4-H Youth Development
Positive Youth Development prepares the youth of today to become the effective, empathetic adults of tomorrow. Our research-based youth enrichment programs. 4-H clubs, camp and after-school programs give young people the hands-on experience they need to develop an understanding of themselves and the world.
Abi Quinlan, 4-H Program Educator
An interactive Read Across America assembly for 4th and 5th grad youth, where participants explored themes from The Kid Who Changed the World and connected them to their own lives. Youth reflected on how individual actions matter and worked together to identify ways they can make a positive difference in their school and community.
Upper elementary youth are at an important stage for developing leadership skills, empathy, and a sense of responsibility to others. Read Across America provides an opportunity to promote literacy while also helping youth see themselves as capable to creating change. There was a need to an engaging, age-appropriate activity that went beyond simply listening to a store and instead encouraged youth to reflect, share ideas, and connect the message of the book to their everyday actions. The Ozaukee County 4-H Educator facilitated a Read Across America assembly for 4th and 5th graders at Thorson Elementary School using the book The Kid Who Changed the World as a starting point for discussion. Youth were guided through conversation about the book’s message that small actions can have a big impact. Following the discussion, youth participated in a hands-on activity where they created a 9-piece puzzle. Each youth designed a puzzle piece that represented one way they could “change the world”, such as showing kindness, helping others, or being a positive leader at school. The puzzle pieces were then brought together to show how individual efforts connect to create something larger and more meaningful. Youth were able to clearly identify ways they can make positive choices and contribute to their school and community. Through discussion and the collaborative puzzle activity, youth practiced communication, reflection, and teamwork. This experience reinforced the idea that leadership does not require a title and that everyone has something valuable to contribute. The activity supported social-emotional learning and helped youth see themselves as capable to making a difference, both individually and as part of of a group.
Community Development
Community Development provides educational programming to assist leaders, communities, and organizations realize their fullest potential. We work with communication to build the vitality that enhances their quality of life and enriches the lives of their residents. In short, the Community Development Institute plants and cultivates the seeds for thriving communities and organizations.
Paul Roback, Community Development Educator
Two strategic planning sessions for the staff of Balance, Inc., a local nonprofit, where we worked on updating the organization’s mission and vision statements, identified organizational values, and developed strategic priorities. The intent of the planning process is to clarify the organization’s purpose and develop achievable steps to realize their vision.
The executive director of Balance, Inc. contacted Paul to facilitate a process that would create a strategic plan for the organization. Balance is a local nonprofit that is “dedicated to supporting children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Ozaukee County, WI.” To achieve the planning objectives, Paul first engaged the organization’s staff and board with an online survey to solicit feedback on updating the organization’s staff and board with an online survey to solicit feedback on updating the organization’s mission, vision, and values. Next, an external feedback survey was used to gain insight into how well the organization achieves its mission and how inspired stakeholders are by the organization’s vision. Then, Paul facilitated two strategic planning sessions attended by seven staff members where we reviewed the responses from both surveys and updated the organization’s mission, vision, and values; identified strategic priorities; and develop[ed action plans to accomplish these priorities.
From evaluation (N=7), 100% of participants agreed that updating the mission statement helped clarify their role as an organization and updating the vision statement assisted them in understanding the general direction for their organization’s future. Additionally, 100% agreed that updating core values assisted in clarifying the guiding principles for the organization’s culture and that discussing the strategic action plan increased their ability to identify the next steps for future implementation. Participants evaluated Paul’s facilitation as a 4.9 on a 5-point Likert Scale (1=poor and 5=excellent). One participant commented that “Having external support guide us through re-working our mission and vision helped us stay focused on the importance of these statements.” Another commented that “This process is extremely helpful! Great to see a timeline with all of these moving pieces.”
Moving forward, Paul will facilitate a meeting with members of the organization’s board to finalize the mission, vision, and values; seek their input on the strategic priorities; and review the results of a board assessment survey to determine board governance priorities.
Agriculture
If it happens on a farm or in a field, the Extension Institute of Agriculture works with you to achieve better results. Our innovative dairy management programs range from genetics to farm and business management. Extension researchers work hand-in-hand with row crop, forage, and fresh produce growers to provide best practices for every aspect of the growing phase. We also advise communities on using sustainable practices to create inviting spaces free from invasive species.
Crops I Liz Gartman, Regional Crops Educator
A series of factsheets covering beef cow nutrition through all 4 production phases. The goal of these factsheets is for beef producers to better understand production in order to achieve a calving interval of 365 days. To meet this goal, producers need to make sure their cows are on the correct plane of nutrition. With good management, nutritional needs of the beef cow-calf operation can be largely met with forages.
- Wisconsin can experience both poor and great growing seasons depending on human and environmental factors. Beef cows need proper nutrition year-around to achieve optimal production. Poor nutritional management leads to decreased performance and profitability. Poor management of pastures and forage systems will lead to a decrease in forage quality and quantity available for beef producers throughout the year.
- Educational materials offered on the nutrients the cow needs throughout the year and how forages can achieve an ideal calving interval can help producers achieve economic viability long term.
- This series of factsheets on beef cow nutrition throughout the 4 production phases can help producers improve pasture and forage management while ensuring proper nutrition for the whole herd year-round.
Crops I Manuel Pena, Regional Dairy Educator
A webinar for dairy farmers and Ag professionals that focused on virtual fencing and how it meets pasture nutrition for maximum productivity. The purpose of this webinar was to provide participants with unbiased, evidence-based research about other strategies for grazing and nutrition.
- Well‑managed pastures can deliver highly digestible, protein‑rich forage. Pasture alone rarely provides a perfectly balanced diet, especially for high‑producing dairy cows.
- Dairy educators from the nutrition workgroup worked together to find topics to address this need. From a dairy farmer using virtual fencing on his dairy heifers, research done on performance of heifers raised on pasture and in confinements operations, and how to get the most out of pastures to raise our dairy animals.
- Participants explored current research on pasture-raised heifers, including effective supplementation strategies to optimize their performance. They also gained insight into emerging virtual fencing technologies and how these systems can be used to improve herd management.