Partner Report
Bringing Knowledge to Life!
Mecosta County
14485 Northland Drive
Big Rapids, Michigan 49307-2368
Phone: 231-592-0792
Mecosta County 4-Her participates in
National 4-H Dairy Conference
4-H youth members from across the U.S. enjoyed
several days of fun and learning during the 54th
annual National 4-H Dairy Conference on the
University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, this
fall.
The educational program attracted about 200 youth
and adult delegates from across the U.S. and Canada.
The delegation includes Dirk Okkema, a Mecosta
County 4-H member from Blanchard. Okkema was
selected from a field of applicants to attend the
conference based on past experiences, knowledge and
interest in the dairy industry.
The four-day experience exposed 4-H members to
new dairy science technology and dairy-related
careers. Through a combination of workshops,
speakers, educational off-site experiences and
networking with other dairy oriented youth, the 4H’ers gained information they could use to strengthen
their futures in the dairy industry. Hands-on learning
workshop topics included biotechnology, genetics,
foods evaluation, animal nutrition and marketing.
E-mail: msue.mecosta@county.msu.edu
Fax: 231-592-9492
Web: msue.msu.edu/mecosta
January 2009
The National 4-H Dairy Conference is sponsored by
the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Support for
it comes from numerous corporate sponsors,
including ABS Global; Alltech: Alta Genetics USA,
Inc., American Dairy Sciences Association, AMPI,
Cargill Animal Nutrition, CME Group Inc.,
Cooperative Resources International, Cotton
Incorporated, Dairy Farmers of America, DeLaval,
Foremost Farms USE, Fort Dodge Animal Health,
Hoard’s Dairyman, Mycogen Seeds, Nasco
International, the National Dairy Shrine, the Purebred
Dairy Cattle Association, Shur-Gain USE, United
Dairymen of Idaho, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing
Board, World Dairy Expo.
Contact: Melissa Bowman
Mecosta County 4-H Program Coordinator
“Meeting people from all over the country who share
similar interests was great! I learned so much,” one
delegate said.
4-H is the youth education program of the
Cooperative Extension system in the U.S. In
Michigan it is based at Michigan State University.
Dirk Okkema at the National 4-H Dairy Conference.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion,
age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names
does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
Better Kid Care is alive and
well in Mecosta County
The Michigan Better Kid Care (MiBKC) program
educates childcare providers and relative caregivers
through workshops, 18- and 36-hour training sessions,
online training, independent learning kits, mentoring and
support.
To meet state licensing requirements, childcare providers
must complete mandated continuing education credits to
begin and maintain their businesses. Parents can also take
part to improve parenting skills and HeadStart and
preschool teachers can enroll to update their knowledge
base. Since Oct. 1, Mecosta County caregivers have
learned about:
 Science for Young Thinkers
 Math for Every Age
 Problem Solving with Children
From “Math for Every Age”
 “Remembering that kids learn best by physically
doing activities in a hands-on manner, rather than just
by watching [is important].”
 “This program helped me learn how easy it will be to
incorporate math concepts into my daily program.”
All MiBKC trainings are provided free to anyone who
isinterested in learning more about child development and
those needing professional development hours. In total, 40
certificates of completion have been given to parents and
providers in Mecosta County since Oct. 1.
Contact: Diane Blain, Better Kid Care
Many participants say that they appreciate having the
classes offered locally; in the past they had to drive to
Grand Rapids for the nearest sessions. They also
appreciate that MSU Extension provides the trainings at
no charge.
A Mecosta
County
childcare
provider tests
out a fun,
educational
hands-on
activity for
kids.
One provider who works with an after-school program in
a local school district commented that she will use many
of the techniques that she learned in MiBKC with the high
school aides who assist her. She wants to encourage the
aides to become more interactive and said that the
activities she learned at the training will help her convey
the importance of this concept.
Other comments included:
From “Problem Solving with Children”
 “[I] loved this session--it is the number one thing in
learning and development of children.”
 “I will be making more time and using more
guidance in helping the children work on solving
their own problems.”
From: “Science for Young Thinkers”
 “I will be more willing to use hands-on techniques in
helping children explore science.”
 “I learned fun ideas for experiments to use with
teaching children science and things I have right at
home.”
 “I will be using more open-ended questions with the
children I care for.”
Participants at a
Better Kid Care
training session
work in small
groups.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion,
age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names
does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.