College of Agriculture & Natural Resources



Bringing Knowledge to Life!Partner ReportMenominee CountyS904 U.S. Highway 41 Stephenson, Michigan 49887Phone: 906-753-2209E-mail: msue.menominee@county.msu.edu Fax: 906-753-2200Web: msue.msu.edu/menomineeJanuary 2009 4-H gives youngsters outdoor challenge 4-H Outdoor Adventure Challenge is just what the name implies: a program that gives young people the chance to explore the outdoors while challenging themselves and their abilities. Trained adult volunteers work with young people in backpacking, hiking, camping, canoeing, rock climbing, snowshoeing, skiing, caving, and learning outdoor safety and survival skills.Menominee County has been home to a Challenge program for more than 12 years. In addition to the activities listed above, the club added kayaking, wilderness first aid and community service projects to its project list.At the heart of any 4-H program is a committed group of volunteers who work closely with youth. Because so many challenge projects include some risk and a specific skill set, certified leaders must complete training in canoeing, winter camping, rock climbing, caving, first aid/CPR, backpacking and kayaking. Four new adult leaders are now completing the certification process. They are partnering with previously certified leaders to reinvigorate the program.The club is open to youths from sixth grade and older who meet monthly to learn new skills. Several have mastered the rock wall at Stephenson High School and are eager to try ice climbing. Cross country and downhill skiing trips are planned as is a winter camping outing.Contact: Sheryl Schrot, 906-753-2209Family Nutrition Program Project Homeless ProgramMenominee County MSU Extension Family Nutrition Program (FNP) staff participated in the local Tri County United Way’s Project Homeless Connect event in January. Representatives of more than 20 agencies from Menominee County, Mich. and Marinette County, Wis., took part, offering information and opportunities to 24 participants.Many potential clients go back and forth between Michigan and the neighboring Wisconsin county. Each agency shared conversation and handouts about its programs and what it does to assist low-income people. FNP staff presented information about preparing healthy meals with limited resources, foods to have on hand without available cold food storage, preparing meals from food pantry foods, and making a temporary cooler from cardboard boxes and newspapers.Those who visited were appreciative of the information and asked questions regarding the FNP handouts provided. They also received easy, healthy recipes and a sample of healthy simple-to-prepare pumpkin muffins. The Marinette County FNP staff offered budgeting and meal preparation handouts. It was also an excellent opportunity to network and promote FNP to the other entities that also work with low-income and at-risk clientele. Contact Stephanie Bruno, SNAP Ed Program Manager at 1-888-MSUE-4MI Ext. 63666.Menominee County helps older residents eat FRESH foodSenior Project FRESH (SPF) is part of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and is supported by the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging (OSA). This program was initiated in 2000 for the purpose of promoting local farmers and farm markets. The “FRESH” part stands for “Farm Resources for Expanding and Supporting Health.” Michigan’s SPF is based on the Department of Community Health WIC Project Fresh program that instills the basis of providing needed nutrition support to low income families, and in this case it is for senior citizens.The requirements to be eligible for the Senior Project FRESH coupons voucher booklets are very simple. Seniors must be at least 60 years old at the time of coupon distribution, their total household income must not exceed 185 percent of poverty levels, and they must live in a county that is participating in the Senior Project FRESH Program. Both ends of Menominee County were targeted for coupon voucher booklet distribution. Ideal places are groups of seniors that receive commodities, those staying in senior housing, senior citizen gathering centers, and also those frequenting the local food pantries. Disabled persons who are 18 years of age or older and live in the capacity of senior housing may also be eligible for the coupon distribution. 2008 was the first year Menominee County participated in the Senior Project FRESH program. More than 30 eligible families received fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables that were for sale from local farmers and farmers’ markets. There are six registered farmers who are eligible to participate in the Senior and Project FRESH programs. Seniors take their coupons to the specific registered farmers and or farmers’ markets and use them to purchase a variety of eligible fruits and vegetables. Each farmer has a unique yellow poster stating that he or she participates in these special programs. The Senior Project FRESH program was also directly involved with MSU Extension’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance—Nutrition Education (SNAP Ed) program. The SNAP Ed Program manager maintained direct contact with the program participants throughout the growing and coupon redemption season. The relationship was very unique as the SNAP Ed program was able to offer aid in helping these seniors in safely selecting, cooking, storing and preserving the produce.Serving sizes are typical issues that seniors deal with depending upon their living status and possibly restricted diets. The SNAP Ed Program manager distributed information on recommended portions and which produce offers the most nutritional value. Many recipes were issued using the locally grown produce and instructions were given on how to prepare healthy meals for one to two people.The MSU Extension office staff is eager to offer the program again this year. With more awareness of the program in the rural areas of the county, the goal is to have more farmers participate. Recently qualified vendors included Todd Maki and Marge Hansen of Wallace; Lucy Pier, Glenn Jandt, Tanya Jandt, and David Wagner of Menominee; and Diana Jarnutowski of Stephenson. Farmers’ markets included one held every Saturday at the MSU Extension office in Stephenson and also on Wednesdays and Saturdays on First Street in Menominee and other various market stands throughout the county. ................
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