Wells County

Check out Health and Human Science Newsletters with helpful articles on health, nutrition, family and finances.

The September/October 2024 edition includes the following articles:

Helping Others

How Helping Others Helps You

If you lug your elderly neighbor's groceries up her steps, clearly it's good for her. But did you know that it's likely good for you too?

 Research indicates that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm, fewer pains and better health. They may even live longer.

 Consider Some Recent Research

• Students who performed five acts of kindness a day increased their happiness
• Providing emotional support to others significantly decreased the harmful health effects of certain kinds of stress among older people
• People who donated money to charity got a boost in a feel-good part of the brain, as revealed in brain imaging research

Doing Good Can Make You Feel Good. It Might...

• remind you that you're relatively lucky
• make you feel connected to others
• help you feel needed and effective
• take your mind off your own worries for a while
• make you feel generous
• add a sense of purpose and meaning to your life

 Hints On Helping

Consider these tips for helping others—and yourself:

• Don't feel like you have to make grand gestures or huge time commitments. Sure, helping can mean serving meals at a homeless shelter every week. But it also can mean:

° Calling a friend to see how she's doing

° Serving your spouse breakfast in bed

° Letting a car in front of you on the highway

° Smiling at a stranger in the street

° Holding the elevator door for your co-worker 

• Vary your acts of generosity to prevent the experience from becoming ho-hum, advises happiness researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, who also found that doing several kindnesses in one day gives the best boost.
• Beware of taking on too much, or you'll risk feeling resentful. When asked a favor, think it over before saying yes.

Ways To Volunteer

If you want to volunteer for an organization, invest in finding the right match. If you like to

• read... consider volunteering at a school or tutoring program
• work outdoors... try volunteering to clean up a local park
• speak another language.... perhaps work with immigrants
• work at home... make fundraising calls
• play sports... volunteer as a coach
• promote health... try a local hospital or clinic

Whatever you choose, ask if the group will provide support for your efforts, like training or a contact to answer questions that arise.

Source: 

News Notes for Parents is a newsletter geared towards parents with children ages 8 and under. You will find articles about parenting, early childhood education, nutrition and much more.

In the October 2024 issue of News Notes for Parents, you will find the following articles:

how to talk to your kids about mental health; tips for talking to your preschooler

1 in 5 children lives with a serious, diagnosable mental illness. Think about your child’s friends, their class, their school. That’s a lot of kids. It’s never been more important to be able to speak openly and honestly about mental health with your children. Fortunately, today’s parents are more open to discussing these important issues that previous generations.

 So, you’re open to discussing mental health with your child, but how do you do it? Where do you start? As with most essential topics, start at the beginning. Talk with your children about their feelings, focus on their strengths, and most importantly listen to what they have to say. Here are some tips from our parenting experts to get the conversation started with your preschooler.

Preschool

It’s never too early to begin talking to your child about mental health. For your younger children, keep it simple and speak in terms and contexts that they will be able to understand. Preschool-age children are likely not just going to tell you how they feel, but they may express their feelings in a variety of ways. Look for their clues and engage them when you see them expressing different emotions. Use these clues as an opportunity for you to help them understand their feelings as they are first experiencing them and help them navigate their reactions to those emotions.

 What to ask. And what to say to your preschooler.

• What causes you to have butterflies in your stomach
  • This feeling of anxiety or nervousness is an easy one for children to recognize as it manifests itself physically. Help them identify what causes these feelings and help them cope with it by facing their feelings head-on.

• Where do your feelings come from?
  • Helping your children understand where their feelings come from, how and why they react to certain experiences and stimuli, can help them begin to work out what to do with those emotions.

• Who can you talk to if your feelings get to be too much
  • Let your children know that you are there for them always. But also teach them to establish trust with other key adults in their lives.

• What are some ways you can calm down/relax/feel better/control your feelings?
  • However, you phrase it, making sure that your children understand basic coping techniques at an early age is important. It may be quiet time in their room, a certain song or playlist, drawing or coloring, or even snuggling with mom or dad. Once your children know they have a way to deal with their feelings, they are starting to build resilience.

• Use media and daily experiences to normalize conversations about reacting to specific emotions.
  • After watching a movie, TV show, or YouTube video together discuss how the characters interacted with each other and dealt with their feelings.

To read full article go to: https://beechacres.org/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-mental-health-tips-for-talking-to-your-preschooler/

Priceless lessons: understanding the true value of money

What is the value of money and how can you teach this concept? You can explain that money is a tool that helps us buy things. Be sure to emphasize that not all items cost the same. Some items are more expensive because they are bigger, better, or harder to make. For example, a small candy cost less than a new toy, and a toy car is cheaper than a bicycle. This example illustrates how prices vary based on the item’s value.

How about needs vs. wants? Understanding the difference between needs and wants is crucial for our children. Take time to explain that needs are essential for survival, such as food and clothing, and should be prioritized when we spend money. Wants are non-essential items, like toys or games, which are nice to have but not necessary.

How about choices? Since money is often limited, we need to make choices about how to spend it wisely. We might decide between buying a few smaller items or saving for a larger purchase. By prioritizing what we need most or what offers the best value, we make informed decisions about our spending. Allowing children to make a choice when it comes to spending money will reinforce this concept.

Shop & Save Activity: The goal of this activity is to teach children about money value and spending choices. You’ll need: play money, small items to buy, price tags, stickers, or tape that you can write prices on, and containers for the child’s money.

Steps:

• Set Up: Display items with prices.
• Distribute Money: Give each child a set amount of play money.
• Shop: Let children choose items within their budget.
• Discuss: Ask about their choices and if they saved any money.
• Introduce Saving: Explain saving for future purchases and its benefits.

Source: OpenAI. (2024) ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com

• 2025 Enrollment!
  
  • Enrollment for the 2024-2025 program year begins Tuesday, October 1st! This enrollment period applies to all 4-H participants including Mini 4-H (grades K-2), traditional 4-H members (grades 3-12), and all adult volunteers. Brief instructions are listed below, but a detailed version will be sent in the mail and is available online at www.extension.purdue.edu/wells
  • Enrollment Instructions:
    • Go to https://v2.4honline.com
    • Enter your email and password, then click “Sign In”. Do not create a new account. If you have forgotten your username/password please call the Extension Office.
    • Continue to Youth & Mini 4-H Member Enrollment
    • Select the member you wish to enroll and update grade level.
    • Continue on to “Select Club”, then “Select Projects”
    • Once complete, click “Select Questions” and fill out correctly.
    • Pay member dues. Enrollments will not be approved until payment is complete.
• Save the Date:
  • 2025 Wells County 4-H Fair - Saturday, July 12th - Thursday July 17th
• Calendar of Events:
  • September:
    • September 2: Labor Day - Extension Office Closed
    • September 8: Street Fair Pancake Booth Work Day
    • September 9: Association Meeting, 7:00PM, Meeting Rooms
    • September 10: Council Meeting (1st Rule Change Review), 7:00PM, Meeting Rooms
    • September 17-21: Bluffton Street Fair
    • September 22: Horse & Pony Banquet and Fun Show, 4:00PM, Grandstand Arena
    • September 25: Royal Showmanship Committee Meeting, 6:00PM, Meeting Rooms
  • October: 
    • October 1: Enrollment Opens for the 2025 Wells County 4-H Fair
    • October 1: Council Meeting (2nd Rule Change Review), 7:00PM, Meeting Rooms
    • October 7: Junior Leader Fall Kickoff Meeting, 6:00PM
    • October 14: Columbus Day - Extension Office Closed
    • October 14: Association Meeting, 7:00PM, Meeting Rooms
    • October 26: Wells County 4-H Association Spooktacular, 6:00-9:00PM, 4-H Park
  • November:
    • November 4: Junior Leader Meeting, 6:00PM, Meeting Rooms
    • November 11: Club Leader Meeting, 7:00PM, Meeting Rooms
    • November 18: Association Meeting, 7:00PM, Meeting Rooms Officer Elections
• Upcoming Volunteer Meetings:
  • Council Meetings:
    • Tuesday, September 10th at 7:00PM in the Meeting Rooms. This will be the first discussion for rule changes.
    • Tuesday, October 1st at 7:00PM in the Meeting Room. This will be the second discussion for rule changes
  • Association Meetings:
    • Monday, September 9th at 7:00PM in the Meeting Rooms
    • Monday, October 14th at 7:00PM in the Meeting Rooms.
    • Monday, November 18th at 7:00PM in the Meeting Rooms. *Officer elections will take place during this meeting. More information to come.
  • Club Leader Meeting:
    • Monday, November 11th at 7:00PM in the Meeting Rooms.
  • Royal Showmanship Meeting:
    • Wednesday, September 25th at 6:00PM in the Meeting Rooms
• Adult Volunteer Enrollment:
  • Adult volunteers must re-enroll in 4-H Online to be a volunteer for the 2024-2025 year, This means completing all of the volunteer training. It does have to be done each year. Any new volunteers will also need to complete the enrollment process.
  • To enroll, log in to your 4-H Online account. Returning members will choose “Adult Enrollment”, and new members should click “Adding New Members”. You will then follow the instructions until enrollment is complete, making sure to watch all the video trainings.
• Junior Leader Fall Kickoff Meeting:
  • Monday, October 7th at 6:00PM, Wells County 4-H Park
  • The Fall Kickoff Meeting is for all current and new members! Any student in 7th grade or higher that is interested in joining the Junior Leader Club should plan to attend our Fall Kickoff Meeting!! It will be a fun way to kickstart the new year.
  • Next Meeting: Monday, November 4th at 6:00PM
• 4-H Association Calendar Fundraiser:
  • The Wells County 4-H Association is currently raising funds to help with improvements around the 4-H Park to provide a better experience not only for 4-H families, but also the community. One of the main repairs that is needing to be made in the near future is replacing the entire HVAC system of the Community Center Building, which hosts several community and 4-H events. The 4-H Association is asking for your help by joining them in their current fundraiser - Sell the Calendar! Below are details on how it works.
    • Each day of the month is sold by collecting a donation for that days value. (Example: the 25th is a $25.00 donation; the 5th is a $5.00 donation, etc.)
    • Attempt to sell each day of the month by posting the Calendar (shown on page 4) to Facebook and sending to friends and family.
    • Collect donations from family and friends. Please turn in the total amount collected into the Wells County Extension Office by end of work day on Friday, October 18th. Checks can be made payable to the Wells County 4-H Association.
    • Digital copies of the calendar are available on www.extension.purdue.edu/wells. Please direct any questions to the 4-H Association President, Brandon Gephart. He can be reached at wellsco4hassociation@gmail.com 
• IMPORTANT - Pick Up Projects:
  • The Extension Office is currently housing SEVERAL county and state fair projects that need to be reunited with their rightful owner. Although we have enjoyed their company, it is time for them to make their way back to their forever home. If you are missing a project from either the county or state fair, more than likely we have it! Please come pick it up ASAP from the office. Our office hours are Monday - Friday from 8:00AM-4:30PM. If you are unable to come during those hours please call 260-824-6412 to make other arrangements. Your projects miss you and want to come home!
• Cash Your Checks!
  • This is a reminder to all 4-H Auction Participants that your checks from the auction should be cashed by November 30th or funds will be forfeited. If you have yet to pick up your check, please do so ASAP! Make sure to bring in your thank you cards addressed, stamped & sealed. Checks will not be handed out until thank you cards have been turned in.
• Wells County 4-H Association Spooktacular:
  • October 26, 2024 from 6:00-9:00PM at the Wells County 4-H Park
  • Admission: $1.00 or 1 canned food item per person (Expired food will not be accepted)
    • Funds collected will be donated to Feeding Tomorrow’s Future Today Weekend Backpack Program
  • Activities: Carnival Games & Prizes, Log Cabin Tours, Hay Rides, Spooky Forest (opens at 7PM)
• Spooktacular Volunteers:
  • The Wells County 4-H Association is hosting their Spooktacular festival again this year! Check out page 6 for date and details. They are looking for adult and youth volunteers to help with the carnival games, concessions, and the spooky forest. If you are interested in helping out please contact Brandon at 765-499-7042 or Janet at 260-273-1123.
• Pancake Booth Work Day:
  • Sunday, September 8th at 6:00PM, Gravel Lot at the 4-H Park
  • The 4-H Association will be gathering on Sunday, September 8th at 6:00PM to get the Pancake Booth ready for Street Fair. After being stored away all winter, the booth could use some love. If you are available that evening, the 4-H Association would greatly appreciate your help! The more volunteers we get, the quicker the cleaning will go!
• Pancake Booth Sign Up:
  • The 4-H Pancake Booth will once again be at the Bluffton Street Fair this year! The Booth is a great fundraiser for 4-H, as these funds help sponsor our ribbons at the Fair and various 4-H Trips that our youth get to attend.
  • Volunteers are needed for various shifts throughout the week. Each township is responsible for finding 12-16 people to work during their assigned shift. Volunteers will be cooking food, taking orders, and help deliver food to guests. It really does take several people to run the booth smoothly. Shift days are listed below. Sign up online at: https://bit.ly/PancakeBooth2024 
    • Tuesday, Sept. 17th 5PM to Close: Chester Township
    • Wednesday, Sept. 18th 7AM - 5PM: Community Volunteers
    • Wednesday, Sept. 18th 4:30PM to Close: Jefferson Township
    • Thursday, Sept. 19th 7AM - 5PM: Community Volunteers
    • Thursday, Sept. 19th 4:30PM to Close: Jackson Township & Shooting Sports
    • Friday, Sept. 20th 7AM - 5PM: Nottingham Township
    • Friday, Sept. 20th 4:30 to Close: Rockcreek Township
    • Saturday, Sept. 21st 7AM - 12PM: Lancaster Township
    • Saturday, Sept. 21st 11:30AM - 5PM: Harrison Township
    • Saturday, Sept. 21st 4:30PM to Close: Liberty Township