Family Nutrition Program Partners for More Education for Alcona County
Alcona County Extension
320 S. State, PO Box 800
Harrisville, MI 48740-0800 / P: 989-724-6478
F: 989-724-6953
/ E-mail:Web: www.msue.msu.edu/Alcona
January 2008
Family Nutrition Program partners for more education for Alcona County
The new grant year for Alcona County MSU Extension’s Family Nutrition Program (FNP) began in October with a raft of new and established programs. Through a USDA Food Stamp Nutrition Education grant, eligible families have an opportunity to learn about good nutrition and food preparation.In an effort to extend the outreach of her programs, FNP associate Anne Bloss has developed several new partnerships in Alcona County.
In late November she began working with the Alcona Elementary School nurse and wellness center staff to offer an education series for students.
Lessons include not only nutrition, but the fun and importance of physical fitness (using MSUE’s Jump Into Foods and Fitness curriculum) and character (through 4-H’s Character Counts! program).
In addition, two programs were offered with another partner, the Harrisville Library. The first was an after-school series that began in December to offer socially isolated children lessons on making and tasting healthy foods so they can improve their diets and take better care of themselves.
The second program offered low-income adults hands-on lessons for preparing low-cost, healthy foods during the holidays.
Additional cooperative efforts are in the works for 2008 to bring more education about healthy eating and healthy lifestyles to people across Alcona County.
Contact: Anne Bloss /
Barns and quilts and tourists, oh my!
There is a thread of excitement running though the Alcona County community that proposes to weave several unlikely concepts together.A number of farmers, quilters, civic-minded individuals and MSU students have met over the past several months to discuss just such a linkage.
The Alcona Barn Quilt Trail Project is an effort to develop a route through the county that showcases the artistic work of quilters by affixing large wooden replicas of quilt squares to the side of local barns or historical structures.
Visitors are provided a map and encouraged to drive through the countryside, stopping at farm stands, small towns and scenic sites along the way.
“This type of project allows rural communities, such as Alcona, the chance to showcase their history and culture for tourism development,” says Wynne Wright, assistant professor in the MSU Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies.
In late November, several students from Wright’s classes offered a presentation at the Hollyhock Quilt Shop in Harrisville.
They shared research about the growing movement of Barn Quilt Trails across the U.S.and outlined recommendations about how to bring this type of innovative project to Alcona County.
The Alcona County Barn Quilt Committee will again meet in January, to develop the next steps for implementing this project.
Contact: Bonnie Wichtner-Zoia
/ Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facing communities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners, the state through Michigan State University and federally through the US Department of Agriculture.
Third Alcona Leadership program graduates ready to contribute to community
Thirteen Alcona County residents graduated from the 2007 Alcona Leadership program. Following a six-part program offered through the MSU Extension office, they built a variety of skills and abilities and are ready to share their talents with others through contributions to community organizations, businesses, churches and other groups.
The third class to complete the series, they took part in education focused on team building, self discovery and leadership techniques.
Classes began in September and continued through October. The sessions were held in various locations around the county, providing an opportunity for the participants to visit places outside of the usual county hubs like the Seaver Country House Bed & Breakfast, Alcona High School’s Maple Sugar Shack, Mikado Township Hall and the Harrisville Harbor Marina.
As a result of completing the leadership program, evaluations indicated that this year’s graduates learned the following:
- To assert myself and my ideas more
- Be more open to ideas
- Grow more within myself
- Discuss the pro’s and con’s of problems more
- Teamwork really does work
- How to effectively work as a group and make everyone understand your thought process.
- How to work better with others and take charge
- That some people back down and give in even if they are correct
- How to be a better listener
Contact: Sienna Suszek /
2007 Alcona Leadership graduates include in front row from left to right: Lorna Dellar, Missy Stoner, Connie Sysak, Pat Richardson, Joan Crick, Ann Hall, Debra Anderson. Back row: Mary Ann Church, Judy Blower, Steve Ashford, Robin Linde, Vanessa Oliver, Stacey Hall.
Upcoming Events
- Birds, Bees and Butterflies Workshop
12:30 PM – 4 PM
- Teen Cooking Class – February 5
- The Michigan Master Gardener Class
- Your Business: Planning for Success Workshop
9 AM Starting Your Business
1:30 PM Growing Your Business
- Friends of 4-H Auction – April 19
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, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824