SETTLING INTO COUNTY LIFE

A GOOD FIT: 4-H Extension Service agent Carole Smith and new Family and Community Development agent Angela Bonham, right, are sharing more than office space. Two mornings a week, they work out with 11 other women in Bonham's Strong Women program. (The Observer/MARDI FORD).

by Mardi Ford

The Observer

Angela Bonham, the county's newest OSU Extension agent, is looking forward to spring in Union County and planting her first Eastern Oregon garden.

After spending the winter settling into a new home with her family — a border collie named Lewis and a blue heeler called Maggie — Bonham is also looking forward to warmer weather.

"I asked Honour (Bowen) when it was going to warm up again, and she told me not until May," Bonham laments with a good-natured laugh. Upon moving here after several years spent in Albuquerque, N. M., Bonham says, "I had to buy coats."

Bonham filled the Family and Community Development position, which had been empty for several years.

"It was worth the wait," says Extension staff chair Carole Smith. "Angela fits in very well. She has lots of energy and enthusiasm."

Smith says Bonham is also very knowledgeable about nutrition and excited to implement new programs for the county.

Bonham says the FCD agent's area of expertise has evolved from what used to be known as "home ec."

Although she knows how to run a sewing machine and has learned different methods of food preservation, her focus in both Union and Baker counties will center around nutrition and community health education.

Bonham, also a board member of the new U. C. Fit Kids program, is committed to teaching healthier food and activity choices in the local schools. Last week, she was in Baker County teaching first graders about the importance of breakfast with the Smart Start Eating and Reading Program.

In hopes of reaching the parents who buy the food, she teaches children not only what is healthy to eat, but why — explaining how different foods impact the body. So, as kids begin to understand why they need to fuel up with healthy in the morning instead of sugary, does that mean they'll stop asking for Pop Tarts from the store?

"Oh, no, not Pop Tarts," Bonham laughs, although she says the worst choice for kids is to go to school without eating at all.

"Something — even a Pop Tart — is better than nothing," she says.

Oatmeal is easy and great, cold cereal with milk is also good. But Bonham suggests a mix of whole grains, something fresh and some protein is the best way to start the day and perform well in school.

Bonham has also taught the Kids in the Kitchen program at Cove, and on Monday will teach health and nutrition to grade schoolers at Greenwood.

She's also started the Strong Women Program, an eight-week woman's course on strength training and nutrition tailored for both the active and sedentary. The national fitness program uses both hand and ankle weights to improve strength and balance in older women.

"It's so much fun — this is a neat group. We have 13 people and the cutoff was 12, so I'm happy with the response. After this session is over, we'll start another one," Bonham says.

Also on her agenda is the April 7 Spring Fling at the Ag Service Center, where Bonham will hold a workshop on different kinds of fats, including trans fats. Later this summer, she hopes to teach some canning and food preservation workshops.

"I'd like to look into teaching some scratch cooking classes for adults. Cooking from scratch is cheaper and healthier. It's more traditional here — more people have large gardens and do more canning," she says.

Every other month, Bonham also publishes a Family and Community Development newsletter with information on what she's doing and other resources and events in the community.

"I'm still learning about this community, what's happening and what's out there and where people are coming from. It takes a while, but everyone has been really helpful and nice. It's a good fit."