Becky Pfile is a 2019 graduate from UW-Milwaukee with a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Winona State in 2001. Becky was the library director at the Endeavor Public Library from 2014 to 2020. As a librarian, she enjoyed offering programs related to literacy, such as […]

Online Youth Tractor Safety Registration Re-opened & Accepting Registrations  The Wisconsin Youth Tractor & Machinery Safety Certification Program is designed to meet requirements established by the US Department of Labor, pertaining to special provisions made for the employment of youth ages 14-15 on farms not operated by their parents. In addition, Wisconsin Act 455 provides […]

We are pleased to announce the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Trainings for 2022. Trainings are located across the state on both Great Lakes, on prairies, in forests, through river valleys, and in urban parks! There is something for everyone. Please share with those who may be interested. Registration will open Monday, January 10 at 9:00am! Registration […]

If you need to take the exam to be certified in pesticide application, please call the Columbia County Extension Office at (608) 742-9680 to schedule your exam. Or you can reach out to area counties to schedule an exam there. Check out the Pesticide Applicator Training in Columbia County by clicking this link: https://columbia.extension.wisc.edu/agriculture/private-pesticide-applicator-training-in-columbia-county/

Columbia County 4-H Class of 2020 With the end of September comes the opportunity to recognize youth who are graduating out of the Wisconsin 4-H youth development program. These new Columbia County 4-H alumni have participated in 4-H for 1 – 14 years of their lives. It is important to take a moment and celebrate […]

Whether you are new to canning, returning to canning because of the pandemic, or have always canned the bounty of your harvest, there are certain tips that will help ensure that your time and efforts lead to safe, healthy food for your family.  Use recipes that are up to date. Some canning recommendations have changed dramatically […]

An international group of scientists has declared that it is highly unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 is a food safety risk.The International Commission for Microbiological Specifications of Foods (ICMSF) is a non-governmental organization and represents top food safety experts from around the globe. The ICMSF members believe it is highly unlikely that ingestion of SARS-CoV-2 will result in illness […]

The Columbia County 4-H Leaders Council asks all county 4-H clubs to share out their successes as the 2020-2021 4-H year is here. Club meeting ideas, project meeting ideas, family projects, check-in techniques and more. Share ideas to pat.wagner@wisc.edu and all will be added to this list. Click this link https://columbia.extension.wisc.edu/4-h-youth-development/the-impact-of-4-h/  to see what awesome […]

Stories in the news have prompted consumers to ask questions about the survival of the coronavirus on food packaging surfaces. Laboratory studies have shown that the virus that causes COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for up to several days and China recently banned food imports from several counties after finding viral RNA on food packaging. Is this cause for concern? Even as […]

Back to Basics steam canner The University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted research showing that an atmospheric steam canner may be used to safely can naturally acid foods such as peaches, pears, and apples, or acidified-foods such as salsa or pickles. The steam canner uses only ~2 quarts of water (compared to 16 quarts, or more, in a boiling […]