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Event to be held in Orange City and feature tour of monarch habitat

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, together with Orange City Area Health System (OCAHS), will host a monarch and pollinator field day on August 21 at Prairie Ridge Care Center, which is owned and operated by OCAHS. The program will run from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and includes a field tour of the monarch/pollinator habitat that has been planted at Prairie Ridge Care Center, located at 1005 7th Street NW in Orange City. It is designed for landowners and families who want to learn more about planting pollinator habitat. There is no cost to attend but please RSVP to Sioux County Extension via email ([email protected]) or phone (712) 737-4230. Refreshments and on-site parking will be provided. Seth Appelgate, agricultural specialist with Iowa State University, will speak about establishing monarch/pollinator habitat. Information about habitat assistance and cost share programs will be provided by Troy Davelaar, biologist with Pheasants Forever. “The monarch butterfly population east of the Rocky Mountains has declined over the past 20 years, and Iowa can play a big role in their recovery,” said Appelgate. “Monarch larvae feed exclusively on milkweed while adult monarchs depend on nectar plants as food sources. Iowa State University has established habitat demonstration projects across the state and is collecting data from these sites in order to develop habitat establishment best management practices and to help researchers understand how monarchs utilize the new habitat.” For youth attending the field day, Monarchs on the Move will be there with hands-on activities. Monarchs on the Move is a 4-H program created through ISU Extension and Outreach, with activities that focus on monarch biology, habitat, and ways to increase habitat for monarch butterflies and pollinators. Youth can experience life as a monarch caterpillar on a milkweed plant with a life-sized milkweed model and explore satellite images to look for opportunities to plant habitat. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”http://kpth130275site.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Monarch-Butterfly-Alec-Euken1.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px” /][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px”]

Monarch butterfly drinks nectar from a rough blazing star plant

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Field day participants tour a monarch habitat demonstration site with Seth Appelgate, Iowa State University ag specialist

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”] Joyce Huisman, RN, was recently honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The national award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day. The award at Orange City Area Health System is co-sponsored by Sanford Health. Huisman, who recently retired after serving as a hospital nurse at OCAHS for 30 Years, was honored for the exemplary care she provided to our patients & her dedication our organization & her colleagues. “Joyce is the epitome of what a nurse should strive to be” commented Laurie Gebauer, Director of Patient Care for Orange City Area Health System. “She always put her patient’s needs first & was there for her team whenever needed. Joyce is a knowledgeable, compassionate & kind nurse. She is what the Daisy Award stands for”. The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease.  The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. Awards are given throughout the year at presentations given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.”  The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” “We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in the DAISY Award program,” stated Gebauer.  “Nurses are heroes every day.  It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that.” Congratulations to Joyce Huisman on being named and Extraordinary Nurse! For a complete listing of healthcare organizations currently running the program, please go to https://DAISYfoundation.org [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”http://kpth130275site.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Joyce-Huisman-Daisy-Award.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px” border_width_all=”1px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”] -by Dr. Alan Laird, Chief Medical Officer A recent article in the journal Circulation (April 30, 2018) looked at the lifestyle habits that help people live a longer and healthier life. On average, 10 years longer with an 82% lower risk of death due to cardiovascular disease, and 65% lower risk of death from cancer. And what were these healthy habits? They will not surprise you. In fact you probably heard about them from your mother. First and foremost, do not smoke. Being a nonsmoker is shown to have the most powerful effect in adding years of life and wellbeing. I think mom would agree. In this day and age, that includes vaping. If you do smoke, quit. Or as mom would say, “Stop it.” If I complained it was difficult to do so, I would probably hear, “I did not say it was easy, I said it was important.” The next four lifestyle habits that help people live longer were also found to be important, even if they did not influence health as strongly as the first. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Or as mom would say, “Go outside and play. Burn off some of that energy.” You need to do something that raises your heart rate and probably makes you sweat a little. If you would like more specific guidelines, talk with your healthcare provider. If you have been inactive for a while, talk with your doctor before you start anything aggressive. Control your weight. Having a normal BMI (body mass index) is shown to make a difference. Probably because you will have to be active and eating right to do so. The BMI has become a way to gauge the right weight for height. It is not perfect, but gives a good guideline. There are a number of free calculators online, in phone apps (smart phone applications for us older folks), or just ask you care giver what your BMI is. And while a BMI between 18.5 and 25 is normal for adults, we do not see a rise in problems from being overweight until the BMI passes 30 (just trying to make myself feel better there). Do not drink too much alcohol (although my mom might have said, “not any”). Consuming no more than 5 fluid ounces of wine a day (12 fl oz of beer or 1.5 fl oz of hard liquor) for women and double that for men, has a positive effect on health. Lastly, “Eat your fruits and vegetables.” A healthy diet is found to be important. It is not without controversy what exactly a healthy diet is. While that debate rages, I think most us will agree we need to take in a good amount of vegetables and fruits with very limited or no sugary drinks and snacks. So in conclusion, mom was right all along: don’t smoke, do go outside and play, watch your waistline, eat right and lay off the snacks – all good advice. Unfortunately, studies show only 8% of us are following all of these. It isn’t easy in this hectic and busy life many of us lead. So what can you do? Pick one. Pick one you need to work on. And once that has become part of your life (you stopped smoking, you are now exercising regularly, etc) try for the next one. Doing it with someone else that helps too. And remember what mom said, “I didn’t say it was easy, I said it was important.” [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”http://kpth130275site.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Laird.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px” /][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light” custom_padding=”12px|12px|12px|12px”]

“So in conclusion, mom was right all along: don’t smoke, do go outside and play, watch your waistline, eat right and lay off the snacks – all good advice. Unfortunately, studies show only 8% of us are following all of these.”

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