1998 Success Stories

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Date: Thu Jun 18 16:03:04 EDT 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: jackson
Person Reporting: Harvey Fouts

Community residents who met in focus groups in 1995 indicated that communications about available services, programs and information was a significant need in Jackson County. In response, Cooperative Extension lead an effort to raise over $15,000 to purchase, establish and maintain a computerized telephone information system. Jackson CountyLINE is provided to all agencies and organizations in the county to record thier public information. Teachers can record homework or other information. The system has provided exceptional service to notify citizens when schools are closed due to snow. Many organizations are using the system as a means to diseminate information. As evidence, the system has received about 56,000 calls during the first 18 months. The system has additional community-wide communications potential when a new CountyLINE directory is published and distributed in the summer of 1998.

Date: Fri Jun 26 14:53:48 EDT 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: mecklenb
Person Reporting: Minnie L. Mitchell

Marketing! What is it and who needs it? ! In response to this issue by volunteer andcommunity groups, a two­hour Marketing Savvy workshop was sponsored jointly by the Extension Service a local but popular TV personality. The maximum audience of 25 participants expressed a 90 percent gain in knowledge because of the strategies learned in the session. They learned that the best marketing strategy was to simply provide the media with the basic who, what, when, where why and how to contact via telephone for further details or coverage. The session placed emphasis on the fact that marketing is the responsibility of everyone within the group or organization either through verbal or nonverbal communication.
Date: Fri Jun 26 14:53:04 EDT 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: mecklenb
Person Reporting: Minnie L. Mitchell

The need for economic development for limited resource families is a serious issue inMecklenburg County. Through collaborative efforts with the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, Housing Partnership, Mecklenburg County Community Development Department, local community development cooperations (CDC), local banks, a self­help credit union, The Housing Authority, Fannie Mae, UNC­Charlotte and the Extension Service, Mecklenburg County has been selected as one of eight demonstration sites for the Individual Development Accounts (IDA) program. IDA's, as contracted through the NC Department of Labor, is a structured savings plan aimed at addressing the economic issue facing low income families. The $50,000 matching fund will help 25­50 participants to build assets and establish self­ sufficiency through the end of the state fiscal year 2002.
Date: Wed Jul 1 08:22:25 EDT 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: swain
Person Reporting: Jason Jones

The Smoky Mountain Association of Nurserymen (SMAN) had become inactive, but wanted to maintain a loose association.
Chrisy Bredenkamp, the horticulture agent for Swain and Jackson counties, had the idea of creating a web site for the group. Jason Jones, the agent for CRD (Small Business) in Swain County, is participating in the Community NETworker project, administered by NCexChange. The Community NETworker project is designed to help small businesses, local governments, and non-profits, assess their technology needs and help them fulfill those needs.
Christy Bredenkamp and Jason Jones collaborated to turn SMAN's most current directory into a web site. The web site
(http://www.dnet.net/sman) contains the most recent directory of nurseries and a list of plants the various nurseries carry. Anyone with access to the Internet can pull up this website and reference the information.
The site has been successful in getting SMAN's information out to the public.
Date: Mon Jul 6 12:19:39 EDT 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: buncombe
Person Reporting: Kenneth Reeves

Through the years, the Community and Rural Development (CRD) program in the western 18 counties of NC has had regional coordination. However, duplication of training was occurring in several counties. During this year, a regional CRD Advisory System was established to more clearly identify programs that the NC Cooperative Extension Service should be providing support for. This regional group then formed 3 sub-units or cluster groups to focus on a project of interest to that cluster. This advisory effort has resulted in a "Youth Leadership Summit", an "Eco-Tourism Summit", and a planned "Agri-Tourism Summit". This success is a district accomplishment of which most counties participated
Date: Wed Jul 22 12:12:07 EDT 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: cherresv
Person Reporting: Robert Hawk

Several grants have been received to develop new or expand an existing program. These are for economic and community development purposes and protect and enhance natural resources. The Greenways Development Program grant is for $l820 to support local greenway trail. The Cherokee parks and Recreation Committee received $60,000.00 from NCDENR with l00% matching funds from the EBCH to develop the Oconaluftee Island Park. N>C> Dvision of Forest Resources awarded $l0,000. to initiate an urban and community forestry program. This plan is to improve and maintain urban trees with conservation purposes. School Library received $l400.
to assist and improve environmental education with youth.
Date: Thu Sep 10 09:42:34 EDT 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: robeson
Person Reporting: Everett Davis

To support the Enterprize Community Grant for 5 census tracts in Robeson County, Extension personnel provided leadership for Community Voices training in 4 communitiies ­ Fairmont, Rowland, Maxton and Red Springs. A total of 37 adults were trained to better address community and economic issues within their communities by developing leadership and communication skills. Extension trained facilitators in 3 of these communities are now in the process of training additional citizens. These citizens are becoming involved in improving the economic conditions within their communities.
Date: Wed Oct 7 16:04:56 EDT 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: yancey
Person Reporting: Johnny G. Hensley

A group of investors have selected a site in Yancey for a new hydroponics greenhouse operation.
Blue Ridge Greenhouse, Inc. plans to construct approximately 17 acres of greenhouse in Yancey County to produce hydroponic grown vegetables. An investment of over 10 million dollars is expected to produce about 30-40 new jobs in Yancey, utilize several hundred thousand dollars in fuel each year, and produce gross sales estimated at 7-9 million dollars annually.
Realtors say the site in Yancey County was selected largely because of the considerable assistance and cooperation provided by the Cooperative Extension Staff in securing valuable climatic data, networking with various agencies and genuine concern for location in Yancey County.
Date: Wed Dec 2 11:33:46 EST 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: tyrrell
Person Reporting: Dee Furlough

The Tyrrell FCE agent, in conjunction with the Albemarle Solid Waste Management Authority and the Cohoon Center provided composting education for the Center's clientele, developmentally challenged adults. They learned what composting is, what is acceptable to compost, and how to maintain a compost site. As a follow up, an acutal compost site was erected outside the Center for the center participants to maintain. This area has signage regarding who the site is sponsored by and information about composting inside a mailbox. Furthermore, this site has been marketed as an educational site for groups and individuals to visit to learn more about composting. As a result, the Center's participants have a hands on educational area from which to learn, and many others have visited the site and requested more information about personal composting.
Date: Fri Dec 18 15:29:21 EST 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: hoke
Person Reporting: Sandra R. Kelly

In cooperation with the Board of Education and ag-related businesses a Farm City Week Tour was held for third graders. Five hundred eighty-seven youth gained knowledge and a greater apprecation for agriculture and the environment. Several agriculture related businesses and agencies set up booths and exhibits. Youth were able to get hands-on experience on various topics while being introduced to the NC Cooperative Extension Service.
Date: Thu Dec 31 10:38:39 EST 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: anson
Person Reporting: Russell Sikes

Organized a local Hunting Tournament to help raise money for our Chamber of Commerce and promote tourism to the county. We were seeking to promote the county with favorable publicity and to promote our natural resources. We raised a total of $11000, and had 60 particpants. We received publicity in 2 county papers and one regional paper and in two other magazines. We received alot of attention all over the region and have been urged to build upon this foundation.
Date: Thu Dec 31 11:19:13 EST 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: buncombe
Person Reporting: Kenneth Reeves

A regional Community Development Advisory Committee with representation from 19 counties and the Cherokee Reservation was formed in 1997. Three sub-regional (cluster) groups were formed from this over-all committee, in order to focus on program ideas specific for that sub-regional group. Cluster 2, comprised of Haywood, Buncombe, Madision, Henderson, Transylvania and Polk Counties planned for an Agri-Tourism Conference. This conference entitled "Cultivating Agri-Tourism" was conducted Nov. 14, 1998 with 157 participants from numerous North Carolina counties and from five states. Evaluations for the conference indicated that participants were very satisfied with content and desire additional educational opportunities.

Date: Thu Dec 31 19:23:57 EST 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: columbus
Person Reporting: Jacqueline D. Roseboro

An effort has been made to revitalize the Extension Advisory Council. Eleven new members were added to the council in the past year. They represented the county geographically, ethnically, and by gender. The council has been very active attending quarterly meetings, and various regional meetings.
Three of the new council members gave leadership to a very successful Farm-City Week Dinner this year. The state advisory council member from Columbus County has been very instrumental in serving as liaison, as well as being very active on the state council. In addition they have participated in and attended numerous Extension functions throughout the year. One council member has written an article for the State ALS Newsletter.
Date: Thu Dec 31 09:22:41 EST 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: forsyth
Person Reporting: Donald L. Mebane

Involvement in community development is not evenly distributed among all citizens. Many special audiences are not aware of the community development process, nor are they aware of the community services available for assisting them. A series of workshops on learning leadership styles, leadership approaches, parliamentary procedures, and planning and conducting effective meetings were conducted.
90 residents participated with 56 graduating and receiving
completion certificates. As a result of this training, residents were able to develop leadership skills necessary for them to identify and make needed changes and improvements in their lives and understand how decisions are
made in their communities. As a result of training residents
participated in community focus group meetings, resident
council meetings, other community support groups and access
resources and public services.
Date: Thu Dec 31 08:23:36 EST 1998
SMP #: 6
Local System: pasquota
Person Reporting: Travis Burke

In rural communities, there continues to be a need to provide the people with educational opportunities that would normally not happen due to the lack of resources. The establishment of the "Donald W. Baker" Endowment was initiated to involve local commissioners, advisory council members and the residents in a worthy cause to raise $75,000 to enhance extension educational programs. As a result, scholarships, new programs in Agriculture, 4-H and Youth, Community Development and Family and Consumer Sciences will be made possible for citizens and the local Extension Service. Upon completion, this will be an opportunity for the people to partner and "Help People Put Knowledge to Work".
Date: Mon Jan 4 13:06:21 EST 1999
SMP #: 6
Local System: edgecomb
Person Reporting: Joe W. Dickens, Jr.

The Edgecombe Entrepreneur Organization members recognize the importance of good health. They also recognize the fact that a lot of small business owners do not get regular health checks. The organization sponsored a health screening on September 21, 1998 for blood pressure, height and weight, cholesterol, and blood sugar. A total of 23 small business owners and employees completed the screening. The findings from this screening showed that 22 percent of the participants were high risk. People with high controllable risk factors also cost unnecessary billions of dollars annually in direct health care costs. These individuals are now under the care of their regular doctor.
Date: Tue Jan 5 13:40:27 EST 1999
SMP #: 6
Local System: chatham
Person Reporting: Glenn Woolard

From 1978 to 1992, Chatham County has lost almost 20,000 acres of land in farms, a 15 percent decline. Agriculture is often not viewed by the nonfarm population as being important to economic development. Cooperative Extension conducted an "Agriculture as Economic Development Workshop" in June,1998. As a result, participants expressed their concerns to the County Land Use Plan Committee. A quote from the January 1999 "Chatham Crossroads" newspaper shows the workshop impacts: "Last spring, a diverse collection of seventy farmers came together for a workshop on agriculture as development, which many still point to as a turning point in the county. That theme carried over into the current draft of the county's land use plan, which calls for an official county agricultural advisory board and the inclusion of agricultural enterprises in the county's economic development plan.
Date: Tue Jan 5 15:08:05 EST 1999
SMP #: 6
Local System: henderso
Person Reporting: Marvin A. Owings, Jr.

Local apple growers have difficulty growing apples profitably. To show growers how to be more productive and profitable, we designed a system to maximize tree density and light in the early years and still effectively manage that space in the second ten years for good fruit quality and optimum yields. This system is designed as a model for local commercial growers in Henderson Co. based on proven varieties and rootstocks. We planted twelve varieties with a total of 200 trees. Tree spacing 5'x13' allowing 7' drive
between trees equals 670 T/A. Mature tree height 9.75' (13
x.75=9.75). Orchard system, combination of slender spindle/vertical axis.
Date: Tue Jan 5 15:08:23 EST 1999
SMP #: 6
Local System: henderso
Person Reporting: Marvin A. Owings, Jr.

To adequately maintain and harvest the county apple variety block 14 volunteers were trained during a 48 hour Master Pomologist course. The program extended the resources of the Extension Service tremendously. Master Pomologists are used as technicians to maintain the Henderson County Apple Variety Block. They help in tree pruning, tree training, collecting bloom dates, harvesting fruit, collect post-harvest data related to fruit quality and storageability. Students from time to time conducted
apple training sessions for county residents. Approximately 850 volunteer hours have been given back to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service - Henderson County Center as of December 1998.
Date: Fri Jan 8 14:49:32 EST 1999
SMP #: 6
Local System: cherresv
Person Reporting: Robert Hawk

WNC Cluster Group 1 coordinated the "Great Smoky Mountains Ecotourism Workshop July 26-27, l998 in Graham County in order to educate and promote "Eco-Tourism" in extreme Western North Carolina for Sustainable Economic Development & Conservation in the region. l00 public and private community officials and leaders attended. International, national, regional and local speakers from the public institutions and private industry presented material and educational information pertaining to Sustainable Development, Conservation and Tourism to the participants in this two-day initiative. The success was great enough to pursue additional educational opportunities for the public.
Date: Tue Feb 2 10:42:28 EST 1999
SMP #: 6
Local System: guilford
Person Reporting: GWYN RIDDICK

An engineering company approached a local Extension Service office about technical assistance for an aspect of their business development. The company was interested in applications possibilities for a technology they were developing as well as getting field co-operators to test their technology. In order to explore these
possibilities, a meeting was set-up on campus with the Extension Service and Department representatives from 10 disciplines such as Soil Science, Bio/Ag Engineering, etc. The company presented an overview of their technology and asked for help in identifying potential applications which involved cellemetry based monitoring of solids, liquids and gases. Currently, three College departments are developing
application studies in the areas of tobacco harvesting and curing, water quality monitoring and waste monitoring in cooperation with the company.
Date: Mon Feb 15 11:48:00 EST 1999
SMP #: 6
Local System: graham
Person Reporting: Douglas Clement

Ecotourism: Blazing a Trail

Based on a growing interest in sustainable tourism, Graham County CES collaborated with local business leaders, volunteers and officials to organize and implement a conference about ecotourism. Nationally known speakers provided a foundation of knowledge about the ecotourism industry. The over one hundred participants learned the basic tenents of ecotourism and how to apply these tenents to existing businesses or the formation of new business.

As a result, another regional tourism conference has been planned by other CES agents. In addition, financial and volunteer support have been obtained to plan a 1999 Ecotourism Conference. In response to participant requests, the 1999 conference will focus on developing, implementing, and maintaining a nature-based business. Providing information about sustainable tourism has proven to be important to the economic development of Western North Carolina.
Date: Sat Feb 27 10:46:47 EST 1999
SMP #: 6
Local System: watauga
Person Reporting: sue counts

Tourism is the second largest industry in Western North Carolina. Most tourists are drawn to our region's natural beauty. So why not turn the tourist into ambassadors for protecting our mountains' natural heritage. Since August 1998, over 75 citizens have worked to plan a Sustainable Tourism Conference for the High Country. Extension in both Avery and Watauga are partnering with Appalachian State University, several departments at NCSU, A&T; University, and Western NC Development Association to make this conference a reality. A successful grant proposal was written by Extension for $14,000.
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