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University of Wisconsin–Extension says FoodWIse depends on SNAP‑Ed; county to scope regional crops educator
Summary
A University of Wisconsin–Extension representative told Sawyer County officials the county will scope a regional emerging crops educator position as the current educator retires and warned that loss of SNAP‑Ed funding would end the local FoodWIse program.
A University of Wisconsin–Extension representative told Sawyer County officials at the committee meeting that the county will move forward over the next month to scope a regional emerging crops educator position and that local FoodWIse programming depends on SNAP‑Ed funding.
The extension representative said the position being scoped would follow the program area of current educator Kevin Chishol, who is retiring. The representative said the position is being considered as a regional hire shared among neighboring counties; if Burnett County joins, Sawyer County’s share would fall from 0.33 of a full‑time position to roughly 0.25.
The representative warned county officials about a separate funding risk for nutrition education programs. “FoodWise would go away if SNAP Ed goes away. Kind of bottom line,” the University of Wisconsin–Extension representative said, adding that the extension will circulate more information about how SNAP and SNAP‑Ed funding is impacting communities.
The representative said the FoodWIse program is funded through federal sources and multiple funding layers administered through the university and does not represent a direct county expense. The extension representative said they will provide the committee with a one‑sheet summary of local agricultural activities and a FoodWIse impact sheet for Sawyer County by email.
No formal motion or vote was recorded on the position or program funding at the meeting. The extension representative said staff will continue scoping the regional crops educator position and will proceed unless the committee directs otherwise.
