August 11, 2010

Extension News has moved!

For the latest news from N.C. Cooperative Extension, visit the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' brand new news center. We hope you'll update your bookmarks and visit the new site.

Posted by Natalie at 01:36 PM

July 27, 2010

Extension invited to join 10% Campaign

Memo to Cooperative Extension
From Dr. Joe Zublena and Dr. M. Ray McKinnie

North Carolina Cooperative Extension is supporting the 10% Campaign, aimed at encouraging consumers to spend 10 percent of their food dollars locally, by providing an agent in each county to serve as a local foods coordinator. In addition, Extension has signed on to promote the campaign and support a 10% Campaign Employee Challenge.

We are encouraging Cooperative Extension employees around the state to join the campaign through the website, www.nc10percent.com, and pledge to purchase 10 percent of your food from local sources. The 10% Campaign is an effort by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and N.C. Cooperative Extension to build a local food economy in North Carolina.

North Carolinians spend about $35 billion a year on food. If each person spent just 10 percent on food locally, roughly $1.05 per day, then approximately $3.5 billion annually would be available in the state’s economy.

Continue reading "Extension invited to join 10% Campaign"

Posted by Natalie at 03:08 PM

July 22, 2010

Hungry to help

4-H'ers take action to stop
the hidden health problem of hunger

4-H'ers attending State 4-H Congress this week in Raleigh committed to an ambitious goal of collecting 1 million pounds of food for North Carolina’s food banks as part of a campaign called Hungry to Help.

Conducted in partnership with the Food Banks of North Carolina, the campaign is designed to promote awareness of hunger in North Carolina and to help stop it. To get started, 350 4-H'ers gathered at Dorton Arena at the State Fairgrounds Wednesday to repackage 37,900 pounds of pasta from massive containers into smaller, family-sized portions.

Continue reading "Hungry to help"

Posted by deeshore at 09:33 AM

July 21, 2010

N.C. Cooperative Extension partners with 10% Campaign to promote local foods

North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems have teamed up to encourage North Carolina consumers to spend 10 percent of their food dollars on foods from local sources. The 10% Campaign was launched through a new website, www.nc10percent.com.

The website will allow consumers and business the opportunity to pledge to spend 10 percent of their food dollars locally, purchasing products from area farmers and food producers. Campaign participants will receive weekly email reminders to report how much money they spent on local food. The website will show consumers how their dollars spent on local foods grow.

North Carolinians spend about $35 billion a year on food. If each person spent just 10 percent on food locally – roughly $1.05 per day – then approximately $3.5 billion annually would be available in the state’s economy.

Continue reading "N.C. Cooperative Extension partners with 10% Campaign to promote local foods"

Posted by Natalie at 05:11 PM

Beef profitability workshop to be held July 26 in Chatham County

"Increasing Beef Profitability: Perspectives on Processing and Marketing Opportunities in Local Markets" will be offered July 26, 7-9 p.m., at Chatham County Cooperative Extension Agricultural Building, 45 South St., Pittsboro. The event sponsors are NC Choices, Weaver Street Market and Chatham County Cooperative Extension.

Please join us for a roundtable discussion with panelists Dr. Scott Barao, Dr. Arion Thiboumery and Dr. Matt Poore, a question-and-answer session and a “meat social” with producers, Cooperative Extension professionals and meat processors.

Topics for discussion will include grass-fed genetics, determining production costs, maintaining high quality carcasses, smart carcass utilization, forage management, value added products, successful case studies around the country and building a relationship with your processor.

The event is free, but please RSVP to Casey McKissick at casey@ncchoices.com by July 23.

Continue reading "Beef profitability workshop to be held July 26 in Chatham County"

Posted by Natalie at 10:19 AM

4-H's therapeutic horse riding program measured in smiles

POWELLS POINT — The first time Savannah Lowery sat atop a horse, her mom noticed the change immediately.

Savannah’s agitation, a symptom of Asperger’s syndrome, melted away, and the youngster was calm. The change was so dramatic that Eileen Lowery of Kill Devil Hills knew her daughter needed another chance to ride.

Last week, 6-year-old Savannah got that opportunity at the 4-H Rural Center’s therapeutic riding program. With pink cowgirl boots and riding cap, Savannah took no time to adjust. Before the end of her first half-hour session, she was urging the horse Minnie Pearl to trot faster, much to the pleasure of mom and instructor Sam Iulo of Jarvisburg.

Read more from The Daily Advance

Posted by Natalie at 10:05 AM

July 19, 2010

Interior design and hunger prevention projects highlight State 4-H Congress

State 4-H Congress, held this week at North Carolina State University and around Raleigh, will include a youth version of “Trading Spaces,” where teams create a room design, and the kickoff of 4-H’s Hungry to Help project.

Congress will be held July 19-22 at North Carolina State University and other Raleigh locations. The annual event will attract more than 500 4-H club members, adult volunteers and 4-H agents with North
Carolina Cooperative Extension.

During the four-day event, delegates also will participate in competition, workshops, assemblies, recreation, fellowship and service to the community.

Continue reading "Interior design and hunger prevention projects highlight State 4-H Congress"

Posted by Natalie at 11:03 AM

July 16, 2010

A berry good experience

Moore County 4-H’ers earn money, gain work skills and learn
about science in one-of-a-kind farm business project

Eight teens and tweens wandered beneath and between the branches of blueberry bushes under a sweltering July sun in Moore County's Cameron community. Some mentioned the careers they'd like to pursue when they grow up: One said a hockey player. Another, an auto mechanic. And yet another, a veterinarian.

Continue reading "A berry good experience"

Posted by deeshore at 08:06 AM | Comments (0)

July 15, 2010

State honor surprises Ken Vaughn

At a recent Iredell County Commissioners meeting, Ken Vaughn showed up to discuss an agenda item related to a proposed refurbishment project at the county fairgrounds.

That whole thing was a ruse to get Vaughn to the meeting, however, because he walked out of the commissioners' chambers carrying one of the most prestigious awards offered by the state of North Carolina.

Vaughn, who has been at the helm of the Iredell Cooperative Extension for three and a half decades, won the Old North State Award for his nearly half century of working for different Tar Heel counties.
Read more in the Statesville Landmark and Record

Posted by Dave at 04:13 PM

July 09, 2010

Program helps people eat smart, move more and weigh less

More than 65 percent of all N.C. adults are overweight, and our state ranks fifth worst in the country for childhood obesity. Cooperative Extension is out to change these statistics through its Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less program.

The 15-week program helps people plan, track and live healthier lifestyles. A team of experts with Extension and the N.C. Division of Public Health developed the program.

Continue reading "Program helps people eat smart, move more and weigh less"

Posted by deeshore at 10:16 AM

Wickliffe named Guilford Extension director

Dr. William "Wick" Wickliffe, long-time North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service agent in Guilford County, has been named to direct the county's Cooperative Extension program.

Wickliffe's appointment as Guilford Extension director, effective July 12, was announced by Dr. Joe Zublena, interim director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at North Carolina State University, and Brenda Fox, Guilford County Manager. Wickliffe succeeds Brenda Morris, who retired last year after a 30-year extension career.

Continue reading "Wickliffe named Guilford Extension director"

Posted by Dave at 09:30 AM

July 02, 2010

Going mobile: Extension IT offers site for smartphones

North Carolina Cooperative Extension has gone mobile with the launch of a new website designed specifically for smartphones such as the iPhone, Palm, BlackBerry and Android. The site, at http://m.ces.ncsu.edu, features staff directories for NCCE and N.C. State University and maps to county centers. Users can also reach news feeds from Extension Online News and eXtension.

Ray Kimsey, senior information strategist with Extension Information Technology, developed the site. "It didn't make sense to duplicate the whole site. The goal was to make a site that was useful for someone using a phone," he said.

Continue reading "Going mobile: Extension IT offers site for smartphones"

Posted by deeshore at 09:07 AM

Hanlin named Wilkes CED

Dr. William G. “Bill” Hanlin, area specialized Extension agent based in Wilkes County, has been named director of the N.C. Cooperative Extension center there, effective July 1.

Hanlin’s appointment was announced by Wilkes County Manager John Yates and Dr. Joe Zublena, interim director, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service. Hanlin succeeds Donna Edsel, who retired in June 2009, after 12 years as county Extension director.

Continue reading "Hanlin named Wilkes CED"

Posted by Natalie at 08:49 AM

July 01, 2010

Bradley named Rutherford County Extension director

Jeffrey K. Bradley, area agricultural Extension agent based in Buncombe County, has been named director of the N.C. Cooperative Extension center in Rutherford County, effective July 12.

Bradley's appointment was announced by Rutherford County Manager John Condrey and Dr. Joe Zublena, interim director of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service. Bradley succeeds Steve Duckett, who resigned in May 2009 to become the Extension director in Buncombe County.

Continue reading "Bradley named Rutherford County Extension director"

Posted by deeshore at 10:02 AM