MSU Extension Fall Extension Conference

Below you find information on the sessions that will be held during Breakout Session 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 1:45-2:45 p.m.

Fast & Furious: PEARS Events Features

A high-speed rundown showcasing the optional features in PEARS Events, including sessions, group registrations, conditional logic, and tips and tricks for managing registrations.

Flip the Script: Tackling Rumors and Gossip with Confidence

Christine Heverly, Laurie Rivetto

Rumors and gossip can spread quickly and cause real harm—but they don’t have to define your group’s culture. In this interactive session, Extension professionals will explore how to recognize, respond to, and redirect gossip in positive ways. Participants will learn practical communication and response strategies to stop rumors in their tracks, promote respect, and build trust within their teams, community partners, and volunteers. Everyone will leave with a concrete action plan for fostering a more supportive and drama-free environment.

Food on the Table: U.S. Nutrition Programs and the Cost of Eating Well

Many people in Michigan and across the U.S. find it difficult to provide their families with a healthy diet at an affordable cost. Federal programs like SNAP and WIC are designed to help these households pay for groceries when budgets are tight. These programs have helped millions of Americans stretch their dollars and improve their health. This session provides an accessible introduction to the major federal nutrition programs, the role they play in Michigan, and important recent policy changes. No policy or research background is needed for this session, which will include time for Q&A.

Get Ready, Get Set, Build Wealth

In this interactive, trivia style session, participants will learn ways to build wealth to prepare for large future expenses, such as retirement, and other major goals. Basic investing knowledge and savings strategies will be shared. Participants will leave with actionable resources and information for personal use.

Let’s Get Social: Simple Ways To Share Your Work

You don’t need to be a social media expert to tell the story of MSU Extension! No matter your role here, you already have stories, photos, and ideas that can help others learn about the impact of your work.

Maybe you've found yourself wondering:

• I think I might have an idea for social media. Now what?
• I'm not a photographer. Will my photos or videos be good enough?
• I don’t have time to create social media content. How can I fit it in my regular work?

In this interactive session, MSU Extension’s Digital Communications Manager Chelsea Dickens and Director of Communications and Digital Strategy Becky McKendry will answer all those questions and more.

We’ll share simple steps that anyone can use to contribute content for MSU Extension's social media channels. You'll learn easy ways to capture photos and video while you’re already in the field (and what to do once you have that photo, video, or idea).

Whether you've never created social media content before or are just looking to build your confidence, you'll learn ideas and tools you can use right away.

Bring a laptop, a phone, or a good, old-fashioned notebook and pen for capturing your ideas during the discussion portion. For those who bring smartphones, there will be an optional activity to try out your new skills, too!

Listening with Presence - Part 1

Practice listening as a mindset and a discipline to increase understanding, strengthen relationships, and help others think more clearly. 

This session explores listening as a core leadership practice — not just hearing words, but creating the space for others to reflect, process, and solve problems. Participants examine how their current listening habits shape interactions and learn how a deeper commitment to presence can shift the way they lead and communicate. 

Through guided practice, participants build skills in pausing, asking open and thoughtful questions, and responding in ways that encourage clarity and ownership. The experience highlights how listening can be a powerful tool for reducing miscommunication, strengthening trust, and supporting others in becoming more resourceful and self-directed. 

What you’ll gain:

• Stronger listening skills that improve communication and understanding 
  • Tools to ask questions that promote clarity, ownership, and problem-solving 
  • Greater ability to support others without taking on their challenges 
  • Increased presence and intention in how you engage with others 

This is a two-part session. Attendees must attend both parts.

Race to Learn: Interactive 4-H Programming

In this session, participants will actively engage in a scaled-down version of a youth-tested program where they work in teams to navigate detours, solve roadblocks, and strategize their way to the finish line. This adaptable program can be tailored to fit a variety of topics, group sizes, and learning objectives. Participants will experience the activity firsthand and learn how to design, organize, and implement their own version by creating challenges, managing flow, and utilizing templates and resources. The session will provide tools, ready-to-use materials, and ideas to get started.

Rooted in Community: Strategies for Supporting School and Community Gardens

Learn about strategies and resources to support school and community gardens in your Extension work. This session will include information about the Starting a School or Community Garden: Essential Steps for Success D2L course and in-person adaptations of that course. Attendees will take part in activities included in these trainings and learn from statewide experience supporting school and community garden projects.