MSU Extension Cass County

Message from the Interim District Director

Thank you for another great year of partnership and community impact! We appreciate your support in helping MSU Extension serve the residents of Cass County. Sincerely, Kai Gritter.

Impact in Cass County

• 1,193 participants from the county attended programs
• 656 youth enrolled in 4-H
• 179 MSU Extension volunteers
• 21 answered Ask Extension questions
• Residents participated in 242  programs (across the State) and  57 programs (hosted in County)
• 179 client consultations
• 78 participants in county agriculture programs
• 24 county partnerships

Health & Nutrition

In 2024, 630 Cass County students and adults learned how to make healthy choices during 40 fun and engaging nutrition and physical activity classes. By the end of one Show Me Nutrition series, a 4th student who often used to say “I don’t know” confidently named all five food groups and created a healthy meal.

In an adult life skills class, participants got to lead songs and exercises, which helped them feel confident and excited to learn. One participant, inspired by the Healthy Choice Everybody curricula, made healthier food choices and excitedly shared her success at the end of the six-week series.

“Mrs. Nora Lee isn't just any health teacher; she is a beacon of enthusiasm, knowledge and care. Her energy is contagious, and the students couldn't help but be drawn into the fascinating world of health and wellness. She crafted her lessons to be interactive and engaging, using games, group activities, and real-life examples to drive home important concepts. As a result, Mrs. Lee's health class became the highlight of the students' day.” ~Cass County ISD Teacher

These nutrition and physical activity programs help people of all ages build healthy habits, boost confidence, and enjoy learning together. In addition to direct education, three sites in the county received support through Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) education. 190 people were impacted by these changes. These changes have made healthy choices easier to accomplish.

4-H & Youth Development

Children and families continued to benefit from a variety of programs, in partnership with dedicated 4-H volunteers and MSU Extension staff.

Topics include:

• Career exploration and workforce development
• Child & family development
• Healthy living
• Leadership & civic engagement
• Science literacy

Over 4,000 Michigan youth completed the national Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certification, a program promoting food safety, animal well-being and character development. There were 102 in-person Instructor-led YQCA trainings offered, some of which were taught by Hilary Hunt, Cass County's 4-H PC.

This annual education initiative continues to strengthen youth knowledge and responsibility in animal agriculture.

Agriculture & Agribusiness

MSU Extension’s Developing and Educating Managers and New Decision-makers (DEMaND) Series was named the 2024 national winner of the Search for Excellence award by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA). This award honors outstanding Extension programs and recognized DEMaND team members Jonathan LaPorte, Frank Wardynski and Steven Whittington, who attended the annual luncheon. LaPorte also presented on the program during the event and received positive feedback, including one attendee who shared, “Thank you SO MUCH for doing this. I thoroughly enjoy the information presented.”

The DEMaND Series helps new and small farmers build skills in farm business, finances, and decision- making. It is led by MSU Extension Educators and includes support from key agricultural partners.

Explore https://www.canr.msu.edu/demand for more information or scan the QR code.

Community, Food & Environment:

The Zoning Administrator Certificate (ZAC) program is an intensive training and networking experience, designed to meet the educational needs of this important local government role. In 2024, 59 participants from 34 counties in Michigan enrolled in the ZAC program with 57 receiving their Zoning Administrator Certificate including four from Cass County.

The ZAC Program continues to be a leading source for zoning administrator professional development in Michigan and even nationally. It also serves as a great way for Zoning Administrators from across the state to connect and share experiences with one another to build a professional network.

In addition to the education and hands on experience participants get, the ZAC Program works to build a network of zoning professionals who can lean on each other (and MSU Extension Educators) to be leaders in their communities.

“If you feel like you never got good training and don’t know exactly what’s required of a ZA [Zoning Administrator], this course is invaluable." - 2024 ZAC Participant

MSU Extension's Statewide Impact

Helping people improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge and resources of Michigan State University directly to individuals, communities and businesses.

 $246.5 billion annual impact of food and agriculture on Michigan’s economy

133,306 total youth participants

9,808 people participated in Food Safety programs including ServSafe®

29,264,562 contacts through social media, web activity, e-newsletters, and handouts

12,861 total volunteers

67,320 Participants in Community, Food and Environment Programs

1,876 Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) spent 96,653 hours helping individuals and communities grow

Strategic Direction

In 2024, MSU Extension completed a comprehensive Strategic Direction Plan, which illustrates our vision for the future, outlining strengths to build on and opportunities to embrace. To read the full report, go to canr.msu.edu/od/directors_office/strategic-direction