Kalkaska County 2011-2012 Annual Report · (10,232 acres), sweet cherry (2,609 acres), apple (2,011 acres), plum (10 acres), peach (37 acres), and winegrape (19 acres). The majority

Michigan State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

Mission

Michigan State University helps people

improve their lives through an educational

process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and

opportunities.

Staff housed in

Contact Us

www.msue.msu.edu/

2011 Participation Numbers

4-H Children & Youth programs ................................................................. 233

4-H Members (Traditional Club Enrollment) .............................93 4-H Adult Volunteers .......................................................................... 18 Short Term/Special Interest Participants .................................... 122 4-H Clubs ................................................................................................ 10 Agriculture & Agribusiness ........................................................................... 306

Greening Michigan programs ....................................................................... 198

Health & Nutrition programs ................................................................... 4,825

Total ...................................................................................................... 5,562

Kalkaska County

2011-2012 Annual Report

Message From the District Coordinator

MSU Extension in Kalkaska County continues to provide local educational programming and impacts to meet Kalkaska County and Michigan’s needs. Extension staff members have worked diligently to maintain programming and reach as many residents as possible each year. Educators and paraprofessionals have worked hard to supplement programs with creative and inventive ways of providing programming at reduced costs.

MSUE is striving to have specialized professional staff members in each area of the state who engage in multi-county collaborative efforts. Our goal is to reaffirm our commitment to providing educational programming that enhances and improves the overall quality of lives for residents in Kalkaska County and across the state. As this report shows, we are delivering well in our new programmatic and administrative structure.

I am very pleased to provide you with this annual report which gives a “snapshot” of the many transformative educational programs and resources MSU Extension provided in your community over the past year. As we look towards the future, I look forward to continuing the strong relationship with Kalkaska County and throughout District 3.

Sincerely,

Patrick I Cudney, District 3 Coordinator

Michigan State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

Mission

Michigan State University helps people

improve their lives through an educational process

that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and

opportunities.

Staff housed in

Kalkaska County

Dee Miller Children & Youth

Ranae McCauley Community Food Systems

Carrie Crigier 4-H & Youth

Lori Eccles Nutrition

Vanessa Guy Office Manager

Contact Us

890 Island Lake Road

Kalkaska, MI 49646

(231) 258-3320 www.msue.msu.edu/

4-H Children & Youth Educational Programs 2

Kalkaska County 4-H program currently has an enrollment of 93 youth in 10

clubs. These clubs are supported by 18 adult volunteers. Livestock, horse, crafts,

sewing, and dog obedience/training are a few of the project areas that the clubs

offer. The goal- no matter what the project- is for youth to develop skills and

abilities that will last a lifetime.

» 4-H Exploration Days at MSU provides teens with opportunity to experience a bigger world outside of their local communities. This three day event, held in late June on the MSU Campus simulates college life for over 2300 youth from across the state.

» The Kalkaska County 4-H Leaders Council has been empowered this year to become more autonomous. The 4-H Leaders Council supports 4-H by providing leadership during the Kalkaska County Fair 4-H Shows, running and hosting fundraisers to provide support for 4-H clubs and events held in Kalkaska County. This year the Kalkaska County 4-H leaders Council also provided two youth with $500 college scholarships.

» Kalkaska County Fair—there were 93 youth registered this year in the Kalkaska County Fair 4-H shows. This year 67 participated in animal showmanship events, 21 in the 4-H horse shows, 32 4-H dog Show, and 44 in the 4-H livestock auction. New at this year’s fair was a Family fun event held in conjunction with the fair to allow youth and adults to try new fun fitness activities that they could then take home and try. 43 individuals from the community participated in this event.

» Lego kits and 4-H Robotics—Through a grant received in 2011, 3 Mindstorm Lego kits and 4-H Robotics curriculum were purchased for youth in Kalkaska County. This was a result of a multi-county grant that was

Family Fun night

When asked what

4-H did for her,

she stated,

“Outgoing—I was

real shy. I feel like

I am more inde-

pendent.”

- Katie Thompson, 4-H Leaders Association Scholarship Participant

4-H Children & Youth Educational Programs 3

written with a focus to educate youth in science. The secondary goal was to offer a program to youth that would otherwise not be available due to financial restraints and apprehension. With these kits the SEEDS afterschool program was able to have 23 youth an opportunity to use these kits at the Kalkaska Middle School and Forest Area Middle School during their afterschool program in the 2011-2012 school year.

» Nature Programs— During the 2012 summer months there has been multiple nature programs delivered within the county. Two Free Family Nature Programs have been presented at the Kalkaska County Children’s Garden. There were three programs were offered to the summer program through the Birch Street School. These nature programs have been delivered to over 30 youth. Each participant was able to participate in hands-on activities that focused of topics like flowers, animal food chain and trees.

» Cooking/Fitness— also offered to the Birch Street Summer Program. Both Kalkaska County 4-H and MSUE Snap-Ed programs partnered to present the importance of whole grains, fruits and vegetables in a child's diet. All youth helped create both a veggie pizza and a fruit pizza and enjoyed sampling it later. Each child then engaged in activities outside with jump ropes and were encouraged to try new physical activities they could then practice at home. There were a total of 20 youth in attendance for this program.

» Anti-Bullying— Bullying Prevention efforts in Kalkaska County expanded to a region wide effort. The partners in the effort included the Northwestern MI College, Kalkaska county schools, MI State Police and the MI Civil Rights Commission. Locally we convened a team of representatives from community, school and helping agencies to discuss the issue of bullying, review and update school bullying policies. All team members agree the issue of bullying is a

When asked how

did 4-H help get

her ready for col-

lege, she stated,

“Helped me be my

own person—I

stepped away

from high school

and can be a big-

ger person.”

- Mindy Hill, 4-H Leaders Association Scholarship Participant

community problem and not just a school issue. The team continues to meet to implement the policies and provide support to anti bullying efforts in the county and the region.

» Great Start – MSUE provided technical assistance for the successful grant that will provide early childhood programs that support literacy and school readiness in Kalkaska County. Additionally support will be provided to local childcare centers and day care centers to provide relevant continuing education needed by the centers for licensing and quality programming. The early efforts for similar programming , Kalkaska CARES, garnered national recognition and served over 400 children during the 4 year cycle of the grant. We expect that this renewed effort will continue with the same effort toward quality and outcomes.

» Children’s Advocacy Center – The Children’s Advocacy Center is a one stop center for children that have been abused. In the past, children could be interviewed multiple times by the many helping organizations that may be involved (local sheriff office, MI State Police, Department of Human Services, Community Mental Health, etc) , the Children’s Advocacy Center provides a forum for the child to provide testimony once and all of the agencies are on site to witness. The previous method potentially retraumatized the child. The expansion of the Children’s Advocacy Center efforts will make a big impact on the reporting and prosecuting of the child abuse and neglect cases in Kalkaska County. Efforts are also underway to have a Zero Tolerance of Child Abuse campaign in Kalkaska County in the spring of 2013.

» Community Health Assessment – MSUE has assisted the Health Dept of NW MI, District 10 Health Department, Munson Hospital and Kalkaska Memorial Health Center to complete a comprehensive health assessment in Kalkaska County. This assessment is a required component of the Affordable Care Act. Kalkaska County’s assessment will go beyond the required effort and will provide valuable data that will provide direction for health and human services programming. The data will support grant writing efforts that will benefit Kalkaska County residents for many years.

4 4-H Children & Youth Educational Programs

» Teen Health Center – MSUE is on the advisory council for the Teen Health Center. The lead agency for the Teen Health Center is the Kalkaska Hospital. This successful program has increased immunizations. A new center is now located at the Forest Area School campus. Students in Kalkaska County now have access to care during the school day.

» Day of Caring event – a community wide event that focused on literacy. This partnership is with the Great Start Collaborative and United Way. Over 40 children and their parents participated in this event. Every child received a few books to take home, played games, and participated in an interactive story telling event. The event was at the Kalkaska Children’s Garden. MSUE staff were available to support the design and implementation of the program. Additionally, connections between the leadership of the Children’s Garden and United Way was made to foster a grant.

5 4-H Children & Youth Educational Programs

Day of Caring events. Kalkaska

and Alden.

Agriculture & Agribusiness Educational Programs

Supporting agriculture—Michigan’s second-largest industry—is key to a

brighter future. Michigan State University Extension works to increase farmers’

success while protecting the environment, ensuring food safety, reaching new

markets and advancing agriculture through applied research.

» Evaluation at Tree Fruit IPM Updates results — Forty-three participants out of 111 attendees completed surveys. All participants self-identified as growers except for one manager and one consultant. Respondents to the survey represented 15,055 acres of fruit production in Michigan, including tart cherry (10,232 acres), sweet cherry (2,609 acres), apple (2,011 acres), plum (10 acres), peach (37 acres), and winegrape (19 acres). The majority of the acreage is located in northwest Michigan.

Ninety-five percent of respondents reported scouting for insects and diseases to determine the need for a pesticide application. Seventy-two percent reported scouting for beneficial insects such as lacewings and predatory mites. Ninety-one percent use weather and biology based recommendation from MSU to determine the need for pesticide management. Based on MSU programming, content respondents reported that 51% utilize a safe mix/load pad to prevent soil and water contamination, 36% have closed a well on their property to prevent groundwater contamination, 45% have built new (or improved existing) pesticide storage facilities, 82% use air gaps to prevent groundwater contamination, and 74% use tree row volume to minimize the quantity of pesticides applied.

» 2011 Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference — held in Grayling, MI on January 22, 2011. This attracts producers from across Michigan with over 700 in attendance.

» Canola Production Program — programs held February 14, 2011 in Bruce Township Hall in the Eastern UP and February 15th in Escanaba. The program helped canola production acres to continue to grow in northern Michigan.

6

» Saskatoon Grower Support – MSUE educators, working with campus specialists, assisted Saskatoon growers in the district through on-site visits to discuss management issues, conduct a variety trial at the NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station, and provide pesticide recommendations.

» New FARM Program—Participants of the program were actively involved in developing the program goals, planning the sessions and tours, and seeking funds for the program. These are tried-and-tested skills that translate into sustained future efforts. Now that this group has been working together over several years, they have learned how to target resources that fit their goals and interests. The program members also recognize the benefits of diverse funding, including support from local grant funders, to achieve their collective or regional goals. The best parts of the New FARM program, especially sessions/workshops/tours that show significant outcomes and impacts in reaching program goals, will be continued on an annual basis in the region by the program coordinators and their partners. The grantees and current project coordinators remain committed to the long-term goals of the New FARM program. Also, community support remains high for the New FARM program and its members. Media, local stakeholders, elected officials, and the public at-large have expressed an interest in future New FARM efforts. Members of the New FARM comprise a diverse subset of the farming community in Northwest Michigan. As a result of the Rotary Charities funding, our New FARM members and thus agricultural interests in northwest Michigan are better positioned to serve community needs. As this program focused on building leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, the New FARM participants possess an improved skill set to draw on for leadership positions on community boards, local and state office to affect agricultural policy, for communication with media outlets, to facilitate on and off-farm controversies, and to take a more active role as community members.

New FARM group traveling to New Zeeland to experience other forms of farming

“While traveling to New

Zeeland we got to learn a lot about other forms of farming and other commodities. Since we are cherry farmers we have known a lot about the cherry industry, since this trip I got to know a lot more about the other industries in our own community such as grapes, wine, and hops as well as others. After being in this group, I have real-ized that there are things that can be done to help us make it in farming. I believe that we need more young people getting into farming for the love of it. I’ve seen this love in

our group as well as our family and business. Maybe now that the housing market has settled, more and more land will get back to farming or at least not losing much more.”

— New FARM participant

Agriculture & Agribusiness Educational Programs 7

» HOPS—Growing appeal with specialty beers, and the desire for organic and locally sourced agricultural products have resulted in increasing interest in local hop production by farmers, brewers, and backyard enthusiasts throughout Michigan. Over the last 5,000 years, hops (Humulus lupulus L.) have been used for medicinal purposes, as a salad ingredient, as a sleep aid in pillows, and perhaps most importantly as an essential ingredient in beer production. The female flower “cones” of the hop plant contain lupulin glands with compounds important to the brewing process. These compounds, including alpha acids, beta acids, and essential oils, contribute to beer’s bitterness and aroma. Since hosting the first hop workshop in Michigan in 2008, MSU Extension has provided statewide leadership for hops related education, outreach, and research. In August 2011 MSU Extension hosted its annual Northwest Michigan Summer Hops Tour- it was attended by over 75 people. In addition to providing outreach and education MSUE conducts on-farm research to determine which varieties grow best in our unique climate as well as best management practices. Our efforts and collaborations have resulted in development of a new agriculture industry in Michigan; the Grand Traverse Region leads the state in hops production and investment in hops picking and processing. There are currently over 100 acres of hops currently planted in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties and three functioning hop picking and processing operations .

Hops grower Dan Wiesen and Dr. Rob Sirrine lead a group of 60 participants

near Empire, MI on growing hops in the Great Lakes Region.

Agriculture & Agribusiness Educational Programs 8

» Home Horticulture Assistance—An average of 20-25 clients per week are assisted with questions related to lawns, insects, home gardens, soil testing, and fertilizer recommendations. Throughout this past year, the office has received various inquiries regarding numerous varieties of weeds, such as the poisonous hemlock pictured below, to a wide array of spiders and insects such as the rose chafer. The unusual weather conditions this year seem to have played a big part in our office experiencing a higher than average concern about weeds and insects.

» Master Gardener Program—The Michigan State University Extension is offering classes to learn to become a Michigan Master Gardener Volunteer. The class will be held at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center, 6686 S Center Hwy in Traverse City beginning in late August and continuing through mid-November. The program covers land science, soil science, plant health care, flower gardening, vegetable culture, backyard small fruit, indoor plants, woody ornamentals, backyard tree fruit, water quality and ground water protection, lawn care and household pests. The class sets a wonderful foundation for a basic understanding of gardening. People who have taken the program have gone on to become volunteers at local Michigan State University Extension offices, conservation districts, area community gardens, schools and libraries. The Master Gardener Program is very beneficial to anyone with an interest in gardening.

» Ag Labor and Farm Safety—MSU Extension worked with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department on making E-Verify training materials available for Agriculture Labor programs in Michigan. One meeting was held in Grand Rapids area and one at the NW Michigan Hort Research Station. The program also included speakers from the Michigan Workforce Development Agency, ICE, Farm Bureau and a local labor attorney. After a morning session focusing on labor laws and labor availability, producers participated in a Farm Safety update in the afternoon (TC location only). Over 80 people attended the Grand Rapids session and 25 in Traverse City.

Agriculture & Agribusiness Educational Programs 9

Poisonous

Hemlock identified

by specialists at

MSU

Greening Michigan Educational Programs

MSU Extension has been focusing education efforts on community food systems,

financial, housing and energy resources, community prosperity and natural

resources appreciation and stewardship.

» Michigan Northern Counties Association—Bringing county commissioners together from 33 counties in northern lower Michigan to learn about issues important to county government, and to share information and learn from the experiences of others has long been the goal of the Michigan Northern Counties Association (MNCA). Recent topics include: law enforcement, state revenue sharing history and changes, community mental health, and substance abuse and the impacts of these issues on county government services. Current discussions are focused on shared services. Monthly meetings also include a legislative update from the Michigan Association of Counties.

» Michigan Firewise Communities Project is a collaborative effort between MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), funded primarily by USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Forest Service grants. Extension educator Elaine Bush provides leadership for the program statewide with Firewise staff currently housed in Van Buren, Roscommon, Montmorency, Manistee, Marquette, and Houghton counties.

» The Grand Traverse Regional Market Initiative—MSU Extension is chair of the Grand Traverse Regional Market Initiative. The Grand Traverse Regional Market (GTRM) Initiative seeks to redevelop Building 58, the 55,000 sq. ft. former commissary of the Northern Michigan Asylum, into a regional food hub providing a central location for agriculture production, aggregation, value-added processing, packaging, storage, and distribution. Located at the Grand Traverse Village Commons, an historic mixed-use redevelopment, Building 58 had three kitchens, 28 walk-in refrigerators and freezers, 24,000 sq. ft. of dry storage and office space, and served 3,500 residents before its decommissioning in the 1980s. To meet increasing demand for regionally grown products, the GTRM goals are to: 1) Operationalize the Grand Traverse Regional Market and 2) Set a trajectory for long-term sustained GTRM growth. Based upon recommendations from the recent GTRM feasibility study, we recently applied for a $200,000 MDARD grant for phased redevelopment of

Grand Traverse Commons, Traverse City, Michigan

10

Building 58. Phase I (10/1/12-1/1/14) involves infrastructure improvements of 7,125 sq. ft. The infrastructure improvement will enable a commercial kitchen, five temperature-controlled storage units, a distribution loading dock, and purchase of vegetable processing and packaging equipment to meet current institutional demand. Anticipated outcomes include: job creation and retention, increased farmer revenue, increased GTRM revenue, increased institutional buyer expenditures, new business development, and increased community investment.

» New Economy — MSU Extension has been focusing education efforts on preparing Michigan counties and municipalities for the global or new economy. The goal is for local officials to have (1) an increased core competency in global, or new economy: how Michigan got to where it is, old and new economy comparison, global competition, knowledge economy, possible actions for prosperity, barriers to success; (2) regional economic development, planning principles and best practices, asset assessment, placemaking and place-based strategies; (3) relevant data and analysis, Greening Michigan, entrepreneurship, science of place in the new economy, and regional "asks"; and (4) to put those concepts into practice.

Based on surveys for other NW Michigan and Upper Peninsula programs local government preparedness for the new economy has started: two out of three local governments have started cooperative planning regionally, everyone indicated confidence to inventory their assets for asset-based economic planning and to incorporate economic planning in the master plan.

Yet others have already made tangible changes –actions on the ground- as a

result of this program:

Creating a non-government placemaking group

Regional way finding signs

Survey of assets

Zoning changes

An asset inventory is adopted in one community, and three more intend to do so. Asset-based strategies for economic planning have been adopted by one community, and three more intend to do so. Two communities have an economic section in their master plan, and two intend to do so.

“The New

Economy is

already

here. This over-

simplifies, but

those local

governments

that incorporate

new economic

principles into

its thinking,

planning, and

community de-

velopment will

thrive in the

coming years.

Those that do

not, will not do

as well or will

not do well at

all.”

— Kurt L. Schindler, AICP,

Land Use Educator

11 Greening Michigan Educational Programs

» Citizen Planner program – The Art of Community Planning module Educational presentation included discussion and practical information and tools related to models of public-policy decision-making, encouraging public participation in the planning process, conducting effective meetings and public hearings, making and documenting decisions, communicating effectively through speaking, listening, writing and nonverbal communication and resolving conflict .

» Farm Routes to Prosperity Summit– to support farms and farmers providing support, guidance and promising practices for profitable and sustainable agri business. Over 230 people were in attendance to participate in the full day

» Double Up Food Bucks and Bridge card access at Farm Markets – MSU is providing technical support to bring the Double Up Food Bucks(DUFB) and Bridge card to Kalkaska Farm Markets. This resource will help to put fresh, local and healthy foods on the plates of Kalkaska County residents. Bridge card access had previously been limited to grocery stores or convenience centers; often they do not carry fresh produce and seldom locally grown. By next summer , the Bridge card will be accepted at our local farm market expanding options for fresh food. This will help families and farmers in Kalkaska county. The DUFB is a complement to the program, specifically, families can receive twice as much produce if they use the DUFB. DUFB is privately funded with its primary goal to put more fresh , local food on our plates. MSUE has partnered with several helping agencies in the 5-county region to produce an educational video regarding the use and benefits of DUFB and Bridge Card use at local farm markets. The video has been distributed to government and non-profit agencies to use as an educational tool to encourage patronizing local farm markets, stretching food budgets and preparing fresh and nutritious food.

12 Greening Michigan Educational Programs

Kalkaska

Farmers’ Market

» Kalkaska Harvest Market – MSUE provided support and technical assistance to the Downtown Development Authority and the Village of Kalkaska to start a downtown Farmer’s Market. Support for the Farmer’s Market include grant writing, convening the stakeholder group, and assisting the team in writing the operating guidelines and rules of operation for the Kalkaska Harvest Market.

» Poverty Reduction Initiative - PRI is a regional effort to reduce poverty in the five county region. MSUE is a founding member of the group, for over 7 years we have provided technical support , advocacy and guidance to the movement. Programs that MSUE has been directly involved in include Opportunity Conferences, Steering Committee, HelpLink, Navigator/Neighbor mentors, and Progress Village. Each of these programs link people living in poverty with the resources that will help them move out of poverty. This effort is different than many that have come before in that it matches people in poverty with a mentor…a Navigator. The Navigator helps in goal setting and solution based resources to help each “Neighbor” reach their full potential. We have helped 7 people fill out financial aid forms to go to college, 35 people get jobs or better jobs, and every contact is intended to give hope and provide empowerment to reach higher and do better. Progress Village has actually taken it a step further. This group of people from the region wrote a successful grant to provide training for helping agencies (DHS, CMH, Schools, courts). The training was called Poverty 101 and Kalkaska county residents participated in the training as educators and authentic voices. One of the residents was even interviewed for the national child organization – Marion Wright Edelmans foundation Children’s Defense Fund, the interview was about the challenges facing the working poor. MSUE Kalkaska also provided technical assistance to Western University in their development of a statewide evaluation tool of Poverty reduction efforts.

13 Greening Michigan Educational Programs

Kalkaska

Harvest Market

» County Budget & Finance Workshop Assistance—Kalkaska County, like many other counties, has wrestled with expenses that continue to increase faster than revenues. In April 2012, MSU Extension Educator John Amrhein conducted a “personalized” version of the County Budget and Finance Workshop for the Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners. A significant portion of the program was review of a consultant’s report on Kalkaska County finances. This review was aimed at helping the board discuss the report’s findings in the context of their goals as a county, and to discuss both the advantages and need for careful analysis when comparing their county with others of similar size. The program also included a discussion of the fiduciary role of the board, the budget process in counties, Michigan’s Uniform Budget and Accounting Act, and county revenues and expenditures, and included lots of questions and discussion.

» Breakfast on the Farm – MSUE is working with local farmers to explore the Breakfast on the Farm event for Kalkaska County. This is a collaborative effort bringing local farmers together to host a community breakfast. This has been very popular in the Upper Peninsula and southern lower Michigan but there has not been an event in northern lower Michigan yet. The Breakfast on the Farm event will bring residents to the farm for fellowship in a truly rural event that highlights our agricultural assets and economy. Many of our residents, particularly our children do not understand where their food originates. Understanding our farms and farmers is a wonderful outcome for the Breakfast on the Farm event. This event has attracted thousands of residents and visitors alike in the other communities where hosted.

14 Greening Michigan Educational Programs

The Health and Nutrition Institute provides education for families around

several areas: Disease Prevention and Management, Social/Emotional and Health,

Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity, and Food Safety.

» Chronic Disease Self-Management (PATH) - Participants of the MSU Extension PATH (Personal Action Toward Health) programs report improved symptom management including decreased worry, decreased fearfulness about future health, and fewer frustrations about health problems. At the end of the series, PATH participants show decreased symptoms of fatigue, decreased shortness of breath, and decreased self-reported pain. Other program benefits show increased physical activity and improved communication with physicians including preparing a list of questions to ask during a healthcare visit. Participants report higher self-efficacy after attending the program and show improved self-rated health scores. PATH is an evidence-based, 6-week program that delivers health information to empower people to assume an active role in managing their chronic conditions. During 2011, there were 42 PATH series held by MSUE reaching 406 adults. The prevalence of chronic disease is high in Michigan. Chronic diseases are among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health issues. Education and information allow Michigan residents to manage their disease and make efficient use of the healthcare system, as well as, lead healthy lifestyles.

» Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity—The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) provides nutrition education to Bridge card eligible adults and children. This program focuses on improving dietary quality, increasing physical activity while stretching food dollars. The ultimate goal of these programs is to promote healthy weight maintenance and obesity prevention. During the past year in Kalkaska County, 956 adults and 69 youth were reached through nutrition education classes at various venues in the county.

Health & Nutrition Educational Programs 15

Children playing

at least an hour a

day decreases

their risk for obe-

sity later in life.

Health & Nutrition Educational Programs

Adult Impacts:

90% of adults who participated in the nutrition education classes improved the dietary quality of their daily food consumption. 54% of adults followed safe food handling practices. 79% of adults reported an improvement in their food resource practices. 90% of adults learned new ways to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their meals and snacks 92% of adults reported that they will eat more fresh fruits and vegetables each day.

Youth who participated in MSUE Nutrition Education classes were more likely to:

Read the nutrition information on food labels. Chose a healthy snack when they have the choice. Increase in choosing foods from all five food groups. Consume fruits or vegetables.

MSUE provided nutrition education on the benefits of including fruits and vegetables in their diet provided to these participants increased the quality of their diet by purchasing locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables from Kalkaska County farmer’s markets though Project FRESH. These coupons are redeemed at the farm market for over $9,200 in funds for produce grown by local farmers.

» Food Safety—Residents in Kalkaska County participated in food preservation classes as well as received telephone support to answer their canning questions. 97% of participants reported increased knowledge of how to properly process their home canned foods. 94% of participants reported that they will use research based recipes when canning food at home.

16

Share Our

Strength em-

powers families

at risk of hunger

with the skills,

knowledge and

confidence to

make healthy

and affordable

meals. Through

hands-on clas-

ses taught by

volunteer culi-

nary and nutri-

tion experts,

course partici-

pants learn how

to select nutri-

tious and low-

cost ingredients

and prepare

them in ways

that provide the

best nourish-

ment possible to

their families.

—Cooking Matters

Health & Nutrition Educational Programs 17

» Show Me Nutrition—is the curriculum MSU Extension uses statewide. It is theme based, includes a literacy focus and is content rich, expanding students vocabulary and knowledge about the food groups, MyPyramid and MyPlate. Included in this curriculum are parent letters that we would love to distribute or incorporate into school mailings.

Adventures in Nutrition with the Show-Me Chef (Kindergarten) Fun with Food and Fitness (1st grade) Building MyPyramid (2nd grade) Building My Body (3rd grade) Choosing Foods for Me (4th grade) Exploring MyPyramid/Myplate (5th grade) Digging Deeper (6th grade)

» Project FRESH—140 booklets were distributed to income-eligible WIC

families. Each recipient received at least one $30 booklet of $2 coupons to purchase Michigan grown produce at local farm markets. In 2011, 70.26% of the recipients coupons were redeemed.

» Cooking Matters—The adult class in Kalkaska was with Early Head Start and Head Start families. There were 9 participants, and 7 of them completed the class. The teen class was a partnership with SEEDS for an afterschool program at the Kalkaska Middle School. There were 13 students who participated. The highlight of the teen class was the Extreme Meal Make-over where the teens modified a favorite recipe using the lessons learned from the class. The last night judges from the community came in for the competition. The Mayor and the owner of G’s Restaurant were two of the judges and were very impressed with the modified recipes.

Cooking Matters

for Teens teach-

es adolescents

in 6th grade and

up how to make

healthy food

choices and pre-

pare healthy

meals and

snacks. Eighty-

one percent of

graduates re-

ported an im-

provement in

their cooking

skills.

—Cooking Matters

Extension Educators Serving Kalkaska County John Amrhein - Public Policy Education [email protected] Jennifer Berkey - Food Safety [email protected] Elaine Bush - Firewise [email protected] Melanie Chiodini – Academic Success [email protected] Bill Cook - Natural Resources [email protected] Christina Curell - Environmental Quality [email protected] Joanne Davidhizar - Product Development [email protected] James DeDecker, Specialty Field Crops [email protected] Thomas Dudek - Greenhouse [email protected] Mary Dunckel, Agriculture Literacy [email protected] Erwin Elsner - Small Fruit [email protected] Elizabeth Ferry - Swine [email protected] Kevin Gould - Beef [email protected] Merrill Gould - Livestock [email protected] Thomas Guthrie - Pork and Equine [email protected] Philip Kaatz - Forage [email protected] Russell Kidd - Natural Resources [email protected] Gerald Lindquist - Grazing Management [email protected] Jackelyn Martin - Leadership/Civic Engagement [email protected] Gerald May - Air quality [email protected] Michael Metzger - Small ruminant [email protected] Dee Miller – Leadership/Civic Engagement [email protected] Stanley Moore - Dairy, Labor Management [email protected] Martin Nagelkirk - Wheat/Crops [email protected] Jill O'Donnell - Christmas tree [email protected] Dennis Pennington - Biomass [email protected] Emily Proctor - Tribal Educator [email protected] Natalie Rector - Nutrient Mgmt [email protected] Nikki Rothwell - Commercial Fruit [email protected] Kurt Schindler - Government & Public Policy [email protected] Jeannine Schweihofer - Meat quality [email protected] Rob Sirrine, Community Food Systems [email protected] Dean Solomon - Land Use [email protected] Michael Staton - Soybean [email protected] Curtis Talley, Jr - Business Mgmt [email protected] Marilyn Thelen - Agriculture systems [email protected] Nancy Thelen - Agriculture literacy [email protected] Christine Venema - Family Financial Literacy [email protected] Mary Wilson - Master Gardener [email protected]