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Partner Highlight: Local Ag partner Haven Harvesters of South Haven has hosted the Van Buren Blueberry pre-bloom meeting for the last 2 years where they provide a free dinner to program attendees!
Thank you for your continued support and partnership!
3
2017 Base Assessment: $58290
Additional contribution:
4-H .5 FTE $30351
AABI Educator .4 FTE
HNI Educator . 2 FTE $59138
Total $147,778
Plus: 1 FTE County Support Staff $61,305 facilities, internet and phone.
Other Partners
• 4-H Leaders Association
• Van Buren Fair Board
• Hood’s Dairy
• VB Farm Bureau
• VB ISD
• Oxley Farms
• Cronenwett Farms
• Brookside Farms
• Galen’s Berries
• Leduc Farms
• True Blue
• Cornerstone Ag
• Degrandchamp’s
• Paw Paw District Library
• Van Buren FFA
• Tractor Supply Company
• Van Buren United Way
• Local businesses who
support 4H ($12500)
• 2015 BOTF Sponsors
($20,813)
• Van Buren District
Library
• Van Buren Conservation
District
• Haven Harvesters of
South Haven
• Druskovich’s Farm
• Wheat growers
(Ashbrook, Burleson,
Rajzer, Mennel Milling)
• Seed Companies
• WIC
• Wood School
• White Oaks Assisted
Living
• Region 4 Area Agency on
Aging
• Senior Services of Van
Buren County
Connecting with Residents in Van Buren County
Local, district, state-wide programs
One on one conversations and consulting
On-line education
Ask an expert
Website articles and searches
Radio programs
News articles
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Developing Youth and Communities
4
Van Buren County 4-H Highlights
Volunteer works
with youth at
Science Blast held
annually at the Van
Buren Youth Fair.
With innovative ideas, exuberant energy and the ability to look beyond preconceived
obstacles, youth have the capacity to change the world. However, many lack the skills
and confidence to empower these assets into motion. They need experiences and training
that help them to feel ready and capable to lead.
Michigan 4-H helps to prepare current and future leaders by offering numerous
opportunities for leadership development. From the club experience to statewide youth
councils, all youth have the chance to serve in a leadership role. Those experiences and
various leadership trainings provide youth with skills to last a lifetime and empower
them to stand up today as true leaders in their families, schools and communities.
The 4-H program reached a total of 472 Van Buren youth through traditional club
participation and had 120 adult volunteers participate in the program. Van Buren had
the most 4-H youth enrolled in state programs. With detailed attention to the
enrollment system 4-H has a reported 30% increase in enrollment. The additional 13
added clubs (spin clubs) may not be active all year but are active at certain parts of the
year. These clubs are important to nurture as they will lead to youth getting involved in
year round club activities.
In addition to traditional educational programs, 1902 additional youth gained experience
in 4-H enrichment programs areas such as Literacy and Agricultural Awareness,
Leadership and Engagement, Career Exploration and Entrepreneurship and Conservation
and Natural Resources.
Van Buren County partnered with Berrien County MSU Extension and Berrien RESA to
provide Introduction to Resumes for the senior class at Brandywine High School. This
program provides teens with a greater understanding of and ability to develop a
functional resume and develop skills that will aid them in future job interviews. This
audience included a mix of youth with disabilities and able bodied youth.
The Van Buren Voyagers, a Van Buren County 4-H Club that focuses on outdoor
activities and shooting sports, held an outdoor 4-H Camp Out to raise donations to send
disable youth to camp. The club raised $100 dollars, half will be donated to Bay Cliff
Heath Camp in Big Bay, Michigan, a camp
where handicapped children are 100%
funded after receiving a personal referral
from a physician or physical therapist.
Another $50 will be donated to the Michigan
Council for Exceptional Children that
awards scholarships to children who are
eligible for special education services.
5
Developing Youth and Communities, continued
Van Buren Youth Recognized in National Contest
Van Buren County 4-Her Megan Miller, a member of Young Explorers 4-H
club, had two of her entries recognized in the top 10 of the eXtension.org
4-H Companion Animal Photo and Video Contest.
The contest featured a "venue for 4-H members across the nation to express
their love of companion animals and demonstrate their photography and
video skills". It was sponsored by the eXtension Companion Animal
Community of Practice. Entries had to focus on one of the following areas:
Animal Health and/or Nutrition , Good Husbandry and/or Grooming,
Training and/or showing , Human/Animal Bond, and Companion Animal
Service or Citizenship.
Megan's photo "Snuggle Selfie" was the silver winner and demonstrated her
relationship with her 4 year old German Shorthaired Pointer, Willie. Her
picture, "Snow Fun" received Honorable Mention and displayed her dogs,
Willie and Trigger, working off some energy in the winter.
Megan stated "This was a great opportunity for me to reach out and show
people all the different things you can do in 4-H."
Van Buren Youth Showcase Skills at MSU
Competition
The Michigan State 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Expo is an event sponsored by
Michigan 4-H Youth Development Programs through Michigan State
Extension to encourage 4-H members to become more knowledgeable about
raising and using domestic rabbits and cavies. Members also use this event to
develop desirable personality traits such as alertness, self-confidence,
courtesy, cooperation and how to be a good participant in a competitive
contest. Eight members of Van Buren County 4-H participated and placed
well at the Michigan 4-H Rabbit & Cavy State Expo in June 2015.
Approximately 85 4-H youth from all over Michigan participated in the event. During this event, these young people
displayed respect for others, leadership, sportsmanship and dedication to their 4-H projects. All of Van Buren County,
the 4-H program, its leaders and members should be proud of these eight individuals for the way they positively
represented themselves and their communities.
6
Ensuring Safe and Secure Food
According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 48 million people a year
become ill and 3,000 die from pathogens in food in the United States. Unsafe sanitizing
practices and outdated home food preservation practices at public events and small
businesses are among contributing factors. Since 2013, MSU Extension food safety and
preservation programs have taught almost 10,500 Michigan residents safe food handling,
food preservation and methods to reduce foodborne illness. The Food Safety for
Pantries training for food pantry directors and volunteers was a one time program
offered to Van Buren County residents at the Society of St. Vincent De Paul at Sacred
Heart Catholic Church in Bangor, MI. Twenty-nine people attended from Van Buren
County. Through face-to-face programs, Michigan communities receive high-quality,
research-based education using U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for safe food
preservation and safety practices. Van Buren County had one participant attend the
Food Safety for Food Service Workers program. Twenty -five participants from Van
Buren County attended the Serv-Safe Certification program. Michigan law requires at
least one Serv-Safe certified manager per food establishment.
Michigan Cottage Food Law
Michigan’s Cottage Food Law permits those with an entrepreneurial spirit the chance
to sell certain foods, made in their home kitchens, to the public at local farmers markets.
The workshops that were offered by Michigan State University Extension combined the
business and food safety features of preparing and selling cottage foods safely and
successfully. In the workshop participants learned what foods can be legally produced
as well as how to label and sell them. MSU Extension Educators provided techniques
to develop and maintain a successful small business. Three residents of Van Buren
County attended this program.
MSU Extension
efforts in ensuring
safe and secure
food lead to a
healthy population,
which in turn helps
keep health care
costs in check and
our communities
viable.
6
Food Safety Education
RELAX: Alternative to Anger
How people handle their anger and stress touches a range of people around
them. Through presentations, group discussion and skill-building activities,
participants learn what anger is, what causes it, relaxing and de-stressing methods, the
principles of problem solving, effective communication.
Ensuring Safe and Secure Food, continued
7
This multi-session face-to –face program taught by MSU Extension Educators Suzanne Pish, Gail Innis, and Kendra
Moyses, was held at H.O.P.E center for young parents in South Haven. The program was attended by seven residents of
Van Buren County. Residents also took advantage of the online presentation of the RELAX: Alternatives to Anger
program .
Telamon/Michigan Headstart Program
Van Buren County had eighty-six participants in the Michigan Head Start Association. This private, nonprofit
corporation that was organized in 1967 and incorporated in 1988 serves as the only state organization dedicated
exclusively to the concerns of Head Start. It offer services and support to the Michigan Head Start community,
representing more than 34,000 children and their families, over 80 Early Head Start and Head Start and two Migrant and
Seasonal Head Start grantees statewide.
Disease Prevention and Management
The National Diabetes Prevention Program is designed to bring to communities evidence-based lifestyle change programs
for preventing type 2 diabetes. It is based on the Diabetes Prevention Program research study led by the National
Institutes of Health. The lifestyle program shows that making modest behavior changes, such as improving food choices
and increasing physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week, results in participants losing 5% to 7% of their body
weight. These lifestyle changes reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% in people at high risk for diabetes.
MSU Extension is positioned to provide education related to the prevention and management of leading chronic diseases
of Michigan’s citizens. Michigan ranks 15th nationally for prevalence of diabetes and it ranks fifth nationally for obesity.
Just over nine percent of Michigan adults have been diagnosed with diabetes – an estimated 701,000 people. An
additional 364,400 Michigan adults are estimated to have diabetes but are currently undiagnosed.
As a result of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) delivered by trained Lifestyle Coaches, MSU Extension
has been granted full recognition from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recognition for MSU
Extension was achieved in May 2015 and based on data from 56 participants in 2014. Goals for program recognition were
based on participant weight loss, physical activity, attendance and eligibility for the program. MSU Extension
accomplished all goals based on CDC Standards as follows:
• Weight loss goal 5-7%
o MSU Extension reached 6.3%
• Physical activity goal – 80% recorded
o MSU Extension reached 88% recorded
• Qualification requires 50% through a blood test and up to 50% through a risk test o MSU Extension
accomplished this with the same percentages.
BMI of 24 or greater
o MSU Extension reported 100%
Keeping Businesses Strong
MSU Extension and the MSU Product Center help Michigan entrepreneurs develop and
commercialize high-value, consumer-responsive products and businesses in the food,
agriculture, natural resources and bioeconomy sectors. When you support MSU
Extension, you help participants understand the economic, environmental and social
benefits of purchasing local and regional foods. You also help young people develop
business skills that will help them succeed as adults and help communities capitalize on
their ecological, social and cultural assets. This fuels the economy by creating and
retaining jobs, and helps ensure a healthy tax base.
Building entrepreneurial spirit and skills
As the backbone of the economy, small business owners play a critical role in the
prosperity of the nation. But to be a successful entrepreneur, one must have not only the
ambition and moxie to take a risk, but also the business sense and skill to make a profit.
To ensure the business owners of tomorrow – today’s youth – are triumphant in their
future endeavors, they need to learn the entrepreneurial concepts that pave the way for
success.
MSU Extension is helping to meet this need by providing youth and the adults that
support them with the skills and resources necessary to turn ideas into business ventures.
Through simulations and workshops, youth learn how to develop business plans and
operate their own companies, as well as how to be more entrepreneurial in their everyday
4-H experiences. In 2015, these programs were delivered to nearly 1,200 people in 59
Michigan counties.
As a result:
92% said they learned how entrepreneurial skills could be used in any career, and 60%
reported planning to start their own businesses.
Six youth from the Branch County 4-H Youth Entrepreneurship Program started their
own businesses and began selling their products at a local store.
MSU Product Center
The MSU Product Center Food-Ag-Bio assists county residents in developing products
and businesses in the areas of food, agriculture, natural resources and the bio economy.
The innovation counselor has special training to deliver these services to local residents.
When you support
MSU Extension, you
help participants
understand the
economic,
environmental and
social benefits of
purchasing local
and regional foods.
8
Keeping Businesses Strong, continued
Business counseling is conducted on a one-on-one basis and may take place at the MSUE office or the client’s home or
business location. The assistance provided is tailored to meet the needs of the client and may include things like
developing a business plan, navigating the regulatory maze, accessing the supply chain or seeking funding options. The
innovation counselor also assists clients in accessing specialized services they may need that are offered through
Michigan State University like feasibility studies, nutritional labeling and packaging assistance.
Sixty-five counseling sessions took place in VanBuren County to assist 11 entrepreneurs. Specialty food processors and
value-added agriculture operations were assisted with business planning, marketing and technical expertise. Clients
were connected with MSU services on campus where they received assistance with food safety, product classification
and labeling. The partnership between MSUE and the MSU Product Center Food-Ag-Bio is providing support for
entrepreneurs in supporting economic development across southwest Michigan.
Mark Thomas and Joanne Davidhizar, MSU Product Center Educators, worked with local veteran Rich Daniels to
utilize shaped corn starch packing materials to replace Styrofoam. We were able to access MSU researchers for the
formula and technical information. Rich is currently using part of the Duo Tang building for production and
warehousing. He has won several entrepreneurship awards. He came to us with an idea. MSU Product Center helped
him with his business concept definition, market strategy and pricing. He gained exposure to Meijer at our Making It
In Michigan Conference. He also sells to Amazon Prime. 5 employees He also utilized a $50,000 loan from the VBDC
RLF. He has won several entrepreneurship awards.
FUNPAK INVENTOR SCORES NEW ACCOLADES
Rich Daniels trophy case has to be literally groaning under the weight of the growing accumulation of awards, honors
and accolades for his meteoric success with FunPak...the patented fun-shaped, biodegradable alternative to plastic
bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts, and other toxic packaging.The rapid rise of Daniels' RNS Packaging Company,
where he is founder, CEO and FunPak inventor, has turned all sorts of heads including those at the Michigan Business
& Professional Association where he picked up a brand new business award to go along with more than I can count
anymore.Last month Daniels' Paw Paw-based company was cited by the professional association with a Stellar
Startup award at the BEST of MichBusiness Award ceremony at the Atheneum Suite Hotel in Detroit. Naturally, he was
beaming with pride once again.Just two days later, the same association recognized the makers of biodegradable
FunPak as one of Michigan's Best & Brightest Sustainable Companies during a breakfast at VisTaTech Center in
Livonia.The BEST of MichBusiness Awards Program is dedicated to recognizing companies and individuals who
make Michigan a topnotch place to do business. RNS joined ten other startups honored for growing quickly and
bringing innovative new ideas to market in the Great Lakes State.RNS Packaging began production of FunPak, the
world's first fun-shaped biodegradable packing peanuts in August of 2013. The company has doubled its revenue every
year and continues to add new shapes and customized logos to its loose-fill product line. Daniels says, "By making
loose-fill fun, instead of a static-filled nuisance, we've given companies a whole new reason to ship in environmentally
responsible ways."Best & Brightest Sustainable Companies Awards recognize the most influential, trend-setting
companies in the sustainability realm. Sustainable companies are those that have committed to improving the lives of
their employees, improving their communities, and being kind to the planet while growing profits.
Keeping People Healthy
When you support MSU Extension, you help participants learn safe food handling
practices, increase their physical activity and improve the quality of their diets. Extension
programming also helps decrease incidents of violence and bullying. Encouraging these
healthy behaviors helps reduce food and health care costs by helping prevent chronic
health conditions and providing safe environments throughout a person’s life span.
Improving nutrition and increasing physical
activities in Michigan communities
Limited income and poor nutrition affect quality of life and can increase healthcare costs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 30 percent of
Michigan adults are considered obese, and one out of every three deaths in Michigan is
caused by cardiovascular disease, influencing the quality of life and adding billions of
dollars each year in economic burden.
MSU Extension delivers affordable, relevant, evidence-based education to help residents
in urban and rural communities stay healthy throughout their lifespans. Programs teach
participants how to buy and prepare nutritious, budget-friendly foods and increase
physical activity. In 2015 alone, these programs reached more than 112,000 adults and
youth across the state in over 1,600 different locations.
79% of youth participants improved their abilities or gained knowledge about how to
choose foods according to Federal Dietary Guidelines.
79% of adult participants made a positive change in at least one nutrition practice, such
as preparing foods without adding salt, or using the Nutrition Facts labels to make
food choices.
73% of adult participants made a positive change in at least one food resource
management practice, such as planning meals in advance or comparing prices when
shopping.
Encouraging healthy
behaviors helps
reduce food and
health care costs by
helping prevent
chronic health
conditions and
providing safe
environments
throughout a
person’s life span.
10 10
Keeping People Healthy, continued
12
Making the Most of Our Natural Assets
When you support MSU Extension’s natural resources education programs, participants
learn about income-generating opportunities, ecological principles, natural resource
issues and the role of natural resource professionals. They also explore public policy
issues related to environmental stewardship. Our programs can lead to increased income
for families that retain their natural resource assets, help landowners become better
stewards of their land, and protect land management opportunities for future
generations. Better land stewardship benefits communities by protecting and enhancing
Michigan’s natural resource assets.
Better land
stewardship benefits
communities by
protecting and
enhancing
Michigan’s natural
resource assets.
Clean Boats, Clean Waters
MSU Educator Bindu Bhakta, worked with MSU Associate Professor Luke Reese
to present a statewide live webinar in April based on septic system use and
maintenance homeowner programs in southeast Michigan. This was an expanded
program from Macomb Health Department Supervisor Laura Pobanz, who served
as the main presenter, to include DEQ onsite wastewater staff, Dave Cotton, who
gave an overview of onsite wastewater situation in the state. Two hundred and
forty people registered for the webinar with 148 sites participating in the webinar
knowing that some sites had more than one participant. The participants
received a pre and post-test to assess knowledge gained. Despite learning that
our pre/post-test was too easy, the results showed that a high percentage
increased their knowledge. In the post test we also asked how many planned to
make changes in their use and/or maintenance practices as a result of the
program. Over 80% indicated they planned to make changes.
Supporting Food and Agriculture
Michigan agriculture continues to be a growing
segment of the state’s economy. The production of
commercial food and nonfood agricultural operations
is growing rapidly. The number of households raising
a portion of their own food and raising livestock or
gardening for pleasure or relaxation continues to
increase. When you support MSU Extension, you
help participants learn profitable and efficient business and production practices.
Participants also learn how to optimize and reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers,
and how to conserve and protect water resources. This education leads to better use of
time, money and human capital, and helps retain and create agricultural jobs. These
measures strengthen Michigan’s economy while connecting farmers to local food
opportunities and global markets. In this way you help MSU Extension encourage growth
in a sustainable and prosperous Michigan food and agriculture system.
Agriculture is a large economic driver in Van Buren County. It is an approximately
$194,644,000 industry featuring 1113 farms and employing over 6.0000 people.
Telfarm
Telfarm is a Michigan State University Extension accounting software that is specifically
designed for farms. It makes it possible for farm managers to closely monitor the financial
progress of their operations. MSU Extension educators use this system to teach producers
and others good financial management concepts. Van Buren County offered Telfarm
services to 4 farms in 2016.
Ag Action
Ag Action provides a full day of educational sessions focusing on agriculture, food safety
and home gardening topics, featuring a trade show highlighting products and services
provided by local businesses. This program is held annually at Kalamazoo Valley
Community College and hosts over 250 people in 2016, 36 were Van Buren County
residents.
Blueberry Kick-Off Meeting
Michigan State University Extension’s Blueberry Team held their annual Blueberry Kick
Off meeting at the MSU Trevor Nichols Research in Fennville, Michigan. Twenty seven
Van Buren residents attended this program which provided growers with updates on pest
management and weed control for the upcoming season.
When you support
MSU Extension, you
help participants
learn profitable and
efficient business
and production
practices.
13
14
Supporting Food and Agriculture, continued
Breakfast on the Farm
Educating consumers about modern agriculture through
Breakfast on the Farm events is making a difference. Comparing
consumer impressions about how farmers care for animals, how
they care for the environment and how they safeguard milk shows
large shifts in trust before and after the events. Visitors cite a
number of factors that are important to these shifts including the
openness of the tours, learning how farmers prevent milk from
cows treated with antibiotics from being sold to consumers,
seeing how animals are housed and managed and learning how
the environment is being protected. These changing impressions can lead to changes in purchasing behaviors.
An ending comment from one visitor:
"I wanted to tell you how much fun we had on Saturday and how I have a newfound appreciation for our
farmers! Having grown up in Chicago, I moved here 10 years ago and this was an eye-opening experience into
the world of farming. Everything was WONDERFUL! It was well organized and informative and interactive
and fun! Thank you for putting these together; all the hard work that must go into this was evident in every
step we took."
Thank you!
Julie Harlan
Administrative Assistant
Internal Medicine
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Since 2009, more than 80,854 children and adults have attended Breakfast on the Farm events throughout
Michigan to learn about where food comes from. At these events, attendees had a chance to learn how cows are
milked, pet a calf, take wagon rides, see tractors and eat ice
cream. Questions about farming and food production are
encouraged in this active, hands-on program.
Van Buren County business owners, Tim and Deb Hood hosted
more than 1282 adults and 774 youth participants and over 180
adults and 15 youth volunteers at their farm, Hoods Family Diary,
located in Paw Paw, Michigan.
Restricted Use Pesticide Training
Van Buren Michigan State University Extension offered Restricted Use Pesticide Training which reviewed
practices for proper handling and use, proper personal equipment needed for application; mixing and loading;
laws that regulate the use of pesticides and emergency planning procedures to make applications as safe and
efficient as possible. This program was offered in February and March. Twenty Van Buren county residents
took advantage of this program.
Supporting Food and Agriculture, continued
Ensuring Strong Communities
When you support MSU Extension, participants learn how to implement best practices
in good governance that keeps communities solvent, productive and engaged; learn
effective conflict management skills that help leaders and residents work collaboratively
on complex issues; and engage youth leaders in decision-making. In the personal finance
area, MSU Extension helps youth and adults alike learn the skills they need to increase
their savings, manage their spending avoid predatory lending and reduce mortgage
defaults. All of these outcomes help lower the cost of governmental services and lead to
personal and community stability, strong neighborhoods and safe communities.
Citizen Planner
The Citizen Planner Program of Michigan State University Extension offers land use
education and training to locally appointed and elected planning officials all over
Michigan. It is a non-credit course series which leads to a certificate of completion
awarded by MSU Extension. Advanced training to earn and maintain the Master Citizen
Planner (MCP) credential is offered to members who complete the program. The Citizen
Planner Program is presented in a classroom setting as well as a convenient online series
called Citizen Planner Online. Seven Van Buren County residents took advantage of this
online and classroom style program. MSU Extension Public Policy Educators include
Julie Pioch, Brad Neumann, Kurt Schlinder, Glenn Pape and Dean Solomon. MSUE
Citizen Planner program is grateful to the partnership it has with Van Buren County for
hosting Janean Danca, Citizen Planner Administrator. This partnership is an example of
how counties and MSUE can leverage their resources to enhance local office coverage and
manage a statewide program.
Placemaking Strategy Development
Effective placemaking has the opportunity to transform a place from somewhere you have
to be into a place where you cannot wait to be! Perhaps more notably, Strategic
Placemaking is a process to make a place very appealing to talented workers. These are
the people Van Buren County wants to attract to it’s communities, so that they can be
more globally competitive. This Michigan State University Extension workshop was held
in Lawrence and hosted seven Van Buren County residents
MSU Extension
efforts in ensuring
safe and secure
food lead to a
healthy population,
which in turn helps
keep health care
costs in check and
our communities
16
Ensuring Strong Communities, continued
Building Strong Sovereign Nations
The Building Strong Sovereign Nations (BSSN) program supports tribal efforts to build strong communities,
organizations and governments. The concept of a BSSN program was originally developed by Michigan Tribal leaders
who wanted to work with MSU Extension to create a training curriculum for capacity building based on the
necessities determined by tribal stakeholders for current and future generations.
BSSN members participated in discussion topics such as ethics, roles and responsibilities of tribal council, fiscal
management in Indian Country, best practices for conducting effective meetings, and other relevant issues. This training
permitted tribal leaders to share their successes and challenges with each other so they were prepared to make positives
changes in their communities. MSU Tribal Extension Educator Emily Proctor hosted one person from Van Buren
County along with many others across the state, who took part in this workshop in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
Finance and Home Ownership
Van Buren County residents participated in MSU Extension offered
courses certified by Michigan State Housing Development Authority
and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. MSU
Extension’s Homeownership Education programs have proven to be
highly effective. Approximately 875 participants in 38 Michigan
counties completed our series. Our evaluation results showed:
89% can identify down-payment assistance and closing requirements
for loans
88% can identify the best kind of mortgage for their needs
88% will pay their mortgage on time every month
97% rated the quality and effectiveness of the education received as excellent or very good.
MISSION: Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that
applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. 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, 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. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lan-sing, 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. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.
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