EXTENSION REPORT

Teacher Training for High School Financial Planning Program Begins in July

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Alabama Credit Union League are sponsoring teacher training for the National Endowment for Financial Education’s 2007 High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP) beginning in July.

Since its inception in 1984, the High School Financial Planning Program has reached nearly five million students in all 50 states. This program also has acquired an exceptional reputation in terms of teaching teens the skills they need to manage their money wisely.

The program’s curriculum consists of seven units that teach the basics of money management to young people at a time when they are developing habits and attitudes about money that will influence them for the rest of their lives. The seven units include Your Financial Plan: Where It All Begins; Budgeting: Making the Most of Your Money; Investing: Making Money Work for You; Good Debt, Bad Debt: Using Credit Wisely; Your Money: Keeping It Safe and Secure; Insurance: Protecting What You Have; and Your Career: Doing What Matters Most.

“This practical and noncommercial program is available at no cost to all high schools throughout the country,” said Extension Regional Agent Lelia Wissert. “Some of the benefits the HSFPP offers to educators include a flexible turnkey program that has been classroom tested and evaluated regularly; frequently updated online resources; and information that can be easily integrated into coursework.”

The program’s target audience is high school juniors and seniors, so teachers teaching economics, social studies, English or math to these students would benefit from the teacher training. However, any interested educator is invited to attend. Career Technology and JROTC instructors use the program in their classrooms, and it also is good for those working with teens outside the traditional classroom.

The first teacher training will be Wednesday, July 11, at the Madison County Extension Office, located in the Charles Stone Agricultural Center, 819 Cook Avenue, in Huntsville.

The Alabama team also will conduct three training sessions during the Annual State Career Tech meeting July 18 and 19 in Huntsville. Other trainings are planned for Birmingham and Montgomery.

Anyone interested in attending a training session or wanting more information should contact Cynthia Knowlton at 251-937-7176 or knowlcg@auburn.edu.

Upcoming Programs

Got Wildlife?  What to Plant, How and When!

The public is invited to attend a workshop on July 12, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. featuring Auburn University’s Dr. Lee Stribling.  The workshop will be held at the Harrigan Forest Learning Center at the University of Mobile. Stribling will address selecting, planting and establishing wildlife food plots for Alabama landowners.  Registration is $5.00 for Alabama Treasure Forest Association (ATFA) members and $25 for non-members and will include a seafood dinner.  Please RSVP by July 6 by calling Patty at the ATFA office at 251-442-2425.  The workshop is sponsored by Alabama Treasure Forest Association Mobile County Chapter and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

2007 Baldwin County Hay and Forage Day

The 2007 Baldwin County Hay and Forage Day will be held at the Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center in Fairhope on Thursday, July 12. The program will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 2:00 p.m. The topics will include: Livestock Production on the Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center, Malcomb Pegues, Associate Superintendent, Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center; Haylage Production and Uses, Jim Waite, Southwind Dairy; Forage Production, Dr. Don Ball, Professor and Extension Specialist;  Fireant and Armyworm Biology and Control in Forages, Dr. Kathy Flanders, Professor and Extension Specialist. The field demonstrations will be How to Take Hay Samples, Ken Kelley, Regional Extension Agent; and Haylage, Jamie Fidler, Baldwin County Cattlemen’s Association. For more information, contact Ken Kelley at (251) 238-0373 or kellewi@auburn.edu.

Beef Cattle Nutrition Series

            There will be a Beef Cattle Nutrition Series hosted over interactive video at the Mobile County Extension Office on 1070 Schillinger Road. The topics and dates for these short courses are Assessing Cattle Nutrition Needs and Feed Sources, July 31st, 6:45-9:00 p.m.; Reducing Stored Feed Needs, August 28th, 6:45-9:00 p.m.; Weaned Calf Development and Economics, September 25th, 6:45-9:00 p.m.; Commodity Feeds in Detail, October 30th, 5:45-8:00 p.m.; Applied Nutrition Tools, November 27th, 5:45-8:00 p.m. The registration fee is $50 per person for the entire series or $15 per night. A brochure and on-line registration is available at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Animal Science and Forages website, www.aces.edu/animalforage. For more information, contact Ken Kelley at (251- 238-0373 or kellewi@auburn.edu.

Email address: cknowlto@aces.edu
Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.