Gladwin County
Gladwin County Extension
County Library Building
555 West Cedar Street
Gladwin, MI 48624-2025 /

P: 989-426-7741F: 989-426-6781

/ E-mail:

Web: www.msue.msu.edu/Gladwin

August 2005

Master Gardeners learn and grow

While MSU Extension’s Master Gardener program is known for helping gardeners hone their skills, it also gives them the chance to explore such topics as soil health, environmental protection and volunteerism.

The 12-week course is underway now through Nov. 10 in Gladwin, and when it is completed, the participants will be ready to not only grow their own gardens, but improve their communities and help others explore flower and vegetable gardening.

The Master Gardener program is a volunteer leader training program. It provides home gardening information to citizens through a network of trained volunteers. An interest in plants, a personal commitment to volunteerism and an enthusiasm for sharing knowledge with others are the only prerequisites.

The educational component of the Master Gardener Volunteer Program provides an overview of major horticulture subjects in a classroom setting.

Upon completion of the educational component and 40 hours of volunteer service, the Master Gardener trainee will receive his or her Master Gardener certification.

Master Gardeners volunteer work can be found at the Gladwin Historical Society, City Park and downtown Gladwin just to name a few of the locations. /

County fair builds youth, community

The county fair is a place where youths build life-long, life-supporting and life-enriching memories. Visitors have the opportunity to witness an inspiring live exhibition of a rural county’s commitment to youth and community.
The Gladwin County 4-H Fair has come and gone for 2005. The fair is the culmination of a year of hard work by more than 200 young people and more than 100 adult volunteers. This number is up by more than 100 especially in the livestock area due to the new horse arena, which was constructed this past year. The mandatory superintendents training reached more volunteers to work and support the fair.
4-H’ers showcased animal and still exhibit projects in all the barns. Outstanding showmen were awarded gold ribbons and were eligible to show at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit.
The Gladwin County Fair Board is responsible for the fair property and operation. This dedicated group of volunteers is the reason for the continuing growth and improvement in this countywide event.

/ 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 facingcommunities. 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. /

Extension meets need for plant information

The Gladwin County residents look to MSU Extension for help dealing with insect, plant disease and other growing season questions. During 2005, staff members and volunteers have taken 150+ phone calls and nearly 100 soil tests which is up by at least 25 samples for vegetable, flower and food plots. These soil tests are in addition to the soil samples/tests that are done for county agriculture clientele.
On Friday mornings during the growing season a Master Gardener volunteer has been on hand to help answer questions. This frees the office staff to handle programming and gives the Master Gardeners the chance to earn volunteer hours and practice their skills.
The Gladwin Soil Conservation District forester Phil Sworden has taken a cooperative role in working with our office staff. Temperature, humidity, rain, lack of rain, all play a part on the health of trees. Many homeowners have come in with questions and having a local forester has been a tremendous help to the MSU Extension staff.
Families access produce and education through Project FRESH
More than 255 Gladwin County families have already taken part in Project FRESH, receiving nutrition information and coupons for use in purchasing fresh farm produce.
Project FRESH is primarily available to families receiving food stamp assistance through the USDA Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, in the last three summers Project FRESH has also been offered to families enrolled in MSU Extension’s Family Nutrition Program who have children younger than 17 years old.
In 2004 Gladwin and Clare counties had the best redemption rates for coupons in the state, as more than 80 percent of coupons were redeemed. They are very much appreciated by families in this county, enabling them to take advantage of in-season prices through Oct. 31.

Upcoming Events

Master Gardener Classes
Aug. 25 - Nov. 10, Gladwin MSU Extension office

National 4-H Week

Oct. 2 - 8

Fall Awards Banquet

Oct. 23, Knights of Columbus Hall in Gladwin
/ Extension Council to take part in issue identification processThe 14-member Gladwin County Extension Council represents citizens from across the county from differing backgrounds and interests.
The council established a process in spring 2001 to identify and prioritize local issues that could be addressed by Extension’s educational programming.
It will revisit the challenges facing residents and how MSU Extension can help meet those challenges during a new issue identification process set to take place beginning this fall.
The Gladwin County process will be part of a larger, statewide issue identification process that will be ongoing during the next eight months under the auspices of MSU Extension and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. The intent is to implement a process that:
·  Involves a broader cross-section of the populace
·  Involves MAES faculty, Area of Expertise teams, the MSU Extension and Experiment Station Council, local Extension councils, field station advisory councils, interest groups, partners and others
·  Explores trends, emerging issues and current realities
·  Establishes an ongoing institutional practice for reviewing current issues and adjusting research and program priorities.
Gladwin MSU Extension Council members are
Jim Badger, Kay Gawel, Kelly Conley, Dave Volk
Tom Risch, Terry Walters, Jan Wilcox. Chuck Jones,
Charity Simpkins, Laura King, Roy O’Hare, Dick Metz, Diane Morley and Ann Harris.
MSU Extension Staff

Beverly Przystas

County Extension Director/4-H Youth Educator

Kable Thurlow

Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resouraces Gladwin and Clare counties

Coral Beth Rowley

Food Nutrition Program Assistant

Glenda Bair

Office Manager

Tracy Volk

Food Nutrition Program Secretary
Mary Lamblin
Experience Works
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity institution, Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family 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