Life Long Wellness

Brenda Bergsrud of Rolla, Pat DeMers of Dunseith and Karen Armstrong of Rolette recently completed training to become a North Dakota Mental Health and Aging Education Trainer. They participated in both a regional session in Bisbee, ND and a statewide training at Bismarck.  They are some of thirty trainers across the state conducting education programs on mental health and aging.  The project focuses on educating those who work with older adults and the public on positive aging and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and dementia. This training was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Child Development and Family Science at North Dakota State University and funded by the Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, North Dakota Department of Human Services.

A workshop entitled “Successful Aging” will be hosted 4-8 pm January 29^th at Valle Lutheran Church of Rolette and 4-8 pm at the NDSU Research Center, Langdon February 13^th. Please register at least one week prior to the workshops. If you would like to register or to schedule additional trainings, contact Karen Armstrong at 477- 5671, Pat DeMers, 244-5398 or Brenda Bergsrud.

NDSU Extension Launches Food Entrepreneur Web Site

The NDSU Extension Service has created a Web site to help people interested in developing and marketing food products.

The North Dakota State University Extension Service has launched a Web site to help food entrepreneurs get started in the business.

"We've observed a growing interest among North Dakotans to develop and market food products," says Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist. "We hope these new resources help with that process."

The Web site, at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/foodent/entrpnr.htm, provides a number of questions for people to consider as they decide whether to start a food business. The site also has information and lessons on doing marketing research, pricing and marketing food products, the rules and regulations governing North Dakota food service facilities, the laws regulating food labeling, what adults and youth need to know about keeping food safe at food stands and making sure food is safe before it reaches farmers markets.

The lessons include pre-surveys to help potential food entrepreneurs determine how much they already know and post-surveys to indicate how much they learned. They also can print a certificate after they've completed each of the lesson modules.