HomeMy WebLinkAboutU.W. Extension Committee - Minutes - 3/11/2020Bayfield County Extension Committee 3-11-20 Page 1 of 3
BAYFIELD COUNTY
Agriculture and Extension Education Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 4:00 p.m.
Minutes
1. Call to Order
Fred Strand, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm.
Members Present: Jim Crandall, Fred Strand, Tom Snilsberg, Larry Fickbohm (4:03 pm) and
Jeff Silbert (5:09)
Other Present: Mary Pardee, Ian Meeker, Liz Lexau, Donna Ganson, Theresa LaChappelle, Kellie
Pederson, Sarah DeGraff, Sarah Tarkington and Kaylie Lucas.
2. Introduction of New Staff Members
Sarah DeGraff, 80% Ag/Hort Educator, Sarah Tarkington, FoodWIse Educator,
and Kaylie Lucas, part-time Clerk 1.
3. Approval of Minutes of January 8, 2020 meeting (action item)
Motion (Crandall, Snilsberg) to approve the minutes of January 8, 2020. Motion approved.
4. Public Comment
There were no public comments.
5. Out-of-State Overnight Travel Requests (action item)
Liz Lexau has an Out-of-State Travel Request for Children of Incarcerated Parents National
Conference. No county funding will be used. No action taken.
6. 2019 UW-Extension Budget Update Report
The 2019 budget update was included in the meeting packet. These should be the final numbers
unless the auditor’s make modifications.
7. 2020 Extension Budget Update Report
The 2020 budget update was included in the meeting packet. We have expended 16% of the budget.
8. Electric Car Study Project Report
Fischbach presented the Electric Car Study report to the County Board at the February 25th County
Board meeting. A hard copy of the report should be available soon. On Wednesday, February 26th,
Volkswagen held a meeting at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center. This meeting was regarding
the funding that Volkswagen has available for electric car infrastructure. Approximately 24 people
attended. Ashland & Bayfield Counties were well represented with business owners, board
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members, Extension personnel and the general public. Discussion. It was noted that the Bart Bus
charging station is coming from a different funding source.
9. Area Extension Director Report including a discussion on:
A. Superior Adventures –
Ian Meeker gave general update. He has spoken with the Administrator regarding using the
VFW building as a staging area for Superior Adventures. This jointly owned City/County
property would need some work done before it is usable. Nothing has been decided.
The Superior Adventures job position is being promoted.
B. 4-H & Youth Development programming
Donna Ganson has set her retirement date for June 30, 2020. Pardee, Meeker & Liphart
(Ashland County) have been discussing the possibility of a shared 4-H Program Assistant
position.
C. Financial Risk Management Procedural Changes
UW-Madison policies are being implemented. No signing of contracts, grant requests are being
updated and changed. As of today, UW-Madison is closing their campus until April 10th, with
online classes are being offered. Extension is asked to cancel any programs that have 50 or more
people expected to attend. Some programs that have been scheduled may need to be canceled.
10. Issues and Program Ideas Discussion
FoodWIse-Stephanie Bakker – Sarah T and S. Bakker. just finished up providing programming for 6-
weeks with the 1st, 3rd & 5th grades in Bayfield School. Bakker attended a FoodWise Coordinators
conference in Madison. A FoodWIse Regional Programmer came up for a team meeting and went to
Red Cliff Food Distribution Center and a local wrestling nutrition education event. Bakker is working
on the standardization of titles and compensation tasks. An end-of-the-year report (included in
packet), highlights the partners, and demographics for Bayfield County.
Youth Development & 4-H - Ian Meeker – CANSKI just finished last week. 95 in Bayfield County 52
in Ashland County. Ashland High School has agreed to co-op on HS Nordic Skiing. This will allow
Meeker more time to spend with middle and elementary school youth. Meeker has been meeting
with the 6th grade classes in Washburn & the 5th grade classes in Bayfield. Leadership is being taught
using the ARCH program.
The Summer Superior Adventures position is being advertised. Meeker will be working on getting
the program into South Shore School and Drummond/Cable and Iron River Schools into their
summer school programs.
Human Development & Relationships - Liz Lexau –The “Parenting Inside-Out” parent education is a
program that is held in prisons. Lexau has been involved in an ongoing project to modify this program
for County Jails. The county jail population is different than the prison population including less time
spent incarcerated in jail. Lexau’s group is working on bringing components of the childhood literacy
education into the program.
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In February, the Red Cliff Community Health Center asked Lexau to assist with a “Grandparents
Parenting Grandchildren” scheduled on May 7th. Lexau has also been working with the Washburn
and Red Cliff Libraries and Captain Haiden, Bayfield County Jail on setting up Tele-Story sites.
The Money Matters program modules that Lexau helped to create are being used statewide for
online financial education. Lexau also noted that she also does one-on-one financial education.
Area Extension Director - Mary Pardee – Working with Mark AA & Clark to hold an Elected Officials
Workshop.
Community Development - Kellie Pederson – The housing study received the grant that they
applied for. Pederson will be working on the survey development.
Non-Profit strategic planning has been going strong. Additional specialists and resources have been
found by Pederson to help move the non-profits forward.
The Chequamegon Bay Economic Development Summit meeting has been cancelled. This will most
likely be rescheduled for fall, which may allow for more extensive local economic data to be used.
Agriculture Educator - Sarah DeGraff – DeGraff has been going to conferences, and visiting and
meeting local food producers, including Red Cliff and Bad River Farms, and Farm to Schools. Created
and sent out high tunnel surveys to determine programming, worked on logistics for the Field to Fork
Convivium and an IPM workshop, working with Seed to Kitchen farm trials, and on a Social Network
Analysis.
Jeff Silbert arrived (5:09)
4-H Youth Program Assistant - Donna Ganson – Ganson has been focused on getting things ready
for her retirement, such as updating files, getting volunteers to step up, and simplifying procedures.
Ganson has also been involved in the planning for the Dairy Breakfast on April 4th, Sewing Camp in
March, the Cultural Arts Festival on April 18th, the Clothing and Foods Revue in May, and Summer
Camp, to be held at Crosswoods Camp on July 9th, 10th & 11th and 12th.
11. Next Meeting Date and Time
The next meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2020 at 4 pm in Conference Room A.
12. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 pm