[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6223679,"mediaKeyId","3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc","parentId",3567935,"title","Federal budget language would eliminate SNAP‑Ed and AmeriCorps slots serving Dunn County, Extension staff say","audioSeconds",528,"startMs",169000,"endMs",697000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc&start=169&end=697","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc/thumbnail_169000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223679/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Federal-budget-language-would-eliminate-SNAPEd-and-AmeriCorps-slots-serving-Dunn-County-Extension-staff-say","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223679-c946f48d143d15ce934e872c471caae0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775351192&Signature=ZV1W5EMOY-lL8YM7es89TpuhkHdKtMw8-bmAEX~Ow3bCdBXy2IdAwR0CGCInq03AIG9iVjRwuQD7CaEoJNXuQreiqoHZkFndH07TMOwpzvNpVHNLWDvgIPMYyRePMlnY~cBKX42Zz3wTpgdT60eFH~FeuMyAQlvB56cCb-uYtKYJVXX6I5h7usKhhJjf-7JRO4ug1Rv~t9axKRh9M9tbdADfNZsB7-frQyALvwYHQJOMyFEOzXJ4532k6CZhc4~jRjggwZIAXdduMy79UHNtZmiUBI7SgyFeY530mktnW1KYpnDncmMtQ8-F4qpzfem5Xy-gr6aFw2Hnl2woT77ALA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dunn County, WI","date","2025-05-27T14:55:15Z","article","Kristen, Area Extension Director, told the Dunn County Community Resources and Tourism Committee that language in a House-passed budget would “remove all SNAP dollars. So that would be a complete cut of the SNAP program, which would include the SNAP‑Ed program.”

The committee heard that SNAP‑Ed—branded in the transcript as FoodWIse—supports local educators: “We have 3.8 FTEs, 4 positions across the 3 counties,” Kristen said, naming a coordinator (Sandy) and three educators who serve Dunn, Chippewa and Eau Claire counties. Kristen described the federal provision as a congressional committee action that was included in the House budget and awaiting Senate consideration.

Kristen also reported that the national AmeriCorps program was eliminated by executive action, and that the cut removed AmeriCorps slots that had supported 4‑H: “The AmeriCorps program was cut, and the impacts for Extension is that we had 4‑H AmeriCorps members that were serving across Wisconsin.” She said state and local partners used UW–Madison funds and donations to honor commitments to those youth in the short term.

Committee members discussed notifying the full county board. Tom urged staff to forward Kristen’s memo to the county board “with a short note saying that this item was brought to our attention at the meeting,” and Bob (committee chair) said he would forward the memo if the committee agreed. The committee treated the exchange as informational; members debated whether to wait for Senate action or provide an early heads-up to the county board.

The committee also heard staffing updates tied to the potential cuts: Hillary Roth left her Chippewa County position and Macy Lean has accepted a regional assignment and will serve Dunn County if funding and hiring continue; an Extension summer intern, Sam Stevens (UW–River Falls), was hired to support youth programming.

Discussion vs. decision: committee members framed the report as an informational briefing; the group agreed to forward Kristen’s memo to the county board for awareness rather than as a formal policy recommendation. No formal policy action or vote on advocacy was recorded at the meeting.

Why it matters: SNAP‑Ed provides nutrition education and supports school and youth programming; AmeriCorps positions supplied capacity for 4‑H and other Extension activities. Committee members emphasized the local human impact even while describing the staff response as focused on serving existing participants while monitoring federal action.

What remains unresolved: the House budget language had not cleared the Senate at the time of the meeting; the committee noted funding and position counts but the total county funding figure reported in the meeting was unclear in the transcript (see clarifying details).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Dunn County Community Resources and Tourism Meeting - 05/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Kristen, Area Extension Director, told the committee that House-passed budget language would “remove all SNAP dollars,” a change that would eliminate SNAP‑Ed (FoodWIse) funding that supports local educators and programming across three counties.","taxTitle","Dunn County, Wisconsin","taxId",53943,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223670,"County rolls out weekly ‘rural doorstop’ transit quadrants to improve rides outside Menomonie",321,3079000,3400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc&start=3079&end=3400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc/thumbnail_3079000.jpg","/articles/6223670/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/County-rolls-out-weekly-rural-doorstop-transit-quadrants-to-improve-rides-outside-Menomonie","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223670-d36468108251002c17111ed194ec50df/orig.mp4?Expires=1775351192&Signature=j3nq1jwEpsjN0nrBqIHwK2ZDWeVNkEgqtA-nrkOZRWlvJKpknaSIXWcZ27rFUJtl7xfhjSDizftC40fnhHqS7OF5nw21z0wicTQJrvZXemI15GuVzqVTVSrmTUxFSGmYwR9QC~XrvIudnZgMIDiufnhBVSsO9aYJxR9XdMb-7bC3o50PROXB0jk2j3qW0iQvcxS5ojrC41i3NwR-khxho5zYRVAVvwoKrqjDOA9OaIMCyNl6fUqsX1s8cyzrjHeEszuVcGo7zMUXuOj9SX8niLAK13bS7qQIg-OY~4wJGimtwSXbLDb2OlYk-zjar41W5yVYqYo2gjIAOA0yvlRX7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Communications staff told the committee the county’s transit department has launched a new weekly schedule—the so‑called rural “doorstop route”—in which the county is divided into four quadrants and each quadrant is served on a designated Tuesday of the month.

The communications update explained the policy rationale: past runs that drove long distances and returned empty were inefficient. The new schedule staggers service so residents in outlying areas know which Tuesday of the month their quadrant is served and can schedule rides to the city for errands or appointments.

Staff said the county will monitor the pilot and encouraged committee members to help spread the word so residents can reserve rides for shopping, medical appointments and other needs. The announcement was informational; no formal committee action was recorded.","Dunn County communications staff announced a new weekly schedule for transit service covering four county quadrants on specific Tuesdays to improve reliability for residents in outlying areas; the initiative aims to reduce inefficient empty runs and uses a calendar-based quadrant schedule.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223673,"County update: BEAD broadband awards under review; final announcements expected after multiple rounds",289,3247000,3536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc&start=3247&end=3536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc/thumbnail_3247000.jpg","/articles/6223673/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/County-update-BEAD-broadband-awards-under-review-final-announcements-expected-after-multiple-rounds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223673-8897abbe9fbf3b5e00162a232128d24b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775351192&Signature=J6Z1QK9a2CFTeuLIoC4mKi1~Mn9PbmNMWblHBeyTh0-6SuQ~~1z7eXBg0gRhY6GjZXLH1iHVlqiGC3-JHCbI2CR0M5L-~hhNn~wg3PJeKT5uZa0y2PXQeSrnYnI0NWmDlQwVSlGxfytf067-nXsipiAIDNSPN3iQKQB5~98fOIha-g-vO04YjQaalEtW2hfrhVbWPS31Xds6-AdWG8QrAtnPelahU4tnLkkwNCfT74OD7zxu1iMrC8Tgo7cc25wYX2MZ80781BF9vxAlMN3uRH9MmQVlRY7NtiYU36oC8Qfa9XBQ3YFfNNigSpaKa80TVr4o4Kfqb36l98fC~-vL6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Communications staff told the committee that the BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) awards process is underway at the state level and that the Public Service Commission is conducting multiple rounds of awards. “They've actually awarded the first round and the awardees know, but they are not making them public,” the staff member said.

The update explained that award rounds are being staged: early rounds covered lower‑cost fiber projects that were financially feasible; later rounds will consider higher‑cost and alternative technologies for harder‑to‑serve areas. The staffer said some awarded projects will begin within a year while other projects could be three to four years out before construction begins.

Committee members asked whether competition would allow one provider to encroach on another provider’s area; the staff answer noted that, while competition is permitted, building noncontiguous fiber into another provider’s territory is often cost‑prohibitive.

The conversation identified a particular focus north of Wheeler for BEAD coverage in Dunn County; the rest of the county is covered by other broadband projects. No formal county action was recorded on BEAD; the update was informational.","Communications staff told the committee that the FCC/PSC BEAD broadband program awards are being processed in multiple rounds, with a second round currently under review; some projects will start quickly while others may be years away.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223675,"Dunn County Extension educator outlines dairy and beef trends, local workshops and outreach",494,1489000,1983000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc&start=1489&end=1983","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc/thumbnail_1489000.jpg","/articles/6223675/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Dunn-County-Extension-educator-outlines-dairy-and-beef-trends-local-workshops-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223675-bba2dc0d6ca7c2ceb6a0c683f716cf91/orig.mp4?Expires=1775351192&Signature=FgYwZTLxmuR9p17n5s4a1zzeGZS4y7NRlqaU5YyB1~lKXFdgnVW8IOKWv2VB8cmGv4GBD5Rp0za6CiD3Y5wg54qPe-rK-YCHSQcFzsaIHUw3YdyHMsp4tQmfi7lxlhNy8ObzyN32h7EyuKoAhznLEZgjaKsWmMPgrJApgXhnwj3~Xxug7zBh5g9lQoe18T5h7-v5rDL4ZHjFTk4zySPINky-KZ-J7SfnFZ0IvOEVPjnFHmalkFS~YVaVTCgYFA5B7147NKnTx7vcwWBmPLEPkQCgXFihtZks1zhGGKsv33hRSOvXs9kozD~e6tJpFpidq2YLg1AyG3r72bTHdSQB~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian, an Extension educator, presented county-level agricultural statistics and programming to the Community Resources and Tourism Committee, focusing on dairy and beef. He said dairy counts are easier to track because dairy farms are permitted; he reported 69 permitted dairy farms in Dunn County (April figure referenced) and described broader regional comparisons within the Chippewa Valley.

On beef, Brian said the reporting is less structured but cited roughly 304 beef farms in Dunn County and noted multiple ways cows are counted—\"cow/calf\" (breeding cows), cattle on feed destined for finishing, and animals that fall between definitions. He described counts in the county as: about 5,500 breeding cows, roughly a similar number of feedlot animals, and a combined total figure for cattle and dairy that he cited as about 67,000 (county + regional aggregates discussed).

Brian reviewed recent Extension activities: a second-year online beginning‑beef school, forage council meetings with beef topics, beef quality assurance training, farm succession workshops, field visits, tabling at the Eau Claire Farm Show, and cross‑county collaboration with other livestock educators. He described outreach experiments such as holding workshops in sale‑ring facilities to meet producers where they work.

Committee member Larry expanded on market conditions outside the presentation, describing strong calf prices and lower national cow herd numbers: \"The United States cow herd, that's the lowest since 1950, and then the price of meat and how the inverse happens with cow numbers down, beef prices up.\" Larry urged committee members and residents to visit local sale barns to observe markets firsthand.

Discussion vs. decision: the presentation was informational; committee members asked follow-up questions and suggested compiling historical comparisons and additional market-sourced data for future reports. No formal county action resulted from the presentation.","An Extension educator presented USDA and state agriculture statistics showing stable cow counts but falling farm numbers, differences between dairy and beef reporting, and a range of Extension workshops, farm visits and outreach intended to support local producers.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6223677,"Dunn County launches childcare action team to study affordable, shift‑friendly care",346,1274000,1620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc&start=1274&end=1620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3567935-f42748de775db29e95aafa86e9e5b5bc/thumbnail_1274000.jpg","/articles/6223677/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Dunn-County-launches-childcare-action-team-to-study-affordable-shiftfriendly-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223677-fdc0ec873cb03efe99959b5ff94b38e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775351192&Signature=l7ooeGaBSDoxo4fZCBe25a9qDUll0o55zolK5eYPXJlzTqtj1Huy8PgfI~cPyc0dm0trep13SuDrO8Gecb4LEHQAiicmgqvxyB4bfIw8utATowulVHIb2TxQdM6byhUZsR2vcHCRZElCCLZLc77JsxZnI0-BHAcDeODTfK4aF2FCE2ep4LYdV~Tmauk1ggboY4Pl-gkRUgZodby22a0hONf3ea9p4pQwZwL9HPwKzW5yus7L5scdg6woG-RkxfT2uCSOawleRuuw9XXMlDMIPKtP2YvVUC9BJSXpSn0eyrvcH2AzRJS9LnXgtQuRzKSb~aKLI9hZu1HsW1FXzAlFMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Garrett, co‑chair of the Health Done Right childcare action team, told the committee the team formed from the county’s community health improvement planning process after affordable childcare was named one of the county’s top five health concerns. “We launched that initiative in January and have been meeting about monthly so far,” he said.

The group includes partners from UW–Stout’s early childhood lab, the local chamber of commerce, family‑friendly workplace advocates, childcare support organizations, and statewide groups such as Raising Wisconsin. Garrett said the team plans employer surveys to map specific needs—particularly for second and third shift workers—and to test alternatives such as employer‑sponsored centers modeled on a program in Osceola.

The committee was told the effort is early-stage: meetings have focused on identifying partners and potential action items and the group is preparing a survey with the chamber to capture employer needs. Garrett described the group’s intent as pragmatic: identify “creative alternatives that might work in Dunn County” to improve access and affordability while supporting parents’ ability to work.

The committee asked Garrett to keep members updated; Garrett said a follow-up meeting was scheduled the next day. The exchange was informational; no formal county action was taken at the meeting.","County Extension and community partners have formed a Health Done Right childcare action team to survey employers and explore employer‑sponsored and other models to address affordable, shift‑work childcare identified as a top community health concern.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Federal budget language would eliminate SNAP‑Ed and AmeriCorps slots serving Dunn County, Extension staff say

County rolls out weekly ‘rural doorstop’ transit quadrants to improve rides outside Menomonie

County update: BEAD broadband awards under review; final announcements expected after multiple rounds

Dunn County Extension educator outlines dairy and beef trends, local workshops and outreach

Dunn County launches childcare action team to study affordable, shift‑friendly care