Family and Consumer Sciences

 

 

Solid Finances is series of free financial education webinars. The webinars are designed to empower you to take control of your finances by improving your knowledge of personal finance topics. 

Upcoming Discussion & Education Group

 

Date: Third Saturday of each month

Cost: FREE! Participate online or phone by using Zoom

Registration for the MTKNP support and eduction group is required.

 Register for Virtual Kinship Coffee Talk 

Today in Montana, there are over 6,600 kinship caregivers providing care to children without parental support. This group was formed to provide support and education for the kinship caregivers right here in Cascade County. The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Project was established in 2002 and has taken many forms across the state, most recently changing its name to the Montana Kinship Navigator Program (MTKNP). For more information at the state level visit the Montana Kinship Navigator Program website or email mtknp@montana.edu.

For more information about the MTKNP please contact the MSU Extension Cascade County office at 406-454-6980. 

Powerful Tools for Caregivers Class

6 week class series

Date:Tuesdays, Sept 17, 24 Oct 1, 8, 15,22

Time:1:00pm - 3:00pm

Location: Guy Tobacco room at Sletten Cancer Institute, 1117 29th St South in Great Falls

Cost: FREE

Powerful Tools for Caregivers program provides information and education for friends andrelatives acting as caregivers for an adult with chronic medical conditions.

Join us for 2 hours each Tuesday for six weeks and gain tools, knowledge and support to help you take better care of yourself to enable you to continue to be an effective caregiver.

This weekly series of classes is taught by certified class leader Jona McNamee and assisted by Felicia O’Brien, Cascade County MSU Extension FCS Agent..

Powerful Tools for Caregivers Support and Education Group

Date: Meets 3^rd Monday of each month

Time: 12pm – 1pm

Location: Sletten Cancer Institute in Guy Tobacco Room,
1117 29th St South in Great Falls, MT 59405

Details:
A support and education group for caregivers that are caring for a loved one with a chronic illness or condition. This group is intended for the caregiver only, topics covered include self-care, food & nutrition, difficult decisions, nutrition, respite, activity, and more. For more information, contact Felicia O'Brien, MSU Extension Cascade County FCS Agent, at felicia.obrien@montana.edu or 406-454-6980.

You CAN! Food Preservation Classes

 

 

 Registration

 

Join us to learn hands-on basics of water bath canning, pressure canning, and more! Using the most up-to-date USDA standards, you will learn the key components of canning and go home with safely preserved goods and new skills for food preservation. Classes may be taken individually or as a series. See below for class dates and descriptions. 

 

Please review class dates and details and select the classes you would like to attend. Class will run from 6pm to approximately 9pm.

 

 *Food Preservation 101 - class is HIGHLY encouraged if taking additional classes. Basics class will cover science, safety, and basic procedures in various methods of food preservation regardless of experience.

 

Dates:

Thursday, 10/17/24 - Food Preservation 101 - Learn the basics in food preservation - this class is HIGHLY encouraged if taking additional classes. This class will cover science, safety, equipment and basic procedures in various methods of food preservation regardless of experience.

Thursday, 10/24/24 - Jams and Jellies - Learn the basics of water bath canning, jam/jelly making, and the important details to make a delicious and safe homemade product.

 

Thursday, 11/7/24 - Pickles/Salsa - Learn the basics of water bath canning, pickling science, and food safety when preserving your own products.

 

Thursday, 11/14/24 - Vegetables and Dehydration - Learn the basics of using a pressure canner, processing low acid foods like vegetables, and dehydration techniques to preserve food.

Thursday, 11/21/24 - Meats and Freezing - Learn to properly preserve meats and fish through pressure canning and how to use freezing as a method of food preservation.

 

Topics: Pressure canning, waterbath canning, freezing, and dehydration!

Time: 6PM to 9PM

Cost: $20 per class, or $75 for all five

Location: In-person classes at the MSU Extension Cascade County office. 3300 3rd Street NE #9, Great Falls, MT

If you have any questions, please contact: Felicia O'Brien, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent 

Phone: 406-454-6980

Email: felicia.obrien@montana.edu

Unable to attend class but still interested in food preservation? Check out the Food Preservation 101 series where MSU Extension food preservers share the science and preservation best practices on the following topics:

• Fermentation 101
• Water bath canning 101
• Atmospheric steam canning 101
• Pressure canning 101
• Freezing and drying 101
• Sausage making 101

Additional Resources: Food preservation MontGuides can be found on the Montana State University Publications website

Meals in Minutes

Electric Pressure Cooking Class

Date:

 

Classes are currently unavailable.

 

Time: 6pm-8pm

Cost: $15

Location: MSU Extension Cascade County, 3300 3rd St NE #9, Great Falls, MT 59404

 

Join us for this interactive and hands-on workshop learning how to prepare family meals in minutes using electric pressure cookers.

Topics to be covered include:

• Pressure cooker shopping tips
• No fear pressure cooking
• Food preparation pointers
• Food demonstrations
• Recipe booklets
  
• Food safety

 

2024
8-Hour Manager Certification Class

Class Date: December 13, 2024

• Minimum class size: 5 people- if 4 or less are registered the class will be cancelled.

Time:8:30am - 5pm (with a lunch break from 12pm- 1pm)

Location: Cascade County MSU Extension Office
3300 3rd St NE #9
Great Falls, MT 59404

Cost: $140

• Exact cash or check (made payable to MSU Extension)

Facilitators: 

• Felicia O'Brien, MSU Extension - Cascade County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent

 Register Now

ServSafe Food Manager Class (8 hours class)

The food manager course is an in-depth look at food safety and cover the following topics: safe food, forms of contamination, the flow of food, food safety management systems, safe facilities, and cleaning and sanitizing.

Additional Resources:

• For questions regarding regulation and requirements please contact the local sanitarians. In Cascade County please contact the environmental Health Office at 406-454-6950.
• For more details on the ServSafe Food Manager class visit the ServSafe website
• Download a PDF of the ServSafe Class Dates Flyer

ServSafe Food Handler Class (4 hour class)

Food handler course is a brief overview of the following topics: personal hygiene, controlling time and temperature, preventing cross contamination, and cleaning and sanitizing.

Date/Time:

ServSafe classes and exams are currently unavailable.

Location: MSU Extension, 3300 3rd St NE #9

Cost: Free

Please note, this coursedoes not fulfill the CFPM requirement.

Food Pantry Food Handler (2 hour class)

Food pantry food handler course is specific to food pantries. This course covers receiving and distributing donations, food storage, controlling time and temperature, personal hygiene, and cleaning and sanitizing. This class does is not affiliated with ServSafe, it is intended to offer basic food safety training specifically for food pantries and like establishments.

ServSafe Food Manger Exam Proctoring

ServSafe classes and exams are currently unavailable.

Date: 

 

Classes are currently unavailable.

Time: TBD

Cost: $15

Location: MSU Extension Cascade County, 3300 3rd St NE #9, Great Falls, MT 59404

 Register today!

Dining with Diabetes is a cooking school and nutrition education program designed for people with diabetes and their family members or caregivers.

In a series of four classes, cooking demonstrations will help you learn healthy techniques to use in your own kitchen. The program includes sampling healthy foods and discussion with a dietitian or certified diabetes educator, plus a follow-up reunion class held at a later date.

Who Can Attend?

Anyone with concerns about diabetes or anyone interested in controlling blood sugar is encouraged to participate and to bring a family member, friend, caregiver, or other support person.

Class Details:

Class will be a hybrid class of online OR in-person classes held at the Cascade County MSU Extension office 3300 3rd St. NE #9, Great Falls, please indicate your choice when registering.

We will do meal preparations, the lesson, and conclude with a shared meal (virtually). Meeting links and information will be sent via email the day of each class. You can access webex through your mobile device, tablet, or computer.

Recommended Kitchen/Cooking Utensils

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups/spoons
• Cookie sheet
• 9x13 pan
• Tin foil
• Sharp knife
• Vegetable peeler (we will be peeling 1-2 apples)
• Colander
• Medium saucepan
• Wisk