February 26, 2002
Please do not delete this message. It is the only copy of Agriculture and Natural Resources, FCS and 4-H/Youth Development Exclusives county agents in your office will receive. This packet is for the week ending March 1, 2002.
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Determine Best Market Value
Before Selling Your Timber
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
Listening to Your Children
4-H/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
4-H Fashion Revues
Multi-Faceted Experiences
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DETERMINE BEST MARKET VALUE
BEFORE SELLING YOUR TIMBER
Source: Doug McLaren
When making a major purchase such as a house or car, you take time to compare product features, values and prices. Following this same process when you decide it=s time to sell a mature stand of timber will earn you the highest price.
Bring in a professional forester to help you determine the true market value of your timber. The forester will help you develop best management practices geared to both your needs and those of the woodlands. Some sections might be ready for timber harvest while you might need to improve or plant other areas. The management plan might indicate the need for multiple functions such as a wildlife habitat, recreational uses, or watershed management.
If you do decide to sell, the forester will help you determine the potential market value for the timber and assist with other aspects of the transaction.
When marketing the timber, let market forces establish the price by having many buyers come in to view your timber and then bid on it. Buyers use several criteria to determine the price they=re willing to bid for the timber. First and foremost is quality of the entire timber stand, or the level of defects present. Defects can include damage from a recent fire, or one that occurred decades before, and strong wind damage to trees. Other factors that determine the potential value of hardwood timber include quantity, species, distance to the mill, topography and loggers= abilities. Buyers factor all these into their final biding prices.
How high buyers bid will be influenced by several factors including the overall economy, current housing starts, and weather associated with seasons of the year.
When the economy is strong, there=s a tendency for higher demand for forest products to remodel homes and businesses and for packaging materials to ship manufactured products. The increase in new housing starts creates demand for hardwood used in floors and staircases as well as new furniture for the homes. Long periods of wet weather keep loggers from harvesting trees and lower mill inventories. Weather catastrophes such as tornados and ice storms can lower timber supplies in one area thus increasing demand from other areas.
If you do decide to sell timber, don=t rush into the transaction. Deciduous hardwoods harvested in Kentucky average nearly 80 years old, and retain their market value for many years after reaching maturity.
Information is the key to determining and receiving the true value of a stand of timber. Much information is available from the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service office and referrals. The Kentucky Woodland Owners= Association also provides information on statewide timber management initiatives.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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LISTENING TO YOUR CHILDREN
Source: Sam Quick
All human beings long to be heard, understood and appreciated. It=s true, of you, me and our children.
Assure your children that you do listen to them by taking time to show you=re interest in what they have to say and their feelings and dreams. This shows children you respect what they have to say. Equally important, the children will learn to treat others with the same sensitivity you=ve shown them. They also will listen to and respect other people=s visions and viewpoints.
As you listen to your children, they will learn by example to respectfully listen to what you and others are saying. Listening also will help children express themselves and develop self-confidence.
These tips will help you better listen to your children=s feelings and dreams.
To let your child know he or she has your attention, gently touch the child before the child begins to talk to you.
Remember, you=re not truly listening to a child if you=re reading the newspaper or thinking about something that happened that day. Stop what you=re doing and look at the child, paying attention to what is being said.
It=s important not to always stand over your son or daughter, so sit or place yourself at the same level as your child. Continually standing above children tends to make them feel overpowered and Alittle.@
Develop the habit of reaching out to your children by trying to understand and feel the world from their points of view.
To help your children gain knowledge, skills and a sense of responsibility, let them take part in household decisions such as helping decide where to go on a family weekend outing or choosing their clothes.
Compile a short, simple list of who does what. Be sure to divide responsibilities equally and fairly. Break larger jobs down into several parts. Give advance notice of upcoming chore assignments and deadlines.
Make sure children=s responsibilities are age appropriate. Give children different jobs each week; variety adds spice and gives youngsters different experiences.
A child will rarely do a job as well at first as an adult might. A child will be less eager to help out if you complain that the chore wasn=t done just like you would have accomplished it. Be patient, appreciative and generous with praise for what the child has accomplished.
Remember, children generally like for you to work side-by-side with them.
For more information, contact your (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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4-H FASHION REVUES
MULTI-FACETED EXPERIENCES
Sources: Linda Heaton and Teresa Boll
Senior 4-H members gain expertise in sewing, needle skills and clothing selection and coordination by taking part in county and state Fashion Revues. These educational experiences also allow members to discover more about various segments of the clothing industry, including potential careers.
In many Kentucky counties, 4-Hers now are involved in county Fashion Revues in preparation for the State Fashion Revue on June 12 during Senior Conference on the University of Kentucky campus.
The Fashion Revue experiences help 4-H members build self-confidence and poise, develop grace, good posture and good grooming habits, construct or acquire an outfit that=s both needed and can be proudly worn, and learn from each other by seeing other 4-H members and their apparel.
In addition, the Fashion Revues display to the public what 4-H members have accomplished in their clothing projects. These accomplishments include skills in planning, selecting and constructing garments and wardrobes and learning how to dress appropriately, attractively and economically.
Fashion Revues have seven sewing categories as follows, Casual Wear II, Coordinates, Dress-Up Attire, Specialized Clothing, Formal Wear, Tailoring and Creative Design. The two needle-skills areas are Knitting and Crocheting.
Another segment of the Fashion Revue, AFashion Magic@ is designed for senior 4-Hers who are interested in clothing and want to learn more about successful dressing. AFashion Magic@ gives depth and experience to members interested in the field of clothing and textiles.
Senior 4-H members can choose from three AFashion Magic@ options. Wardrobe Planning is the entry-level project, which emphasizes a series of getting-to-know yourself activities, including a wardrobe inventory. In the Marketplace focuses on making the most of one=s clothing dollar through sound shopping skills and marketplace savvy.
Judging criteria for sewing and needle skills include the member=s appearance, attitude and grooming; becomingness to the person, choices of color, fabric, undergarments and accessories, garment fit, and value for money spent, and aspects of garment construction such as quality of workmanship.
AFashion Magic,@ participants are judged on the project notebook, their presentation, and appearance of the garment on the model including fabric texture and color, garment design and fit, accessories, and value for money spent.
For more information on the 4-H Fashion Revue and other educational projects and activities, contact your (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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