County Clay Extension
110 West 4th Street Suite 100 Spencer, IA 51301 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] www.extension.iastate.edu/clay
County Extension Staff
Marcia Langner
County Extension Education Director
Iowa State University Extension in Clay County provides relevant programs that support healthy people, healthy environments, and healthy economies. Read about some of the ways ISU Extension meets local needs, improves quality of life, and helps make Clay County a better place to live. Gary Johnson
Extension Council Chair
Rhonda Wemark
Office Manager
Marcia Langner
County Extension Education Director
Heather Johnson
Office Assistant
Barb Muetzel
Program Coordinator
Kathy Day
County Youth Coordinator
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Training
Keeping consumers healthy by producing safe, quality food is what 4-H'ers learn through Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA) Training. This program is designed to help 4-H animal and livestock project members understand their part in the production chain and ultimately produce a quality and safe food product. One hundred thirty five Clay County 4-H'ers obtained FSQA certification in 2007. Upon completion of a FSQA training in Clay County, 100% of the youth participants responded through evaluation forms that they understand their role as a 4-H member in providing safe, quality foods for consumers.
Jackie Petersen
Bookkeeper
Connie Elg
AmeriCorps Coordinator
Karen Byers
Field Specialist/Youth Development
Jan Burk
Field Specialist/Family Resource Management
Jane Goeken
Field Specialist/Communities
Paul Kassel
Extension Field Agronomist
Staff Serving Clay County but based in other counties
Dennis DeWitt, Field Specialist/ Livestock Eldon Everhart, Field Specialist/Horticulture Julie Hlas, Field Specialist/External Relations Ron Hook, Field Specialist/Farm
Management Kris Kohl, Field Specialist/Ag Engineering Chris Mondak, Field Specialist/Dairy Merle Pochop, Field Specialist/ Business and Industry Rhonda Rosenboom, Field Specialist/ Family Life Jerry Weiss, Field Specialist/ Swine Denise Wyland, Field Specialist/Nutrition
Willow Creek Watershed Project
A group of 28 farmers in the Willow Creek watershed met early in 2007 to discuss the impaired status of the creek and indicate interest in working together to improve water quality within the watershed. A segment of Willow Creek, from the mouth of the creek to a tributary four miles southeast of Royal, is listed on Iowa's current EPA impaired waters list. The group expressed interest in initiating a water quality testing program to provide baseline data and to identify water quality issues farmers and residents can address within the watershed. ISUE Community and Economic Development Specialist Jane Goeken and ISUE Crops Specialist Paul Kassel convened and facilitated the group, and are working with Clay County Soil and Water Conservation District staff to seek a planning grant for the project.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964. Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating.
Iowa State University In Extension: sync with Clay County
Targeted Industries Analysis
Clay County Extension Council
Gary Johnson, Council Chair Troy Leininger, Council Vice-Chair Mary Hamrick, Council Treasurer Kathy Anderson, Council Secretary Lois Benson, Council Member Ray Foerster, Council Member Dick Kirksey, Council Member Jerod Olson, Council Member Jim Sikora, Council Member Every Iowa county has an elected Extension Council that guides local educational programming by partnering with staff. From needs assessment through program implementation and evaluation of outcomes, the council represents the issues and people of the county. We have identified these local issues as priority topics for current and future programming: Entrepreneurship assistance Community economic development Financial literacy Fun personal life management skills for youth New agricultural enterprises and opportunities Natural resources and environmental stewardship We connect you to Iowa State University. We are your local link to make connections for campus enrollment, continuing education, campus visits, campus exhibits, conferences, camps, and sporting events. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/clay/ info/recruitment.htm
ISU Economics Department staff members are currently conducting targeted industrial research and industrial cluster analysis for a region including Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet and Palo Alto counties. The 2007 study is designed to help multicounty economic development participants understand the structure of their regional economy and its performance in recent years; discern the competitive and noncompetitive characteristics of their industrial structure and their workforce; and identify import substitution opportunities that might lead to firm recruitment. The Iowa Lakes Corridor is sponsoring the study, which has received funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and is being conducted in cooperation with the Center for Industrial Research and Services (CIRAS).
4-H "The Power of Youth" Promotion Project
The Meadow Busy Bees 4-H Club, in collaboration with the City of Spencer, implemented a series of twenty banners along Grand Avenue. The banners,...