The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas' Division of Agriculture. With offices in all 75 counties, our faculty and staff provide educational programs and research-based information to the people of Arkansas.
From agricultural programs to family financial management to youth education, we offer educational programs that have immediate and practical applications. Varonica is a local. She graduated from Liberty Eylau. After graduation, she attended South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado where she obtained her Associates of Arts in Education. She obtained a Bachelor's in Education at the University
From agricultural programs to family financial management to youth education, we offer educational programs that have immediate and practical applications. Varonica is a local. She graduated from Liberty Eylau. After graduation, she attended South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado where she obtained her Associates of Arts in Education. She obtained a Bachelor's in Education at the University
Operating as usual
04/11/2022
Join Texarkana Funeral Home for a FREE funeral planning seminar and learn the differences between traditional burial and cremation, how you can plan and protect your own choices, cost differences, payment options, who to call first and what to expect. Call (903) 794-1300 to RSVP!
04/11/2022
The Arkansas Department of Health is conducting a free webinar on Friday, June 3, 2022 for expectant military mothers to educate them about services available.
Julianne Dunn of the Cooperative Extension Service is among those helping communities develop plans for accommodating eclipse tourists in 2024. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)
04/06/2022
Drive safely out there.
04/06/2022
We have another ServSafe Training available for May 18th & 19th for anyone working in the hospitality/food service jobs that is in need of this training.
04/04/2022
The first Miller/Bowie County Health Coalition Pop Up Event, we are at Fred's Wing the first Monday of the month from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Varioys venders from the coalition will be here. Come and see us.
A special thank you to Fred's Wings for allowing us to Pop Up Today.
04/01/2022
Four States Fair starts tonight. Here is a sneak peak at all the food vendors.
The City of Texarkana, TX Farmers’ Market is set to open for the 2022 summer season on Saturday, April 30th with an exciting new location. This year the Texarkana Farmers’ Market will be located at 500 N State Line Avenue, which is adjacent to the Federal Courthouse and Post Office.
The City of Texarkana, TX Farmers’ Market is set to open for the 2022 summer season on Saturday, April 30th with an exciting new location. This year the Texarkana Farmers’ Market will be located at 500 N State Line Avenue, which is adjacent to the Federal Courthouse and Post Office. Starting Sat...
03/31/2022
If you or someone you know is interested, Farm Service Agency in Lewisville has a full-time TEMPORARY Program Technician position available.
FSA is looking for hard working individuals who enjoy interacting with the public, predominately farmers/ranchers and landowners, in a challenging and sometimes fast paced environment. We would certainly appreciate any assistance you can provide.
03/31/2022
In the digital age, navigating online dating websites and apps can feel like a minefield, especially as romance scams have become more prevalent. Going into online dating with open eyes is key to avoiding falling victim to one of these hoaxes. Read more: https://bit.ly/avoid-dating-scams.
03/29/2022
Bring a homemade lunch to work tomorrow instead of buying fast food.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture continues March's #WomensHistoryMonth by recognizing women's role in fulfilling our mission.
Arkansas’ Emma Archer exemplified this mission of outreach and education. One of the first canning agents in Pulaski County, Archer organized the state’s first girls’ canning club at Mabelvale in 1912. In 1914, Archer and 18 charter members formed the first home demonstration club in the nation. Archer was then named state agent in charge of women and girls’ work later that year. Archer often traveled with county agent George Pye via horse and buggy, visiting homes and small communities throughout Pulaski County to host day-long demonstration meetings on food preservation, as well as year-round garden and poultry management. Influenced by Archer’s leadership and teachings, rural women embraced the group education model, and by 1917 there were 150 home demonstration clubs across the state.
Hill said there is “no doubt in my mind that the home demonstration agents and members saved lives during the Great Depression, which began for rural Arkansans after World War I ended.”
Decades later, in 1958, Betty Oliver began her career with extension as an assistant home demonstration agent in Miller County. Oliver eventually became Pulaski County extension staff chair, retiring from that position in 1991. She then served as volunteer coordinator in Family Consumer Sciences at the extension service headquarters in Little Rock. Oliver became the longest-serving University of Arkansas System employee, with 58 years of service. During her tenure at extension, Oliver led countless employees in serving their constituents. She was known for her dedicated work ethic and passion for giving back to the community.
Oliver contributed significantly to the state’s Extension Homemakers Council. She received the National Association of Extension Home Economists Distinguished Service Award and the National Florence Hall Award in 1969. She served as president of the state Association of Extension Home Economists in 1970 and as chairman of the National Professional Improvement Committee of National Extension Home Economists from 1984-1985. She won the Arkansas Extension Home Economists Award for Television Communications three times.
Oliver was inducted into the Arkansas Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2003, and in 2014, she was honored by the Arkansas Gerontological Society for her volunteer services to those 65 and older. Upon her death in 2016, Oliver was remembered by extension leaders as an icon of the organization’s work.
“Betty was a giant in Extension and in Arkansas agriculture. This is an enormous loss to us and to Arkansas,” said Tony Windham, former associate vice president-agriculture-extension for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and former head of the Cooperative Extension Service. “In her nearly 60 years of service to Arkansas, she not only touched, but she also changed for the better the lives of thousands of Arkansans. In so many ways, Betty was the embodiment of our extension mission in Arkansas.”
03/26/2022
Get outside and soak up some vitamin D. Find a park or trail and take a walk.
Maintaining a healthy weight takes more than diet and exercise, says physical activity epidemiologist Olivia Affuso. In this actionable talk, she shows how you can kickstart a healthy life by tapping into the collective power of a community that supports and motivates your health goals.
The Texarkana, Texas Farmers’ Market will host its annual vendor meeting and seed swap, Friday, March 25th from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in the Texarkana, Texas City Hall, 2nd Floor Council Chambers.
The Texarkana, Texas Farmers’ Market will host its annual vendor meeting and seed swap, Friday, March 25th from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in the Texarkana, Texas City Hall, 2nd Floor Council Chambers. Local farmers, gardeners, food producers, artisan craft makers and anyone interested in participati...
03/24/2022
Adults and seniors should try to achieve 150 minutes of moderate endurance exercise each week.
Exercise helps strengthen bones and muscles, improve cardiovascular health, maintain or increase range of motion and flexibility, improve mental health and mood, improve cognitive function, and promotes restful sleep.
Walking is easy and inexpensive. Walk the entire mall or every aisle of the grocery store when you go shopping. When you go out for mail, walk around the block.
Today think about why you wanted to start exercising. Write it on a piece of paper and place it somewhere in your sight. Feel free to share your “why” below!
March is #WomensHistoryMonth. We recognize the integral role women have played in fulfilling extension's mission since its inception in 1914.
The first girls’ canning clubs, started in 1912, gave way to home demonstration clubs that brought rural women together to share and learn best practices from home demonstration agents. Through these clubs, home visits and 4-H club work, women organized group learning to better their families and communities.
Elizabeth Griffin Hill, author of “A Splendid Piece of Work: 1912-2012: One Hundred Years of Arkansas’ Home Demonstration and Extension Homemakers Clubs,” said home demonstration clubs provided life-saving information for rural families during difficult times in the early 20th century.
“The decade of the 1920s was surely the most difficult decade for Arkansas farm families,” Hill said. “Nutrition information and gardening techniques provided the greatest positive impact for struggling families. It is important to know that the home gardens were tended by the wife and mother of the home, along with other tasks too numerous to count.”
Home demonstration agents met with farm women in their homes and learned about their problems and their best practices. This research led to the recommended use of new products and systems – including the introduction of home refrigeration – to improve food safety and cut food processing times. Home demonstration clubs also worked to help their communities. Minnie T. Allen, a Pulaski County home demonstration agent, helped get several miles of county roads improved when cars began replacing the horse and buggy.
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Videos
Are You At Risk?
Worth the effort!
Spinach Song sang to the tune of Old McDonalds Farm
MyPlate @ Union Elementary 1st grade
Brooklyn worked hard to make her Strawberry Banana Smoothie today at our Wild About Wellness booth. Recipe listed in comments.
EFNEP Beans, Beans & More Beans lesson
EFNEP PA Casey Battles teaches school age youth @Red Lick Christian Preschool about protein with the Beans, Beans and More Beans lesson. They tried Ole Frijoles Dip and loved it! Be on the lookout for the recipe. I bet you will love it too! If you want to get your school age child in the EFNEP program, message me and I will tell you how. Arkansas EFNEP at UAEX University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture - Extension (UAEX)
Come see me at the Gateway Farmers Market grand opening! You might win free produce
Shredded chicken with a hand mixer? YES! I’ll never do it by hand again. Have you tried this?
When your workday includes picking up baby chicks for the 4-H poultry chain. Just imagine they will be laying eggs pretty soon.
A little something red in honor of Memorial Day 🇺🇸. To bad you can't smell its deliciousness
Ever wondered how they get the extra needles off trees? They shake them off.
2nd graders describing fresh and canned fruits.
How would you describe the difference between fresh and canned peaches? Here's what 2nd graders said in one of Miller County Elementary School said, after taste testing in a SNAP (Smart Nutrition Active People Class). I think they are geniuses myself and so in tune to food!! Kuddos!
How long has it been since you hula hooped? It's part of our Food, Fun, Fitness & Friends Quad County 4-H camp!!
Hi, my name is Carla Due and I am your Miller County Extension Agent-Staff Chair and Family & Consumer Sciences. I have worked in Miller County Arkansas, (Texarkana is the county seat for reference) for over 29 years. I love when I have the opportunity to deliver research based educational programs in the areas of foods and nutrition, financial management, family life, aging and health. In the old days we would have called it Home Economics and there is a new term going around “adulting”. Well, we have been here over 100 years teaching that.
What could I help you with most? Cooking? Food preservation? Finances? Message me and let me know!" I’ll answer your question through messenger and possibly make a post for everyone to learn from.
You can also follow my pages to read my weekly Texarkana Gazette foods articles I have written for 23 years. I told y'all I’ve been here a while! https://www.uaex.edu/counties/miller/news/fcs/
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas' Division of Agriculture. With offices in all 75 counties, our faculty and staff provide educational programs and research-based information to the people of Arkansas. From agricultural programs to family financial management to youth education, we offer research based, educational programs that have immediate and practical applications.
👉Air fryers: love 'em or leave 'em? Check out UAEX Miller County FCS/Carla Due's article and learn how they work and get TEN tips for perfecting your air frying skills! **BONUS** buttermilk air fried chicken recipe is included! 🍗
🐔🥚To wash or not to wash? That is the question! 🥚🐔
❓There seems to be some debate on the topic of washing farm-fresh eggs. Should we wash them??? Should we not??? We wanted to shed some light on the subject, so we turned to our eggs-perts 😀 for help.
Here's what UAEX Miller County FCS/Carla Due says:
"It's not necessary or recommended for consumers to wash eggs, and it may actually increase the risk of contamination because the wash water can be 'sucked' into the egg through the pores in the shell.
"When the chicken lays the egg, a protective coating is put on the outside by the hen. Government regulations require that USDA-graded eggs (those sold in the store) be carefully washed and sanitized using only compounds meeting FDA regulations for processing foods.
"Eggs are dry. If the shell gets wet, bacteria can pass through the shell. So this is why it is best not to wash farm-fresh eggs. You can clean the shells using a dry cleaning method such as fine sandpaper, a brush or emery cloth. Using rags or sponges to scrub the eggs is not allowed."
And, there you have it, folks—next time you pick up your farm-fresh eggs, ❌don't wash 'em!❌
Did you buy a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving? You may want to start thawing today. A 15 lb turkey will take 3-4 days to thaw (fridge) and 8 hours in cold water. Change water every 30 minutes. NEVER thaw on the counter! Get more turkey prep tips from UAEX Miller County FCS/Carla Due: www.uaex.edu/turkey-prep
The dreaded food fuzzies. What should you do when you spot mold on your food? Find out in UAEX Miller County FCS/Carla Due's most recent article, link below. ⬇️
How do you feel about brussels sprouts? ❤️ or 👎
If you *think* you hate brussels sprouts, you should try UAEX Miller County FCS/Carla Due's recipe for balsamic roasted brussels sprouts! You just may become a fan and reap the health benefits of these tiny powerhouse veggies! 🥬
Who is making ice cream this weekend? 🍦🍨 UAEX Miller County FCS/Carla Due reminds you to keep it safe and use a base with cooked eggs or go eggless!
We all want to protect our family, especially from food poisoning. Click here https://bit.ly/2XZXxLK for more information on leftovers and food safety. #UAEX #StillOnTheJob #Working4U #AtHomewithUAEX UAEX Miller County FCS/Carla Due
Volunteers are the backbone of Extension work. Last year alone, #volunteers contributed 869,574 hours to Extension programming at an estimated economical value of $22,113,266. This year we will be spotlighting some of our most valuable assets, starting with Mrs. Bettie Huntley of Miller County. Mrs. Bettie has been a fixture of Miller County Extension programs and events for 50 years, starting as a Arkansas 4-H volunteer and later as an Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council-UAEX member.
In her youth, Mrs. Bettie was a Miller County 4-Her under agent Elwood Shannon. After becoming a mother, she wanted her own children to benefit from the opportunities and experiences 4-H brings, so she took the eldest three to enroll in 4-H. It was then that Shannon recruited his former 4-Her as a 4-H volunteer, and the rest is history. Huntley raised her six children (5 daughters and 1 son) in 4-H where they exceled in citizenship and fashion review events.
Mrs. Bettie spent many years as a seamstress, and later in life found a passion for quilt making. Her quilt in the photo is currently on display at "The Designers" exhibit at the Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council, Inc. until March 14, 2020. As an EHC member for over 40 years, the annual conference is the highlight of her year. She has been attending them since 1990 and can’t imagine missing one.
To her surprise, Bettie was named Miller County Extension’s Volunteer of the Year last year, and received a special plaque from UAEX Miller County FCS/Carla Due, whom she considers a daughter. During Due’s 29 years with Extension, Bettie has been an invaluable friend and mentor. Due says, “I can call her anytime, day or night. She treats me like one of her kids, and she has pictures of my kids hanging in her house and considers them her grandkids as well.”
Due says Bettie’s dedication to the Extension mission is tireless. “If you look up the definition of volunteer in the dictionary, you could easily see a picture of Bettie Huntley. Any way she can help Miller County Extension, she is willing, regardless of the program area. She will man the registration booth at an ag event, teach a youth quilting class, serve as a 4-H event judge, or assist with prep for a food demo or cooking school. I really do not know what we would do without her.”
How many of us can say we only eat a portion of steak the size of a deck of cards? 🥩♣️ Or on that giant plate of pasta, eat the equivalent of a half a baseball? 🍝⚾️
Eating correct portion sizes is one of the biggest barriers to weight management. This graphic shows what your portions of different foods should look like. And be sure to read the linked article by UAEX Miller County FCS/Carla Due as well >> https://bit.ly/2Unm8Z4