Family and Consumer Sciences Education

Published: 2019
By Denise Seilstad

Denise Seilstad, Family and Consumer Sciences MSU Extension Agent, has been serving the residents of Fergus County for the past 20 years. Many residents visit MSU Extension for one-on-one consultations and questions ranging from food preservation and safety to financial planning. With a high increase in opioid misuse, Seilstad has been working with a team from MSU to educate the people of Fergus and Petroleum Counties about this crisis. Forums were held around the state, one of them in Lewistown, to hear information and feedback about opioid misuse in Montana. The forums have driven creation of educational materials which Seilstad has started and will continue to bring to the people of Fergus and Petroleum Counties. ServSafe Food Safety education was provided to 416 people throughout this past year. ServSafe training helps train employees and managers to meet standards for food safety training in retail food establishments and to train others in the foodservice industry. There were a considerable amount of requests to Extension that were answered on the topic of food safety. Questions cover everything from personal interest calls to Cottage Food Law questions. To help keep home food preservers and their families safe, 16 pressure gauges were checked for safety throughout the year. Along with pressure gauge testing, research information from MSU Extension about home food preservation is always available at the office. Human services programs are also provided to Fergus/Petroleum residents. • Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) served 16 people in Fergus County, providing six weeks of self-management education. • Powerful Tools for Caregivers, an educational program for friends and relatives acting as caregivers for an adult with a chronic medical condition, served 14 caregivers this past year. • Fergus County MSU Extension has teamed with the Central Montana Medical Center (CMMC) in offering an Alzheimer Caregiver Support group monthly, which has been serving anywhere from 7 to 12 caregivers. • After finding out that Petroleum County does not have a Foot Clinic, one was organized by Seilstad, and takes place every other month with the help of a local nurse who travels to Winnett. This program has grown from two to 10 participants. • Strong People, Strong Bones is in its twelfth year in Fergus /Petroleum County. This MSU Extension program helps men and women slow down or prevent osteoporosis and arthritis by doing strength exercises. Two session running twice weekly throughout the year meet and serve 35 to 40 people. • 108 people learned the uses and safety of a countertop pressure cooker from Seilstad. • 25 youth, ages 10-13 attended the Safe Sitter Babysitting Workshop. Youth are provided the needed skills and medical education to become responsible, dependable babysitters.