WACEC North Central Region Annual Meeting
April 21, 2014
Grand Lodge Waterpark Resort, 805 Creske Avenue, Rothschild, WI 54474
DRAFT AGENDA
9:15 a.m.
Registration – Grand Pines
Coffee, juice, rolls and conversation
9:30 a.m.
Welcome, Pledge of Allegiance, 4-H Pledge– Grand Pines
Robert Krause, President, WACEC North Central Region
Shawano County
Roll Call of Counties
Holly Wahlstrom Stratton, First Vice President, WACEC North Central Region
Florence County
WACEC Business Meeting
~ Call to order
~ Minutes of January 23, 2013
~ Reports
~ 2013 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference
* Larry Neuens, Florence County
* Maureen Schweder, Green Lake County
~ 2013 WACEC A State of the State Report
* Robert Krause, Shawano County
~ Regional Director Report
* Tom Schmitz, North Central Regional Office
~ Unfinished Business
~ New Business
~ 2014 State WACEC Meeting – June 23-24, 2014 in Eau Claire
~ Resolutions
~ 100th Anniversary of 4-H in Wisconsin
~ 2014 Public Issues Leadership Development (PILD) Conference
~ Elections
~ Officers
~President
~1st Vice President
~2nd Vice President
~Secretary
~ Resource Management Team 2014 representative
~ Adjourn
~over~
10:30 a.m.
Legislative Engagement – Grand Pines
“Working together to support a strong economy”
Introductions
Holly Wahlstrom Stratton, First Vice President, WACEC North Central Region
Florence County
Facilitation
Catherine Neiswender, North Central Regional Office
12:00 p.m.
Concluding Thoughts/Administrative Updates – Grand Pines
Richard Klemme, Dean and Director, UW-Extension
12:15 p.m.
Lunch and conversation – Royal Oaks
1:00 p.m.
UW Colleges and UW-Extension Administrative Updates – Royal Oaks
Aaron Brower, Interim Chancellor, UW Colleges & UW-Extension (invited)
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Extension Samplers (choose one room-topics subject to change)
 Grand Pines –
a. Why is Broadband Important in Rural Counties?
b. Act 10, Wage Study, Then What?
c. Working with Community Groups to Increase Financial Literacy
d. The Center of It All – 2014 Portage County Farm Technology Days
e. Got Mobility? Oneida County ‘Gadget Kits’ Library Project
2:30 p.m.

Maple (lower level) –
a. L.E.A.D. – A Positive Youth Development Program for Teens
b. Got Mobility? Oneida County ‘Gadget Kits’ Library Project
c. Developing a Community of Learners (Successful Lunch & Learn
Program)
d. WNEP Response to Economic Downturn
e. New Technology Supports More/Effective Farm Calls

Birch (lower level) –
a. The Center of It All – 2014 Portage County Farm Technology Days
b. Lasting Effects of the Strengthening Families Program
c. Meeting Tomorrow’s Livestock Feeding Challenges Today
d. Growing Healthy Futures Together: The Garden to Market Program
e. Act 10, Wage Study, Then What?
Adjourn
Extension Samplers
Why is Broadband Important in Rural Counties?
Christopher Stark, Vilas County CRD
An explanation of why Broadband is a vital component of economic development in rural counties and
communities.
Act 10, Wage Study, Then What?
Peter Manley, Wood County CRD
Act 10 changed the way counties determine wages for most of their employees as most union bargaining
is not an option. Many counties contracted for a wage study to determine appropriate wages to pay. The
speaker will briefly describe Wood County’s (sometimes bumpy) path to a new wage structure and a new
pay for performance system for supervisors. We will review a new evaluation tool which sets up
expectations before evaluation occurs. We will leave time to discuss approaches that have worked in
other counties.
Working with Community Groups to Increase Financial Literacy
Sherry Daniels, Portage County FL
Partnering with a variety of community groups works to increase financial literacy. Learn about all of the
groups who work together, how people/families in need are identified, referred and matched with a
trained coach in Financial Wellness of Portage County.
The Center of It All – 2014 Portage County Farm Technology Days
Nathan Sandwick, Portage County CRD
The largest agricultural show in Wisconsin and one of the largest shows in the nation is coming to Central
Wisconsin August 12-14, 2014. Portage County is the heart of Wisconsin’s vegetable production industry
and plans are being made to showcase this industry. Learn about what’s in the works for the show and
why you should attend this great event.
Got Mobility? Oneida County ‘Gadget Kits’ Library Project
Erica Brewster, Oneida County FL and Tim Brown, Oneida County CRD
What good is an electrical connection if you don’t have a light bulb? Connecting a community to
broadband internet is really only the first step in getting onto the information superhighway. The goal of
this project was to increase comfort and confidence of those on the “front line” of providing information
and support to the public in adopting digital technologies in rural areas.
L.E.A.D. – A Positive Youth Development Program for Teens
Jessica Hinrichsen, Marathon County 4-H
4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life
skills. Marathon County 4-H offers a variety of programs to members to promote positive youth
development. L.E.A.D., a middle and high school student leadership program, is designed for youth to
learn effective tools and techniques to empower others while they advance and develop their skills as
current and future leaders. During this presentation, participants will discover the positive impact L.E.A.D.
has made on youth throughout Marathon County.
~over~
Developing a Community of Learners (Successful Lunch & Learn Program)
Gary Kirking, Juneau County CRD and Judy Kennedy, Juneau County FL
An overview of the successful Lunch and Learn Series in Juneau County and the impact in the county and
UW-Extension Office.
WNEP Response to Economic Downturn
Brenda Herrell, Clark and Taylor Counties WNEP
Child poverty rates in counties are rising, more elementary schools have 50% or more of students
receiving free and reduced lunch; and food pantries report a continued rise in participation and are
struggling to keep food on the shelves. WNEP in Taylor County has responded by initiating the formation
of a group of agencies willing to collaborate to address this community need.
New Technology Supports More/Effective Farm Calls
Greg Blonde, Waupaca County AG
New technology is helping one county Ag Agent and his support staff schedule more effective farm calls
by developing and expanding a proactive farm outreach effort using new GIS based mobile application
tools to reach more farms and agribusinesses, more efficiently, through expanding communication and
accountability.
Lasting Effects of the Strengthening Families Program
Sue Allen, Marquette County FL
Parenting is tough. Preventing youth substance abuse and violence is even tougher. Learn how one
program proves that teaching positive values, respectful communication, mutual understanding, solving
problems jointly, and applying rewards and consequences is working in Marquette County.
Meeting Tomorrow’s Livestock Feeding Challenges Today
Heather Schlesser, Marathon County AG
Presentation to consultants to educate them on livestock feeding options available when hay was very
scarce.
Growing Healthy Futures Together: The Garden to Market Program
Neil Klemme, Iron County 4-H and Amy Nosal, AmeriCorps VISTA with Iron County
Iron County UW-Extension is making a concerted effort to engage young people in creating a healthy
community. Neil Klemme (4-H) and Joy Schelble (Horticulture), with the help of AmeriCorps VISTA Amy
Nosal, launched the Garden to Market Program this past summer to connect Iron County youth to local
food. Youth tended the school garden, managed their own booth at the farmers market and harvested
produce for the school lunch program. To help youth better understand how this project translates into
potential careers, youth learned directly from local farmers while touring their farms. The program will
continue next summer under a logo designed by youth and using funds from the farmers’ markets sales.
Come hear the story of how collaboration among UW-Extension Educators is breaking new ground in
youth and community development.