MSU Extension Iosco County

Supporting Family Health and Nutrition

Health outcomes in the County Health Rankings represent measures of how long people live and how healthy people feel. According to the 2018 County Health Rankings Report, Iosco County ranks 73 of 83. MSU Extension offers programs to help improve this statistic such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education. Over 520 Iosco residents participated in 2017. Other programs include Personal Action Toward Health for diabetics, Eat Healthy Be Active, Cooking Matters, Chronic Pain and Mindfulness, Food Preservation, and Food Safety.

Empowering Iosco Youth

MSU Extension provides young people with experiential learning opportunities to explore new interests and discover their passion. From 4-H to STEAM programs and county fair auctions to mock interviews, youth gain life skills to prepare them for the workforce, especially for careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

“...going to 4-H Capitol Experience helped me to discover a passion for government. Because of 4-H, I am studying Political Science at MSU…” - Iosco 4-H Member

Fifty-two percent of Iosco County 4-H seniors graduating between 2012 and 2017 enrolled in college after high school, while 42.9 percent of 18-24 year olds in the region did so.

Agriculture and Agribusiness

During the past year in Iosco County, MSU Extension provided farm support and education through individual consultation, workshops, research opportunities, evaluation of practices, articles and training for farm employees. Topics included the impact of milking procedures on cows, disease control, finance management, breeding readiness, employee management and dealing with farm stress. Hundreds of Iosco County residents attended, participated or consulted in these programs.

Iosco County Master Gardeners

Iosco Master Gardeners know that horticulture lends value to property, brings greenery into urban and suburban spaces, reduces greenhouse gases. and provides habitat to declining pollinators and other beneficial animal species. During 2017, 15 Iosco County Master Gardeners each met or exceeded a 15 hour per year volunteer requirement and 5 hours of continuing education, which totaled 1,129 + volunteer hours! Also, six new Iosco County residents completed the Master Gardener Volunteer Class in 2017.

MSU Extension and Place-Based Stewardship Education

Over 34 Place-Based Stewardship Education (PBSE) Project Teams across eight counties including Iosco were active, supported through the regional Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative network. This initiative directly engaged students in PBSE activities with community partners. PBSE efforts provide opportunities for teachers and students, through their learning, to engage in and lead environmental stewardship projects in partnership with their communities.

Lake Huron Education

Michigan Sea Grant and MSU Extension, in partnership with the DNR Fisheries Division, USGS Great Lakes Science Center, and local fishery organizations, hosted four regional workshops across Lake Huron’s coastline including Oscoda. Twenty-four Iosco residents attended. Experts presented information and status updates on topics such as fish populations and angler catch data, forage or prey fish surveys, offshore fisheries from native Lake Trout recovery and success with Atlantic Salmon program, status of Saginaw Bay Yellow Perch and Walleye, updates on fisheries management activities, citizen science opportunities for anglers and more.