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Partner Report

1715 Lansing Avenue Suite 257Jackson, Michigan 49202-2193

Phone: 517-788-4292

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials areMSU 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, 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 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, 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 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.products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

Family grows through exchange experience

The 4-H International Exchange program has been in existence since 1949, when the International Four-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) was started to promote peace around the world. Michigan hosts and sends youth to Taiwan, Japan, Switzerland and other countries through the IFYE program. Since then Michigan 4-H and national 4-H have added many other exchange opportunities such as those with Japan, Belize, Jamaica, Mexico, Poland, Australia, Finland, Norway, Costa Rica and former Soviet states including Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Georgia.

In Jackson County, one family is especially enthusiastic about hosting Japanese youngsters. It has welcomed five youngsters. As part of the American cultural experience, the Japanese youth have taken part in the Jackson County Fair, gone camping, attended family reunions and visited Cascades Park. They not only have brothers, sisters and parents, they have added grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, cousins, neighbors, peers, and the community to their list of expanded American contacts.

One of their family’s daughters traveled to Japan through the 4-H\LABO exchange program and stayed with one of her Japanese “sisters” for a month during the summer.

The family has signed up to host another young person this summer. The word about their open door international policy must be spreading in Japan because when their daughter was there two years ago, she met a Japanese family who had a daughter who was afraid to travel and stay with people she didn’t know in a foreign country. When this young woman learned that she could be hosted by the

youngest sister of the American girl she had met and gotten to know at home, she was no longer troubled with traveling half way around the world.

The family has said that the benefits of hosting a young person from another country include learning about the culture of Japan, getting to practice a foreign language, and while doing that, sharpening their nonverbal skills. They develop an appreciation of the social, economic, political and cultural contributions of all people, and they understand how culture influences values, beliefs and attitudes.

Contact: Renee Applegate 4-H Youth Educator

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials areMSU 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, 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 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, 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 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.products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

MSU Extension – Jackson County Staff

Jan Seitz......................................CED, FCS EducatorRalph Heiden..........................Horticultural EducatorMike Metzger.......Ag & Natural Resources EducatorTom Guthrie..............Extension Educator, Pork AoEPhil Tocco............Ag & Natural Resources EducatorRenee Applegate.........................4-H Youth Educator

Educating consumers on agricultureJackson County MSU Extension, in collaboration with the Jackson County Agriculture Council, provides consumers

an opportunity to learn about agricultural production each year through the “Farmfest” program.This year, participants in this event visited a dairy operation, a farm market, an apple orchard and cider mill and a

Longhorn cattle ranch. All sites provided participants an opportunity to see the production of products from the farm as well as listen to a short educational vignette on the production process.

The event drew 1,000 people to the fruit and vegetable sites and 800 visited to the animal sites. Participants were surprised to learn how complicated and time-consuming it is to grow fruit and vegetables.

Visitors to the animal sites learned about the process of milk production and the safety measures used to provide a healthy, safe dairy product.

Many of the participants commented that this was their first experience on an agricultural site. Some indicated observing all the new technology needed in farm production.

Consumers who are curious about where their food comes from can attend Farmfest, which also provides them with a sense of security about their food supply.

Contact: Tom GuthrieExtension Educator

Food safety training for food services managers

Michigan’s food code requires food service establishments to have a manager on staff who has passed a food safety certification training. To help food establishments meet this requirement, Jackson County MSU Extension is partnering with Jackson County Environmental Health to provide food safety training for manager certification using the ServSafe curriculum.

In 2009, 100 participants took part in certified trainings. Participants learned about food safety issues from purchase to serving.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials areMSU 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, 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 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, 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 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.products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

Longhorn cattle were part of the 2009 Jackson County Farmfest program.

Techniques to help managers maintain safety in their establishment included time temperature control, calibrating of thermometers, practicing personal hygiene with a focus on hand washing and glove use, preventing cross contamination, cleaning and sanitizing and how to train staff in these areas.

Upon completion of the training, 87 percent of the participants passed the national exam to receive their certification.A three month follow-up questionnaire sent to all participants indicated: Better enforcement of hand washing More frequent calibration of thermometers Better monitoring of temperatures from delivery, storage, preparation and serving Regular trainings held for staff Staff understanding the importance of reporting illness Improved inspection scoreJackson County MSU Extension will continue to offer these trainings throughout 2010.

Contact: Jan SeitzFamily Consumer Science Educator, CED

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials areMSU 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, 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 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, 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 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.products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.