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Partner Report825 South Huron St. Suite 2

Cheboygan, Michigan49721-0070 Phone: 231-627-8815

E-mail: Fax: 231-627-8408Web: msue.msu.edu/cheboygan

Cheboygan County, MSU Extension partnership remains strong

In uncertain times, it is sometimes easy for county governments to become conservative in program support. The Cheboygan County board of commissioners has chosen to take a bolder path of financing.

The partnership between Cheboygan County and MSU Extension became stronger with the renewed support in refilling the vacant Children, Youth, Families and Communities/4-H educator position in December. This position is a funded through a 50/50 split in funds between Cheboygan County and MSU Extension. The new educator is responsible for managing youth development efforts across the county.

In addition, the board of commissioners generously supported Senior Project FRESH through a grant from the Senior Millage fund. This fund allowed nearly 120 booklets worth $20 each to be distributed to low-income seniors across the county.

Each booklet is to be used on purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables, most of which are supplied by local farmers. This program uses local funds to support not only seniors, but the agricultural producers of the county as well.

Another strong partnership exists in the form of the AmeriCorps VISTA position. Renewed annually, the VISTA effort has resulted in a solid mentoring program.

Through it, trained adult volunteers are matched one-on-one with youth who need support. This program requires a cash match and the county have assisted in providing this support for the past few years.

MSU Extension was once called the “Cooperative Extension Service.” Though the word may not appear in the title any longer, the fact that county leaders continue to make investments that allow Extension programming to grow and thrive to meet the needs of Cheboygan residents shows that the spirit of cooperation is alive and well.

Ben Bartlett, County Extension Director

New educator joins Cheboygan Extension team

Sara Malone has joined Michigan State University (MSU) Extension in Cheboygan County as a CYFC/4-H educator. She began working at the Cheboygan MSUE office on Dec. 1.

Prior to joining MSU Extension, Malone most recently worked for the McPhail Equine Performance Center at MSU, studying the health and well being of sport horses. She earned a master’s degree in endocrinology and animal biosciene from Rutgers University in 2008 and was a graduate fellow with the National Science Foundation in 2007.

Malone works with Cheboygan county 4-H youth and volunteers to develop programs that help youth develop leadership potential, self-esteem, values, citizenship responsibility and productive capacity.

ContinuedMalone--continued

She is responsible for providing leadership for traditional 4-H programs and guiding new youth development activities such as mentoring and after-school programming.

In her first months of work she has already made an impact on Cheboygan County by working with the

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

Cheboygan area schools to secure a location to hold a new canine club with interested youth.

In addition, she is hosting the first Cheboygan County Youth Council to allow youngsters to provide feedback and input on their Cheboygan County 4-H program.

Ben Bartlett, County Extension Director

Sara Malone and a foal from the MSU Horse Teaching and Research Farm

SNAK grant a tasty partnership

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program associate Patti Spinella worked with two Cheboygan Middle School teachers, Pat LaHaie and Deb Nightengtail, to help their students learn about good nutrition and become more eager to try a variety of new and healthy choices of foods at lunchtime instead of the usual chicken nuggets and pizza.

Through the Michigan Healthy School Action Tools, the School Nutrition Advances Kids (SNAK) grant was found to bring new and healthy foods to 183 seventh graders at the middle school. Sixty students were committed to the SNAK grant and completed surveys at the start and end of the grant year.

Beginning in September 2007, several activities took place through the efforts of the teachers, food service

director Sue Engstrom and local chefs, farmers and fishermen.

Students received several taste tests of healthy snacks and different local foods. They tried a special nutmeg-flavored yogurt dip with Michigan apples in October. A kale and white bean soup was a special treat in November and all seventh grade students were treated to a lunch featuring locally caught whitefish or buffalo burgers from a Cheboygan bison ranch.

According to Pat LaHaie, “several students remarked how much they liked trying the kale soup and wanted the recipe. The fresh whitefish was a big hit as some kids had never had fresh fish, only prepackaged fishsticks.”

In subsequent months they had the chance to experience whole wheat pizza and baked chicken ziti with whole wheat pasta. In addition, each student received a pedometer to measure his or her activity levels in February during Heart Health month.

Brave kids trying the white bean and kale soup!

Patti Spinella, SNAP-Ed Program Associate

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.