Crawford County Ag/Extension Committee reviews Money Smart Week outcomes, agritourism and a regionally funded livability post

Mary Kuhn, Chair of the Crawford County Ag/Extension Committee, called the May 1 meeting to order at 9:55 a.m. and the committee approved amended April minutes after a motion from Owen DuCharme and second from Wayne Jerrett.

Amanda Griswold, Human Development & Relationship Educator, reported strong local participation in Money Smart WI Week and said final participation numbers are still pending. Griswold noted local Extension colleagues ran sessions that addressed topics including the Childcare Wisconsin Shares program and support for 3‑ and 4‑year‑old programs, and that she submitted multiple entries to the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences competition.

Christine Myhr, FoodWIse Educator, said Money Smart programming at River Crest Apartments included healthy, budget‑friendly shopping and an air‑fryer cooking demonstration; she outlined follow‑up classes planned for River Crest and vegetable‑focused instruction at Seneca.

Sara Tedeschi, Community Development Educator, reported the loss of a program that supported local food purchases and said that program had helped build local supply‑chain infrastructure and connections to Local Food for Schools. Tedeschi described recent entrepreneur and startup workshops held in partnership with CouleeCap and Driftless Development Inc., continuing Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club meetings and local convenings in Wauzeka that identified childcare and housing as topics for ad hoc groups moving forward.

Committee member Craig Anderson encouraged Extension staff to reduce jargon and ground presentations in local farmers’ experience to increase outreach impact, a point echoed by other participants after the April 30 agritourism meeting at Red Clover Ranch that drew about 30 people. Beth McIlquahm, Regional Livestock Educator, called the agritourism event valuable and noted interactive exercises that helped attendees identify strengths, gaps and resource needs for producers.

Amy Mitchell, 4‑H & Youth Development Educator, summarized youth programming including Seneca STEM sessions that involved 14 children and mentoring by older 4‑H members, ongoing summer programming that will use Hess firetrucks obtained through a grant, and upcoming livestock nutrition workshops.

Area Extension Director Adam Hady said he attended a department head meeting and announced that a private funder in Grant County has provided three years of support for a regional rural livability specialist position covering Grant, Lafayette, Richland and Crawford counties; the position has been posted. Hady also said he has not yet seen new University guidance regarding poultry at fairs.

There were no public comments. The committee set its next meeting for June 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (or immediately following the Fair Committee meeting). DuCharme moved and Craig Anderson seconded approval of bills and vouchers; the motion carried unanimously by roll call. Craig Anderson moved to adjourn, Sarah Nelson seconded, and the meeting adjourned at 11:14 a.m.

For community members: staff said they will continue outreach on local food, agritourism and entrepreneurship supports; the posted regional position may create a new staff resource for rural livability topics across four counties.