May 2024 Newsletter-Granville County Center

Members of the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association of Granville and Person County (EMGVAGP) recently enjoyed a field trip to Raleigh to visit the State Farmers Market and NC State’s Plant Sciences Building (PSB) on NC State’s Centennial Campus. Members had the opportunity to shop and have lunch at the market before having their monthly business meeting and taking a tour of PSB.

There they were able to visit rooftop greenhouses that were tall enough for tree height plant research, observe students working in state of the art labs, growth/atmospheric chambers for plant research, and makerspaces. They also learned about partnerships with numerous departments on N.C. State’s campus regarding plant science research. The Extension Master Gardener Volunteers also discovered how the PSI start up program initiative allows growing companies to use PSI lab spaces to research their products.

The group ended their day with an ice cream treat at NC State’s Howling Cow Creamery.
Interested in becoming an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer? The next training for folks in Granville and Person counties begins August 8th. For more information, contact NC Cooperative Extension agent Johnny Coley (johnny_coley@ncsu.edu) or visit the group’s Facebook page (Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association of Granville/Person County).

The 78th annual Central Piedmont Junior Livestock Show and Sale was recently held on April 9-10, 2024 in Hillsborough, NC. The tradition began on April 24, 1946 in Durham. This is the 37th year that the show will be held at the Central Carolina Holstein Association Barn in Orange Grove. This event is open to 4-H and FFA youth ages 5-18 in Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Orange, Person, Rockingham, Randolph, and Wake counties. This year, 110 4-H and FFA youth exhibited a total of 146 animals including heifers, feeder steers, market steers, market goats, meat goat does, breeding ewes,
market lambs, market hogs, and pen of three hogs. Ten youth from Granville County showed a total of 10 animals; including a beef heifer, two feeder steers, six breeding ewes and a meat goat doe.

It takes a lot of community support from civic groups, businesses, and individuals in sponsorship funds to put together an event like this. NC Cooperative Extension Agents and Vocational Agriculture Teachers work with the youth to give advice on raising and showing animals. Youth show several different types of animals in this show including hogs, sheep, goats, and beef cattle. The youth participants keep records on their show animals and present a record book for judging as part of the requirements for the show. This show also has a sale component to it where the youth can choose to sell their market (hogs, lambs, goats or steers) animals concluding the show on the second day. Businesses and individuals bid on the animals to show their support for all the hard work that the youth have put into raising these animals.

Granville County Winners include:
Grand Champion Feeder Steer - Jacob Owens
Grand Champion Breeding Ewe - Lillian Shaeffer
2nd Place 4-H Project Record Book (16-18) - Abigail Shaeffer
1st Place FFA Lamb Record Book - Madison Thomerson
2nd Place FFA Lamb Record Book - Madison Teel
3rd Place FFA Lamb Record Book - Jamie-Lynn Stallings

Granville County 4-H would also like to thank the following individuals and businesses who supported our youth for the 2024 show: Granville County Farm Bureau and Granville County Cattlemen’s and Livestock Association.

To learn more about the Central Piedmont Livestock Show and Sale and/or 4-H in your county please contact the Granville County Cooperative Extension office at 919-603-1350 for further information.

RAFI is accepting applications for the 2024 Beginning Farmers Stipend. Individual applicants may request between $3,000 – $5,000 in funding. Funding announcements will be made in June, with funds expected to be available in July. See the qualifications in this picture of who can apply for this stipend. The application deadline is Friday, May 31, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

Funding priority will be given to proposals with:

High expected impact
Clear farmer commitment
Strong project planning and feasibility
Demonstrated individual financial need, or location in an economically disadvantaged area
Agroecological/ancestral farming practices

Learn more and apply using this link:

Nice to meet you, South Granville Senior Center! I am Ashley Cummings, the new Digital Agent for Person and Granville Counties, I will be working to provide digital skills to the community to help them earn, learn, live well, and be well. I aim to reduce needs through education and provide resources to empower our community for success in work, health and life. I look forward to creating a positive impact and lasting relations. As our world is becoming increasingly digitally based, I will be there to provide support! Stop by the South Granville Senior Center on May 29th, time TBD, to meet me and hear about what I have to offer the seniors of our community!

Granville County Teen Court Places 1st in 26th Annual NCTCA Teen Mock Trial Summit!!

Apart from the Mock Trial competition, the objectives for the three-day event encompassed several key goals: assembling volunteers
from all Teen Courts across North Carolina; enhancing volunteer effectiveness in the courtroom; gaining practical experience through
the Mock Trial Competition; fostering friendships; and exchanging information and experiences. On Friday night, youth engaged in a
team-building workshop. Following a tense morning of mock trial competition, students were treated to much-needed stress relief and
fun at the Great Wolf Lodge water park. On Saturday night, they enjoyed a Dinner Theater presentation titled, “The Douglas-Lincoln
Debates, A One-Act Play and Discussion Event.” The play centered on the authentic and sometimes awkward humanity and
vulnerability of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
The final day concluded with a presentation by Glenn Smith, Executive Director of Life Connections of the Carolinas, Inc., where he
discussed the significance of restorative justice and the advantages of diversion programs like Teen Court. Following this presentation
was the awards ceremony, a moment filled with excitement and celebration for Granville County.

Representing Granville County in this year's event were: Defense Attorneys Cristina Portillo-Martinez and Jazlyn Usher, Prosecutors Joydan Johnson and Jermaine Puryear, Jr., Clerk of Court Iesha Landis, Bailiff Cassie Peele, and Defendant Caitlynne Horton.

Two members received special recognition for their performance in the courtroom: Jazlyn Usher was honored with the title of "Best Attorney Courtroom A" in the Defense's trial, and Jermaine Puryear, Jr. received accolades as "Best Attorney for Courtroom B" in the Prosecution trial, as well as the prestigious title of "Best Overall Prosecution Attorney" across all courtroom trials.

Granville County Teen Court deeply appreciates the ongoing support from the community. The Granville County Juvenile Crime
Prevention Council (JCPC) and the County of Granville persist in their support through funding. The program is also immensely
thankful for the consistent support from the Sheriff’s Department at the courthouse, as well as the various schools that allow volunteers
to participate. Adult volunteers play a crucial role as the program's biggest supporters, including Judge Katherine Burnette, S. Quon
Bridges, and Lori Dutra, who provide invaluable support and feedback during Teen Court sessions, preparing youth for competitions
throughout the year. Committed volunteers such as Tiana Jones, Nancy Pifer, Carol Wheeless, and Sonia Hernandez demonstrate
unwavering dedication to supporting the youth and the program.

We are so proud of each and every one of these students and their hard work! These students have worked hard over weeks leading up to the competition by practicing and dedicating extra time towards their roles.

We had a great time this year with our Granville County Cooperative Extension Ag Career Day on April 26th. Students from Granville Central were able to hear from North Carolina Forest Service, Oxford Research Station, A&T, Bailey Farms, Butner Beef Unit, High Rock Farms, Livestock Agent Kim Woods, Field Crops Agent Mikayla Berryhill, and Horticulture Agent Johnny Coley. This was a great opportunity for the kids to learn about the many different potential job opportunities within agriculture in their community.

A big thank you to Granville Central for coming, but also to all our "vendors". Thank you to High Rock Farms for allowing us to do a farm tour of their farm. We could not make this happen without y'all.