For kids, 4-H offers fun learning opportunities through 4-H clubs, afterschool programs, and local, state and international events.
For older teens, 4-H offers opportunities to set goals, develop strategies to reach those goals, and take leadership for sharing their skills, knowledge and talents to make their communities stronger.
For adults, 4-H offers research-based support and training in age-appropriate learning methods and materials to help plan activities and projects for young people in safe, nurturing environments.
Furthering Families provides informational materials to help families cope with food safety, financial management, and family stress issues.
Furthering Families is a grant-funded partnership between Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture made available through the Bovine TB Eradication Project.
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) provides nutrition education to low-income families with children. MSU Extension instructors provide education in a way that is fun and interesting to help families maximize their resources.
The Family Nutrition Program (FNP) provides nutrition education to anyone eligible for or receiving food stamp benefits. MSU Extension collaborates with other agencies to coordinate efforts and refer families to local community services that best meet the families' needs.
This website is an outcome of the work done as part of the Voices and Visions Food Safety Project directed by the MSU Extension Food Safety Area of Expertise Team and the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center at Michigan State University. Be sure to look at the page of useful links.
The Breast-Feeding Initiative is recognized as the best source of nutrition for infants. The lowest rates of breastfeeding in Michigan are found among the WIC eligible population, the very group whose infants are at the highest risk of poor health and development.
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) provides nutrition education to low-income families with children. MSU Extension instructors provide education in a way that is fun and interesting to help families maximize their resources.
The Family Nutrition Program (FNP) provides nutrition education to anyone eligible for or receiving food stamp benefits. MSU Extension collaborates with other agencies to coordinate efforts and refer families to local community services that best meet the families' needs.
The Michigan Nutrition Network fosters multidisciplinary, community-based, public-private collaboration to build and strengthen alliances focused on nutrition and physical activity. The Network facilitates the development of effective, high quality nutrition and physical activity initiatives that reach Michigan consumers - with a special focus on reaching those with low income.
Project FRESH program provides participants with nutrition education and encourages participants to improve their dietary choices by providing them with coupons to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at local farmers’ markets. The program increases the demand for Michigan grown produce and boosts the income of farmers who sell fruits and vegetables at participating markets.
Team Nutrition is a national initiative designed to motivate, encourage, and empower schools, families and the community to work together to continually improve school meals and to make food and physical activity choices for a healthy lifestyle.
Through funding from Medicaid, MSU Extension in conjunction with the MSU Department of Family Practice has developed and implemented a health behavior change program to address the lifestyle management of type 2 diabetes in Medicaid-eligible population in Michigan. Take Charge of Your Diabetes is a modification of the successful program, Sticking to It for Diabetes, which was designed to encourage behavior change in a variety of nutrition and health areas. Take Charge of Your Diabetes is designed to help participants feel empowered to take control of their own health.
Being a parent is a tough job, wouldn't you agree? It is often tough to know who to turn to for information about parenting, nutrition, safety and many other issues that arise in families. Now there is something to help!
The Watch Me Grow calendar is specifically designed for families with young children in Michigan. Each month highlights a different program - offering both program information and telephone numbers. Activities and tips for parents are also offered throughout the calendar providing information on health, safety, nutrition and parenting.
MSU Extension began an organization-wide effort to look at its programming and administrative structure in early 2009. The goal was to ensure that MSUE continues to remain responsive to the needs of Michigan's residents and makes the best use of resources.
The redesign effort was made public in the fall of 2009, and with input from stakeholders and decision makers from across the state, it is being launched in 2010. To learn more about the MSU Extension redesign effort, including the organization’s statewide program priorities and new district structure, please click here.
Kathie Preiss Program Instructor/SNAP-ED/BSF Instructor preissk@msu.edu
Stacey Somero Program Associate I/SNAP-ED somero@msu.edu
Wendy Anderson Secretary msue.ontonagon@county.msu.edu
Office hours - 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday
Superior Farm Market
Fresh! Local! Fun!
Tuesday, July 21st at 6:30 p.m. will be the next meeting of the South End Farmers' Market in Bruce Crossing. Their goal is to start the market on Saturday Mornings in August at the Stannard Township Park Pavillion. Please attend this meeting at the Stannard Township Hall if you are interested in participating.
The Superior Farm Market is every Thursday during the market season (June-October) from 3-7 p.m. in the Ontonagon Pamida Parking Lot and features locally grown produce from Ontonagon County and surrounding areas. To apply to be a vendor, or for more information on the market of Senior Project Fresh, call the MSU Extension Office at 906-884-4386!
Youth and Family Get Outdoors
Gardening Resources
For the best local information check with your local MSU Extension office, listed by county in the directory.
Master Gardener
The Michigan Master Gardener Program is a horticulture education and volunteer leader training program offered by Michigan State University Extension.
Ornamental Plants Plus
MSU Extension full text database on cultivars, diseases, and pests, management and planting. Very comprehensive.
MSU Diagnostic Center
From the Diagnostic Center, information on the kinds of tests they run, how to take them, and the costs.
MSU Gardens
Links to many of the gardens, some with virtual tours. You will need to scroll down to see the listing.
Located in Chatham, the U.P. Experiment Station is the hub of beef and dairy cattle research for northern Michigan. Research on feed quality and intake provides beef and dairy farmers recommendations on management practices to increase production efficiency. Alternative management practices, such as intensive grazing, are being studied to determine if they can reduce input costs for farmers. Complementary agronomic studies at the 1,262-acre site focus on forages, barley and oat production, and on alternative crops such as canola and lupine beans. The Upper Peninsula Experiment Station is part of a national network studying the effect of climate on soil carbon sequestration.www.maes.msu.edu/upes/index.htm
We can mail your soil sample to the Soil and Plant Testing Lab on the campus of MSU for $15. The results will be returned to our office for interpetation. Fertilizer recommendations will be added and the results and recommendations are mailed to you.
Why have your soil tested?
The major objective of soil testing is to have a basis for proper use of fertilizer and lime. Soil testing is widely used for diagnosing problems, sometimes called "troubleshooting." It is an important diagnostic tool for evaluating nutrient imbalances and more recently for measuring trends in nutrient levels and to identify locations where nutrient losses (pollution) may occur.
Taking the sample
Soil samples may be taken at any time during the year when temperatures (lack of frost) and moisture conditions permit. Our office has two soil probes which can be borrowed to take the samples. Collect at least six soil samples using a soil probe, spade or trowel and place in a clean platic pail.
The 2008 Ontonagon County Plat book is available in our office for $30.
Plat books can also be purchased at the following locations throughout the county:
Borseth Properties, Ewen
Citizens State Bank, Ontonagon, Mass City, White Pine
Haight Township Treasurer, Patricia Urbis, Bruce Crossing
Ontonagon County Historical Museum
Ontonagon Herald
The Depot in Rockland
Settler's Co-op and Credit Union, Bruce Crossing
State Bank of Ewen
Wakefield Insurance Agency Inc., Bruce Crossing
Plat books are also available by mail.
NEWLY AVAILABLE: Plat Book e-books--$100-- with all of the plat book information in PDF format, ready to send or upload! $100 for the e-book with a yearly renewal.
Plat Book Wall Maps--$75--How would you like to see all of the plats on your business wall laid out in county map format? A 60x60 inch wall map can be yours by contacting our office. Great for realtors and assessors! For pick up only.
To receive a plat book by mail send a check or money order to: Ontonagon County 4-H, 725 Greenland Road, Ontonagon, MI 49953. The cost for one plat book is $33, two plat books- $65, three plat books- $95 , which includes shipping.
Ontonagon Partner Reports
MSU Extension staff members use the university’s resources to meet needs in every Michigan county. The County Partner Report demonstrates how MSU Extension educators, program associates and specialists are working with nonprofit organizations, agencies, schools, businesses, farms and families to "bring knowledge to life" in your community. Click the link below to read more.
Financial Crisis and Families Series Offered for OntonagonCounty Residents
Ontonagon County Michigan State University Extension, with help from community partner agencies and service organizations, is planning a series of informational sessions on Financial Crisis and Families that will provide county residents with the knowledge and tools to access services and make changes during difficult economic times.
The public is encouraged to attend these sessions free of charge. The sessions will take place on Mondays in March and April.
The Financial Crisis and Families Sessions will be held at the Gogebic-OntonagonCommunityActionAgencyCenter, 429 River Street in Ontonagon as follows:
Finance in Tough Times March 16th, 2 p.m. Topics covered: Budgeting, managing loan payments, debt consolidation, credit management and more. Local banking professionals from county financial institutions as well as a representative from Green Path Debt Solutions will provide expert advice and be available for questions after a brief panel presentation.
Health Care and Insurance Options March 23rd, 2 p.m. Topics covered: Where to go before your insurance is gone, Medicaid, MiChild, VA benefits and community programs at local hospitals. Agency professionals will provide information on options for individuals and families who may not have or may no longer be able to afford employer insurance.
Reducing Costs at Home March 30th, 2 p.m. Topics covered: Stretching your food dollar, free and reduced cost food services, managing utility expenses and avoiding shutoff, and financial assistance with bill payment. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Human Services, MSU Extension, Western U.P. Health Department and local utility companies will provide information to access local services which may assist households with everyday expenses or for incidental times of need.
Career Change and College April 6th, 2 p.m.
Topics covered: Resources for job searches, résumé help, free internet access locally, going to college for the first time or to change careers and starting a small business. Representatives from local and regional agencies and colleges will provide useful information about making your next career move.
For more information on any of these sessions, contact the OntonagonCounty MSU Extension office at
884-4386.
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.
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.
