June 2024 Extension Activities

Saying See you later to Tom Dyson....

Director Tom Dyson shifting to Area Specialized Agent, Farm Safety

A note from Tom: I have been invited to serve as the Area Specialized Extension Agent for Agromedicine and Farm Safety across the state of North Carolina. My two years in as the Catawba County Extension Director could not have been more enjoyable, and went by far too quickly. The Extension team in this office is wonderful, highly productive, and great to work with. The county's support for its citizens through its support and excellent cooperation with Extension is exemplary in the state. There simply could not be a better county to serve as County Extension Director. My change in assignments within the Extension organization, is a continuation of my work in Extension that I started back in 1993, but with a new emphasis. I have a background in emergency medicine as a medic, and have always emphasized safety in my educational programs at the county level. Now I will be focusing entirely on designing farm safety educational programs, training other agents in farm safety programs, and directly teaching and organizing events for the safety and well being of NC farmers and agricultural workers in all 100 counties and the Cherokee reservation. It is a job I have dreamed of for some years, and a very natural step for me. That does not mean it is easy to shift from my focus on Catawba County. Fortunately, Catawba is one of the 100 counties, and I will not be moving away from this area. I look forward to continue seeing and serving many of you in future years in county, or regional events and training. Thank you for being such a supportive, friendly, and all around great Extension supporters, volunteers, and clients. There is much more to come from the amazing staff of Catawba County Cooperative Extension!

We appreciate the time we had Tom as our Director
and wish him well in this new position! We will miss you Tom!

Welcome to our Interim Director,
Nancy W. Keith

I started working for NC Cooperative Extension in April, 1989 as a two county Dairy Agent in Yadkin and Davie counties. This quickly turned in to a ten county area doing dairy work which was my passion as I was raised on a dairy farm in Iredell County. I was named County Extension Director in Yadkin County in 2007. While serving as director in Yadkin County, I served as interim director in Alleghany County from 2010 – 2012 when I became director in Iredell County. While in Iredell County, I have served interim director stints in Alexander, Lincoln and now Catawba counties. I have a passion for Cooperative Extension and enjoy working with people. I look forward to working with Cooperative Extension in Catawba County.

We are happy to have Nancy's experience and leadership to guide us through this time of transition.

New FCS Agent - Donna Mull

After serving as the the Catawba County 4-H Agent for many years, I will be moving to the Family and Consumer Sciences position starting in June. I will still be part of the Catawba County Extension staff, just a new role. My interest in Family and Consumer Science started many years ago by doing Foods and Nutrition project books and presentations in 4-H and canning and cooking with my mom. These early experiences led me to obtain BS and MS degrees in Family and Consumer Sciences. I started my career in Extension as Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Macon County. I look forward to building new community partnerships and leading programs for adults and youth in the areas of foods and nutrition, food safety, healthy living and other family and consumer science topics. You might be wondering what happens to 4-H with this change. I hope to continue to provide some support for 4-H until we can fill the 4-H Agent position, especially during the busy summer months. You might notice Lisa Ortiz (4-H Program Assistant) and Holly Ellwanger (Juntos Coordinator) taking on some new roles within 4-H during this transition, too.

We thank Donna for her many years of service to families in Catawba County. She has certainly impacted many young lives through 4-H. We look forward to seeing her impact with FCS.

NCSU Summer Intern

Hi! My name is Hannah Vanhoy and I am the 2024 Cooperative Extension Summer Intern for Catawba County. I grew up in the Sherrills Ford area and graduated from Bandys High School last year. I currently attend North Carolina State University studying Agricultural Business Management. I am so excited to be working in the Extension office this summer learning more about agriculture and Catawba County. I look forward to meeting many community members in the coming weeks!
We are so happy to have Hannah with us for the summer and hope she has a wonderful internship with Extension.

Eat, Drink, and Be Local

June 24-29, 2024

Schedule of Events

Monday June 24th
6pm
Smith U-Pick Farm
7584 Greedy Highway, Hickory, NC
Smith U-pick Farm has been primarily a blueberry farm for many years but has started to plant blackberries, raspberries (ready next year) and U-Pick Flowers, available this year. No registration needed

Tuesday June 25th TBA

Wednesday June 26th
*10 am-12 pm Cooking Demonstration Hickory Farmers Market

*5:30 pm Canning 101 with Extension Agent Andrea Sherrill from Iredell County. Free
Learn the basics of canning and food preservation. Andrea will cover pressure and hot water bath canning.
N.C. Cooperative Extension- Catawba Center, 1175 S. Brady Ave. Newton
Register Online

Thursday June 27th
*11 am-1 pm Cooking Demonstration,
The Public Health Farmers Market
3070 11th Ave. Dr. SE, Hickory, NC

*5:30 pm Growing and Using Medicinal Herbs for Teas
with Extension Agent Susan Hawkins from Davie County. Free
Susan is one of the founders of the Piedmont Medicinal Herb Growers Group. This will be on the night of our monthly Lost Arts Group Meeting. This is a great chance to check this club out and meet people who are interested in gardening, cooking, raising animals, fermentation, and so much more. There is a always a sharing table. Register Online
N.C. Cooperative Extension- Catawba Center 1175 S. Brady Ave. Newton, NC

Saturday June 29th
* 6-9 p.m. FARM FEAST
Raising Roots Farm $45
Tables of ten available Tickets.
Raising Roots Farm
2711 Snow Creek Rd NE, Hickory, NC.

Chef/Farmer Pairings
Ben Sullivan (Charolais Steak House/ Cranford Brothers BBQ/ City Walk Brewing and Distilling) will be paired with Mai's Farm

Calvin Reyes (Esquire Hotel and the new North Hickory Market) will be paired with Steele’s Town Creek Farm

Rick Doherr (Executive chef for Snider Fleet Solutions) will be paired with Eyrie Summit Farm

Brozdan Elliott (Esquire Hotel- Gastonia) will be paired with True Cut Ranch

Daniel Wheeler (Corporate Chef at UNOX, Inc.) will be paired with Walker Farms

Jason Trivette (Owner of Chef Trivette’s Conceptions) will be paired with Honey Tree Farm

Eat, Drink and Be Local is an annual weeklong celebration of local food in Catawba County happening in June or July. You can join in by enjoying shopping at the farmers market and trying a new recipe at home, or attending one of the many events throughout the week. For information contact April Vigardt at 828-465-8243 or alvigard@ncsu.edu.

If you would like to be involved with the festival as a volunteer, please contact April Vigardt alvigard@ncsu.edu.

4-H SUMMER SPARK

We are still taking registration for our Summer Spark program. We will have hands-on learning and exploration for youth ages 5 and older. We have limited space available and classes are quickly filling up. It is not necessary to be in 4-H to register but you will be asked to complete a 4-H enrollment with your registration. You can find the complete schedule posted on the Cooperative Extension website and on the goggle registration form.

A few of the offerings include:
* Discovery Day - Virginia Creeper Bike Ride - June 7
* Farm to Table - July 9-11
* Animal Science - July 16 - July 17
* Aerospace Adventure - July 30- Aug. 1
* Teen Cooking Challenge - June 10
* 4-H Chopped - June 17

Catawba Valley Beekeepers Meeting

Monday, June 17 at 7pm

This month’s presentation is "Beekeeping Hacks to Save Time and Money” presented by Bryan Fisher. Bryan is a 4th generation beekeeper and Master Beekeeper from Cabarrus county. Striving to be an efficient and better beekeeper, Bryan is always looking for ways to improve his beekeeping practices. He will share with us many of his techniques and beekeeping philosophy we can use in our bee yards.

The June 17 meeting starts at 7 pm on the first floor of the Catawba County Extension Office located at 1175 South Brady Avenue, Newton, North Carolina

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination statement North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran's status. In addition, the two Universities welcome all person without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Persons with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency may request accommodations to participate by contacting Catawba County Extension Director at (828) 465-8240 or in person at the County Extension Office at least 14 days prior to the event.

Las universidades NC State y NC A & T están comprometidas colectivamente a llevar a cabo acciones positivas para asegurar la igualdad de oportunidades y prohibir la discriminación y el acoso independientemente de la raza, el color de la piel, el país deorigen, la religión, la ideología política, el estado civil y situación familiar, el sexo, la edad, la condición de veterano de guerra, la identidad sexual, la orientación sexual, la información genética o la discapacidad de la persona. Colaboración entre las Universidades NC State y NC A & T, el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos, y los gobiernos locales. Las personas con discapacidades y las personas con dominio limitado del inglés pueden solicitar adaptaciones para participar comunicándose con el Director de Extensión del Condado de Catawba (828) 465-8240 or o personalmente en la Oficina de Extensión del Condado al menos 14 días antes al evento. Yog hais tias koj xav tau kev txhais lus Hmoob, thov hu rau peb tus extension thawj coj, George Place, ua ntej nws thiaj li yuav nrhiav tau kev pab koj. Nws tus xov tooj yog 828-465-8240. Ua tsaug.