The Litchfield Area Mentorship Program has its Turkey Bingo fundraiser on November 22nd at 6 p.m. at the Litchfield Eagles Club. Members of the Litchfield Kiwanis Club will be helping with the event again.
Kiwanis member Joel McCann says the Kiwanis Club makes it a priority to help support kids in the area as they sponsor the LAMP Turkey Bingo and also help the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Green Wing organization, give away scholarships to graduating seniors, donate to the Youth Fishing contest, collect Kans for Kids and more. He says last year, they helped to bring a speaker to the community to talk to kids in the schools about mental health.
McCann says the Kiwanis Club is also working on a project to install signs at the playgrounds around town to help children with communication issues express their needs. Jared Taber is involved with both the Kiwanis Club and LAMP and says it’s so important for young people to have positive role models in their lives.
Taber says the doors will open at the Litchfield Eagles Club at 5 p.m. on November 22nd for Turkey Bingo so get there early, find a spot to sit and order supper. He says it’s $1 per game or $20 for 20 games and there will also be basket raffles.
Judy Hulterstrum says LAMP will be starting its own 4-H Club. She says it will be for kids on their waiting list and she received funding from the PACT for Families Collaborative.
Hulterstrum says the 4-H Club will be a pilot program which they will try for a year and she needs some volunteers to help with their monthly club meetings. Anyone willing to help should call Judy at 320-699-1616. She says, if you ordered a LAMP planter, they will either be delivered on Friday or will be available at the Litchfield United Methodist Church parking lot tomorrow from noon-to-2 p.m.
After being available for just two years, Ridgewater’s Meat Cutting program has been named the 2024 Minnesota Outstanding Post-Secondary Agriculture Program by the Minnesota Association of Agriculture Educators (MAAE). Instructor Sophia Thommes Berg of Bird Island was honored at the MAAE conference in Plymouth.
MAAE award criteria includes curriculum, experiential learning and marketing to leadership development, partnerships, and professional growth. During the past two years, Berg has worked with industry partners to lead the development of the new Ridgewater program, which includes both Beginning Meat Cutting and Advanced Meat Processing certificates.
The unique delivery model blends online instruction with an apprenticeship, experiential learning model that partners students with industry-partner butcher shops in their local communities. Part-time and full-time students take single courses or pursue full certificates.
Ridgewater’s Vice President of Student Success Mike Kutzke says Sophia has been instrumental in developing a curriculum that not only educates but also inspires students to pursue careers in meat cutting and processing. He says her leadership and vision have been key to the program’s success, and her ability to build strong industry relationships has been crucial in the development and success of the Meat Cutting program.
Berg says the nomination for the award was huge in itself. She says when she was granted the award, it gave her such a sense of accomplishment. She’s a member of the state and national associations for agriculture educators and for meat processors. According to Berg, attending and conducting workshops helps her develop industry and educational relationships to make contacts that help her and her students. For more information about Ridgewater’s Meat Cutting program, go to www.ridgewater.edu/meatcutting.
Litchfield Community Education is transitioning from fall to winter activities. Many of the youth activities for winter are already underway.
Director Grant Solem says Legion basketball and open hockey have already started, and Dribblin’ Dragons, wrestling and gymnastics will begin soon. He says for adults, there’s a one-day workout class coming up later this month, and a trip to the Sidekick Theater in Bloomington to see “Bells Will Be Ringing” on December 11th with the deadline to sign up by November 20th.
Solem says the new winter program guides will be available online on December 2nd and paper copies will be available in their office at the Wagner Education Building. He says if anyone is in need of before or after school child care, they have some spots available in the Dragons Kids Club as they hired a new coordinator.
Solem says the Holiday Showcase is coming up on December 7th at 7 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium, and Litchfield Community Theatre will be presenting “Almost Maine” in February. He says for more information about Litchfield Community Education, look for their link on the Litchfield School District website, or call 693-2354.