(OCTOBER 16, 2015) — Decreasing the amount of processed foods consumed and enabling 4-H’ers to earn University of Wyoming credit for their years of animal science activities are projects stemming from an endowment created by a Wyoming foundation for use by University of Wyoming Extension.
The John P. Ellbogen Foundation endowment, when matched by the state, is expected to generate $30,000 a year for projects by educators to extend the vision of the foundation and UW across the state.
The two proposals were among six received and reviewed by a five-person committee representing the foundation and extension.
Extension director Glen Whipple called the two inaugural projects outstanding ideas.
“I can hardly wait to see them benefitting Wyoming youths and adults,” he said, and added extension personnel are excited about the endowment. “Looking to the future, it will help us to develop more innovative and dynamic extension education programs for Wyoming residents.”
Nutrition and food safety educator Karla Case said she saw such changes in people who have participated in Real Food Wyoming she wanted to expand the program.
Real Food Wyoming is an adult nutrition program focused on eating more whole foods and less packaged foods. She’s offered the program five times in Natrona County.
“What drives me crazy is the amount of processed food as a society we are consuming and how we allow the food industry to determine what we eat,” said Case. “We need to take control and make those decisions ourselves.”
NFS educators Vicki Hayman of Weston County and Jossy Ibarra of Sweetwater County joined Case on the proposal.
Her team has not yet determined the areas for five pilot programs.
The Pathways to Higher Education project is a youth education program taught through local 4-H programs and culminates with an intensive practicum experience on the UW campus, noted Sublette County 4-H educator Robin Schamber.
She said many 4-H’ers spend eight to 10 years learning subjects ranging from animal nutrition and daily care to animal diseases and reproduction.
Earning credits from UW after completing a curriculum seems a logical progression, she said.
“Our goal is to work with the animal science department to create that curriculum and then create an on-campus, intense practicum weekend that would complete their education for their earned credit hours,” said Schamber. “We are very excited to get moving on this.”
She said she, Uinta County 4-H educator Dawn Sanchez, state youth specialist Warren Crawford and Wyoming State 4-H Program director Johnathan Despain have talked about such a program for several years.
“Unfortunately, every year we spent talking and not doing was a lost opportunity for another group of kids,” said Schamber.