Cucumbers are in season and it’s time to make pickles!   Vinegar is a key flavor component in home-preserved pickles, salsa and other acidified foods and is critical for food safety too. Research-tested recipes specify vinegar with 5% acidity. For example, a USDA tested family favorite recipe for Bread and Buter Pickles includes cucumbers and onions […]

Time to start thinking about back-to-school skills and routines. Submitted by Michelle Gobert Positive Youth Development Educator The beginning of each school year is an opportunity to develop and expand upon your child’s organizational and routine building skills. These skills, known as executive functioning skills, are the skills we use every day to get things […]

Submitted by Steven Watson, Forest County Digital Navigator Keeping yourself safe online can be tough as an adult. Toss an impulsive and curious child in the mix with just enough computer skills to get into trouble and things get down right chaotic! It can seem impossible to fight this digital battle on multiple fronts, from […]

Join Forest County’s Digital Navigator as he explores a brief history of the gaming industry and how you can get started learning to mod, design, and manage making your own video game!We’ll also be looking at where to find supportive communities and how to turn game design into a career.

Is my child ready to operate a farm tractor or farm machinery? This can be a hard question for many parents/guardians to answer.  While as a parent you may have started to drive at an early age, your child’s development, and work task the child is being asked to complete, needs to be considered. The […]

submitted by Michelle Gobert, Master Gardener  Recently, our office has recently fielded several questions regarding turfgrass damage, as well as concerns for raspberry and blackberry plants flowering but not producing and while there may be several reasons for both types of damage, they both have one thing in common and that is a white grub […]

Are you interested in catalyzing positive change in Forest County? The University of Wisconsin Extension of Forest County is hiring a Healthy  Communities Coordinator. Take a look at the link below to learn more.  Public Health Educator (Forest County) – Crandon, Wisconsin, United States

Submitted by: Terri Kolb, FoodWIse Administrator Summer is almost officially here!! Many of us have already started the season with cookouts, camping, road trips and other activities that involve food. It is important to remember that bacteria grow faster in warm temperatures, so extra care needs to be taken to prevent food poisoning when preparing […]

Submitted by Steven Watson, Forest County Digital Navigator We’ve come a long way since the days of screeching modems and slow dial up downloads. Sure it might have been annoying waiting for a page to load or setting up a long download to run overnight but that was our world and we lived with it. […]

Submitted by Michelle GobertForest County Master Gardener Volunteer For many of us our interest in gardening started when a parent or grandparent shared their interest with you as a child.  Summer gardening offers numerous benefits to youth and is a great way to get kids to try new fruits and vegetables and the sustainable practices […]

Sustainable Agriculture This past school year, Forest County Extension, as part of a Well Connected Community grant program, has been actively working with a group of students engaged in sustainable agriculture in Forest County.   In Laona, students Gavin Connor and Brady Shepherd, with the assistance of technology education instructor Ryan Kelley, have built both […]

Submitted by: Terri Kolb, UW-Extension FoodWIse Administrator Vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage, kale, and bok choy, provide nutrients that help protect you from heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. But leafy greens, like other vegetables and fruits, are sometimes contaminated with […]

Submitted by Steven Watson, Forest County Digital Navigator Learning new things can be daunting at times, especially when it comes to technology. There’s so many bells & whistles tacked on to every new device it’s hard to know what it’s all for! Where do you even begin? It all starts with overcoming any initial fears […]

submitted by Michelle Gobert, Positive Youth Development Educator April is National County Government Month On March 21, 2023, the Forest County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution put forth by Chairperson Cindy Gretzinger proclaiming April 2023 as National County Government month.  Each year since 1991 the National Association of Counties has encouraged counties across […]

submitted by Michelle Gobert, Positive Youth Development Educator Youth Count Report Forest County Extension, in partnership with the Forest County Partnership Coalition, has released its 2023 Youth Count Report in which several areas of concern regarding the physical and mental health of Forest County youth are detailed. The 2nd edition of the report provides an […]

Submitted by Steven Watson, Forest County Digital Navigator Internet access is quickly becoming a necessary utility and just like power and gas it’s another bill that piles up every month. But what if that pile didn’t need to be quite so high?  Communities like ours that need assistance getting access to the internet can save […]

Submitted by Michelle Gobert Youth Artists and Volunteers Needed:  We are looking for youth ages 3rd grade and above interested in helping brainstorm, create and paint a patriotic mural for the Forest County Veterans Memorial on the Courthouse Square.  We are currently gathering names and contact information and will plan to meet shortly after Spring […]

Submitted by UW-Madison Master Gardener Volunteer Michelle Gobert As local gardeners begin to think about the upcoming planting season and the potential to sell fresh produce at local farmers markets, it’s important to know about local and state regulations that govern preparation and sale of foods to help ensure public health and protect your brand! […]

Submitted by Michelle Gobert, Positive Youth Development Educator Last fall, Forest County Extension began a program titled “Clover Connection” at area local libraries designed to introduce toddlers and preschoolers to hands-on learning opportunities in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math.  Clover Connection is a family-centered learning opportunity with caregivers present and engaged […]

Submitted by: Terri Kolb        Health and Well-Being Educator       University of Wisconsin Madison-Division of Extension Forest and Oneida       Feeding young kids can be tough – refusing to eat new foods and other picky eating habits are common at this age. Childhood is a critical period for developing eating behaviors and habits that last into adulthood. Early eating habits […]

Submitted by: Terri Kolb, UW-Extension FoodWIse  In the United States food waste is a big concern. Wasted food is the largest solid waste component going to landfills. According to Feeding America, 25-40% of food grown, processed, and transported in the US will never be eaten. Foods that end up in landfills create a harmful gas […]

Submitted by Michelle Gobert, Forest County Master Garden Volunteer If you heat your home with wood or have a wood fireplace, you might have a bucket of wood ash nearby and are wondering what use it can be in the home garden. Wood ash can be a valuable addition to soils, when used appropriately. You […]

Submitted by Michelle Gobert, Positive Youth Development Educator Financial education, or personal finance classes, give youth the knowledge and skills they need to make informed financial decisions, develop sound financial habits, and manage money effectively.  When utilized properly, these life skills can help young adults finance their education, purchase a home or vehicle, and provide […]

Forest County 4-H Creative Arts Nights  This month’s community club meetings in Argonne and Laona will allow youth the opportunity to experiment with various art techniques and formats as they create posters for the 2023 Forest County Land + Water Poster Contest.  The Creative Arts Nights are open to all Forest County youth ages K-18.   […]