MSU Extension Cheboygan County

CHEBOYGAN COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT 2025-2026

Cheboygan County

Adam Koivisto District Director

 Jessica Woiderski 4-H Program

Coordinator Katie Parr Child & Family Program Instructor

 Samantha Vieau Office Manager

Message from the District Director I am pleased to share highlights from another successful year of partnership between Cheboygan County and Michigan State University Extension. MSU Extension continues to expand access to trusted, research-based programs through in-person, virtual, and hybrid learning opportunities. Because our staff live and work in the communities they serve, we can build strong local partnerships and respond to emerging needs with relevant programs and resources. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we are creating positive impacts across Cheboygan County and helping individuals, families, businesses, and communities thrive. We look forward to another successful year and hope to connect with you at an upcoming MSU Extension program or event.

- Adam Koivisto, District 14 Director

132 programs accessed by residents

555 Reached through programming

221,900 reached by social media

Helping people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities msue.msu.edu

Developing Youth & Communities

4- H PROGRAMMING

4-H had a great year, expanding its reach in Cheboygan and strengthening ties with other community organizations. It was the year for horses: our horse clubs expanded from 16 youth to 27 youth between 2 clubs.

Nine clubs met year-round and explored interests in arts and crafts, bike safety and maintenance, gardening, using nature as inspiration in art, horsemanship and riding, dog agility and obedience, pollinators and their contributions to our farms and gardens, civic engagement, leadership, rabbit health and showmanship, economics, watersheds, fishing and fishing crafts, candy making, community services and chicken health and showmanship.

Our program coordinator, Jessica Woiderski, continued to teach Health Rocks in the Cheboygan middle school. This valuable programming explores social emotional learning, making smart decisions, knowing the consequences of doing drugs, peer pressure, and creating a group of family and friends that can support leading a healthy life.

Jessica also taught once a week at Compass Academy, teaching life skills such personal accountability, career planning, digital citizenship and responsibility, time management, teamwork, budgeting and money management, dressing for success, resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills.

 Cheboygan 4-H offered summer local camps and scholarships to state camps, one day learning experiences, fun and engaging events, clinics, and much more to the public. 4-H also participated in community events at the library, fairgrounds, local parks, Knights of Columbus, schools, and the Children’s Trail.

FOSTERING STRONG COMMUNITIES

Child & Family Development

Babysitting Clinics: This year, many local kids had the opportunity to participate in babysitting clinics held throughout Cheboygan County. Through COP, eight kids participated in a summer camp focused on early childhood development and learning how to babysit. Another 14 kids became certified through a 4-H Babysitting Clinic. During the course, participants learned what it takes to be a good babysitter, including child development, how to care for children, the importance of good nutrition, ways to entertain children, and how to run a successful babysitting business. Most importantly, each participant received CPR and First Aid certification through the American Heart Association. Each babysitter also left the course with a backpack filled with essential babysitting supplies to help them feel prepared and confident as they begin caring for children.

 Family Fun Day: In partnership with the Cheboygan County Child Advocacy Council, I had the privilege of chairing the planning committee for Family Fun Day. The event was held on August 10th inthe Quonset Hut at the Cheboygan County Fairgrounds. This was a great opportunity for local organizations to connect with the Cheboygan County families we serve. The theme this year was “America’s 250th Birthday Bash,” and each organization did an amazing job incorporating the theme into their table activities and bringing fun and excitement to the event. We had 17 participating organizations and 227 participants attend, including 132 youth under the age of 12. Through generous donations, we were also able to give away 81 ride bracelets for the Cheboygan County Fair. Overall, this year’s Family Fun Day was a great success!

 Potty Training Classes: In collaboration with the Great Start Collaborative, Katie was able to lead two potty-training classes for Cheboygan County residents. They offered one in-person class, with six participants attending, and a virtual option, with 13 participants. Each participant received a free potty chair to help support them through the potty-training process. Participants came eager and ready to learn, making both classes a great opportunity to provide families with helpful information, resources, and support.

IMPROVING HEALTH & NUTRITION

Health Programming

MSU Extension provides high-quality, research-based health and wellness education that helps Michigan residents build healthier lives at every age and stage. Through locally delivered programs, participants gain practical knowledge and skills related to safe food handling and preservation, food and water safety, chronic disease prevention and management, healthy aging, fall prevention, sleep health, and overall well-being. Whether learning safe techniques for canning, freezing, and dehydrating foods, managing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, or finding ways to remain active, independent, and healthy as they age, community members benefit from trusted, university-based information that supports lifelong health and improved quality of life.

Some of the classes attended by local Residents this year.

• Everything Apples Sauce and Cider Processing
• Serve Safe • SLEEP Education for everyone
• Tai Chi for Better Sleep
• Michigan Cottage Food Law
• Food preservation
• Matter of Balance
• Diabetes
• Chronic Pain Toolkit

2025 Full Year Statewide Stats

66,592 Program Participants

3,085 programs offered by health and nutrition educators and program instructors

1 Million+ content views across our MI Health Matters & Think Food Safety social media channels

FOSTERING STRONG COMMUNITIES

Govt / MI Seagrant

Citizen planner is a longstanding program continuously well attended by our area residents.

Citizen Planner Classroom Curriculum Understanding the Planning and Zoning Context– Learn the legal sources and limitations of planning and zoning authority and explore your understanding of ethical decision-making. Planning for the Future of Your Community– Recognize the function and importance of a master plan, know the process for developing one and its relationship to zoning. Implementing the Plan with Zoning– Discover the importance of zoning, learn how zoning is administered and gain confidence in your zoning reviews, including site plans. Making Zoning Decisions– Learn how to adopt and amend a zoning ordinance, understand the role of the zoning board of appeals and obtain skills in basic property development methods. Using Innovative Planning and Zonin g– Strategize with placemaking and design-based solutions for local and regional success in the New Economy. Successfully Fulfilling Your Role– Strengthen your ethical decision-making skills, apply standards to your decision-making and know when to ask for help.

PROGRAMMING

Michigan’s Great Lakes and coasts support diverse wildlife, fisheries, and recreation, but face challenges from fluctuating water levels, development and use. Michigan Sea Grant—a collaboration between MSU, University of Michigan, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—works to protect these resources through research, education and outreach. 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources (GLNR) Camp is a week-long statewide natural resources leadership camp for teens. Camp was held July 26-August 1, 2026 (Presque Isle, Mich.), involving: 79 Youth (69 campers and 10 youth counselors) from across 26 counties; and 20+ professional staff and volunteers. Camp goals are largely to Foster youth leadership through Michigan’s Great Lakes and Natural Resources. Camp program objectives, as outlined in camp planning and reporting documents, include hands-on learning through Great Lakes and natural resource based experiences designed to teach: Science and Technology, Ecology and Management Free-choice learning through Exploration, Recreation Experiencing Careers (and mentors) Youth Leadership Development Community Service & Stewardship Action Partners contributing to camp programming included: 4-H Youth Development, Michigan 4-H Foundation donors, Michigan Sea Grant, MSU Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife, UoM School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), US Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, USGS/GLFC Hammond Bay Biological Station, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, and Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative

SUPPORTING AGRICULTURE AND AGRIBUSINESS

Local Summer research: results shared at field days and published.

• Climate resiliency: 5 Farms. Greenhouse gas testing, soil samples. Research provides recommendations for sustainable farming methods.
• Rye Plots: Metz. Testing different nitrogen rates applied and effect on yield.
• Oat and Barley plots: Johannesburg. Effectiveness of 4 oat and 3 barley varieties.
• Soybean trials: 4 on-farm trials in Alpena and Montmorency County examining different results of micronutrient, fungicide, deer repellent techniques, and herbicides along with control plots.

Local research studies provide growers in our counties with data about what works best and leads to the healthiest crop yield in our Counties. This can be very different from what works further south in the state.

AG PROGRAMMING

 Michigan is agriculturally diverse both in what we produce and who produces it. MSUExtension goes beyond traditional methods of working with farmers with a strategy to reach farms at every level and size of production. We understand that some farmers may not be able to meet in person due to distance or timing of an educational offering, so we incorporate a vast array of online learning and digital outreach. We meet people where they are at, so they have the tools at the appropriate time, which is integral to farming success. In the past year, we have reached audiences in a variety of ways. 70% were in-person events, 19% were webinars, 6% were hybrid, and the remaining 5% were online courses.

CHEBOYGAN COUNTY MSU EXTENSION

825 S. Huron Street. Doris Reid Building Suite 5

Cheboygan, MI. 49721

Phone: (231)627-8815

Email: msu.cheboygan@county.msu.edu

Website: http://www.canr.msu.edu/cheboygan/index

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheboygancountymsue/

As MSU Extension continues to bring research and education to citizens across the state, three wonderful resources help reach every community member in our county:

MSU Extension Lawn and Garden Hotline (888) 678-3464

Calls answered by Extension Master Gardeners with the knowledge and resources to help with gardening and lawn questions.

Ask Extension                canr.msu.edu/outreach/ask-an-expert

One-to-one answers from MSU Extension experts on topics such as lawns, agriculture, food preservation, natural resources, and more!

Soil Testing      homesoiltest.msu.edu

Don’t guess - soil test! Learn what vital nutrient your soil is missing for healthy growth in gardens, lawns, and crops. Purchase soil tests in our office or online.

This past year Cheboygan County MSU Extension has helped community members through phone, email, Facebook and office walk ins

 MSU EXTENSION STAFF IN CHEBOYGAN COUNTY

Adam Koivisto: District Director, (231)237-4775, koivist4@msu.edu

Jessica Woiderski: 4-H Program Coordinator, (231)627-8815 Ext 2 woiders9@msu.edu

Katie Parr: Child & Family Development, (231)627-8815 Ext 1 wagnerk8@msu.edu

Samantha Vieau: Office Manager, (231)627-8815 samantha.vieau@affiliate.msu.edu

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, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, fa mily 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. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial