HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 06-03-08 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA
` ST. CROIX COUNTY AGRICULTURE & EXTENSION COMMITTEE
June 3, 2008, 9:00 a.m.
Agricultural Service and Education Center
1960 8 1h Ave., Baldwin, WI
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
DATE OF NEXT MEETING — July 1, 2008
APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
• Federal Budget
• State Budget Report
• County Budget Report
• WACEC
• Personnel
• Strategic Planning
• Other Administrative Items
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS:
AGENT'S REPORTS:
• Ag Agent Summer Educational Programs
• Family Living Agent Summer Educational Programs
• FNP Update on WNEP Program
ADJOURN
SUBMITTED BY: Lee Milligan
DATE: May 20, 2008
Copies to: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD
COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS
(Items may be taken in different order)
5/21/2008 8:10 AM
T .,
Agriculture & Extension Committee
June 3, 2008
Agricultural Services & Education Center Convened: 9:03 am
Baldwin, Wi. Adjourned: 10:45 am
Present: Gene Ruetz, Bill Peavey, Linda Luckey, Richard Marzolf, Dan Raebel, Pete Kling,
Joan Sprain, Ruth Hilfiker, Martha Mabis, Mary Lestrud, Heather Pederson.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ruetz
Date of next meeting was set for July 1, 2008
Raebel moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Peavey seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
The UW- Extension staff was introduced to the Agriculture and Extension Committee. Kling
introduced Heather Pederson, 4 -H Summer Assistant.
Peavey moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Marzolf seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Peavey moved that the vouchers be approved. Raebel seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Administration
Federal Budget: Farm Bill passed.
County Budget: Chuck Whiting, County Administrator suggested that for 2009 budget
planning purposes, departments should consider two scenarios; a 5% and a 10% reduction of
overall expenses. However, Whiting indicated that projected county revenues are pointing
towards something less than a 5% reduction.
WACEC: No one from St. Croix County will be attending.
Personnel: Kling stated that the interview process for the 4 -H Youth Development Agent went
well and that Marie Witzel has formally accepted the position and is scheduled to start July 1.
Marie is an Associate Professor currently working as the 4 -H Youth Development Agent for
Sheboygan County and we are fortunate to have someone with her experience and knowledge
join our staff.
New Business
Sign Request: Whiting forwarded details to Bob Heise. Heise shared some questions:
• Location?
• Ag Services & Education Center is not clearly identified
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• Busy Intersection
• Trimming & Maintenance
• How long is the agreement?
Whiting will take our discussion to the Finance Committee. Finance Committee will consider
the Ag & Extension Committee's input.
Resource Agent's Report
Kling updated the committee on the May 10th Bio- Energy Forum in New Richmond. Forty
people attended the forum that highlighted regional potential for renewable Bio- Energy
development. Most of the potential is in the form of unused biomass produced by agricultural
and forest resources. The Forum also marks the beginning of UW- Extension effort to facilitate
community conversations on overall energy conservation, efficiency, and the development of
renewable energy. The next scheduled event is a renewable energy bus tour scheduled for late
July.
Kling updated the committee on UW- Extension's strategic planning efforts. He stated that staff
will develop action plans for those St. Croix County initiatives related to UW- Extension's
programming and discuss the plans with the committee at the July and/or August meeting.
Family Living Agent's Report
Sprain reported the Strengthening Families for parents and youth age 10 -14 program will begin
June 12 in Somerset. Grace Place and Human Services have recruited 9 adults and 10 youth to
participate in the 12 -hour program. This program has been proven to prevent alcohol and drug
use, including meth, and is funded with a Governor's grant from St. Croix County Human
Services. Denise Gunderson, former County Board member, will be facilitating the youth
session with assistance from UW -River Falls and UW -Eau Claire students.
Polk, Pierce and St. Croix Counties have received a district UW- Extension Innovative Grant to
create a parent education web site. Sprain will be contracting with the St. Croix County 4 -H web
designer to complete the project. She also reported that most parents, even those with limited
income, use the internet to find parenting information.
Sprain also shared an example of the Love Bags for foster children that HCE has made for St.
Croix County human services.
Family Nutrition Educator's Report
Lestrud reported on the status of families in poverty in St. Croix County including numbers of
homes in foreclosure, hunger rates, increase enrollment in Food Stamps, etc. She discussed the
Nutrition Program efforts that are addressing hunger issues on a one -on -one basis at WIC and
with Community Support clients. Lestrud and Mabis are receiving a grant from UW Extension
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• to continue evening classes with families that are enrolled in the free or reduced lunch program.
Mabis read a testimonial from a family helped by her educational efforts at WIC.
Horticulture Educator's Report
Hilfiker reported that copies of the Western WI Farm Fresh Atlas, which she helped develop,
have been distributed to 50 locations in St. Croix and Pierce Counties and are available at the
UW- Extension office. To encourage the expansion of local direct market food sales, Hilfiker is
partnering with the Land Stewardship Project to organize a "Dine Local" event on Sept. 11. She
is helping community leaders in Hammond organize a new farmers' market. Hilfiker made farm
visits to four county vegetable and fruit entrepreneurs helping with production and marketing
concerns.
Hilfiker co- coordinated the planting of the St. Croix Community Garden north of New
Richmond on Service Learning Day this past month. Forty high school students and 10 Master
Gardeners participated.
In an effort to increase the use of environmental landscaping, Hilfiker wrote an article on "Lawn
Care Going Green" for all local papers. In partnership with the New Richmond City Parks
Department, Hilfiker taught 225 fourth graders how to plant a tree properly. The children then
planted containerized trees in Mary Park in New Richmond with herself and local landscape
companies. Hilfiker taught 40 students and teachers at the Somerset Middle School how to plant
a school flower garden successfully and gave an on -site demonstration.
Ruetz moved to adjourn. Peavey seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Marzolf
Secretary
pmh
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