monthly highlights - university of wisconsin–madison
TRANSCRIPT
Monthly Highlights
December 2020
Agriculture
Lyssa Seefeldt
Agriculture Educator
Our first session of the Badger Dairy Insight Winter series kicked off on 12/8 with the “Safe Operation of
Skid Steer Loaders”. This was a dual-language zoom (the first that we have done for dairy meetings) that
was offered in English and Spanish with real-time translation. Everything went well and I was happy to be
able to record the zoom for the Spanish audio channel. We will be able to share this important information
with farms and farm workers if folks weren’t able to join us in December. This series will continue on
through March with different dairy topics.
I have been continuing to work with colleagues on transforming the Planning for Emergency Livestock
Transport Response curriculum into Canvas, an online learning platform. Much of our content has been
migrated onto the platform and we are working through ensuring accessibility, making the content more
engaging in the online platform, and populating visual aspects to make the final product a bit more
polished.
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy holiday season!
Margaret Murphy
Horticulture Agent
Our 8-week, virtual Master Gardener prep class finished at the end of November. It was very successful. We
are in the process of collecting evaluations of the class. We are interested in how the virtual approach
worked for participants. So far, feedback indicates that participants loved the class and are very excited
about moving on to the next step to become a Master Gardener volunteer by completing the required
online onboarding class available this winter. We plan to have a mentorship program in place this winter to
aid in connecting new volunteers to the local Extension office and local programs.
We are planning the Master Gardener virtual seminar to be held next spring. There are currently six
counties in the planning. Based on needs identified in the area we received this season, presentation topics
will include soil preparation, beginning vegetable gardening, design strategies in the yard for privacy, how
to properly plant trees and shrubs and post-planting care, and native plants for the Northern Wisconsin
Area.
Yard and garden diagnostic inquiries continue to come in with questions on trees, shrubs and plant
identification topping the list. Our horticulture team continues to meet regularly to discuss statewide
priorities and educational outreach to both consumer and commercial groups. Three broad themes we see
as emerging for programming needs are protecting the environment, food production and social well-being.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Health & Well-Being
Sandy Tarter FoodWIse Coordinator [email protected]
Joy Weisner
FoodWIse Educator [email protected]
Pamela Warren-Armstrong
FoodWIse Educator [email protected]
The FoodWIse team is attending our first ever VIRTUAL University of WI - Madison Division of Extension All
Colleague Conference with our colleagues around the state on the first three Tuesdays of December. This is
not nearly as “fun” as in person, but definitely worth-while in a Zoom kind of way.
Pamela and Joy have been making strides in how to teach virtually and will be teaching in three 1st Grade
classrooms at Lakeshore Elementary in December. We continue to be flexible and patient with meeting our
area teachers' needs.
Our AREA 6 Team Strongbodies session is going “STRONG” with up to 124 participants joining in on Tuesday
and Thursday mornings. The Fall session will end on December 17. The next series will begin in January of
2021- oh, how it feels good to say that new number! Here is the registration link to sign up or share with
others: https://go.wisc.edu/58h0qb
We continue to reach out to partner agencies to explore virtual learning opportunities. We will be back in
January to update you on our virtual teaching agreement with Workforce Resource and the FSET
(Foodshare and Employment Training group) which involves Eau Claire, Dunn, and other counties.
Sandy continues her work on the Market Match team to plan for expanded outreach for sponsor donations
as Match costs rose significantly with more SNAP participants utilizing the program. We are so thankful the
City of Eau Claire budgeted $2,000 for the Market Match program. Some of the costs include tokens,
machine rental, marketing posters and bookmarks.
We wish you a safe and healthy Holiday season!
Human Development & Relationships
Yia Lor Human Development & Relationships Educator [email protected]
November was certainly a flurry of activities! I started the month by training in StrongBodies, which is a
strength-training program designed to help adults stay fit and healthy. There has been collaboration with
Marathon County educators along with our FoodWIse team in Eau Claire to develop a HMoob version. We
are working with the Hmong Mutual Assistance Association and look forward to supporting the physical
health of HMoob adults knowing this can lead to improved mental health and family relationships.
This month, I also wrapped up another series of “Highlights of Taking Care of You.” I co-facilitated with
Human Development & Relationships educator, Jeanne Walsh, from Chippewa County to offer this for men
in recovery. It was a great opportunity to discuss ways of dealing with difficult feelings, managing stress,
and finding hope in these challenging times.
I continue to lead one of the Peer Assisted Supervision and Support (PASS) meetings for our Eau Claire
Triple P team each month. Our PASS group consists of practitioners from Create-A-World Preschool, ECASD,
Family Resource Center, Mayo Clinic Health Systems, and UWEC Children’s Nature Academy. This is a time
for us to learn from each other ways of implementing Primary Care and Seminars and also engage in
professional development opportunities. It has been quite the learning experience with my community
partners as we continue to find ways of promoting and providing Triple P to families in our county.
December will certainly be a flurry, despite the lack of snow at this point. Enjoy this holiday season, and
may this New Year bring with it new inspirations and peace!
Positive Youth Development
Rachel Hart-Brinson
4-H Program Educator
As we enter December, I am taking a deep breath after a hectic November. Things are a little calmer this
month, thank goodness.
If we are looking for a silver lining of the pandemic, colleague collaboration is greater than ever. In addition
to the Juntos High School program and the Discover 4-H project learning that finished up mid-November,
several areas in NW Wisconsin are collaborating in building some month-long project-based activities. This
month is International Cookie Baking Camp with over 70 families participating. We made South African
Chocolate Black Pepper cookies the first week and Polvorones Rosas the second. I am currently assembling
a committee to put together the “Arts and Craft” month of activities.
In addition to planning, I am helping to wrap up the Discover 4-H project and the Juntos program by
analyzing evaluations and entering outcome statements in the recording results portal.
I am also starting to plan (already) for summer programming: Program plans in partnership with the ECASD
are due soon. And, I have started forming a committee to talk about summer camp. While we don’t know
what will happen with the coronavirus pandemic, we need to be prepared. I am also hoping that this
committee can help plan for next year even if camp doesn’t look like it normally does.
Community Development
Community Development
The Community Development Educator position is currently vacant. Updates shared at the 2021 budget
discussions with the committee. Please contact Catherine Emmanuelle with any questions
[email protected] 715-450-0823. For information on Extension’s Community Development
efforts see here, and how Extension is responding to COVID-related work supported by Community
Development Educators, see here.
Support Staff
Kristi Peterson
Office Coordinator [email protected]
Happy Holidays! Even though the holidays look very different this year, it is always my favorite season.
The end of the year brings clean up, follow up, and organizing for the new year.
I am working to become more knowledgeable with the website organization. I am eager to get some of the
committees files organized and easier to access.
I worked with our Information Systems team to get staff who are working from home equipped with a
softphone. This feature is a wonderful added convenience, and ensures stability with communicating
effectively.
Andy Heren
Administrative Specialist [email protected]
My time helping out in Parks and Forest has come to an end. Their new Administrative Specialist started
Monday, December 7. It was a fun time learning a new area of the county, and best of all, I have my 2021
annual pass and have already visited a couple parks this year.
Each month brings a new Clover Leaves 4-H newsletter, which can be seen at our Extension website.
Families are continuing to get enrolled or re-enrolled at v.2 of 4HOnline. Again, always something new to
learn!
Area Extension Director
Catherine Emmanuelle
Area 6 Extension Director [email protected]
Hello and warm holiday greetings to you and your loved ones.
A few updates to share.
-Our shared horticulture educator position had an unexpected change due to a budget decision made in
Polk County. Currently, the Horticulture Educator is co-funded with Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, and Polk
Counties. During the Polk budget process, the county board voted to remove funding for horticulture
educator services, and in turn, impacted Margaret’s appointment. Starting on January 1, Margaret will work
25% in Chippewa County, 25% Dunn County, and 25% Eau Claire County, with her home office remaining in
Chippewa County. The service or fee that Eau Claire County has invested in Horticulture education for 2021
will not change. I want to underscore that Polk County’s decision is not a reflection on the excellent work
that our Horticulture educator does, and the incredible value that her educational leadership provides in
Area 6 (Chippewa, Dunn, and Eau Claire Counties). Please let me know if you have any questions.
-Educators continue to mostly work from home, with the option to work from the office up to 50% of the
week. Any trips to the office follow both state and local public health guidance. We are committed to safety
with the public and each other as employees.
-During the fall, Extension often hosts a statewide conference for employees. This year, we have moved
that to 3 online conference dates (December 1, 8, & 15). I’ve heard a lot of positives of the content, and the
format is as best we can have it ‘til we can be in-person again. It’s important to keep learning, remind
ourselves of our mission, and lift each other up.
Wishing you a safe holiday season and “see” you in the New Year!