The WNEP program in Ashland and Bayfield Counties, Wisconsin has provided nutrition education to families and communities since 1996. They provide hands-on cooking, preservation, and nutrition classes to children, families, seniors and tribal groups. While their resources are limited, they collaborate extensively with other organizations to maximize their impact and avoid duplicating efforts, such as supporting farm to school programs and sharing curricula. Their goal is to promote lifelong healthy eating habits through inclusive, culturally relevant education.

1. Ashland & Bayfield Counties
Wisconsin Nutrition
Education Program

2. History
WNEP has been serving the families in Ashland
and Bayfield Counties since 1996.
Ann teaches basic cooking skills to children at the Boys and Girls
Club

3. Education
We provide cooking, preservation, and nutrition
education classes in multiple settings
Fun Family Cooking is always a big hit with kids and parents

4. Settings
In our counties, most of our time is spent providing
nutrition education in the qualifying schools. We also
work with Head Start, WIC, Senior Centers, Tribal
agencies, and Human Services among others
A healthy snack encourages kids to try new foods

5. Discovery
We promote lifelong learning, unbiased
transformational education and excellence through
our scholarly work
School children learn to love vegetables!

6. Strengths
We integrate University research with
community-based knowledge to explore new
solutions and their practical applications
Bad River elders share their skills at a WNEP food preservation
class

7. Strengths
Our four part-time Nutrition Educators are all trained teachers
and have extensive training through university and optional
personal development in nutrition education
Ann demonstrates what whole grains are to an elementary
student

8. Audiences
We partner with agencies that work with families
where at least 50% of their consumers are eligible for
FoodShare. For schools they need to have 50%
qualify for free/reduced lunches
A father and son make juice together at a
Head Start Fun Family Cooking Class

9. Audiences
We are intentionally inclusive in our efforts to
ensure equity, justice and fairness
WNEP adds nutrition education to Bad River’s Take a Hike Club

10. Limitations of
WNEP
• We are limited in time. The need is great
and our work is limited in schools.
Each classroom receives between 4 and 6
nutrition education lessons per year
• We may provide nutrition education around a
garden, but may not participate actively in
gardening with students

11. Limitations
lead us to
COLLABORATIO
N

12. Collaboration
We support Farm to School locally by providing
introductions to school and community members, helping
new workers navigate the relationships
The Birch Hill Community House director helps teach kids about good
nutrition

13. Collaboration
We meet regularly with Farm to School workers,
so they can connect with one another and
learn what nutrition education is currently
being done at schools
Farm to School provides new tastes for kids with their “Beetza” tasting

14. Collaboration
We provide Farm-to-School with resources
so they have current, research-based
materials for their nutrition education
We share multiple curricula that are grounded in research and
culturally relevant

15. Collaboration
We share knowledge of our local cultures,
so that Farm to School can meaningfully
connect with their students
Bad River’s Take a Hike Club

16. Collaboration
We share our educational outcome goals so that Farm to
School and WNEP are working together, not duplicating
efforts but extending learning for students and their families.
Danielle teaches that popcorn can be a healthy whole grain
choice for children

17. Collaboration
We maintain files of the work done by prior Farm to School workers to
provide continuity for schools.
Middle school students read food labels to identify sources of sugar

18. Collaboration
We support Farm to School by participating in
their 1st
Annual collaborative effort
Families have fun while learning at the 1st
Annual Farm to
School Winter Carnival

19. How to Build Collaboration with
WNEP
• Meet with your local UW-Extension Family
Living Agent and/or WNEP Coordinator
• Find out what schools they serve
• Ask how they have collaborated in the past
and if there are opportunities moving
forward
• Ask for insights about community needs
and possible supports for your program
• Build on existing nutrition education efforts
and themes

20. WNEP Ashland/Bayfield
Counties
is:
Kathy Beeksma, WNEP Coordinator
Ann Christensen, WNEP Educator
Dan Corning, WNEP Educator
Donna Ganson, WNEP Educator
Danielle Vanderscheuren, WNEP Educator
Support Staff: Amy Tromberg and Becky
Yoshikane