Greetings from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension in Door County!

We're thrilled to launch this monthly electronic newsletter for the vibrant community, program participants, and our valued partners of Door County.

Our aim is to keep you informed, connected, and inspired. Through this newsletter, we will share updates on ongoing and upcoming programs, community success stories, helpful resources, and opportunities to engage with the important work being done right here in Door County. At Extension, we are committed to bringing research-based knowledge and practical solutions to the people of Wisconsin. We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with UW-Madison resources and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities. Whether it is fostering youth development through 4-H, promoting dairy calf health, protecting natural resources, serving on community coalitions, providing food nutrition programs, or supporting people in their health and well-being, we are here to serve and empower our community.

We look forward to growing together to serve all people in Door County in creating positive change.

Thank you and we hope that you enjoy this first edition of our Extension Door County newsletter.

Badger Crop Connect Webinar Series Returns for 2025!

Wisconsin farmers, agronomists, and crop enthusiasts—mark your calendars! The 2025 Badger Crop Connect webinar series kicks off on April 10, 2025. Join us for expert insights on the latest crop management strategies, research updates, and ways to navigate Wisconsin’s changing climate while farming.

📅 When: Starting April 10, 2025

💻 Where: Online – join from anywhere over lunch! Thursdays from 12:30-1:30

📌 Why Attend? Stay ahead with timely agronomic updates, crop, soil, nutrient management, pest & disease management tips, and expert Q&A sessions. Obtain continuing education credits (CEU’s )

The “Wisconsin Ag Climate Outlook” is a weekly report to provide you and all types of Wisconsin farmers, crop advisors, ag business staff, with relevant up-to-date Wisconsin specific weather information and link it to current or future impacts on the farm. The goal is to help farmers make well-informed decisions based on the current and forecasted conditions in their area as early as possible. You have 3 options: try 1 or all 3! 

Sign up for emails

Read each report on the website

Watch recorded monthly reports by visiting the website.

American Heart Association offers a branded version of AmeriCorps called HeartCorps.  We have a HeartCorps member serving Door County, Sue Koeppe.  To promote heart health, Sue can lead a blood pressure check at a public library or other public event.  She can also teach Hands-Only CPR classes to interested groups of adults or youth.  You see her in the photo above set up for blood pressure checks at the Kewaunee Public Library during Heart Month in February.

Libraries have an opportunity to receive free blood pressure kits that can be made available for checkout.  Email Sue to find out more at: Sue.Koeppe.HeartCorps@heart.org

Many families struggle to put food on the table. In Door County, 2,030 people (6.6%) rely on federally funded FoodShare benefits to purchase food for themselves and their families.

Rural food pantries regularly identify a lack of fresh produce as a problem.  With soaring food prices, families are hard pressed to provide nutrient dense foods.

None of us can single-handedly solve the problem of community hunger.  But each of us can contribute.  One way is through Plant a Row for the Hungry.  Plant a Row simply means planting an extra row of whatever you already grow in your garden and donating that extra garden produce to your local food pantry.  Gardening gets you outside in the sun and doing good things for your neighbors.  Checkout the Doing Good Together Toolkit.

Let’s get growing!  We would love to help you with your initiative. FoodWIse can connect you with a food pantry manager nearby and plan ways to celebrate your effort. Contact FoodWIse Coordinator Laura Apfelbeck at llapfelbeck@wisc.edu 

Many people wish to arrange their affairs to live well in their later years and ensure that their end-of-life
plans follow their wishes. Still, it is something that many people find challenging.

Planning AHEAD is a new class from UW-Madison Division of Extension, created to address most aspects of end-of-life planning. In 1-hour classes, Extension Educators guide participants through examining health care wishes, financial responsibilities, legal requirements and documentation, distribution of personal property, end-of-life decisions, dealing with grief, and the emotional ramifications of all of the above.

The program is designed both for those who want to prepare for their own passing, to make things
easier for family members, and for those who have, or are in the process of, losing a loved one and are dealing with the transition. This course features an online planning workbook to help organize the tasks and documents associated with end-of-life decisions. By working through these sessions, participants
find that the financial, healthcare, and other decisions don’t feel so overwhelming.

Door County residents are invited to join Planning AHEAD, a course facilitated by Paul Salm of UW-Madison’s Human Development and Relationships Institute.

Registration is now available here, by clicking the registration button or by calling the UW-Extension
office at 920-746-2260. Classes are Thursdays, May 1st through June12th at the ADRC of Door County and will also stream on-line via Zoom. Include time to check in on how to use this technology during the first class. Questions can be sent to Paul Salm at pnsalm@wisc.edu or please call UW-Extension at 920-746-2260.

WeCOPE (Connecting with Our Positive Emotions) is a research-based program
that helps adults cope with daily stressors. This program has been shown to reduce stress
and symptoms of depression, increase positive affect, and improve health behaviors.
WeCOPE is based on the work of Dr. Judith Moskowitz.

There are 11 skills introduced over the course of the program. Each week, participants will
be introduced to new skills. Participants gain the most from WeCOPE when they can
practice skills between sessions using the workbook and journal that are provided with
registration.

WeCOPE for Caregivers

Tuesdays 10:00am-12:00pm

May 20th to June 10th

Classes take place at the ADRC of Door County
916 N 14th Ave., Sturgeon Bay

Also available virtually via Zoom

Register with the QR code or contact the UW Extension office at (920)746-2260.  You may also email holly.herzog@wisc.edu.  

The Door County 4-H Leaders Association is looking for someone to help them manage the 4-H Dairy Bar during the 2025 Door County Fair.  This individual will perform various functions related to the operation of the 4-H Dairy Bar Food Stand.  This includes overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Dairy Bar, taking a lead role in food preparation, safe practices, and managing youth and adult volunteers with support from members of the Door County 4-H Leaders Association.    

The Door County 4-H Leaders Association will serve as the supervisory authority for this position, which will be paid a $1,000 honorarium.  

For more information or to apply, please reach out to Candis at candis.dart@wisc.edu or (920)746-2260.  

April 20 – 26 is National Volunteer Week.  We want to take a moment to recognize the amazing volunteers who support the Door County 4-H program.  Without these fantastic individuals, the Door County 4-H program would not be able to do all of the great things throughout the year.  From volunteering their time as 4-H Club Leaders, Project Leaders, Dairy Bar volunteers, event volunteers, and so much more – we greatly appreciate the time and talents that our Door County 4-H Volunteers share with us throughout the year.  Thank you Door County 4-H Volunteers for helping our youth and our program thrive!

Check out our website for the latest 4-H newsletter, events and opportunities.  

Judeen retired from the UW Extension office in January of 2025 after 47 years of service.  Judeen is an excellent cook, and we miss her delicious treats.  We convinced her to share some of her favorites with us!  We hope you enjoy them and look forward to trying them each month.

The UW Extension - Door County Website received an extensive update.  Check out the changes and all of the exciting opportunities.