MASON COUNTY 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
DOWNLOADMarch 18, 2026
Print
EmailMessage from the District Director
I'm pleased to share the results of another successful year of collaboration between Mason County and Michigan State University (MSU) Extension. Your continued support has allowed us to make a meaningful impact on youth, families, businesses, and communities. This year, MSU Extension delivered a wide range of research-based educational services— helping individuals lead healthier lives, assisting new and local businesses, expanding youth leadership and career exploration opportunities, supporting farmers with business management and mental health resources, and more.
Our staff live and work alongside county residents, building strong community connections and responding directly to local needs. We maintained our online presence through virtual courses, timely responses to questions on topics from gardening to food safety, increased social media outreach, and a wealth of research-backed resources on our website.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership. On behalf of the MSU Extension team serving Mason County, we appreciate your support and look forward to another year of working together—and hope to see you at an upcoming program.
James Kelly
District Director
Staff
- Lori Cargill – 4-H Program Coordinator
- Julie Eriksen – Office Manager
- Brenden Kelley – Water Resource Educator
- James Kelly – District Director
- Charles May – STEM Programming
Overall Impact
- 1,881 Total reach of activity in Mason County (Programming, consultations, office visits, soil tests, hot-line calls)
- 1,227 participants from the county attending programs.
- 174 client consultations
- 240 programs (across the state) attended by participants from this county.
- 52 programs hosted in Mason County
- 31 answered Ask Extension questions
- 26 volunteers
- 58 community coalitions and partnerships within the county that MSU Extension employees are members of
Communications Outreach
- 327,479 contacts through social media, web activity, e-newsletters, articles, radio and handouts..
- 45,583 Facebook views on the Mason County/4-H page
- 96 Plat books, soil tests, and other resources sold in Mason County.
Youth Programming
- 875 # of total youth participants
- 127 4-H youth enrollments
- 24 total volunteers
- 34 4-H Clubs
- 17,092 4-H volunteer hour dollar value
Community Health & Nutrition
- 332 county residents who participated in health and nutrition programs.
- 8 Number of sites receiving physical activity Policy, System, or Environmental education.
- 3,573people impacted by policy, system, or education changes.
- 212 nutrition and physical activity participants hosted in-county.
- 9 Policy, systems and environmental changes implemented at partner sites.
Product Center – Small Business Support
- • 6 clients served
- • 29 total employees with over $1,000,000 in sales
- • 21 hours of consulting and research from MSU Product Center
