MSU Extension Ogemaw County

A message from the District Director

This annual report is a summary of the work that MSU Extension has done in Ogemaw County to help people improve their lives through an educational process that brings the vast knowledge and resources of Michigan State University to local communities in northeast Michigan. In the following pages, you will discover the stories of progress, resilience, and empowerment that have defined our engagement with individuals, families, and organizations across District 4. From cultivating sustainable agriculture practices to
nurturing the potential of our youth through 4-H programs, each achievement is a testament to the dedication of our team and the unwavering support of our communities. We could not do this work without local partners in community government, local volunteers and supporters, or people who turn to us for the information and education that we provide. Please continue to use us as a resource for information and ask us questions. Thank you for your support in 2023 and beyond.

Impact at a glance

• 220 programs attended by Ogemaw County residents
• 34 soil samples from Ogemaw County processed
• 35 health & wellness program participants
• 127 residents attended food safety programs
• 18 residents served by SNAP-Ed
• 79 animal agriculture program participants
• 24 agribusiness program participants
• 283 youths enrolled in 4-H 
• 1,089 total Ogemaw County residents participated in MSU Extension programming in 2023

Program Highlights

Agriculture & Agribusiness

The agriculture industry is developing and growing, contributing more than $104.7 billion
annually to Michigan’s economy. MSU Extension works to increase farm success through
workforce development opportunities, protecting the environment, ensuring food safety,
reaching new markets, and advancing agriculture through applied research. In 2023, 213
residents from Ogemaw County participated in agriculture and agribusiness programs. MSU Extension provides support to local farmers through farm visits, one-on-one and group meetings, and a wide variety of programs on topics including succession planning, record-keeping and farm financial analysis, nutrition and management, and more. Calf production is an important agricultural business in Ogemaw County. 832 beef calves from 26 cow-calf farms sold at the 2023 West Branch Feeder Calf Sale with the total topping $1 million. MSU Extension supports calf production by communicating to farmers about market demands, assisting with weighing, bidding, and clerking sale during the auction, and providing a summary of price by weight class to producers. While the agriculture industry continues to grow, the number of people from farming backgrounds continues to decrease. To address this gap and support new or transitioning farmers, MSU Extension has created the Developing and Educating and New Decision-makers (DEMaND) series. DEMaND is designed to help the next generation of farm operators learn about financial and business management strategies that can help them develop into managers and decision-makers on the farm. In addition to supporting adults, MSU Extension continues to develop opportunities to introduce youth to agriculture sectors and potential areas of future employment. These efforts aim to introduce youth to different aspects of the industry, hopefully piquing their interest in further development as they consider employment options.

Community, Food & Environment

Our natural resources programs improve public understanding, help landowners and communities use those assets for sustainable long-term social and economic development and conserve natural resources for future generations. In 2023, 34 Ogemaw County residents participated in natural resources programs including MI Paddle Stewards, Teaching Great Lakes Literacy workshops, Michigan Conservation Stewards, Michigan Birding 101, nature walks, and more.

Successful and thriving communities combine knowledgeable and engaged legislators, businesses, community groups, and residents. 11 residents from Ogemaw County participated in programs about leadership, planning and zoning, policy options, land use, and environmental issues.

Health & Nutrition

Through MSU Extension’s nutrition and physical activity programming, Michigan adults, families, and children gain crucial knowledge about nutrition and healthy foods, increase their daily activity, and improve their food security. In 2023, 153 Ogemaw County residents participated in 33 health and nutrition programs. MSU Extension offers food preservation programs in-person and online. Classes cover a wide variety of topics, from water bath canning to blanching and freezing to making jam and jelly
to preserving many Michigan grown vegetables to pickling to preserving venison and much, much more. After participating in MSU Extension’s food safety programs including Cottage Food Law, ServSafe, and Home Food Preservation, 127 Ogemaw residents learned how to reduce their risk of illness when preparing food and how to preserve food safely; workers and volunteers learned how to protect their customers’ health and sell food products safely and legally.

Children & Youth

Michigan 4-H is growing current and future leaders. The largest youth development organization in Michigan, 4-H provides thousands of young people with experiential learning opportunities to explore new interests and discover their passion. While learning about the world around them, youth gain valuable life skills such as responsibility, citizenship, teamwork, and problem solving. In 2023, 673 Ogemaw County youth participated in 103 programs.