|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spice Club is a free adult educational program offered through a partnership between the Lee County Library, EMFV, and Cooperative Extension. We invite you to join us this month as we explore the many dimensions of the versatile spice, Spice Blends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join us for preschool day at the Lee Regional Fair where agriculture and literacy come alive! This event is for preschool age children, their caregivers and childcare providers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 2026
4-H Future Ready Leadership workshops kick off on Sept 3 at 5:00 with a special program on civic engagement presented by Kavya Saxena, the South Central District 4-H President. To register for this workshop, you must be enrolled in 4-H. Registration link: https://futurereadycivicengagement.4honline.com
Lee County GIS Director Angela Wood presented GIS to 4-H on July 29th. Participants learned how GIS works and enjoyed pizza together. The program took place at the Lee County Library as part of our 4-H summer fun program. Thanks to Lee County GIS for the great workshop!
Seven 4-Hers are competing in the state's Eggcellent Egg Competition. Participants will learn how to grade the eggs laid by their own backyard chickens. They will create a video sharing their knowledge and send 6 eggs to compete against other 4-Her's egg selections across the state. Wish them luck!
All eighteen of the Lee Regional Fair educational booths are taken. Be sure to come check out all the messages our local clubs and organizations want you to learn. Who will win the blue ribbon?
The 4-Hers who are enrolled in our Pilgrim's Poultry Projects had an opportunity to learn how to show their birds at the Win a Blue Ribbon Practice in the barn at the Lee Regional Fair. They are submitting videos of them practicing with their birds for the show. Come to the fair on Friday, September 18th to see the show.
A new cooking club began last month for ages 10-14. You are still invited to check them out. You can enroll in the Flavor Lab 4-H Club in 4HO. This club has a set program that ends in November and meets two Tuesdays each month.
It is time to register your exhibits to compete and be displayed at the Lee Regional Fair. There is something for everyone, both youth and adults. Speed things up by pre-registering today at fairentry.com.
State presentation winners have not yet been released to me. Please check back next month to see how we did.
The Horsin' Around 4-H Club will hold their annual 4-H Fun Horse Show on September 26, with a rain date of October 10th. Address: 2024 Bensalem Church Rd, Eagle Springs, NC.
The 4-H, Ag, and FCS poultry processing educational day is on September 19th. Come to the ag center to learn how to process meat birds using the mobile processing unit. The presentation will begin at 9:00 am and will use birds grown out by 4-Hers and sponsored by Pilgrim's.
The Flavor Fighters 4-H Cooking team (Paisley Kitchens, Emily Hanna, and Brayden Shuey) will fly to Texas on September 27th with Pam Kerley and Ashley Szilvay to compete in the National Food Challenge on September 29th.
Clovernews photo taken by Pam Kerley of the Lee County delegation to NC 4-H Congress in July at NC State. Ten 4-Hers represented Lee County 4-H at the event.
|
|
|
For more, check out the monthly installment of Clovernews.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
August Weather Update - 2026
Jared Butler
The August 20th Drought Monitor Update shows some improvement with Lee County firmly being in the moderate drought intensity category when compared to the July 23rd update. As I write this article the August 27th update will be reported and be the map shown on the link above. I expect us to stay in the moderate drought category with an outside chance of an increase to severe drought in parts of the county due to recent lack of rainfall. The Sanford Airport reports less than an inch of rainfall in August with Lake Wheeler in Raleigh doing a tad bit better with a little over an inch being reported. The Moore County Airport reports 1.9 inches of rain and the Harnett County Airport reports just under 2.5 inches of rain. Rain is being called for on August 28th and 29th, we will see if it comes to fruition.
|
|
|
September Pesticide Courses
All courses are on September 29th
All courses will be at 2420 Tramway Rd, Sanford
Pesticide Course
10am to 12pm
2 credits of A, B, D, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, T, X
Private Soil Fumigation Course
1pm to 2pm
1 credit of Z(SF)
V Credit Course
2pm to 4pm
2 credits of V
Mandatory C and T Training
4pm to 5pm
1 credit of A, B, G, H, I , K, L, M, N, O, T, D, X , K(SA, K(PU)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are SO MANY classes and events going on
this month through the horticulture program!
|
|
|
|
|
September continues with gardening and plant fun!
- Friday, September 4, 10-11 a.m.- Tour of the Pollinator Haven Garden at the McSwain Center- $5 and you get a pollinator plant!
- Thursday, September 3, 4:30-6 p.m.- Learn about Invasive Plants in Your Landscape- Lee County Libraries- Broadway Branch- Free
- Thursday, September 10, 9-11 a.m.- Farm to Senior Garden Check-in at the Enrichment Center- Free
- Friday, September 11, 9:30-11 a.m.- Cultivate and Create Youth Garden Club at the Pollinator Haven Garden- $5 per family
- Saturday, September 12, 1-6 p.m.- ENTER YOUR EXHIBITS FOR THE LEE REGIONAL FAIR- at the Sanford Lions Club Fairgrounds- Free- Learn more here
- Sunday, September 13, 1-6 p.m.- ENTER YOUR EXHIBITS FOR THE LEE REGIONAL FAIR- at the Sanford Lions Club Fairgrounds- Free- Learn more here
- Monday, September 14, 6:30-8 p.m.- Sandhills Bonsai Club Takeover at the Hugger Mugger Bier Garten Club- Hugger Mugger Brewery- Free
Wednesday, September 16 - Sunday, September 20- Lee Regional Fair!
- Thursday, September 17, 9-11 a.m.- STORY TIME AT THE LEE REGIONAL FAIR- Free
- Thursday, September 17, 9-11 a.m.- Dirt Therapy at the Pollinator Haven Garden- Free
- Friday, September 18, 9-11 a.m.- Dirt Therapy at the Pollinator Haven Garden- Free
***Stay tuned for pop-up days to volunteer in the Garden!
Check out our community calendar to learn more and register.
|
|
|
|
|
GARDEN GUIDE: Pollinator Garden vs. Heat and Drought: Who's Winning in Central NC?
I’ll save you a read: right now, it feels like the heat and drought are winning. To me as a gardener, it also feels like it's winning.
If you have stepped outside to check on your garden or crops lately, you’ve probably noticed leaves crisping at the edges, flowers dropping, and a general sense of fatigue across the landscape. As a gardener, it can feel thoroughly discouraging. But to understand why our yards look so battered in late summer, it helps to look at how extreme heat creates a triple threat for plants, pollinators, and the humans who tend them.
|
|
|
|
|
Mark your calendars
for the Lee Regional Fair!!!
Bring your produce, plants
and flowers to show off!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September is here! This month in Lee County, we see local crops transition from warm season, heat-loving plants to those which grow best in cooler temperatures. For fruits, be on the lookout for local apples, pears, raspberries, and muscadine grapes. On the vegetable side of things, we'll see pumpkins and numerous varieties of winter squash coming to local farmers' markets and roadside stands soon, along with leafy greens like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, and green onions as well as carrots and other root vegetables like sweet potatoes.
What's Happening at the Sanford Farmers' Market this Month
Fall markets are nearly here! In September at the Sanford Farmers' Market, you can enjoy the taste of fall as our vendors start switching over from summer products to their fall-themed foods and goods. We'll also have two special events happening this month, September and Spice on September 12th and FallFest on September 26th, to enjoy all the fall feels and flavors along with family-fun activities!
Also this upcoming Saturday, September 5th, we will be highlighting the upcoming Lee Regional Fair (which runs September 16-20th this year) and doing a ticket giveaway! Come to market and shop this Saturday and you may be one of our lucky ticket winners!
|
|
|
|
|
Last but not least, the Sanford Farmers' Market will be wrapping up its 2026 Wednesday market series THIS WEEK on September 2nd!
THANK YOU for all the support and coming out to see us this second market day, despite the intense heat this year!! We have enjoyed hosting these midweek markets over the summer at the Ag Marketplace and we look forward to bringing back Wednesday markets bigger and better in 2027.
For this FINAL Wednesday market this week, we will have a great showing of our farmers' market vendors along with a food truck and games for the whole family to enjoy!Come out and celebrate the close of this year's midweek market with us this Wednesday!
|
|
|
|
|
We'll see you at the market!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Climate SMART Leadership Program
NC Cooperative Extension is actively looking for small agribusiness owners to join the Climate SMART Leadership Program. This free, online program is for smallholder farmers and small agribusiness owners looking to build resilience against severe weather such as longer droughts, heavier storms, and unpredictable growing seasons. Across four units, participants learn about practical innovations for combating these challenges, build a decision-making framework for choosing which practices make sense for their operation, and develop the leadership skills to put those changes into action. You can work through the content on your own schedule, with some direct interaction with the program team along the way.
Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Johnston, Moore, Randolph, and Wake counties have been identified as facing some of the heaviest impacts from climate-related events in the state, and NC Cooperative Extension is actively looking for small agribusiness owners in these counties to join. If you'd like to know more, please reach out to me, or Dr. Katie McKee with NC State Cooperative Extension.
Email me at will_ellington@ncsu.edu and I'll be glad to work with you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 - Lee County Center, 2420 Tramway Rd, Sanford, NC 27330, United States
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
