Karen Wright goes on-air for climate and community
For KMSU listeners, “Every Day is Earth Day.” The title of Karen Wright’s independent public radio show reflects the wide array of environmental topics she covers, including climate change and resilience, regenerative agriculture, climate justice, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Wright, a Minnesota Climate Adaptation Award honoree, explores these expansive topics through intriguing questions, like:
Can we harvest the power of volcanoes for energy?
What’s the real impact of No Mow May?
Could rust actually make batteries more efficient?
Her interviews and discussions reach beyond the Mankato community to listeners across the state and country through streaming. Many of the segments drive participation in regional green initiatives, building community and fostering a network of local action. Wright also educates the public on organic and native plantings in her role as a Master Gardener volunteer.
Highlights
- Laura M., a Blue Earth County 4-H’er, is a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador and attended the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. Jordan B. is also a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador and is part of the Green Superheroes of Science and a camp counselor.
- RSDP impact: With support from a CERTs Seed Grant, the Regency Park Mobile Homes Eagle Lake community participated in education on saving money, conserving energy and water, and accessing utility rebates and community action agency programs.
- People don’t have to be mental health professionals to support friends, neighbors and colleagues in times of need. But they may not know how. Extension helped bridge this gap by providing in-person Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory (COMET) training in Mankato.
- Extension’s agricultural business management team held agricultural tax issues courses in Mankato.
- Mandy Hunecke is in Class 13 of the Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL) program. She is a communications director for the Crystal Valley Cooperative.
- U of M Farm Family of the Year: The Rose family
- The Climate Adaptation Partnership is helping characterize future flood and drought extremes in the Le Sueur watershed, equipping natural resource managers, farmers and communities with education and resources to inform resilience strategies.
Blue Earth County office
Extension has 14 regional offices supporting all 87 counties in Minnesota.
Blue Earth County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community. More about Extension in our county.
About the Minnesota 87 project
Spend time in any Minnesota county, and you will almost certainly encounter University of Minnesota Extension. Our faculty and staff, volunteers, participants, alumni and partners are woven into the fabric of rural, urban and suburban Minnesota life. This project showcases Extension in action through photos, stories and a sampling of the many ways Extension has touched the lives of people in every county.