Members present included: Chuck Zenner, Jim Metz, and Dave Bizer. (Wayne Lato absent)

December 7, 2004 Agricultural & Extension Committee Meeting USDA Service Center, Extension Meeting Room #2 Chairman Zenner called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Members present included: Chuck Zenner, Jim Metz, and Dave Bizer. (Wayne Lato absent) Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Peggy Nordgren, Dan Renzoni, Ag agent position vacant. (Brenda Herrell absent) Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to approve the minutes of the November 2, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Department Head Report 1/14/05 WACEC meeting notice was talked about, Wayne for sure and Jim maybe. Committee was invited to Ag Service Center Christmas lunch party. Albrecht reported on the newly published Taylor County Economic Profile for 2005. It includes 4 more pages of data that should assist grant writers, other county departments, and area businesses and units of government. It takes much research and time to identify the appropriate sources for the data, display it so it makes sense, and tells an accurate story about Taylor County and its municipalities. It is a county wide document and does not focus on one municipality. He also praised Program Assistant Sue Cullen for her outstanding work in layout and design of the 16- page book. He also distributed an article in a UWEX publication written about his work in Economic Development. Nordgren shared a report of the results of seven years of the Who Gets Grandma s Yellow Pie Plate program in Taylor County. Transferring non-titled property to the next generation is surprisingly a huge issue in the county and causes the most hurt feelings among families. Since 1998, 106 people have attended this program in Stetsonville, Medford, Gilman and Rib Lake. Over 90% of the participants felt the program was very valuable to them. Six weeks after the program, 89% said they shared program information to other people in the community. Approximately 2/3 s of them used several of the tools presented to them in the program to help them make decisions about distributing or disposing of non-titled property to the next generation. Renzoni reported on the Saturday and Sunday Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership workshop. Taylor County had 4 participants. We developed the agenda and breakouts for the statewide conference. Skills and ideas will be brought to the Taylor County 4-H program. Taylor County 4-H Youth are already participating in Civic Leadership in several ways. Participation on the Chamber activities committee, on the Fair Board, the Market Animal Show and Sale committee, the Federation of 4-H, beginnings of the 4-H after school club program, etc. These are quality activities that prepare youth for higher-level participation.

Herrell absent/no report Agricultural Agent position vacant The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on January 4, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to adjourn the meeting at 11:15 a.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:15. Respectfully submitted, Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent, UW-Extension

November 2, 2004 Agricultural & Extension Committee Meeting USDA Service Center, Extension Meeting Room #2 Chairman Zenner called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Members present included: Chuck Zenner, Wayne Lato, and Dave Bizer. Bizer left the meeting at 10:22 a.m. (Metz absent.) Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Peggy Nordgren, Brenda Herrell, Ag agent position vacant. Motion by Lato, second by Bizer to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Bizer, second by Lato to approve the minutes of the October 5, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Lato, second by Bizer to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Department Head Report Chairman Zenner was instructed to write a letter to Price County Ag-Extension committee chairman, Andrew Prohlod, requesting a meeting regarding interest in sharing ag position. Motion by Lato, second by Bizer to ask Sue Buck to proceed with the process for posting and hiring an ag agent with a goal of filling it as soon as possible. The Committee agreed with the standard job description and that it be forwarded back to Sue Buck for posting. Motion carried. Herrell discussed the development of educational information on the topic "Whole Grains"; including a display board, lessons and handouts for WIC, senior meal sites, and the food pantry. The display was also used at the Senior Health Fair. Albrecht reported on his work with Alice In Dairyland Tours. He helped identify 10 possible tours and arranged to do exploratory min-tours with the selection committee. The potential tours were based on geographic location and industry diversity to truly represent Taylor County's variety of agricultural businesses. The tours are: Joe and Debbie Tomandl Farm, Gad Cheese, Drangle Cheese, Krug's Pheasant Farm, Nelson's Berry Farm, and Great Northern Cabinets, with meals to be held at Big Rock Game Farm, Camp 28 and possibly a lunch at the Stetsonville Centennial Hall/Senior Nutrition site. He also addressed the concern of "how will this benefit Taylor County." He feels it will receive great PR and publications in major state, regional and local newspapers, area TV coverage, and radio coverage. This type of exposure would cost tens of thousands of dollars if purchased. Nordgren discussed the use of the UW-Extension satellite for educational programs. She has been providing the Better Kid Care programs for childcare providers in Taylor County live or by videotape. Since 2000, 46 childcare providers have participated in the satellite programs: 11 by viewing video and 35 participating live. The evaluations have shown that 80 percent or more have learned new information at the programs that was relevant to them and useable immediately. Since all childcare providers need 15 hours of in-service or more each year, this has helped them receive in-service without losing work time and driving very far. Topics have included preventing behavior problems, discipline, active play, dealing with children s anger, biting and sharing and many more. The first program this year drew 11 people from all over the county.

Renzoni absent (medical leave) Agricultural Agent position vacant The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on December 7, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Meeting adjourned at 11:37 a.m. by call of chairman. Respectfully submitted, Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent UW-Extension

October 5, 2004 Agricultural & Extension Committee Meeting USDA Service Center, Extension Meeting Room #2 Chairman Zenner called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. Members present included: Chuck Zenner, Wayne Lato, and Dave Bizer. Lato left the meeting at 10:27 a.m. Extension Staff present: Dan Renzoni, Peggy Nordgren, Brenda Herrell, Ag agent position vacant Motion by Bizer, second by Lato to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Lato, second by Bizer to approve the minutes of the September 7, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Lato, second by Bizer to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Discussed one half time Ag position - sharing with another county versus stand alone. Department Head Report Renzoni reported on the positive progress in the Youth and Senior Citizens with Computers project. Renzoni reported on the recent volunteer disciplinary hearing, the 4-H member that feels deliberately left out and the shift of Riversiders to Rusk County. Herrell gave a program update; reporting on which agencies WNEP would be collaborating with in FY 05. A statewide evaluation tool and results from Gilman third and fourth grades was shared. Albrecht no report/absent (presenting at Penn State) Nordgren described the new format of the Managing Your Money class in collaboration with Probation and Parole and Law Enforcement and the results from this year s classes. Since February, people issuing worthless checks have had the option of taking the classes. Sixtysix people have been reported issuing worthless checks and 12 have taken the Managing Your Money classes this year. Only two of the twelve have issued worthless checks after taking the class. Eighty-seven percent of the people who took the classes felt the program was helpful or very helpful. Seventeen out of 35 people taking the classes have returned a survey one or two months after completing the classes. All are still tracking their spending and 82 percent are still following their spending plans. Because of lower than anticipated participation, Nordgren will be discussing with the Justice Team offering the classes six times a year instead of twelve. Agricultural Agent position vacant

The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on November 2, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Since there were no objections, meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m. Respectfully submitted by Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent, UW-Extension

September 7, 2004 Agricultural & Extension Committee Meeting USDA Service Center, Extension Meeting Room #2 Chairman Zenner called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Members present included: Chuck Zenner, Wayne Lato, Jim Metz, and Dave Bizer Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Dan Renzoni, Peggy Nordgren, Ag agent position vacant Guests present: Laurie Sacho, The Star News, and Deb Esselman, Farm Service Agency Motion by Lato, second by Bizer to approve the agenda for this meeting with the addition of EOP signature authorization. Motion carried. Motion by Lato, second by Metz for Arlen Albrecht to sign and carry out duties in EOP. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Department Head Report A history of the Agricultural Agent position and results of the recent Ag survey, which yielded 29% opposed 71% in favor of refilling the position, were presented. Motion by Lato, second by Metz to pass this on to the whole County Board to reinstate the funding for the Ag position. Motion carried. Budget Report Motion by Metz, second by Lato to forward budget on to Budget Review Committee as presented. Motion carried. Nordgren gave a PowerPoint presentation on Prevention Council and one of its committees; Safe and Stable families. The Safe and Stable Families Committee oversees the grant of the same name and has been in place since the middle 90 s chaired by Nordgren. The purpose of Prevention Council is to monitor family issues in the county and work towards preventing family problems from occurring. One example is child abuse and neglect. Safe and Stable Families Committee has used $30,000 grant money to fund prevention programs including the Family Visitor program for new parents. The existence of Prevention Council has reduced program duplication in the county and still provide prevention programs needed to support families in Taylor County. Renzoni introduced the new AmeriCorps member, Cindy Sakry, and outlined the work program she will be working to build from its present level. 4-H and AmeriCorps will be working to expand our contribution to the Community Learning Center s youth development efforts, we will expand the youth contribution to computer education at the senior citizen centers and work with the youth in governance and the Tobacco Free and ATOD Coalitions. Herrell no report. Absent due to illness. Albrecht talked with the committee about attending the Outreach Scholarship Conference at which he will be presenting the collaborative efforts of UWEX, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Eau Claire in the Rib Lake Submerged Log project. Scholarship money will cover the costs. He

also presented some of the new ways demographic data and information can be compiled for better understanding and wider use. In particular, with the recent focus on retail stores adopting new strategies to compete/survive in the shadows of the Big Box Retail Giants, these new data sources will help merchants know their customers better and incorporate practices to accommodate them. Agricultural Agent position vacant The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to adjourn the meeting at 3:05 p.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 3:05. Respectfully submitted, Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent, UW-Extension

August 4, 2004 Agricultural & Extension Committee Meeting USDA Service Center, Extension Meeting Room #2 Chairman Zenner called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Members present included: Chuck Zenner, Wayne Lato, Jim Metz, and Dave Bizer Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Dan Renzoni, Brenda Herrell, Ag agent position vacant Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Bizer, second by Lato to approve the minutes of the July 6, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Lato to approve agent contracts. Motion carried. Department Head Report Renzoni led discussion on the Ag survey. Jim Metz delivered the surveys to the office before the meeting - 165 yes, 70 no, 17 invalid at this time. There is still time for surveys to come in. Committee members reviewed some of the comments. Albrecht reported on his work with the Western Taylor Economic/Tourism Committee. The two groups joined forces to form one committee in June. The group is meeting in different places Big Rock game farm and Heritage restaurant so far. Of specific discussion was the preliminary results of the Gilman Graduate survey. Approximately 500 surveys were sent to the class reunion participants (5, 10, 15, 20, and groups). The surveys were sent through the reunion organizers. The group expects a substantial return. Albrecht also updated the Committee on his work with the business community on the possibility of Wal-Mart locating in Medford. Nordgren Absent due to teaching a Managing Your Money class. Renzoni reported on the success of the fair. He talked about the 4-H Ambassadors and the leadership they demonstrated, the volunteers that helped everywhere from the fair booth to the market animal show and sale. There was a sign up list for new 4-H youth leaders and 15 signed up. Dan also handed out the evaluation of 4-H summer camp as done by the campers showing very high satisfaction. Herrell reported on education sessions at the senior sites and provided information from the current lesson on Beverages. Agricultural Agent position vacant The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 at 1:00 p.m.

Motion by Lato, second by Metz to adjourn the meeting at 2:25 p.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:45. Respectfully submitted by Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent, UW-Extension

July 6, 2004 Agricultural & Extension Committee Meeting USDA Service Center, Extension Meeting Room #2 Chairman Zenner called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m. Members present included: Chuck Zenner, Wayne Lato, Jim Metz, and Dave Bizer Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Dan Renzoni, Brenda Herrell, Ag agent position vacant Motion by Metz, second by Lato to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Lato, second by Bizer to approve the minutes of the June 2, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Lato, second by Metz to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Department Head Report Renzoni reported on the Advisory Partnership Committee activities. Committee shared thoughts about the Ag Agent position. Motion by Metz, second by Lato to mail Ag position survey with FSA and horticulture users. Motion carried. Renzoni reported on the success of 4-day, 4-H Summer Camp for the 84 members and chaperones. Also discussed is the opening for a new AmeriCorps position. The person will work with the CLC program in all three schools, the Youth In Governance program and Youth Teaching Senior Citizens How to Use Computers initiative. Motion by Lato, second by Metz to approve $3,100 for AmeriCorps to be repaid as possible through grants. Albrecht reported on his informational work on the impacts of Wal-Mart on the county. He shared with the committee a PowerPoint explaining who this corporate giant is from a financial viewpoint with sales of over $246 BILLION in 2003. Also discussion was held on the winners and losers in retail trade. Also shared was UWEX research on how to succeed in business in the shadow of a retail giant with ideas on how to use the traffic flow to increase their sales. Nordgren had her tabletop display, The Healthy Side Effects of Exercise and Activity, set up for viewing by committee members. She was on vacation and not present at the meeting. The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. Motion by Lato, second by Bizer to adjourn the meeting at 11:45 a.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:45. Respectfully submitted, Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent UW-Extension

June 1, 2004 Chairman Zenner called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. Members present included: Chuck Zenner, Wayne Lato, Jim Metz, and Dave Bizer Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Dan Renzoni, Peggy Nordgren, Ag agent position vacant Motion by Lato, second by Metz to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Lato, second by Bizer to approve the minutes of the May 4, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Lato to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Department Head Report none Prioritizing Agricultural Programming results will be tallied and distributed with minutes. Committee members will talk to constituents. No agent reports due to lack of time. The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on July 6, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Motion by Lato, second by Metz to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 a.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:20. Respectfully submitted, Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent, UW-Extension

Prioritizing Agricultural Programming Needs Low------------------High TOPIC 1 2 3 4 5 TOTAL DAIRY INDUSTRY IN GENERAL Farm transfers 3 1 5 Forage 3 1 6 Grazing 1 2 1 12 Animal health and disease 1 3 7 New regulations 1 3 15 Organic certified dairies 1 1 2 9 Farm structures 3 1 5 Milking parlors 2 1 1 9 Renting/custom work 2 2 8 Manure storage and handling 4 4 Spanish speaking employees 2 2 6 Other: Options & Futures Ed. 4 12 CROPS Soil testing 3 1 5 Varieties 2 2 6 Harvesting issues 4 4 Custom information 0 Machinery 3 1 5 Crop storage practices 1 3 10 New crops/alternatives 1 3 10 Nutrient management 0 Rent value of crop land 2 2 8 Value of planted fields 3 1 5 Value of harvested crops 2 2 6 Other: DIRECT MARKETING Milk products 1 1 2 9 Horticultural products 1 1 1 1 10 Meat products 1 1 1 1 10 Other: Regs. & Safety, Ideas 0 HORTICULTURE Vegetable 4 12 House plants 4 12 Flowers 4 12 Fruit trees 4 12 Silva culture 4 12 Insect identification 4 12 Other: OTHER ANIMALS Horses 1 1 2 9 Swine 1 1 2 9 Beef 1 1 2 9 Sheep 1 1 2 9 Chickens 1 1 2 9 Turkeys 1 1 2 9 Other: Buffalo 1 1 2 9 Emu 1 1 2 9

WOOD LOT MANAGEMENT 4 4 Other: RURAL ECONOMY/ISSUES Ag clean sweeps-hazardous waste 2 2 6 Right to farm 2 2 6 Land use issues 2 2 6 Other: BIOSECURITY Hoof and mouth disease 1 2 1 9 Mad cow 1 2 1 9 Jones disease 1 2 1 9 County Emergency plan for agriculture 2 2 12 Other: AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS Holstein breeders 2 1 1 7 Twilight meeting 2 1 1 7 Black and white show 2 1 1 7 Dairy breakfasts 1 2 1 8 Dairy promotion committee 1 2 1 8 Taylor County Fair 1 1 1 1 10 Ag lenders breakfasts 1 2 1 8 FSA input 2 1 1 7 Other: YOUTH IN AG ACTIVITIES FFA school districts 1 3 7 Farmers Union Juniors 3 1 5 4-H 2 2 6 Other: RESPONSES TO WEATHER ISSUES Drought 0 Too wet 0 Winter kills 0 Other:

May 4, 2004 Chairman Zenner called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Members present included: Chuck Zenner, Wayne Lato, Jim Metz, and Dave Bizer Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Dan Renzoni, Peggy Nordgren, Brenda Herrell, Ag agent position vacant Guest present: Sue Buck, UWEX Motion by Metz, second by Bizer to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Zenner to approve the minutes of the April 6, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Lato, second by Metz to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Department Head Report Dan reported on the success of the first Community Partner Advisory Group meeting which was held on April 28, 2004. Herrell, WNEP Coordinator; and Agents, Nordgren, Renzoni, and Albrecht reported on past and future programming efforts for the new committee. This included an update on the countywide survey and how it was incorporated in the plans of work. Motion by Lato, second by Metz to approve WNEP cost share agreement. Motion carried. Agricultural Agent position vacant The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on June 1, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Motion by Metz, second by Lato to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:50. Respectfully submitted by Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent, UW-Extension

April 6, 2004 Chairman Lato called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Members present included: Wayne Lato, Chuck Zenner, Jim Metz, and Rod Adams Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Dan Renzoni, Peggy Nordgren, Ag agent position vacant Motion by Metz, second by Zenner to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Adams, second by Zenner to approve the minutes of the March 2, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Adams to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Department Head Report Dan reported on the success of the UWEX Community Partner Advisory Group grant. Recognition was given to committee member Rod Adams for his 6 years of service. He chose not to run for county board. Albrecht reported on his work with the Western Taylor County Economic Development Committee. He discussed his involvement in their current four projects: Community preparedness Index which is now the guide for future projects, the recently held Business Expo, the Gilman graduate survey, and the Business Counseling sessions planned for May. He also distributed a fact sheet he developed for the Rib Lake Development Foundation to help them analyze the feasibility of purchasing the CSI building. The sheet contained a series of questions as well as financial calculations with variables in space rental and cost of space rental. With this data the Foundation was able to see what price they could afford to pay for the building and how much space needed to be rented to make the deal cash flow. Nordgren presented an overview of the recent program, Who Gets Grandma s Yellow Pie Plate? attended by 24 people. The class taught ways to help families plan the transfer of non-titled property to the next generation before death or a crisis occurs. Research on this topic indicates the most conflict about family possessions occurs with non-titled property, not necessarily property that has titles, like a home, car or bank accounts. Included in the program Nordgren taught was the importance of planning, tools to use in families to ease the process, many ways to distribute property and how to manage conflict if it occurs. Renzoni gave an update on the successes of the Youth In Governance program. We now have youth as the board of directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, three new voting members for the Taylor County Fair Board, 4-H youth teaching in the Community Learning Center programs, 4-H members on the Strawberry and Cream Festival committee, youth teaching Seniors computer skills, and other programs in the works. Also, Dan Renzoni, Beth Zuelke (the ag teacher in Gilman), and Barb Bauer (a 4-H leader) are all certified to teach Meat Animal Quality Assurance and will be holding workshops to keep our youth eligible to sell at the Market Animal Show and Sale. Agricultural Agent position vacant

The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on May 4, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Motion by Zenner, second by Adams to adjourn the meeting at 11:35 a.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:35. Respectfully submitted, Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent UW-Extension

March 2 Chairman Lato called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Members present included: Wayne Lato, Chuck Zenner, Jim Metz, and Rod Adams Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Dan Renzoni, Brenda Herrell, Ag agent position vacant Motion by Zenner, second by Adams to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Zenner to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Zenner, second by Adams to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Department Head Report Renzoni circulated a copy of a grant application that will provide $3030.00 to help support the building of a UWEX advisory group of public citizens from throughout the county to keep us better informed of current and new issues on the horizon. Student Sandra Drager will be serving her internship at UW-Extension throughout the month of March. Sandra will graduate from NTC s Administrative Assistant program in May 2004. Albrecht reported on his work with the Rib Lake Community s Submerged project. He updated the committee on recent advancements in available technologies to identify the existence of logs and their volumes. Albrecht was able to make connections with UW-Eau Claire Geology Department and their Ground Penetrating Radar unit. Professor Jol tested the technology on Rib Lake this late summer, gave a presentation to the community in January with the positive results. The community asked them back to do a second study over the ice on February 27. The results of this work will be a class project with detailed data on logs and the nutrient/organic value of the sediment. Albrecht was instrumental in getting this University resource to serve the community of Rib Lake. Nordgren Absent due to participation at Rib Lake Child Development Days Renzoni reported on the Winter Workshop this last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Also described was the upcoming Energized Connection, a two-day workshop to help community youth and adults work more constructively together on boards, committees, etc. Both programs were funded by outside sources of money. The committee was also shown an abbreviated version of the 4-H Volunteer Orientation program that helps new leaders work effectively and safely with youth and where they are shown the expectations of 4-H adult leaders. Herrell shared a nutrition lesson from a February class at Gilman School. The fruit and vegetable lessons are part of the kindergarten curriculum. She shared results of the preand post-test used to evaluate what the children had learned. Agricultural Agent position vacant

The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on April 6, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Motion by Zenner, second by Metz to adjourn the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:40. Respectfully submitted, Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent UW-Extension

February 3 Chairman Lato called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. Members present included: Wayne Lato, Chuck Zenner, Jim Metz, and Rod Adams Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Peggy Nordgren, Dan Renzoni, Brenda Herrell, Ag agent position vacant Motion by Zenner, second by Metz to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Adams, second by Zenner to approve the minutes of the January 6, 2004 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Metz, second by Adams to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Wayne Lato reported on recently attended WACEC meeting and committee and staff viewed a video. The state program leader will report the results of the Ag Visioning Session to County Board on February 24, 2004. Department Head Report no report due to no business Closed Session (Pursuant to S. 19.85 (1) (c) Wisconsin Statutes) Motion by Metz, second by Zenner to go into closed session for the sole purpose of faculty/staff performance reviews. Motion carried. Closed session began at 10:30 a.m. Upon completion of faculty/staff reviews, motion by Zenner, second by Metz to reconvene in open session. Motion carried. Open session reconvened at 11:55 a.m. Motion by Metz, second by Adams to approve all evaluations as satisfactory performance. Motion carried. The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on March 2, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Motion by Zenner, second by Adams to adjourn the meeting at 12:05 p.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 12:05. Respectfully submitted by Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent UW-Extension

January 6 Chairman Lato called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m. Members present included: Wayne Lato, Chuck Zenner, Jim Metz, and Rod Adams Extension Staff present: Arlen Albrecht, Peggy Nordgren, Dan Renzoni, Ag agent position vacant Motion by Zenner, second by Metz to approve the agenda for this meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Adams, second by Metz to approve the minutes of the December 2, 2003 meeting. Motion carried. Motion by Adams, second by Metz to approve bills and vouchers for payment. Motion carried. Department Head Report Dan discussed the upcoming WACEC meeting and filled the committee in on the Administrative Assistant situation. Renzoni did a demonstration of the pig lungs from his Tobacco-Free Coalition s educational efforts. Classrooms and 4-H clubs have been the primary audiences. He also reported on the successes of the Tobacco-Free Coalition. Albrecht reported on his work with the Western Taylor Economic Improvement Committee. In particular, he described his work with UWEX Specialist Andy Lewis on a Community Preparedness Index Survey conducted in early December. The results of the survey will help the committee focus their future efforts for community betterment. Of specific note is the consensus on quality of life issues as strengths and lack of organized efforts to attract and retain new businesses as weaknesses. He will be meeting with the committee to create action plans to carry out tasks. Nordgren shared examples of the various reporting Extension agents do, including reports for the University. Variations of those reports go to Extension Committee, county board of supervisors, other cooperating agencies and peers. Agricultural Agent position vacant The next Ag & Extension Committee meeting will be held on February 3, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Motion by Metz, second by Zenner to adjourn the meeting at 11:40 a.m. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:40. Respectfully submitted by Dan Renzoni, 4-H Agent - UW-Extension