UW Extension educators outline new office at Moraine Park, regional hiring and expanded 4‑H/STEM programs

UW Extension staff and 4‑H educators updated the Washington County Land Use & Planning Committee on recent office changes, hiring and local education projects.

Jeremy Solon, assistant dean for Southern Wisconsin serving as interim area extension director, said Extension moved its office in December to Moraine Park Technical College, described ongoing logistics and invited committee members to an open house next Thursday. "We moved in December out to Moraine Park technical college," he said. Solon also said the area extension director position—reconfigured to cover five counties—had completed screening interviews with final candidates to be interviewed in early February and expected a hire by March.

Liz Garvin, regional crops educator, summarized two local pilot projects: a nitrogen optimization plot where drone flights showed little visible difference pending final data analysis, and a NOPP cover‑crop biomass and soil sampling project at Ramphen’s that will feed into the state nutrient management specifications (publication 2809). "We didn't see a whole lot of difference," Garvin said about the drone observations, and she emphasized that collected local data will inform the statewide 2809 guideline.

Kelly John, the county 4‑H educator, described new STEM and career‑focused programming including a science expedition to the UW–Madison campus with 22 youth (grades 6–12), a countywide STEM club to recruit volunteer leaders and a virtual distance‑learning kit system for youth unable to attend in person. Ron Chickibison, also a 4‑H educator, reviewed volunteer training, teen‑staff recruitment for summer camp (22 teen staff selected) and a Team Connect program of monthly youth leadership activities.

Committee members praised the partnerships with Moraine Park and the educators' outreach work, noting positive retention and leadership development outcomes among youth participants. The committee had no formal action on these reports; the items were informational.