2008 SUCCESS STORIES

2008 | 2007 | 2006

4-H Camp Provides a Leadership Experience for Youth
Camp Susan has been a long standing tradition in Marathon County. This camp caters to our youngest 4-H members, those in grades K-4. The camp is a day and a half, overnight experience. Besides being a great experience for the campers, the camp is also an excellent education and leadership experience for the camp counselors. Camp Susan has been a fun experience for youth but it was lacking an educational component.  Too much time at camp was being spent on crafts that were mainly kit oriented and the counselors were having a difficult time teaching the crafts. Camp also needed more youth leadership. The counselors were doing a great job, but were not involved in the planning process…… Amber Brei, 4-H/Youth Development Program Advisor

Money Smart and Rent Smart Training for Professionals in Marathon County
In recent focus groups conducted by the United Way of Marathon County’s Financial Stability Coalition identified a variety of family financial security and resource management issues as local concerns. As a new agent to Marathon County in 2007 Carattini was able to see that the need, interest and requests for educational programs in family financial education remained strong and continued to increase…… Jackie Carattini, Family Living Agent

Heart Healthy Food Preparation in Marathon County
As a agent in Marathon County it is important to utilize both state team data as well as local data such as the “Life in Marathon County” survey for 2007-2009 and the “Marathon County Community Health Assessment 2006-2010”. While it is difficult to be able to accurately identify all programs and needs that will surface in a new county or position one is able to identify some key issues that will guide our work over the next year. Using both state and local data it is clear that health issues relating to being overweight and obese are increasing nationally, in Wisconsin and in Marathon County…… Jackie Carattini, Family Living Agent

Dairy Revitalization Helps Local Economy
Demand for dairy products in this country remains strong, but Wisconsin’s role in the dairy industry has diminished. As family farms continue to go out of business, the economic impact of that decision is felt throughout Wisconsin and the dairy industry. There is a substantial economy at stake in Marathon County, and even more so in the north central Wisconsin region. The county ranks first in Wisconsin milk production and its agriculture infrastructure provides 10,427 jobs (mostly dairy related). This is just over 12 percent of the total county workforce, and generates more than $1.24 billion in economic activity…… Mike Wildeck, Director/Dairy Agent

Education Improves Nutrient Management Compliance
All farms that mechanically apply nutrients must have a Nutrient Management (NM) plan that accounts for all nutrients applied to each field. After January 1, 2008 farms can be required to follow nutrient management plans. Some will be required without cost sharing if; 1) required by local manure storage or livestock siting ordinances; 2) participating in the Farmland Preservation Program; 3) regulated by a WPDES permit; 4) accepting cost share for manure storage; or 5) causing a discharge. Others not falling under these requirements can be compelled to follow a NM plan if 70% cost sharing, of $28/acre over 4 years is offered…… Mike Wildeck, Director/Dairy Agent

Educational Leadership in Implementing Wisconsin’s Ag Performance Standards
As a result of a hands-on, on-farm field day hosted by Lincoln and Marathon County UW-Extension and Land Conservation Departments, twenty six Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Land Conservation Department (LCD), Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) staff significantly improved their knowledge and understanding of how to more uniformly assess the compliance of farms with the Agricultural Performance Standards established by state law in NR151. Although the law is fairly clear in terms of language the evaluation of whether or not a farm meets compliance standards is somewhat subjective…… Tom Cadwallader, Agriculture Development Agent

Low-cost Dairy Modernization Keeps the Family in WI Dairy Farms
Family dairy farming has been a long time tradition throughout the state of WI that drives our economy. Contrary to some beliefs, family run dairy farms are not a thing of the past. Great-grandpa may have defined a family farm as 2-3 dairy cows and thought it absurd that his son (Grandpa) would even think of milking 20 cows. But with the adaptation of newer applied technology, milking and feeding dairy cows became easier and Dad did what he had to do to make a good living. This was Dad’s “family farm” and he may have thought that Grandpa was crazy milking cows without a pipeline. A successful dairy farm may be defined as a dairy farm that provides a family with safe working conditions, time for family and other interests, an education, an acceptable ongoing income and a period of reasonable retirement in good health. New technology, in addition to good management can be the recipe to success on a dairy farm...… Sam Zimmermann, Dairy Educator – Northern WI Region

Susan G Komen for the Cure Affiliate Engages the Breast Health System
Community Resource Development agent Mary Kluz was approached by the Susan G Komen for the Cure Central Wisconsin Affiliate (SGK-CWA) through the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIIPPS) at the UW-Marathon County campus.  SGK-CWA is a new affiliate, formed in 2007, of the Susan G Komen for the Cure national organization. SGK-CWA forum committee members communicated the SGK-CWA Board’s desire to host a gathering to foster collaboration on topics relevant to breast cancer and announce to the region that the foundation was actively functioning in this geographic area. The committee included representatives from SGK-CWA, the American Cancer Society, Marathon County Health Department, Aspirus, Ministry Health Care. The committee and board have connections to many other boards in the Central Wisconsin region…… Mary Kluz, Community Resource Development Agent

Puppet Named BAC Takes Center Stage in Food, Fun and Fitness Program
One indicator of good health is frequency of illness. An estimated 76 million people in the United States are sickened each year due to a foodborne illness. Many of these illnesses occur as a result of improper food handling practices in the home. Many research studies have proven the effectiveness of hand washing in disease prevention, yet many people just do not do it often enough or they do not do it correctly. One study of 1000 U.S. households found that 44% of people surveyed consistently forgot to wash their hands before preparing meals. A 2003 review of current research concluded that an estimated million lives worldwide could be saved by simply getting everyone to wash their hands properly. Germs are everywhere. But there are few places where they are more prevalent than in a school. For that reason, hand washing lessons are a priority for the Marathon County Nutrition Education Program…… Tammy Hansen, Family Nutrition Program Coordinator

Learn About Your Land, Central Wisconsin
Almost 60% of Wisconsin’s 16 million acres of forested land is family owned. This acreage is being parcelized and length of ownership is declining, thus there is an influx of new landowners needing information about their land. Landowners often cite aesthetics, recreation or wildlife as primary reasons for owning forestland. However, the state depends on timber harvests as an important part of our economy. Traditionally only a small percentage of woodland owners have been engaged in learning events and only about 25% have a management plan for their forests. Engaging this unreached population is critical if Wisconsin’s forests are to be managed sustainably. The DNR has identified the engagement of these family forest owners as a top priority and this effort is to reach that audience…… Kris Tiles, Central WI Basin Educator

« About the Marathon County Extension | Top