MSU Extension Saginaw County

A message from the District Director 

Michigan State University Extension offers a broad range of research-based
education outreach to county residents. Over this past year, we’ve continued to innovate and have empowered families and individuals to live healthier lives, supported new and local businesses, created opportunities for youth leadership development and career exploration, helped farmers with business management and mental health, and much more. Our staff live and work alongside county residents, are rooted in community relationships and are responsive to community needs. Our partnership with you makes all this possible. On behalf of the MSU Extension team serving Saginaw County, thank you for another great year. We look forward to your continued support and hope you will be able to join us during one of our upcoming programs.

Mark Rankin, District Director

Impact at a glance

• $34,437,604 economic impact
• 422 enrolled students at MSU
• $679,174 spending with local business
• 3,419 MSU alumni in Saginaw County
• $6,644,124 financial aid disbursed
• 2,269 youth participants in 4-H

Farm Management

Field Crops Agronomy Educator

Originally from Southern Illinois, Teresa Crook attended the University of Illinois: Champaign-Urbana for her bachelor's degree in agricultural economics with additional classes in agronomy. Her formal education was completed by her master's degree from MSU in weed science under the direction of Karen Renner. As a result of her research, her love of plants became firmly cemented. 

As of December 2023, Teresa Crook is one of the newest members of the MSUE team. She will serve as a field crops agronomy educator serving the Saginaw Valley and Thumb region. Crook's office is located at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center in Frankenmuth, Michigan. 

ServSafe

Michigan State University Extension offers ServSafe, a national certification program for those working in food service, specifically managers and other leaders. ServSafe teaches about foodborne illness, how to prevent it and how to train employees about the latest food safety issues. The ServSafe Manager course uses proven techniques, provides new Food & Drug Administration food code rules and content related to the food industry. Topics include: providing safe food, forms of contamination, the safe food handler, the flow of food, food safety management systems, safe facilities & pest management, cleaning & sanitizing. This course provides participants education to successfully pass the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification exam. The Food Safety Team served 123 Saginaw County residents in 49 different programs. For ServSafe only, there were 16 sessions offered in Saginaw County and 28 residents attended. 

STOP Grant

Entering Michigan State University Extension, the STOP (Schools, Teachers, and Officers Preventing school violence) grant operates as a funding source to raise awareness to youth mental health challenges (anxiety, depression, self-harm, etc.) by offering mental health education within the state of Michigan. The settings that services are offered include (but not limited to) the following: high schools, youth organizations, and local businesses. By doing this, the STOP grant can play a vital role in reducing risk factors within mental health challenges and school violence prevention. Programming underneath the STOP grant includes various national trainings and workshops. Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a national training that teaches adults that interact with adolescents the signs/symptoms of mental health challenges and ways to support them during crisis and non-crisis situations. Additionally, Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) targets 10th-11th graders to be trained within mental health education, to support their peers who are experiencing mental health challenges. Furthermore, workshops such as Mindful Mechanics and Your Thoughts Matter operate as curricula to teach mindfulness-based practices and emotional wellness.

Saginaw County 4-H 

• 102 total Saginaw 4-H volunteers
• 23 NEW Saginaw 4-H volunteers
• 2,269 total youth participants
• 29 community partnerships
• 15 community based 4-H clubs

4-H Educational Programs

• Parliamentary Procedure
• Wild Spartans
• Capitol Experience
• Adulting 101
• Sailing
• Introduction to Fishing
• Maple Syrup Making
• Future Squad
• Archery 
• Embryology 
• STEM

4-H Camps

• Animal and Veterinary Science Camp
• Great Lakes Natural Resources Camp
• Saginaw Bay 4-H Fish Camp 
• Youth Spectacular Leadership Camp
• Dog Camp
• Exploration Days
• Forestry Camp
• Creative Arts Celebration 

4-H Events

• Animal Science Career Quest
• Animal Skill-a-thon Championship 
• Livestock Workshop 
• Cash Competition Contest
• Show Your Money Smarts
• World Food Prize
• National Congress
• Animal Shows - Various
• Month of the Military Child Challenge

Ask Extension 2023 Report

Types of questions: 

• Trees and shrubs
• Insects
• Fruit trees
• Plant identification
• Lawns and turf
• Vegetable gardening
• Soil 
• Flowers
• Weed issues
• Agriculture/Livestock
• Food safety and food preservation 
• Wildlife
• Water quality
• Beekeeping/Pollinators
• 4-H programs
• Land use
• Home ownership
• Nutrition/Healthy living
• Entrepreneurship