Black Hawk County Extension & Outreach

08/25/2026

What will you learn at Virtual Seed School?

Over six weeks, we’ll follow the seed-saving process from the botany behind it to the community that keeps it growing:

🌼 September 28: The Botany of Seed Saving
🫘 October 5: Harvesting and Cleaning Seeds—Dry Processing
🍅 October 12: Harvesting and Cleaning Seeds—Wet Processing
🫙 October 19: Seed Quality and Storage
🗺️ October 26: Growing and Saving Seed with Regional Experts
🤝 November 2: Next Steps—Connecting to Community

Classes are live on Zoom on Monday evenings, with time for questions and conversation. Recordings will also be available to registered participants.

Explore the full course and register: https://seedsavers.org/events/seed-school/

08/21/2026

As it was the last weekend of the Iowa State Fair, Black Hawk County Extension and Outreach Office wants to share a few of our favorites we love at the fair.

🐷🐰🐑 Favorite Fair Animals - Piggies, Bunnies, and Sheep

🎡Favorite Fair Rides - Ferris Wheel

🍀🍀 Favorte Exhibits - 4-H

🍭🌭🍩🌮🦞 Favorite Fair Foods - Cotton Candy, Corndogs, Mini Donuts, Walking Tacos/Nachos, Lobster Corndog

Our only regrets? Not having enough stomach space for all the wonderful fair food! 😆

Now it is your turn to share! Tell us in the comments! 👇

08/21/2026

Celebrating the hard work of all our Black Hawk County exhibitors! 🍀💚

08/18/2026

What's your favorite animal at the Iowa State Fair? 🐷🦙🐮🐑

08/18/2026

Family caregiving is a growing responsibility for many Americans. Nearly 39% of U.S. adults provide care for a family member or friend with a chronic health condition. While caregiving can be rewarding, it often brings challenges that may affect caregivers' physical health, emotional well-being and overall life satisfaction.

The need for caregiver support is especially important in Iowa, where cancer continues to affect thousands of families each year. The Iowa Cancer Registry estimates that 21,700 Iowans will be diagnosed with cancer and 6,400 will die from the disease in 2026. More than 175,000 cancer survivors are currently living in Iowa, highlighting the ongoing need for education and support for those providing care to family members and friends. - Please join us for one of our educational classes.

08/18/2026

The Iowa State University Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an open house on Sept. 10, from 2 to 7 p.m. Area farmers, agribusiness professionals and interested community members are welcome to attend the free event.

08/17/2026

🧑‍🚀 Calling all space explorers! 🧑‍🚀
Join us on Sept. 13th for 4-H FLEx Space Missions!
🌕 Learn about Artemis 2 and humanity's return to the moon
🙌 Get hands-on with STEM activities
🚀 Simulate a rover coding mission
🤩 and so much more!
This program is for 5th - 8th grade students and will be held at the Extension Office in Waterloo from 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13th. The registration fee is $10 (financial assistance is available if needed).
Register online today: https://forms.gle/d41tWGDDdZXPo9Zq9
❓ Contact our office with any questions!

08/13/2026

This is a poll question...
What is your favorite Iowa State Fair food?🍪🌭🍡

08/12/2026

Who is attending the Iowa State Fair? Yesterday, 26 Black Hawk County static 4-H projects were delivered to the Iowa State Fair!

Send a message to learn more

08/07/2026

Beware if you encounter the American Dagger Moth Caterpillar!

Awww its so cute...and painful! This is The American Dagger Moth Caterpillar spotted in Waterloo today. DO NOT TOUCH IT!

Hairs on the American Dagger Moth Caterpillar can break off into skin and sting, causing hives, burning sensations, and general skin irritation, so handling this larva is not recommended. The body is covered in short tufts of yellow hairs, and longer wispy yellow hairs as well. Long black lashes extend from the body and can be over 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. If the caterpillar is found in a place where children play, like parks and playgrounds, a stick can be a handy tool in removing it from the area.