Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Photo Credit:  Shalan Kolbasuk

If you or someone you know is passionate about agriculture, enjoys building strong relationships, and has expertise in dairy production, this could be a great fit for you!

The Regional Dairy Educator will collaborate with producers and colleagues to deliver research-based solutions that improve efficiency and profitability across our local farming communities.

Join Extension in making a meaningful impact across Shawano, Oconto, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties by helping farmers meet today’s challenges with trusted knowledge and innovation.

Farming brings unique stress—from unpredictable weather to financial pressures. This series provides practical, research-based tools to help farmers and ag professionals understand stress, build resilience, and support mental well-being.

Learn more and explore available sessions to support your own well-being or someone you know.

📅 Tuesday, April 21 & Thursday, April 23
⏰ 12:00 PM CT

Taking care of your mental health is an important part of keeping farms—and families—strong.

🌿 Garden Plots Available

-Individual and family plots open to all experience levels

-Grow your own fruits, vegetables, and flowers

-Learn alongside a supportive community of gardeners

♿ Accessible & Inclusive

-Accessible pathways and raised beds

-Welcoming to all ages, abilities, and skill levels

 The Oconto Falls Community Garden is a welcoming, volunteer-powered space where individuals and families grow fresh food, learn new skills, and support the community.

🤝 Volunteer Opportunities

No experience needed!

-Help weed, water, and harvest- all proceeds go to Kingdom Come Food Pantry

Volunteers are the heart of the garden, helping provide fresh food to local families in need throughout the season.

Garden plot applications: 

Stop at the Ambulance Garage and grab a copy of the gardener application from the front entrance

OR 

Click on link below, print, fill out and and mail to:

Oconto Falls Community Garden 831 S. Main St, Oconto Falls WI 54154

Looking to Volunteer?  Contact us!

OcontoFallsCommunityGarden@gmail.com

📍 Location

Conveniently located in Oconto Falls behind the Oconto Falls Area Ambulance Garage and St. Clare Memorial Hospital at 831 S. Main St, Oconto Falls (circled in red on map).  Open throughout the growing season.

👉 Contact: OcontoFallsCommunityGarden@gmail.com

💚 Grow your own food. Give back. Be part of something meaningful.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder that mental health is a key part of overall well-being. Resources from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA), encourage starting conversations, reducing stigma, and using simple strategies—like checking in with others, building coping skills, and staying connected—to support mental health.

Mental health affects how we think, feel, and handle stress. Challenges are common, but early support can make a difference.

UW–Madison Extension’s Health & Well-Being Institute focuses on education and prevention by helping people recognize stress, build coping skills, and strengthen resilience through programs like WeCOPE (Connecting with Our Positive Emotions).

Supporting mental health is not just individual—it’s something we build together as a community.

Contact Sarah Schindel for more information and resources:

Sarah.Schindel@wisc.edu/920-834-6898

As the snow melts and temperatures rise, we’re looking forward to taking our steps outdoors for some fresh air, sunshine, and spring energy 🌱☀️

Until then, join us inside, keep moving, and get ready to step into spring with walking groups located at Oconto Falls School District and Lena School District. 

Through our partnership with Healthy Oconto County, you can find a place within our county to walk safely, indoors with other community members multiple days of the week. 

Thank you to our partnering schools for working with us to make our communities a healthier place to live!

How are you incorporating physical activity into your days and weeks?  Morning walks, lunch time movement breaks or evening sweat sessions ALL COUNT!

April Scam Spotlight focuses on Hospice fraud. 

Hospice fraud has been in the national spotlight recently, impacting the Medicare program. This month’s Scam Spotlight focuses on hospice fraud and what Medicare beneficiaries need to know about it. When used appropriately, hospice services can greatly improve quality of life with a terminal diagnosis. Unfortunately, hospice fraud is a growing problem that can harm beneficiaries and misuse Medicare dollars.

What is Money Matters?

FREE virtual financial education workshops from UW–Madison Division of Extension are back!

Join us monthly for practical, easy-to-understand money topics that can help you feel more confident about your finances—no matter where you’re starting from.

Register here: go.wisc.edu/mmlive

What to expect:

• Online through Zoom

• Held monthly on the 1st Tuesday

• Up to 1 hour, with time for questions

• Same topic offered twice: 10–11 AM or 6:30–7:30 PM

These sessions are free and open to the public—perfect for adults, families, and anyone looking to build stronger financial skills.

2026 Topics Include:

• Tax-Filing Basics

• Budgeting & Spending Plans

• Credit Reports

• Getting Out of Debt

• Saving Basics

• Fraud & Scam Prevention

• Money Habits & Holiday Spending

…and more!

As we make final preparations for the 2026 vegetable growing season, many gardeners are looking for ways to maximize both the production and quality of their harvest. Whether you manage a large garden, or grow just a few vegetables in containers, there are practical steps you can take to improve soil health, select and arrange plants, and manage pests for a more successful growing season—both this year and in the future.

UW–Madison Division of Extension, in partnership with the Oconto Falls Community Garden, is hosting a workshop designed to help gardeners get the most out of their garden spaces.

The workshop will take place on April 23 from 6:00–7:00 PM at the Oconto Falls Community Garden, 831 S. Main St., Oconto Falls, WI.

Scott Reuss, Regional Crops & Soils Educator with UW–Madison Division of Extension, will lead the session. Topics will include sequential planting, companion planting, vertical space utilization, soil and soilless mix selection and preparation, seed starting, and a seed swap opportunity.

Attendees are encouraged to bring questions to help guide the discussion.

The workshop is free and open to the public and is beginner gardener friendly.

For more information, contact Sarah Schindel at the Oconto County Extension Office at 920-834-6898/sarah.schindel@wisc.edu, or Scott Reuss at 715-732-7510/scott.reuss@wisc.edu.

An EEO/AA employer, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in programming in accordance with state and federal law. If you require language or physical accommodation to participate, please contact Sarah Schindel at 920-834-6898 by April 21

For any high school 4-H members interested in leadership, travel, and civic engagement, this is an amazing opportunity to consider. Feel free to reach out with questions about, 4-H, the trip, the application process, or what it’s really like to experience CWF and Ignite firsthand!

This past month, Aimee Elkins, 4-H Youth Development Educator, had the incredible opportunity to co-lead Wisconsin’s youth delegation to 4-H Ignite and Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) in Washington, D.C.,  and what an unforgettable experience it was! Their trip coincided with peak cherry blossom season, which made touring the National Mall even more magical.

Highlights included:

-Meeting with Senator Tammy Baldwin and getting a capitol tour and Senate gallery passes through Senator Ron Johnson’s office

-Exploring D.C.’s rich history at the National Army Museum, Air and Space Museum, and night tours of the monuments

-Connecting with 4-H youth from across the nation and sharing ideas about leadership, community service, and civic engagement

The experience was not only inspiring but also a powerful reminder of the impact young people can have when they engage with the government and their local communities.

Contact Aimee Elkins at 920-857-5019 or aimee.elkins@wisc.edu 

 We’re proud to share that Aimee Elkins, Extension 4-H Educator, has been recognized by the Wisconsin Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals with multiple statewide awards!

Communicator Award – for the Oconto County Teen Court promotional package, helping relaunch the program and recruit youth from every school district in the county.

Excellence in Teamwork Award – for collaboration on the 2025 Winter Leadership Camp, creating a welcoming, supportive experience where youth felt valued and empowered.

Excellence in Camping Award – for innovative leadership programming that helped youth build skills, confidence, and lasting connections.

These recognitions highlight Aimee’s dedication to creating meaningful opportunities for young people and strengthening 4-H programs across our community and beyond.

Please join us in congratulating Aimee on this well-deserved honor!

The important educational and outreach work in 4-H that happens across the state in our local communities is important and how we communicate that to our audience is equally important.

We've created this Report to serve as a tool to report on the combined impact of our local programs, share stories about the work you are doing, highlight programming in our Signature Priority Areas, and celebrate our achievements. 

You can view online or download a PDF by clicking the link to the right. 

Thank You, Oconto County 4-H Volunteers 

Our Oconto County 4-H program thrives because of the dedication of our volunteers. Through your time, mentorship, and encouragement, young people gain confidence, leadership skills, and a strong sense of belonging.

Whether you’re leading, organizing, mentoring, or supporting behind the scenes, you are making a lasting impact on youth, families, and our community.

Thank you for all that you do!  💚
Join us in celebrating our volunteers during National Volunteer Week (April 19–25) by sharing your appreciation.

Help us break the stigma around mental illness through the power of art! Create a poster that reflects this year's theme: "There is hope."
Open to all students and people under the age of 18

Include your name, school and artwork title
Submit artwork to: connect@naminorthbay.org
or send it to our NAMI North Bay Facebook page

Together, we can raise awareness, spread compassion, and remind everyone that hope is ALWAYS within reach. 

Are you working on some spring cleaning? Well National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is on Saturday, April 25th! It’s the perfect opportunity to safely dispose of any unwanted or expired medications at the designated locations listed in our flyer. Let’s work together to keep our communities safe and healthy!

Please note that Suring’s event will only be held on Saturday April 18th

 Oconto Community Members:

We’re excited to share that a brand-new After School Club is launching in January 2026 at Oconto Middle School! As we begin this new adventure, we’re introducing Guest Educator Nights every Wednesday—a weekly opportunity for students to learn from the incredible talent and expertise within our community.

We are inviting community members to lead a session on topics such as:

Drug prevention and safety

Psychoeducation and mental wellness

Financial literacy

Practical life skills

Creative hobbies, arts, and crafts

Or any area of knowledge you’re excited to share!

If you would like to participate as a Guest Educator—or know someone in the community who might—please sign up using the link below:

https://forms.gle/tVoCt7t5C94MW8Tz8

Shared on behalf of Hilary Trepanier - Oconto Unified School District

This is a free, virtual talk hosted on May 14, 2026 at 3:30 PM CDT by ADRC of Green County. 

Please register through email or phone call to bbeam@gchsd.org / (608)-426-4295.

The presentation will look at family caregiver burnout, self-care, and strategies to minimize the risk of burnout when caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s dementia.

Jody Krainer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that practiced at a large medical and behavioral healthcare system in Waukesha for twenty years. She also has advanced education and experience in business and worked as an executive in a large community-based nonprofit in the inner city of Milwaukee for six years. Jody joined the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute at the School of Medicine and Public Health (UW-Madison) in 2016 as the Dementia Diagnostic Clinic Network Manager. In May of 2021, Jody also assumed leadership responsibilities for WAI’s Wisconsin Dementia Resource Network.

Join the Extension Horticulture Program throughout 2026 for an opportunity to connect with plant health experts from the UW-Madison Division of Extension. Each session, held monthly on Wednesdays, offers a chance to ask questions about trees and shrubs, homegrown fruits and vegetables, indoor plants, ornamental landscapes, lawns, and more.

Whether it’s about plant problems, diseases, pesky insects, or the selection and general care of plants in and around your home, our panel of seasoned experts will provide you with insightful answers.

The goal of these sessions is to connect how sustainable gardening practices positively impact landscapes and ecosystems, cultivate your knowledge of horticulture practices that improve biodiversity in landscapes, increase your understanding of climate change in horticulture, and promote adaptive strategies and the adoption of resilient gardening practices.

These online sessions are free but registration is required for each session that you would like to attend. Upon registration you will receive an email confirmation with the link for joining the session.

A Fun and Rewarding Summer Awaits

Badger Precollege is now enrolling grades 4–12! Our 1-3 week programs range from music to medicine, previewing the college experience.  Click the link below to explore opportunities! 

https://precollege.wisc.edu/?utm_source=inside_uw&utm_medium=featured_editorial&utm_campaign=precollege26&utm_content=inside_uw_january