Q: Have I missed the deadline for the 2008 Master Food Volunteer Training?

A: No, you haven’t. We are shaking things up as far as the calendar goes this year.

In order to attract some volunteers who have a more flexible schedule in the summer, such as school employees, and for those snowbirds who are not here when we offer the training in the early spring, in 2008 we are having it during the month of June.

The Extension Master Food Volunteer Training will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays starting June 3 through June 26. Although we collaborate with both Leavenworth and Shawnee counties in offering this training, all of the classes will take place at the K-State Research & Extension-Douglas County Office, located on the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds.

If you enjoy food, love to cook, are interested in nutrition and want to become a “Master” at your culinary skills and also help your community, then the Master Food Volunteer Program is for you.

During the 40 hours of training, the Master Food Volunteer Training provides a foundation of knowledge to volunteers in the subject areas of food safety, food science, food preparation and food preservation. These classes will be taught by K-State Extension Nutrition and food safety specialists; County extension agents in Douglas, Leavenworth and Shawnee counties; and community nutrition educators. Each day of training will be filled with demonstrations and hands-on learning.

Once completed, volunteers will have the opportunity to share their skills and knowledge with their community. Projects could include providing cooking classes for adults and children, manning a nutrition display at health fairs, write food-related articles for various media, preparing food for demonstrations, assisting with foods judging at the county fair, or offering bread baking and food preservation workshops, just to name a few. The possibilities are endless.

Applications are due by May 23. A $75 fee is charged to cover the notebook, apron, nametag and teaching supplies.

The class size is limited to 30 people. For an application and more information, please contact Susan Krumm for Douglas County at 843-7058, Denise Sullivan for Leavenworth County (913) 250-2300, or Lisa Martin for Shawnee County at (785) 232-0062. Applications can also be submitted online at www.douglas.ksu.edu. Once the applications have been received, an informational interview will be scheduled before the beginning of the training to answer questions and review program requirements.

– Susan Krumm is an Extension agent in family and consumer sciences with K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County, 2110 Harper St. She can be reached at 843-7058.