Katie Ockert, MPA
Ionia County Extension Office
Chronic Wasting Disease Educator
Telephone: 616-527-8219
Area of Expertise:
Katie is a statewide chronic wasting disease educator for MSU Extension. She is based in Ionia County but provides coverage for the state of Michigan.
Coverage Area
Alcona County, Alger County, Allegan County, Alpena County, Antrim County, Arenac County, Baraga County, Barry County, Bay County, Benzie County, Berrien County, Branch County, Calhoun County, Cass County, Charlevoix County, Cheboygan County, Chippewa County, Clare County, Clinton County, Crawford County, Delta County, Dickinson County, Eaton County, Emmet County, Genesee County, Gladwin County, Gogebic County, Grand Traverse County, Gratiot County, Hillsdale County, Houghton County, Huron County, Ingham County, Ionia County, Iosco County, Iron County, Isabella County, Jackson County, Kalamazoo County, Kalkaska County, Kent County, Keweenaw County, Lake County, Lapeer County, Leelanau County, Lenawee County, Livingston County, Luce County, Mackinac County, Macomb County, Manistee County, Marquette County, Mason County, Mecosta County, Menominee County, Midland County, Missaukee County, Monroe County, Montcalm County, Montmorency County, Muskegon County, Newaygo County, Oakland County, Oceana County, Ogemaw County, Ontonagon County, Osceola County, Oscoda County, Otsego County, Ottawa County, Presque Isle County, Roscommon County, Saginaw County, Sanilac County, Schoolcraft County, Shiawassee County, St. Clair County, St. Joseph County, Tuscola County, Van Buren County, Washtenaw County, Wayne County, Wexford County
As the statewide Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) educator, Katie looks to create, deliver, and evaluate local and statewide communication strategies and innovative educational programs that meet current and projected outreach needs related to white-tailed deer management and CWD.
Katie works with key partners and audiences to identify communication strategies to increase awareness of CWD, increase hunters confidence in the Michigan Department of Natural Resource's ability to make informed decisions and take necessary management actions regarding CWD, and increase key stakeholders acceptance association with CWD management options and outcomes.
Authored Articles
- Chronic wasting disease: What is a prion?, May 19, 2020
- What is chronic wasting disease?, May 19, 2020
- Decreasing daylight and its effect on laying hens, October 1, 2019
- Proper goat hoof care, September 12, 2019
- Going home: Biosecurity tips for animals that went to the county fair, July 22, 2019
- Growing your own Thanksgiving turkeys, July 10, 2019
- Surviving the county fair: Tips for parents to help make the most of positive learning opportunities, July 10, 2019
- African Swine Fever: What you need to know, May 30, 2019
- Considerations to make as you prepare to purchase livestock, February 13, 2019
- Preventing and preparing for barn fires, December 11, 2018
- Winter animal care: Tips to keeping your animals healthy and happy during winter months, December 11, 2018
- Canine influenza reports are rising in Michigan, August 3, 2018
- Virulent Newcastle Disease in California, June 26, 2018
- Biosecurity—as easy as 1, 2, 3!, May 17, 2018
- Tips for bringing baby chicks home, May 17, 2018
- To weigh-in or not to weigh-in, that is the question, March 22, 2018
- Planning ahead for your dog’s holiday safety, December 19, 2017
- Set youth up for success in completing their project record books, December 14, 2017
- Learn by doing: Activity-based learning with 4-H cloverbuds, December 6, 2017
- Thanksgiving turkeys: To buy or to raise?, November 8, 2017
- Is this the 4-H project for me? — Goats, October 17, 2017
- What condition is your dog in?, October 17, 2017
- Budgeting for your animal science project, October 16, 2017
- Is this the 4-H project for me? – Dogs, October 13, 2017
- Disease prevention tips for horse owners, October 4, 2017
- Is this the 4-H project for me? – Rabbits and cavies, September 19, 2017
- Is this the 4-H project for me? – Poultry, September 19, 2017
- Is this the 4-H project for me? – An introduction, September 19, 2017
- Selecting and supporting a 4-H animal science project for cloverbuds, September 15, 2017
- The reality of aging out: Supporting youth who are experiencing their last 4-H program, July 28, 2017
- Fairs and cloverbuds: A great place to develop life skills, July 26, 2017
- How to recognize a sick bird, May 17, 2017
- Protect yourself from salmonella when handling chicks and ducklings, April 11, 2017
- Pre- and post-purchase tips: Adding animals to the herd made easy, March 31, 2017
- Five life skills to focus on in 4-H cloverbud programming, December 21, 2016
- Five ways youth can be good team members, December 15, 2016
- Six practices to be intentional about building positive relationships, December 13, 2016
- 4-H Animal Science programs teach youth marketable skills in real time, December 12, 2016
- Get started! Tips for helping youth become self-motivated, December 6, 2016
- Overcoming conflict in animal science programs, December 5, 2016
- Daily observation is key in animal health and wellbeing, November 29, 2016
- Preventing and controlling contagious foot rot in your goat herd, September 22, 2016
- The beat on navicular disease in horses, September 21, 2016
- Tips to explain breeding season in a youth friendly way, September 14, 2016
- Expert advice: The role of the judge, September 1, 2016
- Fecal matter can tell us a lot about the health of our rabbits, July 13, 2016
- The real cost of ribbons, July 6, 2016
- Tips on becoming an effective ag-vocate, May 4, 2016
- Conditioning your gaming horse is key, May 4, 2016
- Proper body positioning for your barrel racing runs, May 4, 2016
- Biosecurity for Your Birds trainings help you become the best defense against disease!, April 27, 2016
- Four ways parents can model good sportsmanship at shows, April 21, 2016
- Biosecurity: What you can do to help stop the spread of disease, February 25, 2016
- Tips for 4-H project selection, February 16, 2016
- Enhance members learning with 4-H quiz bowls and skill-a-thons, February 16, 2016
- Poultry show cancellation lifted in Michigan, December 23, 2015
- 4-H Embryology: The development of life, December 21, 2015
- What to do if you suspect lead poisoning in your domesticated pets, December 17, 2015
- Determining cage size for rabbits, November 10, 2015
- Body condition scoring in dogs and cats, November 5, 2015
- Body condition scoring in goats, November 3, 2015
- How you can reduce biosecurity risks in 4-H projects: Part 9, October 26, 2015
- How you can reduce biosecurity risks in 4-H projects: Part 8, October 24, 2015
- How you can reduce biosecurity risks in 4-H projects: Part 7, October 22, 2015
- Reflections of the 2015 Michigan poultry show ban in 4-H youth programs, October 20, 2015
- How you can reduce biosecurity risks in 4-H projects: Part 6, October 13, 2015
- How you can reduce biosecurity risks in 4-H projects: Part 5, October 11, 2015
- Poultry producers reminded to be on alert for avian influenza, October 9, 2015
- How you can reduce biosecurity risks in 4-H projects: Part 1, October 6, 2015
- Fair exhibitors kept birds home to keep Michigan flocks healthy, September 5, 2015
- The magic of being a 4-H Cloverbud, July 23, 2015
- Cloverbud programs Part 7: Providing a solid foundation for youth animal science programs, April 1, 2015
- Cloverbud programs Part 5: Providing a solid foundation for youth animal science programs, March 27, 2015
- Cloverbud programs Part 6: Providing a solid foundation for youth animal science programs, March 27, 2015
- Cloverbud programs Part 4: Providing a solid foundation for youth animal science programs, February 25, 2015
- Cloverbud programs Part 3: Providing a solid foundation for youth animal science programs, February 18, 2015
- Cloverbud programs Part 2: Providing a solid foundation for youth animal science programs, January 29, 2015
- Cloverbud programs Part 1: Providing a solid foundation for youth animal science programs, January 27, 2015
- Preventing and preparing for barn fires—part 2, December 11, 2014
- Winter rabbit care: Hopping to stay warm, December 4, 2014
- Dog days of winter, November 26, 2014
- Biosecurity: Principles of CHIP- part 6, October 31, 2014
- Biosecurity: Principles of CHIP- Part 5, October 29, 2014
- Biosecurity: Principles of CHIP – Part 4, October 27, 2014
- Biosecurity: Principles of CHIP - part 3, October 24, 2014
- Biosecurity: Principles of CHIP - part 2, October 22, 2014
- Biosecurity: Principles of CHIP, October 20, 2014
- Barrel Racing 101: Pulling it all together for a winning run, August 11, 2014
- Barrel racing 101: Tie-downs, August 8, 2014
- Barrel racing 101: Practice drills, August 6, 2014
- Engaging youth in the fair experience, August 4, 2014
- Barrel Racing 101: Understanding the barrel pattern and the perfect circle, May 23, 2014
- Barrel Racing 101: Selecting the proper equipment, May 15, 2014
- Pet vaccinations—the key to healthy pets!, April 10, 2014
- Pet home safety—are you prepared?, April 7, 2014
- Benefits of youth participation in Career Development Events, March 5, 2014
- How you can reduce biosecurity risks in 4-H projects: Part 4, March 4, 2014
- How you can reduce bio-security risks in 4-H projects: Part 3, March 3, 2014
- How you can reduce biosecurity risks in 4-H projects: Part 2, March 1, 2014
- Resources to help your club meetings be effective! Part 3, February 21, 2014
- Resources to help your club meetings be effective – Part 2, December 28, 2013
- Resources to help your club meetings be effective - Part 1, December 26, 2013
- Gearing up for fair projects using the Experiential Learning Model, December 25, 2013
- Cloverbud science activities – Part 3, December 23, 2013
- Cloverbud science activities, December 10, 2013
- Cloverbud science activities - Part 2, December 10, 2013
- Preparing your chickens for winter, November 26, 2013
- 4-H Project Snapshot’s: Resources you can use!, November 22, 2013
- Tips for parents when selecting a 4-H animal science project for cloverbuds, October 28, 2013
- Transitions to college—Tips for parents and students- Part 3, October 24, 2013
- Transitions to college—Tips for parents and students- Part 2, September 27, 2013
- Transitions to college— Tips for parents and students - Part 1, September 20, 2013
- Non-ownership livestock programs: A great way to engage urban youth!, September 13, 2013
- Tips for animal owners to help beat the heat, July 15, 2013
- Livestock exhibitor communication preparation, July 11, 2013
- Protect your pets from ticks!, May 22, 2013
- Judges are teachers, May 15, 2013
- Spring has sprung. Have you vaccinated your pets yet?, May 5, 2013
- That’s not fair! An approach to evaluating the fairness of 4-H competitive activities: Part 2, February 19, 2013
- Cloverbud programs: Providing a solid foundation for youth animal science programs — Part 7, February 7, 2013
- That’s not fair! An approach to evaluating the fairness of 4-H competitive activities: Part 1, January 31, 2013
- Cloverbud programs set the stage for success – Part 6, December 19, 2012
- Cloverbud programs set the stage for success – Part 5, December 11, 2012
- Cloverbud programs set the stage for success – Part 4, November 23, 2012
- Cloverbud programs set the stage for success – Part 3, November 13, 2012
- Cloverbud programs set the stage for success – Part 2, October 24, 2012
- Cloverbud programs set the stage for success – Part 1, October 17, 2012
- Remembering, not reliving, the past: Strategies to talk with children about 9/11, September 7, 2012
- Back-to-school strategies for success, August 23, 2012
- Evaluate the effectiveness of your 4-H club meetings, August 20, 2012
- There’s a fair in the air!, July 27, 2012
- Help your animals beat the heat, July 11, 2012
- Implementing the Experiential Learning Model in 4-H programming – Part 3, June 7, 2012
- Protect yourself and your pets from ticks, June 6, 2012
- Use proper bio-security practices with birds, May 18, 2012
- Smartphone applications can help youth manage animal science projects, May 7, 2012
- Vaccinate your pet for ensured health, May 7, 2012
- Keeping 4-H project records develops skills in youth for later success in life, April 24, 2012
- How to bathe your dog correctly, March 23, 2012
- Simple steps to help the well-being of your animals, March 23, 2012
- Animal science programs for youth build life skills, March 7, 2012
- Inside 4-H: Participating in animal/animal product evaluation provides unique learning opportunities, March 7, 2012
Articles Featuring
- MSU Extension educator to lead chronic wasting disease outreach efforts, December 10, 2019
Authored Documents
- Tips for Purchasing and Bringing Home Livestock, March 28, 2019
- Fair and Exhibition Animal Health Planning Guide, January 11, 2018
- Biosecurity for Your Bird Population Virtual Training, April 7, 2016
- Cloverbud Animal Record Book, April 16, 2015
- Chronic Wasting Disease,