Margaret, Dunn County extension horticulture educator, summarized 2024 outreach numbers and described upcoming spring and summer programming for 2025.

"By the numbers, just to kind of recap some of 2024, I feel that about 400 different questions on lawn, landscape and gardening throughout the region," Margaret said, adding she presented at more than 60 outreach events. She told the committee that an end-of-season survey showed a 90% positive rating within the three counties she serves and that 63% of survey respondents reported changing or adopting new practices based on extension guidance.

Margaret outlined top behavior changes reported by respondents: using University of Wisconsin and other credible resources; increased awareness of environmental impacts of landscape management; selecting plants that better fit planting sites; using nonchemical methods when possible; and expanding habitat for pollinators. She said the extension team educates on integrated pest management and habitat that supports pollinators year-round.

For 2025, Margaret described a series of community events and classes: staffing the UW-Stout Wellness Fair (375 attendees), the Rorschbach Museum spring event (family-focused), a pollinator talk and garden visit at the Dunn County Government Center on June 19 in observance of National Pollinator Week, and a Beaver Creek "Bees, Trees and Cheese" event on June 11. She said small native seedlings will be planted at the Dunn County Jail in late May/early June and requested volunteers to help water and plant two-inch plugs.

Margaret also discussed ongoing classes (container gardening, food-safety for donated produce, adaptive gardening, and a salad garden project with Affinity House in Eau Claire) and noted three community gardens in the region that are nearly full.

When committee member Tom Quinn asked for online tree-suggestion resources, Margaret referenced a UW Extension woody species guide (not recently updated) and said she plans to compile a consolidated list of recommended trees to share with members.

Ending: Margaret thanked the committee for support and offered to share resources and sign-up opportunities for volunteers.