Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Extension And Nutrition Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
UW Extension outlines regional crops educator plan, warns FoodWIse depends on SNAP-Ed funding
Summary
University of Wisconsin Extension staff updated the Sawyer County Board on a proposed regional emerging crops educator position to replace a retiring educator and warned that FoodWIse local programming could end if federal SNAP-Ed funding is cut.
University of Wisconsin Extension staff told the Sawyer County Board on an agenda housekeeping item that the county may join a regional emerging crops educator position to replace a retiring local educator and that the county’s FoodWIse programming hinges on continued SNAP-Ed funding.
Extension staff said Kevin, the county’s retiring regional crops educator, previously covered Sawyer, Burnett and Washburn counties and that Barron County has expressed interest in sharing the new position. "So if that moves forward, then your investment might shrink just a little bit from a 0.33 to a 0.25 position," the staff member said.
The presentation included a one-page summary prepared by the program manager identified as Roo laying out how the regional role would support local agriculture. Extension staff said they will continue to scope the position over the next month and will follow up with counties on next steps.
On nutrition education funding, the presenter warned that local FoodWIse programming is funded through federal sources tied to SNAP-Ed. "FoodWise would go away if SNAP Ed goes away, kind of bottom line," the Extension representative said, adding that Bridget, the FoodWIse administrator, prepared a one-sheet summarizing local impacts for Sawyer County.
The Extension speaker said they expect to send more information to counties this week about how changes in SNAP and SNAP-Ed funding could affect programming and that no county action was requested at the meeting.
Details from the presentation and follow-up materials will be circulated by Extension, the presenter said, and staff offered to answer questions from the program manager Roo if board members needed technical agricultural detail.
