Emmet County 2018–2019 ANNUAL REPORT

Message from the District Director

I ’m delighted to share the results of

another successful year of partnership

between Emmet County and Michigan

State University (MSU) Extension. Because

of your continued support, we’ve been able

to make a difference in the lives of youth,

families, businesses and communities.

MSU Extension offers a broad range of

research-based educational services to

county residents. Over this past year, we’ve

empowered families and individuals to live healthier lives, supported

new and local businesses, created opportunities for youth leadership

development and career exploration, helped farmers with business

management and mental health, and much more. Our staff live and

work alongside county residents, are rooted in community relationships

and are responsive to community needs.

This year, we’ve also welcomed Emmet County residents into our

online community: we’ve offered online educational courses, answered

questions on topics ranging from gardening to food safety, raised

program awareness through social media and provided a library of

research-based resources they’ve browsed on our website.

Our partnership with you makes this all possible. On behalf of the MSU

Extension team serving Emmet County, thank you for another great

year. We look forward to your continued support and hope you’ll be

able to join us during one of our upcoming programs.

CONTACT

MSU Extension Emmet County

3434 Harbor-Petoskey Road, Suite D

Harbor Springs, MI 49740

(231) 348-1770

canr.msu.edu/emmet

facebook.com/EmmetCountyMSUE/ @MSUExtension

msue.emmet@county.msu.edu

579 youth in Emmet County

reached by MSU Extension programs, including 4-H, SNAP and Sea Grant programs

Over 40 MSU Extension

professionals provided

education to Emmet County residents

338 youth in Emmet County

participated in 4-H

106 soil test kits purchased

by residents

MSU Extension website received

76% were first-time visitors

4 Extension professionals

based in Emmet County

Over 100 years of Extension

in Emmet County. The first Extension ag agent began in 1912

Over 150 walk-in / phone

contacts served through

Emmet County MSU Extension

By the NUMBERS

@

100 years

2

W hen you support MSU Extension 4-H programs, youth

participants learn life skills that prepare them for the

technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Extension programs

help children develop early literacy skills that support school readiness.

They learn leadership and decision-making skills in 4-H that increase

their likelihood of becoming civically active.

The Emmet County 4-H Program currently has an enrollment of 338

youth in 18 traditional 4-H clubs and 4 county committees. These clubs

and committees are supported by 57 adult and 20 youth volunteers.

Our 2019 national recruitment campaign is titled “4-H Grows Here.”

development of 4-H clubs in the northern part of the county, creation of

In the past year:

32 Emmet County youth received leadership training through the

officer mentoring program. Youth spend a year shadowing adult

officers in the Market Livestock Association to learn about

parliamentary procedure, committee operations, financial

accountability and decision making, they serve as junior barn

superintendents during fair week and represent the 120+ youth

members of the association at membership and executive board

meetings.

45 youth served as officers and/or teen leaders in their individual

clubs, and were responsible for conducting meetings, organizing

fundraisers, coordinating community service events and supporting

the adult leaders with club operations.

25 youth received officer training during a one-day workshop

covering parliamentary procedure, record keeping, committee

structure, group communications and conflict management. Youth

also conducted mock meetings with real-life agendas and issues.

‘‘

I consider the work of

the 4-H Club in building

character one of the

finest undertakings in

all America.

Albert S. Goss

Master, National Grange

April 1948

Program Highlights

3

Recognizing Outstanding Contributions by Peers

F all Awards Night is the recognition component of the county

program. The Halloween themed event is held each fall for all

4-H families. Membership pins and certificates are presented

to youth and adults, prizes are awarded for costume contests (for all

ages) and a potluck dinner is shared. The highlight of the evening is

the “Volunteer of the Year” award which is presented to an adult

volunteer who has been nominated by their peers for their outstanding

contributions to the 4-H program that year.

The 2018 4-H Key Club award was presented to Heather Dufek of Petoskey. The Key Club Award is the highest award a 4-H member

can receive at the county level.

The 2018 Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Mike Netzky. Mike has been the club leader for the Flying Clovers Racing

Pigeons Club for 3 years.

Awards

4 -H members participate in a variety of projects through their

4-H club. Our list of projects currently include:

Projects&Clubs

Livestock

Horsemanship

Visual Arts & Crafts

Animal Science

Community Service

Gardening

Food Preservation

Folk Patterns

Citizenship

Leadership

Character Education

Shooting Sports

Financial Literacy

Outdoor Education

OUR CLUBS

Bear River 4-H

C4 Community Club

Flying Clovers 4-H Racing Pigeon Club

Happy Stitchers

Harbor Springs Jr. 4-H Grange

Harbor Springs Shooting Sports

Magic Needles

Mane Attraction

Mane Event

Minnehaha Livestock Club

Pounding Hooves

Stable Mates

ADVISORY BOARDS:

Horse Council

Market Livestock Association

4

4 -H Achievement Days 2019 was held on April 26 & 27 at the

Concord Academy Charter School in Petoskey. The 2-day

event is designed to

opportunity to share what they have

learned and accomplished in 4-H.

This year, 12 scholarships, sponsored by community organizations

to attend 4-H Exploration Days in June at MSU.

Achievement Days

Receiving Exploration Days scholarships were back row, left to right: Rosemary Hoffman,

Marley Swiger, Kristen Shaw and Allison Shaw. Front row, left to right: Kensington

McGuiness, Mariette Schantz, Isabelle Northington and Madison Keller.

SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS:

Circuit Controls Corp.

Emmet Conservation District

Goldsmith Well Drilling

Dr. Paul Gutt, DDS

Pellston Animal Clinic

Petoskey Plastics

St. Francis Credit Union

Art & Agnes Shaw

Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair

F or the past 114 years, the Emmet County 4-H program has been

involved in the county fair. The kids and exhibits have changed

still has an appeal that has no match.

At the 2019 fair, 4-H was well represented. We had over 300 animals on

in creative club exhibit booths.

The week began on Saturday, August 17th with the arrival and judging

of the 4-H projects, and continued on Sunday the 18th with the arrival of

the animal exhibits. The shows began Monday afternoon and continued

through Saturday the 24th. Over the course of those 6 days, we had 48

large and small animal shows and horse shows. Our 4-H’ers were kept

very busy between their shows, barn duty, animal chores and of course,

riding the rides!

We want to thank the Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair Board and the

and the opportunity to participate in what many youth say is the highlight

of their summer and one that they remember forever.

5

According to research completed by the Institute

for Applied Research in Youth Development at

Tufts University 4-H’ers are 4x more likely to

make 2x

more likely to be civically active, and 2x more

likely to make healthier choices.

Youth Programming Is Making A Difference

4 -H Exploration Days is held on the campus of Michigan State

University each June, and provides youth age 11-19 the

opportunity to experience life on a college campus. The 4-day

event gives over 2,400 4-H members a chance to live in the dorms,

experience a college setting, and be self-directing and responsible

for getting themselves where they need to be.

Members can choose from over 200 classes when they register for

this event. Registration begins in mid-March and over 1,000 youth

signed up on that first day.

of the delegation from Emmet and Charlevoix counties. Participants

and workshops and attended the state 4-H awards ceremony.

The event is designed as a pre-college experience, and youth who

will be entering the 8th through10th grades following their involvement

at Exploration Days, are eligible to apply for a $2,000.00 scholarship,

which will be applied toward the student’s first year at MSU as a

degree-seeking student.

Exploration

‘‘ Exploration Days is one of my

favorite things about being in

4-H. It’s so much fun!

I’ve learned that I can be

responsible for getting myself

up in the morning and find my

way to my classes—some are

all over campus!

I can’t wait for next year so I

can see the friends I made

from other counties this year.

I was able to take some great

classes and learned lots of

great things that I share with

my club members back home.

When I get too old to go

as a member, I hope I can go

as a chaperone!

Mariette Schantz

4-H Youth

Exploration Days attendee

6

Providing Education, Technical Assistance and Support to Food and Agricultural Professionals Through the MSU Product Center

Confidential Business Counseling

P roviding customized assistance for entrepreneurs in the Ag/

Food/Bio based business sectors is a key component of

services available to clients of MSU’s Product Center. During

the past year, the MSU Product Center staff that is housed at Emmet

MSUE counseled with 15 different Emmet County farm and food

businesses, during 65 individual counseling sessions that totaled over

102 hours of contact. Across the 10 county Northwest Michigan region,

this type of assistance helped businesses generate the following

Regional economic impacts:

18 Jobs Created

13 Jobs Retained

9 Business Start-ups

$979,750 Total Sales Increase

$734,000+ Owner Investment

$850,000+ Total Capital Invested

Keeping Businesses

Strong

Mary Reilly, MSU Extension Educator from

Manistee County, speaks to a full house

at North Central Michigan College at the

Cultivating Local Farm Economies

Workshop and discussion.

7

Bridging the Gap Between Farm to Fork

Building Local Food Systems

L ocal food system development is another focus of MSUE staff

serving Emmet County. Projects that fall into this area are

supporting area Farmers’ Markets, helping to develop Farm to

School initiatives, working to increase local food access for farmers’

markets, pantries, and other shopping outlets, providing classes,

workshops and conference opportunities for growers and others in the

food system value chain, educating local policy makers regarding new

opportunities in Northwest Michigan Agriculture. Food & Farm specific

educational classes offered in Emmet County by staff during this period

included teaching both Commercial Food and Cottage Food Law class

and conducting a workshop held at NCMC, titled Cultivating Local Farm

Economies.

Much of this work is accomplished by working with community partners

like the Local Food Alliance of Northern Michigan, a 7 year-old self-

Joint projects with Local Food Alliance during this past year focused

outreach and awareness of local, healthy food. Other significant

community partners assisting MSUE efforts in Emmet County are:

Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, Crosshatch, the

Health Department of Northwest Michigan, Grain Train Natural Food

Market, and the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation

and the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce.

MSUE staff was once again a lead part of the Planning Committee

for the 20th Annual Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference at the

Grand Traverse Resort, held on January 25 & 26, 2019. Of the 947

Conference participants, 53 registrations listed Emmet as their county

of residence, which speaks to the strength of farming as a growing and

important part of the future business mix for Emmet County. Seven

sessions. Additional University participation came in the

form of staffing educational booths at the Trade Show or

by supporting students from both Campus and Distance

MSU programs in order for them to attend Michigan’s

premier Small Farm Conference. The conference is a

program of Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology, a

local non-profit and important community partner, located

in Antrim County.

Supporting Food &

Agriculture

Bill McMaster, Emmet County Farmer, attending the

Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference

8

Learning About Michigan Tribal Governments

T his was an exciting year for Tribal Governance! We partnered

with the Harbor Springs Library to offer two sessions on

Learning About Michigan Tribal Governments. A goal of each

session was to provide an opportunity for participants to increase their

awareness of the Anishinaabe Tribal Nations in the Great Lakes, in

particular Michigan. Each session provided tools to increase positive

relationship building, increase knowledge of various tribal government

structures. However, a vital piece to each session was the opportunity

to engage in open dialogue about topics and issues that face our

communities.

Partnering with Local Institutions to Provide the Public with Tribal Governance Education

Over the past year we have coordinated efforts with the following

partners to offer a variety of Tribal Governance educational

programs and support:

Harbor Springs Public School System, Indian Education

Title VI Program

280 approximate participants in Sovereignty Day Event

65 student and volunteer participants in Tribal Youth Lock-in

Tribal Governance Lunch Time Trivia at Harbor Springs

High School and Middle School

54 student participants in classroom presentations

Historical Trauma Training for staff and administration

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Historical Trauma Training

Harbor Springs Library

75 participants in the Learning About Michigan Tribal

Governments series

‘‘

Every society needs

educated people, but the

primary responsibility

of educated people is

to bring wisdom back

into the community

and make it available

to others so that the

lives they are leading

make sense.

Vine Deloria Jr.

Native American Activist,

Writer, Lawyer

Kathleen Franklin | flickr.com

Michigan

Tribal Governments

Emily Proctor, MSU Extension Tribal Educator presents to attendees of the Learning About Michigan Tribal Governments

session and discussion at Harbor Springs Public Library.

9

Parent Educational Programming

T he following educational classes were offered to parents,

educators and children in Emmet County during 2018-2019.

The goal of this training is to equip parents, caregivers and

other adults with the tools to help children grow, thrive and develop

skills to help them navigate this complex and ever-changing world.

Positive Discipline

This workshop helps adults learn how their role in creating appropriate

environments and experiences for young children can strengthen a

child’s development of self-control, which is essential in becoming a

successful adult.

Guiding Principles for Highly Effective Families

This five session series was held at the Health Department of

Northwest Michigan from July to August. The series teaches the

importance of creating family routines, establishing consistent rules,

brain development, consequences and problem solving.

Building Early Emotional Skills in Young Children

This four session series for Early Childhood professionals focuses on

how children develop important social emotional skills, and how adults

can help them understand and express their emotions appropriately.

Early

Childhood Development

Programming offered

to Early Childhood

Professionals, Parents,

Care Givers and

Young Children

Family Literacy & Science Nights Danielle Melching, Early Childhood

Educator; Diane Brazier, 4-H Program

Coordinator; Emily Proctor, Tribal

Extension Educator and the Harbor

Springs School District partnered together to host two events:

Family Literacy Night and Family Science Night. At each event, ten

educational and fun activity stations were set up for the families to

learn more about reading and science.

pressfoto | www.freepik.com

10

C ommunity Nutrition Presentations, a 6 week series in

partnership with qualified audiences receiving assistance

(free/reduced lunch, WIC, Medicaid, commodities) through a

statewide USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance grant.

This year’s partners include Pellston Senior Center, Taylor School for

Exceptional Learners, Manna Food Project and area food pantries,

Health Department of Northwest Michigan and Pellston Elementary

School.

Pre-post surveys are done with participants to measure behavior

change.

To increase fruit and vegetable consumption

To increase food safety practices

To increase physical activity

To improve food preparation skills

From October 2018 through August 2019, MSU Extension

SNAP-Ed programs were presented to 303 adults and youth

in Emmet County!

17 adults and 111 youth participated in a multiple session series of nutrition lessons.

45 adults and 130 youth participated in a one-time lesson on healthy lifestyle choices.

Adult Programming Teaches Self-Sustenance

Food Project for an hour and a half demonstration and hands

on cooking preparation class with 20 participants. Nutrition of

each ingredient and over all good practices were introduced through

a Harvest chili recipe and reinforced with handouts and resources.

Healthy Eating Adds Ups with 2 classrooms of adults with cognitive impairments

Pellston Senior Center presentations

Youth Programming Cooks Up Positive Impacts

10 classrooms in kindergarten through 5th grade at Pellston

Elementary

Teaching the Journey to a Healthy Life

MSU Extension is in our 4th year of serving 544 children and families

weekly in the Tip of the Mitt area through a partnership with Food

Bank of Eastern Michigan. As part of the backpack programs of food

distributed for the weekends, children and families receive recipes,

resources and information to make a healthier choice an easier choice.

Food is interrelated

with so many things.

It’s health and nutrition,

what you put in your

body is what fuels you,

but it’s also community!

Community

Nutrition

Programming

Taylor School for Exceptional Learners SNAP-Ed Healthy Eating Adds Up participants

Students learn about the digestive process during

a SNAP-Ed program at a local elementary school.

11

From Disease Prevention and Management to Social and Emotional Health

T he demographics of Northern Michigan are changing rapidly.

By 2022, over 75% of our population will be over 60 years of

age. Chronic disease and pain are challenges as the population

ages. Fortunately, Michigan State University Extension has prepared

for the demographic change in age by seeking grants to offer classes

for free to this population.

In Michigan we have a diabetes epidemic. According to the American

Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org) about 13% of Michigan

seniors have diabetes while another 6% of our population are walking

around not feeling well due to undiagnosed diabetes. Michigan State

University Extension is recognized as a leader in facilitating the year-

long program, National Diabetes Prevention Program.

We have worked with hospitals, churches, schools, the Commission

on Aging, support groups and coalitions by offering Mindfulness,

Powerful Tools for Caregiving, RELAX, Heart Healthy Nutrition, along

with specialty programs on arthritis, heart disease, and many other

chronic problems. One cannot have good physical health without

good mental health and vice versa. That is why all of our classes

have both components in them. Michigan State University Extension

steps up to the needs of our counties and brings in expertise in the

areas most needed.

Michigan State University is making a difference in the lives of our

residents. One gentleman came up to the instructor of Diabetes

PATH and said he wished he had taken this class years ago. Now he

understood his challenges and can take the initiative to help himself!

Community

Nutrition

Programming

Michigan State University

is making a difference in

the lives of our residents.

One gentleman came up

to the instructor of

Diabetes PATH and said

he wished he had taken

this class years ago.

Now he understood his

challenges and can take the

initiative to help himself!

12

MSU Extension Hosts Training at Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga

M SU Extension hosted a training at Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga in

Emmet County this summer on the benefits of natural

lake shorelines and the techniques and tools property

owners and local governments can take to maintain or recreate

natural shorelines. There were 33 participants who attended this

identified aquatic plants in a hands-on demonstration, and

enjoyed a field component examining a local natural shoreline

project on Pickerel Lake.

This program was a collaborative effort with speakers from

the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership, DNR and Tip of

the Mitt Watershed Council. A special thanks to the Northeast

Michigan Council of Governments, Networks Northwest, and

the Burt Lake Preservation Association for co-sponsoring the

program.

Lindsey Gardner

Extension Educator

Government & Community Vitality

Government &Community

Vitality

‘‘

There is no power for

change greater than a

community discovering

what it cares about.

Margaret J. Wheatley

13

STAFF LOCATED IN EMMET COUNTY OFFICE:

NAME ROLE PHONE EMAIL

Adam Koivisto District 14 Director (231) 237-4775 koivist4@msu.edu

Diane Brazier 4-H Program Coordinator (231) 439-8974 brazier@msu.edu

Emily Proctor Tribal Educator (231) 439-8927 proctor8@msu.edu

Wendy Wieland Product Center Counselor (231) 439-8987 wieland5@msu.edu

Michelle Hamilton Office Manager (231) 348-1770 hamil487@msu.edu

ADDITIONAL MSU EXTENSION STAFF SERVING EMMET COUNTY:

NAME ROLE PHONE EMAIL

Michelle Jarvie Health & Nutrition Educator (906) 203-7883 jarviem1@msu.edu

Denise Aungst Health & Nutrition Educator (989) 731-0269 aungstd@msu.edu

Jim Harrington Health & Nutrition Educator (989) 619-4204 harr1626@msu.edu

Christian Tollini AABI / Field Crops Educator (989) 734-2168 tollinic@msu.edu

Sienna Suszek CYI / Supervising Educator (989) 354-9870 suszek@.msu.edu

Mark Breederland Sea Grant Educator (231) 922-4618 breederl@msu.edu

Danielle Melching CYI / Early Childhood Educator (231) 624-8090 melchin4@msu.edu

Lindsey Gardner Government & Community (231) 627-8815 lgardner@msu.edu Vitality Educator

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, ge nder, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability,

political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extensio n work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S.

Department of Agriculture. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educati onal purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade

names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

Extension Professionals Serving Emmet County

MISSION

Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an

educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities.