A Wise Wisconsin Program. The design of the home is a critical part of aging in place. Many older people are living in homes with small bathrooms, narrow halls/doors, and other features that become barriers during later life decline. For this reason, they need home modification to remain in the home long-term. Join Leacey Brown, a South Dakota State University Extension Gerontology Field Specialist as she talks about design elements in your home that can make it easier or harder for you to age in place.  Video

From smartphones to artificial intelligence, our ability to utilize technology increasingly impacts our access to vital information, resources, and social connection. This workshop series features an instructional curriculum designed to provide participants with a confident understanding of digital devices, best practices for safe and effective internet use, and how to responsibly interact with others online. The series will also invite guest speakers to demonstrate how technology connects Door County residents to essential services and community organizations. Each workshop will conclude with a group Q&A session, allowing participants to introduce and work through solutions to individual, technological challenges. Collectively, the series aims to improve digital skills, address relevant topics, and optimize the use of technology in Door County. All workshops are free of charge. 

Offered in two locations - Registration

NWTC Learning and Innovation Center, 2438 South Bayshore Drive, Sister Bay, Every First Monday of the Month, starting July 6th, 11:00 am-12:30 pm

ADRC of Door County, 914 North 14th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, Every First Tuesday of the Month, starting July 7th, 11:00 am- 12:30 pm

Join us for Caregivers' Compass, a supportive series open to all participants interested in caring for others.  Join any session or attend them all.  Topics may include Self Advocacy, Joy, Transitions, Financial Mapping, and Compassion Resiliency.  Tuesdays starting at 1:00 pm at the Door County ADRC, July 14 - August 4.  Information and Registration 

Planning AHEAD is a 7-session course guiding participants through end-of-life planning including:  getting started, handling financial changes, advance medical and legal directives, estate planning, choices in end-of-life care, final wishes, and understanding grief.  Wednesday at 12:00 noon beginning July 15, 2026. Register

WeCOPE is a 7-week class that empowers adults with effective, evidence-based strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and enhance their overall well-being.  Mondays at 12:00 noon beginning July 13, 2026.  Register

How to Help a Child Who Feels Down:  Weekly class begins August 19 at 12pm or 7pm.

Parents Forever (for parents navigating separation or divorce):  Monthly, class dates and times vary.

Class Schedule and Information 

Is Your Child Ready to Stay Home Alone?   Video Series to get them and you ready.

Arts Camp 2026 will be held October 2-4 at Upham Woods. Arts Camp is a program for middle schoolers wanting to explore the expressive arts in a weekend camp program. Theater, dance, visual arts, culinary arts, nature arts and music are just a sample of some of the past arts-based tracks. Along with the arts-based curriculum, youth participate in a traditional 4-H campfire, makerspace, and the always popular, counselor hunt. Open to all 4-Hers in grades 6-8. Registration will be open from August 1 to August 31 or until the program reaches its capacity (80 campers). Campers arrive Saturday morning and are finished by 11:00 AM on Sunday.   All questions can be directed to Jay Johnson, Expressive Arts Specialist, jay.johnson2@wisc.edu.

The 2026 Door County Fair will be Wednesday, August 12th - Sunday, August 16th

Premium Books: The 2026 Door County Fair Premium Books are now available! Printed copies are also available at the Extension Door County Office.  Premium Books

Judging Schedule:  There were no major changes to the Judging Schedule for 2026, but some times may have changed.  Please check the Judging Schedule to plan accordingly.                      

FairEntry:  All Door County Fair entries are done online using the FairEntry website. FairEntry is now open to begin entering your Fair projects.  Fair entries will be due July 16th. Please do not wait until the last minute to avoid any issues!  The link to the FairEntry website.

A step-by-step process for how to use the FairEntry website can be found in the Premium Book.           

Premise ID Registration and Renewal: If you are planning to exhibit animals at the Fair, be sure that you have a Premise ID. This is REQUIRED for all exhibitors of beef, dairy, sheep, swine, horse, poultry and goats.  Get your Premise ID.

Any questions, please reach out to Candis at candis.dart@wisc.edu or (920)746-2260.            

All military-connected families are invited to join us for an afternoon of fun as we kick off the new school year together!

Saturday, August 22, 2026, 12:30-4:00 pm at the STEM Innovation Center (2019 Technology Way, Green Bay)

Bring the whole family and enjoy hands-on STEM activities, interactive cooking classes, creative family crafts, and festival-style fun for all ages.

Hosted by the WI Army National Guard Child & Youth Program, Wisconsin 4-H, and the USO, this event is open to families connected to ALL branches of the military.

Free - Registration Required 

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

Make sure your pressure canner is functioning correctly.  Testing Information

In-person testing available at the Brown County UW Extension Office - (920)391-4610 or Schedule a Test online (scroll down to the bottom of the page).

Researchers at the School of Medicine and Public Health are tracking tick distribution and rising disease risk across Wisconsin. They aim to improve prevention and give residents timely information to stay safe from tick-borne illnesses.  Full Article

Wisconsin residents can call or email the Wisconsin AnswerLine to get answers to common questions about food safety, home food preservation, household management, and more. This service is part of a partnership between UW–Madison Extension and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The information provided is based on the latest research and is free to the public.  Ask Wisconsin AnswerLine

Outdoor meals are fun, but food safety is critical. Cold foods should stay at or below 40°F, and hot foods at 140°F or above. Food left out for more than two hours (or one hour in temperatures above 90°F) should be discarded. For more picnic safety guidance,
contact Wisconsin AnswerLine.

Farm stress is real, and ag service providers are often considered a trusted first line of support. Join our Mental Health First Aid for the Agriculture Community training this summer to gain practical skills for recognizing and responding to mental health challenges. July 28-29, 12:30-3:30 pm (virtual). More information...

Heat stress is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the modern dairy industry. As global temperatures continue to rise, and extreme weather events become more frequent, dairy producers are seeing the tangible impacts of heat on their bottom lines. High-producing dairy cows are particularly sensitive to heat; their high metabolic rate, necessary for significant milk production, generates substantial internal heat that must be dissipated to the environment. When ambient temperature and humidity rise, this dissipation becomes difficult, leading to a physiological state known as heat stress.  Learn more...

Dairy producers across Wisconsin now have a new tool to help manage one of summer's biggest challenges: heat stress. It costs the U.S. dairy industry significantly each year through reduced milk production, lower fertility, and added health expenses. At the same time, the cost of running the fans and ventilation systems that prevent those losses keeps rising, making smart decisions on the farm matter more than ever.

Dairy Ventilation is a practical decision-support tool built specifically for Wisconsin dairy producers. The app uses a farm's GPS location to retrieve real-time weather data, then calculates the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), a measure often used to assess heat stress risk in dairy cattle. The app then indicates whether cows are comfortable, mildly stressed, or severely stressed.  To support those decisions, we have launched a free mobile app called Dairy Ventilation. It is now available on both Google Play and the App Store.

Lazy J Dairy – Brussels (807 Pit Court, Luxemburg, WI)

Sunday, July 5, 2026 -- 6:00 am-11:30 am - Rain or Shine

Age 8 & up $12. Kids 7 & Under FREE.  More information

Feeder calf and fed cattle prices are currently high, and so are the input costs to raise them. Price volatility has increased over the past decade, and factors such as trade disruptions and media reports of health scares can quickly cause national prices to drop.  Beef producers are taking on a lot of risk. To help mitigate that price risk, beef producers can look at using Livestock Risk Protection Insurance (LRP) to protect against unforeseen price drops.  Learn more...

Lung ultrasonography allows veterinarians and producers to detect bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in dairy calves earlier than traditional observation methods. Because clinical signs such as coughing or nasal discharge often appear late, many cases of pneumonia remain undetected while lung damage progresses. Ultrasound can identify subclinical pneumonia, cases without visible symptoms, often 7–14 days before clinical signs develop. Learn more with this Video by Dr. Terri Ollivett, a leading expert in the use of lung ultrasonography for detecting bovine respiratory disease in calves.

Aronia berry (Aronia melanocarpa), also known as black chokeberry, is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America, including Wisconsin. It is grown as both a food crop and an ornamental, valued for its edible black berries produced in late summer/early fall, white flowers in spring and reddish fall foliage. The berries are extremely high in antioxidants and processed into a variety of nutraceutical and food products including health supplements, juice, jelly, and syrup. Their deep purple color also makes them useful as a food colorant.  Learn More...

Cover crops can provide a wide range of benefits in dairy and grain production systems, but no single cover crop species or management approach can deliver every benefit at once. One of the keys to making cover crops successful is starting with a clear goal. Learn more...

The soil health benefits winter cereal forages offer combined with the opportunity to harvest high quality forage has made them a mainstay on many farms across Wisconsin. When managed and harvested correctly, these forages can be utilized in the lactating dairy ration due to their high neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD).

Topics:  Plant Tissue Testing, Research on Tillage Systems for Corn, Water Quality Research on Cropping Systems, Fall Forage After Winter Wheat, Fall Cover Corps Before Soybeans or Corn, Tillage Effects, Biologicals, Research on Wheel Traffic in Alfalfa Fields, Precision Ag Tech, UAV for Spraying and Seeding, Corn Silage Dry Down, Corn Rotation for Weed Control, Disease Forecast Apps, and FSA Low Interest Loans. 

Complete List and Videos

Webinar:  Learn about common diseases that have similar symptoms and can be misidentified but may have very different management strategies.  Zoom:  July 22, 2026, at 6:30-8:30 pm Register

Extreme temperatures over 90 °F and lack of precipitation cause major problems for many growing plants. With more extreme heat and drought happening in Wisconsin, it’s important to understand how these conditions affect your plants and what you can do to help them.  Article

If you are concerned about the health or safety of trees located on your property, it may be prudent to hire a professional. Certified arborists are qualified professionals who prioritize long-term tree health and proper management over unnecessary removals. Read more…

Learn the truth about powdery mildew in your garden. This webinar covers what powdery mildew is, how it spreads, and the most effective ways to prevent and manage it. Join Diana and Brian as they debunk common home remedies, including milk, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, compost tea, and garlic, and highlight the one DIY treatment that shows some promise: baking soda + oil.  Video

The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses over 16,000 acres along the St. Louis River estuary in Superior, Wisconsin. The Reserve regularly hosts community programs and events, such as the monthly River Talks and River Walks series. You can also plan a visit to the Lake Superior Estuarium, an interactive exhibit hall, to learn more about how freshwater, ecology, and culture coexist and thrive in the Lake Superior watershed.  Learn more...

Wisconsin’s bountiful natural resources make it an ideal place for outdoor recreation. Most plants and creatures you encounter won’t hurt you, but timber rattlesnakes, yellow jackets, wild parsnip, and others can be troublesome. This guide will help you recognize, avoid, and handle potential problems caused by wildlife, insects, and plants in Wisconsin.  Guide

UW-Extension has been working together with UW-Green Bay to provide educational programs and services for nonprofit organizations. In addition to undergraduate programs, this fall there are two nonprofit certificate programs: Nonprofit Leadership Certificate and Fundraising Management Certificate.  By completing the five courses and capstone project for the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate or all six courses for the Fundraising Management Certificate, you can earn the certificate and a digital badge.  

The Thrive Rural Wisconsin program is designed to help rural and Tribal communities bring together local leadership, define shared goals, and access the resources they need to make lasting change. Communities that participate in Thrive Rural Wisconsin receive project management, financial support, and technical assistance to advance local and regional initiatives and connect them to the resources they need to be successful. Next Step!

Every once in a while, the normal growth pattern of a plant goes awry, producing an interesting “mistake” that can be attractive and ornamental, or ugly, bizarre, or humorous. This physiological disorder, called fasciation, can occur in almost any plant part, but is most noticeable in the stems or inflorescences.  Full story!

Summer Office Hours:  Open - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (Memorial Day through Labor Day)

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.