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Show r*" .Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Sanpete.Messenger/Gunnison vlHey Edition e A5 Heaven Help Us By Corrie Lynne Player Thanks for a successful workshop "She brings a refreshing energy and excitement about life." "He loves to share the things he's learning." "I enjoy that our teenagers have a sense of humor and like to joke around. Their enthusiasm for life helps me see another side of myself and helps me grow." These are just a few of the comments Sanpete parents wrote in response to my question "What do you like about living with your adolescent?" The activity, at the beginning of my workshop, "Understanding and Coping with the Melted Adolescent Brain," was designed to help attendees avoid the negatives that seem to crowd parents' hearts as they struggle to raise adolescents in an increasingly difficult world. Last week, moms and dads, guardians, teachers, and others concerned about helping tweens and teens turn into happy, competent adults filled the historic city hall in Manti. They met with counselor Michael Blair, Sanpete Messenger publisher, Suzanne Dean, and me to talk about their concerns and challenges, as well as their hopes for their children. The three hours flew by. Experiences ranged from a mom and dad coping with eight kids under 12, through a 57-year-old single woman who had just taken on the guardianship of a 15year-old boy, to a grandma worried about her teenaged grandkids. Yet, they all were committed to making a positive difference in young lives. After a brief presentation about the physiological changes adolescent brains go through, I talked about my copyrighted Point System, which is my "anger free behavior-modification system." I've discussed it here in my column over the years and have found it generates most of my mail! The Point System involves three different number evaluations that must be written down at least once a day: (1) attitude in general, (2) environmental responsibility (picking up after yourself), and (3) performance on assigned chores. Each of these categories are rated on a scale of 1 - 10, with 10 meaning "Couldn't Be Better." "Attitude" includes tone of voice and body language, as well as what is said. Most parents (and teachers) know that not a lot can be accomplished without a good attitude. "Picking up and environmental responsibility" refers to convincing family members to put things away, clean up after themselves, and so on. "Chores" is a pretty self-explanatory category, but plays a key role in teaching kids a work ethic. The System can be as complicated or as simple as parents want to make it. Participants were given handouts and worked in small groups to figure out motivators for their particular kids. Many of the participants also bought kits, which contained a CD with editable versions of the charts, hard copies of the charts and inspirational material, and my new book, "Loving Firmness: Successfully Raising Teenagers without Losing Your Mind," in which Chapter 5 covers The Point System. I would caudon those who bought the kits to use the material only for their particular families. Multiple copies and mass reproductions are stricdy forbidden by the copyright. You can e-mail me directly with any questions at corrieplayer@hotmail.com. If you weren't able to attend, you can buy kits from Michael Blair (as long as they last) for $25, and single copies of "Loving Firmness" from the Messenger office for $14.95; the book is also available online. I want to thank all those who helped make the evening a success, especially those businesses that donated goods and services and/or money to defray the considerable expenses involved. The businesses are Gunnison Market, Sam's Restaurant, Pearson Tire, Sorenson Towing, D Land Title, Blair Counseling Services, and the Sanpete Messenger. Miller's Bakery donated some of the most yummy chocolate-chip cookies I've ever eaten! Also, special thanks to Karen Buchanan and her husband, who spent hours helping setting and cleaning up. I had so much fun; I'd be happy to come back again. Michael and I are already talking about a follow-up event such as "A Family Management System That Takes the Emotional Steam Out of Parenting." Feel free to contact Michael or me if you're interested. Dixie Lee Allen 218 West 5250 North, Vernal Utah 84078 435-789-0534 (home) 435-781-3100 ext 1010 Email: Dixie.Allen(a)uintahMet RwtedDixkAlwfar State School Board-District 14 Educational Experience: > Elementary Teacher, Elementary Principal, High School Principal, District Director > UCAT Board ofTrustces > Governor's Commission of High School Reform > Board of Directors, Utah High School Athletic Association > State Textbook Adoption Committee > Governor's Task Force - Schools of Excellence > Utah Rural School's President / have recently retired to better serve District 14 and each of the School Districts in our region - I would appreciate your vote!, Thanks, Dixie - Paid for by Dixie Allen - You're reading... The Sanpete Messenger Serving Sanpete County since 1893 KAREN PRISBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO Lorie Beck, daughter Amy Colebert, and granddaughter Abby at the family's Farmers Market in Centerfield. The great pumpkin pa I eh Small project for six kids turns into major operation By Karen Prisbrey Staff writer GUNNISON —As a hazy blue frost dissipates in the early morning air, the bright orange of acres of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes begins to appear west of Centerfield. At the David and Lorie Beck family farm, activity begins bright and early to harvest 30 varieties of pumpkin, and 40 varieties of winter squashes, ornamental gourds and com. Several years ago Reese Stein of KUTV-2 News spotted the pumpkin patch along the highway in Centerfield and asked about the field, thinking it would make a good story. With a bumper crop of pumpkins this year, David gave Stein a call. On Oct. 12 Stein and crew filmed a segment about the pumpkin patch. The segment is scheduled to air on the 10 p.m. news this Saturday. With the aid of their children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and many of their neighbors, the Becks cultivate and harvest their produce for sale at their Farmers Market, 292 W. 100 South in Centerfold, or for distribution at several stores throughout Utah and in Las Vegas. KAREN PRISBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO Reese Stein (left) visits with David Beck at his pumpkin patch. KAREN PRISBREY / MESSENGER PHOTO Children of all ages enjoy going to the pumpkin patch to harvest the biggest, and best pumkins they can find. What began as a small project for their six children 25 years ago has grown into a large-scale operation that keeps the whole family busy until after Halloween. Preparation for these crops begins in the previous fall when David sprays the fields with weed killer. In the early spring he sprays again and then plows the fields. According to David, they plant about 150 pounds of seed on 50 to 75 acres of ground in six different fields and have a crop rotation of five years. Each year ihe Becks try new varieties of pumpkin and squash, along with the old mainstays. "This has been a perfect fall for optimum growth, flavor and sweetness of our pumpkins, and especially the squash," says Lorie. The Becks have been marketing their pumpkins for 12 years, and they get a few more customers every year. By Halloween they will have transported more than 2 million pounds of pumpkins to local stores, as well as 30 Albertson stores, 21 Smiths stores, and many farmers markets and nurseries throughout the area. "That doesn't count what we sell at the farm or right out of the fields because 1 don't weigh those. I can't even begin to count the numbers we sell through the market," Lorie said. The Beck children and their families play a major roll in the production and distribution of their products. Sons Jason (Kirsti), who works for the Department of Fish and Game in Pocatello, Idaho, and Daniel (Courtney), who is an attorney in Idaho Falls, and their families help with the production process by taking truckloads of (See "Pumpkins7' on A9) Miss Snow crowned, college homecoming week underway By Suzanne Dean Publisher EPHRAIM—A freshman with vocal and drama talents was crowned Miss Snow College before a full auditorium at the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts over the weekend, kicking off homecoming week at the college. Kimberly Frandsen of South Jordan, who sang "'I Ain't Done Yet," from the Broadway musical, "Unsinkable Molly Brown," was crowned at the end of a pageant Friday, Oct. 20. She will reign throughout the 2006-07 school year. • Frandsen, daughter of John and Margaret Frandsen, is majoring in communication with an emphasis on public relations. She writes for the Snowdrift, the campus newspaper. Her platform is activites for children in theater. Joining Frandsen in the Snow royalty will be Ellie Durrant of Sandy, first attendant; Stephanie Millard of Orem, second attendant; Aimee Nielson of Lehi, third attendant; and Jill Greenhalgh of Brigham City, fourth attendant. The competition kicked off Snow's homecoming this week. One of the highlights will be the annual Founder's Day Concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Eccles V,' Snow College crowned its 2006-07 royalty last Friday. Aimee Nielson is third attendant; Stephanie Millard, second attendant; Kimberly Frandsen, qi^een; Ellie Durrant, first attendant; and Jill Greenhalgh, fourth attendant. Center, featuring college choral and instrumental groups. Other small ensembles will perform in the lobby prior to the concert. The concert, celebrating the founding of Snow College in 1888, has been performed for 10 years. Music has been an important part of the college's curriculum from the beginning, notes Vance Larsen, dean of fine arts. A choir was formed the year the college was founded. A band and orchestra were added in 1896, making this the 110th year for the two groups. Tickets are $5 for adults. S3 for children and'$20 for a family. Proceeds go toward music scholarships. For information, call 283-7478. Homecoming events during the week include a powder puff football game Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Badger Stadium and a pep rally Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Activities Center. On Saturday, festivities be- gin with a 5K run-walk. Signup is at 7 a.m. outside ihe Activities Center, and the race begins at 8 a.m. A parade down Main Street in Ephraim begins at 11 a.m., followed by a tailgate party inside the stadium. The Badger football team will play Arizona Western at 1:30 p.m. Homecoming dances will run from 9 p.rn.-l a.m. at Ihe Greenwood Student Center and Noyes Building. •; * -J |