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Lapeer County Lapeer County Extension P: 810-667-0341 E-mail: [email protected] 287 W. Nepessing St, Suite 1 F: 810-667-0355 Web: msue.msu.edu/Lapeer Lapeer, MI 48446-2104 September 2006 2006 Issue Identification Report Goal 1: Increase positive out-of-school activities that Lapeer County target teenagers in Lapeer County involved in negative activities such as This past winter, 35 Lapeer County residents came drinking, lack of physical activity and together to prioritize issues and opportunities for MSU poor nutrition. Include positive adult Extension. The cross section of residents, reflecting county mentors. This will enhance healthy demographics, provided input on county needs that local lifestyle choices. MSU Extension could address through education. Goal 2: Provide educational programming that promotes The needs identified by the group provided a framework healthy lifestyle changes concerning food, for future programming and goal setting. The goals nutrition and exercise. Families will reflected in this report address the type of changes recognize the importance of well-planned expected in knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors. meals and exercise and incorporate these lifestyle changes into their day-to-day life. Broad Community Issues and Opportunities: Goal 3: Involve youths in making decisions on issues  Cooperation between local units of government, that will affect their lives long-term. service providers, educators and employers was Community organizations, businesses and local units of government will increase identified as a strong issue during the two sessions. their awareness concerning youth  The ability to hold, promote and increase jobs for leadership development. Increasing county residents was a recurring theme during the opportunities for youth leadership on process. issues that will affect them will lead to  Healthy lifestyle choices and the effects they have on changes in social action. different demographic groups were identified as major concerns of the group. Goal 4: Provide education and facilitate collaboration  Preservation of the rural heritage and atmosphere of between land use decision makers. Lapeer County cuts across all age brackets and served Increasing the opportunities for as a lively source of conversation. collaborative efforts concerning land use planning will coordinate resources leading  Maintaining and increasing educational opportunities to decisions and policies that enhance for youths, whether for at–risk or mainstream social and economic changes. students, was a major opportunity discussed during the issue process. Goal 5: Provide innovative marketing opportunities that will help agricultural entrepreneurs increase their profitability in Lapeer County. The expected change in marketing opportunities will lead to an increase in the net economical impact of agriculture in Lapeer County.

Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facing communities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners, the state through Michigan State University and federally through the US Department of Agriculture.

4-H and FFA Fun Farm Day teaches kids Senior Project FRESH benefits about food, farming and 4-H consumers and farmers Most people in southeastern Michigan are far removed Teaching senior citizens about good nutrition and from agriculture and don’t understand its importance at the providing them with fresh fruits and vegetables can base of the food system. To help families learn about help contribute to healthy living and eating. farming, livestock and how they can get involved in 4-H— Senior Project FRESH provides persons who are 62 even if they’ve never been to a farm—Lapeer County or older and who make less than $1,476 per month MSU Extension helped sponsor the 4-H and FFA Fun with a coupon book worth $20 to purchase fresh fruits Farm Day Aug. 12 at the Eastern Michigan Fair. and vegetables from local farmers. Upon their arrival at the fair, more than 650 families Grants were written to the Four County Community received colorful booklets filled with fun facts and Foundation and the Lapeer County Community activities and a map to help them find 12 hands-on Foundation to purchase 100 coupon books for seniors learning activities located in the fair’s 4-H, FFA and in Lapeer County. The Valley Area on Aging Agency Master Gardener exhibit areas. provided an additional 50 coupon books. At each activity, volunteers helped kids solve puzzles, Senior Project FRESH is a collaborative effort answer questions and learn about livestock, crops, food, among the United States Department of Agriculture, and 4-H. Youngsters who visited the horse could pet a Michigan Department of Community Health, horse and learn more about horses. They also received Michigan State University Extension, Valley Area on bright yellow ribbons that said, “I visited the 4-H horse Aging Agency and local farmers. barn.” Seniors have greatly benefited from the program. In the sheep tent the kids learned what sheep need to They can purchase fresh produce from farmers who eat to be healthy, how to house them and care for them if participate in the program. By redeeming the coupons they get sick. They even saw how sheep are sheared could for produce, seniors can get the 5 to 9 servings of pet a sheep and feel its wool. fresh fruits and vegetables they need every day for The event was also a learning experience for Lapeer good health. County 4-H and FFA members, who talked about the Seniors have commented regarding the wonderful animals they were exhibiting and answered questions from selection of produce offered by local farmers. The visitors. farmers benefit by selling more produce. To date, 100 They learned how to tell the difference between a fruit Lapeer County seniors have received coupons worth and a vegetable, how to grind corn into meal, where honey $2000 for fresh produce. comes from, how wheat is made into bread, how to raise rabbits, that hamburger comes from cows and how they Christine Venema, Extension Educator could join 4-H. One hundred percent of those who answered the Upcoming Events questions said they learned that farmers plant corn to grow in their fields; that cows and goats produce the milk we Oct. 7 – Household Hazardous Waste, Clean Sweep-- drink; and ninety-two percent learned that wheat is a grain Lapeer that is made into bread. Oct 16 - ServSAFE Recertification class for food The Fun Farm Day also increased awareness of 4-H. service managers -- Lapeer One of the volunteers commented that she had never heard Nov 4 – 4–H Fall Leader Volunteer Banquet-- so many people say, “I didn’t know you could do that in Deerfield Township Hall 4-H.” Patricia Waugh, Extension Educator MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity institution, Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family 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, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824