FoodWIse educators told the Portage County Agriculture and Extension Education Committee that local nutrition‑education programs reach hundreds of residents and rely entirely on SNAP‑Ed federal funding, which a House budget proposal would eliminate if enacted.

Mallory McGibbern, administrator for a four‑county FoodWIse team that includes Portage County, said FoodWIse positions in the county are funded “100% by SNAP‑Ed,” the nutrition‑education arm of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (known in Wisconsin as FoodShare). “The budget that was passed in the House did eliminate SNAP‑Ed funding,” McGibbern said, adding that the program is watching the Senate process closely.

The warning matters because FoodWIse staff described services reaching children, seniors and other groups across Portage County. McGibbern said FoodWIse is the largest SNAP‑Ed program in Wisconsin, employing about 120 people statewide to deliver classroom lessons, community education and policy, systems and environmental work. Locally, Penny (identified in the presentation as the county nutrition educator) told the committee she leads Strong Bodies, an evidence‑based strength‑training and education program that started in Portage County in 2016 and now runs at senior housing and ADRC sites.

Penny said Strong Bodies participants reported practical gains, including easier entry to cars and improved ability to do everyday tasks. Two longtime participants, introduced during the presentation, described increased mobility and reduced difficulty bending or squatting after regular classes led by the program. “It has helped with daily living skills,” one participant said.

Presenters gave the committee several local data points. McGibbern said about 40% of students in Portage County schools are eligible for free or reduced‑price meals; roughly 8% of county residents use SNAP. The presenters also reported FoodWIse engagement numbers: Penny reached nearly 600 learners in the most recent year and the student‑reach figure for classroom programming was cited as 649 students, with many students receiving repeated lessons over a term.

FoodWIse staff described partnerships and other activities intended to extend program effects beyond individual lessons: a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Grant helped fund a regional farmers‑market manager (Melissa Hack) who has supported EBT access at winter and summer markets; students from a local sustainable‑food‑systems course administered pantry surveys used to build a food‑access map for the county; FoodWIse worked with the Stevens Point Area School District on a DPI school meal appeal grant that provided $1,000 to participating schools to make meals more appealing; and Michelle (team member) has led a work group that updated an emergency food‑provider sheet in English and Spanish.

McGibbern emphasized that FoodWIse is evidence‑based and works where people already are: “We go to where people are,” she said, describing tailored curricula for different audiences (jail programs, teens, seniors, etc.) and a focus on policy, systems and environmental changes when education alone is insufficient.

Committee members thanked the presenters and expressed hope the funding would remain. The presenters encouraged committee members to request additional information or research as the federal budget process develops.

The committee did not take formal action on the presentation; members received the report and asked questions.