Celebrate Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council Month in May

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — As the largest volunteer organization in the state, the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council and its nearly 3,000 members are dedicated to improving their communities and their quality of life. To recognize the organization’s achievements and contributions to the state, celebrate May as Extension Homemakers Month in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Extension Homemakers program was started in 1912 by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach and teaching arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, to expand the reach of extension programming. The organization has a three-part mission: lifelong learning, community service and leadership development.

MAKING FRIENDS AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE — Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council is the largest volunteer organization in the state, with nearly 3,000 members in more than 300 clubs. The organization provides important opportunities for leadership, education and fellowship. At the AEHC State Meeting in 2022, EHC members stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.  (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

“The purpose of the three-part mission of EHC is to empower people to improve quality of life,” said Laura Hendrix, extension associate professor of personal finance and consumer economics for the Division of Agriculture and advisor to EHC. “While EHC has been around for decades, recent years have seen increased use of new technology and methods to stay connected. Members meet via Zoom and Facebook Live, and webpages and materials are updated for accessibility.”

Hendrix said that in 2023, 5,491 volunteers with EHC contributed more than 200,000 hours of community service, valued at $6.7 million.

“The Cooperative Extension Service and Arkansas Extension Homemakers have partnered on EHC programs for more than 100 years,” Hendrix said. “EHC clubs and councils collaborate with business, community and public service organizations and leaders in their local communities. Arkansas EHC also partners with a variety of organizations at the state level, including the Arkansas Food Bank, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.”

From 2019-2022, Arkansas EHC focused on food insecurity as its state project. Members raised more than 4.5 million meals through food drives and monetary donations to local food pantries and the state’s six regional food banks. 

In 2023, the organization kicked off its next state project, EHC Cares, focusing on mental health awareness. Dot Hart, a member of the New Horizons EHC Club in Jefferson County, said she brought this topic to the state EHC board.

“Mental health awareness is close to my heart,” Hart said. “I pitched that to our board, it’s personal to me. We’ve offered mental health first aid training to our EHC members and community members, and a couple of counties have done crafting for mental health awareness or mental health walks.”

Hart said the project aims to destigmatize mental health and educate members — and by extension, their communities — about available mental health resources.

“It’s just about being that advocate,” Hart said. “I always say, Extension Homemakers are boots on the ground. That’s how I look at us.”

Leading and learning with EHC

As part of the continuing education mission, Hendrix said extension specialists and agents develop non-formal educational programs and train volunteers to teach others the latest research-based information about money management, health, nutrition and personal development.

EHC also offers training and opportunities for members to serve in leadership roles, such as in their club, county and state offices. Deb Teague, a member of The Scrappers EHC Club in Lawrence County, said EHC has helped her become a leader in her day-to-day life.

“The leadership development portion of our organization has benefitted me more than any other part,” Teague said. “It’s helped me with other roles I hold in my life.”

Teague has served as president of her county Extension Homemakers Council, the creative skills chair, and district director of the Delta District for the EHC state office. She currently serves as the organization’s president-elect and will take office as president in July.

“When I talk to people about EHC, the most common thing they say is, ‘I have a job, I’m not a homemaker,’” Teague said. “I always tell people that if you have a place where you live, where you cook and clean, you are a homemaker. Our organization has valuable information that can help you on a wide variety of subjects, to help you do what you’re already doing in a better way.

“Our leadership focus can give you tools to do your job better,” Teague said. “Our community service can help get your name out there, and it can go on your resume and look good to employers. Our organization can assist you with what you’re already doing.”

Hart said EHC has helped her become more vocal as a leader and an individual.

“I have grown so much as a person, as a leader,” Hart said. “I’m originally from Kentucky, and people don’t believe me when I say that I’m shy, I’m quiet. But if there’s a passion, I’m an advocate. If I feel that there’s a need, I want to be that voice. I want to make that difference. And extension has allowed me to do that.”

Hart has served as associate and district director of the Delta District. She has also served as vice president of the National Volunteer Outreach Network, a collection of service organizations from ten states, with which Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council is affiliated. Arkansas EHC is also affiliated of Associated Country Women of the World, a global organization with members from 82 countries.

Power of social connection

EHC also provides an important opportunity for members to socialize with each other, which has emotional and physical benefits.

“Social connection provides value in increased physical health, improved mental health and lower risk of hospitalization, emergency department visits and death,” Hendrix said.

Hendrix said a recent survey of EHC members shows that 83 percent have increased social connections because of the program.

“This is especially important because social connection is a critical component of well-being, healthy aging, longevity and prevention of neurodegeneration,” Hendrix said.

Teague, who owns a 1,000-acre rice and soybean farm with her husband, said EHC has helped her connect with women in her community, which is especially welcome in her male-dominated field of agriculture.

“I am around men all the time, there are very few females in the farming world,” Teague said. “Whether I’m picking up parts or paying bills, it’s all men. So, Extension Homemakers Council gives me an outlet that’s mostly women to socialize with. When you get a bunch of women together, we can commiserate and build each other up.”

Hart said her favorite part of being in EHC has been the fellowship with fellow members.

“I love community,” she said. “I am a community volunteer, and I just like the programs that extension offers. I really like sharing and taking part in that. It’s one big family, and it gives us a chance to have fellowship and enjoy each other.”

To learn more about Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council or join a local club, visit the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council webpage or contact Laura Hendrix at lhendrix@uada.edu.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. 

Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council provides big picture look at Arkansas ag as it hosts Country Women’s Council USA, international affiliate president

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — A three-day conference hosted by the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council provided a window in to Arkansas agriculture for the global head of the Associated Country Women of the World.

VISIT TO THE NATURAL STATE — Magdie de Kock, world president of the Associated Country Women of the World, attended the international organization's area conference in North Little Rock, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council, which is an affiliate of the Country Women's Council of the United States, a part of ACWW. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

AEHC hosted the Country Women’s Council USA and Associated Country Women of the World USA Area conference during the meeting Sept. 19-21. Arkansas EHC is an affiliate of the Country Women’s Council of the United States, which in turn is part of the Associated Country Women of the World, an international organization that focuses on issues impacting rural women. ACWW is the largest international women’s organization, with more than 9 million members in 84 countries.

The Arkansas EHC is a partner of the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Magdie de Kock, world president of Associated Country Women of the World, spoke at the conference and attends CWC meetings to bring insights back to the international organization. 

“We are here as an umbrella organization to give a voice to women, especially rural women of the world,” de Kock said. “We represent them at the United Nations, UNESCO, and other world bodies, where the voices of women need to be heard. We give a global platform to our members.”

De Kock, a native of South Africa, said the organization has a triennial world conference, where members from around the world gather to develop resolutions and policy changes related to issues that impact rural women.

“We have policies on women’s health, education and community development, and domestic issues, like violence against women and children,” de Kock said. “Mainly, it’s about empowering women on different levels and educating them.”

Showcasing the delta

One of the organization’s main projects focuses on climate smart agriculture. During de Kock’s visit to Arkansas, she joined Leigh Ann Bullington, extension Family and Consumer Sciences educator for the Division of Agriculture, in Woodruff County to observe agricultural production and meet local farmers.

“I was happy to be asked to showcase to Magdie the variety of agriculture operations in Woodruff County as example of agricultural practices in eastern Arkansas,” Bullington said. “The producers she met with told me how keenly interested and knowledgeable she was in what they told her about their operations.”

Bullington said de Kock rode in a combine as a field of row rice was harvested and observed how the combine’s computer calculated field data, such as the yield per acre.

“Magdie explained to me that they produce soybeans and maize on their farm in South Africa and she had knowledge of those crops, but she had no idea rice was grown in the United States and that Arkansas led in that production,” Bullington said.

Bullington said de Kock’s visit to Woodruff County is significant to the increasing the visibility of agriculture practices in the state.

“Raising the awareness of agriculture in the Arkansas Delta is always important, and to be able to have a person in the position of Ms. de Kock come experience it firsthand is critical,” she said. “Anytime an ambassador of agriculture has the opportunity to observe the quality of agricultural production, as well as the technology that drives that production, has a positive impact on our state.”

Being in Arkansas, “I feel so much at home, because there’s kindness and openness and generosity,” de Kock said. “And I’m actually impressed to know of all the agricultural aspects that are being covered in Arkansas.

“I’ve read about referring to it being the Natural State … and I can very much see where it comes from,” she said.

Conference draws from 12 states

More than 80 members of CWC societies from 12 states – including Alabama, Florida, Washington, North Dakota, Oregon and Massachusetts – joined AEHC members for three days of meetings, creative skills classes, speakers and tours around Central Arkansas. AEHC members from Cleveland, Crawford, Drew, Jefferson, Mississippi, Montgomery, Lawrence, Pope, Pulaski, Sharp and Yellow Counties attended and hosted the conference.

Darlene Holliday, AEHC secretary, said she enjoys seeing her peers at the organization’s statewide meetings.

“I love coming to the state meetings because I get to see people from all over the state of Arkansas,” Holliday said.

Holliday has been an AEHC member in Montgomery County for 13 years, during which she’s served as the club’s county president and as the organization’s district director.

“I just love extension homemakers,” she said. “I’m starting my 13th year, and I know who I can call when I need something done, and they’ve never turned me down.”

Debbie Thompson, AEHC president, joined her local club in Pope County in 2003. She said she enjoys teaching homemaking skills that have often been lost over time.

“I like the fact that we are able to teach others and help people in the community learn different homemaking skills, skills that sometimes they’ve lost through generations,” Thompson said. “In today’s society, everybody works. And when you work outside the home, we still encourage membership as homemakers, because they’re still making a home.”

Over the three-day conference, CWC members heard from a variety of speakers, including the founders of Hope Found of Northeast Arkansas, which works to end human trafficking and help survivors; Rusty Rumley, senior staff attorney with the National Agricultural Law Center; and Wes Ward, Arkansas secretary of agriculture.

The Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the state. With a statewide membership of more than 3,200 people in over 320 clubs, AEHC provides informal education in Family and Consumer Sciences skills, as well as leadership development and opportunities for community service. In 2021, AEHC members volunteered over 705,000 hours with an estimated dollar value of over $16 million.

For more information about Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council, visit the EHC website. To learn more about Associated Country Women of the World, visit the ACWW website.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

Extension Homemakers Club on Health

Submitted by: Janet Cantrell, CEA-FCS

Phone: (870) 584-3013

Did you know being social is good for your health?

Research has found that being socially active is as equally healthy as quitting smoking or exercise. In a study published in the journal PLoS Medicine, BYU professors Julianne Holt-Lunstad and Timothy Smith report people with stronger social relationships had a 50% increased likelihood of survival than those with weaker social relationships.

"When someone is connected to a group and feels responsibility for other people, that sense of purpose and meaning translates to taking better care of themselves and taking fewer risks," Holt-Lunstad said.

"This effect is not isolated to older adults," Smith said. "Relationships provide a level of protection across all ages."

Extension Homemakers Club (EHC) members not only benefit from being socially active, they also gain knowledge and skills through monthly program topics, special interest workshops and project activities. Members come up with ideas for programs, which are developed cooperatively with the Extension agent to meet interests. Education is a character builder! A lifelong process that is never finished. Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council (AEHC) members keep up-to-date in these rapidly changing times through lessons on all phases of family living and special interest topics presented by speakers, educators and other club members.

In addition to being social and educated, they also give back to their community by choosing a yearly volunteer service project according to their interests.

And, of course, we like to have fun, too!

EHC members are just like you! They work, shop, and sit next to you at ballgames. They like to learn everything from A to Z to better themselves for their families, neighborhoods, and for their community. They are young and old, men and women, working or retired. They come from diverse backgrounds and a rich history. They’ve come a long way from the home demonstration era of the 1900's.

Gather your friends and give us a call. We currently have two clubs that would love to have new members, but we would be happy to start a new club just for you and your friends! Their meeting schedules are:

DeQueen EHC - 2nd Wednesday each month - REA Building in DeQueen at 9:30 a.m.

Gillham EHC – 2nd Friday each month - members’ homes in Gillham at 2:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Janet Cantrell, Sevier County Extension Agent-Family and Consumer Sciences at 870-584-3013 or jcantrell@uada.edu.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Extension Homemakers Provide Blankets for UAMS Patients

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Normally, Santa visits patients at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences this time of year to personally deliver blankets donated by Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council clubs and other volunteers throughout the state. Santa could not visit due to the social distancing requirements, but Extension Homemakers still provided plenty of blankets for people spending the holidays in the hospital.

Extension Homemakers in Cleburne, Craighead, Crawford, Jackson, Jefferson, Hot Spring and Van Buren counties donated 342 blankets, helping the UAMS Auxiliary meet its goal of collecting 400 blankets for patients.

https://www.uaex.edu/media-resources/news/december2020/12-23-2020-Ark-AEHC-blankets.aspx

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON — Sarah Payton, president of the Willing Workers of White Hall EHC Club, delivers blankets to UAMS Volunteer Services Coordinator Marcia Dunbar in Little Rock. (Division of Agriculture photo.)