Voter Approved! In Teton County the Extension Service budget is determined by voters as it is funded outside the general county budget. In June, Teton County residents approved a specified level funding. The approval of the ballot issue assures that residents will have access to services offered by Extension for years to come.

Investing in the Future: Teton County Agents work with 4-H members and other youth to develop life-long skills. One skill building opportunity this year came in the form of hosting a regional 4-H program called Mini-Congress. Older 4-H members learned how to plan lessons, gather supplies and teach sixty active young 4-Hers. All the while, the members were developing important leadership skills.

Size It Up! Jane Wolery, Teton County Family and Consumer Science Agent, is part of a national coalition devoted to size acceptance. Teton County residents have benefitted from her participation as they have attended a class called "Size It Up!" The class helps both youth and adults understand and discuss the pressures to be a certain size. Participants also develop a heightened awareness for propaganda that encourages overeating. Several pre-teen class members approached the Extension Agent later to show advertisements and media influences that are at work in their lives. The class helps youth and adults develop a positive attitude toward their bodies.

Y.E.S.: Nearly 200 youth learned to say "Y.E.S." to science this years thanks to a fun and exciting science program offered by Teton County Extension. "Youth Experiences in Science" curriculum uses everyday items to teach science principles. This year the "bubble" science class was a hit. Youth participants learned how to apply the scientific process to learn why a bubble is round, what makes a bubble pop, how you can catch a bubble, how bubbles are useful and more. When asked to draw a scientist before the class, most students drew flasks, laboratories and male scientists. When asked to draw a scientist after taking the class, students often drew themselves.

Irrigation Water Management: Through workshops, field tours and email, over 70 irrigators in Teton County have been able to manage their irrigation water during one of the county's worst drought years in history. Farmers have realized the benefits of scheduling their irrigation applications using data collected from a weather station located in the county. Plant water use data is collected and is electronically sent to farmers across the county. This data, combined with information on soil water holding capacity, gives irrigators the information to make scheduling decisions for efficient us of precious resources. Now farmers can determine when the crop needs water thus saving money on power bills and labor.

The Extension Office is in the process of coordinating with the Bureau of Reclamation to place another weather station in the county, thus improving farm efficiencies and resource conservation for the county's 110,000 acres of irrigated land.

Wrangling Weeds at the Rodeo: The Third Annual Weed Whacker Rodeo was an all around success. Sixty-five participants pulled over 1500 pounds of spotted knapweed in Sun Canyon this year. Three times more than last years yield. Area residents, outfitters, 4-H club members and local business representatives converged on the Sun Canyon area where they were whipped into a weed pulling frenzy and let loose to decimate the local week population. This years event had great coverage from statewide printed press and from a television news show.

The success for such an event is greatly dependent on its sponsorship. This year we welcomed two new groups, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Foundation for North American Wild Sheep. They joined our other loyal supporters. US Forest Service, Fish Wildlife and Parks, irrigation districts, weed districts and conservation districts from a three-county area.

Insect Alert: Insect infestations were a concern to Teton County farmers this year. Due to two previous mild winters, insect populations have been on the rise. This year, farmers have had to manage for increased numbers of Russian wheat aphids and a new insect to the area - the cereal leaf beetle. During insect pest tours in Teton County, farmers learned how to determine economic thresholds and management options to best address these crop pests. From the tours, many farmers determined that spraying insecticide was not cost effective, saving them an average of $15 per acre. This education translates to thousands of dollars saved by producers.

Doctoring Your Taxes? Several county residents are being exposed to a legal method of "doctoring" their taxes. A program on Medical Care Savings Accounts (developed by Marsha Goetting, MSU Family Financial Specialist and taught by Jane Wolery, Teton County Extension Agent) has been helping Teton County residents save money on their state taxes. The program teaches participants about how to establish a Medical Savings Account and what medical expenses can be paid for with this particular savings account. The education on Medical Savings Accounts could truly save tax payers some money. One participant was excited to learn that she could start saving now for an orthodontic surgery her child is going to need and save herself some tax dollars in the process.