4-H Programs Impact Rural And

Partner Report Bringing Knowledge to Life! Macomb County

VerKuilen Building, E-mail: [email protected] 21885 Dunham Road - Suite 12 Fax: 586-469-6948 Clinton Township, Michigan 48036 Web: msue.msu.edu/macomb Phone: 586-469-5180

March 2010 4-H Programs Impact Rural and intergenerational programming, gardening, environmental Urban Youth and outdoor education, physical fitness, nutrition education, leadership, community service, and personal development. Involvement in 4-H helps young people explore their interests through fun, engaging, hands-on learning The increase and diversification of clubs in Macomb experiences led by committed volunteers in our local County have been made largely due to targeting community. To assess the youth impact of 4-H in underserved areas, securing grant dollars, fundraising and Macomb County, a survey was distributed to 4-H building new partnerships. A new collaboration with families in the winter of 2009. Based on the assessment JCPenney-Roseville provides significant financial results, youth indicated their involvement in 4-H helped resources and volunteers for afterschool programming. A them: participate in community service activities or State Farm and Future Entrepreneurs Grant were projects (96.1%), feel responsible for helping others instrumental in starting two clubs focusing on financial (94.2%), feel more confident in themselves (92.3%), literacy and developing business skills. One business work effectively on teams (90.4%), seek to resolve club, “Uniquely Yours” is still operating profitably today. conflict nonviolently (90.3%), prioritize their A partnership with Glen Peters Intermediate School has responsibilities (88.5%), take on leadership roles created eleven new in-school programs for (88.4%), use decision making skills (86.6%), have fun developmentally disabled youth. Collaboration with the educational activities to do during their spare time Juvenile Justice Center has provided a youth club for (86.6%), have a better attitude toward school/work those in long-term treatment to participate in community (82.7%), come to school/work more prepared (80.8%), service and gardening programs with the help of a Master communicate effectively in groups (82.6%), plan before Gardener. starting projects (78.9%), and have more interests and hobbies (78.8%). Contact: Kathy Jamieson, MSU Extension Educator CYFC 4-H Youth Development Currently, Macomb MSUE has 72 4-H clubs throughout the county, an increase of 72% since 2004. Even more significantly is the location of clubs. Today, we have 34 clubs or 47% located in urban areas found in the central Lessons Learned become Lifetime Habits and southern parts of the county whereas five years ago we only had 13 clubs located in urban areas. In addition, The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program the variety of clubs has changed considerably. In 2004, all (EFNEP) asserts that it is “designed to assist limited the clubs in Macomb County were considered traditional resource audiences acquire the knowledge, skills, community clubs. The club program looks very different attitudes, and changed-behavior necessary for today with 18 in-school clubs servicing disabled youth nutritionally sound diets, and to contribute to their and 12 after-school clubs offering diverse project areas personal development and the improvement of the such as entrepreneurship, global/multicultural education, total family diet and nutritional well-being”. (USDA.gov)

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. Macomb County graduates approximately 275 EFNEP clients yearly. In the fall of 2009, a phone survey was conducted with EFNEP graduates 12 to 24 months after graduation to assess the retention Vintage Vegetables of behavior changes in nutrition practices, food resource management, and food safety. Survey Heirloom vegetables are vintage varieties that have been results are noted below: preserved by passing seed down from generation to generation in families. These varieties are generally 50 to Food Safety 100 years old, although many are much older and some 94.9% always refrigerate within two hours of purchase are still undiscovered. All heirlooms are open-pollinated and usually breed true-to-type. They come in a rainbow 93.2% always wash surfaces with hot soapy water that of colors and shapes, which may be undesirable for some have touched raw meat shoppers, while some perceive them to be superior in flavor, eating quality and interest. 91.5% always wash utensils in hot soapy water that have touched raw meat

89.8% always refrigerate or freeze cold food after shopping

Food Resource Management 96.6% always or most times compare prices for groceries,

88.1% always or most times budget enough money for food related purchases

59.3% always or most of the time shop with a list

56.1% always or most times plan meals before shopping

Nutrition Practices 64.4% always or most times include children when Heirloom tomatoes, in particular, are being grown for deciding what to eat specialty markets, such as farmers markets and local restaurants. In 2009, University faculty and staff 62.7% always or most times eat 3 or more fruits and conducted a research project in 10 Great Lakes States and vegetable /daily Ontario, including Miller’s Big Red Orchard and Greenhouses in Romeo. The goal of the project was to 56% always or most times read food labels test the adaptability of 10 promising heirlooms from Southern Illinois to Minnesota and as far east as Long When adult behaviors related to food and diet are positive Island. Varieties ranged from the one pound pink variety it implies that it will influence behavior of youth in the Brandywine and the lavender Cherokee Purple to the high family and lead to an improved diet and healthier yielding grape-size variety Tainan. lifestyle. Additionally, this can lead to public savings through improved health correlated to a decrease in Results indicated that these heirlooms do not ship well healthcare expenses, work place absences, and less and are not rated as superior in eating quality by dependence on food assistance. everyone. In fact, some tasters were put-off by purple, pink or yellow colors and odd shapes and preferred the Contact: Eileen Haraminac, MSU Extension Educator round red market varieties. However as consumers begin CYFC Food and Nutrition to recognize these old varieties and value the differences,

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. markets will grow and farmers as well as home gardeners Wednesdays: May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9, 16 & 23 will benefit. Eastpointe City Hall, Eastpointe

Contact: Hannah Stevens, MSU Extension Educator Living with Less – One, 2 ½ hour class and Innovation Counselor 6:30 – 8:45 p.m. Thursday, April 8 Upcoming Events Clinton-Macomb Library, Clinton Township

Financial and Housing Education: Better Budgeting Series – Four, 2 hour classes 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Conferences: Wednesdays, April 7, 14, 21 & 28 MSU Extension, Clinton Township Make the Most of YOUR Money in 2010 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Family Programs: Saturday, April 24 Macomb Intermediate School District RELAX – Alternatives to Anger Register now – space is limited - 586-496-7614 6:30 – 8:30 pm Tuesdays, May 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th Classes: MSU Extension – Macomb (586)307-8952 Affordable Housing Seminars – One two-hour class Advanced registration and payment required Monday, April 12, Warren City Hall, Warren $ 20.00 – individual 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. $ 30.00 – family Thursday, May 27, Leaps & Bounds Services, Warren 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Gardening:

Home Ownership – Three two hour classes OR one six- Macomb MSUE Master Gardener Volunteer hour class Recognition Banquet Wednesday April 7th, 2010 5:30-9:30 pm Tuesdays, April 6, 13 & 20 Fern Hill Country Club Eastpointe Community Center, Eastpointe 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Macomb MSUE Plant Exchange Saturday, May 1 Saturday, June 5, 2010 Sterling Heights Police Department, Sterling Heights Verkuilen Building 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. Contact: Tuesday, June 1, 8 & 15 Sandra Goeddeke-Richards MSU Extension, Clinton Township Horticulture Program Coordinator 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Macomb MSU Extension 21885 Dunham Rd., Suite 12 Home Maintenance & Repair Series – Four, 2 ½-hour Clinton Twp., MI 48036 classes [email protected] 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. (586)469-6440 Thursdays April 8, 15, 22 & 29 Fax (586)469-6948 Leaps & Bounds Family Services, Warren

Money Management Series – Eight 2 ½ hour classes Food and Nutrition: 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. ServSafe Classes Wolcott Farm March 30th and April 6th Contact: Nancy Duemling 586-307-8801 Verkuilen Building 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

April 22nd and April 29th Verkuilen Building 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

May 4th and May 11th Tollgate Location 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Events (cont.)

ServSafe Classes (cont.) May 25th and June 1st Verkuilen Building 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Food Preservation Classes July 16th, 23rd and 30th Verkuilen Building 9:00 –11:00 a.m.

New Haven Food Pantry EFNEP Classes May 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd New Haven 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

4-H Youth Development:

4H Team Building April 1st

MSU Extension 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Exploration Days June 23rd – 25th MSU Campus Contact: Roberta 586-469-6431

Project Clover 5k walk/run Armada Fair grounds Barn # 3 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Contacts: Jennifer 810-395-2257 Becky 586-784-9846

K-9 & Kompany Dog Fun Match MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.