Dickinson County 2023 Annual Report
DOWNLOADJanuary 24, 2025
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EmailMessage from the district director
MSU Extension creates significant impact across the Upper Peninsula and beyond, serving diverse audiences from youth to older adults. Through partnerships, they enhance community knowledge and empower individuals to improve their lives. For over 100 years, the mission has been to "bring knowledge to life" by connecting local communities with Michigan State University research. I have been with MSU Extension for ten years. And I look forward to exploring new collaborative opportunities, creating greater, positive impact in Dickinson County and beyond.
Paul Putnam, District 1 Director
Impact data:
- 67 Extension programs included Dickinson County residents
- 317 Dickinson County residents attended Extension programs
- 11 Extension programs held in the county
- 1,411 people attended programs held in the county
- 33 Extension educators, specialists and program staff reported data for Dickinson County
- 15 direct one-to-one education contacts
- 70 youth enrolled in county 4-H
- 1,433 youth participants
- EIght 4-H clubs
- 18 gold volunteers
Staff Success Stories
Senior Project FRESH (SPF), which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Bill, is a program designed to help older adults incorporate more fresh fruit and vegetables in their diet. Senior Project FRESH was created to assist older adults living on a limited income with a secondary benefit of supporting Michigan farmers.
The program is available in all 83 counties in the State of Michigan. Currently, Michigan State University Extension (https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/) serves as lead agency, providing nutrition education and coupon distribution in 16 counties. MSU Extension also provides nutrition education with other lead agencies. This varies from year to year.
In 2023, Amber Hayward, Community Nutrition Instructor for Menominee and Delta Counties offered the educational component at the following locations: Norway, Felch, Sagola, Breen Center, Hurst Manor and Washington Court, in Dickinson County A total of 87 participants were reached.
She was able to provide programming to Dickinson County residents during the time when MSU Extension was without their own Community Nutrition Instructor.
ServSafe® Program The ServSafe® Manager Certification Course was offered at the Dickinson County Library on June 27, 2023. There were 15 participants, which included ten from Dickinson County and five from neighboring counties. MSU Extension offers an 8-hour ServSafe® Manager training course and certification exam. This class is designed for anyone working in the food service industry, including non-profit organizations. The purpose of the training and certification is to prevent foodborne illness when serving food.
Topics covered included: Providing safe food; Forms of contamination; The safe food handler; The flow of food; Food safety management systems; Safe facilities, cleaning and sanitizing
Seed Starting at North Elementary School
Rebecca Krans provided a seed starting activity for the Early Kindergarten class on May 10, 2023, to 5 and 6 year-olds. She also provided them with a wooden potting bench and seed starting mix for future use. They seeded beans and sunflowers in separate peat pots. We talked about the importance of how deep to plant, and the fact that they were learning about being gardeners and growing their own food. 22 participants were reached.
Consumer horticulture is the practice of cultivating, using, and enjoying plants, gardens, and landscapes. The actions of home gardeners positively or negatively impact important aspects of a sustainable future such as water quality, food security, healthy soils and pollinator protection. These actions can be influenced through science-based gardening education and increased knowledge of all areas of plant agriculture and research.
MSU Extension apiculture expert invited to present “Evaluating Honey Bee Brood Frames” to Northwoods Beekeepers
The Northwoods Beekeepers Club hosted Apiculture Extension Educator Ana Heck on Tuesday, April 11, at the Bay College West campus in Iron Mountain. The presentation topic was "Evaluating Honey Bee Brood Frames." The 39 attendees learned to distinguish between healthy and sick brood and to recognize signs of European Foulbrood, American Foulbrood, chalkbrood, and varroa parasitic mite brood syndrome - all of which can kill colonies if left untreated.
The Northwoods Beekeepers formed in 2016. Based in Iron Mountain, the club includesmembers from Michigan and Wisconsin. The Northwoods club hosts a State of Wisconsin Apiary Inspector each year to hold an educational hive inspection in a Wisconsin member's bee yard. They also access expert guidance from MSU Extension and the Michigan Beekeepers Association.
2023, 4-H Programs
Dickinson County 4-H Proud Equestrians Program was held August 7-11, 2023, at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds. There were 20 volunteers and 17 participants in this program. 4-H Proud Equestrians Program is a therapeutic horseback riding program for people with disabilities that helps to mprove balance, coordination, posture and muscle tone. Opportunities to participate exist for riders, volunteers, instructors and horse owners.
4-H Exploration Days took place June 21-23 at MSU’s campus in East Lansing, welcoming youth ages 12-19 to explore their futures and experience college life. Though only two youths from Dickinson County attended, they enjoyed hands-on learning and made lasting friendships. They presented their extensive learnings to the 4-H Program Coordinator and 4-H Council. One of the two participants shared that they loved the vet center tour and gardens, and they are excited for next year. The trip helped the youth grow her independence and step outside her comfort zone. According to research completed by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, 4-H’ers are four times more likely to make contributions to their communities, twice as likely to be civically active, and two times more likely to make healthier choices.
4-H Program Highlights
- One big day for healthy kids This event was held April 15 at the Imagination Factory. In total, 1,248 participants were reached with MSU Extension programming and resources.
- Goat Showmanship Clinic was held May 21, 2023, at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds. There were 20 participants.
- Swine Showmanship Clinic was held July 27, 2023, at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds. There were 20 participants.