MSU Extension Muskegon County

A message from the District Director

I’m excited to share the results of another successful year of partnership between Muskegon County and Michigan State University (MSU) Extension. Because of your continued support, we’ve been able to make a difference in the lives of youth, families, businesses, and communities. MSU Extension offers a broad range of research-based educational services to County residents. Over this past year, we’ve empowered families and individuals to live healthier lives, supported new and local businesses, created opportunities for youth leadership development and career exploration, helped farmers with business management and mental health, and much more. Our staff live and work alongside County residents, are rooted in community relationships, and are responsive to community needs. Again, this year, we’ve welcomed Muskegon County residents into our online community: we’ve offered online educational courses, answered questions on topics ranging from gardening to food safety, raised program awareness through social media, and provided a library of research-based resources they’ve browsed on our website. Our partnership with you makes this all possible. On behalf of the MSU Extension team serving Muskegon County, thank you for another great year. We look forward to your continued support and hope you’ll be able to join us during one of our upcoming programs.

Impact at a glance

• 120 programs delivered in Muskegon County
• 7,831 residents participated in programs offered by MSU Extension 
• 528 programs attended in-county or online
• 1,999 Muskegon County youth participated in MSUE events
• 19,734 program participants
• 73,517 social media reach
• 466,615 social media reach of Muskegon admin 
• 108 submissions to Ask-An-Expert
• 41 ServSafe training partipants

Focus areas and programs

Agriculture

MSU Extension works to increase farmers’ success while protecting the environment, ensuring food safety, reaching new markets and advancing agriculture through applied research. Agriculture is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the Michigan economy.

• Heroes to Hives
• Pesticide Applicator Training
• MI Great Beer Conference
• Farm Financials & Beginning Farmers
• Specialty Crops & Blueberry Irrigation
• Milker Training
• Manure management
• Interactive pruning workshop 
• Asparagus Day
• Hop Chat, Weed ID & Management

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.

• 101 soil tests processed
• 112 inquiries to "Ask Extension" 
• Lakes monitoring & Stream Clean-up 
• Wastewater conference
• Invasive Species Summit
• Michigan Birding 101 
• Wild About Conservation 
• Southern Lake MI Fisheries Workshop 
• Home Horticulture classes

Community 

Successful and thriving communities combine knowledgeable and engaged legislators, businesses, community groups and residents. By connecting these groups with the most trusted tools, MSU Extension helps enhance the quality of life in Michigan.

• Homebuyers Education
• Citizen Planner
• 88 Product Center counselling sessions
• Effective board meetings and government
• Property tax foreclosure 
• Muskegon H.S. Entrepreneurship
• Fiscally Ready Communities
• Mortgage Foreclosure basics
• Tips to Build and Protect Your Credit
• How to Start Food Truck Business
• Retirement Myths and Facts
• Savvy Tips for Starting a Small Business

Health & Nutrition

MSU Extension’s programming promotes healthy lifestyles and empowers Michigan residents to take control of their health. Participants learn how to build nutritious diets on a budget, reduce foodborne diseases and become leaders in the food industry.

Holton, Muskegon Heights, Mona Shores, Edgewood Elementary, Marquette Elementary, MLK Elementary, Muskegon

• Chronic Pain PATH
• Tai Chi for Fall Prevention 
• Michigan Cottage Food Law
• Food safety Q & A
• SLEEP
• Food preservation
• ServSafe training
• Smart Gardening
• Diabetes prevention 
• Investigating Food with Science 

Family & Youth

Keeping Michigan families strong and successful—financially, emotionally and physically—is a big part of measuring MSU Extension’s success. Programs devoted to keeping families safe include those dealing with bullying and violence prevention.

• Relax: Alternatives to Anger
• Adulting 101 - various topics
• Stress Less with Mindfulness
• 4-H at the County Fair
• Powerful Tools for Care Givers
• Multiple 4-H events
• Highly successful parenting 
• 4-H Exploration Days on MSU Campus
• Positive Disciplining

4-H in Muskegon County

• 13 clubs
• 158 members
• 55 volunteers
• 1,089 hours of volunteer time