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MSU Extension says 5,146 Berrien County residents took part in 2024 programs
Summary
Kai Gritter of Michigan State University Extension told the Berrien County Board of Commissioners that MSU Extension reached 5,146 county residents in 2024 across agriculture, youth, health and other programs and credited county funding and local volunteers for program delivery.
Kai Gritter, interim district director for Michigan State University Extension in southwest Michigan, presented the organization’s 2024 activity snapshot to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners on May 11, reporting program participation, volunteer contributions and local partnerships.
Gritter said 5,146 Berrien County residents participated in MSU Extension programs in 2024. “Residents utilized 486 of our statewide programs, and 157 in-county programs were actually utilized by Berrien County residents as well,” he told commissioners, and he thanked the board for county funding that supports local delivery.
Nut graf: MSU Extension’s local footprint includes agriculture and agribusiness outreach, conservation and housing leadership training, health and nutrition programs and 4-H youth development. Commissioners and staff noted the county partnership and highlighted volunteer and foundation support for local extension work.
Key figures and programs: Gritter and 4-H educator Kathy Fisher gave program details:
- 5,146 Berrien County participants in 2024 programs; - 486 statewide MSU Extension programs used by residents and 157 in-county programs; - 220 volunteers donated time countywide, including about 171 4-H volunteers; - 482 youth reached through 4-H community clubs; - 89 county producers attended the Great Lakes Expo in Grand Rapids; - More than 100 local partnerships with schools, senior centers, farmers markets and food pantries; - The Show Me Nutrition community nutrition program reached over 2,000 county residents.
Fisher described the 4-H “driving model” and the program’s youth-development goals, saying the program builds “a sense of belonging” and prepares participants for community involvement. “We follow what we call the 4-H driving model…that research tells us if youth participate in a quality youth development program…that they will be on a thriving trajectory for their life,” Fisher said.
Local context and follow-ups: commissioners acknowledged the visit by Countryside Academy students earlier in the meeting and thanked MSU Extension staff for outreach to schools and first responders. Gritter said extension staff participate in a range of local projects including conservation steward training (19 residents trained), building-a-foundation-to-attainable-housing leadership (32 local leaders trained), and product center support for small food businesses that helped one local business quadruple sales.
A commissioner noted there will be a night meeting in early August at an MSU facility; Gritter confirmed and offered hard copies of the extension annual report and the organization’s statewide strategic direction plan for commissioners to review.
Ending: commissioners thanked MSU Extension for the presentation and for the partnership; staff said they look forward to continuing collaboration on agriculture, youth development and health programs in Berrien County.
