November 2024 Newsletter-Granville County Center

Granville County 4-H Participated in several competitions at the NC State Fair.

- Market Turkey Show- 9 Granville Youth Participated (placings tba)

- Beef Cattle Show - 3 Granville Youth Participated (placings tba)

- Sheep Show- 4 Granville Youth Participated (placings tba)

- Horse Show- 8 Granville Youth Participated (placings tba)

- Hay Bale- Our theme was "Light the way to your future with 4-H. We placed 3rd!

- 4-H Photography - 2 youth participated. Zoie Carrol - 1st place, Caroline Hart- 3rd Place.

Grant Opportunity for Family Farms

NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program provides grant awards to NC communities. There are two types of grants through this program:

One option is for farmers and ranchers for agricultural projects to build and sustain their current farm operation. This is a great opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving or expanding their farm operation. This grant award is for established farms.

The second grant option is a Community Grant for local non-profit community organizations that benefit three or more family farms. Some examples of local non-profit organizations would include a Farmers Market that could use the funds to expand the market or purchase SNAP equipment for sales, a Livestock Association could use the award to purchase portable cattle handling equipment to be rented by farm members.

The program will award a minimum of 50 grants

The maximum award is $8000

We always have more applicants than available resources can fund, Due to high demand, even strong applications can fail to receive funding.

Producers from the following counties are eligible to apply

Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Forsyth, Gaston, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Johnston, Lincoln, Martin, Mecklenburg, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Sampson, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Vance, Wake, Wayne, Wilson, Wilkes, Warren, Yadkin

Grant Proposal Criteria (It is not necessary to meet all the criteria to receive a grant)

Does the project proposal show a good potential for success?
Does the grant proposal incorporate Extension Best Practices?
Will your project increase income relative to project cost?
Will the project increase or maintain employment opportunities?
Has the proposal been adequately researched and is well detailed
Does the project plan include strategies to protect soil, water, crops and food products from contamination?
Is the budget realistic?
Does the applicant have the skills to complete the project?
Does the project present a new direction or opportunity?
Will the project become self-supporting?
Will any other farmers in your region benefit from the project?

Grant applications are accepted: Oct. 15th – Dec. 13th, 2024

For more information, please visit our website: agventures.ces.ncsu.edu/grant-program/; or contact your Extension Agent:

Mikayla Berryhill (Field Crops) – mikayla_berryhill@ncsu.edu
Kim Woods (Livestock) – kim_woods@ncsu.edu
Johnny Coley (Horticulture) – johnny_coley@ncsu.edu
OR by phone at the Granville County (919-603-1350) Office.

The program is funded by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

Wednesday, November 13th @ 10:00 AM

Granville County Expo & Convention Center

The NCDA&CS is now requiring a new category for those who utilize fumigants to protect stored grain (i.e. photoxin tabets in grain bins). In cooperation with the NCDA&CS, we are offering a testing site for private applicators to take the exam and receive this additional category on their pesticide license.

THIS IS AN OPEN BOOK EXAM - manuals will be provided for the exam
Exam fee is $10, to be made payable to NCDA&CS

The Bull Breeding Soundness Exam was held October 18th at the Granville County Livestock Arena. Four cattle producers brought 21 bulls to be evaluated. This is a very important test in order to determine if the bull is physically able to get cows bred. A bull that can not perform his job is a costly problem for a cattle producer. Through subsidies we are able to reduce the cost of this test to only $20 per bull. Additionally, NCSU veterinary students accompany the Extension Veterinarian to gain experience in this area.

The 4-County Poultry Show and Sale took place on Saturday, October 26, 2024, starting at 3:30 pm. The project, for youth, ages 5-18, from Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties, provided 2-day old chicks in May of this year and participants raised and cared for them from that time until show/sale time. At the completion of the show, the birds were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Granville County had 13 youth participate at the show this year.

Abigail Shaeffer- Senior Showmanship Reserve Champion, Barred Rock Grand Champion, 14-18 project record book 1st place

Lily Shaeffer- Junior Showmanship Grand Champion, Rhode Island Red Reserve Champion, Barred Rock Reserve Champion, 11-13 project record book 1st place.

Emilia Castellini Smith- 8-10 project record book 2nd place

Gunner Smith- 8-10 project record book 3rd place

Granville County Cooperative Extension and Granville Soil and Water District hosted a Keeping the Farm workshop on October 29 at the Granville County Expo Center. The purpose was to provide landowners with information and resources so they could plan for the future of their land. Jenny Short, with the Granville County Tax Office, discussed the Present Use Value program. Crawford Knott, a local CPA with Holden Moss, explained the proposed changes in the Estate Tax along with other accounting concepts. Scott Shoulars with NCDA and Ryan Manning with Working Lands Trust, discussed conservation easements. Jason Page, an attorney from Wilson, NC, talked about the importance of estate planning. Additionally, several agencies and entities set up booths to discuss resources with landowners in attendance. Approximately fifty people attended the workshop that ran from 8:30 am to 12 noon. Support funding was provided by the NC Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation.

It is that time of year again. Join our online Walking Facebook group: 30 for 30 Walk-a-Weigh! The goal of our page is to inspire participants to walk 30 minutes per day for 30 straight days during the month of November. There will be daily posts about nutrition or wellness from an Extension professional. We are asking participants to share step counts, exercise/food pictures, recipes, articles, or motivational messages to the group. The more interaction the better! We look forward to taking a step (lots of steps) in the right direction to a healthier future. Please share this group with any friends that you think would enjoy a POSITIVE and supportive environment. https://tinyurl.com/30for30WAW

As the Snap-Ed program assistant in Granville County, I have the opportunity to engage with the sixth through eighth graders at North Central Boys and Girls Club. Students learn "You are What You Eat" and create Apple Fruit Salad. Earlier in October students made basic scrambled eggs while studying how to "Power up with Breakfast." By teaching teens, the knowledge and skills required to make informed food and lifestyle choices, will help them to increase their confidence to apply these skills at home, which can lead to positive eating patterns and better health. “Teen Cuisine” is designed to teach youth from grades 6th to 12th important life skills to promote optimal health — both in the present and in the future.

Students attending Creating Success Preschool celebrated NC Crunch Day!

October is Farm to School Month. Apple Tasting Adventure
allows students to:

Identify different varieties of apples.
Use their senses to describe apples' taste, texture, and smell.
Understand the basic nutritional benefits of eating apples.
Practice counting and categorizing based on apple colors and tastes.
Different varieties of apples (e.g., Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious)
Introduce the Senses: Review the five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing). Students use their senses to explore the apples.

We tried more varieties of apples. Students were to raise their hands if they think the apple is sweet or sour, crunchy or soft, and record their answers.We explain why apples are good for our bodies:

They help keep our hearts healthy.
They have lots of vitamins that help us stay strong.
They are a great snack when we need energy to play.
Students draw their favorite apple from today's tasting and draw themselves eating it.

Students grades sixth through eighth enjoyed creating Chicken Quesadillas at North Central Boys & Girls club while learning the "Facts on Fat." Fats from land animal sources, such as beef, poultry and tropical fruits, like palm and coconuts, have more saturated fats and tend to be less healthy. Eating too much saturated fat can increase the risk of heart disease.

Students grades kindergarten through second enjoyed their NC Crunch Day celebration making applesauce pancakes. Using MyPlate as your guide, students were able to label the food groups and then select foods from each group to make a MyPlate healthy meal. Afterwards the students draw their meal in the correct location on your plate.

On Saturday, October 19th, the neighboring Farmers Market celebrated National Chili month with a chili cook-off.

The community was WOWED by a USDA approved recipe:

https://www.myplate.gov/recipes/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/white-chili

Try this healthy and delicious recipe at home with your family!