MSU Extension Ogemaw County

Supporting Family Health & 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, Ogemaw County ranks 76 of 83. MSU Extension offers programs to help improve this statistic such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Education. 250 Ogemaw residents participated in 2017. Also offered are programs like PATH (Personal Action Toward Health) Diabetes, Eat Healthy Be Active, Cooking Matters, Chronic Pain & Mindfulness and Food Preservation & Safety classes.

Empowering Ogemaw Youth

From 4-H to STEAM Programs to county fair auctions and mock interviews, MSU Extension provides learning opportunities that help prepare youth for work, especially for jobs in science, technology, engineering and math.

“...when I was involved in 4-H clubs several years ago, I had no idea the impact this would have on my life. I grew as a leader, communicator, citizen and person…” - 4-H Alumna

Sixty-two percent of Ogemaw County 4-H seniors graduating between 2012 and 2017 enrolled in college after high school, while 49.4 percent of 18-24 year olds in the region did so.

Agriculture & Agribusiness

During the past year in Ogemaw County, MSU Extension provided farm support and education through individual consultation, workshops, research opportunities, evaluation of practices, articles and training for 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 Ogemaw County residents attended, participated or consulted in these programs.

Ogemaw Master Gardeners

Ogemaw Master Gardeners know that horticulture lends value to property; brings greenery into urban and suburban spaces; increases oxygen in the vicinity of the planting; and provides habitat to bird, insect, and other beneficial animal species. In the fall of 2017, thirty participants attended a 14 week class from numerous MSU Extension Horticulture Experts. New trained volunteers will assist current volunteers on the rain garden at Ogemaw Heights High School and two community gardens in Ogemaw County. Overall Master Gardener volunteer hours almost doubled from 353 in 2016 to 678 in 2017.

Engaging Future Leaders

Research demonstrates that young people who participate in positive youth development programs are significantly more likely to exhibit academic competence. In November of 2017, a workshop titled The Future We Want was held at Whittemore-Prescott Schools to introduce youth to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and at the same time provided an opportunity for youth to develop leadership competencies of active and engaged global citizens. MSU Extension staff led this program to over 300 youth from grades 7-12.

Community Development

Michigan Citizen Planner offers land use education and training to locally appointed and elected planning officials. The Citizen Planner program is a seven-session series leading to a certificate of completion awarded by MSUE. The course is intended for local appointed and elected officials, zoning administrators and interested citizens. In August and September of 2017 thirty people including twelve from Ogemaw County attended this program.