N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Newsletter May 2022

Wake Up to Ag

NC Cooperative Extension-Alexnder County Center wrapped up the month of April by hosting Wake Up to Ag! This event focuses on sharing various aspects of agriculture with the 1st graders in our county. Classes rotate between 12 stations, learning about Agriculture Commodities, Crops, Goats, Pigs, Poultry, Sheep, Equine, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle and Bees. Three fun activity stations are included where students learn about the true size of livestock at the Scales Station, participate in Ag Jeopardy, and the Ag Fun station includes fun hands-on learning.

This wonderful event could not happen without the support of the agricultural community and some amazing volunteers. Alexander Central FFA partner's with us each year to coordinate station speakers and animal exhibits. Thank you to our station presenters Nora Duggin, Trace Chatham, Macy Chapman, Tylie Chatham, Austin Sink, Callie Iversen, Weston Brown, Cheyenne Childers, Anna Taraban, Grace Taraban, Avery Cook, Jenna Eckerd, Lenny Rogers, Danny Price, Anna Beth Harris, and Ava Icenhour.

Wake Up To Ag would not be the same without the animals. We are so appreciative of our farmers and ranchers who shared their animals with us all. Thank you T'neal Herman (horse), Chapman Dairy (dairy cow), Chapman Cattle Company (pigs), Callie Iversen (goats), Trevor Chatham (sheep), and Red Rock Farm (beef cattle).

Carolina Farm Credit of Taylorsville graciously sponsored lunch for our volunteers. It was a great day with perfect weather to learn about agriculture and where our food comes from!

Real Money. Real World: Students in Middle School Link Education with Future Lifestyle Choices

With the help of many community volunteers who staffed 11 booths and program sponsorship from Carolina Farm Credit and Alexander County United Way, all eighth graders from West Alexander participated in the Real Money. Real World. simulation. Students were assigned a career with a monthly salary and a specific number of children. Each student visited the various booths and made some spending choices based on their family situation hoping they would have enough money to make ends meet at the end of the month.

The program includes four classroom lessons to prepare students to assume the role of a 27-year-old adult who is the primary income provider for a family. Students learned to subtract savings, taxes, and health insurance premiums. The students visited booths staffed by community volunteers on items typically found in a monthly budget including housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, child care, and transportation. Throughout the activity, students kept track of their finances and attempted to complete the simulation with a positive balance.

One of the biggest surprises to participants was the cost of child care. One youth, who came into the simulation with only an $1800 monthly salary and two children, was discouraged to discover that daycare for his two children would be over $880. Volunteers at the Financial Assistance booth assisted him in getting a second part-time job after he discovered that “giving his children back” was not an option.

During the post-simulation lesson, students reflected on their experience and what they learned by completing a self-assessment. The students thoroughly enjoyed their experience but were shocked at how hard it was to meet a monthly budget. Many had a newfound respect for their parents and what they deal with on a daily basis. At the end of the experience, student comments included, “Kids are expensive,” “I need to stay in school and graduate in order to get a better job later,” “Life is a whole lot harder than I thought,” and “I need to get the important stuff out of the way first.”

A very special thank you to First Community Bank, State Employees' Credit Union, Alexander County Partnership for Children, Alexander County Employees, and county volunteers who helped make this simulation a possibility by sharing their expertise and time.

If you would like more information about Real Money. Real World., please contact Der Holcomb at the NC Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center at 828-632-3125 or dxiong3@ncsu.edu.

Photo: Mitzi Bumgarner and Kendra Dyson, First Community Bank, stationed at the College Loan and Credit Cards Booth

Green Thumb Gazette Newsletter- May's Edition is available. To read what garden tasks to do in June, what to be on the look out for around your lawn and garden, or just to stay-in-the know with what our horticulture agent, Cari Mitchell, is offering please click on the following link:

May 2022 Newsletter

Also, if you would like to receive this newsletter by email please contact the NC Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center. You may also visit the following link to see past newsletters: Garden Thumb Gazette

4-H Update

Alexander 4-H Clubs are wrapping up before they take the summer months off. You are still welcome to visit clubs, but just know that the majority of clubs do not meet during the summer. They will resume in August/September.

Are you still looking for educational, but FUN opportunities for the summer months while school is out??? We have a great summer planned and still have openings. Please don't wait too long!! These spots will fill fast in the next few weeks.

All 4-H participants and volunteers need to enroll or re-enroll in 4-H Online. This is a new requirement that has to be completed in order to participate in North Carolina 4-H. More information regarding enrollment can be found in the May 2022 Newsletter.

Click on the link below for more information and to view the full newsletter:

May 2022 Newsletter

Cattle Fly Control for the Beef Herd

The necessity for a fly control program for beef herds is inevitable and if you haven’t started a program in your herd, now is the time. The two major species of flies that cause the most serious decreases in beef production and require the most control efforts are the horn fly and face fly. The horn fly alone is estimated to cause animal losses to the US beef industry of $700 million. Tests have shown that the annoyance, irritation, and blood loss caused by flies can reduce weaning weights of calves nursing fly infested mother cows by 12 to 14 pounds; average daily gain of grazing yearling steers may be reduced 12 to 14 percent, or as much as 30 pounds, during the grazing season. Both face flies and horn flies annoy cattle, resulting in reduced grazing time and increased energy expenditure.

Read more about fly control at the following link: https://alexander.ces.ncsu.edu/2022/05/cattle-fly-control-for-the-beef-herd/

The Apple City Stitchers Club has been hard at work making these awesome lap quilts for the Taylorsville House residents. 40 lap quilts, made with lots of love and care, were delivered recently and it was a true joy to visit with all the sweet residents. Family Consumer Science Agent Der Holcomb and County Extension Director Allison Brown were honored to be a part of handing out the quilts to the residents. The Apple City Stitchers meet the 3rd Monday of each month at the NC Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center.