We invite you to catch up on the impactful work our Extension Iron County educators and staff provide to the community in the form of this monthly newsletter! Below are highlights from each of our program areas.

This 8-week program is available to Iron and Gogebic County youth, grades K-12 and takes place on Sunday, January 18 – March 8, 2026. The goal is to encourage youth to participate in a fun, silent sport that they will be able to enjoy for a lifetime.

The SISU Endurance Team offers a SET XC Ski Club program on Sundays, open to all ability levels. There is also an additional SET XC Ski Club Race Team program, for members who are interested in exploring the world of competitive racing.

Interested in volunteering as a SET XC Ski Club coach? We are always looking for new volunteers to join our team. 

Don't let mobility issues stop you from enjoying the stunning fall colors!

The Iron County ActionTrackChair is here to get you back outdoors! Available for anyone who wants to enjoy: Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, Camping, Visiting outdoor parks, Going to the beach (yes, even a fall beach trip!)

Ready to reserve your adventure? Visit our website for reservation details and to explore our other adaptive equipment options!

Pictured: The Adventurers of the North 4-H Club participated in a fun volunteer activity over the weekend as they manned a section of NICER - Northern Iron County Engaged Residents Spooky Halloween Trail Walk! The club participated in the daytime Trick or Treat Trail and the evening Terror Trail! Club Leaders David and Penny Lutz also brought their own decorations, props and a fog machine! Looks like a great time.

We're so proud to announce that one of our own, Liam Schoeller of the SISU Endurance Team SET XC Ski Club Race Team, has been named a Youth Ambassador for Nordjork! 

Nordjork celebrates the cross-country skiing lifestyle and "makes things for nordies." It's fantastic to see Liam, a proud member of Iron County 4-H, recognized by a company that shares his passion.

Liam's involvement with the race team is a wonderful example of how activities outside the traditional club setting—like sports, arts, or community service—can be a perfect entry point into the Iron County 4-H program. We love seeing our members excel!

Here’s to a big snow year ahead so Liam can get out, showcase his skills, and represent both Iron County 4-H, SET, and Nordjork!

Pictured above: It's great to see when former 4-Hers help out the current members. Piper & Sam Hitter recently purchased their steers from Brodie Erickson, a 4-H graduate of last year!

Pictured above: Iron County Green Team member, Bruce Tijan participated in the annual Adopt-A-Highway section clean-up during the Green Team's October meeting. 

Iron County 4-H Achievement Night
Sunday, October 26 - 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Location: Kimball Community Center

Iron County 4-H Green Team Meeting
Monday, November 10 - 5:30 pm
Location: Iron County Courthouse

Adventurers of the North 4-H Club Meeting
Sunday. November 9 - Time TBD
Location: TBD

Penokee Livestock Club Meeting
Sunday, November 16 - 9:00 am
Location: Hurley School District

It is with deep gratitude and a touch of sadness that we announce the upcoming retirement of our beloved Foodwise, Extension-Ashland, Bayfield & Iron Counties Educator, Deb Leonard, on December 1st.

To celebrate her incredible 20 years of service, Extension staff held a small, special gathering for Deb at Kimball Town Park on October 9. It was a beautiful afternoon honoring her dedication to Iron County!

For years, Deb has been an enthusiastic champion for healthy eating and active living, educating countless community members, young and old. If you grew up here, you know "Miss Deb"—she helped so many kids try new foods and make healthier choices! Her warmth, kindness, and infectious positivity have touched everyone she's worked with and will be sincerely missed by her colleagues and partners.

Deb is still hard at work until December 1st. If you'd like to send her a well-wish or a thank you for her amazing work, please feel free to stop by our office or email her at deborah.leonard@wisc.edu.

We wish Deb the absolute best in her well-deserved retirement!

Want to stay up to date on what the Ashland, Bayfield, Iron County FoodWIse team is up to? Be sure to check out their monthly FoodWIse newsletter, designed in partnership with Extension Iron County Office Manager, Rebecca Holm. 

On Wednesday, October 15, members of the community met at the Iron County courthouse for an author engagement with Tom Mosgaller, who recently published a book titled Pulling Together: A Handbook for Community Change. The book—a short how-to manual for creating community change—features real-life success stories of people who identified solutions to issues in their communities and walks us through how those changes came about. The stories are written by community organizers, in Wisconsin and Nebraska primarily, with UW-Extension Iron County’s own (retired) Will Andresen featured in the final chapter, “R is for Resistance.” Also joining Tom and Will was Jeff Yost, President and CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation, whose story of Red Cloud, Nebraska is included in the chapter “V is for Vision.”

After eight months of dedicated work, including a county logo rebrand, the new Iron County website is now live, offering a vastly improved and user-friendly experience for all residents. This extensive project was led by Rebecca Holm, the Extension Iron County Office Manager, with assistance from the website planning team and county departments, with the goal of making information and resources as quick and effortless to find as possible.

What's New?

We encourage you to explore the new site and take advantage of these enhanced features!

Even through Cathy is not an Extension Iron County staff member, we largely consider her part of our team! Learn more about this amazing woman below.

Who worked in the Iron County Extension Office for 15 years, was transferred to start the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center Extension Office for 15 years, and returned to the Iron County Extension Office in 2013? It’s Cathy Techtmann in her role as an Environmental Outreach State Specialist!

Cathy is happy to be part of the Iron County Extension Office team although her education outreach now extends to regional and statewide audiences. Her program focus is weaving together indigenous knowledge, academic science, and place-based knowledge to promote environmental stewardship.

Cathy’s programs literally immerse learners in the environment. She designs and teaches multi-day field courses and presentations, including fun on-the-water paddling programs that reveal connections between culture and the environment. She works closely with community organizations across the Lake Superior region and tribal partners, including the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Outside of her professional role, Cathy is the President of the Friends of the Gile Flowage Lake Association and the President of the Friends of the Plumer Mine Headframe, organizations devoted to the preservation of two unique Iron County resources. She is an avid kayak paddler, bicycler, and dressage horseback rider, and makes handmade jewelry on the side. She lives in Pence with hubbie Harold and dog Smoke.

If you would like to learn more about the Iron County Mobile Food Pantry program or other food security resources available to community members, visit our website! 

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An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.