AMES, Iowa - Youth and adults "aimed for adventure" and found it at the 2011 Iowa 4-H Youth Conference. This year 849 people participated in the June 28-30 conference on the Iowa State University campus.

The broad theme, "Aiming for Adventure," emphasized the purpose of the conference, said Brenda Allen, a 4-H youth development specialist with Iowa State University Extension. "This is a leadership development conference for high school students. We hope they build many skills while they're here, and experience the four components of 4-H: fun, friends, voice and choice."

The Iowa 4-H Youth Conference is one of the largest youth-led 4-H conferences in the nation, drawing nearly 1,000 4-H'ers and non 4-H'ers every year for workshops, motivational speakers, service projects, games and dances. Although the conference format often stays the same from year to year, the theme, speakers and content of the workshops change to give the event new flavor. Workshop directors are given the theme, and then create workshops that tie in.

"Whether you're in 4-H or not, it's good to explore what you might want to study in the future and learn leadership and teamwork skills and skills to help you become more assertive and able to contribute to your community," Allen said.

Conference Provides Opportunities
"One of the biggest aspects of the conference is that students see what opportunities are out there, that the world is greater than their local community," Allen said. "We want them to see that if they push themselves, they can take advantage of those opportunities."

The workshops and community service projects help youth develop those skills. Workshop topics range from food and art to money and robotics and everything in between.

"We hope that the students build a variety of skills with the workshops we provide," Allen said. "We partner with academic departments on campus, so this is a chance for young people to explore potential careers or majors in college and to develop a relationship with faculty.

The workshops take place all over the Iowa State campus.

A new workshop that focuses on evaluating the impact of conference attendance in the lives of youth participants from the students' perspective was offered this year. The workshop, called "Uncovering the Adventure's Treasures," placed 12 conference youth in the role of evaluators. They developed questions for a survey to distribute to 200 randomly selected students on the last day of the conference.

"Students' collective voice makes a difference, as do their thoughts and perspectives. The 4-H Youth Conference is theirs and they have a voice in how it is run, how it is evaluated and how the conference changes based on the skills and needs of young people," said Uncovering the Adventure's Treasures workshop co-director Keli Tallman, an ISU Extension 4-H youth development state specialist. "The students who attended the workshop developed the questions, determined the most effective evaluation tool to obtain responses and strategized how to effectively distribute the questions to conference participants. They led their own workshop."

Education and service projects are not the only aspects that make the conference an adventure to remember. Fun activities and meeting new people are key components as well. Each year, a banquet is held for conference participants and youth and adult conference planners. This allows the planners and participants to kick back and relax and get to know one another.

"I came because I knew it would be fun," said Morgan Sladek, a Johnson County senior. "I not only had an amazing time, but met many awesome people as well."

Non 4-H'ers Can Get Involved Too
The adventure isn't just for 4-H'ers. This year 45 non 4-H members attended the conference with their friends.

"4-H isn't just for students interested in agriculture or who live on farms, it hasn't been for decades," said Uncovering the Adventure's Treasures workshop co-director Sorrel Brown, a program evaluator with Iowa State University Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources. "The leaders are trying to overcome this view by creating more activities and interests geared toward urban students."

Anyone can find an adventure at the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference. For more information, contact Brenda Allen at bsallen@iastate.edu.

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Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable crop in Iowa. Many diseases and disorders can affect tomatoes during the growing season. Iowa State University Extension specialists describe the symptoms and management of common problems. To have additional questions answered, contact the experts at hortline@iastate.edu or call 515-294-3108.

Why are my tomatoes cracking?
Fruit cracking is a common problem on tomatoes. Cracks usually appear at the top or stem end of the fruit. Cracks radiate out from the stem (radial cracks) or circle the fruit in concentric rings (concentric cracks). Fruit cracking is associated with wide fluctuations in soil moisture levels. A heavy rain or deep watering after a long, dry period results in rapid water uptake by the plant. The sudden uptake of water results in cracking of ripening fruit. Generally, fruit cracking is most common on the large, beefsteak-type tomatoes.

Fruit cracking can be prevented by supplying the tomato plants with a consistent supply of moisture during the summer months. During dry periods, a thorough soaking once every seven days should be adequate for most tomato plants. Conserve soil moisture by mulching the area around tomato plants with dried grass clippings, straw, shredded leaves or other materials. Also, plant tomato varieties that possess good crack resistance. Tomato varieties that possess good to excellent crack resistance include Jetstar, Mountain Spring and Mountain Fresh.

Several of my tomatoes are misshapen. Why?
Misshapen (catfaced) fruit may be due to cool weather during fruit set. Exposure to 2,4-D or similar broadleaf herbicides is another possibility. Catfacing is most common on large-fruited tomato varieties. Affected fruit show leathery scars, bulges, or holes at the blossom end of the fruit. The incidence of catfacing is typically highest on the early maturing fruit and declines during the remainder of the growing season.

A blackish spot develops on the bottom of my tomato fruit. What is the problem and how can it be prevented?
Blossom end rot is probably responsible for the blackish spots on the tomato fruit. Blossom end rot is a common problem on tomatoes. It appears as a brownish black spot on the blossom end (bottom) of the fruit. Secondary organisms invade the brownish black spot and cause the fruit to rot. Blossom end rot is most common on the earliest maturing fruit that ripen in July and early August.

Blossom end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency in the developing fruit. Wide fluctuations in soil moisture levels impair calcium uptake by the root system of the tomato plant. Excessive nitrogen fertilization may also contribute to blossom end rot.

To reduce blossom end rot, water tomato plants on a weekly basis during dry weather to provide a consistent supply of moisture to the plants (tomato plants require about 1 to 1½ inches of water per week during the growing season). Mulch the area around the tomato plants to conserve soil moisture. Avoid over-fertilization. There is no need to apply calcium to the soil as most Iowa soils contain more than adequate levels of calcium.

Pick and discard fruit affected with blossom end rot. The removal of the affected fruit will allow the tomato plant to channel all of its resources into the growth and development of the remaining fruit.

Blossom end rot can also occur on pepper, eggplant, summer squash and watermelon.

My tomatoes are developing white or yellow areas on the sides of the fruit exposed to the sun. Why?The white or yellow areas on your tomatoes are due to sunscald. Sunscald occurs on fruit exposed to the sun during periods of extreme heat. Initial symptoms of sunscald are the development of shiny white or yellow areas on the fruit. Later, the affected tissue dries out and collapses, forming slightly sunken, wrinkled areas. Secondary organisms invade the affected areas causing the fruit to rot.

Losses due to sunscald can be reduced by growing tomatoes in wire cages. Cage-grown tomato plants provide good foliage protection for the fruit. Also, control Septoria leaf spot and other foliar diseases which defoliate the plants and expose the fruit to direct sunlight.

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AMES, Iowa – The Iowa`s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program is currently accepting applications for the 2012 program. Eligible communities are those with populations of fewer than 10,000, existing transportation-related issues and a committee of volunteers willing to dedicate their time and talent to the visioning process.

The Visioning Program integrates technical landscape planning and design techniques with sustainable community action to empower local leaders through a planning process that results in an enhancement plan that reflects the values and identity of the community.

Communities selected to participate are required to contribute $2,000 toward program implementation. In return, the visioning program provides professional services valued at more than $60,000. Since 1996, 172 communities throughout the state have benefited from the program.

The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation in partnership with Iowa State University Landscape Architecture Extension and Trees Forever, an Iowa-based nonprofit with a mission to plant and care for trees and the environment by empowering people, building community and promoting stewardship.

Communities interested in applying to the 2012 Community Visioning Program or the Renewing Community Vision Program can download an application at www.communityvisioning.org/visapps.html.

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July 26                                  
Scott County Extension Council Meeting at the Extension Office
7pm 

August 5                               
Pesticide Applicator Testing
10am-2pm at the Extension Office 

August 23                             
Scott County Extension Council Meeting at the Extension Office
7pm 

September 2                       
Pesticide Applicator Testing
10am-2pm at the Extension Office 

September 27                     
Scott County Extension Council Meeting at the Extension Office
7pm 

October 5                             
Aquatic, Forest and Roadside Pest Management CIC, $35 if registered by 9/28/11, after that $45
At the Scott County Extension Office, 9am-11:30am 

October 7                             
Pesticide Applicator Testing
10am-2pm at the Extension Office 

October 25                           
Scott County Extension Council Meeting at the Extension Office
7pm 

October 27                           
Mosquito & Public Health Pest Management CIC, $35 if registered by 10/20/11, after that $45
At the Scott County Extension Office, 9am-11:30am 

November 4                        
Pesticide Applicator Testing
10am-2pm at the Extension Office 

November 9                        
Ornamental & Turf Applicators CIC, $35 if registered by 11/2/11, after that $45
At the Scott County Extension Office, 1:30pm-4pm 

November 16                      
Commercial Ag Weed, Insect, and Plant Disease Management CIC, $35 if registered by 11/9/11, after that
$45, at the Scott County Extension Office, 9am-11:30am 

November 29                      
Fumigation CIC, $35 if registered by 11/22/11, after that $45, at the Scott County Extension Office,
9am-11:30am 

December 2                        
Pesticide Applicator Testing
10am-2pm at the Extension Office 

December 7                        
Pest Control Operators CIC, $35 if registered by 11/30/11, after that $45, at the Scott County Extension
Office, 9am-11:30am 

Visit our events calendar at our web site:   http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/