Agriculture & Extension Education Committee

DATE: May 28, 2003

Members present: Bernien, Cassity, Wiese, Zowin

UWEX Staff present: Dietmann, Jens, Olson

Advisory Members present: Jaquish, Leopold

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 AM by Chair Wiese.

Certification of the Open Meeting Notice

Requirements of the open meeting law were met.

Approval of Agenda

Motion by Bernien, second by Zowin to approve the agenda. Motion approved.

Approval of Minutes from Last Meeting

Motion by Cassity, second by Bernien to approve the minutes of the April 24, 2003, regular meeting of the Ag & Extension Committee. Motion approved.

Correspondence

The department received a memo from Gene Wiegand regarding the budget process which will be read later in the meeting.

Bills and Financial Report

The last half of the county's portion of the agents' contracts for 2002 - 2003 has been submitted for payment. There will be some savings for the next contract payment due to the absence of a 4-H agent for 3+ months.

Motion by Zowin, second by Cassity to approve the April bills in the amount of $49,360.50. Motion approved.

Paul reported that departmental revenues are at 78% of projected for the year and expenses are at 38% of budgeted amounts.

District WACEC Summer Meeting

The WACEC Summer meeting will be at Rotary Gardens in Janesville on June 19. Lester will go with Paul and the rest of the Ag & Extension committee was encouraged to attend. Lynn will register the group with Terry Kraft at the Southern District office and the department will pay the registration fees.

Update on 2004 Budget Process

The memo from Gene Wiegand was read by the committee and mission and vision statements were discussed. Motion by Bernien, second by Cassity to approve the mission and vision statements as presented with the budget last year.

Agent Presentation

Jessica Jens presented an overview of what the 4-H program looks like demographically with breakdowns of rural vs. urban kids and the top five (5) projects enrolled in this year with the numbers. She talked about what she has been doing since she came on board the staff on May 12th and some of her planned activities and goals for the 4-H program. She also entertained them with "Tim the Towel Chicken" and told the committee to look for "Tim" at the Sauk County Fair in July.

Advisory Committee Comments

Bob Leopold:

• Recommend that the Ag & Extension Committee write a letter to Judy to thank her for covering for the 4-H program for the interim months before a new agent could be hired. Kathy Zowin will get gift certificates and get reimbursed from the committee members at the next meeting.
• There is a new look at the fairgrounds with three (3) buildings being removed. Bob is working with the Fair Board on a way to house the animals for the Sauk County Fair. There will probably be some tents set up for that purpose.
• Introduced Christa Borzick, the Sauk County 4-H Summer Assistant
• Mentioned the possibility that there will be no Fair premiums for the Fair participants if the Legislature does not put that money back in the state budget.
• The Sauk County Holstein Board will be giving $50 to any registered blue ribbon cow at the county fair.

Bill Jaquish:

• Wrapping up planting and getting into haying
• The Dairy Breakfast will be June 7th at Myers Maple Leaf Farm in Loganville

Department Update

• Sue is submitting her portfolio again this week for her tenure process. She will present in person to the Standards, Rank and Promotion (SRP) committee on June 18th in Stevens Point.
• The department is back to full staff
• Marcy Huffaker, UW Horticultural Intern, is expecting in September. Paul is looking at ways to keep her on staff
• Rural Safety Days was held on May 13 & 14. Paul, Sue and Jessica helped out with this event
• The department will be making displays for the educational tent at the Dairy Breakfast.
• Paul mentioned the meeting room scheduling conflict regarding the situation where the 4-H Horse project was asked to move out of the basement meeting rooms in order to make room for the Finance Committee budget meetings
• Sauk County Clean Sweep will be held in September

Date for Next Regular Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Ag & Extension Committee will be held Wednesday, June 25, 2003, at 9:30 AM in the ETN classroom in the West Square Building.

Adjournment

Motion by Cassity, second by Zowin to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 10:35 AM.

Respectfully submitted: Paul Dietmann