Tim Ryan tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
There will be a new position added starting next month to Shawano County’s University of Wisconsin-Extension office that will fill the vacant 4-H post and assume additional duties.
Megan Suehring has been hired as a positive youth development coordinator, with a start date of April 1, according to the regional UW-Extension office.
“This position allows one person to be hired to provide educational opportunities to promote positive youth development on a larger scale whether that be through the traditional 4-H program or beyond in other settings, such as schools or other youth-serving organizations,” said Area Extension Director Nancy Crevier. “This is a positive move for Shawano County.”
Suehring has worked for UW-Extension the last three years.
Since October, she has been serving as the FoodWIse coordinator for its nutrition program covering both Shawano and Menominee counties.
Before that, she was working for the 4-H Youth Development program in Marathon County.
She has previous experience working for the Shawano and Menominee Counties Health Department.
Suehring grew up in Shawano County and currently resides in western Shawano County.
Suehring’s duties will include expanding leadership experiences for youth, strengthening community collaborations to increase opportunities for youth to build life skills, and increasing training opportunities for adult volunteers to enhance youth engagement in 4-H experiences.
The position also leads and manages the full range of the 4-H Youth Development programs including community clubs, after school programs, educational events and camps for Shawano County.
Shawano County will pay a flat rate for the position, which was set for 2018 at $38,227, including $500 for professional development.
The salary and fringes are a combination of both county and UW-Extension funding, according to Crevier.
The UW-Extension office at the Shawano County Courthouse became part of a four-county region this year overseen by Crevier, who also is responsible for extension outlets in Menominee, Oconto and Marinette counties.
The reorganization was the result of $250 million statewide budget cut to the University of Wisconsin System.
The cuts forced Shawano County to either allocate more county resources for UW-Extension or trim staffing and services in the office.
County officials decided against spending increases and instead endorsed a strategy for reducing the number of educators while scaling back activities in family living and economic development.