The Executive Director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium (SEWISC), a regional nonprofit, contacted Paul requesting resources to strengthen the organization’s board.  The organization’s mission is “working to reduce the impact of invasive species.”   Paul taught a 1.5-hour workshop to 14 board and staff members.  Content included an overview of the non-profit sector in […]

The state FoodWIse program is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to improve the school cafeteria environment for elementary school students across the state. They reached out to local Nutrition Educators in Fond du Lac County to partner with specific schools within the Fond du Lac School District.  Melanie Phillips built a […]

Do you know how to do simple car maintenance, crochet/knit, or sand and paint a piece of wood? Have you ever decorated a cake, grown vegetables, or created scale models of trains/cars? Would you be interested in learning with youth how to build a rocket, how to work with animals, or how to make balloon […]

The annual 4-H Cloverbud Pumpkin Contest was held on Saturday, October 21, at UW Oshkosh Fond du Lac Campus. Cloverbud members, 4-H youth grades kindergarten to second, were able to enter a pumpkin in the contest.  The morning of the contest Teen Leaders and volunteers helped weigh, measure, and judge the pumpkins.  While pumpkins were […]

Manuel is the new Regional Dairy Educator for Sheboygan, Fond Du Lac, Dodge, and Ozaukee Counties. He is originally from Duitama, a small city in Colombia, 3 hours north of Bogotá, the capital city. He received his bachelor’s degree on Animal Science at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. In the last semesters he worked for a […]

October is all about recognizing the importance of local producers and farms. The month is designated “National Farm to School Month” as communities, schools, early care and education sites, organizations, and farms come together to celebrate food education, school gardens, and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients. For more information on National Farm to […]

Are you a Fond du Lac County nonprofit looking for funders? Please consider using this table of available grants to organizations in Fond du Lac County. If your organization offers grants or has applied for local or state grants not listed here, please let us know. We will add them to the list. If you […]

Designed to empower organizations of all sizes, this one-day workshop will equip participants with the tools and strategies needed to thrive in today’s philanthropic landscape. This workshop explores the essential pillars of successful fund development and donor relations.  Here’s what participants can expect to learn: The workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 2 at […]

Fond du Lac County recently held its very first food summit on Wednesday, September 18th. The event was open to any community members and community organizations. It was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral as a half-day event from 8:30 am -1:00 pm. Nearly 50 participants joined to network and learn, with representation from most of […]

Planning AHEAD is a course from UW-Madison Division of Extension that takes a comprehensive approach to end-of-life planning. The course guides participants through examining health care wishes, handling financial changes, legal requirements and documentation, distribution of personal property, end-of-life decisions, dealing with grief, and the emotional ramifications of all of the above. Fond du Lac […]

National 4-H Week is the first full week in October, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers, and alumni across the country celebrate everything 4-H. Area 4-H clubs observe National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people and highlighting the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work […]

Designed to empower organizations of all sizes, this one-day workshop will equip participants with the tools and strategies needed to thrive in today’s philanthropic landscape. This workshop explores the essential pillars of successful fund development and donor relations.  Here’s what participants can expect to learn: The workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 2 at […]

Sign-up today for our next offering from our Wisconsin Nonprofit Connect to Learn Team: Evaluating Outcomes. This four-week mini-course will equip nonprofit leaders with the skills to assess and communicate the effectiveness of their programs and services. Participants will identify what outcomes they want their programs and services to achieve, develop a plan to evaluate […]

The Fond du Lac/Sheboygan FoodWIse program is currently hiring an 80% full-time Nutrition Educator to serve in Fond du Lac County. FoodWIse is a federally funded nutrition education program that aims to advance healthy eating habits, active lifestyles, and healthy community environments for individuals and families with limited incomes through nutrition education at the individual, […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H wrapped up the summer finishing off with four summer day camps in August.  Art Camp, Cloverbud Day Camp: Teddy Bear Adventure, Cardboard Camp: Zoology, and LEGO camps were the last of the 4-H Summer Camps. The camps were well attended and the youth all shared things that they learned from […]

According to the USDA, 11% of U.S. farmers don’t have health insurance coverage. For dairy farmers, the number is even higher—a staggering 41%. Recognizing how complex and confusing the health insurance system can be—and how crucial health coverage is to people’s well-being—Covering Wisconsin helps Wisconsin residents navigate the system. A program of UW-Extension and a […]

The ‘FDL Fresh 5’ is a food donation program that connects farmers’ market vendors with local food pantries. Amanda Miller worked with local sellers, Bill and Lynda Zeleske, to create and implement the program many years ago. All are members of the Fond du Lac Farmers Market Steering Committee.  The program is designed to be […]

Youth leaders, volunteers, 4-H Summer Intern and the 4-H Educator helped plan out the camp. The youth leaders led activities with the groups all day under the supervision of the volunteer leaders. The youth started the morning off by learning everyone’s names with a couple of games. The participants were able to collect bugs and […]

UW-Extension recommends that well owners sample their well at least once per year, at a different time of the year. You can test your water through the Fond du Lac County Health Department, the UW-Extension lab in Stevens Point, the State Lab of Hygiene or other private laboratories in the area. Below are descriptions of […]

The Extension Office will be closed July 4 & 5. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, July 8.

As we plan our outreach and engagement efforts, we must be intentional with centering the community members we hope to reach. We must create authentic, sustainable relationships with community members to implement our programming successfully. Whether you are part of local government, a public department, or a nonprofit, the tools included in our Community Engagement […]

FoodWIse has a long standing partnership with a low income senior housing site in Fond du Lac, Riverview Senior Apartments. FoodWIse works with the residents through a 6 week summer nutrition series and has recently added a strength training program for older adults, Strong Bodies, to the offerings. The residents form strong relationships with the […]

Consumers can help stop scammers and strengthen their own financial future by checking their credit report. By law, everybody can obtain three free credit reports each year at AnnualCreditReport.com. It is important to check your report regularly to make sure it is accurate and up to date. Scammers often desire to open credit in your name. […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H hosted a three-day Foodie Theme reaching 15 youth in June. The youth expressed an interest in learning and exploring culinary skills and the food and nutrition project. A Youth leader, Adult Volunteer, 4-H Summer Intern, and 4-H Program Educator led different cooking activities teaching basic cooking skills such as measuring, […]

Nonprofit organizations continue to take an increasingly critical role in providing needed services and programs within our community. As our local nonprofits take on critical roles, addressing key concerns of these community organizations becomes more important. According to a nationwide survey data of nonprofits published by Statista in April 2024, the two greatest challenges identified […]

According to the 2021 Fond du Lac County health assessment, 52% of adults and 35% of students consume at least two servings of fruit on a day and 23% of adults and 17% of students consume at least three servings of vegetables in a day. The goal is to increase the fruit and vegetable intake […]

The majority of people, 98%, wish to arrange their affairs to live well in their later years, and ensure that their end-of-life plans follow their wishes. Still, it is something that many people find challenging.  Only 23% follow through with documenting and sharing those plans with their loved ones to carry out those wishes.  However, […]

On May 4, 2024, youth involved in the Lemonade Day program finally set up their lemonade stands all across Fond du Lac County. The Lemonade Day program is about more than just a Lemonade Day stand. In the Fond du Lac Area it is a community tradition that has taken place for the past eight […]

Tracy Keifenheim, 4-H Educator, partnered with the Fond du Lac Boys and Girls Club Roberts location to continue a 4-H club within the Boys and Girls Club. Keifenheim worked with Anna Koepsell, Roberts Extension Director, to build out the 6-week Art Club for 1st and 2nd-grade members. The club had 9 youth members. Over 6 […]

Designed to empower organizations of all sizes, this mini-course will equip participants with the tools and strategies needed to thrive in today’s philanthropic landscape. Hosted over five sessions, this course dives deep into the essential pillars of successful fund development and donor relations. Nonprofits of all sizes and focus areas are encouraged to attend! This […]

Reaching out to your UW Extension Regional Crops or Dairy Educator is a great way to get your agriculture questions answered – but if you are not sure who to contact, use the new UW Madison Division of Extension Ask Your Ag Question form.  Connect with Extension experts from Wisconsin and receive research-based responses and […]

Countless research has shown that gardening with children has numerous benefits, including social, emotional, physical, and mental. Gardening has shown to improve nutrition, reduce obesity rates, increase physical activity, impact mental health, and even improve academic scores. The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) Program kicked off the new series on April 11th with a newly renovated […]

Carol Bralich has joined the Fond du Lac Extension team as our new Human Development and Relationships Educator. Carol Bralich, Associate Professor, has been an educator in the Human Development & Relationships Institute for UW-Madison, Division of Extension for over 14 years. Carol’s teaching, research and outreach have included a focus on building financial capability […]

Nearly a year ago, the White House hosted the first conference on hunger, nutrition, and health in 50 years. As a result, they came up with a big goal – to end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, so that fewer Americans experience diet-related chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. […]

The Online Youth-Adult Partnership (Y-AP) Training emerges as a beacon for youth empowerment. This self-guided program, tailored for both individuals and groups, offers a comprehensive roadmap for volunteers and professionals eager to nurture collaborative relationships between youth and adults. Comprising eight sessions, each segment of Y-AP Training integrates brief readings with illuminating videos featuring individuals […]

On Saturday, February 24, Fond du Lac County 4-H held its annual Family Learning Day event.  Over 70 youth from around the area were able to choose from 50 different educational sessions.  Parents were encouraged to attend sessions along with their children.  These educational sessions were led by 40 different community members and 4-H volunteers.  […]

Kelsey Beine is joining the UW Division of Extension in Fond du Lac County as Bilingual 4-H Associate Educator (English, Spanish). Kelsey earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and Spanish, as well as a master’s degree in organizational leadership, all from Marian University (WI). She has been teaching and mentoring high school and college students […]

Every three years the health department and community partners collaboratively engage to conduct a Community Health Assessment (CHA) in Fond du Lac County. The main purpose of a CHA is to complete a comprehensive collection and analysis of data to identify health issues of primary concern. From the CHA, a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) […]

Tracy Keifenheim, 4-H Educator, partnered with the Fond du Lac Boys and Girls Club Roberts location to start a 4-H club within the Boys and Girls Club. Keifenheim worked with Anna Koepsell, Roberts Extension Director, to build out the 6-week LEGO Club. The club had 16 youth members averaging about 10 participants each week. Over […]

Regional Ag News and Updates Serving Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington Counties

Wisconsin will receive nearly $1.1 Billion from the federal government from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program to finance deployment of broadband internet services to underserved areas of the state. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension cooperative and local government specialists will describe how cooperatives are created, how broadband services might be successfully deployed by […]

Congratulations and farewell to our Regional Dairy Educator Tina Kohlman, who took a new position on February 1 in the private sector as a Training and Ag Business Development Manager for one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pumps and pump systems for building services, water management, and groundwater application, in Cedarburg, WI. Tina has […]

The summer of 2023 taught us numerous lessons as our wet spring turned to a droughty summer across Wisconsin. While well-timed rains boosted yields for row crops and alfalfa fields, the same can’t be said for many of the pastures across the state, especially those under continuously grazed management. Many livestock producers found themselves sourcing […]

FoodWIse and Community Works are partnering to offer an 8-part cooking class series for teens as a part of their after school respite program. During the cooking class series, Community Works will join at the Extension office’s kitchen where Grace Gallagher, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, is teaching Around the Table. Around the Table is designed to […]

Desiree Torres understands the value of being part of a supportive environment that encourages young people to be involved in their communities, something she witnessed firsthand with Youth Advocates for Community Health (YACH), a program of UW–Madison Extension. Christa Van Treeck, associate professor and youth development educator in Marquette County, is working with a group […]

The four Essential Elements of Positive Youth Development work together to ensure that youth work towards a better future for themselves and their world. The four Essential Elements are: Belonging was a huge piece of supporting new families in the 4-H program.  Keifenheim held a New Family Orientation in early December.  Families registered to learn […]

Raising replacement heifers in managed grazing systems provide economic savings and ecological improvements at the farm and watershed level, along with improved animal performance as they enter the milking herd. While there are many dairy farms that have successfully implemented dairy heifer grazing to their operation, many dairy farms have not. The session will feature […]

This event is open to the public. 4-H and community youth are invited to attend Family Learning Day at UWO Fond du Lac Campus. Learn a new skill or gain fresh ideas. It will be a fun, informative day. Parents are encouraged to spend the day with their child and help them find their sessions. […]

The FoodWIse program just completed a 10-week strength training class offered to Riverview Apartment residents.  The StrongBodies program is an evidence-based exercise program for midlife and older adults developed by Tufts University. The program includes progressive strength training, balance training, and flexibility exercises.  Grace Gallagher, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, is a certified StrongBodies trainer and taught […]

On December 2 Club officers attended the countywide training. Youth got to know each other by participating in a few icebreakers and games. Special thanks to Teen Leaders for helping lead icebreakers and games. This year’s officer training featured a guest speaker Kelsey Beine, Campbellsport 4-H Alumni, who presented during the general main session of […]

This year’s dry summer had most of us constantly clicking refresh on our weather apps, wondering when we could count on the next measurable rainfall to keep our crops moving forward. Extension saw the need and benefit of providing updates from climate experts to ag producers and professionals to help make sense of where we […]

Food insecure individuals are often faced with challenges to accessing healthy foods. Low income neighborhoods frequently lack grocery stores, individuals may have transportation issues, and healthy foods may be more expensive as opposed to quick, processed foods.  In 2017, Amanda Miller (Extension FoodWIse Coordinator and Health & Well-Being Educator) and Bill Zeleske (local farmer) partnered […]

Do you know how to do simple car maintenance, crochet/knit, or sand and paint a piece of wood? Have you ever decorated a cake, grown vegetables, or created scale models of trains/cars? Would you be interested in learning with youth how to build a rocket, how to work with animals, or how to make balloon […]

Nearly a year ago, the White House hosted the first conference on hunger, nutrition, and health in 50 years. As a result, they came up with a big goal – to end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, so that fewer Americans experience diet-related chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. […]

The annual 4-H Cloverbud Pumpkin Contest was held on Saturday, October 21, at UW Oshkosh Fond du Lac Campus. Cloverbud members, 4-H youth grades kindergarten- second, were able to enter a pumpkin in the contest.  The morning of Teen Leaders and a few volunteers helped weigh, measure, and judge the pumpkins.  While pumpkins were being […]

Right now is peak harvest season and many home gardeners are interested in preserving their fresh produce. Amanda Miller, FoodWIse Coordinator and Health and Well-Being Educator, is available for office visits, phone calls, or emails from Fond du Lac County residents that have questions on food preservation or food safety. Both beginner and expert home […]

We hope you will join our Winter 2024 Wisconsin Nonprofit Connect to Learn cohort as we explore how to Build Belonging in Organizations! As challenges that nonprofits and institutions face continue to mount, it is more crucial than ever to build organizations where “Belonging” is prioritized. This multi-week course will begin on Wednesday, January 17, […]

National 4-H Week is the first full week in October, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country celebrate everything 4-H. Area 4-H clubs observe National 4-H Week by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people, and highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work each day […]

“The Wisconsin Nonprofits Connect to Learn is a program designed to support nonprofit professionals, board members, and people who run ad-hoc community organizations on some of the topics most important to achieving their mission. The first mini-course of the 2023-2024 series, “Fund Development and Donor Relations” begins September 20 and runs through October 25th. Registrations […]

Variable corn fields are common this year with delayed emergence and inconsistent moisture conditions. This means that tasseling and corn silage harvest is also likely to be widely variable across our 4 county region. This fall, proper silage harvest and management is necessary to maximize feed quality for the next year. There are some important […]

Countless research has shown that gardening with children have numerous benefits, including social, emotional, physical, and mental. Gardening has shown to improve nutrition, reduce obesity rates, increase physical activity, impact mental health, and even improve academic scores. The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) Program had another successful season. A total of 21 children from 14 families […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H wrapped up the summer finishing off with three summer day camps in August.  Art Camp, Cloverbud Day Camp, and LEGO camps were the last of the 4-H Summer Camps. The camps were well attended and the youth all shared things that they learned. The final Cloverbud Day Camp of the […]

FDL Fresh 5 will be back at the Fond du Lac Farmers Market this summer! The “FDL Fresh 5” is a farmer’s market donation program with an emphasis on connecting Fond du Lac families with healthier food pantry donations. This program, started by Amanda Miller and Bill Zeleske (farmers market vendor and local farmer), is […]

The Cloverbuds had several guest speakers throughout the day at Cloverbud Day Camp. The first guest of the day was Jerry with the Appleton and Eldorado fire departments. The youth learned about fire safety and the fire fighter’s gear and equipment. The K9 unit stopped in and visited the Cloverbuds, and they learned about what […]

As we navigate the dry conditions spread across Wisconsin this summer, the US Drought Monitor (USDM) maps have become a common sight in crop reports used by producers and ag professionals to navigate this year’s growing season. The Drought Monitor is released every Thursday, and compiles physical indicators, condition observations and reports of the impact […]

A family hits a benefits cliff when a small income increase makes them ineligible for public benefits they had been receiving (UW-Madison Institute for Research on Poverty). Many public benefits programs in Wisconsin have “benefits cliffs.” It is important for participants in these programs to be aware of benefits cliffs as they make financial and professional decisions […]

FoodWIse and the Boys and Girls Club of Fond du Lac County are partnering this summer to offer an 8-part cooking class series for teens as a part of their Healthy Habits program. Healthy Habits is a program adopted by the national Boys and Girls Club that emphasizes good nutrition, regular physical activity, and improving […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H hosted a one-day Cloverbud Day Camp- Foodie Theme reaching 23 youth in June. Youth expressed an interest in learning and exploring culinary skills and the foods and nutrition project. Volunteers and the summer intern led different cooking activities teaching basic cooking skills such as measuring, food safety, and using kitchen […]

Liz Gartman is our new Regional Crops Educator for Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Washington & Ozaukee counties. Liz spent the early part of her career as a livestock feed specialist for a local co-op, was most recently an Agriculture Instructor at Lakeshore Technical College, and spent most of her life living and working on a […]

Kelly Dione is the Community Youth Development Educator at the University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension in Washington and Fond du Lac Counties. She works to design, deliver, and evaluate research-based educational programming and services aligned with the focus of Civic Engagement Kelly has a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Science Teaching from […]

Consumers can help stop scammers and strengthen their own financial future by checking their credit at annualcreditreport.com on 2/2, 6/6 and 10/10 each year By law, everybody can obtain three free credit reports each year at AnnualCreditReport.com. It is important to check your report regularly to make sure it is accurate and up to date. Scammers […]

Local dairy farmers want high quality alfalfa haylage for their cows, especially the first cutting of this 4-cut crop since it provides over half of the total haylage harvest for the year. Farmers wait 28-30 days between cuttings to harvest the optimal quality in haylage, but how do we determine when to cut the first […]

With schools finishing up the year 4-H is gearing up for many summer activities and programming. June is a busy month as youth can participate in the annual Clothing Revue, Foods Revue, Cloverbud & Foodie Day Camps, dairy judging practices, Area Animal Science Days, and many project meetings taking place. All these opportunities provide youth […]

FoodWIse and the Fond du Lac County WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program partnered to offer a family cooking class for parents and children participating in the FitFamilies program.  Both FoodWIse and FitFamilies are Supplemental Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) programs. FitFamilies is for parents of 2-4 year olds enrolled in WIC and interested in working more […]

Alfalfa is an important part of a cow’s diet, having 4 crops grown in a year. Generally farmers will have 28-30 days in between cuttings for optimal forage quality, reducing the need to purchase feeds to increase protein in the diet. However, when is the optimal time cut the 1st crop? Determining when to cut […]

Cooking Matters is a national campaign to help end childhood hunger by inspiring families to make healthy, affordable food choices. It includes a variety of programs designed to teach parents and caregivers of young children, with limited food budgets, to shop for and cook healthy meals.  FoodWIse recently partnered with Parent LIFE of Badgerland Youth […]

The purpose of the Tri-County Art Club is to provide youth the opportunity to learn different art techniques and skills.  Ozaukee County Educator Jayna Hintz taught the group Printmaking at the last club meeting.  Keifenheim helped assist Hintz in walking the youth through three different printmaking techniques.  First youth made different prints using shaving cream […]

Pandemic relief for FoodShare (Wisconsin food stamps) and BadgerCare (Medicaid) has ended, as of March 1, 2023. This means that recipients of both programs need to pay close attention to what the changes are and how they will affect their families. The Fond du Lac County Health and Well-Being Educator and the FoodWIse program has […]

Join us on Tuesday, April 18th at 12PM for our next Lunch-n-Learn and put some “oomph” behind the numbers of Downtown Revitalization. Downtowns and business districts play a vital role in economic development by serving as the commercial heart of our communities. They not only generate revenue and employment opportunities but also enhance the overall […]

A parent may feel like preparing fast and easy meals in the kitchen free of hassles and interruptions, especially on busy work days. But, there are many benefits to including children in the kitchen during meal preparation. Studies have shown that children that are involved in growing, selecting during grocery shopping, and preparing foods are […]

Every other Tuesday, starting on February 28th at noon, the Community Economic Development Program will host an hour long webinar related to clean energy funding opportunities for Wisconsin communities.  This first webinar in the Clean Energy Funding Series will focus on agricultural producers and rural small businesses because Rural Energy for America (REAP) guaranteed grants […]

The Stephenson Scholarship Fund was established nearly 50 years ago in 1974 by the will of the late Hazel L. Stephenson of Fond du Lac. The purpose of the fund is to assist students of Fond du Lac County in attaining or completing an education at any one of the University of Wisconsin campuses. All […]

What does it mean to be “reentry ready”? Reentry refers to a person returning to their community after time in prison or jail. “Reentry ready” means that a person has the necessary resources to overcome the obstacles of successful return to their community.  Reentering a community after incarceration is not an easy task. It is […]

Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Washington & Fond du Lac County will have several opportunities for in-person “testing” with the online training program, and one in-person training & testing opportunity.   Under both federal and state laws, certain pesticide applicators must be “certified” before they can legally use and apply pesticides. Under FIFRA, the federal law that governs pesticide […]

According to the 2021 Fond du Lac County health assessment, 52% of adults and 35% of students consume at least two servings of fruit on a day and 23% of adults and 17% of students consume at least three servings of vegetables in a day. The goal is to increase the fruit and vegetable intake […]

As the calendar year comes to a close, many people start thinking about their New Year’s resolution. Maybe you’ve already decided that this is the year you are going to lose 20 pounds, quit smoking, or make a career change. If you haven’t made a resolution yet, consider working towards decreasing (maybe even eliminating) your […]

Enhance your leadership skills and gain tools to address issues impacting your local government. Explore and find solutions to generate results. Engage with other local government leaders to shape the future of your community. The Local Government Leadership Academy (LGLA) is a nine-month, cohort-based program blending in-person workshops, virtual sessions, online self-study, and goal-setting to […]

The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and heating costs are getting higher. Thankfully there are things you can do to keep warm this winter without breaking the bank.  Caulk or weatherstrip windows and doors to prevent outdoor air from getting in. Lower your home’s temperature overnight. A programmable thermostat can help […]

Almost 30 youth leaders joined us on a Saturday morning! Youth officers represented 11 of the community clubs during the training. The morning started off with the youth learning some ice breaker activities and getting to know each other.  The youth then learned about the 3 parts of a meeting: Education, Business, and Recreation. There […]

Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by populations that have been historically disadvantaged by their social or economic status, geographic location, and environment.  Communities can prevent health disparities when community and faith-based organizations, employers, healthcare systems and providers, public health […]

By Bob Cropp, Professor EmeritusUniversity of Wisconsin Cooperative ExtensionUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison The price of barrel cheddar cheese strengthened to above $2 per pound from mid-September and continuing into October reaching as high as $2.2450. The price of barrel cheese was well above 40-pound cheddar blocks being as much as $02775 per pound higher. From mid-September […]

Today it costs more to raise dairy heifer replacements than to purchase one, but farmers prefer to raise their own due to controlling genetics and management of these heifers for the milking herd. Farmers have recognized breeding a heifer to give birth to her first calf at 23-24 months of age is the optimal time […]

Chronic diseases are illnesses that last a long time, do not go away on their own, are rarely cured, and can result in disability later in life. Hundreds of years ago, communicable diseases were the major cause of illness, disability, and death. This was before there was a good understanding of hygiene, how bacteria and […]

UW-Madison Division of Extension Community Food Systems Program is organizing a 2-day virtual summit for Wisconsin food entrepreneurs! The 2022 FEED Summit will be held virtually on November 14th and 15th, from 10 am to 4 pm.  Breakout sessions will go in-depth into key aspects of a thriving business model, including: Value Propositions, Key Partners, […]

Ever feel like you’re invisible? 11% of adult Americans actually are.. credit invisible that is! Credit invisible is a term used for people who have no credit history at any of the three national credit bureaus.  Isn’t it good to not have any credit card debt? Yes. It’s wonderful to not have any credit card […]

National 4-H week was full of celebrations including the second annual 4-H Fall Kick-Off. All youth leaders and general club leaders were invited to partake in the event to learn from each other, build their facilitation skills, learn about the WI 4-H Marketing plan, and how to support new families. Tracy Keifenheim, 4-H Program Educator, […]

Milk production after running below year ago levels from January through June was 0.5% above a year ago in July and 1.6% in August. Fourteen of the 24 reporting states had higher August milk production than a year ago. The increase in milk production was due to more milk cows and improved milk per cow. […]

The Fond du Lac/Sheboygan FoodWIse program is currently hiring an 80% full-time Nutrition Educator to serve in Fond du Lac County. FoodWIse is a federally funded nutrition education program that aims to advance healthy eating habits, active lifestyles, and healthy community environments for individuals and families with limited incomes through nutrition education at the individual, […]

Wisconsin Nonprofits Connect to Learn is a new program designed to support nonprofit professionals and those who run community organizations on some of the topics most important to achieving their mission. The second mini-course of the series, “Fundraising and Donor Relations,” begins October 12 and registrations are currently open. One of the unique features of […]

When should you start saving for your child’s post high school education? While it’s never too late to start saving, the answer is the sooner the better! Research shows that even having as little as $1 to $500 set aside for future education, encourages a child to do better in high school, makes them three […]

National 4-H Week is the first full week in October, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country celebrate everything 4-H. Area 4-H clubs observed National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people, and highlighted the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work […]

Bob Cropp | Professor Emeritus & Retired Extension Specialist | UW Madison Extension Milk prices are moving lower. The Class III price peaked in May at $25.21, fell to $22.52 by July and August will be around $20.  The Class IV price peaked in June at $25.83, declined to $25.79 in July and August will […]

Twelve (12) samples were submitted to Dairyland Laboratories for analysis on August 30, 2022, with overall moisture of approximately 64.92% to 76.84%.

What’s the average American’s life expectancy? Take your guess… According to the CDC, in 2018 life expectancy for women was 81.2 years and 76.2 years for men. Now few of us want to think about the end of our life, let alone plan for it. However, having your financial and health information organized and your […]

The most recent census data indicates a significant growth in the Black/African American population in Fond du Lac County. To better understand how to respond to the needs of Black/African American community members, FoodWIse partnered with UW-Madison Population Health, Fond du Lac Public Health, and the United Way to host community-wide focus groups. Each focus […]

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Cohort 4 is in progress with 8 EITs meeting in Milwaukee on Wednesday evenings and online Saturday mornings. Diana taught two classes recently about meaningful apologies, the power of a promise, and time management. In addition, 3 EIT alumni joined the group to share about their experiences and encourage them. People with criminal […]

Carcass Contests-where county fair market livestock animals are judged on the quality and quantity of meat product post-butcher, are an important way to enhance the educational value of the youth livestock project.  Rather than being judged live, walking in a show ring where an individual judges and places an animal based on its structure and […]

Tracy Keifenheim and the 4-H Summer Intern taught the first ever Fond du Lac County 4-H Art Camp! Art Camp was offered for 3 days. The first day was Art-Rageous Day where youth got to explore all different types of art media and new art techniques! Youth first started out the day using clay to […]

This year 4-H offered three Cloverbud Day Camps to youth who have completed Kindergarten – 2nd grade and the last one was held on Wednesday, August 17. The theme was Outdoor Survival! Youth leaders and two volunteer leaders helped plan this day camp to make it a success! The youth leaders and the 4-H summer […]

Amy Mangan-Fischer, Human Development & Relationships Educator Staying on top of what’s in your credit report can help you spot errors and possible instances of identity theft. Additionally, a positive credit history helps you access housing and financial products, and to get the best interest rate when applying for loans, insurance, and more. On July […]

Tracy Keifenheim, 4-H Program Educator The Fond du Lac County 4-H LEGO Club has been meeting monthly since September. Youth leaders Makayla and Noah have been putting together meeting agendas, topics to be covered, and discussing presentation styles and facilitation skills. Youth members consist of youth from kindergarten through junior high school. The club held […]

Makayla Stommel, Fond du Lac County 4-H Summer Intern This year 4-H is offering three Cloverbud Day Camps to youth who have completed Kindergarten – 2nd grade and the first one was held on Wednesday, June 29. It was an “Out of this World” experience! Youth leaders and two volunteer leaders helped plan this day […]

Amanda Miller, FoodWIse Coordinator, Health & Well-Being Educator According to the most recent county health assessment, 7% of Fond du Lac County residents live in a food desert area and have limited access to healthy foods. Food deserts are urban areas in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh foods. Many people […]

Tina Kohlman, Regional Extension Dairy Educator Hoof health is essential for not only the overall health of the animal, but also for her welfare. Digital dermatitis (DD), or hairy heel warts, is an extremely painful condition for dairy cattle, reducing her ability to walk to and from the milking parlor, or to the feed bunk. […]

This year 4-H is offering three Cloverbud Day Camps to youth who have completed Kindergarten – 2nd grade and the first one was held on Wednesday, June 29. It was an “Out of this World” experience! Youth leaders and two volunteer leaders helped plan this day camp to make it a success! The youth leaders […]

This year for the first time ever LEGO Club had a LEGO Masters Building Competition on their last meeting of the year. Youth had to complete a build relating to the theme of a park in one hour. Some of the builds included campgrounds and water parks. The youth were then judged on their builds […]

This year the 2022 Foods Revue was held on June 21 and the special ingredient was bacon! There were seven youth who showed off their yummy bacon recipes with ages ranging from a cloverbud to 8th grade. Youth who participate in the Food Revue learn many life skills. Skills include preparing their food and how […]

Cloverbud Day Camp – Out of this World, Fun on the Farm, Outdoor Survival Where: UWO Fond du Lac Campus *Fun on the Farm will be held at a farm not UW When: Wednesday, June 29, July 27, August 17, 9 am-3 pm Who: Youth who have completed grades Kindergarten-2nd Cost: $10/day or $25 for […]

In partnership with UW Extension of Fond du Lac County, the City of Fond du Lac Youth is starting a Governance (YIG) Program for high school youth. This is a school-year-long program starting in August of 2022 and running until May 2023. Youth are engaged in city government by joining one of four adults-run Fond […]

4-H Youth from Calumet, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Washington, and Winnebago Counties participated in the annual Fashion Revue Monday, June 13.  The event was hosted in person by Extension Fond du Lac County. Eleven youth from throughout these counties participated by modeling their own sewn garments and even purchases they have made under the […]

According to the 2021 Fond du Lac County health assessment, 52% of adults and 35% of students consume at least two servings of fruit on a day and 23% of adults and 17% of students consume at least three servings of vegetables in a day. The goal is to increase the fruit and vegetable intake […]

Dairy farmers and the community recognize the importance of high-quality alfalfa in dairy rations. It provides protein, energy, and minerals and increases milk production while maintaining low feed costs. One of the most important factors in determining alfalfa quality is its maturity at harvest. Also, the yield of the first cutting of alfalfa is typically […]

You never put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher! You always leave your dishes by the couch! You need to clean up after yourself!  These are all “you” sentences. Starting a sentence with “you” can make the listener feel defensive right off the bat. The listener is more likely to have their guard up and […]

Alfalfa PEAQ measurements and scissor clipping samples are collected by the Fond du Lac County Forage Council.

Did you celebrate 5/29 this year? While this day doesn’t have any great food or fun traditions associated with it, it is an important date. Every year May 29th (5/29) is celebrated as “529 Day.” It is a day to learn about the benefits of saving early for higher education for children because little savings […]

Countless research has shown that gardening with children have numerous benefits, including social, emotional, physical, and mental. Gardening has shown to improve nutrition, reduce obesity rates, increase physical activity, impact mental health, and even improve academic scores. The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) Program kicked off the new series on May 12th with a newly renovated […]

With schools finishing up the year 4-H is gearing up for many summer activities and programming. June is a busy month as youth can participate in the annual Clothing Revue, Foods Revue, Cloverbud Day Camp, dairy judging practices, Area Animal Science Days, and many project meetings taking place. All these opportunities provide youth the chance […]

Alfalfa PEAQ measurements and scissor clipping samples are collected by the Fond du Lac County Forage Council.

Today it costs more to raise dairy heifer replacements than to purchase one, but farmers prefer to raise their own due to controlling genetics and management of these heifers for the milking herd.  Farmers have recognized breeding a heifer to give birth to her first calf at 23-24 months of age is the optimal time […]

On May 7th, one hundred and twenty-five youth and adult mentors will open over 25 lemonade stands throughout Fond du Lac County as part of the Lemonade Day educational program.  Stands will open up from 11am – 2pm in Fond du Lac, Lomira, Waupun, Brownsville, and Eden. A map can be found at the Fond […]

April 17-23 was national volunteer week, a time to salute our volunteers and say thank you. Fond du Lac 4-H volunteers teach, plan and organize, advice, help raise funds and mentor young people, so they may have the best experiences possible.  Adult volunteers are essential to the 4-H program as they put 4-H’s learn-by-doing model […]

Each year, the local FoodWIse program teaches nutrition education classes at senior meal sites and senior housing units throughout the county. However, during the height of the pandemic, visitor restrictions were in place that prevented in-person classes. The senior newsletters were created to continue to provide health and nutrition information during the pandemic. The pandemic […]

Have you ever fallen for a scam? If so, you are not alone. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s website states that “consumers lose more than $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud”. And it’s just getting worse. According to a 2021 Scam and Robocall Report, phone scam attempts increased by over 116% […]

Early childhood is a critical period for many areas of health and development. The 0-5 years is the single most critical time for laying the foundation for healthy physical, neural, emotional and social development. It is difficult to imagine that what happens in the earliest years of a person’s life may affect them well into […]

How much is gas by your house? I couldn’t believe my grocery bill the other day! The increased price of gas and groceries has become a popular topic of conversation lately. These spikes can make people feel powerless and financially overwhelmed. Don’t worry. There are steps that you can take to help you get a […]

On Saturday, February 19 Fond du Lac County 4-H held its annual Family Learning Day event.  Fifty-two youth from Fond du Lac County were able to choose from 22 different educational sessions.  The event welcomes parents to help their children participate in the sessions. These educational sessions were led by 21 different community members and […]

Visit our website for more information and register online!

Tracy Keifenheim, 4-H Program Educator This fall, Fond du Lac County 4-H added a new youth club to the mix: LEGO Club! LEGO club was born when 4-H Program Educator Tracy Keifenheim discovered that a few counties around the state had begun their own programs. Keifenheim approached FDL Co 4-H youth leader Noah H, and […]

Every three years the health department and community partners collaboratively engage to conduct a Community Health Assessment (CHA) in Fond du Lac County. The main purpose of a CHA is to complete a comprehensive collection and analysis of data to identify health issues of primary concern. From the CHA, a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) […]

Tina Kohlman, Regional Dairy and Livestock Agent Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors of society, including the agriculture sector, is a concern for all.  The agriculture sector contributes 10% of the greenhouse gas emissions, behind transportation, electricity, industry, and commercial and residential sources.  Greenhouse gas emissions from the barn comes mainly from enteric (rumen) […]

We are seeking youth artists looking for an opportunity to share their artwork with the community, receive feedback on your work, and meet with art professionals? The 2022 Tri-County 4-H Visual Arts Festival is something you are not going to want to miss! New this year we are offering a traveling exhibition opportunity for youth […]

The Lemonade Day program is about more than just a Lemonade Day stand. In the Fond du Lac Area it is a community tradition that has taken place for the past seven years. Community engagement in sponsorship, volunteers serving on committees, schools, churches and youth-serving agencies ALL coming together to teach and encourage our youth […]

Is it tax time already? It is now the time of year when you are getting emails and letters reminding you to update your address and watch the mail for your various tax documents. Tax season officially started on Monday, January 24th and taxes are due (for Wisconsin residents) on Monday, April 18, 2022. If […]

Each year, hundreds of youth in the 4-H and FFA Dairy, Beef, Sheep, Swine, and Meat Goat Projects raise, manage, and feed their project animals in hopes of a grand champion ribbon or making a quality meat sale at the county fair.  But how does a youth livestock project fit into real-world agriculture? Recently Extension […]

The 2nd-grade students at Riverside, Parkside, and Chegwin Elementary Schools were thrilled to get creative while learning about MyPlate and trying new foods. If you have children, you know that trying new foods can be a challenging task. This topic is an important one to cover and it reinforces the same messages students receive from teachers […]

As of January 1, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington Counties Agriculture Extension Programming is moving to a regional model, providing stronger support and educational resources in the area of dairy production management, crops & soils management, and farm business management. Michael Ballweg | Crops & Soils | michael.ballweg@wisc.edu | 920.459.5910 Tina Kohlman | Dairy & […]

Silage is one of the main ingredients in dairy cattle diets and is an important source of nutrients, particularly energy and digestible fiber.  Much progress has been done allowing farmers to grow and harvest quality forages including plant genetics, optimum maturity, soil fertility, and storage facilities.    However, this progress does no good if the […]

Community coalitions have the potential to make important changes in the areas of public and community health. Coalitions are multi-sector partnerships that involve key community organizations, as well as community members from populations impacted by health issues. They are instrumental in helping public health leaders achieve the tri-annual community health assessments (CHA) and community health […]

New Year’s Resolutions are not uncommon. Many of us resolve to exercise more, eat healthier, spend less time on social media, practice self-care, read more, etc. This year make a resolution that affects every aspect of your life and work to improve your financial wellness! 2022 can be different. Start the year by diving into Extension’s […]

Research shows that youth with a small amount of money saved for higher education, coupled with community support, are more likely to enroll and graduate from post-secondary programs than youth without these savings. Youth Forward Wisconsin’s vision is that 100% of youth will have at least a small amount of money saved for their future […]

Dairy profitability is greatly affected by herd health and animal well-being. Providing proper care and housing throughout the dairy animal’s life significantly reduces metabolic and reproductive disorders and increases milk production. Management practices that address “how-to”, as well as judicious use of antibiotics are becoming increasingly important as producers strive to provide safe and wholesome […]

Fourteen youth and adult volunteers learned the parts of a meeting and how to work as an officer team and participated in activities, they could take back to their clubs. TLA members led a few ice breakers and “get to know you” activities to start off the morning. The youth and adults learned about 3 […]

FoodWIse partners with a local non-profit agency that serves women in transition periods of their life. We provide monthly life skill courses, such as food safety, meal planning, healthy eating on a budget, and more related topics. By request of the residents and staff, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, Melanie Phillips, completed a grocery store tour. This […]

After graduating from Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) Partnership Bootcamp earlier this year, two EITs joined Extension at the Toward One Wisconsin conference to talk about their experiences. Toward One Wisconsin is a new leadership conference with a statewide audience focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and was originally scheduled to be held in Eau […]

National 4-H Week is the first full week in October, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers, and alumni across the country celebrate everything 4-H. Area 4-H clubs observed National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people, and highlighted the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work […]

Dairy farmers have improved animal husbandry, herd health, and reproductive management in such a positive way, we now have one of the largest national dairy heifer inventories in history. As profit margins get slimmer in the dairy business, as well as the excess number of heifers raised on farms, many farmers are starting to use […]

Fond du Lac County Extension partnered this October with Family Court Services and Fond du Lac County’s Birth to 3 Program to provide a co-parenting workshop to separated/divorced parents. The training teaches co-parents strategies that will help their children with the adjustment. The participants learn common reactions to divorce by children at different ages, ways […]

The Great Lakes Apple Crunch helps celebrate National Farm to School month (October) by collectively purchasing and crunching into locally grown apples at noon on a day in mid-October every year.  The Great Lakes Apple Crunch not only celebrates National Farm to School Month but also supports local farmers and encourages healthy eating. Six states […]

Federal law allows individuals to get a free copy of their credit report every 12 months from the three major credit reporting bureaus – TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. The annual free reports were put in place so that individuals can make sure the information on all their credit reports is correct and up to date. […]

This weekend the Sabor, a Mexico festival took place in Fond du Lac. One of the food stands at the event was organized and staffed by a leader of Latinos Unidos en Fond du Lac and an entrepreneur that had worked with Extension a few years ago. In 2019, he attended a series of workshops […]

Amanda Miller is participating in HUE (Human Understanding and Engagement) Life, 5 part workshop designed to enhance facilitation skills that can be used to work collaboratively with community partners during meetings and/or teaching participants during classes. There are many facilitation tips and tricks, but what makes this training unique is that it is provided by […]

The best lactation performance by dairy cows has been shown to occur when corn silage is harvested at 65-70 percent moisture. This range of whole plant moisture also works well for achieving good packing and silage fermentation in horizontal silos, or bunker and piles. Determining whole plant moisture prior to harvest is one management practice […]

New in the 2021-2022 4-H year the Fond du Lac County 4-H program will be offering two new clubs: LEGO Club and Tri-County Visual Arts Afterschool Club. Each club will have a focus on the special interest it is named after. Each club meets monthly and will have different opportunities for the youth to learn […]

Pricing corn silage is a difficult decision because it often comes at a time when the emotions of sellers and buyers are high. The seller has the opportunity to sell a corn field for either silage or grain and incorporate the fertilizer value of the stover back into the field. The buyer has the opportunity […]

Corn silage is unique compared to other multi-cut forage systems, such as alfalfa, as there is only one opportunity to harvest the crop annually. Therefore, farmers, agronomists, and agricultural professionals must diligently monitor corn silage acres to identify the optimal harvest time to maximize forage yield and quality, as well as to ensure the proper […]

The Fond du Lac and Sheboygan County FoodWIse team is currently participating in a workshop series called “Around the Table.” Although on the surface it may appear to be a nutrition education curriculum, it also brings to the forefront trauma-informed and resiliency approaches. It is designed to build food, nutrition, cooking literacy, while also integrating […]

Congratulations to the seven EITs who pitched their business idea to expert judges on July 21 and received Certificates of Entrepreneurship from UW-Madison Extension Dean Karl Martin. The class chose EIT Smiling Shontina to speak at the ceremony. She urged the group to “surround yourself with those focused on your future.” It is wonderful to […]

Cloverbud Day Camp made a return in 2021. Youth leaders and two volunteers helped plan out the camp.  The youth leaders led activities with the groups all day under the supervision of the two volunteer leaders. This Day Camp was for youth who had completed Kindergarten- 2nd grade. The youth who participated started the morning […]

Leaders who lead and foster civil conversations and welcome diverse perspectives make better decisions. That’s particularly important now, when communities, non-profits, and businesses are making decisions in a historically unique time of transition. Green County Leaders is partnering with Braver Angels to provide an engaging way to learn and lean into civil leadership to build […]

Right now is peak harvest season and many home gardeners are interested in preserving their fresh produce. Amanda Miller, Health and Well-Being Educator, is available for office visits, phone calls, or emails from Fond du Lac County residents that have questions on food preservation or food safety. Both beginner and expert home food preservers are […]

The county fair is something most 4-H youth look forward to as they complete their 4-H year.  It is more than just exhibiting something at the fair.  Many youth were excited as the 2021 Fond du Lac County Fair was a highlight to the unusual year. It is a huge part of the reflection piece […]

On June 9, Lightning Leah of Fond du Lac County and Wild Card Willie of Jackson County became the first Entrepreneurs in Training (EIT) to graduate from Bootcamp. Participating with Defy Illinois via Zoom, they successfully completed all the coursework in the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp. The Business Pitch Showcase was their opportunity to articulate their business […]

Highlights in the July Family Times 4-H Newsletter include:  Fond du Lac County Fair, 4-H Leader’s Banquet, 4-H Movement Chris Clover Summer Promotion and Challenge, Record Books, Cloverbud Camp & Cardboard Camp, VIP Training Citizenship, Leadership, & 4-H Growth Achievement Awards, Community Service Award and Key Awards, Volunteer Recognition, Teen Leader Association, and Fall Forum.

On June 22, ten Fond du Lac County Youth showcased their awesome apples recipes at the 2021 Foods Revue.  There was youth of all ages from Kindergarten to one year out of high school.  The foods revue teaches the youth so many life skills.  Youth practice culinary skills while preparing their recipes as well as setting […]

Nine community members, including the CEO of Defy Ventures, joined UW-Madison Extension Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) Bootcamp for a special coaching event at the end of May. In breakout rooms, EITs had 2 minutes to share an overview of their idea. Coaches then had about 10 minutes to ask questions and give feedback. This was […]

Food insecure individuals are often faced with challenges to accessing healthy foods. Low-income neighborhoods frequently lack grocery stores, individuals may have transportation issues, and healthy foods may be more expensive as opposed to quick, processed foods. In 2017, Miller and Bill Zeleske (local farmer) partnered to create the FDL Fresh 5 farmers market donation program. […]

  During extreme cold or hot temperatures, calves utilize extra nutrients to maintain their core body temperature.  The temperature range at which a calf uses no additional energy to maintain its core body temperature is called the thermoneutral zone.  For a newborn calf, a calf maintains its core body temperature with no additional nutrients from […]

Veggie Bites is a series of highlighted fruits, vegetables, and herbs featured weekly throughout the Wisconsin growing season. Each publication includes fun facts, history, harvest/selection, storage tips, and a healthy recipe. The Veggie Bites publications began in Polk County Extension with a few publications. Amanda Miller, with help from Cassi Worster, has redesigned and expanded […]

With schools finishing up the year, 4-H is gearing up for many summer activities and programming. June is a busy month, as youth can participate in the annual Clothing Revue, Foods Revue, Teen Leadership Day Camp, dairy judging practices, and many project meetings. All these opportunities provide youth the chance to learn new things and […]

UW-Madison Extension Entrepreneur in Training (EIT) Partnership launched its first online Entrepreneurship Bootcamp with 11 EITs from 8 counties. On April 28, Christoph Halverson, originally from Green Bay and now a Business Development Executive at Staffworks Group, shared his journey from incarceration to call center employee to Vice President of the call center. Recently pardoned […]

When it comes to health issues on a dairy farm, lameness is usually the main concern along with mastitis and reproductive issues. Lameness includes any abnormality which causes a cow to change the way she walks. It can be caused by a range of foot and leg conditions including foot rot, digital dermatitis, laminitis, and […]

The Fond du Lac United Way is one of 100 organizations across the state to receive funding for a 5-month COVID-19 community health outreach program. The project’s overarching goal is to support both the national and statewide health equity efforts to ensure that all Wisconsin residents have equal access to the COVID-19 vaccines and information/resources […]

One youth from Fond du Lac County and eleven youth from other counties in Wisconsin participated in a virtual exchange with 16 youth from Kansas. The exchange consisted of six youth-led Zoom meetings for the last few months. Youth were able to share information about themselves, interests, facts about their states as well as other […]

US Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office contacted Extension to ensure that the participants in Latinos Unidos en Fond du Lac knew about COVID relief resources. Vanessa Llanas, Regional Representative, also agreed to meet the leaders to talk more about their concerns. Five leaders joined the Zoom meeting, introduced themselves, and stated their concerns about immigration laws […]

A calf’s successful transition from a milk-based diet to a diet of grain and forages requires proper rumen development. However, rumen development is a process that takes time. Regardless of how much milk one is feeding calves or what age they are at weaning time, if the rumen is not ready, calves are going to […]

The bi-annual Midwest Manure Summit was developed with the hope that bringing the best resources from around the country would fuel new conversations and innovations. This year’s conference included 180 registered producers, agribusiness professionals, government agency employees, and educators. Educators’ roles included program development and implementation; solicitation of nationally renowned speakers; sponsorship solicitation; web-site development; […]

Tracy Keifenheim, Fond du Lac County 4-H Educator in collaboration with 4-H Educators Amy Mangan-Fischer, and Jayna Hintz designed take and learn project kits on the topics of art, science, wellness, woodworking, cake decorating, and garden & bugs. The project kits included a variety of learning explorations and were distributed to partner organizations in each […]

Lemonade Day registration is now open for all students in grades 3-6. If you are interested in taking your student through the curriculum lessons at home, all materials will be provided to you at no cost. Students must be registered by March 31 to participate. The Lemonade Day celebration is set for Saturday, May 1. […]

The Fond du Lac/Sheboygan FoodWIse team introduces our new FoodWIse Facebook page which includes evidence and research-based health and nutrition information from the state and nation’s leading experts. This includes, but not limited to: Tasty Tuesdays: a weekly series focused on highlighting a specific cooking/food prep skill “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” Thursdays: a weekly series highlighting an article featured in […]

Mrs. Kwakkel, a business teacher at Laconia High School, asked for a COVID-safe teaching event for the Future Business Leaders Association. Extension colleagues Tessa Conroy, Mia Ljung, and Diana Hammer joined the group for a day viz Zoom, teaching an adaption of “Homegrown: Entrepreneurship in Your Community,” a curriculum that teaches the importance of entrepreneurship […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H holds an annual project learning day known as Family Learning Day.  The day normally consists of 150 youth and adults attending up to four learning sessions in person on a Saturday. Due to Covid, the planning committee was tasked with planning a modified event to provide this opportunity for learning […]

When alfalfa fails due to winterkill, farmers must turn to alternative forages to make up for both the quality and quantity of the alfalfa lost in a growing season.  Extension Crops/Soils and Dairy Program members, Midwest Forage Association (MFA), and 11 local Forage Councils, including Fond du Lac County, partnered to host the Local Forage […]

People are increasingly getting their information from the internet and social media, such as Facebook. This includes information related to all aspects of life, including health and nutrition. Over the past decade, people have reached for their laptops or smartphones, as opposed to a textbook, to ask a question about their health. Relying on social […]

The Extension Defy Ventures Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is a 14-week program for people with criminal histories who want to explore entrepreneurship and develop their small business idea into formal business concept and pitch. The program is designed for adults (18 and over) who are stable in their reentry (employed and housed) and have been released for […]

UW-Madison Extension Human Development and Relationships is offering the Wise Wisconsin Winter Series. It is a six-part series offered free and held safely via Zoom. Meet with others throughout the state as you develop social connections and are empowered to increase joy and satisfaction in your life during the winter months. Sessions will be co-facilitated […]

The FoodWIse program has begun a new partnership with Forward Services to teach weekly virtual classes for their FSET (FoodShare Employment Training) and W-2 clients. In the past, FoodWIse offered classes in-person at both Fond du Lac and Sheboygan County Forward Services. As a result of the pandemic, Forward Services caseworkers have held personal meetings […]

For the last five months, 4-H Program Educators from Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, and Washington County have been meeting virtually with youth from the three counties to plan the first Tri-County Visual Arts Festival. 4-H is a positive youth development program that values youth and adult partnerships and the youth are truly partners in planning […]

Despite their substantial contribution to economies, little is known about how entrepreneurs of color in rural areas leverage resources to start ventures. From August 2014 – October 2015, local researchers from UW-Extension and Ripon College met with 35 Fond du Lac County entrepreneurs who shared their start-up and business experiences, challenges, and successes. All participants were African-American, […]

Highlights for the January 4-H Family Times Newsletter include: Family Learning Day, Virtual Learning Community, Connecting With Kansas, Winter Leadership Camp, Livestock Webinars, Tri-County Visual Arts Festival, Scholarship Info, Adult Volunteer (VIP) Trainings, Wildlife & Forestry Art Contest, 4-H Meetings Reimagined, State Arts Teams,, and Resources for Virtual Meetings.

Fond du Lac, WI – 4-H Educators from Washington, Ozaukee, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan Counties are bringing a Taste of 4-H to local youth organizations through the distribution of project kits, thanks to funding provided by the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation. “We’re excited to share about 4-H and what the program has to offer with the project […]

This year many 4-H meetings are being held virtually. To support our youth and adult leaders with this new format, 4-H educators from Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, and Washington County created the training “4-H Meetings Reimagined: Using Zoom to Lead a Fun and Engaging 4-H Meeting.” This training was facilitated by Extension educators, youth leaders, […]

  It is human nature to avoid conflict, stressful situations, and the unknown.  And often, it seems easier to avoid difficult conversations.  As agribusiness professionals and service providers, it is easier to focus on the technical component in a conversation rather than the emotional aspect. Extension Fond du Lac County Dairy & Livestock Agent Tina […]

During a normal school year, FoodWIse Nutrition Educators are visiting students in classrooms at Head Start and elementary schools across the county. Although schools are restricting the number of visitors in the classrooms, FoodWIse understands how important it is to keep children healthy and to support local teachers. The FoodWIse team has created a variety of […]

In this session for Startup Wisconsin Week, Black Business Owners Speak (event flyer with speaker details, 295KB) UW-Madison Extension educators and area business owners discuss the results of interviews with 48 African American business owners in northeast Wisconsin in 2019. In the video recording (65 minutes) of the presentation and discussion, you’ll learn about the […]

Birth and the time immediately after is the most hazardous time in the life of a dairy calf. On average, between 5 and 7 percent of calves on U.S. dairy farms are either stillborn or die in the first 48 hours of life.  As caretakers, we can provide best management practices in the first 24 […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H has received funding to provide youth in our community with at-home learning opportunities for their winter break. We will be providing 4-H Projects in a Box to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County. Three different project boxes are being offered, each featuring one of our 4-H project areas. […]

During this time of the year, the local FoodWIse team has a packed schedule teaching in-person to 2nd grade and 4th-grade classrooms at Riverside, Parkside, and Chegwin Elementary Schools. COVID-19 has presented many challenges in reaching elementary school students in-person this year, so the local FoodWIse team has been creative in developing new resources for teachers […]

Youth are great problem solvers naturally! Just look at how they navigate through Minecraft or use phone Apps to make memes and videos. There are, however, strategies and specific steps youth can learn to become better problem solvers. Knowing these strategies can help youth when they become frustrated, angry, tired, or when they just draw […]

Officer training looked very different this year, as do many other 4-H activities and events.  4-H Youth from Calumet, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington County came together virtually for this training. The counties offered officer training on two dates for youth members to attend for learning the skills and responsibilities for the office […]

Influenza causes many hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. each year. The flu vaccine is strongly recommended for everyone older than 6 months. Despite this recommendation, flu vaccination rates are typically low nationwide and also in Wisconsin (<50% on average). Ensuring that everyone in Wisconsin gets a flu vaccination (also called flu shot, or flu […]

Youth are great problem solvers naturally! Just look at how they navigate through Minecraft or use phone Apps to make memes and videos. There are, however, strategies and specific steps youth can learn to become better problem solvers. Knowing these strategies can help youth when they become frustrated, angry, tired or when they just draw […]

Latinos Unidos en Fond du Lac is in the final stages of incorporating as an organization. Diana and Patrick Nehring (Brown County) answered questions leaders had about Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and 501©3 status. Using the interpretation capability of Zoom and interpreters contracted through the Office of Access, Inclusion and Compliance, all participants could hear […]

When you reach for another layer, it is time to start making your calf care plan for winter. Tina Kohlman UW-Madison Extension Fond du Lac County Dairy & Livestock Agent joined Millaine Wells of Green Bay WFRV Channel 5 for a chat about nutrition, bedding, and the best housing for your calves. One-month-old calves begin […]

Returning to school this year is especially stressful for families with children managing new ways of learning and connecting. On September 8, Susie Miller, LPC of BlueStone Counseling presented to a bilingual group about how to manage anxiety and navigate this fall in the midst of a pandemic. Consider these ideas next time you or […]

Multiple public health studies spanning three decades (longitudinal) have shown that racism has a significant impact on overall health. These studies, along with statistics on health inequities, have led public health organizations across the globe to recognize and declare racism as a public health crisis. This includes the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Wisconsin […]

Tracy Keifenheim and two other area 4-H Program Educators will continue to offer chats over the next year with different topics.  Each month a new topic will be selected with three 4-H Conversation Corner meeting options for volunteers. The conversations are a resource and support for club leaders and youth and adult project leaders. Club and […]

Every individual working in the Wisconsin agricultural industry counts and has a part in safety and health prevention efforts and that is why “every farmer counts” as this year’s National Farm Safety & Health Awareness Week theme. Women play an increasingly critical role in operating farms and ranches nationwide. In 2017, almost 30% of the […]

Have you recently submitted an application for an award, scholarship, volunteer position, or a job? The next step: Interviewing! Join us for a fun, interactive Zoom workshop that will give you tips in preparing your interview (be it a video or face-to-face interview). We will be talking, interacting with the screen with stamps and markers […]

The prestigious Key Award, one of the highest recognitions a 4-H member can receive, honors a select group of 4-H participants annually. The youth receiving this award are ones who have demonstrated consistent growth in their 4-H involvement, developed and applied their leadership skills, and actively participated in their club and community. Joseph Krahn, Aaron […]

Due to the growing number of home gardeners this summer, including new gardeners, it is anticipated that more individuals will have questions during harvest time. Amanda Miller can be contacted during regular office hours to assist with any questions or concerns related to home food preservation. This includes a range of food preservation – from […]

Photo Credit:  A. Bjurstrom During extreme cold or hot temperatures, calves utilize extra nutrients to maintain their core body temperature.  The temperature range at which a calf uses no additional energy to maintain its core body temperature is called the thermoneutral zone.  For a newborn calf, a calf maintains its core body temperature with no […]

Our Community Development Educator, Diana Hammer is interviewed by Spencer with KFIZ. Learn what Diana does and her role’s responsibilities to our community.

Highlights for the August 4-H Family Times Newsletter include: Creating a 4-H Coloring Book, Record Books, and 4-H Stories, Chatting with Chattanooga, 4-H Visual Arts Festival Youth Committee, Cedar Crest Ice Cream 4-H Flavor Contest, Awards to Apply For, Travel Experiences, Application and Interview Skills Workshop, Resources for Taking Your Club Online, and the Calendar […]

Youth can decided if they want to do a traditional record book or a short story. Telling your 4-H Story is an important part of reflecting on the growth and experiences of each 4-H year. While the Achievement Committee will not be collecting and reviewing record books for project awards this year, we would love […]

Create a hand-drawn illustration based on one of the illustration themes of the 4-H Essential Elements. Scan/photograph your child’s artwork and use the official entry form below to submit your entry before September 1, 2020. Winners from each of the four themes will be selected via a vote on Facebook and will receive fun 4-H […]

Qualifications: Applicants should be Youth in 6th – 13th grade enrolled in 4-H from Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, or Washington County. Ability to work individually and as a team member researching, creating, revising, teaching, and organizing. Commit to meet with the committee August – April. Find the tri-county 4-H Visual Arts Festival (Fond du Lac, […]

Two Fond du Lac County 4-H youth took part in a virtual exchange with youth from Chattanooga, TN. The exchange consisted of three youth-led Zoom meetings. Ten youth from Wisconsin and ten youth from Tennessee participated. At the first meeting, the youth, as a group, decided what they wanted the focus of the exchange to […]

Due to the challenges of holding in-person classes this summer, FoodWIse will instead start offering a bi-weekly newsletter to the senior populations in Fond du Lac County. This is an effective way to get the most relevant and current nutrition information, while also prioritizing their health and safety. The ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ newsletters will […]

The Institute of Positive Youth Development is offering a “Summer Virtual Learning Community” for youth and families throughout Wisconsin! This means that youth and adults, in kindergarten and older, can choose from one or more virtual activities being offered from July 1-August 31. These high-quality virtual opportunities include everything from live cooking experiences, self-paced lessons, […]

UW-Extension Launches New Podcast on New and Alternative Crops Agricultural diversification is a hot topic right now.  Faced with an ongoing stretch of depressed commodity prices, growers are looking for other cropping options.  To meet the need, UW-Extension has launched a new podcast to provide growers with research-based information on new and alternative crops.  Each […]

Many of us white people are wondering even more lately what we can do to better understand racism and our role in ending it. These 20-minute interviews are a place to start more learning. In 2018 and 2019, Diana Hammer and Bob Hoffmaster held conversations about race with People of Color who agreed to openly […]

Not only are People of Color facing more health consequences from COVID-19, but their businesses are also more significantly impacted by the economic downturn. Extension Specialists Tessa Conroy and Matt Kures explain the overall economic impact to Wisconsin as a result of COVID-19 in this webinar and show how COVID-19 is hitting entrepreneurs of color […]

4-H Youth from Dodge, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, and Winnebago Counties participated in the annual Fashion Revue Monday, June 15.  The event was hosted virtually via Zoom due to Covid-19. The youth were able to showcase their sewing skills by modeling during their narratives as they would have done in person.  The judge utilized the […]

The transition from late gestation to early lactation is challenging for both animals and dairy producers and is an important phase of a cow’s lactation and production cycle. Closely managing cows during this time is crucial to making sure the transition goes smoothly for successful lactation. Extension Dairy & Livestock Agent Tina Kohlman collaborated with […]

The American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Wisconsin Public Health Association (WPHA) have declared racism as an “ongoing public health crisis that needs our attention now.” Health inequities are differences in health status or in the distribution of health resources between different population groups, arising from the social conditions in which people are born, […]

We are heartbroken by the senseless loss of yet another Black life, a reflection of the ongoing systemic racism and the broader social and economic injustices in our country. As members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Fond du Lac County community, we concur with the words of Karl Martin, Dean of Extension We are […]

THE CHALLENGE: Put your pencil down anywhere and without picking it up, can you touch all of the dots in 4 straight lines? Rules: You cannot pick up the pencil once you put it on the paper You have to hit all of the dots 4 straight lines only, which means once you ‘turn a […]

Family-owned farms, food processors, and agriculture-related businesses generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of economic activity for Fond du Lac County while contributing to local income and tax revenues. Find out how Agriculture benefits Fond du Lac County.

Physical distancing continues to prevent the spread of COVID-19, requiring the Fond du Lac County 4-H program to cancel or postpone all in-person programs through the end of June. To keep the 4-H youth and volunteers active, Tracy has communicated through weekly emails and social media for community service and educational opportunities.  Many clubs participated […]

The current COVID-19 situation with supply chain disruption and reduced demand for products has caused excess product to build up at some local dairy processing plants. To reduce milk supply earlier this month, some dairy producers have been instructed to reduce milk shipped with some feeding excess milk to calves, heifers, and lactating cows, or […]

Diana Hammer, MSW, Community Development Educator As has been widely reported,* COVID-19 illuminates racial injustices as Black and Latino Americans are more likely to get infected, get serious cases, and die from the disease. As a white person, it is terribly hard for me to process and understand this. It doesn’t feel like this could […]

FoodWIse partners with 3 elementary schools within the Fond du Lac School District and 4 Head Start Centers to provide nutrition education to students. 2nd-grade students learn about the 5 food groups and hand washing, 4th-grade students learn about reading food labels, and Head Start students learn about trying colorful new foods from the rainbow. […]

Below you will find two resource pages for small businesses – one related to funding and the other related to health and safety considerations to reopen. These webpages are intended to provide quick access to important information. Both sites are “living” resources where information will be updated and added to as needed. Financial Assistance for […]

View this information in English.

With milk prices plunging lower and demand for dairy products declining because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some dairy processors do not have the storage capacity to take delivery of milk. As a result, some farms, including within Fond du Lac County, have been forced to dump milk into their manure storage facilities. There are several […]

April 19-25 is national volunteer week, a time to salute our volunteers and say thank you. Fond du Lac 4-H volunteers teach, serve as role models, plan and organize, advise, help raise funds, and are mentors so young people may have the best experiences possible.  Adult volunteers are essential to the 4-H program. They put […]

Diana is learning from Latinos Unidos en Fond du Lac how COVID-19 and quarantine complicate the lives of Latino immigrants in unique ways. Many are working in essential occupations like stone quarries, food manufacturing, and dairy farming. By continuing to work, they increase their likelihood of contracting the disease and spreading it to their families. […]

Ron Jakubisin, Positive Youth Development Educator The COVID19 ‘Safer At Home’ order caused everyone to scramble to figure out how to create order out of the chaos of no school, work-from-home offices, managing school requirements, and keeping youth engaged in a healthy productive way. Youth are now online learners getting their school work done however […]

Ron Jakubisin, Positive Youth Development Educator Lemonade Day in the Fond du Lac area, set for May 2nd, was canceled due to COVID19 and the Safer At Home order to keep everyone safe and healthy. This resulted in Extension canceling their Tuesday night lessons but as the saying goes, ‘When Life Gives You Lemons, Make […]

Miller submitted next year’s budget plan for the FoodWIse program. The FY21 program runs from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021. The program will bring $215,000 in staff, programs, and services dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Fond du Lac and Sheboygan County residents. The budget includes: 1 Nutrition Coordinator and 3 […]

FoodWIse is a federally funded SNAP-Ed program (or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education.) The national program is leading a DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) process to revise/develop core competencies for program leaders, program supervisors, and nutrition educators called. The goal is to improve the staffing of SNAP-Ed programs across the country. DACUM is a commonly used process that […]

The UW Madison-Fond du Lac County Division of Extension -Human Development and Relationships area is responding with resources to aid individuals and families as they navigate circumstances affecting their lives resulting from the COVID 19 Pandemic.   Below is a snapshot of resources that can be found within the UW Madison Division of Extension ‘s  COVID19 Pandemic […]

UW Mindful Money Moments: COVID-19 Financial Resources Tune in each week for Mindful Money Moments through UW Madison. In their first installment of UW Mindful Money Moments, Extension educator Chelsea Wunnicke walks through available financial resources and tips for maintaining your financial well-being during the COVID-19 crisis. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=626754537904536

Highlights for the April 4-H Family Times Newsletter include: Spring Leader Meeting via Zoom, Summer Camp, Virtual Creative Arts Fest, April 4-H Challenge, Fairest of the Fair Competition, Fashion Revue, Archery, and Animal Updates.  

The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is impacting households, communities, and businesses. A new national survey shows that 1 in 5 households in the US have already had their income cut or stopped altogether. The frequently asked questions below highlight some common financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The answer to each […]

The Fond du Lac Food Providers Group has created a web page of Fond du Lac County food resources during COVID-19.  It is to help consolidate the numerous emails and social media posts from individual food pantries, schools, and organizations into one main resource. The web page includes information for local residents, including information on […]

The 2019 growing and harvest season will go down in the history books as the most challenging one in memory. Alfalfa winterkill, record precipitation, below normal temperatures, delayed planting, excessive mud, and brutal harvest conditions made for a difficult year for farmers and custom business owners who work with farmers. The effects of Mother Nature […]

Creative Arts Festival is an opportunity for local youth to share their talents with the community. Categories include music, drama, dance, public speaking, demonstrations, arts and crafts, photography, writing, drawing and more! The event will take place on Saturday, March 28th but will have a slight twist this year.  The event usually takes place in […]

Diana met with the Waupun Area Chamber of Commerce Board to teach them about the responsibilities of board members, including setting a vision and long-term strategy for the organization.   This type of group planning can be useful in a crisis but is not advisable during a crisis. If you have a COVID-19 related challenge […]

As a Division of UW-Madison, Extension is following the lead of UW-Madison leadership in responding to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, in conjunction with public health and county officials. The latest guidance from UW-Madison and local government is to limit on-site work in addition to postponing events. This guidance is in reaction to a worldwide event […]

 **CANCELLED**CANCELLED**CANCELLED Fond du Lac County Market Livestock Project Orientation Meeting Monday, March 16, 2020 **CANCELLED** As you may be aware, Extension along with the UW-Madison community, UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac Campus, and our county, have been keeping a close eye on developments around the novel coronavirus COVID-19. At this point in time, UW- Madison Extension […]

It is with sincere and deep regret that the Fond du Lac County Master Gardener Association’s Spring garden conference “A Day in the Garden” 2020 has been cancelled. The directive from Extension and UW Madison is as follows: As you may be aware, Extension along with the UW-Madison community have been keeping a close eye […]

Highlights for the March Family Times 4-H Newsletter include: Summer Camp, Lemonade Day, Spring 4-H Leader Meeting, Super Craft Saturday, 4-H Food Stand Sign Up, Scholarship Info, Creative Arts Fest, Fashion Revue, Junior Master Gardeners, Shooting Sports, and the Basketball Tournament.

Founder Arletta Allen worked with Diana to incorporate, write bylaws with the newly elected board, and apply for 501(c)3 status with the IRS. This soon-to-be nonprofit will provide “mentoring for Girls of Color to build confidence, character, and charisma through a process of self-discovery.” A pilot group of girls has already started working with Ms. […]

On Saturday, February 22nd Fond du Lac County 4-H held its Family Learning Day event.  125 youth from around the area were able to choose from 33 different educational sessions.  Parents were encouraged to participate in sessions along with their children.  These educational sessions were led by 50 different community members and 4-H volunteers.  Youth […]

Amanda Miller and Morgan Peaden (state FoodWIse specialist) presented “Connecting with FoodWIse: Community Based Nutrition Education and Healthy Living Resources for Children and Families” at the 2020 Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA) conference. The presentation provided an overview of the FoodWIse program, why nutrition education is so important for young children, and how the FoodWIse […]

A preschooler is a whole person with a big, complicated job: growing up! There are important skills they need to learn in the next few years, especially as they get ready for Kindergarten. As their parent or caregiver, you are their most important teacher and supporter! To support your role in your child’s lives, Parenting […]

According to Dr. Doug Reinemann, UW-Madison milking system specialist and College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach, over 300 U.S. dairy farms have automatic milking systems (AMS), also known as robotic milking systems. That number is much higher in Canada and even greater in Europe. Some reasons for choosing automatic […]

The Veterans THRIVE Garden received special recognition during the Fond du Lac City Council meeting on January 22. The proclamation recognized the importance of the veteran’s garden in the physical and mental health of community members, particularly veterans. There is mounting scientific evidence in support of horticulture therapy. There had been expressed interest by veterans […]

Diana designed and facilitated a retreat for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) as they think through challenges of an aging member base. This is a great time of year for nonprofits to consider the successes and challenges of the previous year and plan for the future. As new board members get started in […]

Tax Credits for Wisconsin Families The month of January rings in the new year as well as it signals the beginning of the tax season. Low and moderate-income Wisconsin residents can take advantage of a variety of tax credits.  These credits can bring thousands of extra dollars to individuals and families, but an estimated 20% […]

Highlights for this issue include scholarship offerings, TLA Update, 2020 Lemonade Day announcement, 2020 FDL County Fair T-Shirt Design Contest, Weather Cancellations, Celebrate CommUNITY and policy updates. 4-H Family Times February Newsletter

Cooking Matters is a national campaign to help end childhood hunger by inspiring families to make healthy, affordable food choices. It includes a variety of programs designed to teach parents and caregivers of young children, with limited food budgets, to shop for and cook healthy meals. The Fond du Lac/Sheboygan FoodWIse team was selected to […]

Ever feel like you’re drowning in paperwork? Think about how you manage money, pay bills, and store documents. What’s working and what isn’t? Keep it Simple A simple system that fits a busy schedule is the one that works best. Do you have a way to: Keep important papers safe? Pay bills on time? Find […]

Three classes at Laconia High School in Rosendale participated in the business simulation game Going Solo. Through the game, in which groups compete in an imaginary jewelry business, students learn pricing, fixed costs, variable costs, contribution margin, and how to cope with elements of chance typical of a real business environment. During the two days, […]

Looking for something to do on a winter Saturday? Family Learning Day has something for everyone in your family. This event is a workshop style where youth can pick different inactive sessions throughout the day to attend. Youth can attend one session or sign up for all four sessions. The event will be held on […]

FoodWIse’s goal is to advance healthy eating habits, active lifestyles, and healthy community environments through nutrition education at the individual, community, and systems level. There are a lot of nutrition resources out there and a lot of ways in which to share this information, including the use of social media. Fond du Lac Extension’s Marketing […]

Highlights for the December-January Family Times 4-H Newsletter include Annual Leaders Banquet recap, newly elected Leaders Association Board Members, WI 4-H License plates, Fall Forum recap, being a host family Q&A’s, risk management reminders, Arts Festival date announced, and Wisconsin Honey Queen welcome.

32 Fond du Lac County 4-H youth attended the annual 4-H Club Officer Training! There was a lot of energy in the room and sharing of thoughts on 4-H in Fond du Lac County. Special thanks to, Makayla S, Camron V, Joseph K, Becca V, Amber T, and Brianna T. for designing and leading sessions […]

“Change isn’t optional.  Change comes to us, no matter how much we resist.  Sometimes we chase it. Sometimes we avoid it.  But it still comes.  That is the nature of life.”  -Lee H. Baucom As agriculture professionals, making recommendations to farmers and then to have those recommend adopted and implemented by our farm families is […]

By Ron Jakubisin, Positive Youth Development Extension Educator Just to clarify, I’m not the expert being referred to in the title! I have had a few decades of experience in facilitating team-building activities, ice-breakers, and group brain teasers but I feel I am always learning, always refining, but still working on ‘expert’ status. I have […]

Children and adults can practice mindfulness activities to decrease stress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np0tCCsJx54&feature=youtu.be

This summer Extension partnered with Fit Oshkosh to interview 48 African American business owners in Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Outagamie, and Brown Counties. Preliminary findings are now available in this infographic. In coming months, Extension is analyzing the interviews and will publish on themes including 1) access to financial resources, 2) motivations for starting a […]

La amabilidad es la cualidad de ser amable, generoso y considerado. La amabilidad hace que las personas se sientan bien y ayuda a desarrollar amistades. En una investigación, los niños que hacían actos de bondad por otros tenían más amigos. Las habilidades sociales y de relaciones, como la amabilidad, se pueden desarrollar. Una forma de […]

Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Kindness makes people feel good and helps develop friendships. In a recent study, kids who did kind things for others had more friends. Social and relationships skills, such as kindness, can be developed. One way to practice this skill is through random acts of kindness. […]

Michelle Tidemann, UW Madison, Division of Extension Fond du Lac County Human Development & Relationship Extension Educator was honored recently at the National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) 85th annual session, whose theme was “Nurturing the Richness of Lifelong Learning”. She received the NEAFCS Continued Excellence Award at the conference held September […]

Los niños que reciben el apoyo de sus padres al expresar sentimientos desarrollan habilidades sociales más fuertes y tienen mejores amistades. Al igual que los adultos, los niños sienten diferentes emociones como felicidad, tristeza, vergüenza e ira. Las emociones de los niños se vuelven más complejas a medida que crecen. Para los niños, esto puede […]

Children whose parents support them when they express feelings have stronger social skills and better friendships. Just like adults, children feel different emotions such as happiness, sadness, embarrassment, and anger. Children’s emotions get more complex as they get older. This can be hard for children to understand. You can help by talking to them about […]

Parity Analysis – Black or African American Owned Businesses Fond du Lac, Outagamie, and Winnebego Counties Fond du Lac      Outagamie       Winnebago  Percent Population-Black or African American  Share of Firms- Black or African-American Owned  Share of Employment in Black or African American Owned Businesses  Share of Sales/Receipts by Black or African American […]

The FY19 fiscal year has ended for the FoodWIse nutrition education program. From October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019, FoodWIse reached the following: 7746 contacts 4132 female; 3614 male 1557 Hispanic/Latino; 6131 non-Hispanic/Latino 1439 preschool-aged; 5277 school-aged; 632 adults; and 398 seniors 5072 White; 1599 Black/African American; 697 Asian; 107 American Indian/Alaska Native; and […]

Do you know how to do arts and crafts, crochet/knit, or sand and paint a piece of wood? Have you ever decorated a cake, grown vegetables, or created scale models of trains/cars? Would you be interested in learning with youth how to build a rocket, how to work with animals, or how to work on […]

By Ron Jakubisin, Positive Youth Development Extension Educator Everyone is on time, all the youth officers are present, there is an agenda. What could go wrong? Perhaps the question should be reframed: How can we make it better? There are things we can control, like agendas, room set-up, etc. Then, there are some things we […]

Ireland has a rich dairy industry, making up nearly 40 percent of its total agricultural economy.  Irish farmers utilize a heavy grass-based system that promotes animal well-being, low-inputs, and increased milk components. With a country two times smaller than Wisconsin, the dairy industry processes nearly 7 billion liters of milk annual, supplied by 18,000 family […]

Desde su nacimiento, su hija(o) se ha comunicado con usted. La comunicación con su hija(o) puede ser increíble. ¿Recuerda haber visto la primera sonrisa de su hija(o) o la celebración de su primera palabra? La comunicación también puede presentar desafíos para los padres. Nos afecta como padres cuando nuestros hijos se comunican con una “rabieta,” […]

From the beginning of life, your child has been communicating with you. Communication with your child can be amazing. Do you remember seeing your child’s first smile or celebrating your child’s first word? Communication can be challenging, too. It doesn’t feel quite as amazing when a child communicates by having a temper tantrum, rolling his […]

Highlights for the November Family Times 4-H Newsletter include Teen Leader Association October recap, Club Officer Workshop, thanking 4-H award sponsors, Summer 2020 International Exchange opportunities, New Horizons registration, next Cat Project meeting, Dog Project leader meeting, Holiday Tack and Craft Sale, scholarship opportunities, creative arts festival, and Cloverbud Pumpkin Contest.

On the 4th Wednesday of each month since January 2018, Ebony Vision, The Humanity Project: Telling the Untold Story, Diana Hammer of Extension Fond du Lac County, and Bob Hoffmaster of KFIZ radio, collaborate to air a segment about race in Fond du Lac.   October 2019: Yia Xiong, elected leader of the Fond du Lac […]

Una persona es una persona, no importa su tamaño – Dr. Seuss La capacidad de respetar a los demás es una habilidad que ayudará a su hija(o) para toda la vida. Es importante enseñar a los niños a respetar y defender a las personas que pueden parecer diferentes a ellos. Los niños pueden aprender que […]

A Person’s a Person, No Matter How Small – Dr. Seuss The ability to respect others is a skill that will help your child forever. It is important to teach children to respect and stand up for people who may seem different from themselves. Children can learn that people are more alike than different and […]

La empatía en los niños está vinculada a la habilidad de desarrollar relaciones más fuertes. Las relaciones fuertes ayudan a una persona a sentirse feliz. Enseñar a los niños a preocuparse por los demás es una excelente manera de ayudar a los niños a ser felices cuando sean mayores. Hay una variedad de estrategias para […]

Empathy in children is linked to stronger relationship skills. Strong relationships help a person feel happy. Teaching children to care for others is a great way to help children be happy when they are older. There are a variety of strategies to build empathy in children. Empathy is the ability to understand and share someone else’s […]

Highlights include for the 4-H Family Times October Newsletter: Citizenship Washington Trip, Space Camp, Volunteer Registration, Fall FOrum Date, Fall Paper Clover Campaign, American Honey Queen VIsit, Wisconsin State Horse Expo, 4-H Horse Leader Conference Information, Dairy Bowl Workshop, Upcoming programs and service opportunities at the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit, and Discovery […]

Motivational interviewing encourages one to help individuals discover their interest in change and making a change in their lives, farm business, and/or production practices.  It is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change.  It is designed for a consultant or service provider to explore the farmers’ own reasons […]

The anticipation is building for National 4-H Week, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers, and alumni across the country will be celebrating everything 4-H. Area 4-H clubs will observe National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people, and will highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in our community […]

On the 4th Wednesday of each month since January 2018, Diana has collaborated with Ebony Vision, The Humanity Project: Telling the Untold Story, and Bob Hoffmaster of KFIZ radio (AM 1450) to do a 20-minute segment about race. Asian, African-American, & Latinx guests share with Bob and Diana, who are white, their experiences growing up, […]

Do You Know How Long Information Can Appear in Your Credit Report? The UW “Check Your Free Credit Report” Campaign conducts an annual yearend survey of participants. In 2018, 35% of respondents reported knowing very little or nothing about how long information stays in a report. It can be helpful to understand what types of […]

Research shows that there are numerous health, nutrition, social, emotional, and academic benefits to gardening with young children. This may be the reason for the popularity and longevity of the Junior Master Gardener (JMG) program in Fond du Lac County, which has been around for 20+ years. JMG is a great example of a county […]

According to the 2017 Fond du Lac County health assessment, 51% of respondents consume at least two servings of fruit on a day and 33% of respondents consume at least three servings of vegetables in a day. The goal is to increase fruit and vegetable intake by Fond du Lac County residents, which can contribute […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H Youth can experience different education opportunities throughout the state and county. These different experiences teach many different life skills as well as the youth experiencing different cultures. Youth were asked to share their experiences. Youth shared from the New Horizons, American Spirit and Citizenship Washington Focus experiences. The New Horizons […]

Do you know there is a difference between your credit report and credit score? Many people use the terms “credit report” and “credit score” interchangeably, but they are not the same. Your credit report is a detailed account of your credit history, while your credit score is a three-digit number signifying your credit-worthiness. You are […]

Join Extension to watch “Boss: The Black Experience in Business,” a Wisconsin Public TV documentary with the Regional People of Color Business Association on Wednesday, September 18, 6-8:30pm at THELMA Center for the Arts in Fond du Lac. The event – movie, dinner from Casa Del Tequila, and activities for children ages 10+ – is free! RSVP on […]

Extension Dairy & Livestock Agent Tina Kohlman was recently inducted in to the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Hall of Fame for her 19 years of service to the state fair Jr Dairy Show and her dedication to the dairy youth of Wisconsin. Kohlman began supporting the Jr Dairy Show in 2000, checking cattle at the […]

Highlights for the September Family Times 4-H Newsletter include: Information on the    4-H Open House, 4-H Enrollment, National 4-H Week, Volunteer Opportunities, Interview and Application Writing Workshops, Awards, Scholarship Recipients, New Horizons Experience, Sate Fair Exhibits, Animal Project Updates, Gallery and Frame Award Winners, Cloverbud Pumpkin Contest, and Alto Fair Photos.

Households with children in grade school and high school will spend almost $700 on back-to-school shopping this fall, according to the National Retail Federation. Clothing, electronics, and school supplies are the top three expenses listed by families in the Federation’s annual July survey. Households with a college student will spend closer to $1000 this year […]

Family Connection and Lakeshore CAP has partnered with the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board and the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds to offer training to support the implementation of the Strengthening Families Protective Framework.The content includes concrete examples of everyday actions that research has shown to be effective in strengthening families, […]

Highlights in the August Family Times 4-H newsletter:  Educational Travel Experience Interviews, SPIN Clubs, Animal Science Days, Cat Project, Record Books

The fair is a part of the learning process for youth as they complete their 4-H year.  It is more than just exhibiting something at the fair.  For the younger youth it is gaining confidence and self-esteem and good communication skills when he or she sits down for face to face judging for the first […]

FoodWIse is excited to launch the release of quick tip videos, which are 30 seconds – 1 minute ‘how to’ videos on healthy drinks, healthy snacking, storing leftovers safely, understanding packaging dates, and remixing meals. The media is in English, Spanish, and Hmong and available via video, podcast or print. To view the videos, click […]

Youth enrolled in the 4-H Dairy Management Project have the opportunity to travel out of county to visit various dairy farms and businesses to learn about management practices and philosophies from those in the industry.  A very unique project specific to Fond du Lac County, this year members traveled to southeast WI to visit a […]

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a consumer alert regarding the Equifax Data Breach.  In September 2017, Equifax announced a data breach, which affected the personal information of 147 million people.  Under a recent settlement filed, Equifax agreed to spend up to $425 million to help people affected by the data breach. If you […]

Feeling stressed? You’re not alone. A recent Gallup poll found that 55 percent of Americans said they had experienced stress during a lot of the day. The farming community is not immune to stress; ongoing economic conditions in agriculture are taking a toll on farm families and their rural communities according to Trisha Wagner, Farm […]

Administrative Assistant – Marketing/Communications – This position serves in an administrative support role and develops and coordinates marketing functions with Extension-Fond du Lac County UW-Division of Madison staff to achieve the Extension purpose “to teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.” […]

Veggie Bites is a series of highlighted fruits, vegetables, and herbs offered weekly at the Fond du Lac Farmers Market. Veggies Bites include fun facts, history, harvesting, storage tips, and recipes. The Veggie Bites publications began in Polk County Extension. Amanda Miller, with help from Kelly Lamb, redesigned and expanded the publication series. Veggie Bites […]

Would you like to share your brats, cookies, lemonade or vegetables with customers at the Fond du Lac County Fair or area farmers markets? If so, consider these business-related questions first.

“Change isn’t optional.  Change comes to us, no matter how much we resist.  Sometimes we chase it. Sometimes we avoid it.  But it still comes.  That is the nature of life.”  -Lee H. Baucom Agriculture is an industry known for hard work, resilience, strength, and supportive community.  However, farm families often experience many challenges such […]

Highlights in the July Family Times 4-H Newsletter include: Dock Spiders Game, Fall Forum, Hall of Fame, Alto Fair

4-H members from Fond du Lac, Dodge, and Winnebago Counties participated in the Tri-County Fashion Revue on June 10 in Oshkosh. This event provides a place where youth can showcase their clothing, knitting and crocheting projects.  Youth gain some many life skills from this event.  Participants were graded on their garment, creativity and overall appearance […]

We touch the lives of many Fond du Lac County residents each day. Our 2018 annual report provides a look at just a few of the programs we offer and the people we’ve served.  

We are pleased to introduce Katie Gindt as a new Administrative Assistant for Extension Fond du Lac County! Previously, Katie worked with Sophia Foundation and Moraine Park Technical College and lives in Fond du Lac with her boyfriend and two cats, Penny and Mitch. In her free time, Katie enjoys reading, gardening, video games, and […]

School is out for the summer!  The Home Alone program will help parents and children determine if they are ready to stay home alone. Parents and children should watch the Home Alone videos together and use the short activities after each video to discuss plans to stay safe. Share this resource in your communities  https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/homealone/ and in […]

Oshkosh, WI – (June 4, 2019) — Fit Oshkosh, Inc., an organization dedicated to improving racial equality and building a welcoming and inclusive community, is seeking Black entrepreneurs from Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Outagamie, and Brown Counties to participate in a study of their experiences in starting or running their business in Wisconsin. According to […]

Antes de empezar un negocio, hay que realizar algunos trámites importantes. Estas instrucciones son específicamente para negocios ubicadas en la ciudad y el condado de Fond du Lac. Existen reglas diferentes para municipios diferentes. Si quiere usted vender sus productos en otro municipio, hay que preguntar a la oficina del secretario municipal acerca de sus reglas.

Eighteen (18) young people and their families participated in Lemonade Day by running four stands on Saturday, May 4. After planning and preparing since March, the kids were able to try out their recipes, menus, and customer service skills as they sold to real customers from Buttermilk Creek Park, Lakeside Park Lighthouse, Lakeside Park Playground, […]

Knowing your spouse or partner’s credit history is as important as knowing your own. When in a relationship, your partner’s credit can become a source of stress and may affect your ability to secure a home or auto loan. One of the major credit reporting bureaus, Experian, reports that 61 percent of men and 39 […]

FDL Fresh 5 will be back at the Fond du Lac Farmers Market this summer! The “FDL Fresh 5” is a farmers market donation program with an emphasis on connecting Fond du Lac families with healthier food pantry donations. This program, started by Amanda Miller and Bill Zeleske (farmers market vendor), is an opportunity for Fond […]

During these tough financial and emotional times, farmers and everyone they do business with feel the effects of stress radiating through their work and home lives. Because service-providers provide technical support to their farm clientele, they may be uncomfortable or lack confidence when speaking to farmers in distress.  To address this issue, Extension Fond du […]

Alfalfa scissor cut results from May 21st and May 23rd are now available at https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/fdlag/alfalfa/.

***BEFORE TAKING THESE STEPS, it is important to think about whether incorporating as a nonprofit is the best choice in your group’s situation. For example, there are times when working with another fiscal agent, collaborating with an existing organization, or remaining an informal group are better options. Extension staff can talk with you and work […]

Hello! My name is Tracy Keifenheim, and I am the new Extension 4-H Coordinator for Fond du Lac County. I was previously the School Age Director for the Kettle Moraine YMCA. I live in West Bend with my husband, and two Black Labs Raven and Phoenix. When I am not at work you can find […]

Highlights in the June Family Times 4-H Newsletter:  Welcome Tracy, new 4-H Program Coordinator; Dairy Promotion; Area Animal Science Days; Cat Project Meeting; Art Contest; Shooting Sports; Pallet Art Contest at County Fair

Leálo en español.

What business you are starting? See this page for more considerations for all food businesses.

Farm women need time to connect and network with others who wear the same, many hats they do, and face the same daily experiences and challenges.  Extension Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Calumet, Sheboygan, Ozaukee & Washington Counties once again hosted the annual “Heart of the Farm” Farm Women’s Conference at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center.  The […]

FoodWIse has a new partnership with WIC and Festival Foods, conducting grocery store tours to the WIC Fit Families participants. Melanie Phillips, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, conducted two grocery store tours at the Fond du Lac Festival Foods, in which 7 participants attended. Phillips took participants around the store and highlighted key shopping tips, such as […]

Diana Hammer, Communities Extension Educator, taught two rounds of Going Solo Business Simulation to 66 students at Laconia High School in Rosendale. The game teaches pricing, fixed costs, variable costs, and adds an element of chance to recreate a real-life business environment.

Highlights in the 4-H Newsletter May 2019 include:  Foods Revue, June Dairy Days, 4-H Hall of Fame, Small Animal Project, YQCA Certification, Animal Science Days, Shooting Sports, County Fair  

Highlights in the April Family Times 4-H newsletter include:  TLA Family Game Night, Spring 4-H Leaders Meeting, Super Craft Saturday, College Scholarships, Small Animal Fun Day, Swine Self ID, Sheep & Meat Goat Weigh In, Fashion Revue

If flooding has affected you during this unseasonably warm time of melting, please use these available resources. Keeping Food Safe Before and After a Flood Reentering Your Flooded Home Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods Refrigerated Food and Power Outages: When to Save and When to Throw Out Food Safety During an […]

Looking for a free interactive, educational program for your child this summer? If you answered yes, then you’ll want to check out UW-Extension’s Junior Master Gardener (JMG) Program. It is a summer-long gardening/cooking program for youth, ages 8-12 years, that teaches them to “dig in the dirt”, care for plants, cook in the kitchen and […]

Using a groundwater model (which looks like an ant farm) is a great way to see how water moves through the system of surface water, bedrock, and into drinking water wells. See a time-elapse video of what can happen in 20 seconds! If you haven’t tested your water recently, it’s time! See where to get bottles […]

More local agencies and organizations are forming new programs based on the 8 dimensions of wellness model. The 8 dimensions include: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual. The overarching goal is wellness, which is not merely about the absence of illness or stress. The model, adopted by entities like SAMHSA (Substance Abuse […]

UW-Madison, Division of Extension is the educational resource that helps the Wisconsin Idea become reality. Valuing leadership, relationship-building, and inclusion, the Division of Extension teaches, learns, leads, and serves the people of Wisconsin by connecting them with the University of Wisconsin research and resources. Located in all 72 counties of Wisconsin, the Division of Extension […]

The Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board is offering $1,000 scholarships to be used during the second semester of the 2019-20 school year. Third and fourth-year college students pursuing dairy-related or food science degrees at one of Wisconsin’s four-year universities are eligible to apply. Applicants will be evaluated on involvement and leadership in dairy-related activities, […]

Highlights in the March Family Times 4-H newsletter include:  Summer Camp, 4-H Summer Internship, Spring 4-H Leaders Meeting, Super Craft Saturday, Junior Master Gardeners, Cell Phones at Meetings, Lemonade Day, Scholarships

Extension in Fond du Lac County is looking for a college student interested in working with the 4-H Program Coordinator and Positive Youth Development Educator. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and bilingual in English and Spanish. Click here for further details

The Day in the Garden is an annual event presented by the Fond du Lac County Master Gardener Association. Celebrate the coming of Spring! Enjoy a variety of speakers, have lunch, browse vendors, the FdL County MG Shop, and participate in the raffle. Have a great time with other gardeners! See 2019 Day in the Garden flyer & registration […]

Program Rescheduled for Tues, Feb 12th.  10 am to 12 noon  Blue Door Coffee Co, Campbellsport.  Meeting will go on as rescheduled…if you still plan on attending, please register at https://goo.gl/v6dpMu Market Brief: Dairy Revenue Protection Program  

On Saturday, January 26th, Fond du Lac County 4-H hosted the annual Creative Arts Festival. This event is an opportunity for youth to practice and share their singing, drama, instrumental, speaking, photography, writing and art skills. 33 youth participated. This included community youth, Fond du Lac County 4-H members, and 4-H members from other counties. […]

Forward Service Corporation is a non-profit employment and training organization that is located in 46 Wisconsin Counties. The agency works closely on case management, job training, and employment for W2 and FSET (FoodShare Employment and Training) participants. At the state level, Forward Service Corporation and the FoodWIse nutrition program have worked closely to bring together […]

Highlights in the February Family Times 4-H Newsletter include: 4-H Summer Camp, Lemonade Day, Scholarships, 4-H Basketball Tournament, Tractor Safety & Certification, FDL County Fair T-shirt Design Contest, Celebrate CommUNITY, 4-H License Plates, and Youth Mental Health First Aid Training.

On January 9th, Diana gave a presentation (PDF, 3MB) to the Fond du Lac County UW-Extension, Agriculture, and Recreation Committee about well water. It includes: results of recent sampling programs in the Towns of Empire & Friendship, where to find other well water data using the WI Well Water Quality Viewer, past actions to learn […]

Have you been affected with an interruption of income? Please find attached a listing of resources that can be of help for consumers whose income has been interrupted- examples but not limited to- furlough, job change, etc. Resources compiled by the eXtension Financial Security for All Community of Practices Articles How to Handle a Furlough: […]

The New Year holiday and turning the calendar to 2019  creates a feeling of starting fresh. As you reflect on the past year, focus on your experiences – build on what worked and what didn’t – set new financial goals to give you direction to shape this year’s money habits for yourself. Pay Down That […]

In December, the local Hmong community celebrated the New Year. Historically, this festival was timed in Asia to celebrate the rice harvest and all the hard work that went into it. After meeting with Diana earlier this year, the elected community leader invited our office to have a booth at the special event. Teaching the […]

Beef quality assurance is a farmer driven program in which cattle farmers assume responsibility for producing a high quality, safe, and wholesome food product.  Farmers keep detailed records of animal husbandry practices and all animal health treatments performed on their cattle.  They also assure their best management practices in management, animal husbandry, and animal health […]

Are Saturdays in February dreary and boring for your family? Not this year! Family Learning Day has something for everyone in your family. Feeling crafty? Make your own t-shirt or jewelry, sew a tote bag, or assemble a birdhouse. Want to learn something new? Attend a session on the latest trends in resume development, how […]

FoodWIse (formerly known as the Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program, WNEP) is a community nutrition education program within the Health & Wellbeing Institute of UW-Extension. FoodWIse is federally funded and serves families and individuals with limited incomes in Fond du Lac and Sheboygan Counties. Nutrition Educators offer small and large group classes on healthy eating, food […]

The Growing Together WI grant has come to a successful end, with the opportunities just beginning. The handicapped accessible, downtown veterans THRIVE garden was built by veterans, Master Gardener volunteers, and community members. Businesses showed support through donations of supplies, time, and delivery, including Thrive Church, United States Marine Corps, Menards, L&H Gyr, Bud’s Soil […]

Health professionals predict that for the first time in two centuries, the current generation of young children in the U.S. may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. The prevalence and severity of obesity is associated with the rise in chronic diseases in young children, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. These […]

Joe and Jeff are neighbors with a shared well who tested it in the UW-Extension program offered this month in the Town of Empire. They attended the educational program along with 60  other residents to learn the results and ask questions of Dr. Paul McGinley, acting director of the Center for Watershed Science and Education at UW-Stevens Point. […]

Friendship Area Families with private drinking water wells tested their water in November 2018. There were only a few bacteria positive results, with no e. coli found, and only a few wells with nitrates in low levels. These results are typical for the Town and can be explained by the clay soils that help filter […]

Highlights in the December/January Family Times 4-H newsletter:  Creative Arts Festival, Giving Thanks, Executive Board, Annual Required Leader Training, Tractor & Machinery Safety    

Employee training is essential for every business, including the dairy operation.  As dairy operations grown and become larger to meet the demand of an ever growing population, there is a need to high more skilled labor to conduct the everyday operations on a farm. One of those tasks include feeding the dairy herd. UW-Extension Dairy […]

A presentation about the impact of minority-owned businesses, what we know and don’t know about their work in WI, and why it matters. Diana Hammer and Tracey Robertson, Executive Director of Fit Oshkosh, presented this as part of Wisconsin Start Up Week – Appleton. Are you an entrepreneur of color? Connect with the Regional People […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H would like to invite you and your family to participate in this year’s Creative Arts Festival. The festival is an opportunity for youth and adults to share their talents with the community. The event takes place on Saturday, January 26th at UW-Fond du Lac. Registration is at 8 am and […]

Town of Empire residents tested their water in October 2018. Results were normal for the area, with 11 wells (15%) having higher nitrates, and no wells with elevated levels of pesticide components (atrazine) or arsenic. Here is the results presentation, (PDF, 4MB) including maps, guidance on how to treat contamination, and then prevent it from […]

The Positive Youth Development Extension Educator serves the people and communities of Wisconsin by addressing local, statewide and national issues, improving lives through research-based education, fostering partnerships and action, and facilitating positive impacts that support: Thriving individuals and families Effective organizations; Healthy and vibrant communities Strong economies Click here to find out more about this […]

UW-Extension Fond du Lac County Dairy & Livestock Agent Tina Kohlman co-developed and co-presented “Mission Possible: Motivational Interviewing for Farm Succession” with Washington/Ozaukee Co Agriculture Educator Steph Plaster at the Wisconsin Farm Succession Professional Network’s annual meeting. The presentation was based on a workshop presented at the 2018 International Farm Transition Network Conference which educators […]

November 5-11 is Wisconsin Startup Week. Entrepreneurs will be celebrated and have more opportunities to connect and learn. Browse the schedule of events in Fond du Lac here and see what is planned in other communities. If you have a business or want one, the first step to getting all the support and resources you […]

Parents, Grandparents, and Caregivers- Have you ever wondered the following-   Is my child reaching their physical, social, emotional and cognitive developmental milestones?  How can I raise a healthy, happy child?  Where can I find tools for coping and solving common parenting problems? Finding reliable, research based parenting information on the web can be overwhelming! How […]

Do you know how to do simple car maintenance, crochet/knit, or sand and paint a piece of wood? Have you ever decorated a cake, grown vegetables, or created scale models of trains/cars? Would you be interested in learning with youth how to build a rocket, how to work with animals, or how to make balloon […]

The Junior Master Gardener program wrapped up another successful season in Fond du Lac County this year. This program seeks to “grow” good kids by igniting a passion for learning, success, and service through a unique gardening education. The Junior Master Gardener program is an international youth gardening program of the university cooperative Extension network. […]

AFTER and BEFORE photos of the Veterans THRIVE Garden! Located in the City of Fond du Lac, this downtown lot had been vacant for nearly 40 years. It is located across the street from Salute the Troops, a non-profit organization that helps veterans in financial need. The garden was planned (height of the boxes and […]

CSI & YScreen promote suicide prevention awareness to address suicide in Fond du Lac County Imagine someone you know, a family member, friend, student or coworker, telling you they wanted to end their life. What would you do, what would you say? Your first response most likely would be one of anxiety and fear. Most […]

Amanda Miller received the “Growing Together WI” grant. The grant brings together Master Gardener volunteers with FoodWIse (nutrition education) for local ‘seed to plate’ projects. Miller and Patty Percy decided to support gardens for veterans, with this particular project. One of the garden locations is the Community Gardens, where Master Gardener volunteers and veterans have […]

October may be the month of candy, costumes, and trick-or-treating, but it is also the month of pork. October is National Pork Month in the US. Traditionally, this was the time of the year when pigs were to be marketed. Now we use this time of the year to thank producers for everything they do […]

The Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil-Healthy Water (HSHW), in collaboration with UW-Extension and the Dodge County Alliance, held a cover crop showcase demonstrating 13 different cover crop mixtures growing in a harvested wheat field adjacent to Lake Sinissippi. All totaled, approximately 62 people attended the morning and evening programs on September 19th, 2018.  A […]

Are you among the thousands of Wisconsin residents who didn’t get around to checking their credit report last year? Turn that around by signing up for UW-Extension’s “Check Your Credit Report Campaign. The University of Wisconsin-Extension’s “Check Your Free Credit Report: 2/2, 6/6, 10/10” campaign seeks to make the process of remembering to order a […]

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/safely-using-produce-flooded-gardens/ Please follow the link above to read an article about safely using produce from flooded gardens by Barbara Ingham and Steve Ingham, UW-Food Science. As a preface to the page about donations to the food pantry I would like to talk to the need in our community. I always include the list of local […]

UW-Extension 4-H Youth Development integrates research, education, and community-based partnerships to help youth learn and practice skills to be productive citizens. There are four essential elements that are critical to a successful learning experience: a sense of belonging, independence, mastery and generosity. It is important that youth feel that they are a valued part of […]

This month, the Town of Empire is participating in a well water sampling program, and it’s a great time to sample your well water too, especially if: You have never tested. It’s been more than a year since your last test. You have young children or pregnant women frequently in the home.   Decide what […]

Fond du Lac & Washington County Positive Youth Development Educator The Positive Youth Development Extension Educator designs, delivers, and evaluates research-based educational programming and services aligned with the position’s programmatic focus. Initial programming focus will include: Increase community outreach of youth development programming & expand and develop programs focused on increasing community engaged leadership opportunities […]

I’m a Club Officer… Now What? All 4-H club officers elected for 2018-19 are invited and encouraged to participate in the annual club officer training. It will be held on Saturday, November 10th from 10 am – noon at the UW-Extension office. Free pizza lunch will follow the workshop! Participants will learn the responsibilities of […]

Rent Smart   focuses on the knowledge and skills essential for a successful renting experience.  It challenges participants to know and understand their rights and responsibilities as a tenant, as well as know and understand the rights and responsibilities of their landlord. Emphasis is on forming a strong partnership between the tenant and landlord. Establishing a […]

Attention Cloverbud member and parents! The annual 2018 Pumpkin Contest will be held on Sat. Oct 20th at Hounsell’s Greenhouse, located 1½ miles north of Fond du Lac on Highway 45. Check-in and weigh-in of pumpkins is from 12:30 to 1 pm. This past spring, Hounsell’s donated pumpkin seeds to our Cloverbud members and now […]

Did you know that 4-H offers amazing educational travel opportunities for youth in grades 6-13 (and adult leaders) to experience the world beyond Fond du Lac county? From a statewide conference at UW-Madison to a trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, there’s an opportunity for you! Fond du Lac County […]

Tornado Disaster Relief Resources Fond du Lac County Health Department and Fond du Lac County Emergency Management, in partnership with United Way 2-1-1 and Red Cross, have put together a list of disaster relief resources available to residents affected by the recent weather events. Residents in Fond du Lac County and all residents of the City of Waupun are also […]

Where can you go for Trustworthy Resources to Improve the Quality of Family Life? Check out the site: parenting.extension.wisc.edu.  Loaded with quality resources for families and professionals on parenting, healthy relationships, family health, child development, and family caregiving this site was developed by a team of family and parenting specialists at Extension’s Human Development and […]

When asked about wind energy in Fond du Lac County and Wisconsin statewide, Sherrie Gruder, Sustainable Design Specialist and Energy Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Extension, provided this interesting information: In total Wisconsin has 461 wind turbines that supply 746 MW of power. Our part of the state has an excellent wind resource given the Niagara Escarpment. […]

Approximately 160 participants attended the August 3rd Farmers for Healthy Soil-Healthy Water Field Day at the Hammer & Kavazanjian Farms in Beaver Dam, WI.  The Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil-Healthy Water have a mission of improving our community’s soil & water through conservation practices & education for the Rock River Watershed, which includes portions […]

Congratulations to our “neighbors” in Washington County for their 100 Years in Extension! Join us in celebrating with them!

The best lactation performance by dairy cows has been shown to occur when corn silage is harvested at 65-70 percent moisture.  This range of whole plant moisture also works well for achieving good packing and silage fermentation in horizontal silos.  Determining whole plant moisture prior to harvest is one management practice to ensure high quality forages.

The StrongBodiesTM Program [formerly referred to as StrongWomenTM] is a safe, effective, evidence-based strength training program designed by Dr. Miriam Nelson of Tuft’s University.  It helps middle aged and older individuals build muscle, strengthen bones, prevent frailty, improve balance and increase overall physical and mental health. Although the research was done on women, this strength […]

As summer wraps up and fall comes our way, it is a perfect time to join 4-H. 4-H is an educational youth organization for youth in 5K up to one year past high school. 4-H is open to anyone and everyone! Despite what some people think, you don’t have to live on a farm or work […]

Rent Smart focuses on the knowledge and skills essential for a successful renting experience. It challenges participants to know and understand their rights and responsibilities as a tenant, as well as know and understand the rights and responsibilities of their landlord. Emphasis is on forming a strong partnership between the tenant and landlord. Establishing a […]

4-H Camp has been a long-standing tradition in Fond du Lac County. Some of the volunteers have been serving the youth that attend camp for over 20 years. I have been a part of camp for about 9 years. I started attending as a camper in 2008. I skipped a year, but I returned as […]

Young children pick up the habits of the adults around them. The same is true when it comes to how role models make everyday decisions about spending, saving, and sharing money. Even if parents and caregivers don’t involve children in daily money management, chances are children have already picked up many beliefs and behaviors. Children […]

Do you have a business or want to start one IGNITE! Business Success is the network of 16 organizations in Fond du Lac County that are ready to help you with your dream. At these upcoming (and free) events, you can meet us and other innovators in the area. Tuesday, August 14, 5-7pm, at THELMA […]

The “FDL Fresh 5” is a farmer’s market donation program with an emphasis on connecting Fond du Lac families with healthier food pantry donations. This program, started by Amanda Miller and Bill Zeleske (farmers market vendor), is an opportunity for Fond du Lac farmers and customers to donate fresh fruits and vegetables to local food […]

Fond du Lac & Washington County Positive Youth Development Educator The Positive Youth Development Extension Educator designs, delivers, and evaluates research-based educational programming and services aligned with the position’s programmatic focus. Initial programming focus will include: Increase community outreach of youth development programming & expand and develop programs focused on increasing community engaged leadership opportunities […]

The University of Wisconsin-Extension “Check Your Free Credit Report: 2/2, 6/6, 10/10” campaign seeks to make the process of remembering to order a free credit report as easy as possible. Anyone can sign up to receive an email reminder from UW-Extension three times a year—on 2/2, 6/6, and 10/10—on the campaign’s website: fyi.extension.wisc.edu/creditreport. While you […]

If you are a youth age 10 & up, you may be interested in the  Summer Career Exploration Events Lakeshore Technical College is offering. Their activities include Tech Girls STEM Camp, Explore Ag, Explore Energy, and Explore Healthcare. For more information or to register, go to: https://gotoltc.edu/summer/. Registration deadline is June 1, 2018 for all classes.

The 2017 Fond du Lac County UW-Extension Annual Report is now published. Last year our educators made a lot of great connections and adminstered some impactful classes. We invite you to check out our report and see for yourself the value of the Extension team in Fond du Lac County. Click Here to view the […]

UW-Extension is seeking a full-time 4-H Program Coordinator in Fond du Lac County.  Please see the posting listed at http://www.uwex.edu/about/careers/jobs for more information.

Fond du Lac County Master Gardeners Announce a Day of Education for the Community FREE Admission While gardeners anxiously await the arrival of summer, the Fond du Lac County Master Gardener Association is pleased to provide a diversion in the form of the 1st Annual “Garden Fair and Plant Sale” an Educational Event, along with […]

CITY OF FOND DU LAC COMPUTER/ELECTRONIC RECYCLING EVENT (INDOORS) 1 DAY ONLY – CITY RESIDENTS ONLY SATURDAY, APRIL 21ST, 2018 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PM Location: INSIDE THE CITY MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER GARAGE 530 Doty Street, Fond du Lac, WI RECYCLING FEES All TV’s (any size or type) $20.00 / CRT Monitors $10.00 CASH ONLY […]

April 21-28, 2018   Saving for college? Preparing for retirement? Repairing your credit? Just wish you were better at managing your money? Looking to help your child increase their money use knowledge?   During the week of April 21 – 28, you will want to  check out  one of many financial education programs which will be […]

See the posting listed at goo.gl/h1VXLj  for more information.

On April 28, 2018, the Fond du Lac County Land and Water Conservation Department  will hold a clean sweep at the highway department from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Household and agricultural chemicals can be brought for proper disposal. Old, expired, and potentially hazardous chemicals are accepted. Workers in protective clothing will remove the items […]

Waupun Area Families with private drinking water wells are invited to sample drinking water with Rock River Intermediate School and UW-Extension. View Details & Secure Registration Options through Eventbrite Información en español (PDF, 2 pages) o habla a Diana a 920/929-3178 Reasons to Test Through This Program: Understand Risk: Testing reveals what, if any, contaminants […]

Third and fourth-year college students pursuing dairy-related or food science degrees at one of Wisconsin’s four-year universities are eligible to apply. Additional scholarships will be available to high school seniors planning to pursue a dairy-related or food science degree at one of Wisconsin’s four-year universities or students studying in a two-year, technical school program related to […]

UW-Extension is seeking a Fond du Lac County 4-H Program Coordinator.   See the posting listed at http://www.uwex.edu/about/careers/jobs for more information.    

The Day in the Garden is an annual event presented by the Fond du Lac County Master Gardener  Volunteer Association. Celebrate the coming of Spring! Enjoy a variety of speakers, have lunch, browse vendors and participate in the raffle and silent auction. Have a great time with other gardeners! See 2018 Day in the Garden […]

Tax identity thieves are eager to claim your tax refund as their own. Find out how to stop them. A series of webinars and twitter chats are being held next week to help consumers understand tax identity theft.  Click on the picture for details and participation in the webinars and twitter chats. Take advantage of […]

Are you among the thousands of Wisconsin residents who didn’t get around to checking their credit report last year? Turn that around by signing up for UW-Extension’s “Check Your Credit Report Campaign” at fyi.extension.wisc.edu/creditreport. Email reminders are proven to help you remember to order your free credit reports. Do you know what your credit report […]

We are seeking a 24 hours per week Nutrition Educator for our FoodWIse program. This position would primary be serving Fond du Lac County with occasional work in Sheboygan County.  All applications received by Jan 15, 2018 will be considered.  Please go to the UW-Extension Cooperative Extension’s website.

To start 2018 we bring you an article about the benefits of discussing money management with your child. Read this week’s Parenthetical post for talking points and strategies on teen financial responsibility that many parents might find helpful. Young children often have trouble understanding why they cannot have every toy or piece of candy they see […]

With over 200 attendees, the annual 4-H Family Learning Day is one of the most exciting local events of the year.  This event is open to the general public. Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 24.  Brochures with session descriptions and registration forms were mailed to 4-H families in late December.  It will also be […]

The ASQ-3 wall is available on the 3rd floor of the Fond du Lac City/County Government Center for parents of children 5 years and younger to check on their child’s development at no charge. If you are not aware of what you can learn from the ASQ-3 wall please read more. *ASQ-3 is a screening system […]

The winter holiday season is fast approaching. For many, the coming months mean travel to visit family and friends, gift-giving, and preparation of traditional foods. All of these special occasions can be a challenge on monthly budgets. “Some people set aside a little money out of every paycheck or shop sales all year to get […]

There are plenty of decisions to make when purchasing your Thanksgiving turkey. Turkeys to be sold fresh are quick-chilled to 40°F or lower at the processing facility, but must not go below a temperature of 26°F. You may think that turkeys chilled to this temperature would be ‘frozen’, but they aren’t. The low temperature helps to retain […]

Last Halloween, a woman in North Dakota planned to hand out candy to neighbor children, as is customary. However, she generated controversy when she shared the rest of her plan—to hand out a note, rather than candy, to the children whom she considered overweight. The note, addressed to the children’s parent(s), read “You [sic] child […]

“Latinos Unidos en Fond du Lac” (Latinos United in Fond du Lac) is a community group (youth and adults) that has been working together for a year with the purpose to connect, educate, and empower Latinos in our county. In September, the group hosted a Celebration of Independence event. This was a cultural event to […]

October 1st marks the beginning of the 2018 fiscal and programming year for FoodWIse. FoodWIse is the UW-Extension Family Living Program’s nutrition education program. Funded by the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the program helps families on FoodShare make healthier food choices on a limited budget. FoodShare works with community agencies to reach families […]

October and the fall season always remind us to begin preparations for change, and the start of a new agriculture meeting season!  Much planning and preparation has been done this past month for the upcoming meeting season!  And we are excited about it!  Programming includes those related to calf management, farm business succession, animal well-being, […]

The recent data breach in the news comes from Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus in the U.S. This breach involves computer hackers accessing personal data – social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and potentially more information – of 143 million U.S. consumers.  Fond du Lac County UW Extension Family Living Educator Shelley […]

In early October, Diana traveled to Michigan to present about Fond du Lac County’s entrepreneurial development system:  IGNITE! Business Success. Most communities haven’t been able to achieve 16 organizations collaborating to launch new businesses and Michigan State Extension attendees were fascinated to hear how we do it. View the history, overview, and outcomes of IGNITE! […]

Thirty-eight participants visited three local farms to observe the top growth of cover crops and to view the soil world beneath their feet.  On October 18th the Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil-Healthy Water held their first morning field tour.  These farmers have a mission of improving our community’s soil & water through conservation practices […]

4-H members of all ages were recognized for their accomplishments at the annual achievement program held Oct. 16 at UW-Extension. Kayla Doll and Kaitlyn Wehner were honored with the Citizenship Award sponsored by Farm Bureau Women. Only two youth attain this highest award each year. Recipients are selected based upon their participation, leadership and community […]

Dairy & Livestock Agent Tina Kohlman recently completed the National Extension Leadership Development Program this past month, with the capstone session in Minneapolis, MN.  The week-long session focused on personal visioning, influence, innovation, and effective communication. The mission of NELD is to build leaders in Cooperative Extension at all levels and provide them with the […]

Ten new business owners learned how to describe the value they bring to customers and plan for the future using this unique, visual method taught for the first time in Fond du Lac County this month thanks to the partnership of IGNITE! Business Success organizations. During the two-day session, owners received coaching from experienced business […]

4-H members implement interview success tips as they apply for awards. “Dress for success. Prepare your responses to typical questions. Arrive on time. Greet the interviewer. Shake hands. Use eye contact.” These and more tips, as well as typical interview questions, are provided to young people even before they interview for 4-H state and national […]

Fall celebrates the end of another successful summer for the Junior Master Gardener (JMG) Program. JMG is a gardening and nutrition program that is a partnership between Patty Percy (Community Gardens Coordinator), Amanda Miller (FoodWIse Coordinator), and the Master Gardener Volunteer Program. This summer, the program ran for 12 weeks spanning from April to August. […]

The Community Gardens will soon be put to bed for the season.  Vegetable harvests have been plentiful and enjoyed by all.  The fall newsletter is full of information about preserving garden produce and locations of local food pantries.  Gardeners have been invited to do a “Second Harvest” day at the gardens while cleaning up any […]

Thirty-five Master Gardener volunteers in Fond du Lac County and 40 Master Gardener volunteers in Dodge County learned about being first detectors for two species of pigweed (weeds in the Amaranthus genra) that are or may become problems in agricultural fields or in urban areas. Weed scientists with the University of Wisconsin-Madison want to document […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H has reached hundreds of people by participating in a series of community events such as the Boys & Girls Club’s multicultural night and Lights on Afterschool, North Fond du Lac’s Christmas and Mother’s Day celebrations for ELL students and their families, Action Center at the County Fair and most recently […]

If you believe you are the victim of identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft website, which lists the steps you need to take. The FTC has a second website, “Immediate Steps to Repair Identity Theft,” with similar information. For individuals who believe they have been or will be the victims of identity theft, […]

The latest data breach in the news comes from Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus in the U.S. This breach involves computer hackers accessing personal data – social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and potentially more information – of 143 million U.S. consumers. Equifax advises all consumers to determine if their personal information […]

Further information and resources: The Equifax Data Breach: What to Do Equifax Announces Cybersecurity Incident Involving Consumer Information Check Your Free Credit Report Campaign Annual Credit Report  

Junior Master Gardeners celebrated their classroom and garden activities on August 10 with a “Parent Party.”  They spent the afternoon harvesting the garden, preparing the pizzas, picking flowers for the centerpieces they could take home, and had fun playing games.  Parents enjoyed the pizzas the kids prepared.  The final meetings will continue with the harvest […]

The Community Gardens are filled with loads of produce to harvest.  The gardens are looking spectacular and well cared for. The gardeners should be proud of their hard work.  We will be sending out information on where the extra produce can be taken when the season ends.  The cover crop is growing well and will […]

Finding reliable parenting information and advice on the web can be overwhelming! How do you know what you can trust — especially when you are busy and there’s just so little time? Just in Time Parenting is a free parenting newsletter that is delivered by email and specific to a child’s age and needs. The […]

UW-Extension’s FoodWIse Program partnered with Agnesian HealthCare and the Boys and Girls Club to promote healthy eating among Fond du Lac County youth by utilizing the United HealthCare “Small Steps” Program. Most people associate a prescription with medicine that comes in a pill bottle, but there is an increasing understanding among the medical community that […]

Farm businesses and organizations should set aside time periodically to consider what’s working well and what might need to be changed.  As one looks at navigating change, they should consider:  preserve, change, and create. Dairy & Livestock Agent Tina Kohlman has been participating in the National Extension Leadership Development (NELD) program the past nine months, […]

Practicing independence, making decisions, working as a team, and serving the community are reasons why the New Horizons experience is an important component of 4-H. This service learning leadership experience took place for one week in South Carolina, with seven teens and two adult chaperones. The group held planning meetings from December to June to […]

This month Diana designed customized process for a collaboration of Workforce Development professionals working in northeast WI and for the Sophia Foundation. In both cases, she met with a core group of members in the groups ahead of time to learn their goals for the meetings. She then designed a pre-meeting survey for the workforce […]

Twelve first responders from Oakfield learned how to identify plants that can cause allergic reactions and rashes when contacted.   First responders often come in contact with brush when aiding motorists along roadways.  Dr. Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing, UW-Extension Fond du Lac County, shared easy characteristics and tips on how to identify poison ivy, poison sumac, wild parsnip, […]

One hundred three participants, including approximately 53 producers, attended the first Farmers for Healthy Soil-Healthy Water Field Day on Aug. 2nd at the Dodge County Fairgrounds.  The Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil-Healthy Water have a mission of improving our community’s soil & water through conservation practices & education for the Rock River Watershed, which […]

4-H, in partnership with the Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum and Cristo Rey Ranch, hosted the 2017 Cloverbud Day Camp. This was a one-day event for children 5 to 8 years old. Twenty-four children had the opportunity to participate in this day of learning, creativity, imagination, and playing outdoors. The Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum volunteers led […]

“They grow up so quickly!” How many times have you been told that or thought that as a parent? Back to school time is certainly one of those milestones that mark the passing years, especially when your child is starting school fulltime. Before you know it, a kindergartener will be a High School Junior, looking […]

Bullying is certainly not new. Every generation has its trademark story or movie about the horrors of bullying. For a colleague and I, the 80’s movie My Bodyguard immediately sprung to mind when we began to discuss the topic. It’s a movie about a young teen faced with the threat of constant physical harassment. For my daughter’s generation the […]

Joan Pinch, left, Fond du Lac Noon Kiwanis presents Shelley Tidemann with a check for the “Just In Time Parenting Newsletter Project” a 24 year educational partnership between Fond du Lac County Kiwanis, Agnesian Health Care and Fond du Lac County UW-Extension Family Living Program.

Back to School Registration at the Salvation Army Corps Saturday, August 5: 8:00 am – 2:00pm Monday, August 7, 2017: 3:00 – 7:00 pm 237 North Macy St. (Enter on the Macy St. side of the building) You will need: Photo ID Proof of Address Proof of income for the last 30 days Name of […]

Dodge County is holding a Clean Sweep event on August 25th and 26th, 2017. Information about the event can be found at: http://dodge.extension.wisc.edu/community-development/clean-sweep-recycling/. The drop off locations are found at: Friday, August 25, 2017 – Neosho 9:00am-1:00pm at the Dodge County Highway Shop, 271 W. Lehman Street, Neosho Saturday, August 26, 2017 – Beaver Dam 8:00am-12:00pm at […]

Have you read a great book with a child lately?  Money As you Grow is a family financial education program designed to be a book club.  This book club uses children’s books to help families learn key money concepts through reading, playing, and quiet one-on-one talks through the use of parent guides designed to assist […]

The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) participants went on their annual summer field trip. This year’s trip was to Milwaukee to see some of the city’s botany and garden highlights. At Victory Gardens, the JMG youth learned how even the most unfortunate, abandoned place can be made into green garden space. The youth toured the gardens, […]

Our Junior Master Gardener program is going well.  This month we had a guest speaker who talked about the benefits we all get from gardening.  The kids were very thoughtful of how gardening affects so many different aspects of their well-being.  They continue the ongoing care needed to maintain their garden…weeding.  The mulching a few […]

The 4-H Outreach effort “4-H on Wheels” is bringing a summer program to North Fond du Lac’s Green Meadows community where most of the residents are Latinos — 16 youth ages 5-13 years old are participating in learning activities that 4-H Youth Development brings to their neighborhood. The group is meeting every Monday afternoon and […]

IGNITE! Business Success has 15 grants of $2000 to give to people starting or growing businesses less than 2 years old. Diana met with seven individuals working on business plans this month: identifying customers, referral sources, pricing strategies, licensing and permitting needs, and suitable space. Five of these entrepreneurs are most comfortable in Spanish and […]

Exhilaration, nervousness, fun, and learning all happen simultaneously for a 4-H youth as he or she sits down in front of a judge for the first time as a five year old to share what they did and made for their county fair exhibit. Responsibility and commitment is evident with the ten year old as […]

Juneteenth is a commemoration of the time – two years after the fact – when enslaved people in Texas learned of their legal freedom. Diana taught business skills to children who visited the UW-Extension booth at the event this year in Fond du Lac. Children made necklaces, calculated the costs of materials they used, and […]

Co-parenting happens for a variety of reasons, including divorce, parents who never married or lived together, incarceration or other job situations. Parenting across two households or locations introduces challenges for parents and children. Fond du Lac County UW Extension Family Living Educator, Michelle Tidemann provides educational support for parents learning their new role as a […]

According to a recent study on farmers markets across the nation, the top three consistent reasons why low-income families did not use the local market were because they were not aware of the open market hours, were unaware of the location, and were unable to complete all of their shopping at the farmers market. Effective […]

4-H Camp is an annual opportunity for children to explore the outdoors, swim, canoe, do crafts, take part in flag raising, have campfires, participate in outdoor sports, and live in a group setting away from home. The event involved 81 campers (23 community youth, 58 4-H members), 13 adults, and 12 teen counselors. The adults […]

Gardeners have been diligently planting 127 plots at the Community Garden, as best they can, in between all the showers, but they don’t need to water! Some of the gardens are unusable, as the rain has not let up much in the month of June. The county airport staff cut down the tall weeds and […]

2017 Farm Technology Days-Kewaunee County is right around the corner, July 13-15!  Tina Kohlman, Dairy & Livestock Agent, currently serves as one of the tri-chairpersons for the UW-Extension Education Committee for the 2017 show.  As a tri-chairperson Tina is responsible for coordinating educational and engaging exhibits with extension colleagues in a 80’ x 100’ tent, […]

Seventy-four producers attended the annual joint Fond du Lac and Dodge County Forage Council Twilight meeting on June 14. This event was held at Dodger Acres, a farm owned and operated by Kevin & Patti Madigan and Justin & Kathryn Madigan. Dodger Acres is a 4th generation farm in the Rosendale area that milks 160 […]

Young Dreamers is a youth development group that seeks to enrich the lives of local youth—especially Hispanic youth—through experiential learning activities. The group celebrated the end of the year visiting Cristo Rey Ranch. Throughout the year this group reached over 20 Latino youth. They explored an array of projects and activities — from creating hover […]

If the power goes off in your home due to a winter storm, it may be difficult to determine whether the food in your refrigerator or freezer is safe to consume. There are some guidelines that will help you decide whether to keep or discard food items after a power outage. Refrigerated Foods Generally, refrigerated […]

An orientation for those wanting to learn more about the Master Gardener Program will be on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 6:30 pm in room AE-205/206 at UW-Fond du Lac. There is no cost to attend the orientation. The deadline to register for the program is August 23, 2017 or when the limit of 25 students is reached. […]

Fond du Lac County 4-H members have been asked to lead the 4-H Pledge at the National Flag Day/Army Birthday Annual Event. We will meet at American Legion Hall, 500 Fond du Lac Ave, Fond du Lac at 3:45 PM on June 14th. The ceremony begins at 4:00 PM. It will be approximately 30 minutes […]

When it comes to flavor and taste, few things compare to home-canned produce fresh from the garden. The home canning and preserving season will be here before we know it, so now is a good time to start preparing. “Preserving food from your garden or orchard can be a good way to enjoy the bounty […]

The University of Wisconsin-Extension “Check Your Free Credit Report: 2/2, 6/6, 10/10” campaign seeks to make the process of remembering to order a free credit report as easy as possible. Anyone can sign up to receive an email reminder from UW-Extension three times a year—on 2/2, 6/6, and 10/10—on the campaign’s website: fyi.extension.wisc.edu/creditreport. While you […]

As many students prepare to finish the school year, it is an important time for parents to reflect on their role in their children’s academic success. This week’s Parenthetical article shares a bit of teacher insight into what parents can do to promote student success! School success is a hot topic. How involved should parents […]

If you ant to learn the basics of what is needed to protect the shorelines or the basics of what plantings are best for shoreline protection, you might want to attend the Shoreline Protection & Restoration Workshops offered on Saturday, May 20th 9:00 a.m to 1:30 p.m. at The Watermark, 209 South Center Street in Beaver […]

Eggs are a familiar symbol of spring. They are one of nature’s most nutritious and economical foods and feature prominently at many spring holiday celebrations. A few basic steps will help ensure all your springtime recipes are “eggcellent” and food safe. According to Barbara Ingham, food science specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension, thorough cooking […]

Student Loans? Preparing for retirement? Repairing your credit? Small Business info? Want to land your dream Job? Just wish you were better at managing your money? Sign up today for one of many financial education programs during Money Smart Week® April 22-29, coordinated by The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and hundreds of local partner […]

Town of Oakfield invites area families to sample drinking well water. View Details & Secure Registration Options through Eventbrite Reasons to Test Through This Program: Understand Risk: Testing reveals what, if any, contaminants are in your drinking Your Children’s Health: Kids, especially babies and pregnant women, are more vulnerable to certain Increased Confidence in Water […]

The Day in the Garden is an annual event presented by the Fond du Lac County Master Gardener Association. Celebrate the coming of Spring! Enjoy a variety of speakers, have lunch, browse vendors and participate in the raffle and silent auction. Have a great time with other gardeners! See 2017 Day in the Garden brochure for further […]

I was a freshman in high school when I tried my first cigarette. My friend and I had convinced an older kid to buy us a pack of Marlboro 100’s. We parked ourselves in a secluded spot near our school, pulled out a lighter we had bought at a gas station and lit one up. […]

A youth internship is being offered to an individual with experience in 4-H and youth agricultural programs and knowledge of Wisconsin Youth Agricultural activities. A qualified candidate should be self-motivated and have strong organizational, interpersonal and computer skills in addition to being detail orientated. The 4-H Ag/Animal Science Intern will work with the supervisor to coordinate […]

Month after month, incorrect information on credit reports is among the top consumer complaints to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Are you among the thousands of Wisconsin residents who didn’t get around to checking their credit report last year? Turn that around by signing up for UW-Extension’s free “Check Your Credit Report Campaign” […]

This survey was created by Dr. Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing, the new UW-Extension (UWEX) Crops & Soils Area Agent whose position is split 50:50 between Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties, and by Amanda Young, the new UWEX Dairy & Livestock Agent located in Dodge County. In order to help us provide useful and effective programming, it […]

Tennessee 4-H is receiving a number of contacts asking how they can help those individuals in the towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN (Sevier County) that have been impacted by the recent wildfire. Large amounts of supplies have been donated already. What is needed is help in providing for the financial needs of these […]

A delectable roast turkey is often the centerpiece of the family Thanksgiving dinner. Keeping in mind some food safety tips while preparing your holiday bird will help ensure it is not only tasty, but also free of foodborne bacteria that may cause illness, according to Barbara Ingham, food science specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension. […]

Locations below accept fluorescent tubes for recycling: Riley Electrical Supply located at 659 S. Hickory in Fond du Lac: Phone:  (920) 922-7711 4ft and shorter are $0.45 each, over 4ft are $0.89 each. Ripon Ace Hardware located at 1085 W. Fond du Lac Street, Ripon Phone:  (920) 748-3360 Fluorescent tubes of all sizes – price varies; $.70 each for […]

Have you ever been to a sporting event or performance where the parent behind you is shouting out instructions to his teen or berating the other youngsters participating? As the competition increases in middle school and high school so, it seems, does the obnoxious parent behavior. Our culture appears not only to accept parental over-involvement […]

FoodWIse is new name of Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program Contact Amber Canto, 608-262-0384, amber.canto@wisc.edu A successful nutrition education program is getting a new name to make it relevant and accessible to more audiences. FoodWIse, formerly known as the Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program, or WNEP, has a long legacy of providing nutrition education to Wisconsin families […]

Smoke Detectors: Smoke detectors typically fall within two categories:  photoelectric and ionization.  When it comes to disposal, old photoelectric detectors can be safely put in the trash, so long as you remove the battery first.  Read on for information about ionization detectors. Ionization-Based Smoke Detectors: Ionization detectors contain a small amount of Americium 241, a […]

For the first time in Wisconsin, brown marmorated stink bugs have been caught in traps in agricultural crops (apple and pumpkin). If you are not monitoring for the bug on your orchard/farm, it would be a good time to inspect for the pest. Please see the article for more information.

Training has been canceled due to lack of interest at this time. The training will be offered in 2018 again. Registration is now closed for area residents interested in becoming Certified Master Gardeners with the University of Wisconsin – Extension. Level One Training will begin on Monday, January, 23, 2017 and continue weekly on Monday evenings […]

Register to Vote! UW-Extension Educators will assist with voter registration and absentee voting in English and Spanish. Bring proof of local residence and a photo ID. All are welcome to join in this educational, non-partisan, community participation activity. · Tuesday, October 11: 9:30am – 3:00pm · Monday, October 17: 2:00pm – 4:00pm   Fond du […]

Residents of the City of Fond du Lac have the option of taking the following items to the City Garage, 530 Doty Street in Fond du Lac.  Proof of residence is required.  Questions can be directed to 920-322-3544. MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER Where is the yard waste drop-off located? The drop-off site is located on the […]

Please find the most up to date Electronics Recycling information at earth911.com Here you can search for the specific item you are looking to dispose of and enter your zip code. This will bring up a list of all the locations closest to you that will take your items!

About a quarter (26 percent) of U.S. adults say they or someone in their household has had problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. That means one in four people struggle to pay for healthcare services. “Financial difficulties are a reality for many people, and unfortunately financial […]

Students will soon be heading back to school, and many of them will be carrying lunches packed at home. Barbara Ingham, food science specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension ,has some tips to help ensure that your child’s home-packed lunches are always safe to eat. Wash your hands and areas used to prepare food. Clean […]

If you have health insurance and want to use your care, the first step is understanding which doctors are covered by your plan. In the world of health insurance, a network is the group of doctors, nurses, specialists, hospitals and clinics that work with your insurance company. You need to use the medical professionals in […]

Warm temperatures had some people seeing orange.  That was the color of the federal Air Quality Index (AQI), meaning “unhealthy air for sensitive groups,” for 15 counties in Wisconsin. Higher temperatures mean higher ozone levels, which can harm the elderly, young children, and anyone with a respiratory or cardiac disease.  The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends […]

Fox Valley Technical College (Chilton Regional Center) is offering  farm safety and equipment operation classes for ages 12 and older. Two sessions are being offered: June 20-24, 2016 or July 11-15, 2016. For complete details, please see the brochure.

The news is constantly filled with tips for healthy eating as many Americans set goals to “eat healthy” throughout the year. Your teen is listening and may be changing his or her eating habits. Vegetarian eating is one popular (and potentially healthy) way to “eat healthy.” Today’s post is about what parents can do to help […]

Join in on the fun this summer at 4-H camp!  There will be tons of fun activities to participate in like, Swimming, canoeing, playing games, creating crafts, science experiments, campfires, making s’mores, participating in a talent show, tie dying, nature activities, dancing, and most important, making new friends and great memories. For more info, go here.

The 5th annual Women’s Conference will be held on Saturday April 23rd. Check out what you get for just $5.00.  For more information and registration forms go to http://www.fdlpl.org/msw

Previously, we’ve encouraged parents to promote youth self-advocacy when it comes to seeking support for their learning and development. In fact, the idea of self-advocacy, or speaking up for yourself and making decisions about your own life, is a common theme among parents and adolescents. As the old saying goes, “Give a man a fish, […]

I am a part of a blended family.  My husband is the father of two great kids and we all mesh together pretty well.  Don’t get me wrong, we have our ups and downs every now and then, but all families do, especially families with tweens and teens!  Step-parenting in a blended family can be […]

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Throughout the month, advocates across the nation work together to start conversations about how youth can stay safe, happy and healthy in their dating relationships. Parents play an incredibly important role in starting these conversations at home as well. Today’s Parenthetical post provides tips for parents to help […]

Whether it’s a computer, smartphone, tablet or even an iPod, teens today have almost unlimited access to smart devices and the Internet. A 2015 report found that 92% of 13-17 year olds reported using the Internet on a daily basis. While 12% of teens report going online once a day, more than half (56%) access […]

  January 28, 2016       Arsenic is a naturally-occurring mineral found in bedrock layers. Recent well water sampling programs in the Towns of Lamartine and Osceola found arsenic detects at a rate slightly higher than the state average. The EPA recommends avoiding long-term consumption of drinking water containing arsenic at a higher level […]

As many students prepare to return to school today after the holiday break, it is also an important time for parents to reflect on their role in their children’s academic success. This week’s Parenthetical article, originally posted in December 2013, shares a bit of teacher insight into what parents can do to promote a successful semester! […]

Yoga, mediation, mindfulness and loving-kindness all are recent buzzwords but why in the world am I mentioning them on a parenting website? What do they have to do with parenting? Like peanut butter and jelly, mindfulness and parenting go hand-in-hand. Much of the best parenting happens when parents pause and think about how to act […]

  As our children kick into “wish list” overdrive this holiday season, it isn’t uncommon for them to ask for every new toy or gadget on the market. No matter what holiday you celebrate, many of our sons and daughters will be receiving a gift in the upcoming weeks. While we can’t predict the new […]

  COUNTY: Fond du Lac County LOCATION: Fond du Lac WI TYPE OF POSITION: Student Appointment EMPLOYMENT PERIOD: Mid-May – August, (dates negotiable) SUMMARY OF POSTION: This position is designed to a program of the UW Colleges/UW-Extension Summer Affirmative Action Internship Program. UW-Extension is an equal opportunity employer and no qualified applicant will be eliminated from consideration; however, active […]

This annual event is presented by the Fond du Lac County Master Gardener Association. Celebrate the coming of Spring. Enjoy a variety of speakers, have lunch, browse vendors, raffle, and silent auction. Have a great time with other gardeners. See 2016 Day in the Garden brochure for further details.

As the holidays are in full swing, parents may be scrambling for those last minute gift ideas. While giving your teen gifts during this time of year can be a way to connect and show you care – it is also important to ask, how much is enough? This week’s Parenthetical post comes from June, […]

Are you one of the nearly 120 million American consumers using a computer-chip debit or credit card this holiday season? If you haven’t received your card yet, odds are you will soon. Smart Card Alliance estimates that nearly 600 million people will have the cards by the end of 2015. Chip cards—also known as smart […]

Most people know the teen years are a turbulent time for adolescents, but many might be surprised to know that mid-life parents are also undergoing significant changes. Stephen Small, human development and family relations specialist with UW-Extension and professor in the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology, says that parents and their teenage children are often […]

Happy Halloween! Soon super heroes, princesses, and zombies will be ringing your doorbell requesting a treat.  However, as the parent of a pre-teen or teen, it may often feel as if the trick is on you as your teenage “monster”(?) changes his look, attitude or personality on a daily basis. While it may be confusing […]

Radon doesn’t rattle chains or say, “Boo!” But it is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked. Radon is a naturally-occurring, invisible radioactive gas which can be controlled in any home. The only way to know the radon level is to measure. Do it yourself or hire a professional. About […]

Highlights of the Community Garden 2015 Newsletter include Patty’s garden notes, the Best Ever Vegetable Soup recipe and locations of area food pantries.

We usually think of the teen years as a period of major changes in our children. Often overlooked is the fact that parents are also experiencing significant changes of their own. One of the things that makes these changes interesting — and challenging — is that mid-life parents and their teenage children are often changing […]

UW-Extension campaign highlights simple way to check your free credit reports Complaints about credit reports are up 45 percent nationally in the past year, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In Wisconsin, credit reporting complaints have more than doubled in the past three months. What’s behind all of these complaints? The most common […]

The following locations will accept used tires:  Waste Management  1207 S. Hickory St., Fond du Lac, WI 54935 Phone: 888-960-0008 Email: wmeservice@wm.com $12.00 each (car tires) Plus fees & TaxesMore than 4 standard car tires – $380.00 per ton PLUS fees & taxes (Charges will be prorated based on tonnage weight.)Total charge will depend on tire size […]

Wisconsin 2015 State wrap up report

This series of maps and images (PDF, 9874 KB) shows: Examples of karts features (like sinkholes) that make surface water and groundwater in Fond du Lac County particularly vulnerable to contamination from field runoff, leaking septic systems, and over-applied lawn and garden chemicals. Regulations and rules that farmers follow when land applying manure, whey, or […]

Highlights of the Community Garden Summer 2015 Newsletter include Patty’s garden notes, zucchini recipes, and ways to refresh your vegetable garden.

More than 400 area residents have completed a survey about well water and more are needed. “I’m proud to say we have amazed the researchers helping us in River Falls with the tremendous participation of area residents so far,” says Diana Hammer Tscheschlok, Community, Natural Resource, and Economic Development Educator with the University of Wisconsin-Extension, […]

If you look at children’s menus in restaurants or kid-friendly food packages in the grocery store, it may seem that children only eat a limited number of foods, such as deep-fried chicken strips, macaroni and cheese, and chewy fruit snacks. “Not true,” says Gayle Coleman, nutrition education program specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension. “Throughout […]

This spring, the University of Wisconsin-Madison published research showing that atmospheric steam canners may be used to safely can naturally acidic foods such as peaches, pears, and apples, or acidified foods such as salsa or pickles. But certain criteria must be met for the food to be safe to eat when using these canners, says […]

The skills children bring with them to kindergarten, such as vocabulary, knowledge of letter names and sounds, and the ability to rhyme words, are strong predictors of future school success. Parents–a child’s first and most valuable teachers–most often set these skills in motion long before a child enters preschool or other formal schooling situation. “What […]

Taking small steps can help children become financially smarter adults Young children often have trouble understanding why they can’t have every toy or piece of candy they see at the store. But by around age 10, kids begin to comprehend that money is a limited resource. “The ages of 10 to 12 are an opportune […]

Family schedules often change over the summer with kids out of school and parents adjusting work hours for child care or seasonal work demands. Caroline Gomez-Tom, health outreach specialist with Covering Kids & Families, reminds people that changes in employment may affect their health insurance coverage. Many positions can be affected by the start of […]

Mike Winkler has recently joined UW-Extension Fond du Lac County as an Entrepreneurship Educator. His work will be centered on teaching Going Solo workshops for community members interested in starting their own businesses, honing their basic business skills, and exploring the idea that “everyone is an entrepreneur.” Of special emphasis will be service to traditionally […]

Videos from the Dip Into Lakes seminar series are now available online at the links below or on DVD. A DVD can be purchased for $5 (cash or check) by contacting the UW-Extension. Getting to Know Lakes by Chad Cook, UW-Extension Natural Resources Educator Winnebago Natural History by Art Techlow, WDNR Winnebago System Fisheries Biologist […]

Are you Money Smart? Fact is, we all could use a little help when it comes to managing our finances. Money doesn’t come with instructions, and that’s why banks, businesses, schools, libraries and lots of others are joining together to help support financial education during Money Smart Week.  Fond du Lac County Money Smart Week’s […]

UW-Extension campaign highlights simple way to check your free credit reports UW-Extension’s ongoing “Check Your Free Credit Report Campaign: 2/2, 6/6, 10/10” points out that it is much more important to check your credit report regularly than to know your credit score. Your credit score is calculated using information in your credit report, and it […]

We  teach, learn, lead, and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.   2014 Annual Report

Earlier this month, the City of Fond du Lac & Fond du Lac County Energy Communications Team learned about updates in recycling processes from Waste Management. Much about recycling has changed in recent years due to improved technology and increased demand for recycled materials. For example, plastic water bottle caps CAN be recycled now as […]

Educational Materials for Non-profit Boards Available as free PDF downloads from BoardSource Board Dynamics and Processes – FAQs Board Meetings – FAQs Board Leadership Board Action Calendar (legal documents that need to be filed and other recommended annual processes) Fiduciary Responsibilities of board members Board Orientation Common Board Shortcomings (top 10 list of mistakes boards […]

The most recent census recorded a 123% increase in the Latino population in Fond du Lac County between 2000 and 2010. In an effort to learn more about these newcomers, Fond du Lac County held five structured conversations with about 50 Latino residents in the winter of 2012. The results are presented in this Latino […]

Thank you to Baker Cheese for being a generous lead supporter of the Fond du Lac County 4-H program over the years! And thank you to all of you who have contributed in some way to the success of our program! Letters will be going out soon to many businesses, 4-H leaders and alumni inviting […]

Families develop many holiday activities, events and rituals over the years. Some activities become family traditions and others fall by the wayside. As children get older, the schedules and demands of school, jobs and sports may affect their feelings about time-honored family traditions. One way for parents of teens and preteens to ensure that holiday […]

What is Parenthetical? Parenthetical is a little different than other sites you might visit. It was designed as a blog, website and social network for parents of tweens and teens. What YOU contribute to the site through questions, comments and advice is the most important part of Parenthetical. Our goal is to make Parenthetical a […]

The Fond du Lac County Master Gardener Association offers this scholarship in order to support and encourage students of our County to pursue careers in horticulture and related fields. The scholarship of $500.00 is available to a Fond du Lac County resident, a graduating senior, or one who is already studying in the fields listed below […]

Peers are an important part of the teenage years.  As parents, our teens’ transition to greater reliance on peers can be tricky to navigate.  This week’s parenthetical spot talks about the ways in which parents can successfully balance supporting their teen’s expanding social network and maintaining their own positive, influential role in a teen’s life. […]

Summer can be a special time for teens filled with camp, vacations, heady romance, summer jobs, boredom and lots of free time. For parents, however, summer vacation presents unique concerns that differ from those of the routine school year – how to manage ALL that free time and feel confident your teen is safe, while trying to maintain your own regular work […]

Much like efforts that encourage people to get a medical check-up or a flu shot, a campaign by University of Wisconsin-Extension educators urges people to check their credit report to improve their financial health. The “Check Your Free Credit Report: 2/2, 6/6 10/10” campaign can make it easier for people to monitor their financial well being. Shelley […]

The most important aspect of home food preservation is food safety. Always, always follow a research-tested recipe. A recipe that someone has tested in the laboratory! Click here for more information.

Credit Report vs. Credit Score Many people use the terms “credit report” and “credit score” interchangeably, but they are not the same. Your credit report is a detailed account of your credit history, while your credit score is a three-digit number signifying your credit-worthiness. You are entitled to three free credit reports per year, but […]

We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.      2013 Annual Report 

Parents, if your teen sometimes engages in risky behaviors that seem hard to fathom, take heart. According to a University of Wisconsin-Extension/UW-Madison teen specialist, teenagers are physically, socially and emotionally programmed for behavior that people in other stages of life might find perplexing. “A better understanding of the teenage brain helps to explain this,” says […]

Special enrollment periods allow people to buy insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. The first open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has ended, but you may still be eligible for a special enrollment period. Click here for more info.

No bones about it: Women need to keep ‘silent’ osteoporosis at bay. Click here to read the article.

Intentionally preparing for the departure of executive directors, board members, and staff is a key way to maintain stability in organizations of any size. As high quality personnel and volunteers rotate through terms, quit, or retire, organizations with succession plans are able to maintain high levels of performance and continuity. In this workshop for non-profits […]

Now that the Affordable Care Act’s registration deadline has passed, E4healthwi.org has released a cheat sheet to help you with your enrollment questions. Click here.  

See video here.

Wisconsin Connections is an educational series intended to assist families wanting to connect to state and federal support programs. The series provides a brief overview of assistance programs in the following categories: Cash Assistance and Tax Credits Child Care & Child Support Food & Nutrition Health Care Home & Energy Link to Wisconsin Connections   […]

Be aware that financial aid scams targeting college students have been reported recently in Wisconsin. Never give out a credit, debit or bank account number unless you know the organization you are giving it to is legitimate. Here are some resources from the office of Federal Student Aid if you have questions or think you […]

Low and moderate-income workers in Wisconsin may be eligible for thousands of dollars of additional income at tax time. For many families, the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), together with the state Earned Income Credit, can bring in anywhere from a few dollars to more than $8,000, depending on household income and size. Both […]

The Check Your Free Credit Report Campaign: 2/2, 6/6, 10/10 (February 2, June 6 and October 10) is an easy way to remember set aside five minutes on these dates to pull one credit report from one credit bureau.  All Americans can pull their reports at periodic intervals annually.  Federal law allows each of us to […]

For some thoughts on crop rotation, pest management, and doing the right thing, click HERE.

For many people in Wisconsin, fall means deer season, this can be bow season or gun-deer season. The University of Wisconsin Extension has several resources to help hunters, and their families, safely prepare and preserve venison once a deer is harvested. For more details go to: So You Got A Deer    

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. The law puts in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will roll out over four years and beyond. The official consumer website for enrollment services is: http://www.healthcare.gov The Wisconsin Enrollment Directory (October 2013) was created to help individuals in Wisconsin make appropriate referrals for […]

Diane Fett, Fond du Lac County Birth to 3 Director, Colleen Deanovich, Fond du Lac County WIC Director and Jean Weston Fond du Lac County Maternal Child Health Coordinator are pleased to announce the implementation of a developmental screening site at the WIC office.  The site offers the Ages and Stages Questionnaires  for parents to […]

The information contained in credit reports can play a role in whether you’re offered a job or eligible for a loan. To make it easier for people to monitor their financial well-being, UW-Extension educators around the state are promoting the ““Check Your Free Credit Report Campaign: 2/2, 6/6, 10/10”,” reminding people to view one of […]

A Personal Battle with an Unbeatable Foe

41 residents in the Towns of Osceola and Mitchell (Sheboygan Co.) tested their well water in July with UW-Extension. View the complete results including maps (PDF. 3.8MB). 90% (37) of the wells tested measured very low nitrate levels. 17% (7) of wells tested positive for coliform bacteria, which is typical of most other WI communities. […]

It’s the time of year for preserving food at home. If you or someone you know would benefit from keeping up on food preservation and food safety topics, you may want to subscribe to the Safe & Healthy: Preserving Food at Home blog. In order to keep up-to-date with this blog, subscribe via RSS feed.

Paying for a college education is a major investment for most families.  But by staying on top of financial matters and following some basic guidelines, students and their parents can get the best return on their investment.

With the recent confirmations of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Fond du Lac and Winnebago Counties, homeowners may want to check-out the University of Wisconsin EAB web site for a plethora of research-based information and recommendations. If you have further questions or concerns, feel free to contact our office.

When we develop waterfront lots, trees, and native plants are replaced by impervious (hard) surfaces. Driveways, rooftops, and other hard surfaces decrease the ability of the shoreland area to serve its natural functions. A variety of educational materials including brochures, posters, and a video about how impervious surfaces affect fish, wildlife and waterfront property values are […]

RYAN BRAUN, PANERA BREAD, AND YOUR MORNING ORANGE JUICE ……………..a current events report on the natural state of being.

SUMMER 2013 NEWSLETTER Highlights are gardening pointers, vegetables that thrive in wet soil, succession planting, and square-foot gardening. Recipes for Best Broccholi Salad and Swiss Chard Quiche are also included.

There is nothing quite like home-canned tomatoes or crisp family-favorite dill pickles.  Preserving food from your garden or farmers market is not only rewarding but can make for easy and delicious family meals later on.  For information on preserving food safely go to: http://www.foodsafety.wisc.edu   To ensure that food is properly and safely canned, make […]

The Healthy Fond du Lac County 2020 Steering Committee is proud to introduce its new Living Well Fond du Lac web site: www.livingwellfdl.org – providing up-to-date health and wellness-related information from trusted, local healthcare experts.  Important health & wellness information is only a click away!   What Does the Site Feature? Important topics related to […]

Thank you to all area residents and users of the Lake Winnebago System who “weighed in” this spring on what they thought the most important issues of the system are and what actions are most important to take immediately to improve and protect the lakes.  All responses and discussions have been compiled, and the final […]

Agriculture takes to drone warfare ……and what will this mean for county agriculture agents?

You visit the doctor to safeguard your physical health; experts say your financial helath can also benefit from a routine check-up.  There is only one way to obtain the free credit reports you are entitled to by law.  UW-Extension’s “Check Your Free Credit Report Campaign: 2/2, 6/6, 10/10″ tells you how.  The new website introduces […]

The goal of SPROUT is for all Fond du Lac County children to be healthy, nurtured, safe and successful from birth to school entry. Supporting Positive Relationships so Our children Under 6 can Thrive.  The Fond du Lac Community Partnership for Young Children 2013 Resource Guide was created by the SPROUT partnership, with funding from the Early […]

Residents in the Towns of Fond du Lac and Oakfield learned that their samples returned better results than the state average this week.  Coliform bacteria, nitrate, and arsenic, three of the most common problems detected with well water systems, were found minimally or not at all in the 118 wells sampled in the two townships. […]

Young teens will begin to push limits and test their boundaries.  This can makes parents feel overwhelmed and question their parenting ability.  In response to the need for online parenting information, family scholars from the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension have developed a website and program that is aimed at parents of tweens and teens […]

The canning season will soon be here.  Dial gauge canners should be checked each year for accuracy.  The Fond du Lac County UW-Extension office is available to help calibrate your canner gauge.  Call to schedule a time at 920/929-3173.

This 3-minute video goes over the instructions for taking a clean water sample from the pressure tank in a home with a private drinking water well. You can pause as you go and follow along step-by-step. This Fond du Lac County video shows the steps.

Around the Corn blog—ramblings from an old county agent.

Do you fish, swim, or boat on the Winnebago waterways?  Do you own a business near a shoreline or live near one?  The Department of Natural Resources is gathering feedback in a special project through April of 2013.  Have your say online and at public meetings.  You may also sign up for occasional updates via […]

There is only one legitimate source for a free credit report.  There are many imposters.  http://www.annualcreditreport.com/, it’s mailing address and phone number are the only truly no-cost ways to obtain the free credit reorts everybody is entitled to by law.  Other websites claim to offer free reports, scores or monitoring, but thye often incur significant […]

Several valuable tax credits are available for low and moderate income families.  These include the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, the Wisconsin Earned Income Credit, and the Homestead Tax Credit.  Together these can be worth thousands of dollars for families – but only if families file tax returns to claim the credits. Detailed information about […]

All Fond du Lac County residents are invited to review the Community Health Improvement Plan , and support activities and initiatives that will make Fond du Lac County a healthier place to live, work and play. Included in the health improvement plan are strategies to: increase the number of Fond du Lac County residents who are […]

Town of Fond du Lac residents sampled water on April 8, 2013.  Learn the results. Prior to this program, residents in the Town of Fond du Lac last sampled with the UW-Extension lab in Stevens Point in June, 2002. At that time, 87 wells were sampled.  Seven (9%) tested positive for coliform bacteria. Zero wells […]

Town of Oakfield residents sampled well water on April 8, 2013.  View the results. Residents in the Town of Oakfield last sampled with the UW-Extension lab in Stevens Point in November, 1991. At that time, 44 wells were sampled. 10 of them (24%) tested positive for coliform bacteria. 4 (10%) of them had nitrate levels […]

We all visit the doctor to safeguard our health; experts say our financial health can also benefite from a routine check-up.  To make it easier for people to monitor their financial well-being UW-Extension Family Living Educators around the state are kicking off “Check Your Free Credit Report Campaign: 2/2, 6/6, 10/10”.  For more information on […]

The Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program (WNEP) has once again partnered with Miguel Gonzales, the UW-Extension 4-H VISTA, in providing Spanish translated documents and information to Hispanic WIC participants on January 8 at the WIC clinic in Fond du Lac. The topic of “Eat Well, Spend Less” was emphasized.