emerging from safer-at-home orders, many household incomes are still not back to the levels they were at earlier this year. In this episode, we talk with a financial expert about navigating money challenges and looking ahead to retirement – from the perspective of early-, mid- and late-career workers. Guest for this episode: Dr. Elizabeth Kiss is an associate professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences and a Family Resource Management specialist with K-State Research and Extension. In this position, she assists in the development and delivery of a statewide Cooperative Extension program focused on developing the financial knowledge and skills for sound financial decision-making of Kansans. She supports the work of Extension agents across the state by providing linkages to current research, educational resources, and statewide and national organizations. Her specialties include: Family resource managementFamily and consumer economicsPersonal financial planning Links to Resources: When Your Income Drops: Making Ends Meet Unemployment Insurance Relief During COVID-19 Outbreak (Department of Labor webpage) Retirement Confidence Survey, Expectations about RetirementOlder workers: Employment and retirement trendsFamily FinancesKnow Your CreditK-State Research and Extension homepageK-State Research and Extension COVID-19 Resources page Notes Rainy Day Fund to Cover Three Months Expenses 2018: 49.8% of Kansans (source)  2020, April: U.S. families (source) 23% of those with incomes less than $37,50048% of those with incomes between $37,500 and $112,60075% of those with incomes above $112,600 Considering Retirement? The possibility of finding another job. Might your previous employer bounce-back? Might you be called back to work?Are you willing/able to work in another field?Are you willing/able to move for a job? Your overall savings How much do need? Do you know what your base living expenses are?How much do you have? What is your level of savings? What unemployment or severance benefits do you qualify for and for how long? Your age and Social Security benefits. Full retirement age vs retirement at age 62 or sometime before your full retirement age Health insurance needs. Age 65 or over – MedicareUnder age 65 – where will you obtain health insurance? Spouse, marketplace.gov, other sources? Health Insurance Smarts: Ways to Get Health Insurance, https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3169.pdf Full Social Security Retirement Age Full retirement age, also called "normal retirement age," was 65 for many years. In 1983, Congress passed a law to gradually raise the age because people are living longer and are generally healthier in older age. The law raised the full retirement age beginning with people born in 1938 or later. The retirement age gradually increases by a few months for every birth year, until it reaches 67 for people born in 1960 and later. https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/ageincrease.html Some age markers Age 62 – youngest age at which you can claim Social Security benefits Age 65 – youngest age at which you can claim Medicare benefits Age 70 – age after which an additional month of age at claiming no longer entitles the beneficiary to an incremental benefit increase
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    38 mins
  • Rallying a County for Food Security - Justin Goodno and Robin Eubank-Callis

    Rallying a County for Food Security - Justin Goodno and Robin Eubank-Callis
    May 19 2020

    What happens when a pair of extension professionals set out to provide the two local school districts in their county with fresh beef for school lunches? They not only connect local beef producers with a meat locker to benefit all involved, but they also create more connections within the county and eventually expand the program to provide food to people who have become food insecure because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Photo courtesy of Richard Poland/Poland Angus Ranch

    In fact, they were so successful in demonstrating how they could get everyone on the same page that they received a $25,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation to support the effort. The Kansas Health Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving the health of all Kansans.

    You don’t want to miss this story of K-State Research and Extension agents working hard to improve lives, livelihoods and their communities.

    Guests for this episode:

    • Justin Goodno is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Barber County.
    • Robin Eubank-Callis is the Family and Consumer Science agent for Barber County.

    Links to Resources:

    • Kansas Health Foundation
    • K-State Research and Extension homepage
    • K-State Research and Extension COVID-19 Resources page
    • Contact information for local K-State Research and Extension offices

    The Extension Files is a product of K-State Research and Extension, which is Kansas State University’s outreach and education system. We have an office in every one of Kansas’ 105 counties.

    The goal for K-State Research and Extension is to be everyday Kansans’ trusted source for relevant, unbiased research and information to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future.

    In Kansas, extension agents’ expertise and deep network of connections cover a wide array of topics:

    • food (from livestock and crop production to preparation and preservation)
    • families and community
    • 4-H youth development
    • finances
    • health in all stages of life
    • gardening
    • landscaping
    • … and much more

    Check out the K-State Research and Extension website to learn more. The quickest way to find us on Facebook and Twitter is to search for #KSRE.

    To provide feedback about this podcast, email us at ksrenews@ksu.edu.

     
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    49 mins
  • Domestic Violence and Abuse

    Domestic Violence and Abuse
    May 14 2020

    It’s quite possible that by now, you’re getting a bit tired of being at home so much. On the other hand, for many families, the extra time at home has made for some deeper bonding between family members, rediscovering the dining room table (and eating around it!), and enjoying games and movies together. But not all families are ideal, and in some homes, there’s an interloper in form of domestic abuse or domestic violence. For these families, self-quarantine is almost a form of entrapment, and escape routes all but cut off. Jessica Kootz is a family and consumer sciences agent with K-State Research and Extension’s Midway District. She offers some tips for family members struggling with these issues, and guidance for the rest of us, if we find ourselves with an opportunity to assist a friend for family member.

     

    Guests for this episode:

    • Jessica Kootz is a family and consumer sciences agent with K-State Research and Extension’s Midway District.

     

    Links to Resources:

    • Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas (DVACK) — With offices located in Salina and Concordia, DVACK provides free, voluntary and confidential support services to primary and secondary survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, teen dating violence, elder abuse & human trafficking. DVACK's 24-hr Hotline numbers: 1-800-874-1499 | 785-827-5862.
    • Statewide support is available from the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. Their 24-hour hotline is 888-END-ABUSE (888-363-2287)
    • K-State Research and Extension homepage
    • K-State Research and Extension COVID-19 Resources page
    • Contact information for local K-State Research and Extension offices

    The Extension Files is a product of K-State Research and Extension, which is Kansas State University’s outreach and education system. We have an office in every one of Kansas’ 105 counties.

    The goal for K-State Research and Extension is to be everyday Kansans’ trusted source for relevant, unbiased research and information to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future.

    In Kansas, extension agents’ expertise and deep network of connections cover a wide array of topics:

    • food (from livestock and crop production to preparation and preservation)
    • families and community
    • 4-H youth development
    • finances
    • health in all stages of life
    • gardening
    • landscaping
    • … and much more

    Check out the K-State Research and Extension website to learn more. The quickest way to find us on Facebook and Twitter is to search for #KSRE.

    To provide feedback about this podcast, email us at ksrenews@ksu.edu.
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    32 mins
  • Elaine Johannes and Ellyn Mulcahy — Public Health in Kansas

    Elaine Johannes and Ellyn Mulcahy — Public Health in Kansas
    May 12 2020

    It's been called "the science and art of preventing disease," and "the science of improving the health of people and their communities." Public health has other definitions, too, and the current pandemic just might push public health to front of the scientific field, overshadowing even our ongoing tussle over the future of individual health care in America. Ellyn Mulcahy is an associate professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology at Kansas State University, and Elaine Johannes is an associate professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences, and a K-State Research and Extension specialist in family and youth development. Both serve on the Kansas Public Health Systems Group. They'll share insight into what Kansas and K-State Research and Extension are doing to promote public health... and discuss the Kansas citizen who was a very early advocate of public health.

     

    Guests for this episode:

    • Elaine Johannes is an associate professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences, and a K-State Research and Extension specialist in family and youth development.
    • Ellyn Mulcahy is an associate professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University

     

    Links to Resources:

    • Kansas Public Health Practice Program — The goal of the Kansas Public Health Practice Program is to strengthen the capacity and infrastructure of the Kansas public health system. The Public Health Practice Program is supported by a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.
    • K-State Research and Extension homepage
    • K-State Research and Extension COVID-19 Resources page
    • Contact information for local K-State Research and Extension offices

    The Extension Files is a product of K-State Research and Extension, which is Kansas State University’s outreach and education system. We have an office in every one of Kansas’ 105 counties.

    The goal for K-State Research and Extension is to be everyday Kansans’ trusted source for relevant, unbiased research and information to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future.

    In Kansas, extension agents’ expertise and deep network of connections cover a wide array of topics:

    • food (from livestock and crop production to preparation and preservation)
    • families and community
    • 4-H youth development
    • finances
    • health in all stages of life
    • gardening
    • landscaping
    • … and much more

    Check out the K-State Research and Extension website to learn more. The quickest way to find us on Facebook and Twitter is to search for #KSRE.

    To provide feedback about this podcast, email us at ksrenews@ksu.edu.
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    41 mins
  • Student Loan News You Can Use -- Denise Dias

    Student Loan News You Can Use -- Denise Dias
    May 8 2020

    For many college graduates, paying off student loans is an experience that often takes longer than the college education itself. In the midst of a pandemic that is threatening human lives, while devouring paychecks, savings, stock portfolios and retirement plans, paying off those loans can be particularly challenging. Denise Dias, a family and consumer sciences agent with K-State Research and Extension's Johnson County office, shares news for college loan borrowers, regarding special arrangements that are being offered during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has some ideas and strategies for addressing student loan debt, whether you're taking a break between semesters, working on a graduate degree, or have just a few payments left.

     

    Guests for this episode:

    • Denise Dias is the family and consumer sciences agent in K-State Research and Extension’s Johnson County office.

     

    Links to Resources:

    • StudentAid.gov — official page for all aspects of student aid, including grants, loans, repayment plans and more. An office of the U.S. Department of Education
    • K-State Research and Extension homepage
    • K-State Research and Extension COVID-19 Resources page
    • Contact information for local K-State Research and Extension offices

    The Extension Files is a product of K-State Research and Extension, which is Kansas State University’s outreach and education system. We have an office in every one of Kansas’ 105 counties.

    The goal for K-State Research and Extension is to be everyday Kansans’ trusted source for relevant, unbiased research and information to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future.

    In Kansas, extension agents’ expertise and deep network of connections cover a wide array of topics:

    • food (from livestock and crop production to preparation and preservation)
    • families and community
    • 4-H youth development
    • finances
    • health in all stages of life
    • gardening
    • landscaping
    • … and much more

    Check out the K-State Research and Extension website to learn more. The quickest way to find us on Facebook and Twitter is to search for #KSRE.

    To provide feedback about this podcast, email us at ksrenews@ksu.edu.
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    31 mins