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Work with us at N.C. Cooperative Extension in Iredell County!
Do you have a passion for agriculture and helping farmers succeed?
We're looking for an Extension Agent – Field Crops & Dairy
to serve the agricultural community of Iredell County.
This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with local farmers, support field crop and dairy operations, deliver research-based education from NC State, and make a lasting impact on agriculture in our community!
APPLY TODAY!
https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/232703 |
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Show Off Your Talents: Exhibit Categories
Are you ready to bring home a blue ribbon? Online registration is open now, and competition entries will be accepted across a wide variety of categories:
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Field & Garden Crops & Flowers & Plants
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Canning & Culinary Arts
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Home Furnishings & Clothing
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Arts & Crafts & Photography
Important Dates to Remember
To make sure you don't miss a thing—from entering your exhibits to catching the crowd-favorite livestock events—keep these key dates and times in mind:
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Online Registration: Open Now! Head over to the official website to secure your entry.
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Entry Take-In Days: September 1 & 2 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
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Fair Dates: September 4 – September 12, 2026
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Livestock Shows Schedule:
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Sheep and Goat Show: Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM
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Beef Cattle Show: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM
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Dairy Cow Show: Friday, September 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM
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Special Ability Cow Show: Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Location & Information
The festivities will take place at the fairgrounds located at 630 N Main St, Troutman, NC 28166.
Don’t miss out on being a part of this beloved local tradition. For more information, registration details, and a full schedule of events, visit iredellcountyfair.com or scan the QR code.
See you at the fair! |
| IREDELL COUNTY FAIR |
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Iredell County Cattlemen’s Association
Mark your calendars for August 20 at 6:30 PM at the Ag Resources Center in Statesville! We'll be announcing our meeting topic shortly, so stay tuned. A $10 meal will be served. Please RSVP by August 17th by calling (704) 873-0507 to save your spot for dinner! |
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Agricultural Equipment Available for Rent!
Looking to upgrade your planting or livestock handling efficiency without the cost of buying new machinery? Iredell County Cooperative Extension has specialized agricultural equipment available for local farmers and producers to rent!
Equipment Available:
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Great Plains 606NT No-Till Drill – $15.00 / acre
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Squeeze Chute Model S04-IN – $100/wk (In-County) | $125/wk (Out-of-County)
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Bulldog Portable Corral +2-IN with Headgate – $100/wk (In-County) | $125/wk (Out-of-County)
Reserve Today: Call us at 704-873-0507 or stop by our office at 444 Bristol Dr, Statesville, NC! |
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Back-to-School Safety: A Friendly Reminder from Your Extension Team
As summer winds down and our Iredell County youth head back to the classroom, it’s time for all of us to brush up on our routine safety habits. With school buses back on the roads and more children walking or biking to school, keeping our community’s kids safe is a team effort!
Here are a few quick reminders to help ensure a smooth and safe start to the school year: |
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Watch for the Big Yellow Bus: Remember, it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. On two-lane roads, all traffic must stop.
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Slow Down in School Zones: Keep a close eye out for reduced speed limits near our local schools, and be extra vigilant for pedestrians at crosswalks.
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Ditch the Distractions: Put the phone away. A split second of distraction can make all the difference when children are nearby.
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Talk with Your Kids: If you have students in the house, take a moment to review their route to the bus stop, remind them to look both ways before crossing, and practice basic stranger danger safety.
Let's work together to make this a safe, successful, and wonderful school year for all of Iredell County's students and educators! |
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| 811 |
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Stop! Call 811 Before You Dig in NC
Planning a project in North Carolina? Whether you’re installing a fence, planting trees, or breaking ground on a major job site, NC state law requires you to contact NC811 at least 3 full business days before you dig.
It’s 100% free, protects your family and neighbors from dangerous gas or power disruptions, and saves you from costly repair fines.
Call 811 or submit your request at nc811.org before you break ground! |
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Dr. Kim Ingold 4-H Photography Contest
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Who: All ages (Cloverbuds to Adults)
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Categories: 4-H in Action, Nature, Animals, Black & White
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Deadline: Aug 14, 2026 @ 5 PM
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Contact: awhite6@ncsu.edu
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Save the Dates!
4-H Homeschool is back for the 2026–2027 school year! Mark your calendars for Oct 22, Nov 19, Dec 17, Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 18, Apr 15, and May 20.
Registration opens on the 1st business day of each month. To get the registration link, email Adreanna at awhite6@ncsu.edu. |
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2026 – 2027 Pesticide CEU Lunch & Learn Series
Registration Coming Soon!
Get ready to earn your continuing education credits right from the comfort of your home or office! Join Melinda Roberts, Horticulture Agent with the Iredell County Cooperative Extension, for our upcoming virtual educational series.
Event Details
Upcoming Topics Include:
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Preventing Herbicide Runoff for Cleaner Water and Greater Profit
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Agricultural Health Study Updates & Respiratory Safety
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Pesticides and Pollinators
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Pesticide Safety Training for Non-Certified Applicators
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Turf Fungicides, Soil Testing & Fertilizer Use
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Pre-Emergent Herbicides & Invasive Weed Identification
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Managing Pests, Diseases, and Soil Health in New Landscapes
Registration links and details will be posted shortly. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for the official registration announcement!
Questions?
Email: melinda_roberts@ncsu.edu
Phone: (704) 873-0507
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Whether you’re dealing with mystery pests in your flower beds, wondering why your lawn has brown patches, or looking to give your landscape a fresh upgrade, the Iredell County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Association is ready to lend a helping hand!
Through the Iredell County Cooperative Extension Plant Clinic, our trained volunteers provide science-based advice, diagnosing plant problems and helping you cultivate a thriving, resilient garden—completely free of charge. |
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Soil Testing & Health: Learn how to sample your soil to give your garden the exact nutrients it needs.
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Plant & Bug Identification: Identify native plants, weeds, or mysterious garden bugs.
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Disease & Pest Control: Get research-backed options for managing plant, tree, and shrub diseases and garden pests.
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Lawn Care & Pruning: Get tips on proper turf management, tree trimming, and shrub maintenance.
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Landscape Upgrades: Receive guidance on selecting the right plants for the right places.
Get in Touch with the Plant Clinic
Got a sample to test, a bug to identify, or a burning gardening question? Reach out to our Master Gardener team today:
Email: iredellmgplantclinic@gmail.com
Phone: (704) 878-5387
Location: N.C. Cooperative Extension – Iredell County Center
444 Bristol Dr, Room 110, Statesville, NC 28677 |
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NCDA&CS confirms first finding of yellow-legged hornet in the state, asks beekeepers to watch for predator hornet. |
| ncagr.gov/YLH |
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NCDA&CS has been monitoring for yellow-legged hornet since it was first detected in the United States in Savannah, Georgia, in November 2023. This aggressive pest of honey bees and other pollinators had been previously localized near Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, until a population was identified last December in York County, South Carolina, just south of the Charlotte metropolitan area,” said Dr. Bill Foote, director of the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division. “This detection prompted us to ramp up surveillance this year in southern Union and Mecklenburg counties. North Carolina has thousands of beekeepers statewide, and our apiary team has been working diligently to alert them to the threat yellow-legged hornet poses to their hives.” |
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The PhytoMedicine site by NC State's Plants for Human Health Institute explores how plant-based compounds (phytochemicals) improve health. It features a healthcare provider prescription program (PhytoRx), research on functional foods, and healthy recipes. |
| PhytoMedicine |
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As the summer winds down, Iredell County Cooperative Extension wants to send a warm wish to all of our local students, teachers, administrators, and support staff for a safe, healthy, and successful school year ahead! We are so proud to support our youth and educators through 4-H, agriculture programs, and community outreach. Here’s to a fantastic year of learning, growth, and new adventures!
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Instructions
- Instructions:
- To the blender, add all the ingredients for the dressing except the oil. Blend on high for 20 seconds or until combined. With the blender running, slowly add in 1/2 cup oil and blend until fully emulsified.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the 2 cans drained and rinsed beans, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, corn kernels, red cabbage, red onion, cilantro and jalapeño pepper.
- Add the dressing to the salad and toss to coat. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Refrigerate for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Notes
- This recipe is great for weekly meal prep and tastes even better the longer the dressing and salad mix together.
- Serve over rice or quinoa for a full meal.
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Southwestern Three-Bean Salad
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Ingredients
Dressing
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
- ¼ cup limes juice
- ½ medium jalapeño pepper seeded and quartered
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ cup olive oil
Salad
- 1 can black beans (15.5-oz.) drained & rinsed
- 1 can kidney beans (15.5-oz.) drained & rinsed
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes diced or quartered
- ½ head purple cabbage finely chopped
- 4 green onions diced
- ½ cup cilantro chopped (from about ½ bunch)
- 2 yellow or orange peppers diced
- ½ medium jalapeño pepper seeds removed and finely diced, optional
- 1/2 red onion diced
- 2 cups corn kernels fresh or frozen
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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 - Iredell County Center, 444 Bristol Dr, Statesville, NC 28677, United States
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Register For the Class
