February E-News

LEGO 4-H Winter Wonderland Winners

Thank you to all the 4-Hers that participated in the 4-H Winter Wonderland LEGO Contest. These entries have been on display in the upstairs window at the Mitchell County Extension Office.

We are excited to announce the winners were: Craig Young, Hudson Burleson, Carson Burleson, Samuel Glenn, Owen Young, Ava Jones & London Jones. Congratulations!!

Also, Special thanks to our volunteers and staff participating!

HEART Healthy MONTH!!

February is a great month to consider matters of the heart! Your heart's health is central to your overall health. As your Family Consumer Science agent in Mitchell County, Katie Elkins does her very best to bring you research based information to take care of your heart.

Programs are offered through Steps To Health. STH empowers youth, adults, and communities through evidence-based nutrition programs to promote healthy eating behaviors and food resource management strategies.

This month at daycares and Head Start centers in Mitchell and Avery counties pre-school children will finish Color Me Healthy. During this 8 week program, we have tried new foods, danced and sang. One of the kids' favorite songs has been "I Can Feel My Heartbeat," and we had a lot of fun exercising and learning together. You can see some of the recipes the children tried when you visit our facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057137993333

We will also be sharing more heart friendly activities and recipes throughout the month of February on our facebook page, so follow us and get motivated! If you would like more great tips on how to help your own heart, try the Steps to Health free text message service.

Order Your Small Fruit Plants Today!

Mitchell County Cooperative Extension is now taking orders for the 2023 Small Fruit Plant Sale! This year’s sale includes: asparagus, horseradish, blackberries, black and red raspberries, strawberries, elderberries, blueberries, and apple and fig trees.

(Horseradish, Elderberry, and Figs are new this year!!)

Download/print the order form, complete and return it to:
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Mitchell County Center, PO Box 366, Bakersville, NC 28705. Be sure to include your check made payable to: Mitchell County Extension.

Orders/payment must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 17.

Farmer's Think Tank

By popular demand, the Mitchell County Cooperative Extension Service will be hosting a Farmer's Market Think Tank on March 13, 2023 from 5-6 PM at the Mitchell Extension Center 10 S. Mitchell Avenue, Bakersville, NC 28705. The purpose of this meeting is to explore the possibility of establishing a permanent market in Mitchell County. This meeting is open to producers, buyers, and anyone who desires accessibility to fresh local food! Topics to be discussed are infrastructure, location, time, and producer participation. If you are interested please contact Shane Biddix at 688-4811 or sabiddix@ncsu.edu.

Mitchell County

Annual Livestock Meeting

The Mitchell County Cooperative Extension Center will be holding their Annual Livestock Meeting
and Meal on March 16th, 2023 at the Bakersville Fire Department @ 6:00pm.

This meeting will highlight agricultural equipment available for producers use through the Cooperative Extension Service and Mitchell County Soil and Water Office. Extension Agent, Michelle South will be displaying and presenting on the various equipment that is available to producers through Extension. Producers will also be provided with hands-on opportunities with each piece throughout the meeting. In addition to Extension’s equipment, District Director, Mark Byrd will be presenting on equipment that is available to producers through Mitchell County Soil and Water Office.

A full meal will be provided. Please RSVP by contacting Michelle South 828.688.4811.

Avery and Mitchell County Cooperative Extension Centers’ Equipment

The equipment that will be displayed during the annual meeting and is currently available to producers is listed below.

1. Artificial Insemination Kit

2. Semen Tank

3. Castration/ Docking/ Dehorning Kit

4. Digital Scales

5. Forage Identification Kit

6. Hog Snare

7. Hoof Trimming Kit

8. Livestock Handling Facility (heavy duty panels and sweep)

9. Poultry Processing Facility

· scalder

· defeather unit

· cooling tank

· slaughtering cones

10. Shearing Kit & Shearing Stand

11. Squeeze Chute

12. Vaccine / Tagging Kit

13. 24 Egg Incubator & Candling Kit

14. Fecal Egg Count Kit

15. Pregnancy Detection Kit

16. Drenching Guns

17. Forage Testing Kit (sampling probe and moisture probe)

18. Small Animal Scale Kit

19. Pasture Rotation Kit (electric netting & charger)

20. 16ft Bumper Pull Stock Trailer

21. Small Ruminant Chute & Headgate

22. Milk Replacer & Tubing Kit (bottle baby kit)

Mitchell County Soil and Water Office’s Equipment

1. Boomless Sprayer with Tank

2. Mist Blower

3. 2 Ton Lime/ Fertilizer Spreader