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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 01-03-08 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY AGRICULTURE & EXTENSION COMMITTEE January 3, 2008 (Thursday) 9:00 a.m. Agricultural Service and Education Center 1960 8" Ave., Baldwin, WI CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING DATE OF NEXT MEETING — February 5, 2008 APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: • Federal Budget • State Budget Report • County Budget Report • WACEC • Personnel - Update Position Description for 4 -H Youth Development Agent • Strategic Planning • Other Administrative Items OLD AND NEW BUSINESS: AGENT'S REPORTS: Resource Agent • Pete Kling Ag Agent • Winter Educational Meetings Family Living • College Transition 4 -H Youth Development • Kimberly Reaman Horticulture Agent • Ruth Hilfiker ADJOURN SUBMITTED BY: Kimberly Reaman DATE: December 20, 2007 Copies to: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS Items for County Board approval must be submitted to the County Clerk's office by Wednesday morning preceding a County Board meeting. 12/20/2007 9:18 AM Agriculture & Extension Committee January 3, 2008 Agricultural Services & Education Center Convened: 9 am Baldwin, Wi. Adjourned: 10:42 am Present: Ronald Raymond, Lois Burri, Bill Peavey, Gene Ruetz, Sharon Norton - Bauman, Pete Kling, Kimberly Reaman, Joan Sprain, Ruth Hilfiker, and Mary Lestrud. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Raymond. Date of next meeting was set for February 5, 2008. Burri moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Norton- Bauman seconded the motion. Motion carried. Peavey moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Ruetz seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ruetz moved that the vouchers be approved. Peavey seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ag Committee Minutes Milligan discussed upcoming educational programs. The Western Ag Lenders Conference and the Dairy Road Show will be held in January in Menomonie. Milligan is the team leader for the Ag Lenders Conference. Adinistrative Report Burri moved to approve the updated position/description for the St. Croix County UW- Extension 4 -H Youth Development Agent. Seconded by Ruetz. Motion carried. Strategic Planning: Sprain shared the needs identified from both the Ag Committee meeting and the 31 interviews conducted with key leaders. ( See attached) Discussion followed regarding how this information could be used with the County Board. This will be discussed further next month. Family Nutrition Educator Lestrud discussed the situation with hungry families in St. Croix County including access issues at some food pantries, empty pantry shelves in some cases, the new Food Resource Center being built in Hudson, the need for more families to sign up for the federal Food Stamp (Food Share in WI) Program, and hungry families who are skipping meals and finding their dollars increasing stretched with higher fuel costs, less job access, etc. While Extension serves in primarily an educational role directly with families, our program is also involved in improving access to food for low- income families. This work is done often in cooperation with Public Health, United 1 Way, and other agencies that can provide money and client access to improve food security for children and families. Lestrud also showed some unique resources being used in the educational setting at WIC to educate families. A nutrition calendar from Extension is well-done and g ives families tested recipes to use during the year. A new resource developed by the federal USDA Food Stamp program includes a curriculum and family guidebook called Loving Your Family, Feeding Their Future. Each WIC recipient is getting a copy of the book and an educational intervention from Extension in using this resource to provide healthy low -cost meals for their family. Resource Agent Report The 2007 ground water sampling program was a huge success. 140 people participated in St. Joseph and 70 people participated in Richmond by having their water sampled. The educational program that followed was well received and attended (over half the people that had their water sampled attended). An erosion control program for building inspectors is being planned for April in cooperation with LWCD. Pierce County recently hired a new Community Resource Agent, replacing the retired Ed Haas. Darien Simon reported for work in her new position on January 2. Family Living Educator Report Sprain reported on the Drug Court money management education. She has worked with six participants. A Positive Parenting of Children of All Ages class will be offered for Drug Court and court referred participants. Meeting adjourned Respectfully submitted, Eugene Ruetz Secretary mh 2