Re p o r t t o t h e Pe o p l e

Transcription

1 Re p o r t t o t h e Pe o p l e Highlights: Extension volunteers in all programmatic areas gave 48,322 hours of service valued at $24.14/hour which resulted in an economic benefit of $1,166,493 to Forsyth County. $163,389 in outside grants and donations. Annual Report ,835 people increased their knowledge in local foods and agricultural systems. 4,022 4-H youth increased skills in communications, career paths and critical thinking. 713 people increased knowledge in food strategies through Extension s EFNEP program. Over 200 tobacco & vegetable producers were trained on Good Agricultural Practices in The Community Garden team supports 170 active gardens in the county. 9,079 residents were trained in garden and landscape practices, in areas such as turf grass, soil management, growing food, water conservation and quality, storm-water and erosion. Meeting the Needs: N.C. Cooperative Extension, the outreach arm of the North Carolina State and N.C. A&T universities system, brings the university to the people. Extension programs reflect the needs of community members in their quest to learn new skills, attitudes and behaviors which enrich their lives. Extension programs focus on emerging issues with real world impacts. The Agents and staff in the Forsyth County Extension office are part of a nonformal education network bringing research-based information into communities to help people improve their lives. N.C. Cooperative Extension is committed to delivering high-quality, relevant educational programs and information to Forsyth County citizens and communities. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Forsyth County Center 1450 Fairchild Winston-Salem, NC Phone: forsyth.cc/ces forsyth.ces.ncsu.edu

2 Dear Friends of Extension, Thank you for your interest in learning more about N.C. Cooperative Extension programs. Here, you will find several key programs that our team of professionals are now delivering to community members and stakeholders throughout Forsyth County. We hope that you will enjoy reading our report. Extension is a multifaceted and locallybased source of tried and true information that can help people address important issues in their lives. Our programs in agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences and 4-H youth development have long standing, excellent track records in helping people help themselves by utilizing a hands-on approach to learning. We invite you to take a look at our programs and come see how you can become a part of our Extension family. Kimberly Gressley Kimberly Gressley NCCE County Extension Director & Forsyth County Department Head Many Thanks to our 2017 Advisory Council. Your guidance, creative ideas and vision are appreciated! Edgar Miller, Chairman BJ Hutchins Dale Parker Marilyn Odom Charlette Lindell Vernon Switzer Claudia Whitaker Toby Bost Peggy Lyle Adam Pendlebury Harriet McCarthy Robert Jones Joycelyn Johnson Wes Carpenter Gloria Smith Joanette McClain Rev. Francis Manns, Jr.

3 Agents and Staff Mary Jac Brennan April Bowman Tim Hambrick Jami Lawhon Horticulture, Urban, 4-H Youth Development/ Area Agriculture, Area Family & Small Farms & Local Food Livestock & Forages Field Crops Consumer Sciences (.5 FTE) Monique Pearce-Brady Leslie Peck Phyllis Smith Megan Gregory 4-H Youth Development Commercial & Natural Resources Community Gardening Consumer Hort. Agent (.75 FTE) Coordinator Forsyth County Support Staff: Tembila Covington, Program Assistant, Urban Agriculture Kitrinka Gordon, Office Assistant Julie Hale, Program Assistant ~ Community Gardening Kathy Hepler, Administrative Assistant Shae King, Extension Program Assistant ~ EFNEP & SNAP-ED Erin McSpadden, Volunteer Coordinator Derek Morris, Technician Horticulture Rocio Sedo, Extension Program Associate ~ EFNEP

4 Major Forsyth County Center Programs. 4-H Youth Development Program, School & Community Outreach April Bowman & Monique Pearce-Brady, 4-H YD Agents 4-H is centered around home and community involvement. 4,022 4-H members enrolled in 2017 in club and outreach programs while choosing to explore: science and technology, healthy lifestyles, animals, plant sciences, citizenship, leadership and leisure activities. 719 volunteer leaders assisted youth through 4-H. This program focuses on building a learning community that encompasses schools, partner organizations, stakeholders and donors who share a common vision of growing our youth for the future in rural, urban and suburban communities. Commercial & Consumer Horticulture Leslie Peck, Horticulture Agent Professional landscaping and pest control operators find pest identification and in-depth skill training provided by N.C. Cooperative Extension as a necessity in today s competitive environment. Additionally, working with a team of over 100 Extension Master Gardeners sm volunteers, Forsyth County citizens benefit through educational programming for the home gardener. Community Gardening Megan Gregory, Community Gardening Coordinator This program supports residents in establishing and sustaining community gardens, primarily by developing local leaders skills in community organizing and sustainable horticulture. By growing gardens and garden leaders, we help residents improve access to fresh produce, enhance environmental stewardship and provide outdoor education for all ages. E.F.N.E.P. & SNAP-ED Shae King & Rocio Sedo, Program Coordinators The Extension Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) began in The program s mission is to empower families through nutrition education & the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-ED) for healthy lifestyles and a positive future. EFNEP provides current education in nutrition, home management and sanitation, budgeting and referrals in English and Spanish. Field Crops Tim Hambrick, Area Agent Field days, seminars and other educational programs help agricultural producers and industry representatives. Emphasis is placed on presenting and discussing new research-based information that has been locally tested by University and industry sources. Family & Consumer Sciences Deborah Womack (retired) & Jami Lawhon, FCS Agents Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) in Forsyth County is responsible for planning, executing and evaluating effective and comprehensive family and consumer sciences programs that meet the needs of the county s limited resource population, in the areas of food, nutrition, family finance, home maintenance, parenting education and safety. Livestock & Forages April Bowman, Livestock Agent This program focuses on understanding the factors that determine productivity and resiliency of forage-livestock systems, grass-based bio-energy systems, and the interactions among plants, animals, and the environment. Horticulture for Small Farms, Urban Agriculture and Local Foods Mary Jac Brennan, Horticulture Agent N.C. Cooperative Extension provides educational programming for small and limited resource farmers, as well as new urban growers and other residents about fruit and vegetable production on the farm and in home gardens. Extension works to provide technical advising on marketing of locally grown produce and food products to consumers through farmers markets and local stores. Natural Resources and Wildlife Phyllis Smith, Natural Resources Agent Through workshops, exhibits, participation in the Forsyth County Creek Week, Treasure Tree and more, this overall program focuses on teaching Forsyth County residents about natural resources, water quality and native wildlife in North Carolina.

5 4-H Youth Development One hundred-sixty-six (166) youth exhibited 363 livestock animals at the 6th annual Clover Classic 4-H Livestock Show. Over $8,000 was donated from 25 sponsors with more than 20 volunteers who contributed 187 total hours for a service value of $4,514. Forsyth County 4-H had 231 youth participate in 4-H clubs in 2017, 537 in special interest programs, and 3,254 in school enrichment, for an unduplicated number of 4,022 youth who participated in 4-H programs. Volunteers contributed 3,518 hours of service and youth involved in the program performed 1,718 hours of community service with their clubs. Forsyth County 4-H Honors: The Wildlife Habitat Education Program team won state and placed 5th in the nation. The Forestry team won state and placed 8th in the nation. The 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team was second in the state in quiz bowl, judging and skillathon. Forsyth County sent 22 project record books to district competition, 19 of which earned medals; 9 portfolios were sent to state and all 9 won Gold or Silver at the district level and 8 of those went on to win state level medals. Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Second grade youth learn about life skills and hatching chicks through the 4-H embryology program. In 2017, 2,685 youth participated in the program and 2,420 of those youth gained knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math as reported by their teachers. Volunteers contributed over 1,445 hours, valuing $38,904. Total cost savings amounting to $16,060 were realized in 2017 due to the best management practices in the areas of landscaping, turf, gardening, appropriate fertilizer usage, water quality & conservation and pruning techniques. $7,520 was realized in cost savings due to the appropriate selection of landscape plants. Extension Master Gardeners Volunteers gave 9,848 hours of service to Forsyth County citizens amounting to nearly $250,000. EFNEP & SNAP-ED In 2017, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) enrolled 156 families and taught them how to become more physically active, to make healthy food choices, and to prepare nutritious meals. Last year's report shows that about 95% of participants improved their nutrition practices and daily physical activity. Food insecurity often leads to hunger. In 2017, EFNEP enrolled 156 families and taught them food resource management skills to avoid running out of food at the end of the month. The latest report shows that before EFNEP, about 83% of families almost always ran out of food at the end of the month. By the end of the program, 97% less often ran out of food.

6 Field Crops Tobacco GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) Training attendees from approx. 10 counties, including Forsyth. Provides required training for tobacco producers who grow tobacco under contract, keeping them abreast of labor, environmental, and production changes. Provides both GAP and pesticide credits. Resistant Weed Symposium 141 attendees from approx. 7 counties, including Forsyth. Speakers from GA, VA, TN, and NC provided updates and experiences regarding the impact of herbicide resistant weeds. With resistant weeds beginning to appear in our area, this was a well timed, very high quality event to help our producers mitigate the impact of resistance before it caused great economic harm. Auxin Training ~ 96 attendees from approx. 6 counties, including Forsyth. Growers who might use this class of herbicide in the fight against weed resistance were trained and certified in the proper use of this new to soybean technology. This provides another needed tool in the resistance fight, but also requires that producers understand the necessity for proper stewardship of this chemical class. Community Gardening Sixty-four (64) Mentors, trained and supported by Forsyth Community Gardening, assisted community garden groups in diverse neighborhoods across Forsyth County. Mentors started seven new community gardens, provided guidance in garden organizing and productive horticultural practices, and facilitated hands-on education for children and youth. Forsyth Community Gardening provided education in sustainable horticulture through six workshops, technical assistance, and a newsletter. As a result, at least 61 garden groups (involving over 1000 people) implemented best practices, including soil testing, cover cropping, cultural practices for pest management, composting, and season extension. Twenty-six participants representing 16 community gardens completed a bilingual training on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Following the training, garden groups worked to foster full participation by people of diverse racial/ethnic groups, abilities, ages, and incomes. Efforts included: increasing the racial/ethnic diversity of garden participants through partnerships, constructing wheelchair-accessible raised beds, and offering horticultural therapy for children with disabilities. Seventeen teens from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods participated in a new Youth Urban Gardening Internship (YUGI). Through paid employment, interns gained experience and training in sustainable gardening, nutrition, and leadership life skills. Sixty intern family members accessed nutritious food grown at the YUGI-Carver High garden, and 52 teachers and 670 students accessed outdoor classroom experiences.

7 Livestock and Forages Forsyth was one of twelve piedmont counties that hosted both a regional sheep and goat field day and a beef cattlemen's conference with over 100 participants, managing 5,696 acres of pasture/hay land, 287 goats, 152 sheep and 3,390 head of beef cattle. As a result, 100% of the producers reported gaining knowledge and estimated that the conference made or saved them over $90,000. Over 180 Forsyth County livestock producers received direct assistance from Cooperative Extension. Family and Consumer Sciences 914 people learned new skills involved with best management practices regarding a host of topics surrounding energy conservation. 452 youth and adults implemented basic financial concepts into their lives after attending an Extension program boosting their confidence and understanding of how to become independently secure for the future. 118 youth and adults increased knowledge in life skills involving goal setting, stress management, self care and healthy relationships. The North Carolina Extension & Community Association, Inc. strengthens, develops and coordinates adult education to improve the quality of life of its members. This group of women in Forsyth County encompasses over 100 individuals from six clubs. This program has a rich history that dates back to its inception in Raleigh in Horticulture for Small Farms, Urban Agriculture and Local Foods 1835 adults, including food producers and food business owners improved knowledge of local food and agricultural systems (700 were limited resource individuals) and 1,376 adults gained knowledge or acquired skills related to vegetable/fruit gardening. (525 were limited resource individuals) 37 producers increased their production as a result of horticulture small farm and local food programming. 36 producers were advised directly about selling their agricultural products to local markets, improved their local food marketing knowledge and diversified their marketing strategies into local markets. In total, 18,216 contacts were made in Horticulture Small Farms, Urban Agriculture and Local Food.

8 Natural Resources and Wildlife Provided programming for 48 middle-school students (three different classes) at NC Leadership Academy in Kernersville. Programs met NC Essential Standards for Science while supporting the development of a school Envirothon team. Promoted knowledge and awareness of local Native American families, their farming practices, and the natural resources they utilized for survival during Native American Heritage Month (Nov.) through guest speaking engagement for Home Garden Club and Noon News segment for WXII TV. Fielded 103 phone calls and made 7 site visits to provide assistance in a variety of topics including wildlife identification and control, aquatic weed management, beekeeping, and storm-water control. North Carolina Cooperative Extension is a collaborative effort between the state s land-grant universities North Carolina State University (N.C. State) and North Carolina A&T State University (N.C. A&T) and county and tribal governments to bring research-based knowledge to citizens in communities throughout the state. The respective university Extension organizations N.C. A&T's Cooperative Extension Program and N.C. State s Cooperative Extension have partnered to serve the state since N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sexual identity (including pregnancy) and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.