Agriculture & Extension Education Committee

DATE: December 17, 2004

Members present: Borleske, Bernien, Cassity, Wiese, Zowin

UWEX Staff present: Dietmann, Erickson, Nagelkerk, Olson

Advisory Members present: Donna Neuwirth, Bill Jaquish

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 2:04 PM by Chair Wiese.

Certification of the Open Meeting Notice

Requirements of the open meeting law were met.

Approval of Agenda

Motion by Borleske, second by Cassity to approve the agenda. Motion approved.

Approval of Minutes from Last Meeting

Motion by Cassity, second by Zowin to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2004, regular meeting of the Ag & Extension Committee. Motion approved.

Correspondence

Paul reported that he wrote and sent an informational letter to the Sauk County Pork Producers regarding the new livestock siting law. This letter had been requested byt he Pork Producers since the new law is rather controversial. Some of the worksheets are difficult to understand and fill out, and the panel that drafted the law is recommending an "odor index" which is hard to gauge objectively. Discussion amongst the committee followed.

Bills and Financial Report

Vouchers for the month included the bill for the Master Gardener program registrations in the amount of $1,370.00 and the excess copier charges which are over and above the yearly maintenance fee in the amount of $792.56.

Motion by Borleske, second by Cassity to approve the November bills in the amount of $3,956.00. Motion approved.

The financial report shows that the department has received 100% of anticipated revenues and has spent approximately 92% of projected expenditures.

Southern District WACEC Meeting

Information and prospective agendas were handed out to the County Board Supervisors on the Ag & Extension Committee for the upcoming meeting on February 4, 2005. Registrations are due January 28, 2005, so those wishing to attend need to let Lynn know so that she can get the registration form sent in to the Southern District office. Lester, Linda, Kathy, Sue, Jenny and Paul have indicated that they will plan to attend, but will confirm by the next Ag & Extension Committee meeting in January.

Agent Presentations(s) by Sue Nagelkerk

Sue had a few items to report to the committee before her presentation:

She presented a plaque that had been awarded to LaVon Puttkamer and the Safe & Sound car seat program.
She reported that HCE had received a check in the amount of $2,500 from working at the Big Dig this past summer. This money will be put towards the First Book program.
"Get Ready..l.Get Set... Garden!" is being planned and will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2005.

Sue presented the ABC Project and explained the premise and process to the committee. This is a project that she is working on with Cheryl Rew Stapleton in the Wisconsin Dells School District. She also showed a short video entitled, "Why Early Childhood Matters".

Advisory Committee and Citizen Comments

Bill:

Attended the Dairy Facilities Tour. Thought that there were good info and good ideas presented that they were able to take home.
Donna:
She has applied for a grant to establish a second Community Garden with the Baraboo High School

Department Update

Jenny has been working with the Sauk County Nonprofit Network.
Jenny and Sue will be doing a "train the trainer" session for financial counseling in February.
Jessica reported that there are two new 4-H clubs in Sauk County, bringing the total up to seventeen.
Jessica just wrote a grant asking for $20,000 for the YEPS program.
Paul talked about the Ag Entrepreneurial Class that he and Jenny will be helping to facilitate and teach in February and March. This is a ten session course that will actually have the participants writing a complete business plan.
Lynn is in the process of updating the Farm Connect Guide for 2005.
The new plat books are now available.

Date for Next Regular Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Ag & Extension Committee will be held Thursday, January 27, 2005, at 1:00 PM in the ETN Classroom.

Adjournment

Motion by Borleske, second by Cassity to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 3:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted: Paul Dietmann