HIGHLIGHTS
Become an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer in the Western District!! Apply NOW!!
- The Western District currently has four VISTA positions available. Two year-long positions and two summer associate positions.
- Year long positions will work at the Dunn and Pierce County Extension Offices or the Barron County Extension Office
- Summer Associate positions will be located at either the Eau Claire or Clark County Extension Offices
- All positions begin in mid-June, 2009
- Position descriptions for each VISTA project and instructions for applying are below.
District Communications: Western District Digests and Department Head Updates
Kudos: Recognizing Western District Colleagues. Read about the contributions and achievements of our staff!
Western District Staff ...Impacting Local Communities
- Jerry Clark, Crops and Soils Agent in Chippewa County and Nancy Coffey, WNEP Coordinator in Eau Claire County were recently featured on WEAU Channel 13 News Today demonstrating a pizza garden! To view the video of this entertaining and educational story with News Anchor Judy Clark, visit the WEAU website.
- Amy Schanhofer, Monroe County Community Resource Development Educator, was recently recognized by St. John's Episcopal Church in Sparta for her work with the lay leadership of the congregation in organizational development. Rev Leigh Waggoner, Vicar, stated in her letter of commendation, "Amy's awareness, knowledge, respectful facilitation, engaging manner, and utter professionalism have contributed mightily to the life of St. John's."
- The Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program has been named the recipient of the 2008 Regent Academic Staff Program Excellence Award. WNEP was selected from among nominees from all other UW System institutions! This award is in recognition of the contributions of all colleagues who are a part of WNEP.
The Award will officially be presented at the August 22 UW System Regents Meeting in Madison. The Western District is fortunate to have 15 colleagues who provide exceptional nutrition education to limited resource families throughout our 14 counties.
- Steve Huntzicker, LaCrosse County Agriculture Agent,
and Joyce Cielecki, LaCrosse County Horticulture Agent have
a strong partnership with WKBT television and the Hands
On Gardening segment.
 Read
the letter recognizing
their work from Anne Paape, WKBT News Director. ( 1 page, 286
KB) Visit
the WKBT website to see the partnership in action!
- Joan Sprain, Family Living Educator in St Croix County recently invited a Drug Court participant to share with the County Board what he and his family gained from Extension's financial management and WNEP cooking class programs. He is now successfully managing his finances and the family has learned how to plan and shop to create more nutritional meals for the family. For information on these and other family living programs, contact Joan Sprain by e-mail or at the St Croix County UW-Cooperative Extension office at 715-684-3301.
- Katy Forsythe, 4-H Youth Development Agent in Eau Claire County is being honored for her 20 years of service to the 4-H youth and families of Eau Claire County with "Katy Forsythe year". Read about Katy and the organization's celebration of her impact on their lives in the Eau Claire Leader Telegram.
 Got
a question? View the InfoSource
web site for topic lists and more information on how
to use this valuable resource.
Western District Profile
The Western District has approximately 70 faculty and academic
staff who are jointly employed with county governments and UWEX. Within
the Western District there are 14 counties which have very strong
and supportive partnerships with each of the county governments. These
counties also work with the research station located in Marshfield
(Central District). Our Western District Basin Educators
are located on the UW-Eau Claire campus and the Jackson County Extension Office. The Western District
Office is located in downtown Black River Falls (the county seat in
Jackson County).
There are four core program areas covered throughout the district:
4-H and Youth Development; Agriculture and Natural Resources;
Community, Natural Resources, and Economic Development; and Family
Living (which includes Nutrition Education Programs). Each
county office, working with the county Extension
Education Committee, conducts program needs assessment to determine
the local educational program directions. The programming in the counties reflects the citizen, geographic,
and economic bases in the region.
The Western District UWEX Cooperative Extension's fourteen counties
are located in the west central portion of Wisconsin. Major
industries in the Western District include; Manufacturing, Agriculture (Dairy/ Livestock/Crops/Poultry), Forestry and Health Care.
There are four 4 year institutions in the Western District (UW-Eau
Claire, UW-Stout, UW-River Falls, and UW-La Crosse), as well
as the two year UW Barron County campuses. Within the area, there are also several technical colleges. The
diversity of the region provides the need for partnerships with
other institutions and organizations, as well as the flexibility
of educational program delivery. |
