CLAY COUNTY CENTER
AUGUST 2025 NEWSLETTER |
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Celebrate Tradition at the 19th Annual
Ag Day & Tractor Parade
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Mark your calendars for a day of fun, food, and local heritage at the 19th Annual Ag Day & Tractor Parade on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM in Hayesville Town Square.
This beloved event brings the community together to celebrate agriculture and rural traditions. Highlights include:
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Tractor Parade at 12 PM
Line the streets to see a showcase of tractors old and new, celebrating the backbone of our farming community. If you would like to participate in the parade, please meet at the Hayesville High School parking lot. Parade registration is $15.
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Raffle & Drawing for a 1951 Ford 8N Tractor
Don’t miss your chance to win this iconic piece of farming history!
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Activities, Food, Entertainment, and Vendors
Enjoy local crafts, delicious food, family-friendly activities, and live entertainment throughout the day.
All proceeds benefit the Clay County Tractor Club Community Programs, supporting agricultural education and community initiatives.
For more information, contact the NC Cooperative Extension Clay County Center at (828) 389-6305.
This event is sponsored by the Clay County NC Cooperative Extension and the Clay County Tractor Club. Come out for a day of celebration, community pride, and tradition! |
| MORE INFORMATION AND VENDOR REGISTRATION FORMS |
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Celebrating National Farmers Market Week 2025 at the Clay County Farmers Market
National Farmers Market Week, observed this year from August 3–9, 2025, is a time to recognize the vital role farmers’ markets play in supporting local agriculture, improving community health, and strengthening rural economies. Here in Clay County, the Clay County Farmers Market has become more than a place to buy fresh produce; it’s a community gathering point, a hub of local culture, and a bridge between neighbors and the farmers who feed them. |
| MORE FARMERS MARKET INFORMATION |
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Storm to Stove: A Workshop for Timber and Firewood Processing After Hurricane Helene |
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Though Hurricane Helene imposed widescale destruction on the mountains of North Carolina, opportunities are available to make the most out of the devastation. Two options you can pursue are to generate firewood and sawtimber. This two-day technical workshop at the Hinton Center in Hayesville will cover best practices for processing storm-damaged timber into firewood and other wood products. |
| REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULE |
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Horticulture Field Day |
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Register now for this special opportunity to visit the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center. Tours of Tomatoes, Apples, Specialty, and Alternative Research Crops. For more information, please contact Jessica at jessica_edney@ncsu.edu or 828-654-8590. |
| REGISTER HERE |
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Grow Your Knowledge. Grow Your Future. Grow Your Farm. |
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Organic Growers School has two WNC-area farmer training/development programs with open applications.The two programs are: 1) Journeyperson, for farmers who are in year 3+ of independent business; and 2) Farm Beginnings, for folks trying to get their farm business off the ground. It's possible that you have both categories of farmers in your vendor pool! Both programs are a year-long course of study in a cohort-style setting where they have access to farm instructors and a dedicated farm mentor as well as other tailored support. |
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Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Production Events |
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CLICK ON EVENT FOR MORE INFORMATION |
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The 2025 NC Mountain State Fair Catalog is now available! Both General Exhibits and Livestock Exhibits are posted on the wncagcenter.org website and ready for your entries. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the fun—get those entries in today! |
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Join the Fun at 4-H Summer Camps |
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This program is currently full, but you're welcome to add your name to our waiting list. |
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We Cooked Again!
The Clay County 4-H Program served up another fun and flavorful experience—this time with homemade ice cream and cake pops! To beat the summer heat and build some kitchen skills, potential members of the 4-H Cooking Club gathered for a hands-on culinary adventure. |
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Throughout the summer, 4-H partnered with the Clay County Master Gardeners to help students in the Discovery Summer School Program create their beautiful birdhouses. |
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Healthy Muffin Makeover at Brasstown Community Food Pantry! |
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Last week, our Family & Consumer Science Agent, Kim Terrell, visited the Brasstown Community Food Pantry to share a delicious and healthy twist on a pantry staple — pancake mix!
Participants were invited to taste test Blueberry Muffins made from pancake mix, eggs, Greek yogurt, a touch of maple syrup, and fresh blueberries. The verdict? Everyone loved them! |
| SEE RECIPE |
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Color Me Healthy at Hayesville Pre-K! |
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Another fun and flavorful day with our Hayesville Pre-K students during their Color Me Healthy class!
These little learners have been discovering the importance of: Eating the colors of the rainbow Exercising their bodies Trying new, healthy foods. |
| READ MORE |
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The North Carolina Harvest of the Month featured vegetable is Tomatoes! |
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Check out the Presto Newsletter for answers to your questions about Boiling Water Canning, Pressure Canning, Vacuum Sealing, and Dehydrating |
| PRESTO NEWSLETTER |
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DISCOVERY GARDEN
by: Eleanor Moyer, Master Gardener Volunteer
My daughter delights in our Hayesville library’s used book store which her family supports each time they visit. This week she found glossy, elegant decorating magazines for inspiration in her remodeling project. She would have spent over $40 if new. These were $2.50 and packed with ideas. Now that summer is in full swing, I invite you to stroll through the Master Gardener Discovery Garden just down the hill from the library for even more inspiration at an even lower cost—free! |
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We offer free Canner Testing.
It’s very important that the method you use to preserve your food, especially canned foods, is done correctly to prevent spoilage. If you plan on pressure canning this summer, be sure your pressure canner is in good shape and equipped to do the job. If you have a dial gauge canner, it is recommended you have the gauge tested each year before use.
And free Soil Testing.
Healthy soil is the foundation of successful gardening. The first step to cultivating healthy soil is having your soil tested.
Collecting soil samples only takes a few minutes and has many benefits. It can help you save money in your lawn, garden, and landscape can result in healthier plants by telling you which nutrients are already in your soil and which you need to add, and can protect water quality by preventing unnecessary fertilizer applications. |
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Visit our office
25 Riverside Cir, Suite 2
Hayesville |
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25 RIVERSIDE CIRCLE, SUITE 2
HAYESVILLE, NC 28904
828-389-6305 |
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NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
N.C. Cooperative Extension - Clay County Center, 25 Riverside Cir, Hayesville, NC 28904, United States
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