2002 Success Stories

Cobb, Roger N - Alamance: A landscaper approached me about a program for her Spanish speaking workers. She had heard about it at another program she attended. I made some calls and got the program lined up with help from the NCDA, CES, and a retired CES specialist. We had people from 3 counties (23) in all. The three hour program generated lots of questions from the attendees. The group was presented material on pesticides, insects and diseases of ornamentals and landscape problems and solutions. No survey was given out because of my obvious language barrier.

Cobb, Roger N - Alamance: A seminar was planned with the help of Elon University to have a program to enable people to get pesticide credits and gain knowledge in the fields of turf and landscaping. The training was held at Elon University and topics such as cool season cultivars, fertilizers and pre-emergents, protecting yourself from the sun and etc. were covered. A survey was given out at he end and the participants rated the program for knowledge gained on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being highest as; 1-1.6%, 2-3.3%, 3-15.1%, 4-43.3%, 5-36.7%. The participants also included future considerations for programs in their surveys.

Cobb, Roger N - Alamance: A pesticide disposal day was held in conjunction with the NCDA at the CES office. County farmers and homeowners brought in 2592 pounds of pesticides for disposal. The pesticides were brought in in 873 containers. The pesticides ranged from cancelled pesticides to current ones that the people no longer could use. This helps to prevent the disposal of pesticides in the landfill.

Cobb, Roger N - Alamance: A grain farmer read the Field Crops newsletter about increasing wheat seeding rates by the week as the ideal planting time passed. Never doing this in the past he increased his seeding rate as he was planting in November and planting no till. He gave this the credit for averaging 15 more bushels of wheat to the acre than the typical county yield this year. At 15 bushels times 2.70, this would be $40.50 more dollars per acre on 60 acres for a total of $2430.00

Cobb, Roger N - Alamance: The Alamance County Landfill asked the CES for help in promoting and carrying out a paint and pesticide disposal day. Extension did the bulk for the advertisement. The pickup day saw between 700-800 vehicles come through leaving 70,000 lbs of paint, 10 containers of aerosols, and 1069 lbs of pesticides. Some people commented they had been holding paint for as long as 30 years.

Cole, Kay L - Alamance: Alamance County 4-H Leaders continue to meet on a quarterly basis to plan county and district events. We now have 13 clubs at different stages of development and maturity. More established club leaders willingly give their telephone numbers and assistance to other leaders. Julie Stalker of the Barnyard Kids is assisting the Welcome Home School with their first year privation in the State Turkey Project. Toni Stephens is now the VP for the Northwest 4-H Leaders Association. Lisa Smith of the Hoofbeats now serves on the State 4-H Horse Council. The success to this story is that the leaders are beginning to be comfortable with their positions and willing to share with others.

Cole, Kay L - Alamance: Alamance County 4-Hers enjoyed the 4-H Shines Night on April 26, 2002. This was the first Fashion Review and Talent Show in our county since 1994. Based on the interest in the sewing projects 4-H will hold two sewing classes during the 2002 Summer Fun Program. We will also have representation at District Activity Day for the Talent Competition. The Volunteer Teens in Action took the lead in preparation and organization of this program.

Cole, Kay L - Alamance: The Alamance County 4-H Leaders hosted the Northwest 4-H Leaders Association with over 25 leaders in attendance. Alamance County Leader taught two of the three workshops presented. They also organized and provided lunch as a fundraiser with profits going to the county youth awards night. Eight Alamance County Leaders successfully completed the American Red Cross Sports Safety Training this year. Five new volunteers participated in a 4-H orientation workshop. Ten new volunteers participated in embryology orientation.

Cole, Kay L - Alamance: Alamance County 4-H youth had over 30 entries in the NC State Fair youth craft division. This is a marked increase from previous years. Alamance County 4-H s received 2nd place/red ribbon for the second highest number of blue ribbons craft items. Ten Salamanca County Youth were invited to attend the NC State Fair to assist with the opening ceremonies. Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps hosted the youth.

Cole, Kay L - Alamance: Alamance County Summer Fun Program served 585 participants with 24 programs covering areas of animal science, nutrition, earth science, woodworking, nature/sports, electricity, community resources, art and music appreciation and career exploration. Because of demand, 4 additional classes were added after registration. All classes were taught by volunteers.

DeLoatch, Evelyn D - Alamance: Powerful Tools for Caregiving

Twenty-four caregivers completed the "Taking Care of You: Powerful Tools for Caregiving six-week series. The caregivers learned strategies for self-care which would enable them to continue caring for others. The family members cared for included a 94 year old mother in relatively good health to a 54 year old man with dementia. Other carereceivers had multiple illnesses such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia caused by stroke and diabetes. All of the caregivers were women and had been caregivers for at least three or more years. A follow-up reunion is scheduled in six months to determine how well caregivers are coping and see if there are any changes in their caregiving situation. Surveys indicated how beneficial the classes were in helping participants focus on themselves more. Several caregivers sought placement for their family members, one was diagnosed with cancer and one was suffering from depression with plans to seek assistance

DeLoatch, Evelyn D - Alamance: Region G held a successful Grandparents Conference utilizing Family Support Initiative funds. Thirty individuals registered for the conference. Guest speakers on the program were from three universities and North Carolina State government. Surveys indicated the conference was very beneficial and informative and wanted additional information. Follow-up information concerning grandparent issues is currently being shared via e-mail with all of the attendees.

DeLoatch, Evelyn D - Alamance: Alamance County received over $42,000 in federal funding to support programs targeting caregivers. As chairperson of the committee we have distributed over 76,000 community resource guides, provided funding for additional caregiver resources in local libraries, and committee members are submitting news articles in one area newspaper on a regular basis. One of the biggest successes was the funds enabled us to set aside funds for respite care for families that were in need. To date four families have received assistance.

Walker, David P - Alamance: With the help of the Alamance Cooperative Extension Service in evaluating and formulating livestock mineral mixes, the Alamance Cattlemen's Association group purchased 28 ton of cattle minerals. The cost of the minerals purchased in quantities was $7.65 per 50 pound bag compared to $11.50 per 50 pound bag when purchased individually. This represented a savings of $4,312 to the 28 producers who participated in the project.

Walker, David P - Alamance: A program was conducted for local cattle producers on utilizing by-product feeds for their cattle. As a result, several cattlemen began using by-product feeds from brokers and a local mill that produced a wheat-mid product. A total of 329 ton of by-products was fed during the fall and winter feeding program of 2001/2002. This represents a savings of $36,770 over commercially prepared feeds.

Walker, David P - Alamance: 694 fourth graders and 30 adults from the Alamance County School System attended the Farm To Table Program sponsored by the Alamance Cooperative Extension Service, Alamance Soil and Water Conservation Service, Alamance Recreation Center, and the Alamance Chamber of Commerce. This was a 2 day event that demonstrated where food originates on the farm, and how it is processed, packaged, and transported to the grocery store. Participants learned the role of the farms, and the value of water, soils, and crop protectants in producing food. As several youth were heard to say, "I didn't know that corn flakes were made from corn grain".

Walker, David P - Alamance: Beef cattle producers in Alamance and Guilford County received an additional $3,125 by selling their calves on the 3 state graded feeder calf sales held during August, September, and October. These sales net $25 more per head than calves sold on the regular weekly sales.

Johnson, Allison - Alexander: Alexander County hosted the 2002 Farm Safety Day Camp. Approximately 75 youth attended this event and several parents accompanied their children. We encourage parents to attend the camp with their children, so that the information taught can be reinforced at home or on the farm. The camp consisted of 8 stations including: Animal Safety, Fire Safety, Tractor/PTO Safety, CART/Animal Rescue, Lawn Mower Safety, Firearm Safety, Water Safety, and ATV Safety. One of the guest speakers for the event was a 13 year old boy who lives here in the county. Recently he became entangled in a PTO Shaft and broke his arm in 5 different places. He was very lucky to have suffered so little damage as he did, it could have been much worse. So he spoke to the campers about his ordeal and how it has affected his life. If this Farm Safety Day Camp can save one

Johnson, Allison - Alexander: In August, 2002 Alexander County Cooperative Extension along with a local producer, hosted a local field day in cooperation with Dow Agrosciences. We tested 5 different products at various rates with varying times of applications. We found that Grazon controlled broadleaf weeds better than other competing chemicals and in the coming year we will still be seeing results. We also tested Redeem with Grazon on natural woody plants to control brush and fence lines. Good results were seen but we also learned that timing is everything. With the drought that we all experienced it made it difficult to get excellent results with any product but because of Grazon's residual affect, I believe we will keep seeing better results with time. I plan to conduct another test next year and hopefully get more rain so that we can see better results.

Mosley, Margo - Alexander: Seventy-seven year old Frank, a participant in Partners in Wellness suffers from Parkinson\'s Disease. A series on physical activity included suggestions for enhancing a chair side workout with hand weights. Each participant was given a one pound weight to take home. Frank noted it helped stabilize the shakiness in his hands. At a succeeding session, Frank came to the site with not only the weight he was given the week prior, but with another he had purchased on his own. While this may seem a minor gesture, Frank can no longer drive. His small town has no stores with such items. Securing this additional weight meant special help from others. Frank notes that he even uses his weights before getting out of bed in the morning, as a part of his ritual to improve balance and movement at the start of the day and retain independence as long as possible given the potential progress of his disease.

Mosley, Margo - Alexander: The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Partnership formed to help increase awareness of resources for individuals who are raising or helping to raise their grandchildren. To recognize the important role that grandparents play in the lives of young children, the Partnership organized a Saturday afternoon festival, on the eve of National Grandparents Day. Over seventy volunteers, representing fourteen agencies assisted with games, displays, demonstrations, music, recognition and refreshments. They donated 195 hours of time and over $1700 in supplies, prizes, awards and equipment. The event attracted an estimated 250 people. As a result of this effort, ten grandparents who are raising or helping raise their grandchildren contacted our Partnership for further information and assistance.

Rhinehart, Suzanne N - Alexander: Vermicomposting--what's that? Over 475 youth in grades K & 1st in Alexander County can answer that question in great detail. The Alexander 4-H Program provided educational materials valued at over $1,300 to implement this program in 24 classrooms for the school year 2001-02. Youth gained knowledge in how vermicomposting--or worms eating garbage can provide a great soil additive that can serve as a fertilizer for vegetable or flower gardens. During the eight month project, students learn how to divert food leftovers from the waste stream by using worms to compost them. Other techniques of composting are also covered. Worms were harvested at the end of the school year and will be used to begin the program in fall of 2002. Teachers evaluated this program as a great way to incorporate scientific knowledge into other curriculum areas. Pre-test/post test results indicated that students showed an 57 percent increase in knowledge gained.

Rhinehart, Suzanne N - Alexander: Due to an increase in patriotism following 9/11/2001, Alexander 4-H program was approached in providing a flag retirement ceremony for Alexander County citizens. Usually we provide this service every 3 years. Publicity began in October, 2001 informing the public of the importance of retiring flags that are soiled, torn or worn. Over 670 people were reached with educational programs prior to the retirement ceremony on Flag Day, June 14, 2002. Twenty-three 4-H'ers spent 4 hours each folding, preparing flags for retirement and carrying out the ceremony. During the ceremony, 161 flags were retired from over 67 different individuals and organizations. This is a 47% increase in the number of flags that were retired by Alexander 4-H in 2000. This project involved the collaborative efforts from Cooperative Extension-4-H program, Taylorsville National Guard Armory, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Veteran Affairs Office, Alexander County Register of Deeds and various other

Rodgers, Lindsay E - Alexander: Through the acquisition of a $5,400 grant for the county from the NC Division of Pollution Prevention the Alexander Extension Staff has implemented a county-wide Backyard Composting Educational Drive. Educational programs were offered through the Speakers Bureau reaching many civic clubs and also through after school 4-H programs in 90% of our county schools. Media releases through the radio and newspaper encourage citizens to adopt backyard composting to give them an avenue for disposal of yard and kitchen waste. Then through the purchase via grant funds, 185 ""Earth Machine"" backyard composters were distributed to serious homeowners along with educational materials. Also a ""Backyard Composting"" exhibit was displayed at the Alexander County Fair in September with educational material distributed and drawings for some free ""Earth Machines"".

Rodgers, Lindsay E - Alexander: Through the reception of a grant totaling approximately $100,000, one of three Department Of Transportation storm water BMP sites has been constructed in Alexander County. Under the guidance of the NCSU Biological and Agriculture Engineering Department a dry pond best management practice was designed and installed below the Alexander County DOT facility to treat their storm water runoff. Alexander Extension Agents have monitored storm water runoff from sampling stations installed before and after the BMP from several storms in 2002. Storm water comes from parking lots, over multiple pieces of heavy equipment, salt sheds, sand piles, etc. Storm samples have been analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, petroleum products, etc. Through this BMP and the other two different BMP's installed across the state, the DOT will determine which is most effective and install the most efficient BMP at several sites across the state.

Rodgers, Lindsay E - Alexander: Through the coordination and work of the Alexander Extension Staff with the assistance of the NC Forestry Service via the County Ranger, the Rendezvous Forest Crew, a local scout troop and a NC Urban Forestry Grant of $1,000 the Alexander Extension Staff has been able to successfully establish educational trails in the Wittenburg and in the Hiddenite communities. These are the first educational forest trails in Alexander County. Professional tree identification signs on posts identify over 50 tree and native plant species on these educational trails. Blue bird boxes, wooden bridges, benches and an amphitheater adorn these trails. Entire trails and the amphitheater area were blazed, scrapped, sprayed with weedkiller and mulched. Wittenburg Elementary School using Extension Agents as educational tour guides held two End of Year Trail Days at the Wittenburg trail. Here, agents educated over 400 teachers and students of tree identification and specific tree importance's, wildlife habitat, watershed runoff and other aspects teachable through this nature trail. The educational trail in the Hiddenite Community label the East Park Trail was largely constructed by a local scout troop.

Rodgers, Lindsay E - Alexander: Utilizing an unused greenhouse at East Junior High School we offered a very successful Junior Horticulture Series to approximately 50 after school students. As proclaimed by their coordinators, this ten week series was the best received and best participated after school program that their school has ever had. Our hort and 4-H agents split the large group into two smaller groups and rotated them every Tuesday afternoon giving them a total of one hour of instruction. Various class sessions included: seed planting, seed germination, propagation by cuttings, bulb plantings, germination of sprouts in various lighting and temperature conditions, transplanting seedlings, composting of plant material, soil nutrients/soil sampling, when to harvest vegetables, seed identification and much, much more. The emphasis here was learning by doing, each student had approximately 10 different pots or trays of plants growing in the greenhouse during this series.

Boylan, Richard - Alleghany: In early March, I learned of the availability of free tree seedlings. I made arrangements to pick up 10,000 in Lumberton, and placed a notice about them in the newspapers of the counties I serve. In Allegheny and Watauga, a steady stream of people picked up trees each day. Ashe was another scene altogether. The morning I arrived, a crowd of approximately 45 people was outside the door. I could hardly unload bags of trees fast enough! By 11:30 AM, all were distributed, and I was taking down the names of people who still needed some.

Participants used the trees for reforestation, stabilization of eroding stream banks, wildlife habitat, planting field borders, and general planting. People expressed enthusiasm for the fact that the species distributed (green ash, red oak, sawtooth oak, sweet gum, and water oak) had applications for edible mushroom, ginseng, and goldenseal cultivation, firewood, wildlife, and other uses.

Boylan, Richard - Alleghany: On 22 May 2002, twenty Farmers from the NC High Country gathered at the Ashe County Extension Center for a one-day immersion into the intricacies of organic certification under the National Organic Program (NOP) rules. The NOP will standardize practices associated with the word "organic," and provide the continued coherence necessary for consumers to confidently choose organic products. Yet NOP rules are at present poorly understood by many farmers, who must familiarize themselves with extensive details before applying for certification. In conjunction with the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Extension met this need via a diversity of media presentations and discussion. Participants unanimously expressed appreciation for the level of detail and the accessibility of information presented. More than half of the participants stated an intent to apply for certification within the next year. Others found the workshop helpful in making their choice to seek alternate marketing avenues and product descriptors.

Edwards, Bob D - Alleghany: Correct application of pesticides, whether homeowner or large Christmas tree grower, is a major concern and is heavily regulated by federal law and enforced by NC Department of Agriculture. Homeowners, and farmers using any restricted pesticides must be certified as a private applicator. Anyone applying pesticides for hire must be certified as a commercial applicator. Both groups must attend continuing education classes to remain certified. To address this concern and need for people to become and remain certified several opportunities have been made available this year. As a result, 147 private applicators were recertified, and 36 people have become certified as private or commercial applicators. Continuing education classes providing five hours of commercial credits has been made available. The citizenry can feel

comfortable that users of pesticides have been taught correct procedures and know that Extension is always available for help and consultation concerning pests and pesticide use.

Edwards, Bob D - Alleghany: $25,000 grant was secured from the NC Agromedicine consortium to enhance the ongoing educational efforts of the Alleghany/Ashe Rural safety education program.

Participants increased knowledge base, changed behavior and adopted safety practices based on preliminary evaluations of the program. Research says that these changes in behavior will

reduce illness and injury.

Edwards, Bob D - Alleghany: Cooperative Extension has lead in the development of a program called Alleghany Critters for Comfort (ACC). Several local agencies, churches, civic groups and youth groups have been involved. According some leading health experts animal assisted therapy is the fastest growing segment of health care in the US. 29 volunteers have spent over 300 hours on program development and implementation. 120 patients and residents have benefited from the 16 visitations at local nursing homes, assistive living centers and adult day care centers. All animals are evaluated based on national standards. Administrators have given the ACC the highest marks of any program available making comments like, "This program has the most lasting positive effect on our residents of anything that has ever been done." Several other counties have inquired about developing a similar program. The Division of Human Services of NC has inquired about us helping them with a statewide effort.

Edwards, Bob D - Alleghany: Several months has been spent on developing a County Animal Response Team (CART) and an emergency response program. It has been a coordinated effort between Cooperative Extension, Emergency Management and volunteers. Alleghany County commissioners will act on the plan in early 2003. Hopefully the CART plan will never be implemented. Our plan addresses the unique situations of Alleghany and readies the community to act in the event of disaster.

Isner, David - Alleghany: Ground Cover Management is important to Christmas tree growers. Reactive approaches to ground cover management can contribute to misallocation of time and economic resources by tree growers. Environmental impacts can be enhanced by ground cover selection and control methods. Test plots have been established on two farms in Alleghany County, with up to 18 species of various ground covers seeded into newly established Fraser fir fields. Extension agents and the grower-cooperators will monitor and evaluate the various ground covers for soil stabilization and improvement, ease of establishment and maintenance considering time and economic resources. Results will be shared with growers thru on-farm field days, report summaries, and newsletter.

Isner, David - Alleghany: In Alleghany County timber and non-timber forest products are a significant source of realized or potential income for many landowners. Through forestry education and assistance targeted to these landowners, enhanced economic returns and enjoyment opportunities will be realized. Toward these ends, a Forestry Advisory Committee has been assembled, and will provide input and leadership to the newly forming Alleghany Forestry Association. The Association will then, cooperatively with Extension, sponsor and conduct a broad reaching forestry education and demonstration program for landowners and others interested in forestry. One outcome of this initiative has been the commitment of a landowner to develop and implement a Forest Stewardship Plan on a several hundred acre property. Of the several objectives identified, one will allow on-farm educational and demonstration

projects.

Joyce, Felicia - Alleghany: Alleghany County 4-H has opened an after school program for middle school aged youth at one of our County's schools. The program is part of the NC Support Our Students Program and its' development began in early 2001 when we received a $75,000 grant to fund the program. We are now completing our first year of an operating program and are proud of the accomplishments that have been made. The program is currently serving 42 youth in grades fifth-eight. We offer homework assistance, tutoring, life skills development, and opportunities for community service. Our participants are improving their study skills and are actively involved in the community around them. The program has experienced much growth and improvement over the past year. We even had one of our students named a NC SOS Student of the Year!

Joyce, Felicia - Alleghany: The 4-H Club program is steadily growing! The re-establishment and strengthening of the 4-H Club program has been a major goal for Alleghany County. We had five 4-H Clubs operating in 2001 and we have been fortunate to retain all of these Clubs. Already in 2002, we have seen the birth of four additional Clubs. Our 4-H Clubs serve more than 125 youth, allowing them to create long term relationships with caring adults. There are more than 20 adult volunteers who make these 4-H Clubs a reality. These Clubs are impacting Alleghany County in many ways. They are currently working on community service projects, which are being funded through a $2500 grant we received from America's Promise. Most importantly, they are building the future of our County by creating caring, competent, and active citizens!

Joyce, Felicia - Alleghany: One goal of our 4-H program this year is to make our program more inclusive. This includes marketing the program to families of different socio & economic backgrounds and making our programs inviting to youth who have disabilities. Often times the families of youth with disabilities do not seek us out because they do not perceive mainstream youth development as accessible. An accomplishment in this area was reached this month when we had a 4-Her with a hearing impairment participate in our Presentations program. Presentations are a great way for youth to develop confidence, communication skills, & leadership. This child is deaf and wears a Cochlear implant. Her family is working with her to develop her spoken language. This 4-Her successfully gave a presentation at our County Presentations Event. Through this experience she improved her vocabulary, which was a primary goal, and gained personal satisfaction from her accomplishment.

Joyce, Felicia - Alleghany: The Alleghany 4-H summer enrichment program offers opportunities for youth to have fun and educational experiences while developing life skills. This program is open to any youth in the County but there is a special emphasis on making the program available to high risk youth. Through the support of our community we have raised $5,185. This money will allow families with limited financial resources to send their children to 4-H Summer Enrichment programs. We have been able to offer scholarships to 55 different youth, many for 2 or more enrichment programs. This includes six youth who are part of our County's One-On-One program which serves adjudicated youth. In addition to local Daycamps we will have a delegation of 32 youth attending Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Camp this year. Of those 32 youth, 27 have received scholarships to make this worthwhile experience possible.

Joyce, Felicia - Alleghany: The opportunity to do community service projects is a powerful way to teach young people to care about others. Our 4-H program was very fortunate to receive a grant from Alleghany's Promise-America's Promise in the amount of $2500 to make an impact on our County. Six of our 4-H Clubs completed service projects that included things such as giving potted tomato plants to homebound Seniors, area beautification projects, hosting bike safety clinics, donating fans to residents without air conditioning, and sponsoring a community Easter Egg Hunt. In addition to these projects done by individual Clubs our County program has also made bags which will be distributed through our local law enforcement and social programs to youth who are involved in automobile accidents or situations where they are removed form their homes.

Joyce, Felicia - Alleghany: Alleghany County 4-H has had a wonderful opportunity to teach young people about livestock and develop valuable life skills in the process. Through monies donated to our program in honor of a retired Extension Agent we were able to purchase lambs which were housed on our County Fairgrounds from June until October. The program was open to anyone interested but we specifically targeted families who had no livestock experience and those who were unable to keep livestock either for financial or physical reasons. Nine youth were involved in the program. Youth learned to care for their animals, train them, fit them, and how to show them. Participants in the program showed at events in Ashe, Alleghany, Yadkin, Surry, and Stokes Counties, as well as, the Dixie Classic Fair and the State Fair! Participants reported that they learned a lot and that they enjoyed the experience.

Joyce, Felicia - Alleghany: Alleghany County 4-H was proud to make a difference in our county on National Make A Difference Day. More than thirty-five 4-H youth and volunteers gathered to construct 4-H Cares Bags. These draw string bags were handmade and filled with goodies including a handmade fleece blanket, stuffed animal, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, crayons, coloring book, stickers, and candy. One hundred 4-H Cares Bags were assembled and are being made available to our local sheriff's department, domestic violence agency, emergency room, and hospital outpatient surgery department. They will use these bags when they serve young people of our county. It is the hope of the 4-Hers that these young people who may find themselves in scary situations will know that someone cares about them and that the items in the Care Bags will help comfort them. Great job 4-Hers!

Joyce, Felicia - Alleghany: Alleghany County 4-H is proud to be a leader in teaching rural community safety. Rural Community Safety Day is an event that is attended by all of our counties 4th grade students and focuses on safety issues such as fire, tractor, water, gun, personal, animal, bike, and chemicals. We were very excited this year to receive an evaluation from a parent that proves that our efforts are working. The child said they had made a change in their behavior by no longer being an extra rider on a tractor. The parent stating they had adopted a "no extra rider" rule for everyone since her child attended our field day. It feels great to know we made a difference and hopefully saved someone in this family from potential death or injury.

Joyce, Felicia - Alleghany: The 4-H Community Club program has long been viewed as an effective strategy for youth development. In these Clubs youth are able to develop long term relationships with caring adults and to learn in an environment which is relaxed, hands on, and fun. Recently we received evaluations from some of our 4-H Club members. It was reassuring to see that the comments of these youth supported what research has long said about the value of these long term learning units. 75% of the respondents felt that their involvement helped them perform better in school. When asked what they had learned through their participation in 4-H, 75% said that they had learned to stand and speak in front of others. Other responses included, "believing in myself, leadership, and to be kind to others." These responses show that the 4-H Club strategy is effective in teaching life skills to youth.

Long, Carmen J - Alleghany: Lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and an increase in soft drink consumption are all contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic. Read Me A Story pre-school nutrition education is making a difference in Alleghany County. Each month, I present fun, educational nutrition programs for local child care centers, pre-schools and play groups. Children are read a story that has some connection to food, are given the opportunity to taste new foods, make some easy recipes, and then do some art, music or movement activity that ties the program together. I have presented 16 programs reaching 416 participants. Teachers and child care providers report that students are more willing to try new foods, have learned that they actually like foods that they thought they didn't, and are more aware of the importance of eating nutritious foods including more fruits and vegetables. Parents have reported positive changes at home as well.

Long, Carmen J - Alleghany: An exciting new program in Alleghany County for 2002 is the Rainbow of Hope Cancer Support Group. For the past several years we have only had a support group for women whose lives had been touched by breast cancer. With Alleghany County having many people who have lung, prostrate, colon and other types of cancers besides breast, we needed a support group for everyone. After identifying and training some potential community leaders, the group was born. They have had monthly meetings with guest speakers presenting educational information on community resources, have organized a team to participate in Relay For Life, and are serving as hostesses at the Regional Cancer Summit. For a group dealing with such a depressing subject, their meetings are some the most uplifting and positive of any that I have ever attended. Everyone feels good when they leave while learning to focus on the positives.

Long, Carmen J - Alleghany: All 19 participants recently completed and passed a Serving Safe Food course offered to food service workers in Ashe and Alleghany counties. This joint effort between Cooperative Extension and the District Health Department gave food service workers the opportunity to increase their knowledge of food safety issues. Participants are also better equipped to be good role models and teachers to their co-worker who did not attend the three day session. An outbreak of a foodborne illness can be life threatening to those who consumed the food and disastrous to the establishment who prepared it. Anything that we can do to prevent foodborne illness is well worth our time and efforts.

Long, Carmen J - Alleghany: Handwashing plays a key role in food safety. A medical student working with a local Dr. needed a community service type project and contacted me for help. We decided to focus on personal hygiene with the elementary age students at our community summer day camp program. The teachers expressed a need for some reinforcement in this area. Hand

washing is an important message to learn. Using Glo Germ and a blacklight we showed the participants how just rinsing off your hands does not really get them clean. Parents of the participants and teachers have reported that the kids are washing longer and more willingly. They see the need to thoroughly wash their hands before eating, handling food and after play and using

the bathroom. Parents say that the students are reminding them and other family members to wash their hands as well.

Long, Carmen J - Alleghany: Extension has been actively involved in establishing a developmental play group/ parent education program, Building Blocks for Tots, for families with pre-school age children. Available weekly in Sparta and at our two other elementary schools, parents and children have the opportunity to learn, play, create in a group setting. Each quarter the parents fill out an age appropriate form that asks 5 questions about their child's development. There are also 5 ideas for the parents to use as activities with their child at home. After 3 months, they look back over their form to see where progress has been made and which areas still need work. Participation is increasing and parents report improvements in age appropriate development, social skills and abilities. Activities have increased the quality of time spent together.

Long, Carmen J - Alleghany: Alleghany County's Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) has had its busiest year ever. With the discontinuation of a Medicare HMO that served our county, over 100 senior adults have had to change their health insurance coverage. We have been actively involved in helping seniors see their options. We provided accurate, unbiased information from the NC Dept. of Insurance to help these citizens make good decisions & good use of their insurance dollars. Informational programs helped spread the word about the available services. Participants have been very appreciative. Coming from all educational and socioeconomic backgrounds, they were often alone and really didn't know where to start the process of finding affordable supplemental insurance coverage. Many have been individuals who have had no previous experience with our organization. This provided a good opportunity to gain loyal supporters who will continue to utilize our resources in the future.

Long, Carmen J - Alleghany: Recent statistics show us that more and more children are not as healthy as they should be. The percentage of children who are overweight has more than doubled in the last 30 years. One out of every five children in the United States has a weight problem. North Carolina children are at an even greater risk and are two ? three times more likely to be overweight

than youth nationwide. Color Me Healthy address these concerns. Combining good eating

habits with fun physical activity helps child care providers, teachers and parents of young

children move kids in the right direction for better health. Evaluations from Color Me

Healthy show that 100 percent of the participants learned knowledge and skills that will help

them eat healthy and stay active. 100 percent of the participants stated that they would use

the materials with the children in their care to teach about healthy eating and physical

activity.

See, Todd - Animal Science: Swine Extension is working closely with independent pork producers to develop value added marketing opportunities. Over 500 pork carcasses from 15 producers have been evaluated to provide information on quality attributes that can be used for branding. A production and processing certification program has also been developed and training initiated. These efforts have allowed the producers to identify and secure marketing opportunities.

Melton, Richard V - Anson: Selecting productive bulls, cows and heifers is an important management practice for Anson County cattle producers. Twenty-three producers were assisted in evaluating 340 performance or farm tested bulls. Fourteen bulls were selected from those. 446 brood cows were evaluated for 11 producers. Sixty were culled for a cost savings of 9000 dollars. Six producers were assisted in evaluating 221 heifers with 105 being selected. Thirteen producers were involved in a coordinated bull breeding soundness program. 35 bulls were tested with 5 marginal breeders being identified. Those 5 bulls could have cost their owners over 6000 dollars in lost income.

Melton, Richard V - Anson: Improved marketing of beef calves is important to Anson County beef producers. Since they basically have one shot at maximizing their returns for their calves, they must use market outlets that present them with the best opportunities. Forty-two producers marketed 1589 calves through graded sales or off-farm sales to add 50000 dollars to their income over using weekly sales.

Melton, Richard V - Anson: Forages are important to beef cattle producers. Anson County producers have expressed an interest in seeing forages other than fescue or Bermuda grass trailed in the area. As a result of that interest two plots containing ryegrasses, broom grasses, a new fescue variety and a new Bermuda grass variety were established. This year they were highlighted in a local forage tour. 15 producers attended the tour. As a result of the tour, 150 acres of a selected ryegrass variety, 50 acres of a new fescue and 40 acres of a new Bermuda have been or are being planted. 115 individual inquiries related to these varieties have been answered.

Melton, Richard V - Anson: Row crop production continues to be important to farmers in the Tri-County area of Anson, Union and Stanly counties. An advisory committee of those producers continues to ask for production type meetings and variety plot work. This year 105 producers attended corn/soybean and cotton production meetings. Also 3 farmers have provided over 30 hours of volunteer time and 18 acres of crop land for row crop plot work. Industry also provided over 2000 dollars of materials for those plots.

Melton, Richard V - Anson: Continuing education is an important component for commercial and private pesticide applicators. This year 4 hours of continuing education credits were offered for 14 commercial applicators. Sixteen private applicators were recertified and 13 more were provided with 2 hours of continuing education.

Melton, Richard V - Anson: Many current Anson county agricultural producers and former producers have unused and/or unusable crop production chemicals on hand. These materials can pose a serious hazard to people unaware of them who may accidentally come in contact with them. In a coordinated program this year with the Anson County Solid Waste Department, NCDA and the Anson County Cooperative Extension Center, a pesticide disposal day was held. At this event 55 containers of pesticides weighing over 550 pounds were turned over to NCDA for disposal.

Melton, Richard V - Anson: In 2001 Anson County went through a property tax re-evaluation process. A result of that process was a requirement of all use deferred property owners to re-apply for that deferral. Many property owners were unaware of exactly why and how to do that. As a result in 2002, a Property Use Value educational meeting was held. Over 100 citizens attended the program. Over 200 property owners were assisted in developing their own use value applications.

Melton, Richard V - Anson: Beef cattle production is an important part of the agricultural industry in Anson County. A functioning local commodity group for Anson beef producers did not exist. In February 2002 a selected group of local industry leaders were brought together to look at forming such a group. Through their efforts and the efforts of the Anson County Cooperative Extension Center the Anson County Cattlemen's' Association was formed. At present there are 89 dues paid members. The group sponsored 6 educational meetings with an average of 60 attendees and co-sponsored the Anson County 4-H lamb Show.

Molaro, Alicia - Anson: Again this year, the Anson County Parenting Coalition (in which Extension is a vital partner) has had much success with its weekly parenting classes. To date, we are in the middle of Cycle 2 for 2002. Cycle 1 participants did well. There was a 66.5% graduation rate for the class. And the post test showed that two parents made dramatic increases in valuing alternatives to corporal punishment. Cycle 2 is going well, also. So far we have had an enrollment increase of 44.5% since the first class. I routinely get phone calls from one mother telling me how much she enjoys the classes and that she is learning a lot of information and skills that will benefit her parenting practices.

Molaro, Alicia - Anson: Food Safety & Foodborne Illnesses are a major concern for small children and their care providers. The Anson County Cooperative Extension in cooperation with the local partnership for children sponsored a food safety training for family home child care providers. Emphasis was on storing and handling food properly and making sure food temperatures were correct when cooking and holding food. Twelve family home providers attended the 2 hour training and received contact credit hours. Participants took both a pre- and posttest to examine their knowledge. The average score on the pretest was 80% while the average posttest score jumped 14% to 94%. Evaluations and verbal comments after the training showed there was great need for knowledge in this area. Further Food Safety Trainings are being scheduled for the upcoming year.

Rywak, Janine B - Anson: Yearly completion of project records is an important component of the traditional 4-H program. Records reflect what 4-H'ers have planned, done and learned. However, getting young people to complete these records can be a daunting task. Empowering volunteer leaders to motivate, encourage and assist club members was the answer. Therefore, Anson County sent volunteer leaders to assist with the district level judging of record books. By judging other books, leaders not only learned new methods of reporting, but also became enthusiastic about the process and the importance of record keeping as a life skill in the development of their 4-H'ers. As a result, a total of 144 4-H project records were submitted this year. From the county's best, Anson sent 20 projects for district competition. 4-H'ers from Anson County were declared winners with 13 gold medals and 3 silver medals of the total 35 categories.

Rywak, Janine B - Anson: The increase in the number of homeschool families in Anson County emphasized the need for extra-curricular activities for these children. Organizing a homeschool 4-H group through the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service resulted in a good match. 4-H is a natural extension of curriculum and life skills that children are learning at home. The program also provides youth opportunities to interact in group settings on local, district and state levels. Parents applaud their experiences and their children's participation by saying: "4-H can include all the family at one time, making it easy to bring activities home for the whole family to share and participate,"; "4-H helped the kids set goals and complete tastes, grow in confidence and poise. Most of all, they have fun!"; "The young people have blossomed through their work in 4-H. I am grateful for the opportunity they have had."

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: Training lab at Family Central was utilized to do the training for this year. 80 participants were trained in Basic School-age Care and 12 participants were trained in Rated license. Ashe County 4-H School-age Care staff developed a Staff Development Plan for the school-age staff in Ashe County as well as the surrounding area. This plan encompasses all the required training that addresses the six elements of quality in school-age programs. 54 providers went through the plan for this year.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: Due to a reduction in staff turnover (about 80% reduction during the school year and 86% of last years staff returning for the summer program) training was offered at a higher knowledge level since the staff had already been trained in the basic information and put the information into practice. This provides knowledgeable, well trained staff working with the youth.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: Ashe County 4-H School-age Care Program added a Migrant Education Program to our existing program. This is a collaborative effort between the Board of Education and Ashe County 4-H. This allows the opportunity to serve 60 additional youth. CCR&R continues to fund youth in school-age care which also allows for increased slots. We have increased slots by 120 since January.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: Programs county wide increased attendance by 26% allowing our slots to fill up and to create new slots. The homework track created with TANF funds awarded to us by DSS gave the opportunity for the program staff to work on weak academic areas. With the collaboration 100% of the youth individually improved in the homework track and as a whole youth improved in grades by at least 60% in each of the programs.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: A Volunteer System is now in place that allows for added volunteers as well as a tracking system to manage the volunteers. Volunteers were enlisted, screened, trained and placed in areas of need within our programs. The programs saw a 75% increase in volunteers to work with youth. Adding volunteers to the existing programs gives more one-on-one time for youth who are in need of extra help.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: Several youth were recruited into our programs because of the great need for help with language or academics. This caused a great strain on the existing staff. By recruiting volunteers to assist these youth more time could be spent with each individual youth. From January through June 392 volunteers were recruited for a total of 2,905 hours. Because of these numbers Ashe County 4-H Support Our Students received the Program Volunteer of the Year award this year. More importantly every youth in the homework track who had volunteer s assistance showed an improvement in their academic progress.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: Assigned themes for our summer program added substance to the activities designed for the youth. Themes included Environmental Awareness, Inclusion, Gardening, Cultural awareness, Food and Nutrition and Community service. All these themes were created around the targeted Life Skills. All programs also used an Outdoor Adventure model to teach life skills to our youth. Staff are trained to recognize developmental needs of their group and to design activities to support the development of needed life skills.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: The Ashe County 4-H Summer Parks Program had an enrollment of 314 youth this summer and an average daily attendance of 186. In this number we had 34 Hispanic youth and 52 identified as 200% poverty that we secured scholarships for. For these two groups we were able to offer an educational component to aid these youth in staying at the same academic level when school starts back that they were when school ended.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: Ashe County Short Stops Program (afterschool, beforeschool and full day program) began a new school year with 20 staff returning from last year, a 100% retention of program staff. Returning staff allows for a more advanced training for the year and staff ready to hit the ground running.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: The need for academic success for at risk youth in Ashe County is great. For youth to be truly successful they must have some level of success academically. The Ashe County 4-H S.O.S. Program strives to narrow the gap academically for at risk youth in our programs. When the EDSTAR state evaluation was completed Ashe County was one of the top 11 counties in North Carolina to show a significant achievement in academic improvements.

Blackburn, Linda - Ashe: Ashe County families have a great need for help with their child care costs. There was a danger of losing the subsidy monies that we have been receiving for School-age Care slots. Our long standing relationship with the Department of Social Services and the Child Are Resource and Referral allowed us to sustain the current level of funding and even were ask to expand the families being served at the current time. About 36% of our parent fees portion of our budget comes from subsidy monies.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: We had 2 students in afterschool who worked hard getting their homework done but was never getting it turned into their teachers. They were getting farther behind in their schoolwork and as a result their grades were suffering. Also they were rarely coming prepared with their books and materials for homework completion. The homework tutor and school teacher spoke and worked out a system in which a box was set outside the classroom where the students work and books were left afterschool and the students put their work after completing it. As result their grades are improving . homework being completed and turned in consistently.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: Their was approximately 30 youth in each homework tract for one teacher to try and work with daily. So we contacted the high school and worked on a plan for them to send some teacher cadets over to work with some of these youth. As a result students are receiving more individual help so they are therefore making better grades and feeling better about themselves because of their successes

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: Some of the youth in the program were very upset after the 9-11-01 attacks so for the life skills lesson that week they were encouraged to write cards and draw pictures about what they had saw and heard on that day. They were then sent out to others in the community and as a result the youth had many of their questions answered and spoke of feeling much more in control. a stronger sense of community, and a stronger sense of security and support for themselves and the US as a whole.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: There was a student in the Ashe county in one of the shortstops program that was had failing grades. The homework teacher spoke with the father about us in 4-H being there to help their child and also spoke with the child's teacher in which we found out that the child was seriously behind and that's why they were failing. The teacher gave the homework teacher the child's missed assignments and the worked on them one each day along with the child's current assignment. The child is now all caught up and now has B's in those same subjects.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: Here in Ashe county we were trying to raise the students in the shortstops programs awareness of community needs and areas that they can contribute to their communities. They decided that if they could raise the money that they could buy blankets to give to the poor and elderly. They worked with a Avon representative to do a fund raiser where they could raise funds to but 20 blankets. Two months later they delivered 20 blankets to and adult daycare and the ASFA. The children spoke of learning how much of a need there was for people to get involved in their community.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: There is a fourth grader at Fleetwood Elementary School, who has been failing all year. In seeking volunteers we found a 10th grader at the local high school who was willing to go out and tutor him one day a week. As a result this child is now not only taking a interest again in his school work and willing to do homework he has made a dramatic turn in his grades.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: This has been a very successful year in the Migrant Education Program. 29 youth have been worked with in some form. 16 were worked with in school tutoring and 13 during the afterschool program. In addition these youth were took on several field trips which were enrichment in their new local culture. 7 of these youth also participated in a state wide AIMS Conference. This was a week long conference which was a celebration of their unique abilities and of their Spanish culture.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: This has been a very successful year in regards to teaching youth about community service and letting them problem solve in their own community about their needs. The youth at Mountain View Shortstops planned, raised money and implemented 3 different service projects. At West Jefferson and Blue Ridge Shortstops they planned and implemented 2 community projects.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: Their were 4-6 grade youth in each Shortstops program who were not being as successful as they could have been. We created a 4-6 grade component to the homework tract which included: collecting reports quarterly, teacher conferences and staff conferences and reviews concerning those youth who were in academic trouble. These youth were assigned volunteers from the FTA club at the high school. As a result 75% of those youth worked with made significant grade improvements.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: 4-6 grade in each shortstops program were not being as successful as they could have been. A 4-6 grade component was added to the homework track which included: collecting reports cards quarterly, teacher conferences and staff conferences, and reviews concerning the youth who were in academic trouble. These youth were assigned volunteers from the high school. As a result 75% of those youth made significant grade improvements.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: I worked closely with the homework teachers and allowed them to write and create their own life skill curriculum. The reports that I have received concerning their level of commitment has improved greatly and the children's response has been much more positive.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: 75% of the work first youth that received scholarships have experienced academic improvement.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: 95% of the work first youth enrolled are maintaining active participation in their respective programs.

Bumgarner, Cathy - Ashe: 100% of teachers with students enrolled in homework and participating consistently speak of improvement in quality of homework.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Ashe County's pre-school program assistant taught thirty-seven children during the February 8, 2002 through March 15, 2002 Out For Lunch series. These children were participants from the More At For Program and public school Kindergarten. The lessons were well received by all the children. They were eager to participate in Out For Lunch and to try new snack foods they helped prepare. Parent and teacher evaluations were positive. One parent wrote "Michaila's handwashing is 100% better!" Another parent said "Alex does show a greater awareness of which foods are good for him" and a teacher wrote "I know this is a successful program because I hear children talking about it during the week in their play."

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Several children participating in this series had participated last year in the Pre-K classroom. I was amazed at how much knowledge they had retained about Out For Lunch. Brandon wanted to show everyone how to wash their hands! Sydney was so proud of herself for already knowing about the bread and grain group. All of the children were eager to learn, asking questions about what kinds of foods were good for you and why germs make us sick. I received positive feedback from parents and teachers alike. One parent stopped me on the sidewalk at the school to tell me how much her son was enjoying the Out For Lunch program and that he talked about it at home.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Prevention of chronic disease and providing educational opportunities to address chronic disease were identified as needs by a county-wide health assessment. The census has shown a growing population of seniors with limited resources and seniors living alone. These seniors desire to live independently as long as possible. Twenty-four seniors participated in the Partners In Wellness Program. All participants gained knowledge of preparing foods with less fat and salt, the importance of consuming more fruits and vegetables, the importance of exercise, how to get the necessary nutrients needed for good health, and the importance of consuming adequate amounts of water. 60 percent of participants increased calcium intake. All increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Through collaborative efforts with Lowe's Food, seventeen clients participated in the workshop Living Well With Diabetes. 100 percent of the group gained knowledge about diabetes, and learned how meals/snack patterns can help control blood sugar levels. Evaluations showed

Goodman, P C - Ashe: The economic burden of obesity in the United States approximates 100 billion dollar. Obesity affects one in five children in the United States, with North Carolina children 2 to 3 times more likely to be obese than children nationally. Through collaboration with Ashe Partnership for Children, 23 child care providers participated in the 2 hour workshop Obesity and Children: What Child Care Providers and Parents Need to Know. Evaluations reflected all participants gained knowledge about childhood obesity and the importance of helping children develop healthy habits and daily exercise. Evaluations reflected that all child care providers gained knowledge they would use in their work with children. Participants agreed to share knowledge gained with parents.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Ashe County continues to be one of the most economically deprived counties in the state with limited resources, high unemployment (unemployed with no health insurance) and lack of transportation. County human service agencies are strained to provide needed services with waning resources. Trained volunteers have been instrumental in helping to extend services. Thirty participants attended the 5 county Blue Ridge Cancer Coalition Summit for leadership development and planned outreach projects to educate groups and individuals on the importance of early detection. Over 15 people have been reached through volunteer efforts. 8 volunteers were trained to provide outreach for A.S.H.E. (A Safe Home For Everyone) against domestic violence, including advocates who work on call shifts. Volunteers have given over 500 hours in support of A.S.H.E. and its clients. 12 ECA (Extension Community Association) leaders participated in a 3 hour leadership development/planning session. As needs are identified, ECA members work to meet

Goodman, P C - Ashe: The largest growing population in Ashe County is seniors. As local adults age and as seniors move to the county, their desire to live independently for as long as possible is a priority for them. Research shows that most homes need to be modified for safety and comfort for senior living and that gradual changes made over time allows seniors to better adjust to modifications rather than having to make immediate changes based on urgency due to health problems with no time to adjust. Twenty seniors participated in Modifying Your Home for Comfort and Safety, and gained knowledge about affordable ways to make changes in their living spaces. All participants stated they planned to assess their homes and begin making changes. Six participants went home and removed throw rugs (which cause a large percentage of falls with seniors). All participants planned to add additional lighting in their homes after viewing

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Research shows that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon levels in North Carolina are highest in the mountain counties. Because newer homes have less air exchange because of their energy efficiency, radon levels can accumulate to higher levels. Prolonged exposure to this radioactive gas irradiates the lungs causing lung cancer. Over 250 Ashe County residents gained knowledge about radon, its effects on health, and how to test their homes for radon in air. 50 radon in air test kits were distributed. Through collaboration with the Division of Radiation Protection, 150 households with private wells participated in a research project to test radon levels in their homes air and water. Each household received testing supplies valued at $60.00 at no charge to them. Results of the project reflect the maximum level of radon in air was 36.3 with the average being 3.6. Extension has provided recommendations for

Goodman, P C - Ashe: A large number of North Carolina citizens have no estate plan and many die without a will. This often affects family relationships, causing friction among surviving family members. While the law provides a concise plan of distribution of titled assets among surviving family members, it is often the non-titled assets such as family heirlooms, furniture, dishes, etc. that causes discord in distribution. Fifty six senior adults in Ashe County participated in the program Who Gets Grandma s Yellow Pie Plate, that addressed the need for estate planning of non-titled assets. Evaluations reflected all participants gained knowledge. Several participants with wills had not planned for their non- titled assets. 60 percent of the participants began a list of their non-titled property with intent to make their wishes known about distribution of their non-titled assets.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Many people are uncomfortable talking with family members about aging issues and death. Lack of planning and making wishes known burdens family members to make decisions without adequate information, lengthens suffering and increases medical bills of the patient. Collaboration among senior service agencies in Ashe County has formed an End Of Life coalition in Ashe County which provides education, appropriate paperwork and a notary to encourage seniors to make decisions about living wills and health care power of attorney. Over 75 seniors have gained knowledge and made decisions about their health care power of attorney and living wills. The visibility of Extension has been enhanced as the forms being used and notarized are Extension publications.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Research has shown that age influences one s susceptibility to foodborne illness. Children s immune systems are not fully developed while seniors immune system are weakened by age. With a more diverse food supply and resistant strands of bacteria, the need to know and use recommended food safety practices to prevent foodborne illness is great. Thirty six seniors gained food safety knowledge in purchasing, storing and preparation. Evaluations reflected participants planned to use at least one recommended practice learned in their homes and in their work with other seniors. Through collaboration with Appalachian District Health Department, twenty-two child care providers gained knowledge about food safety in child care settings. Evaluations reflected that all participants will use at least 1 recommended practice learned in their work.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Keeping food safe to eat has been identified by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as a major emphasis. With the continued increase of the family s food dollar being spent purchasing ready to eat foods away from home, the need for well trained food service managers/employees is critical. According to Appalachian District Health Department, the turnover rate of food service managers and employees is great and continuous training is critical in providing safe food for the public. Ashe and Alleghany County Cooperative Extension Services collaborated with health department environmental health specialists to provide the nationally recognized food safety certification course Serving Safe Food. 100 percent of the 19 participants successfully completed the 16 hour course and exam, giving the restaurants with whom they work an additional 2 points on quarterly inspections for 3 years. Evaluations reflected participants gaining knowledge of food safety practices they would use in their work

Goodman, P C - Ashe: An elderly couple requested information on improving the safety/comfort of their home that would allow them to live independently as long as possible. After receiving information, the couple made changes in their living space, including decreasing the amount and rearrangement of furniture, improving lighting, removal of small area rugs and rearrangement of kitchen equipment. The couple continues to live in their home and are able to care for themselves and live independently.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: With a more diverse food supply and resistant strands of bacteria, the need to know and use recommended food safety practices to prevent foodborne illness is great. Thirty six seniors gained food safety knowledge and evaluations reflected participants planned to use at least one recommended practice learned in their homes and in their work with other seniors. Through collaboration with the Health Department, twenty-two child care providers gained knowledge about food safety in child care settings. Evaluations reflected all participants will use at least 1 recommended practice learned in their work. 38 people participated in Home Food Preservation workshops in Ashe and Watauga Counties. All gained knowledge and planned to implement at least one recommendation learned in home food preservation. 33 people were certified in the "Acidified Foods" workshop that would enable them to begin the process for selling acidified foods to the public. This was the first time the

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Keeping food safe to eat has been identified by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as a major emphasis. The need for well trained food service managers/employees is critical, according to Appalachian District Health Department. The turnover rate of food service managers and employees is great and continuous training is critical in providing safe food for the public. Ashe and Alleghany County Cooperative Extension Services collaborated with the health department to provide Serving Safe Food. 100 percent of the 19 participants successfully completed the 16 hour course, and exam, giving the restaurants with whom they work an additional 2 points on quarterly inspections for 3 years. Evaluations reflected participants gaining knowledge of food safety practices they would use in their work and in their homes. 33 students in a high schools advanced foods class gained knowledge about food safety they planned to use in their homes and in their work.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: The largest growing population in Ashe County is seniors. As local adults age and as seniors move to the county, their desire to live independently for as long as possible is a priority for them. Research shows that most homes need to be modified for safety and comfort for senior living and that gradual changes made over time allows seniors to better adjust to modifications rather than having to make immediate changes based on urgency due to health problems with no time to adjust. 54 seniors participated in Modifying Your Home for Comfort and Safety, and gained knowledge about affordable ways to make changes in their living spaces. All participants stated they planned to assess their homes and begin making changes. Six participants went home and removed throw rugs (which cause a large percentage of falls with seniors). All participants planned to add additional lighting in their homes after viewing

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Research shows that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon levels in North Carolina are highest in the mountain counties. Because newer homes have less air exchange because of their energy efficiency, radon levels can accumulate to higher levels. Prolonged exposure to this radioactive gas irradiates the lungs causing lung cancer. Over 250 Ashe County residents gained knowledge about radon, its effects on health, and how to test their homes for radon in air. 67 radon in air test kits were distributed. Through collaboration with the Division of Radiation Protection, 150 households with private wells participated in a research project to test radon levels in their homes, air and water. Each household received testing supplies valued at 60.00 at no charge to them. Results of the project reflect the maximum level of radon in air was 36.3 with the average being 3.6. Extension has provided recommendations for

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Ashe County continues to be one of the most economically deprived counties in the state. County human service agencies are strained to provide needed services with waning resources. Trained volunteers have been instrumental in helping to extend services.

Thirty participants attended the 5 county Blue Ridge Cancer Coalition Summit for leadership development and have reached over 17 with information on early detection. 8 volunteers were trained to provide outreach for A.S.H.E. (A Safe Home For Everyone) against domestic violence. Volunteers have given over 500 hours . 10 ECA (Extension Community Association) leaders participated in 30 hours of leadership development and planning to identify county needs and have contributed over 2508 hours of volunteer service valued at 25,080.00 this year. Other Extension Family and Consumer Science volunteers have given in excess of 137 hours of service valued at 1,370.00 that has benefited Ashe County.

38 seniors participated in the Partners In Wellness Program. All participants gained knowledge of preparing foods with less fat and salt, the importance of consuming more fruits and vegetables, the importance of exercise, how to get the necessary nutrients needed for good health, and the importance of consuming adequate amounts of water. 60 percent of participants increased calcium intake. All increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Through collaborative efforts with Lowe's Food, seventeen clients participated in the workshop Living Well With Diabetes. 100 percent of the group gained knowledge about diabetes, and learned how meals/snack patterns can help control blood sugar levels.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Obesity affects one in five children in the United States, a 100 billion dollar burden. North Carolina children are 2 to 3 times more likely to be obese than children nationally.

Collaborating with Ashe Partnership for Children, 23 child care providers participated in "Obesity and Children: What Child Care Providers and Parents Need to Know". Evaluations reflected all participants gained knowledge about childhood obesity and ways to help children develop healthy habits and daily exercise. Evaluations reflected that all child care providers gained knowledge they would use in their work with children. 14 child care providers and public school teachers were trained in "Color Me Healthy," an Extension Family and Consumer Science statewide initiative to integrate daily, age appropriate nutrition education and activities to establish healthy eating habits and exercise habits in four and five year olds. Evaluations reflect that all participants gained knowledge and have used the "Color

Goodman, P C - Ashe: The Out For Lunch Preschool Program has reached over 125 age appropriate children with nutrition education and the importance of handwashing all "gained knowledge practiced what they learned. A teacher said "my students have learned a lot in these classes. I know they have because I hear them talking about in their play. They also take longer to wash their hands because they are practicing what they learned in Out For Lunch.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: The advertisement and sale of herbals and other dietary supplements has reached an all time high. Consumers purchasing these products often do not know that these products are not monitored by the FDA for quality or safety. Forty two adults participated in "Pills, Potions and Powders." Over 50 percent of participants were using one or more of these products daily to improve their health, all of which had never read the small print on the labels of the products they were taking - until they participated in the class. Evaluations reflected that all participants gained knowledge they planned to use: generic brand instead of name brands (that would save them money). 20 percent of the participants taking prescription medicine planned to talk with their pharmacist about possible interactions with these herbals/supplements they were taking.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: In Ashe County there is limited affordable housing for limited resource families. Often times, families live in houses that are structurally unsafe. Through collaborative efforts of Region D and county government, 400,000.00 was appropriated in the county to address housing needs of families living in substandard housing. Through an application process, 9 families were selected to participate in having their homes' structure upgraded, or, if homes were not economically feasible to repair, replacing them with new mobile homes. All families receiving upgrades on their homes attended a 4 hour Family and Consumer Science Home Maintenance Workshop. Evaluations reflected that all participants gained knowledge that would help them care for their homes, including cleaning and maintaining the inside and outside of the home.

Goodman, P C - Ashe: Ashe County citizens listed water quality as a priority concern in county assessments and at public meetings. Seniors retiring here and building a second home are often not aware of water quality issues as they have relied on municipal water supplies. Through collaboration with Jefferson Waste Water Treatment Facility staff, local health department and 18 volunteers, 196 samples of drinking water from private wells and springs was screened for nitrate, and 198 samples of drinking water was screened for coliform bacteria. All participants received screening results with recommendations for correcting problems revealed in the water screening. Sixty percent of water supplies with problems/potential problems made changes to improve water quality.

The water screening in Ashe County has made a difference for many families. A participant found that his spring contained fecal coliforms. He disinfected the spring according to Extension recommendations and fenced around the spring to keep his cattle away from

Goodman, P C - Ashe: The rural area of Ashe County has several springs jetting out from mountainous rocks. My experience with the water screening has revealed that many people believe this water is clean, pure and safe for drinking because it is clean, cold and away from developed land. A participant in the screening brought 2 samples of water for screening for coliform. Screening results showed one sample (his well) did not contain coliform, while the other sample (spring water he regularly collected for drinking from a well known water source that thousands frequent each year) contained fecal coliform. The owner was contacted and immediately disinfected the spring, and agreed to check it yearly for fecal coliforms.

Hartsoe, Tammy - Ashe: We have youth enrolled in our program that has behavioral problems and is not respective of others. He degrades his peers and his attitude is such that he doesn't think that anyone is as good as he is. He is a 7th grader that with the attention will flourish into someone who is caring and respective of others. With cooperative games and group related activities he has been shown that not everyone is perfect including him and that it is okay to make mistakes, they make us better people. We have volunteers that work within our program to assist with youth such as this one and we have seen a marked improvement in his attitude but not only this, he is now making friends and showing consideration for others. He is volunteering to help others with activities and homework.

Hartsoe, Tammy - Ashe: In the program we have youth that has been very disruptive and his behavior has been really bad. He talked back to his team leaders and teachers. He had no desire to do any of his homework. He is a 8th grader student with an attitude. Since coming this semester his behavior and improved as well as his grades. He is enrolled in 5th Dimension and works with ASU tutors and also receives homework assistance from our group leaders and teachers of ACMS. In turn with one on one assistance this youth has improved not only with his grades but also his behavior has improved. He takes his time and does his work right and listens to others and follows directions. He now offers his assistance to help others out with homework.

Hartsoe, Tammy - Ashe: In our program we have (2) 7th grade males that participate in the program day to day activities. They are both enrolled into our homework track and love outside activities. Their behavior was really somewhat negative and very disrespectful, they talked back to both group leaders as well as teachers and ASU tutors. Since they have been enrolled with our program and participating in such activities cooperative games and basketball with a group and outdoor adventure their behavior has thus improved and their ability to do their homework during our allotted time they have excelled and turned completely around with attitude. They in turn have learned that others have feelings to and that they can make positive comments about others instead of always looking for the negative side to things.

Kelleher, Michael - Ashe: In the Migrant Education Program, Ashe County, the Migrant students are considered at-risk youth. The main reason they are considered at-risk is because of the language barrier. We set out to solve this problem by enrolling these students in our ESL, and after-school programs. We focused on teaching them English, and helping them with their studies.

The result was that five students made the A,B honor role. Their names were listed in the local newspaper. As for the Migrant students that were not on the list, we noticed a definite improvement in their grades.

Lambert, Colby - Ashe: The commercial horticulture industry in Ashe County is rapidly growing. There are now over 75 commercial nurseries and greenhouses in the county. With growing concerns of the environment, pesticides, and nutrient loading of water sources, these green industries in Ashe County need to be aware of new production practices, specifically, the business of Integrated Pest Management to reduce pesticide and herbicide use. The Small and Part-Time Farm Program has awarded a grant of $10,000 to Ashe County's horticulture program to provide IPM manuals and hand lenses to nursery and greenhouse producers and provide IPM training workshops for northwest area producers in September 2002. Expected impacts will be increased knowledge of insect and disease diagnosis, treatment on a proactive level, reduction of pesticide use, and increased profits for producers.

Lambert, Colby - Ashe: The Ashe County Christmas Tree Association has not seen an increase in membership over the last few years and the direction of the association has not been clear. Many of the advertising materials for the association were outdated. Through collaboration with Cooperative Extension, the county association revamped their buyers guide to improve the look of the cover by selling ad space in the buyer's guide to local businesses to pay for the improved covers. The usability of the buyer's guide was also improved. The board members also motivated members to recruit new members and in 2002 the association has seen 18 new members join the county association. The Ashe County Christmas Tree Association now has a new and improved look, a better marketing scheme, and the 100 members are more satisfied and involved in the county association.

Lambert, Colby - Ashe: The green industry in Ashe County has grown rapidly in the last few years. Many of the producers are not using Cooperative Extension for a source of research-based information. By organizing a Horticulture Advisory Committee, the needs of the commercial horticulture industry can be assessed and efforts to meet the needs of the clientele can begin. Through a donation of $200 by Parsons Farm Supply, a group of 15 individuals in the horticulture industry have met twice to discuss the needs of the industry and what Cooperative Extension can do to address their needs. Based on the meetings with the advisory group, a mailing list has been compiled and programming efforts have begun in the county such as a greenhouse and nursery production meeting held in April and a $10,000 grant awarded to the program for a comprehensive IPM training for nursery and greenhouse producers.

Lambert, Colby - Ashe: Agriculture in Ashe County experienced a devastating freeze from May 20th through May 24th 2002 that affected Christmas trees, tobacco, ornamental nurseries, and other crops. Many farmers were faced with the uncertainty of being able to recover from the damage. Through collaboration with USDA Farm Services Agency, local and state governments, and farmers, the county was recently declared an agricultural disaster area. This designation will provide low interest loans to farmers to maintain operations and continue to farm. Efforts are also underway to provide assistance through the Tree Assistance Program through USDA to provide monetary assistance to Christmas tree growers who are unable to buy crop insurance for disasters such as the freeze damage experienced in May of 2002. Cooperative Extension also worked one-on-one with local farmers in assessing the damage to trees and providing direction on how to repair damaged trees for the 2002 and 2003 markets.

Landry, Julie B - Ashe: Ashe County does not have the connectivity to internet on a county wide basis. There are no public access centers for the public to "get on line" with the exception of the public library. "Public Access Centers that are free, flexible, and convenient are critical to empowering citizens to attain the economic security and knowledge that they need." As a result of a collaborative effort among multi agencies, Ashe County received two grants from the rural Internet Access Authority to develop a plan for "Connectivity" for Ashe County. Approximately 243 citizens participated in the planning process through community meetings and public forums. If continued funding is approved, there will be a total of 12 PAC sites established throughout the county providing skill level digital training. These centers will be valuable to providing much needed digital literacy for farmers/producers and families.

Landry, Julie B - Ashe: With the loss of industry in Ashe County the search for alternatives continues to be a priority for economic development. With the growth of the Ashe County Farmers Market as a venue for selling Home Grown and Hand Made products and the interest in cottage food industries it has become important to provide needed training/certifications offered outside of the county locally . As a result of partnership efforts with the Department of Food Science at NCSU a Low Acidity Foods Processing School will be offered in Ashe County for the area to citizens who want to process and sell such food items as pickles, salsa, relish and other high acid foods. This is the first time that such a course has been offered off campus in a local setting

Landry, Julie B - Ashe: As funds become more difficult to secure, it is important that fundraising efforts continue and broaden in order to ensure that existing programs can be sustained and that programs can be expanded as needed to meet the needs of our audiences. Fund raising efforts for the 1st 6 months of the program year include grants, fundraising events and donations and have resulted in $164,000.00 for the fiscal year 2002-2003. Appropriated county funds were increased by approximately 5% for operating and 2 « % for salaries. This increase in such a tight year will enable Ashe County Extension to continue to provide full program efforts to the community.

Landry, Julie B - Ashe: Opportunities for economic growth continue to be critical to the community. The unemployment rate is at an all time high at 9.8% in Ashe County. Citizens are searching for opportunities to "make money". Because of the need to expand opportunities for income earning, the Ashe County Farmers Market decided to open up "for business" 3 « months early and to expand the types of vendors who are eligible to become members of the market. As a result of expanding the member base to include craftsmen, commercial horticulture businesses and greenery producers in the county, membership has doubled and vendors who have previously not had a market for their product have increased their income(as reported by vendors).

Landry, Julie B - Ashe: Hispanic school population has grown 700% since 1990 in Ashe County. As a result schools cannot provide adequate one on one attention to help with English As A Second Language instruction or with homework tutoring that will help these children to become more academically successful. Resource development efforts have resulted in continued collaboration with the school system in the Migrant Education Program providing 28,000.00 to maintain a "Recruiter" position on staff. The Recruiter identifies migrant families with children age 3-21 and provides for them appropriate options for support. School age children are placed in the 4-H After School Programs and provided homework tutoring, ESL instruction and one on one support. 45 Hispanic families have been identified and engaged in the program with 72 youth enrolled. Classroom teachers reported "great" improvement academically and socially as a result of this effort.

Landry, Julie B - Ashe: Farm related accidents remain a concern in the community. Although there are not large numbers occurring, the severity of this type of accident is often fatal. The Ashe/Alleghany Farm and Rural Community Safety Committee received $1000.00 from SAFE KIDS to support the Safety Field Day in September of 2002. 250 fourth grade students participated in prevention education session (fire, water, farm equipment, personal, chemical, farm animal, gun and wildlife safety). Teachers report that students are more aware of safety issues and practice better safety habits in the classroom.

Landry, Julie B - Ashe: Feedback from the current Advisory Leadership systems (after school site specific Parent Advisory Committees (5), Youth Advisory Committees at each after school site, parents, school administrators, teachers, youth and volunteers) state that children culturally and socially at risk are in need of after school and summer programs to improve overall confidence of youth in both school and in the community. Such programs provide a "safe secure environment after school (school dismissal - 6PM) and during the summer (7 AM - 5:30 PM)". Resource Development efforts to meet this need resulted in the expansion of the full time summer program located at Family Central. The project increased involvement of 30 Hispanic youth and 30 youth considered to be at poverty level or at 200% of poverty (designated by DSS) to the current available slots of 260, for a total of 320 available slots for the summer of 2002

Landry, Julie B - Ashe: Surveys requesting information on the need for after school programming were returned by 47 parents (members of the after school advisory leadership system). Forty youth (members of Youth Advisory Committees) surveys were returned with feedback on their needs/interest. The county SOS Advisory Council met and provided input into the "weaknesses and strengths" of the current program and what needed to be changed. The results of these surveys and meetings were provided in grant request to the NCDJJP for continuation of SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS programs for youth at risk after school in 4 elementary and 1 middle school. $60,000.00 was awarded to expand programs to meet the needs of students K-8 through SOS in order to reduce the number of students who are left unsupervised after school, improve the academic performance of students participating, improve attitudes and behavior of undisciplined youth referred, and help to reduce court involvement.

Landry, Julie B - Ashe: Financial Resources continue to decrease as a result of economic decline. As a result of new and sustained collaborations and networking efforts by staff and volunteers, financial resources from outside resources are $400,000.00. Resources support in excess of 200 Extension Programs annually involving over 3000 people in Extension educational efforts in 2002.

Miller, Jennifer - Ashe: Two children at one of the afterschool programs have hectic home life's and need a stable safe environment for them to do their homework. They also need one on one tutoring that they can not get at home. 4-H Fleetwood Short Stops has been able to provide the structure and environment that these children need. When the children get home they are able to spend needed time with their families without the stress of homework. Teachers at Fleetwood Elementary say that the homework track at the afterschool program has been a great help for them as well as the parents.

Miller, Jennifer - Ashe: A child at 4-H Fleetwood Short Stops was having trouble in school not only with academics but socially too. One of the teachers went to the afterschool staff to see if they would be willing to work with him in the afternoons. They worked out a plan to allow the child to spend 30 minutes playing and them he would do homework. After a few weeks, the child was no longer frustrated with homework, but show it as a challenge that he knew he could meet. The teacher writes "I feel that the change in his attitude came from the confidence that he was gaining due to the successes with his schoolwork during afterschool."

Montgomery, Suzanne - Ashe: In January 2002, each Ashe County High School student who is a migrant and at risk of failure has been supplied with four hours of one to one in school instruction every week. This is a direct result of volunteer recruitment efforts. Other Volunteer tutors are now placed in the MT View Elem. school and middle school to work with migrant children who are at risk.

Montgomery, Suzanne - Ashe: Successful after-school tutoring assistance has been accomplished by recruiting students from the Ashe County High School Future Teachers of America Club. The Future Teachers work in the lower and middle school grades one to one with Hispanic migrant youth and other students needing help in all areas of academic deficiency. The tutoring opportunity for Future Teachers helps them complete their required community service hours component necessary to graduate from high school. They also receive a letter from Cooperative Extension thanking them for their volunteerism.

Montgomery, Suzanne - Ashe: An adult male volunteer with the Migrant Education Program, currently tutoring an Hispanic migrant, male high school student has agreed to continue tutoring and mentoring the student through the 4-H Ashe Youth Connection. The adult volunteer will be spending 4 hours per week over the next year with the migrant youth. The ESL teacher who teaches at the high school reports that the "match" between the Hispanic youth and the volunteer has been a positive one. The male volunteer now spends 2 hours per week with the youth tutoring him in all subject areas.

Montgomery, Suzanne - Ashe: While working in a volunteer capacity with a 14 yr old Hispanic High School Youth, the adult volunteer became aware of the positive impact he was having in the life of the 14 yr. old Hispanic male and agreed to continue his volunteer work throughout the year. The volunteer is now in the capacity as mentor in the governors' one on one program in Ashe county. He continues to tutor the youth in his studies but beginning in June will extend his involvement to 4 or more hours in the Ashe Youth Connection program. The youth is At-Risk for school drop out which we hope to prevent.

Montgomery, Suzanne - Ashe: Ashe County Elementary School contains the majority of the counties migrant Latino school-age children. Considerable effort by volunteers recruited through 4-H has resulted in higher than expected improvements in academic proficiency (as measured by the last report card period) and one teacher has reported that one first grade migrant child whom the teacher expected to do poorly on the EOG test actually scored 88 out of 100. The teacher contributed this outcome directly to the one-on-one help by the 4-H volunteer working with this child.

Montgomery, Suzanne - Ashe: The Ashe County Migrant Education Program enjoyed a recent success with a third grade Hispanic migrant child who had been tutored in reading for the last half 2002. The student received one-on-one tutorial help in reading by a 14 year old 4-H volunteer student. Tutorial time was approximately 50 minutes per day Monday thru Friday. Because the third grader was LEP and had lived in the United States under two years, the teacher held little hope of her passing the reading exam. The student passed and with a score of 88 on her exam, an unexpected result which according to the child's teacher was a direct response to her having received the one-on-one help consistently from the 4-H volunteer. Each migrant child in our program has received extra academic help from 4-H volunteers and all improved as indicated by report cards from the third and fourth reporting periods in the year

Smith, Deborah - Ashe: Our AYC Program has a small pool of adult volunteers available and willing to mentor youth at risk. By distributing Public Service Announcements in local radio stations, newspapers and by speaking in various committees , we were able to generate interest and concern. Six new adult applicants participated in our required 6 hour adult training session. This allowing the program the ability to match with six new youth referrals. This positive adult response has given the AYC program a giant leap forward in maintaining our minimal number of adult/youth matches as required by State Standard. We have positive expectations to surpass previous goals.

Smith, Deborah - Ashe: In previous years, the Governor's One-on-One Program has required 90% of our youth at risk referrals to come from the offices of our Juvenile Court Counselors and Law Enforcement Officers. Although this was not a difficult percentage for inner city programs to maintain, it was challenging for rural programs. In February, the state wide directors of this program along with program administrators discussed the pro's and con's of this standard. By the conclusion of the meeting, a decision was made to lower the 90% standard to 60%. Each program can adjust the standard between 60% to 100% as to the appropriateness of their youth referrals. As a rural program, we have the flexibility to accept more diverse youth. Our number of potential adult/youth matches has increased giving us the opportunity to help more youth at risk.

Smith, Deborah - Ashe: In January of 2002, AYC began the new year with five matches. After two successful completions and two terminations we were down to one match by March. Efforts were made in adult recruitment and in sponsoring a 6 hour training session. As a result, we have increased our matches to five with five more matches pending in the next two months. AYC has all expectations in meeting the ten match standard for our county. As new qualified adult volunteers are coming forth, we are now able to match them with youth who have been referred to this program. The youth who are matched are experiencing positive relationship skills and personalized attention which is showing through their improved attitudes, attendance and grades. In conclusion, as the number of adult volunteers increase, so does the number of youth our program can impact.

Smith, Deborah - Ashe: Each year AYC depends on the Carl Hagel Memorial Golf Tournament as its primary fund raiser for implementing budget needs. The Golf Tournament Committee began meeting in February to plan the details for this 7th Annual Tournament. Brochures were mailed, P.S.A.'s were given and presentations voiced on local radio. Volunteers were recruited for various preparations and responsibilities necessary to the Golf Tournament. May 4th, the day of the Tournament arrived, and much to our dismay the weather turned inclement. Players began to arrive, carts were ready, food was in place, volunteers were prepared.....momentarily, the rain and wind subsided. The decision was made to begin the tournament. Eventually, the inclement weather resumed. In spite of the weather, the Tournament was a huge success The sincerity, determination and devotion of these players was a true inspiration. As a result, AYC is meeting budget needs and quality programming is continuing.

Smith, Deborah - Ashe: So many of the youth serviced in our AYC mentoring program live in substandard home environments. Either the living conditions are extremely poor and/ or the severe lack of a family support structure is manifesting itself in low self esteem and confidence in the youth. In recognition of this issue and how it affects the mentor relationship, AYC held a Mentor in-service training session. The intent of this session was how to make your youth feel like a million dollars in your eyes. Our guest speaker, Amanda Gentry with Crossroads Counseling facilitated conversations centered around the recognition of expectations and implementation of positive, affirming verbal cues and body language. Each of the six mentors who attended agreed that this session was indeed helpful and thought provoking. They would like to have this kind of session every six months.

Smith, Deborah - Ashe: Ashe Youth Connection has in the past, been challenged with the lack of adult volunteer participation in our program. However, with increased public awareness announcements, new posters, and a stronger presence in community involved events, our number of interested and qualified adults has grown. Our second adult training session was held on the nights of June 3rd and 4th. Attending were two adults new to the program and one adult who attended for a refresher course. Each of these adults will be matched within the month. Our number of adult / youth matches has increased allowing our AYC program to meet State Standard. The AYC program is making a positive difference in both the lives of our adult and youth participants.

Smith, Deborah - Ashe: We welcome our first Hispanic male youth to our program. His name is Rodolfo. He knows some English and has been in the State for a couple of years. However, it has been difficult for him to adjust and feel included in various school and social activities. He is matched with a mentor who is energetic, optimistic and knows a fair amount of Spanish and of the culture. The mentor had previously tutored him in classes prior to the end of school. Because of this earlier relationship, the mentor and Rodolfo feel at ease and are able to pursue other interests and address other concerns that are affecting Rodolfo. Through future AYC group activities and as this mentorship continues to develop, Rodolfo will become more confident of his English language skills and his grades will continue to improve in the next school year.

Smith, Deborah - Ashe: Previously, our AYC Mentor ID Card was used at various food vendors to obtain discounts. For example, a privately owned food vendor gave the mentor & youth a buy one meal, get the second meal free discount. This worked generally well because there was small employee turnover and the employees were well acquainted with the AYC Program. However, as new vendors have been moving in and a higher rate of employee turnover has been observed, the recognition and application of the discounts for the mentor has caused confusion and frustration. To remedy this situation, we have procured discounts from 36 vendors, both food and leisure, who have agreed to participate in our Mentor Discount Coupon Book to be strictly used by the mentor and the youth only. This support by the community has been a great boost for the appreciation of our volunteers who do a great work with the youth

Smith, Deborah - Ashe: Ashe Youth Connection, a Governor's One-on-One Volunteer Program, has been challenged with the difficulty of maintaining a minimum of ten adult/youth matches. Our numbers have fallen short on numerous occasions jeopardizing the future of our much needed program. Submitting public services announcements for radio and newspaper publications, public speaking at various functions and increasing the number of visual posters and other written materials has created more awareness of the need we have in securing adult volunteers. Several adult volunteers have come forward, applied and have been trained thus enabling them to be matched with a youth in need. As a result, we have ten current matches, allowing our program to successfully go forward.

Young, Charles M - Ashe: Worked with 10 youth and adult leaders to develop a learning program with market lambs. As a result, both youth and adults have a better understanding of livestock production. The project purchased lambs from a local producer, enabling him to begin a new marketing enterprise. Lambs will be sold at the end of the project, enabling youth to learn marketing and financial responsibility. Assisted 2 youth in attending 4-H Horsemanship Camp, and assisted with the camp where 96 youth learned horse management, personal responsibility, community and leadership development. All youth involved improved many live skills. Assisted the FFA dairy foods judging team that won the state contest and will advance to the nationals. The contest increase the youth s knowledge and problem solving base, as well a develops leadership and public speaking skills.

Young, Charles M - Ashe: Several Ashe County farmers and agri-business people decided the county should have some policy to encourage farmers to maintain their operations, without the restriction imposed by land use regulations. They asked the county board of commissioners to form an advisory committee to develop such a policy. With guidance from Extension, the committee revised other farmland preservation programs to fit this county and guided the document through the acceptance process through community meetings and commissioner meetings. After getting the program approved, the committee has utilized civic meetings, radio and newspaper articles to encourage participation in this voluntary program. There have been over 7000 acres enrolled in the program, with land spread over the whole county. Through the leadership developed by this process, the committee has also put forth other documents for both local and state consideration.

Buchanan-huges, Debra - Avery: Four schools participated in the Avery County 4-H Embryology Project during February and March, 2002. This project involved children 5-7 years of age. Topics ranged from: Life Cycle, Cell Development, Pet Ownership, Food Sources, Proper Nutrition and Incubation Techniques. Approximately 300 plus youth were involved. At the conclusion of the project the children were offered a chick. Several youth gave the new born chicks a home. All youth were involved in the caring and feeding of the chicks. Many of the youth was allowed to count this as a science grade.

Buchanan-huges, Debra - Avery: On June 25th Avery County traveled to Jackson County to participate in the Western District Activity Day. Eight youth participated. Winners included six gold winners, one silver and one bronze winner.

Greene, Connie B - Avery: April 13,2002, the Avery County Child Fest was held in Crossnore, NC. The NCCES distributed information concerning the dangers of the use of Herbs with children and eating healthy snacks to the 186 children and parents who attended the Fest. Parents took the opportunity look at the exhibit and ask questions which increased their understanding of these important issues. The children were able to make their own trail mix using the ingredients supplied by the FCS agent. Funding was provided by Ingles Food Store in Newland, NC, Lowe's Food Store in Banner Elk, NC, and the Avery County Partnership for Children.

We also took the opportunity to tell participants about the Breastfeeding Support and EFNEP programs.

Greene, Connie B - Avery: The Partners in Wellness program continued at the Avery County Nutrition Site. We were a little late starting because of the weather last year so we have presented 3 modules and beginning our 4th in June, 2002. Module 1, Eat Smart, Stay Well; Module 10, Overcoming Obstacles; and Module 11, Pills, Potions and Powders of the curriculum was presented to the 20 Senior Citizens who participated in the program. (Not all participants in every program. Participants were able to discuss and join in the activities in topics in each Module and filled out a personal plan telling how they were changing their habits to use this information. Seniors installed smoke and CO2 detectors, changed or stopped their use of Herbals, and kept track to be sure they were eating from the Food Guide Pyramid. Funding for this program comes from the North Carolina Nutrition Network.

Greene, Connie B - Avery: On February 26,27, and 28, and March 1,2002, the NC Cooperative Extension Service, in partnership with the Toe River Health District held the 16 hour Serv-Safe Training for area food service workers. All but 2 of the 13 participants passed the exam and received certification. Those 2 had family emergencies and could not take the exam. This enables each restaurant which has a certified worker to receive 2 extra points on their Health Department inspection score.

Magner, James - Avery: The FNEP program will be featured at the Partnership for Children January Board meeting. The FNEP assistant will actually conduct a lesson and prepare lunch for the group. Helping to assist will be three potential new partners the local Domestic Abuse Shelter, the Hispanic Task Force and Habitat for Humanity.

Magner, James - Avery: The Read Me A Story and Cyber Shop programs were demonstrated to the local school system and the response was overwhelming. Workshops are being planned to begin training teachers in the Spring of 2003 with the programs being fully implemented in the Fall.

Moody, Jerrold T - Avery: Because of the FQPA Di-Syston was scheduled to be removed from use, but because of the combined efforts of NCDA NCCES, NCCTA, and county growers association we have been able to convince the EPA that this product was necessary and would not be a great risk. The EPA ruled in our favor this spring. Disyston which is a cornerstone for our IPM program will be available for use providing a closed system applicator is utilized We have received in excess of $40,000.00 in grants from the NCDA, EPA, and Growers groups.

Moody, Jerrold T - Avery: Farmers are viewed by the non farming community as a group of people that don't care for the environment or for wildlife. To change this incorrect opinion, we have been working with an initial 4 growers enhancing the wildlife that already exists on their farms by teaching them how to provide a better habitat. We have also procured wildlife plants such as sand cherry, deciduous holly and low bush blueberry that growers can purchase and plant in their habitat areas. These particular farms will be visible demonstrations to teach as well as inform the public.

Moody, Jerrold T - Avery: Because of a NCAT grant, we were able to build a solar heating system for a greenhouse operator. Since that time three other operators have spoken to CES about developing a system to fit their particular needs. This solar system has allowed the grower to reduce his need for fossil fuels while maintaining the quality of plant grown

Moody, Jerrold T - Avery: Because of the FQPA and EPA's decision to keep Disyston, we have worked with local growers in developing a closed system applicator. This year we field tested 7 models in the Ashe Alleghany, Watauga, Avery Mitchell, and Jackson Counties. The working model appears to be the answer for the growers. About 65% of the total acreage of Christmas trees are treated with this material.

Pitman, J M - Avery: The Avery County Pesticide Education Program organized and conducted two Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Trainings. Approximately 115 Private Pesticide Applicators were recertified. The Avery Pesticide Education Program organized and conducted two Commercial Pesticide Applicator Trainings. Approximately 100 participants received credit hours.

Pitman, J M - Avery: The Avery County Cooperative Extension Center conducted the annual Plant Sale in the months of March-May, 2002. The plant list remained with the traditional sellers such as blueberries, strawberries, etc. The new addition to the list was Wildlife plants. Marketing efforts through our local radio station and newspapers continue to increase our clientele list. The sale entitles the 4-H program to give the disadvantaged youth opportunities to attend day camps and overnight camps with much needed scholarship monies. The plant sale is always a great team success.

Pitman, J M - Avery: The Town of Banner Elk has installed a stormwater wetland and underground water storage vault to cleanse the stormwater before it enters the stream. Banner Elk has been working with NC State and Extension on this project to complete it. This is a very innovative way to filter contaminants from the stormwater to ensure that the water entering the streams will be as healthy as possible. Avery and Watauga Counties conducted a workshop to plant the stormwater wetland with native plants to help filter the water. Volunteers from the community and students from Lees McRae College participated with the planting.

Pitman, J M - Avery: Along with our volunteers from Lee's McRae College, ASU, Watauga River Conservation Partners, and other community members, we have approximately 7,200 plants. Working at several stream restoration sites 6,000 live stakes and 1,200 bare root seedlings were planted. During the planting workshops, the volunteers were educated on stream restoration, stream buffers, and the type of plants that do well in this environment. The students planning on working in the conservation field was educated in that area.

Pitman, J M - Avery: In cooperation with NC State University, Avery/Watauga Extension Centers, Blue Ridge RC&D, TVA, NC Wildlife Resources, and funding through the Cleanwater Management Trustfund, restoration on Shawneehaw Creek, Banner Elk has been completed. Trout habitat was improved by using bioengineering techniques, the stream channel was changed to a new location to provide better flood control and bank stability, and native vegetation was planted in the buffer area. This is the third phase to be completed in the Shawneehaw Creek. Previously two other phases were completed.

Pitman, J M - Avery: On Saturday, May 18, 2002 the third annual Riverfest event was held. This festival is conducted in cooperation with the Avery/Watauga County Centers, Watauga River Conservation Partners and TVA. Many other agencies help support and sponsor this event. The community is a big supporter of the festival, many citizens donate a lot of volunteer hours to make this such a success. This festival educates our community about the Watauga River and continues to remind the public what an asset it is to their community. Riverfest proceeds are donated to the local schools for environmental education. This year the festival raised enough funds to purchase tow Envirascapes for the teachers to use during the school year.

Pitman, J M - Avery: The Avery County Cooperative Extension Center hired a new team member in November. Tres Magner became the new County Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Education.

Ambrose, Gaylon - Beaufort: The Beaufort County Center has conducted two years on research on selecting wheat varieties for Hessian fly resistance. As a result the local wheat producers have been able to select varieties that offer a high to moderate level of resistance and therefore reducing the yield loss and cost of control of the Hessian fly. In addition, the findings of this research has be requested by wheat breeders across the southeast US and the finding have been incorporated in to their respective breeding programs.

Ambrose, Gaylon - Beaufort: Cotton producers often spend money and get little or negative returns on fertilizer additives and supplemental foliar fertilizer sprays on cotton. The on-farm-testing program on cotton has demonstrated the benefit, or lack of benefit, of many of the materials. The result of this program has seem a reduction in the use of many of the unnecessary fertilizer additives. The impact has been more profits for producers and less negative impact to the environment from the reductions in applying nonessential amounts of fertilizer.

Ambrose, Gaylon - Beaufort: The Beaufort County Extension Center conducted thirteen on-farm wheat demonstrations and hosted the 2002 N.C. Small Grain Field Day. The field day was attended by small grain growers from across N.C. and representatives in the small grain industry from the southeast U.S. The field day supported the small grain industry in N.C. and help maintain Beaufort County's leadership in the industry.

Chase, Susan - Beaufort: After completing the Eat Smart: Stay Well Module of Partners In Wellness, one of the participants at the Washington site who is in her 80's and extremely underweight has informed the group that she has now gained two pounds and has started eating smaller meals more frequently during the day. This is a huge success for this woman because food no longer is appealing to her and food is hard to chew. Other participants have stopped using added salt, learned to understand food labels, and have actually acknowledged that they need to make a change in their eating habits because of a medical condition or some kind of chronic illness.

Chase, Susan - Beaufort: Our biggest success from our Overcoming Obstacles: Using the Kitchen Space module in Partners and Wellness has been that one of our participants at the Washington site who lived in substandard housing has taken responsibility for her own health and safety and moved into an apartment that is equipped for senior adults.

Smaller successes from participants have been removal of area rugs, rearranging kitchen space with heavier items down low, and lighter items up high, increasing light bulb wattage, learning to use a magnifying glass.

Chase, Susan - Beaufort: Pills, Potions and Powders Herbal Products and Other Dietary Supplements have impacted the lives of 38 senior adults by making them aware the importance of telling the doctor what medicine they are taking. Most of the seniors were not aware they should include herbs and dietary supplements as drugs. All participants have completed drug checkbooks listing medications they are taking whether they are prescription or over the counter--this makes it easier for them when they visit their doctors to have a record of all medications being taken.

Chase, Susan - Beaufort: Read Me A Story is bringing fun back into the classroom for many area teachers by providing teachers with curriculum and well thought out children's activities concentrating on foods and nutrition. Thirty-five different classrooms are implementing RMS and using RMS recipes in their classrooms. Over 300 children have been introduced to fruits and vegetables through the hands-on RMS curriculum. The curriculum is helping teachers use recyclables.

Chase, Susan - Beaufort: Over 500 children have been motivated to eat healthy and participate in physical activity through the Color Me Healthy curriculum. The program uses music, color and the exploration of the senses to teach children that healthy food and physical activity are fun. Fifty-one area child care professionals are implementing the Color Me Healthy curriculum in their classrooms.

Chase, Susan - Beaufort: Through our Grandparent Raising Grandchildren Support Group, Grandparent's Day Celebration, and Kinder Fair, Washington Senior Center and Cooperative Extension have managed to educate over 500 grandparents face-to face living in Beaufort County about grand parenting, legal issues, financial issues, childcare, medical care/insurance, schooling, psychological/emotional issues and for those grandparents raising grandchildren, we have offered accessing assistance. We are becoming a Grandparent Information Center.

Chase, Susan - Beaufort: Forty-two Department of Social Services' chore care providers participated in Aging Sensitivity. As a result of the chore care providers sensitivity to older adults, changes in the environment and strategies for communicating have occurred. These workers now have a better understanding of the significance of mental changes in the older adults as well as community resources available and their needs as a result of this program.

Hinsley, Louise L - Beaufort: ""Recycling"" Trained Volunteer Leaders starts 3 new 4-H clubs in Beaufort County! One leader surfaced from her childhood EFNEP experience and the two others returned to the CES as they found themselves in new careers and wanted to ""make a difference in the education of some children. After completing leader training, a club was established at Snowden Elem. afterschool in Aurora, in the Asbury Church Community and within the SMASH program at The United Methodist Church in Washington these clubs will service over 90 youth!

Hinsley, Louise L - Beaufort: The 4-H Embryology program continues to educate youth in second and six grades science classes with hands on education! This experience is well received by students and teachers indicate that students have improved their interest in science, study habits, and grades by over 20% during the month of implementation!!

Hinsley, Louise L - Beaufort: Grant funding allows 10 targeted youth to blend into the 4-H Camping program in Beaufort County. Youth at risk where referred, screened, selected and orientated to attend the Eastern 4-H Center Summer 4-H Camp along with 20 other youth from Beaufort County. Funding has been graciously administered through the JCPC of Beaufort County for the past 12 years. This allocation is for $5400.00.

Hinsley, Louise L - Beaufort: School Age Child Care training utilizing the Adventure in Learning notebook was conducted in time for Summer implementation in child care center serving school age youth. This has resulted in 13 new 4-H Clubs and is serving over 700 youth with an hour of 4-H programming each day this Summer!!!

Baylor, Ella B - Bertie: Helping youth become productive citizens in today's society is one of the many goals of Bertie County 4H. Encouraging them to become tomorrow's leaders is yet another goal. One parent has offered praises to Bertie County 4H for the valuable knowledge and determination it has taught her son. She states that her son had a real challenge in attempting public speaking. Through 4H presentations, her son has gain greater confidence. He is slowly developing from a withdrawn youth to a mature teenager as he continues to pursue 4H presentation each year. A disappointing loss the first year has not discouraged him He has decided he'll be back each year to try again.

Baylor, Ella B - Bertie: During the months of October, November, and December, Bertie County 4H collaborated with the Division of Enforcement of NC Wildlife Resource Commission to present a small informal lecture on wildlife habitat. A total of 121 students K-5th graders participated. After a lively discussion of different wildlife animals and hands on animal fur exhibits, youth was permitted to ask questions. 4H'ers were provided awareness information to get them to think twice about the world they live in and how they can help make the earth better for both humans and animals to co-habitat, now and in the future.

Baylor, Ella B - Bertie: As a follow-up to our local participation in the 4H Conversation on Youth Development in the 21st Century, Bertie County Teen 4H'ers met with County Commissioners in January 2002. These teens expressed their views on how the county can promote youth/adult involvement in the community. They expressed a desire for public transportation to youth programs, a desire for youth recreational facilities, and support for their schools. Commissioners were impressed, and promised to examine these issues. 4H'ers were encouraged by these promises and felt their efforts were worthwhile. As a result, this showed an example of the impact youth can make in their community. 4H is definitely in a position to encourage youth through life skills to make a positive difference.

Boyette, Linda B - Bertie: Bertie County has offered Color Me Healthy to Child Care Centers in the county for the past two years. Our FCE Advisory Council suggested we offer nutrition information to Kindergarten and First Grades in the county. One of the advisory members offered to recruit retired teachers and other professionals to take the information into the classrooms. We trained ten volunteers in using the Color Me Healthy curriculum. With the cooperation of our 4-H program, we were able to work with the schools. We presented our program at a county-wide principals meeting and gave packets to the schools with kindergarten and first grades. The teachers are to call the Extension Office and request a volunteer to present a program in their classroom. Extension then contacts a volunteer to set up a time with the teacher. At the present time, seven teachers have requested the program reaching a hundred and ten children.

Brown, Ella L - Bertie: Clean water is a concern of the fifth grade class at J.P. Law Elementary School in Merry Hill, NC in Bertie County. They decided to test the water every two weeks at Salmon Creek. These students are 4-H Club members that meet after school at the school. Mrs. Dianne Cowand, employed by the Natural Resources and Conservation Services, is the 4-H club leader that gives leadership to this project. It is a part of the River Keepers project. Youth test the temperature, the turbidity, the PH, the amount of dissolved oxygen and the salinity. The data collected from these tests are sent to East Carolina University as part of the Albemarle Pamlico citizens water quality monitoring program. This program is a good interdisciplinary way of learning. The students learn math, science, reading, social studies and even technology skills.

Brown, Ella L - Bertie: The 4H Camping program develops leadership, citizenship, a sense of understanding and sportsmanship while providing meaningful experiences that help youth mature to responsible adults. That was shown here in Bertie County when 32 youth ventured off to Asset Camp in Tyrrell County. Returning to the county, there were declarations of "when can I go again", "I had a great week", "I learned a lot", "I met new friends" "How can I become involved in 4H"? These statements continuously echoed throughout the NCCE Bertie Center parking lot from the youth. These youth gained life skills that have enabled them to be more independent.

Not knowing if Asset Camp would be offered in 2002, campers were encouraged to have a fund raiser to attend regular 4H Camp. One camper was so excited when the "Holiday Cookbook" fundraiser was offered. She raise $240 toward regular 4H Camp.

Brown, Ella L - Bertie: There are few youth in Bertie County that practice good eating habits. These habits tend to continue into adulthood if not developed early in life. To help youth gain knowledge in practicing good eating habits, a nutrition class was held followed by a field trip to Alice Poe Health Center, Raleigh, NC. 17 youth learned about " Nutrition and You". They learned: why we eat, how food is digested, the 6 nutrients, and the food guide pyramid. One youth's parents says 4H has really encouraged her son's eating habits. He's regularly evaluating their meals and insisting on nutritious meals. She is really excited with the influence 4H is having in the lives of her two sons.

Peele, James L - Bertie: Snake oil or Not? Research by University Specialist county agents, etc. has known that many treatments applied to combat diseases are of little to no value. Disease stressed tobacco crop were the target of more remedial treatments as Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus produced economic losses in Bertie County in 2002. Field trials and demonstrations of (?Products) validated findings and reinforce knowledge and facts, that save growers many dollars that may be spent per adventure as they seek ways to prevent losses.

Peele, James L - Bertie: Grower persistence pays off! Tobacco crops were devastated by TSWV Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus this season of 2002. Many fields were reduce to 30 percent stands. Others were cut under. One 12 acre field provides a site used to gather information and possibly provide some income from an uninsured crop; as all production inputs were in place except lay by fertilizer to this point. Bases on a recommendation by this agent the field was disked, rebedded, and transplanted May 29, 2002. An intensive management approach to a late crop proved to be (profitable). Yields obtain provided income from this crop that paid expenses for two transplantings, labor, machinery, and inputs (nutrients and pesticides). Grower realized an increase of income of $14,620.00.

Rhodes, Richard - Bertie: Grain and soybean producers were giving the opportunity to view current research plots dealing with narrow row corn production, soybean and corn variety selection, effectiveness of various surfactants, and plant growth materials for yield enhancement. This resulted from an on-farm research tour conducted by this agent, which was attended by 52 farmers and agri-business personnel. Participants gained Knowledge which will enable them to make informed choices when making crop management decisions. Producers that adapt the latest research results into their farming operation often more likely to remain economically viable in the current agricultural environment.

Carroll, C M - Bladen: For some agricultural producers, reluctance to adapt to new technology is not overcome until properly proven and demonstrated on the farm. To assist tobacco producers in adoption of a relatively new pesticide that is applied to the tobacco transplant at rates of 1.0-1.8 oz/1000 plants in the greenhouse, a field demonstration was conducted by Bladen County Extension. Proper application and rate determination were emphasized to show how this type of product would eliminate the need for certain pre-plant and post-planting insecticides. Thus, producers save time and money while protecting their workers from potential pesticide exposure and reducing risks of pesticides in our environment. Producers adopted this alternative on approximately 220 acres of tobacco to realize a reduced pesticide application rate of 137 gallons of a pre-plant pesticides and 440 lbs of a post-plant product.

Carroll, C M - Bladen: For the past years, poor varietal selection and inadequate weed control has cost Bladen County cotton producers an average loss of $0.08 per pound of lint. Based upon 12,700 acres of production and an average yield of 720 pounds per acre this equates to $731,520 of loss in potential annual income. To educate producers of this situation, Bladen County Extension has planted a cotton variety demonstration with varieties that have better lint quality of those typically chosen and worked with producers one-on-one in field situations to increase the weed control. As a result, 2,450 acres has been planted with varieties that have been proven to have increased lint qualities. Additionally, these acres will have altered herbicide applications and timing. If this change in production practices increases lint quality, an additional $141,120.00 of income will be realized by these producers for the year 2002.

Carroll, C M - Bladen: Through informal growers meetings, one-on-one farm visits and field demonstration plots, Bladen County Extension has introduced a new winter forage option for cattle. The new crop, Trical 498 is a triticale crop that promises rapid growth, tolerance of later planting, cold hardiness and a longer spring grazing. Approximately 50 acres of production valued at $108 per acre was planted in 2002 for a total value of $5,400.

Carroll, C M - Bladen: Wheat producers seeking an alternative for greater profits from a winter small grain have opted for a crop with lower production inputs and greater yields. This crop, triticale, reduces the need for fungicides since it has no apparent disease common to wheats. Too, for the last three years, this cross of wheat and rye has led the NCSU Official Variety Trials in yields. Through informal growers meetings, one-on-one farm visits and field demonstration plots, Bladen County Extension has introduced this crop on approximately 180 acres for grain production in 2002. Average income (without government support) was $97.30 per acres for a total of $17,514 of production

Carroll, C M - Bladen: Many producers lack the time and formal educational background to adequately market grain crops under the pressures of increased US production, foreign competition, consolidation of the US agricultural industry and a limited number of delivery points or end users. Through informal discussion in meetings, one-on-one visits and tours of ports and storage facilities, Bladen County Extension addressed these issues and introduced option. As a result, approximately 1,800 acres are now managed by a brokerage firm that markets crops as wells as advises actions regarding government programs. Growers utilizing this firm report an average of $0.35 per bushel increase over the last years of sales of corn. Based upon 100 bushel yields per acre this equates to an additional income of $63,000 for Bladen County.

Carroll, C M - Bladen: Increased state and budget crisis has led to the reduction and elimination of many programs. To assist citizen of Bladen County that may suffer from the elimination of services that relocated nuisance wildlife and beaver control, Bladen County Extension actively sought out individuals that would be willing to serve as an official Wildlife Damage Control Agent. This individual assists citizens with services for a fee and would be endorsed by NC Wildlife Department. Through networking with NCSU, Bladen County Extension assisted with the licensing of one individual that will now provide these services. Thus, nuisance wildlife and beaver control options are available for Bladen ?s citizens.

Carroll, C M - Bladen: Formal agricultural meetings and activities tend to lean heavily toward production issues. Concerted effort of small, local agricultural organizations to actively demonstrate community awareness and concern of issues is often lacking. Through leadership and direction of Bladen County Extension, two local agricultural organizations, Bladen County Farmers' Organization and Bladen County Livestock Association, demonstrated community awareness and concern by coordinating with local Farm Bureau members, USDA Farm Services Agency, Natural Resources & Conservation and other volunteers to promote a candidate's forum. This event afforded the opportunity for citizens to meet and ask questions of candidates seeking election to represent Bladen County. Approximately 200 participants gathered to gain information of the political views of these 38 candidates.

Carroll, C M - Bladen: Drought during the growing season followed by frequent rains nearing harvest created conditions extremely unfavorable for cotton defoliation. A few producers tried costly applications of defoliation products ( excess of $20/acre) with no impact. Through Extension one-on-one visits with farmers and on-site visits to the cotton fields, timing and product selection was suggested. As a result, approximately 2300 acres of cotton reduced pesticide usage and selected more appropriate products that performed as needed. Savings to the producer is estimated at $10,350 dollars or approximately $4.50/acre.

Carroll, C M - Bladen: Many producers and landowners take advantage of funding available to promote the implementation of field borders or best management practices that provide food and shelter for wildlife. These wildlife plots are managed carefully but frequently have small or no noticeable impact. Recent research indicates shows that managing continuous tracts of land collectively for a specific species and ensuring that adequate acreage is available for this species is significantly more productive than many plots sporadically located throughout an area. Thus, Extension provided information and comments, along with NRCS and NC Wildlife Resources Commission to implement a change in the current system of evaluation for funding that would more greatly reward continuous tracts of land managed for specific species. If adopted, this will afford Bladen County an opportunity to collective manage for wildlife species and reward individuals that are willing to do so.

Carroll, C M - Bladen: Implementing cover crops can reduce erosion, assist in management of diseases and nematodes as well as provide residue that positively impacts soil structure. However, the use of cover crops can add up to $22 per acre of additional cost and in some cases requires new equipment and management strategies. For many producers, low commodity prices and extremely narrow profit margin prevent adoption of such practices. To assist producers, Extension collaborated with NRCS and Bladen Soil & Water Conservation District to evaluate the current ranking system to more fairly reward producers for cover crop usage as well as provide additional cost-share funds specifically for this use. As a result, representatives of local producers, NRCS, NCDA, and Extension requested modifications to the current system of ranking to reflect a more fair distribution of cost share funding as well as requested an additional $65,000 specifically for cover crop management.

Dugan, Kathryn G - Bladen: On May 7 & 8, 2002, with the collaboration of seven instructors from three agricultural agencies, a ten hour initial operators certification course was presented in Cumberland County. Twenty-five participants from nine counties attended, enabling them to take the written exam and become certified operators of swine irrigation systems. North Carolina state law requires that each swine farm designate a certified operator who must be licensed by the state. Certified operators can prevent water pollution through the careful and trained use of irrigation systems and by their knowledge of nutrient management.

Dugan, Kathryn G - Bladen: Improved marketing of beef cattle has been identified by producers, extension personnel and beef associations as a primary means of increasing profits on the farm. After a meeting of key beef producers in Bladen County, one producer decided on a marketing mechanism for offering greater profits to other local producers. This method entails using embryo transfer (ET) to produce registered calves using any breed of cows as recipients. The contracting producer provides all synchronizing services as well as ET services and chooses the sire and dam of the calves. The producers who own the recipient cows provide feed and care for the cow and calves until the calves are weaned. The contracting producer guarantees the cow owner $1 per pound for bull calves and $.90 per pound for heifer calves. At present, there are five producers participating in the program. When two bulls and two heifers were weaned and weighed
Warner, Martha - Bladen: The Bladen County Agriculture and Business Expo is the county's largest annual event. Cooperative Extension has provided the leadership since its inception in 1991. A group of community leaders and stakeholders recently rated the Expo as Bladen's most effective event/activity for promoting the county and bringing county citizens together. The Bladen Journal stated, "Perhaps more than any other event, the Agriculture and Business Expo brings together our people from every area of the county and every walk of life. At Expo, we are not individual communities; we are a community. And that makes us as a body of people stronger."

Warner, Martha - Bladen: The Bladen County Cooperative Extension Advisory Council began the process for establishing an Agricultural and Educational Foundation. Through their efforts a woven afghan representing Bladen County's history, resources and communities was custom designed and woven. To date, approximately 350 afghans have been sold and $9,000 has been designated as seed money for the foundation. As a result, this project has had a positive marketing impact for Cooperative Extension, the Extension Advisory Council and Bladen County.

Warner, Martha W - Bladen: In an on-going effort to improve the Bladen County Agricultural Service Center, three flag poles and flags were donated by the local Woodmen of the World Fraternity. A dedication of the flag poles was attended by 100 people. The addition of the flag poles has promoted community pride, spirit, support and involvement. Local veterans, law enforcement officers and emergency service personnel were recognized. A renewed sense of patriotism has emerged.

Warner, Martha W - Bladen: The Bladen County Agriculture and Business Expo was identified by a group of twenty community leaders and agency department heads as the single most important event and activity in Bladen County. It was stated that the Expo fostered a high degree of community involvement, connectivity and pride. The annual event which draws approximately 12,000 people is a celebration of the unique hospitality of Bladen County's people and the pride of the diverse communities. Leadership and organization of the Expo is provided by the Bladen County Cooperative Extension faculty, staff and volunteer committee.

Warren, Joy L - Bladen: In a collaborative effort with the Bladen County Job Ready partnership, Bladen County 4-H hosted the third annual Groundhog Job Shadowing Day event. Eighty-three eighth graders from all middle schools in the county convened at the Agricultural Service Center to receive their job assignments. The youth shadowed their mentors during the morning hours and then returned to the center for lunch provided by 4-H. An afternoon workshop was conducted by Joy Warren, 4-H Agent utilizing \"The Real Game\" curriculum. The youth enjoyed a fun way of learning more about the relevancy of school and success in the real world of work.

Warren, Joy L - Bladen: Bladen County's unemployment rate has averaged 6% over the past few years and employers are concerned about young people who are unprepared for the workforce. These concerns have prompted Bladen County 4-H to be involved in building workforce preparation skills for youth. These preparation skills begin long before a person begins their first job. By offering focused awareness and exploration experiences, Bladen County 4-H CareerSmarts Program helped develop positive attitudes toward learning about the world of work. As a result, twenty-five youth increased their knowledge in career development concepts; exploration of career opportunities; and received practice in job application, interview and resume writing.
Warren, Joy L - Bladen: During the past year, approximately 22 Bladen County youth have been sentenced to court ordered restitution which represents 73% of the juvenile court counselor's caseload. As a direct response to the needs assessment conducted by the Bladen County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Bladen County 4-H implemented a 4-H Restitution Program. As a result, youth have become more responsible for their conduct and the repayment of restitution by performing a work service for the community. 91% of the participants had no further court involvement and successfully completed their community service hours. 75% of the participants improved their disruptive behavior, attendance and academic achievement in school. By keeping these youth out of training school, the program saved the county $289,080.

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: Over 250 landscape and plant industry professionals attended each day's program and trade show for the second annual Pro Days Show. The educational programs were very successful with audiences of over 200 for many of the sessions. Professionals were able to receive 5 hours of mandated Pesticide Recertification Credits for the two day event. David Barkley presented a talk on Ornamental Plant Pests: Insect and Disease Control Strategies to over 200 participants many of which applied for pesticide credits. The Cape Fear Plant Professionals also met this month and another 43 members were provided an update on the latest turf management pest control options for landscapers.

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: Extension Agent David Barkley was instrumental in helping the Cape Fear Fair and Expo walk away with three awards at the NC/SC Fair Convention held this month. David coordinated with the 4H Horticulture Judging team to enter 4 categories in The Showcase of Excellence at the North Carolina State Fair and placed first in the plant division. The Cape Fear Fair and Expo also was awarded Most Improved Fair and picked up another award for their Ad Campaign. Extension's involvement with educational booths, its Environmental Science Day at the Fair, and the layout of exhibits and displays were the main factors in getting the most improved fair award.

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: The Master Gardener Association conducted their monthly meeting and provided 37 members an educational program on plants for the coast. An Advanced Master Gardening training session was held with 48 volunteers receiving updates on Turfgrass Management to help them be better able to assist clients with their gardening questions. Volunteers continue to be involved with the daily operations of the Extension Office assisting with maintaining the arboretum gardens, planning and preparing for educational programs, administrative help, preparing for the Garden Show, and performing various roles on specialized committees.

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: Landscapers and Horticultural workers (110) participated in Pesticide Licensing School and Exam over the course of two days. The Cape Fear Plant Professionals (52) had an excellent program on retail garden center management by Joe Stoffregan from Homewood Garden Center and Nursery in Raleigh. Many expressed their appreciation for having such a "quality" program on having a "quality" Retail Garden Center program. Knowledge levels were increased which will lead to more satisfied customers and increased profits. Training classes were coordinated for hands-on work experience in the Arboretum for Cape Fear Community College students. The workshops provided valuable cultural practice demonstrations involving landscape design, installation, and maintenance topics. This resulted in the students gaining valuable hands on experiences, building their skill levels and developing competencies needed to advance in the "Green Industry" workplace.

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: The Wilmington Garden Show is a wonderful opportunity for the commercial and consumer horticulture groups to get together and raise funds for the Extension Service Arboretum. Over 4000 people paid to view the garden displays presented at this year's garden show. The Master Gardeners operated a Plant Clinic/ Hotline booth, passed out literature, and gave out answers to many garden questions. This partnership with Consumer and Commercial groups is vital for the development and maintenance of our Arboretum. The show is also a good opportunity for the public to learn more about what we have to offer here at the Extension Service.

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: A Master Gardener Graduation Banquet and Ceremony that was held at the Holiday Inn Sunspree resort. The banquet was attended by 128 people and 55 Master Gardeners received their graduation certificates. The volunteer program contributes to the following impacts:

* funds raised for support of programs

* increased public awareness of programs and services

* citizens making the correct choices in managing plants and plant pests

* money saved by citizens making the right decisions

* environmentally sound practices promoted and adopted by citizens

* increased volunteer staff and hours donated to community service projects

* volunteer hours donated result in savings to the county

* volunteer recognition and appreciation makes them feel they are of value to the program and inspires them to want to do more.

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: Operations of the Garden Hotline and Plant Clinic continue at a high rate as volunteers are busy answering over 60 calls a day, advising another 30 office visitors per day, and processing about 20 plant samples coming into the Plant Clinic The New Hanover County Master Gardeners were quite busy also this month along with Arboretum Foundation Board members as they renovated the grounds of the arboretum in order for the Arboretum to be one of the show place garden spots for the annual Azalea Festival Garden Tour. The Master Gardener Association also conducted a very successful plant sale to raise funds for the gardens and for carry out many of the fine programs offered at the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension Service. Some of these funds will be used to assist in funding the program assistant's position for Horticulture at our office.

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: Landscapers and Horticultural workers participated in several training classes sponsored by the New Hanover County Cooperative Extension Service. Training classes were coordinated for hands-on work experience in the Arboretum for Cape Fear Community College students. The workshops provided valuable cultural practice demonstrations involving landscape design, installation, and maintenance topics. This resulted in the students gaining valuable hands on experiences, building their skill levels and developing competencies needed to advance in the "Green Industry" workplace. A plant identification course is also being taught each Thursday afternoon to prepare students to earn their Certification as a Plant Professional upon successfully completing the State Exam which will be given in June at our office.
Barkley, David V - Brunswick: Show Case of Excellence entries for the Cape Fear Fair and Expo were entered into the State Fair in Raleigh by youth involved in horticulture in Brunswick county. An Educational booth on composting and recycling won at the State Fair and a Best in Show trophy plus a shared cash award of $1,000.00 was presented to Brunswick County at the NC/SC Fair Convention. A special exhibit celebrating Agriculture and 4H?s 100th anniversary were also developed and displayed at the Cape Fear Fair and Expo. A collaborative effort among the agents and directors in Brunswick, Pender and New Hanover Counties demonstrated teamwork that also helped the county fair to be recognized for outstanding achievements at the NC/SC Fair Convention

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: Brunswick County's 4H Horticulture Judging Teams participated at the State Horticulture Judging Contest held during the week of 4H Congress. The Senior Team finished 2nd and the Junior Team 4th in the state competition. Another 360 students participated in our Farm Day Program which helps to increase students understanding of farming operations and how farmers develop good stewardship practices to lessen the impacts farm operations have on the environment. Master Gardeners help by leading some of the training sessions as part of their volunteer commitments to the extension program.

Barkley, David V - Brunswick: Since Brunswick is such a large county, it is sometimes difficult for area residents to travel to the Extension Office to find answers to some of the questions they may have on growing plants and managing various weed, insect and disease pests. Brunswick County Master Gardeners have developed an educational program that goes out into the community to help county residents with their landscape and gardening needs. Plant Clinics are put on by the Master Gardeners and feature at each site two presentations on a variety of garden topics. Participants are encouraged to bring their plant problems to the clinics to be diagnosed and are given instructions on how to deal with their plant problems. Twenty clinics were held with 40 presentations made to over 850 residents. They increased their knowledge on using best management practices to grow and maintain their plants which resulted in saving them time and money.

Martin, Matt - Brunswick: In North Carolina, the turfgrass and ornamental industry is very dynamic. The demand for research based information for these clients is very much in demand. In February of 2002, Pro Days, a two day landscape workshop was held in Brunswick County. This meeting provided sixteen hours of information talks and trade show exhibits. Participants had the opportunity to receive 5 hours of pesticide credits if they attended both day of the workshop. Seventeen retail sponsors also attended the event. During the two day event, over 700 participants attended. One sponsor added that "Pro Days was the best show for local contacts that our company did all year".

Morgan, Susan M - Brunswick: ServSafe has been offered 3 to 4 times per year with an average attendance of 25 per course. During the past three years 211 have completed the course with only 7 (3%) not earning at least a 75 or higher on the final exam--a 97% success rate. During 2002, two courses have been offered with 49 completing the 16 hour National certification. This program links three agencies--Cooperative Extension; Health Department's Environmental Health Division and the Brunswick County Board of Education's Department of Child Nutrition with the restaurant and food service industry. The program is seen as a premier collaborative effort within Brunswick County.

Morgan, Susan M - Brunswick: Partners In Wellness began in 2002 at two congregate Nutrition Sites. There are 98 participants enrolled with three of four teaching modules completed. Participants reported adopting modifications to make working in their homes and kitchens easier, 43 has utilized the Checkbook For Drug Safety and 84 were given herbs to plant and information about reducing sodium, fat and sugar in the diet. Exercise participation has increased and one center has a line dancing class. A local medical clinic encourages walking to increase physical activity for health.

Morgan, Susan M - Brunswick: Proper food preservation among county residents continues to be a large proportion of the summer programming. Canners are tested and an estimated 45 families have received publications and instructions about proper canning procedures--especially emphasizing pressure canning of low-acid products. Brunswick County owns 4 pressure canners which are loaned free of charge to residents in an effort to encourage proper canning techniques. Hands on training has been done for 4 groups this spring.

Morgan, Susan M - Brunswick: Two ServSafe classes have been done for 49 food service managers. Ninety-six percent of the participants passed the national exam with a grade of 75 or higher. Course average was 89. Certified Food Handlers qualify their food service establishment for a 2 point increase on their health inspection score for the following three years. In 2002 Brunswick County recognized 68 restaurants, meat markets, food stands, and schools maintaining an unweighted score of 95 for a full calendar year with a Golden A certificate.

Morgan, Susan M - Brunswick: Master Gardeners and Extension Food and Nutrition agent joined forces to present a Program entitled "Herbs: History, Harvest and Use" at two sites as part of the Master Gardner's educational outreach. Participation was so large the first class had to be divided into two and another is being scheduled for July. Over 150 participants learned about herbs for culinary uses with emphasis on dietary changes for health. Participants were given warnings about the potentially unsafe effects of herbals and self-medication using herbs.

Morgan, Susan M - Brunswick: Brunswick Community Hospital, Brunswick County Health Department's WIC unit and Cooperative Extension have begun a collaborative educational effort to teach prenatal classes. Women who attend the classes learn what to expect from a medical point of view, special nutritional concerns and infant feeding. The in-home breastfeeding support program is promoted at the Nutrition program, done by the FCS agent and at a later program presented by the trained program assistant. Classes are done monthly with an average attendance between 15 and 25. These classes make participants be eligible for the in home breastfeeding support program regardless of income level, and utilize the expertise of all three partners.

Stanley, Pearl W - Brunswick: SHIIP Volunteer Counselors developed Medicare Resource Manuals for (5) Senior Citizen Centers and (3) public libraries. The manuals contained facts about Medicare and related health issues. With this manual in place, beneficiaries can review changes and issues before scheduling a counseling session. The manuals are updated quarterly. Seniors(174)have reviewed their health insurance plans and acquired Medicare Supplement coverage.

Stanley, Pearl W - Brunswick: Brunswick County Child Care Providers (86)received 18 credit hours to enhance their skills in human development, health, safety and CDA. Twenty-five providers were certified in health and safety. Providers have improved the quality of their child care by implementing techniques they learned in workshops. Child care facilities are participating in fire thrills, checking for seat belt usage, developing "sick areas" and sanitizing/disinfecting properly.

Stanley, Pearl W - Brunswick: Social Services' initial investigation found three children ages 14, 11, and 9 living is a injurious environment. The children were not attending school and were left to care for one another while their parents worked. Parenting classes were just one of the requirements set before the parents. Within 8 weeks time, both parents had completed the Piece By Piece series. The parents learned a variety of ways to help their children succeed in school including how to assist them in homework. They explored a variety of ways they could be involved in their children's education. Resulting in parents attending several parent/teacher conferences and school sponsored events. Both parents completed PETALS for their children and learned ways to encourage and advocate for the children's individualized learning. Once the parents completed the requirements of their case plan, the children were placed back into the home and the family was reunified.

Stanley, Pearl W - Brunswick: The Northwest Community Organization, INC. continues to used leadership skills acquired in the ""Voices Reaching Visions"" Program to enhance and organize their community. The organization (2002) has received a $14,000 grant for enhancement purposes and the development of a ""learning center"" with work stations for youth and adult educational activities and programming. The community improvement started in 1996 with a $10,000 Kellogg grant. The following accomplishments have been made 1) incorporation of town and organization, 2) renovated center, 3) Community coordinator, 4) 501(c) 3 non-profit status, 5) new town hall, 6) recreational park and 7) water system under construction.

Stanley, Pearl W - Brunswick: Social Services' initial investigation found three children ages 14, 11, and 9 living in a injurious environment. The children were not attending school and were left to care for one another while the parents worked. Parenting classes were just one of the requirements set before the parents. Within 8 weeks time, both parents has completed the Piece Be Piece series.

The parents learned a variety ways to their children succeed in school including how to assist them in homework. They explored a variety of ways they could be involved in their children's education. Resulting in parents attending several parent/teacher conferences and school sponsored events. Both parents completed PETALS for their children and learned ways to encourage and advocate for the children's individualized learning. Once the parents completed the requirements of their case plan, the children were placed back into the home and the family as reunified.

Stanley, Pearl W - Brunswick: Brunswick County Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program Volunteer Counselors have developed a marketing plan to help educate Medicare Beneficiaries about the issues/problems concerning Medicare and Medigap benefits. Volunteers compiled a Medicare Resource Notebook for the libraries, senior centers and other interested agencies. The information provided help seniors make decisions about bills and claims. Seniors(174)have revised or developed health benefit plans after participating in seminars or counseling sessions. A total of (156) counseling hours at $10/hour equals $1,560 dollar value of service rendered. Some basic questions answered are: What Medicare covers? How accepting Medicare Assignment save you money? What is "fee for service" vs. Medicare Managed Care?

Stanley, Pearl W - Brunswick: Brunswick County Child Care Providers (177) received 36 credit hours to enhance their skills in human development, health and safety. Sixty-eight child care providers were certified in ARC Health & Safety Units. Providers have improved their homes/centers by implementing techniques they've learned in workshops. Homes/centers are using "checklists" to make sure proper rules and regulations are followed.

Stanley, Pearl W - Brunswick: Medicare beneficiaries (127) implemented a health care plan for possible incompetency and dependency in later years. Beneficiaries (386) increased their knowledge of Medicare, Medicare Supplement coverage and consumer health care issues. Eighty-Six SHIIP Counseling Reports revealed (112)counseling hours/$10.00 equal $1,120.00 dollar value of service rendered. Counseling sessions helped seniors review their present situation and make changes for the future.

Stanley, Pearl W - Brunswick: The Family Resource Management Program had (175) adults increase their awareness and knowledge about money management and the decision-making process with (61) developing a written financial plan. Family members evaluated their net worth, credit worthiness, record keeping and estate planning. Twenty-two Family Sufficiency Program (HUD)participants analyzed and developed a spending plan to work toward home ownership in the future.

Blue, Linda G - Buncombe: Many problems with survival of landscape plants as well as disease and insect problems can be avoided be selecting plants well adapted for the location. A large part of the increasing population of Buncombe County is due to people relocating from other parts of the country, and these gardeners often have difficulty selecting plants best adapted for the mountains. This year's Successful Gardener Seminar: Best Plants For Mountain Gardens addressed selection of trees, perennials and vines. The seminar was attended by 130 people who rated the program as very informative. Over 90 percent indicated they received information they would put to use.

Blue, Linda G - Buncombe: Water is a valuable resource which should be protected, both in quantity and quality. Many home gardeners want to maintain a healthy, good looking lawn and landscape, but should be aware of how their efforts can impact the water supply. During 2001 a 2 hour program on Water Quality and Landscape Maintenance was taped by the county government cable television station. For more than a year the program has been rerun periodically, probably airing about 50 times so far. Our office usually learns that the program has aired because we receive several phone calls asking for the publications referenced during the lecture. There is no way of accounting for the number of Asheville residents who have learned about protecting water quality and maintaining their landscape from viewing this one program.

Blue, Linda G - Buncombe: Especially in the western part of North Carolina, the demand for information on organic gardening methods is great and increasing all the time. In March, 2002 the 9th annual Organic Growers School was attended by more than 500 people. This collaborative effort between NC Cooperative Extension, Blue Ridge Community College, and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association has attracted greater numbers of people every year from North Carolina and surrounding States. Of the 36 sessions offered during the day, 13 were geared specifically for home gardeners, who made up more than half the attendance. All the gardening programs were rated very highly on evaluation forms.

Blue, Linda G - Buncombe: As the population of Buncombe County continues to grow, there continues to be great demand for information on gardening in western North Carolina. The Mountain Gardner newsletter reaches more than 1,700 households in the county 10 times a year. Each issue contains a list of garden chores for the month and information on locally adapted plants, plant culture and pest control. A survey of newsletter recipients indicated that 99.9 % felt they increased their knowledge of gardening, 88 % improved their knowledge of managing plant pests, and 96%t became more aware of ways to protect the environment. 94 percent of respondents felt they saved money totaling more than $19,000 by using information presented in the newsletter.

Blue, Linda G - Buncombe: In Buncombe County 99 Extension Master Gardener volunteers contributed 6,700 hours of volunteer service. They provided public education through a variety of programs including: answering more than 3,000 phone calls, writing newspaper articles, conducting spring and fall garden schools, organizing the Focus on Flowers symposium at the Arboretum, 2 Saturday workshops at the Arboretum, 4 plant problem clinics, 2 talks at the Organic Growers School, 9 talks to groups through the Speakers Bureau, developing a school garden and working with youth in after school and summer programs, maintaining 3 demonstration gardens, promoting the Plant A Row for the Hungry program, and running the Flower and Garden Department at the Mountain State Fair.

Blue, Linda G - Buncombe: It is estimated that in the United States as many as 10 million people rely on relief agencies for food. Many home gardeners are not aware that local food banks are much in need of fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution. In Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener volunteers continued to promote the Plant A Row For The Hungry project they have co-sponsored for 3 years by, working with media promotions, recruiting churches and civic groups to collect among their members, and constructing a "carrot meter" in a prominent downtown square to keep the public aware of the continuing need for donations through the season. This year more than 17,000 pounds of fresh produce was collected.

Carter, Sharon - Buncombe: Concerns about dietary behavior have grown due to evidence that this behavior can have long-term effects on health. Despite reputable dietary recommendations, the Healthy Eating Index shows that 88% of individuals have diets classified as needs improvement or poor. A key reason for this is the consumers' inability to assess the quality of their own diets.

To address this issue, EFNEP in Buncombe County taught 32 limited income homemakers to follow the Food Guide Pyramid when assessing their diets and planning meals for their families. Topics such as number of servings, serving sizes and nutritional content of food were discussed.

At graduation, evaluation data documented that 100% of the graduates exhibited a positive change in any food group. Ninety percent showed improvement in nutrition practices such as making healthy food choices, and/or reading nutrition labels. These positive changes document the participants' increased ability to assess their diets.

Clayton-McGlauflin, Mary - Buncombe: One hundred twenty-five seniors were trained about identity theft, its prevention and remediation through 8 presentations made throughout the county. In addition, 19 volunteer leaders were trained by a local funeral director to share information about pre-planning final arrangements within their local communities. Another 14 volunteers were introduced to a volunteer program to adopt nursing home residents, and an in-depth training on how to volunteer successfully with those residents is scheduled for the fall.

Clayton-McGlauflin, Mary - Buncombe: Buncombe County's Extension Center is deeply involved in the child care training in the county. The FCE agent with human development responsibilities serves on the planning committee for the Western Regional Child Care Conference which draws over 1,000 participants each spring. In that capacity, she arranged for a specialist to teach two sessions at the conference, as well as for the local ECA Council to provide scholarships for 10 home child care providers to attend the conference. She herself taught two sessions at the conference, and two of her county co-workers each taught a session. The human development agent also taught sessions on dealing with diversity and discipline for school-agers for the local after-school coordinating agency and Foster Grandparents. The 4-H program associate also provides training as requested.

Clayton-McGlauflin, Mary - Buncombe: Buncombe County's Extension & Community Association has a very active membership, and their council has taken several steps this year to recruit new members: developing an attractive table top marketing exhibit (the visuals of which have been shared with other counties in the district and some in other parts of the state); the development of local club fliers to compliment the county exhibit; and a first-time county-wide marketing event which brought in new members for several clubs. In addition, one club had been contemplating disbanding, but instead changed leadership, and not only gained new members, but won the county's membership award for 2002!

Clayton-McGlauflin, Mary - Buncombe: While the retention rate of DSS clients in most parenting classes is 50%, the retention rate for Buncombe County's "The Parenting Puzzle" series in 2002 was 86%, and the majority of participants did not miss any of the six sessions. In a recent telephone conversation with a student from a 2001 class, he said, "That class has made a 1000% difference in the way I relate to my kids. I didn't want you to think it wasn't worth your time, because it really is worthwhile." At the last session of the last 2002 series, a mother came up to the instructor and said, "When I was court ordered to take this class, I thought it would be bad and I'd just come in an sit through it. But it's great! I think every parent should take this class." Another mother indicated that she wished she had had these classes sooner.

Ducharme, Diane - Buncombe: NCDA Mountain Micro-grant cost-share program was applied and was awarded $5000 for utilizing Compost-Amended Soils in Strawberry Production as an alternative for Methyl Bromide (MB). MB production is being phase out, under regulations from the Clean Air Act, by 70% in 2003 and banned completely in 2005. This project will offer research on decidedly needed alternative for methyl bromide and could offer cost savings and sustainable methods to conventional farmers.

Ducharme, Diane - Buncombe: Specialty Crop grant was obtained for $2500 in the investigation of a Lettuce Variety Trial. Both a conventional and an organic farmer have agreed to grow and market various lettuce types: romaine, bib, head - crisp, and leaf. This research will offer Buncombe County an opportunity to transfer knowledge gained from eastern NC trials, provide lettuce supplies for longer seasons in NC, help growers to diversify with new crops and establish new markets.

Ducharme, Diane - Buncombe: Keeping the Old Pesticide Licensees Learning with New Ways. Hands-on demonstrations with participants of hand washing and personal protective equipment, like gloves, with the visual aids of fluorescent dye, a black light, and a chart of bodily exposure to pesticide gave participants a chance to see for themselves --driving home the need for adequate hand-washing time and the benefits to wearing gloves. Dividing up the room into teams for a game of Jeopardy introduced new terms to licensees and reviewed well-known terms within the air of competition. Interactive teaching materials allows for better incorporation of the audience - a winning change to the same old steps taken with pesticide education.

Ducharme, Diane - Buncombe: Grants Remove Barriers for Growers. A total of 5 grants were incorporated into the 2002-2003 growing season programmatic efforts, bringing over $12,600 in revenues into Buncombe County. Funds allow growers to investigate new crops and markets, better define substrate choices for growing plants, introduce innovative speakers for programs, utilize tillage methods conducive to area, and investigate alternatives in production methods. Specialists from NCSU, NCDA, and other growers experiences are complied to offer the best of practical information to the growers. Research data are collected and graphically displayed for growers to see the value of what is happening on there own farmer or nursery.

Ducharme, Diane - Buncombe: Practical Visuals Aid in Identification of Diseases. Identification is the first step in managing a problem. This is one of the largest source of information requested by all commercial horticulture clients. Borrowing on an idea from University of Tennessee Plant Pathologist (Alan Windham), and with the use of a plant press, riker box displays were assembled with nearly 45 pertinent disease displays for 2002. These displays have been utilized by Buncombe County's Urban Horticulture agent, Master Gardeners, and other extension offices in field demonstration and classrooms to offer support in identification, disease lifecycles, and effective management techniques. Yearly augmentation of relevant visuals is proposed.

Ducharme, Diane - Buncombe: Beekeepers Resource Will Grow as Knowledge Grows. Beekeeping is a tradition, handed down from generation to generation. Many methods and techniques are not well documented relying on demonstration and mentors. In an attempt to capture the wealth of information in one cumulative resource, a 10-section, 200 page notebook was developed to organize education material for the Buncombe County Beekeeping Chapter. This resource has been available at the yearly Beekeeping school, the Chapter meetings, and has infiltrated WNC to other bee schools and Chapters. Many new and experienced beekeepers alike have obtained this resource to not only have one place for information but as a notebook that they add update information to in the years to come. Yearly updates of information is proposed.

Duckett, Steve W - Buncombe: A workshop in beginning goat management was held for Western North Carolina producers as a part of the organic growers school in 2002. Prospective goat producers learned the necessary resources needed to be successful with goats, and what their profit potential could be in our area. Producers were also introduced to basic pasture management, nutrition, and husbandry of goats. 25 new producers were equipped to make a sound decision about entering the business, or gained tools to make their present operation more viable.

Duckett, Steve W - Buncombe: Producers of pasture, tobacco, corn silage and small grains continue to adopt soil testing as a method of conserving fertilizer dollars and optimizing crop production. Although this tool is relatively old, producers are rediscovering the value of soil testing as the cost of fertilization increases. One pasture producer's report only called for a nitrogen application, when the producer had planned on applying a balanced fertilizer and limestone. This information cut their fertilization bill by about half.

Duckett, Steve W - Buncombe: Buncombe and Haywood counties conduct a joint corn variety demonstration each year. Last year, dairy producers indicated they would like to see digestibility data on the different varieties. A grant was obtained from the N.C. Corn Grower's Association to fund the cost of laboratory work to get digestibility information. This data was shared with dairymen at the area dairy conference. This information will allow growers to select corn varieties with more confidence of high quality than yield data alone.

Duckett, Steve W - Buncombe: Black shank was the worst disease challenge faced by county growers in 2002. This provided the opportunity to inform growers of resistant varieties and control options for this disease. This disease problem's impact should be lessened on approximately 200 acres next season due to growers being better educated on how to combat the disease, thus allowing yields to recover.

Kindley, Ken L - Buncombe: Myself and the 4-H program associate restructured a 4-H achievement program for youth, and also developed a leadership project for interested youth. A literature review was done, and portions of youth leadership materials were incorporated from Mississippi State University, University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. This program emphasis and direction was a result of input from specialized committee members, advisory council members and 4-H families.

Kindley, Ken L - Buncombe: I Successfully designed and implemented a leadership apprentice program for 4-H members attending the various 4-H camps at Swannanoa 4-H Center. This of course was arranged with the Center Director, Chris Weaver. This program gives youth experiential learning opportunities in leadership, provides assistance to camp staff, reduces the costs for the camper and their family, and helps to increase camper numbers. This program is part of our 4-H thrust for 2002-2003,which is leadership.

Ostergaard, Nancy - Buncombe: A curriculum was developed for a teacher training targeting solid waste issues in Buncombe County. Approval for continuing education credit was received from both the city and county school systems. Nineteen individuals attended from Asheville/Buncombe County and increased their understanding and knowledge of solid waste as it effects our water quality, environment and county landfill. As a result of the training the teachers will incorporate more of the household hazardous waste, vermi-composting, recycling, etc. into their classroom curriculum.

Ostergaard, Nancy - Buncombe: Collaborating with various agencies that work with the aging population in Buncombe County we are providing news articles related to aging issues to the myriad of groups that distribute newsletters to this population. Providing the articles targeted to this specific age group we can reach more individuals directly with information that will relate to their needs. The newsletters will also reach the caregivers and other family members to help them to better care for their aging relative.

Ostergaard, Nancy - Buncombe: As a result of a EPA Tools for Schools training that Amy Chilcote, Lincoln County, and I did for a pilot school in 2001 the entire Lincoln County School System is adopting the Tools for Schools curriculum. A training was recently held for teachers, maintenance staff, and administration to instruct them on what indoor air quality problems are found in schools, common HVAC problems and what the Tools for Schools environmental audit is. From the training the participants can conduct a walk-through of their school and evaluate it for air quality and other environmental concerns. By improving the air quality they can reduce student absences from asthma and related illnesses, improve productivity for staff by having healthier working conditions, and reduce maintenance costs in the future.

Ostergaard, Nancy - Buncombe: After receiving several calls from county residents regarding a common pest problem I sent an article to the paper as a method to reach a broader audience. As a result of this action I am now able to write a column once a month. The column will be used to present timely information to our residents.

Ostergaard, Nancy - Buncombe: Six months after attending one of the Basic Home Maintenance series the participants are sent an evaluation to determine if what they learned during the five session course was helpful. 65 individuals have attended the two courses offered this year. According to the evaluations they have saved from $50 to $500 in repair costs since taking the course. If taking the average saved of $250, it would mean a savings for the 65 participants of $16,250. This is for a six month period and as time and their abilities increase the projected savings to them should also multiply.

Ostergaard, Nancy - Buncombe: During a recent basic home maintenance course a participant shared that as a result of taking the course he had learned how to repair a dripping faucet. The $80 he saved not having to call a plumber was not his only savings. It is estimated the faucet had been wasting approximately 350 gallons of water a month. If it had been allowed to continue to drip it would have resulted in a minimum of 4200 gallons of water wasted in a year.

Ostergaard, Nancy - Buncombe: The U S Environmental Protection Agency has a indoor air quality program "Tools for Schools". Through the training, teachers, cafeteria workers, maintenance workers, etc. are trained to conduct an assessment of the facilities indoor air quality and the pollutant sources. Making schools a healthier environment reduces absenteeism, increases test scores and gives the schools added revenue as schools are paid for student attendance. As of 1 October, 7 out of 13 schools had officially finished their assessments to begin making the necessary changes. Data collected from the schools that have been assessed will be used for attaining bond money in the future. The bond money can then be used to make improvements to the school's indoor air quality. Another result of the increase in awareness is that two new schools under construction will not have carpet in the classrooms making them more environmentally healthy.

Ostergaard, Nancy - Buncombe: Many of the new housing subdivisions in Buncombe County are located where there is not access to the public water supply or public sewer. With the continued growth of new residents moving into the area from other parts of the country many have never experienced living with a well or septic system before. Therefore comes the need to educate them on maintaining their septic systems and private wells to keep them both working properly. In addition to reaching the residents through printed new articles two programs were recorded for the county government television channel. One of the programs featured protecting your private well and the other was properly maintaining your septic system. Together these two programs were aired over 70 times during 2002. With the busy schedules of our clientele finding new methods of reaching them must be a priority when setting programs goals.

Ostergaard, Nancy - Buncombe: With the health concerns related to the West Nile Virus during the summer of 2002 the information had to get out to our county residents in a correct and timely manner. Writing articles and providing them to the various printed media in the county reached the most individuals in a quick timeframe. Using our local media reduces our individual phone calls, educates our residents and markets Extension throughout Buncombe County.

Pegg, Connie J - Buncombe: In February, 41 Buncombe County school-aged child care providers, representing 14 afterschool sites, attended a training called Mad Scientist Experiments. They learned many educational and entertaining scientific properties to share with their afterschool youth. Thirty-eight of the participants evaluated the program as very valuable to their program. Follow-up indicates the workshop ideas are have been/are being used in at least nine of the 14 sites.

Pegg, Connie J - Buncombe: Education in nutrition and sanitation has been sited as a need in the county afterschool program. During spring break, 262 youth in the Buncombe County afterschool program participated in a food safety program. Along with the safe handling and storage of food, the youth learned good hand washing practices. The workshop covered the five consolidated spring break care sites. Twenty-six adult group leaders also participated in the program.

Pegg, Connie J - Buncombe: In October, 15 afterschool staff attended a workshop on diversity and multi-cultural activities. Handouts and hands-on activities helped the attendees learn to work with youth to explore different cultures and appreciate diversity among their peers. Twelve of the 15 participants rated the workshop very valuable to their program while the remaining three rated it valuable.

Reeves, Kenneth R - Buncombe: The community development program in Buncombe County has focused on providing community leaders with resources and skills to lead their community residents in the decision making process. Additionally, support is provided to communities expressing interest in organizing as a community organization. One success is that one additional group was organized this year, bringing the total formally organized community clubs to 16 in Buncombe County. The newly organized group is working to provide recreational opportunities for the community residents.

Reeves, Kenneth R - Buncombe: The Western North Carolina Community Development Program, including 18 western counties provides an opportunity for individuals exhibiting outstanding leadership at the community, county, and regional level, to be recognized at an annual awards program. A total of four individuals are recognized for the region. Over a period of three years (2000, 2001 and 2002), a total of twelve awards have been given and seven of those were received by individuals from Buncombe County. This success is a major indicator of the quality of the community development program in this county.

Spivey, Lynda P - Buncombe: Buncombe County provides training for child care providers once a year on a regional basis. A class was offered this year by Cooperative Extension on how to teach children food safety and good nutrition through the use of books. Twenty three centers were represented. The children's food guide pyramid was emphasized. Four books were read to the group and each book had three hands on activities. The child care providers completed each activity and in turn they will be able to do these at their centers. All of the supplies for the activities and a list of current children's books were given to each participant. All participants in the class said they planned to purchase the books and use the activities.

Spivey, Lynda P - Buncombe: The Swannanoa Youth Academy houses young males between the ages of 14 and 18 that are a threat to society but too young for prison. They also go to school at the Academy. Once a month they have a class period devoted to foods and nutrition and Cooperative Extension has been asked to do the classes. Information on the food guide pyramid, fast foods, snacks, sodium, fat and dietary recalls have been presented to the groups by lectures, hands on activities and games. Many relate to the kinds of food they have eaten before coming to the Academy. In a post test, all of the students say they plan to change their eating habits when they are out of the Academy.

Spivey, Lynda P - Buncombe: Obesity continues to be a problem at the national level and also in Buncombe County. Weight loss programs are usually expensive and unaffordable by many who need the information. Twenty individuals enrolled in a twelve week program that encouraged safe weight loss and physical activity. On the last day of class the members had lost a total of 184 pounds. Over 50 percent of the class averaged more than a ten pound weight loss. One participant lost 18 pounds of body weight. Ten individuals reported a reduction in blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels. On a written evaluation one participant stated the class had changed her life and gave her more self confidence for the future.

Spivey, Lynda P - Buncombe: The senior citizen population continues to increase in Buncombe County. Because of problems related to money and health many seniors do not consume a balanced diet. Programs have been presented at the senior nutrition sites from Cooperative Extension emphasizing the need for proper nutrition, how selection of food makes a difference in their energy level each day, and money saving ideas on cooking for one or two. Another senior population has been reached through the NC Nutrition network grant program "Bringing Nutrition Home". One hundred and seventy homebound individuals are currently enrolled in the program. Fifty have graduated but plans are in place for volunteers to still deliver the TEFAP food to the graduates on a quarterly basis. Homebound elderly and those who attend the senior nutrition sites have received information.

Boan, Claudia - Burke: Non-English speaking families of young children attended a series of nutrition education classes with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) with the program assistant in Burke County. The community-based Family Place Resource Center offered Spanish translation for Maria and Veronica. Hands-on learning gave them new skills that they shared with family members. These Latino mothers learned how to eat better and spend less money at the grocery store. Class discussions emphasized the responsibility of parents to provide healthy nutritious meals for their family. Veronica, who would not eat peanut butter, tried several EFNEP recipes that had peanut butter as an ingredient. Now she adds peanut butter to her family's snacks. Maria and Veronica learned that food shopping skills and food safety practices are shared in multiple languages. Both began to refrigerate foods immediately after family meals. Changes were made to help everyone in the family.

Boan, Claudia - Burke: Sara, a young pregnant woman in the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) asked for nutritional help from Extension's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Sara discussed her concerns about her high risk pregnancy during infant feeding classes. Through collaboration between agencies, Sara gained knowledge that helped her improve her nutritional status. She completed a food recall to assess nutritional practices. Evidence of low intake of fruit and vegetables and inconsistent eating schedules were addressed in EFNEP lessons. Sara increased her knowledge of basic cooking and baking techniques. In planning for the baby's birth, Sara learned about breastfeeding. Her healthy baby weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces at birth. Both Extension education and agency services supported Sara in nutrition and breastfeeding education.

Fairchild, Aimee - Burke: Cooperative Extension's In-Home Breastfeeding Support Program helped a new mother in Burke County overcome obstacles and gain confidence in feeding her newborn. The nutrition program assistant supported the new mother when she developed mastitis during the first two weeks of nursing. "At one point, I really began to question my ability to continue breastfeeding, but I'm so glad I did! The baby and I are doing much better. We've learned together and we're both feeling more confident," the mother said. While she was in the hospital, the new mother received a copy of the breastfeeding support newsletter published by the staff in Burke County. She asked to be placed on the mailing list so she would have the informative newsletter as an another means of support.

Morris, Shannon L - Burke: As the REINS program has become more widely known the demands on the volunteers' time has grown proportionately. A need has developed to create an independent entity that would support REINS as well as being active on issues beyond the scope of the REINS mission. A 12 person steering committee of horse professionals from across Region One began creating an eight county regional horse association. When complete each breed, 4-H, and county horse association in the region will send delegates to represent their interests. The mission of the RHA is, "to provide leadership to the Region in the discovery, development, and protection of resources and infrastructure vital to a strong horse industry, and to promote a strong equine educational program." The last line clearly indicates the emphasis to be placed on supporting REINS equine educational programming. This support will allow REINS to refocus their energies on their original mission of educating horse

Morris, Shannon L - Burke: A survey of horse professionals identified basic horse handling safety and technique as the most pressing educational need in REINS Region One. REINS volunteers located sponsors to cover all production costs, persuaded a local trainer to donate the use of his covered arena, and another riding instructor was recruited to teach a 4 hour live animal class on communicating with horses through body language and physical cues. A total of 61 persons attended the free clinic and gave it high marks for holding their attention through such a thorough presentation. REINS Region One Certified Volunteers cite their 1919 face to face contacts with horse owners in 2002 as evidence of their growing stature and their strong reputation for delivering reliable horse management educational programs.

Summers, Eleanor - Burke: Burke County has established a solid network for supporting two hundred breastfeeding mothers annually through N. C. Cooperative Extension's In-Home Breastfeeding Support Program. An advisory team includes registered nurses, certified midwives, prenatal educators, nursing supervisors, home health nurses and case managers from the health care community. Breastfeeding mothers and supporting physicians are ex-officio members. Cooperative Extension's collaborative pre-natal component of the program focuses on clients in Burke County Health Department's WIC Program. WIC clients are contacted during each trimester stage of pregnancy. Education and home visits are provided. Healthy Me, Healthy Baby, a pre-natal guide, supports expectant mothers who are preparing for breastfeeding. A bi-monthly newsletter is mailed to pre-natal and breastfeeding mothers, community partners and stakeholders.

Summers, Eleanor - Burke: Citizens in low wealth, rural school districts in Burke County do not have access to educational and social service programs. Burke Extension Center collaborated with the Community Learning and After School Service Center at George Hildebrand Elementary School to offer families health and nutritional education. The school received a grant from the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, a state organization to further technology education in rural areas. Using the Expanded Foods and Nutrition Education (EFNEP) curriculum, an FNEP nutrition program assistant provided families the opportunity to learn nutritional value of foods, improve the quality of their diets, and obtain new skills in food preparation, budgeting, and meal planning. A wireless computer lab provided an additional learning opportunity for participants seeking to learn about nutrition resources provided through the land-grant universities. Community members increased nutrition knowledge and enhanced nutritional and computer skills at the same time.

Summers, Eleanor - Burke: Foster Grandparents serve more than 200 preschool children and approximately 35 mentally retarded senior adults in Burke County. Many limited resource children lack knowledge about fruits and vegetables and appropriate manners when eating. Cooperative Extension provided a workshop in Good Sense Eating that focused on increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables. A total of 63 individuals, ranging in age from 63-90 years participated in interactive learning to raise their awareness of the value of fruits and vegetables in the diet, sources and cooking skills. Those attending learned about family table manners during the family-style meal served in the Morganton Community House. The Foster Grandparents indicated they became aware of many vegetables besides the beans and corn with which they are so familiar. They plan to use the new information at home and teach children in their care.

Teasley, Donna - Burke: I took a group of 14 homeowners with no landscaping experience and taught them how to draw a simple landscape plan to scale using a scale stick and drafting techniques. They each successfully drew a plan using the information they learned and included plant selections, quantities and a plant list. They learned some basic landscaping techniques and how to make correct plant material selections according to the existing conditions at their own homes and they also learned how to go about putting different plants together or in particular locations. They learned the basics of a sound landscape plan.

Williams, Spring A - Burke: The Power of Youth Pledge Campaign is one of 4-H's gifts to the nation in honor of the coming centennial of the program. In Burke County, we have had over 50 pledges made, encompassing almost 10000 hours of community service! Youth and adults in our program have committed themselves for the next year in areas such as protecting the environment, helping the elderly, mentoring or tutoring, working with youth, fighting hunger, building a tolerance and respect for others, and MUCH more. Already, several of our youth have completed their pledges...and it has only been 3 months!! This campaign helps to show how those in our program are willing to help our community. They want to make a difference in other people's lives.

Williams, Spring A - Burke: Burke Extension Advisory members combined efforts with Extension staff to help carryout an Open House for the NEW Burke Agricultural Building. The Open House was held on March 13, 2002 with Meg Scott Phipps, Commissioner of Ag. being guest speaker. Advisory members helped with setup, getting funding to provide a meal and reception, decorations, and organizing the days events. More than 300 citizens of Burke County, local dignitaries, legislators, and agency representatives attended the event.

Williams, Spring A - Burke: Giving youth a chance to participate in community service is arguably one of the best opportunities 4-H offers. What makes these opportunities even more rewarding is to see the smiles on the faces of those you've helped. In January, a woman with the peace core in the Philippines came and did a program for Burke Co. 4-Hers. This was her way of thanking them for a service project they had done in April 2001. These 4-Hers collected educational books for children in a school in the Philippines. Michelle, the teacher who gave the program, brought pictures, thank you letters to the 4-Hers. She said those are the only books in the school, and the children love them! Michelle then proceeded to talk about her stay, and about the culture of the people. It was a great experience hearing how a service project completed 9 months ago is still making a difference

Williams, Spring A - Burke: Burke County 4-H club leaders very successfully sponsored and presented a horse show at the local county fair. The fair was dedicated to 4-H in honor of the 100th centennial celebration. These leaders organized, set up and served as announcers for this event. It took approximately 20 volunteers weeks to coordinate and present the show of at lease 150 participants to an audience of over 1,000 spectators.

Goff, David N - Cabarrus: Few opportunities exist for area business leaders to see first hand the life skill development opportunities available through the 4-H Youth Development Program. Cabarrus County 4-H took full advantage of such an opportunity by partnering with the NC 4-H Development Fund in support of the annual 4-H Gala. Two Cabarrus 4-H talent winners were tapped to provide entertainment for the 300 business leaders in attendance, while three Cabarrus 4-H Foundation Directors, two 4-H agents, the 4-H Afterschool Coordinator, and an additional two 4-H parents had the opportunity to interface with the invited guests. The Cabarrus 4-H Afterschool Program was featured in an educational curriculum display. A retired Superior Court Judge and 4-H alumni commented, "I had no idea that 4-H members were so talented and involved in so many wonderful learning experiences!"

Goff, David N - Cabarrus: Good media relations are one of the most critical aspects of Cooperative Extension work, yet one of the most difficult aspects for a staff to maintain and program for. In 1999, the Cabarrus Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension made a commitment to host a monthly educational television program on the local access governmental channel. The staff utilizes the outlet for updates on relevant subject matter issues, upcoming events, and the many accomplishments of Extension volunteer leaders and program participants. In addition, the thirty-minute show features a horticulture segment called "Extension's Successful Gardener," and has recently added a "4-H Centennial Memory." The success of the program is measured by the many positive comments the staff receives about their media efforts.

Goff, David N - Cabarrus: Two very important leadership life skills taught to Cabarrus County 4-H members are "Service Learning" and "Concern For Others." All 4-H members are strongly encouraged to participate in 4-H community service activities throughout the year. In addition, two Cabarrus 4-H club leaders have promoted major 4-H efforts to benefit others, with buy-in from a majority of the county's 4-H clubs. Four years ago, Cabarrus 4-H members were encouraged to collect aluminum pop-tops to benefit the Ronald McDonald Houses across the country - over 600 pounds representing millions of pop-tops have been collected to date. Also, Cabarrus 4-H and ECA clubs collect used medicine and vitamin bottles which are shipped overseas to be used in the mission field. Thousands of bottles have been collected, with more coming in almost daily. The leaders in charge often receive letters of appreciation from program sponsors and beneficiaries.

Goforth, David J - Cabarrus: A CD was created that included a program to diagnose the most common problems for 14 common woody ornamentals. It also included information on controlling these problems and cultural information and related FAQ's. This CD was distributed to Master gardeners in Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. This allows Master Gardener volunteers to have a useful reference when conducting clinics at locations not accessible to the internet.

Goforth, David J - Cabarrus: A historic 16 acre cemetery that was overgrown with kudzu and brush with numerous sunken graves was cleared, mapped, partially leveled. The leveled part was reseeded with tall fescue and was mowed this summer. This community beautification project took over 800 volunteer hours. This venerable site looks better than it has since 1948 thanks to Master Gardener Volunteers, community service workers and many others supervised by the local extension agent.

Goforth, David J - Cabarrus: The local farmers market developed an additional outlet for an additional market day. This new outlet brought in numerous new customers and allowed 10 local vegetable growers to improve their profitability.

Pless, Carl D - Cabarrus: Rapid urban growth has been identified as a major issue facing agriculture in Cabarrus County. Extension, Cabarrus County Cattlemen's Association, Farm Bureau, St. John's Grange, Eastern Cabarrus Historic Organization worked with the Cabarrus County Planning Department to develop a plan for the Eastern part of the county that would include: a Voluntary Farmland Preservation District Ordinance; an Agricultural Advisory Board to the County Commission: a transfer of development rights, cluster development, and adoption of policies that encourage development of income enhancement for agricultural enterprises. This plan was approved by the County Planning and Zoning Board. It will be sent to the County Commissioners for their consideration in 2003.

Pless, Carl D - Cabarrus: Drought caused a severe shortage of available forage for livestock. Current trucking load width restrictions allowed truckers to haul only 29 bales of the most widely available bale size. Extension and the Cabarrus County Cattlemen's Association worked with the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture to obtain a load width regulation change that allows truckers to haul 40 bales of hay on a load. This resulted in a tremendous saving in freight for farmers in Cabarrus County and farmers across North Carolina. In excess of 3000 large roles of hay have been brought into Cabarrus County. This rule change allowed the freight bill to be one fourth less than it previously would have been.

Pless, Carl D - Cabarrus: Extension cooperates with Cabarrus County Fair to give youth the opportunity to exhibit and show livestock at the fair. One lady whose family farm allows interested youth to exhibit and show their animals wrote "One of the boys from Cabarrus County who showed some of our animals has had some attention problems... He is doing better now and won showmanship in his age division. That child was so excited! He told us that he finally did well in something by himself. His father was as excited as the child that he won his class in showmanship. I have found over the years that young people who work with animals grow up to be very good citizens."

Pless, Carl D - Cabarrus: Extension, Cabarrus County Fair, a local dairy farm and the Central Cabarrus Future Farmers of America class teamed up to give fair going youth the opportunity to learn more about the dairy industry. In a booth in the livestock area at the fair, children could take turns milking a cow. An average of over a hundred children each day of the fair "milked a cow" and received a carton of milk. This gave the FFA youth an opportunity to gain some experience in sharing with others some of what they are learning in class.

Adkins, Craig R - Caldwell: Greenhouse growers of bedding plants have lost crops and potential profits due to improper selection of appropriate control methods for disease, insect and mite problems. 60 growers were trained on bedding plant IPM at a workshop. Of those attending, 42 growers have integrated IPM techniques into their bedding plant production programs. Results have included: an improved profit return through chemical savings; an increased awareness of the judicious use of chemicals; a lessened potential for pesticide resistance in the greenhouse; an enhanced familiarity with IPM scouting and monitoring techniques; a beneficial weapon for a grower's arsenal against pests; and a quality product demanding premium prices.

Adkins, Craig R - Caldwell: A greenhouse perennial grower was experiencing problems with his 2002 Phlox crop (value $7,500). When the grower contacted the NCCE agent, he had lost $900 worth of plants over a three-week period from a disease problem. The disease problem was identified in a timely manner, and appropriate control measures implemented by the grower. Over the next 5-weeks the grower lost only 32 plants (value $80). The grower was able to save and sale his 2002 perennial Phlox crop for $6,520.

Adkins, Craig R - Caldwell: Ornamental growers in the foothills have traditionally relied on pesticides to control insect pests on their nursery stock. A grower producing 275 acres of trees and shrubs contacted the NCCE agent with a severe aphid problem on his field grown maples and birches. In the past this grower was not receptive to IPM and exploring alternatives to chemical sprays in the nursery. Because a large number of beneficial insects were present feeding on the aphids, the grower was persuaded to withhold spraying his plants with a pesticide. After a 2-week period, the aphid problem was eliminated by the beneficial insects and the new growth on the plants pest-free. The grower was able to save on chemical and labor costs, and no pesticides were applied to the environment. As a result, this grower is a now a strong supporter of IPM and scouting his fields on a regular basis.

Adkins, Craig R - Caldwell: Nursery growers in the foothills are growing up to 300 species of ornamental plants. Some growers planting these trees and shrubs have had little exposure to the vast array of potential pest problems. 938 growers and employees attended IPM seminars and on-farm scouting workshops to learn techniques for scouting nursery fields. 96 growers participating in the 2002 program realized an average savings of $9,000 on chemical and labor costs by adopting and implementing IPM on acres planted in ornamental plants. Those participating in the 2002 program have indicated that implementing IPM helped them to grow better plants by staying on top of potential pest problems.

Adkins, Craig R - Caldwell: Many small and limited-resource farmers are constantly looking to diversify their agricultural enterprises in order to stay in business. One area for potential growth in the foothills and mountains is in the green industry. During 2002, 131 small and limited-resource farmers received information on growing nursery and greenhouse crops as value-added products through workshops and personal consultations. Of the 131, 27 have diversified or expanded into the green industry. As a result, 324 acres are in production resulting in an increased total income of $291,600 for the 27 farmers.

Adkins, Craig R - Caldwell: A series of workshops on landscape IPM were held for 371 landscapers and their employees in 2002. This series focused on innovative landscape techniques and IPM for the landscape. Participants increased their knowledge on the prevention and management of pest problems through non-chemical methods. To date, 119 (32% in attendance) have implemented one or more of the recommended practices. Those practices related to IPM have resulted in less pesticides being applied to the environment, and has created an awareness among landscapers and employees on how to become better environmental stewards.

Adkins, Craig R - Caldwell: Ornamental nursery growers in the foothills are busy in the fall digging, shipping and planting field grown plants. As a result, fall scouting and pest management are of low priority leading to pest problems and plant damage the following spring. To encourage growers to place a higher priority on fall pest control, the NCCES agent held a fall field day at which 175 growers were educated on IPM and fall pest management. 42 growers have since scouted or properly timed pest control sprays to minimize plant damage. 37 growers have adopted the use of environmentally friendly dormant oil sprays for insect and mite control. This, in-turn, means that fewer pesticides will need to be applied to nursery crops to control pests in the spring of 2003.

Adkins, Craig R - Caldwell: Commercial and municipal landscape professionals are often delegated to be responsible for ornamental plant selection, planting and maintenance. This often results in the over planting of select ornamental species in the landscape. As a result, this leads to potentially widespread disease, insect and mite infestations. In addition, environmental and cultural problems often exist due to improper plant selection for the planting sites. The NCCES agent presented workshops for 204 individuals on proper plant selection and maintenance for landscape plantings. Those in attendance surveyed indicated that they plan to diversify future plant selections for landscapes, and implement updated maintenance practices. Results include an increase in plant varieties installed, and a diminished likelihood of widespread pest infestations at these landscape sites.

Adkins, Craig R - Caldwell: A number of small greenhouse growers rely solely on pesticides to manage disease, insect and mite problems. As a result, some growers have lost crops and potential profits due to improper pest identification, poor timing of sprays and improper selection of appropriate control methods. Twelve growers were trained on how to implement IPM into their production system. All twelve have integrated IPM into their pest management program. Results include: an enhanced familiarity with IPM techniques and understanding of cultural practices; an increased awareness of the judicious use of chemicals; an improved profit return through chemical savings; a lessened potential for pesticide resistance in pests; a beneficial weapon for a grower's arsenal against pests; and a quality product demanding premium prices.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: In January 2002 the agent received call from home owner with a question concerning pruning his maple trees. Agent made visit to the home and pointed out that the trees in question were not worth pruning because of the advance degree of decay and rot. Agent recommended tree removal and replanting. Home owner came to see the economic value and benefit of removing the trees and not attempting to prune and save the trees, and then having to come back and remove the trees in the near future. Savings to home owner estimated to be $750.00

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: The County Maintenance Department approached the Extension Center requisitioning help with landscaping around the rear of County Office Building. Extension visited and surveyed the site and then recommended plant species and design suitable for the location. Value to the County is estimated to be $400.00

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: Twenty two 4-H youth and leaders learned the proper methods of planning, building, maintaining, and harvesting from a home vegetable garden. They learned how: to do and use a soil test, what varieties best suited for our area, scouting for insect/disease problems and treatment, composting, plus weed ID and control methods. All participants stated they now have a better understanding of benefits, rewards ($850 value of normal home garden) and satisfaction coming from doing home gardening.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: Members of the Hartland Baptist in the Gamewell Community approached the Extension Center requesting help with landscaping around their new Church. Extension visited, measured and surveyed the site and then recommend tree and plant species suitable for the location. Aide was also given in the design and placement of plant material. Value to the Church is estimated to be $1200.00.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: The Caldwell County Cooperative Extension Center in collaboration with the Caldwell County Government established a Swap Shed at the Grace Chapel Convenience Center. The major purpose of this joint effort was to provide a location where citizens could leave items they no longer needed, but may still have a useful life to someone else. This would reduce the total waste stream. It has been estimated that on the average 30 pounds/day of "solid waste" is being removed from the waste stream.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: In observance of Farm/City Week 2002, the Caldwell County Extension Center in cooperation with the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Farm Tour 2002. Twenty participants visited a local retail nursery, an egg production operation, a beef cattle farm and a local vineyard and winery. Participants were amazed and appreciative of the diversity of agriculture in Caldwell County. A TV program of this tour played on the local cable channel and this resulted in plans to continue this event in cooperation with the Chamber.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: Control of insects and diseases continue to be a major concern and expense for tobacco farmers. Distribution and use of training module on IPM for insects and diseases in tobacco provided producers with an average savings of 4 pounds of pesticides per acre. Twelve producers have adopted the recommendations found in this educational material. Module is available is Spanish.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: Extension staff, 4-H'ers and volunteer leaders took the lead in cleaning up over two miles of shore line along the Catawba River and Brown Branch near the Anita-Alda 4-H Camp. Thirty-two bags of trash were removed from these areas. 4-H'ers, civic clubs, scouts and Master Gardeners conducted (an on going) storm drain stenciling project with the help of a $1,000 Wal-Mart Environmental Grant.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: Ten new Master Gardeners were trained in an intensive 3 month training session of lectures, workshops, demonstrations, and educational field trips. Master Gardeners have volunteered over 350 hours of time at a value of $3,500.00 to Caldwell County.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: Twenty 4-H youths and leaders learned the proper methods of planning, planting, maintaining and harvesting from a home vegetable garden. They learned how to conduct and use a soil test, variety selection, scouting methods for insects and disease problems, composting, and weed ID and the proper control methods. All twenty participants stated that they had learned and were using at least one thing from the trainings. Also, all participants stated they now better understood the rewards coming from gardening.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: The design of low maintenance landscapes and productive home gardens are important to homeowners in Caldwell County. The need for information dealing with the proper application of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals, in a safe and timely manner is of utmost concern. The Caldwell Center has provided information to over 4500 clients. Over 600 horticulture related phone calls were answered with a per call value of 35.00 ($21,000). Fifty five horticultural news articles were submitted to the NEWS-TOPIC with an circulation of 14,000. Sixteen TV programs were produced and played over the two local cable stations. Twelve radio spots were aired dealing with timely horticultural problems, and offering solutions. Application of all this information increased land value by an estimated amount of $1800 and vegetable garden value by $875.00

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: The Caldwell County Extension Center was approached by Dr. Terry Harris, a master Bee-Keeper about helping to start a Bee-Keeper's Association in Caldwell County. The Center worked with Dr. Harris and held an organizational meeting at Center with over 35 people in attendance. This group is in process of forming their own Association here in Caldwell. The Extension Center will continue to provide guidance and educational resources for the members.

Caldwell, Allen E - Caldwell: The Caldwell County Planning Department approached the Extension Center requesting help in the design, size, layout and plants for a roadway landscaping project in the Wilson Creek area of the County. Extension accompanied the County Planner to the Deerhorn Park location and aided in the surveying and planning of the location. Value to County is estimated to be $750.00

Cox, Debbie L - Caldwell: Cemp 8- Family and Consumer Education. Over the last two years our work with Habitat for Humanity Families has been very consistent to meet the needs of low socio-economic families improving their housing standards. Extension's role has been the Homeowners Education program using the Money In Money Out and parts of Money and Personal Power and the Habitat Facilitator's Curriculum. We established this year monthly meetings with goals and objectives for each class. The 8 new homeowners have attended 4 classes and 6 of the 8 complete their goals of the month. There is an improvement of 4 of the homeowner's increasing their savings account by 10.00 per month toward their down payments. One homeowner at last month's meeting reported cutting back her eating out habits 3 times for a savings of 40.00 dollars.

Also working with underserved families in the Community the FCE joined the Board of Salvation Army to

Cox, Debbie L - Caldwell: Elderly women called the Caldwell County Center of Extension to receive cleaning suggestions on how to remove lighter fluid out of the carpet in her car. Upon further conversation with the women it was determined she was mixing one chemical treatment to the carpet directly after another chemical treatment to remove the strong odor and thus was also reporting breathing difficulties. Family and Consumer Science Agent advised the women to seek medical attention for her breathing difficulties. She called on a rainy day and it was advised no further treatment to her car carpet be applied in the humid conditions, allowing the carpet to ventilate for several days. The Caldwell Extension Service receives several calls of this nature.
Cox, Debbie L - Caldwell: The Unemployment figures for Caldwell County are improving but we huddle around 7.3to 8.4 percent of the population unemployed. To provide a small measure of hope to the community we produced two videos for the cable channel that discussed What to do when you loose your job? Utilizing the information from the Family and Consumer Sciences Dept Publications Series on When Income Drops we highlighted the material on Don't Panic Take Control, Plan to Pay Creditors First and Keep a Roof Overhead we produced two 20 minute approx videos. We highlighted The Credit Reporting Bureau Phone numbers and the local Credit Bureau office and phone numbers for additional help and assistance. We reach approximately 1,350 citizens by this method according to the local cable operator.

Cox, Debbie L - Caldwell: SERVSAFE. A SERVSAFE participant reported receiving 2 pts higher grade on her health inspection report even before completing the class. The establishment has been in business for 15 years and it was the highest grade ever received. This small chain corporation has been under a great deal of media scrutiny for their low scores across the state so this manager was very pleased with the progress she is making to improving the cleanliness in her restaurant.

Cox, Debbie L - Caldwell: Collaborative Efforts with the Health Dept Supervisor of Environmental Health, local Arby's Training Manager and West Caldwell High School FCS teacher to produce a cable program about the SERVSAFE pilot project for High School students. Video will be shown the first week of December to approximately 1,200 viewers in Caldwell County.

Schuszler, Jeanette D - Caldwell: A local church wanted to start an afterschool program and came to me for help. I directed them to the 4-H SACC information and staff. They applied for and are receiving a start up grant. For the summer, they are located at the recreation center. Caldwell 4-H has helped their summer programming by giving curriculum materials, loaning kits, and teaching some classes. Due to our support and encouragement, the center will start a 4-H club in the fall. This is especially good because 90% of the children and 100% of the staff are African American

Schuszler, Jeanette D - Caldwell: Youth in the William Lenoir CIS 4-H club chose to develop their leadership skills. They attended TRY team training and organized a new TRY teams: The "English as a Second Language" team. Together with another try team, they applied for and received a $1000 grant. The ESL team purchased materials suggested by ESL teachers, and is tutoring minority children at an elementary school. They are helping to improve both reading levels and self confidence with the younger children. The team developed communication skills, self confidence, poise and sense of responsibility. At the end of their project, they will donate the ESL materials to the school.

Schuszler, Jeanette D - Caldwell: 4-H youth wanted to start another TRY team. They attended TRY team training, and organized into the ""Animal Science" Try team. Together with the ESL team, they applied for and received $1000 grant. These youth planned and helped teach a Farm Animal Day for over 600 children. They also planned and helped teach a Super Summer class called Animal Pals, and helped plan and teach 3 horse camps. These experiences helped develop their sense of responsibility, self confidence and poise, goal setting as well as their knowledge of animals.

Schuszler, Jeanette D - Caldwell: A goal was set to work on communication skills among all 4-H'ers, especially among new youth and new leaders. To accomplish this goal, and lot of work was focused on developing project records. at the end of December, and the first of January when all project were turned in, we had a record number for our county: 130. Project records help the youth learn subject matter, and goal setting, writing, and communication skills.

Schuszler, Jeanette D - Caldwell: The local African Methodist Episcopal Church started a middle school afterschool program and asked for 4-H support. We have provided ""Six Easy Bites"" 4-H curriculum and have conducted a series of nutrition classes/activities for the afterschool youth. They have completed lessons on calcium and the food pyramid, learned to follow recipes, and to make good food choices. During these lessons they have also improved in the skills of team work, goal setting, and communication. We plan to continue this cooperative relationship with the AME program.

Schuszler, Jeanette D - Caldwell: Children in Caldwell County need constructive summer activities. Due to the budget problems, local recreation programs were reduced or not available. 4-H tried to help fill this need by providing 36 Super Summer classes during June and July, in addition to camps and Congress. Attendance at the classes - 1124- indicated we were successful!

Schuszler, Jeanette D - Caldwell: My District Director asked me to coordinate the 4-H Talent show at the Southern Christmas Show. It was an opportunity to market 4-H to a large audience and to give our 4-H youth a great chance to perform. Working with the other agents, we were able to involve 17 youth from 8 counties. The show drew a big crowd and the 4-H youth felt successful in their performances. We were able to display cooperative Extension signs and 4-H signs, and to hand out 4-H brochures. One youth at the show as a visitor asked me how to join 4-h and I gave her the Mecklenburg county office phone number.

Schuszler, Jeanette D - Caldwell: Community service is an important focus for 4-H youth. We also want the youth to learn about the issue of aging. We provided several service opportunities for 4-Hers to participate in at a local rest home. The volunteers and youth organized an old fashioned "Box Social". The children each fixed a food basket for about $10. We took them to the home, gave out play money to the residents and had a "pretend" auction. Then the buyer and the 4-Her that made the basket ate lunch together and got acquainted. Several good intergenerational friendships began that day and have continues by writing and visiting with each other. Other opportunities have been a covered dish lunch, a Thanksgiving program and "pie eating", and Christmas gifts.

Schuszler, Jeanette D - Caldwell: The Service Over Self 4-H club "adopted" Anita Alta 4-H camp as their service project. There are many needs at the camp, as it has a small budget. These youth have given of their time and energy by: marking trails, cleaning trails of brush and sticks, finding a beaver dam, cleaning, painting, and helping with small construction projects. They in turn have learned about wildlife and plant life, and developed skills of work and giving. And, of course, the camp has benefited from their work and is now ready for visitors.

Bell, Regenia S - Carteret: One of my 4-H families did not think their oldest son was as "gifted" as their 2 younger children and did not need to pursue college except maybe the local community college. This young man had proven himself a leader and even served as the District President. He also had won at the district level in presentations and record books and won in ARI. He was awarded a $1000 4-H scholarship and was able to obtain a Baseball scholarship to Barton. His mother was still not convinced. After much talking, she finally agreed for him to go and so far he is doing well.

Wimpfheimer, Lisa - Carteret: Carteret County Center of the NC Cooperative Extension Service, collaborated with Waste Industries and NCDA & CS Pesticide disposal unit, to hold a household hazardous waste (HHW) disposal day. Publicity of the half-day program was made through the newspaper, radio and fliers mailed with Extension information requests and posted at hardware stores. The agent and Master gardener volunteer assisted in getting the 308 participating citizens to complete a survey on future disposal needs. A total of 24,695 pounds of pesticides, batteries, paints and used motor oil was handled by the trained disposal unit. Much of this would have found it's was into landfills or the environment if this program was not offered. The survey results found that holding a HHW disposal once a year would be economically feasible for the county.

Wimpfheimer, Lisa - Carteret: Homeowners get panicked when they see branches on their trees die. They frequently spray all types of pesticides before they know what is causing the problem. In the past two years, Carteret county has been plagued with the black twig borer, which results in dead branch ends on many plants. Through radio, newspaper columns and sample identifications, I have been able to inform the public of this problem and that pruning is the best control. Over 50 samples have been viewed and citizens are relieved to know that this will not kill their dogwoods, oaks and magnolias.

Wagner, Brandi - Caswell: Our 54th Annual Livestock Show and Sale was a wonderful learning experience again this year. Caswell County had 22 members competing in the lamb and hog categories this year. Miss Elizabeth Eastep, a new 4-H member, took the show by storm. Miss Eastep's first show turned out to be a great success. Elizabeth and her lamb won the Market Lamb Reserve Grand Champion. This was the first big win for Caswell County in the last several years. The win was a wonderful boost for Elizabeth and the youth in Caswell County 4-H programs.

Wagner, Brandi - Caswell: Our 4-H article in the Caswell Messenger has proven itself once again. In the March 20, 2002 issue of the Messenger we wrote about an opportunity to attend the Food Safety, Poultry Science and Food Science Symposium. Miss Beverly Bigelow requested an application for this symposium. She was accepted to the program and attended the symposium on June 11?14 at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. This program gave Beverly a great opportunity to see many different aspects of the Food Science program and meet youth from across the state.

Wagner, Brandi - Caswell: The Saddle Masters 4-H Club has made great strides in the past year. In February 2002 the club sent a team of five youth to the North Central District Horse Bowl Competition at the Wake County Extension Center. The group of four girls and one boy had a good time and took with them helpful information from this competition. A disappointing loss in the first round did not discourage this group. They decided by the time we left the contest they would be back again next year.

Wagner, Brandi - Caswell: With the September 11th tragedies our community and nation have become more patriotic. A child care center in Caswell County wanted to show their support by placing a new flag pole in front of their center. They asked the 4-H office to assist in a program about the history and how to handle the American Flag. The program was presented to 24 youth and several adults on May 1st. The youth had a wonderful time and now raise and lower the flag themselves every day.

Wagner, Brandi - Caswell: As everyone know the internet is becoming a great way to market everything from cars to movie stars. With this in mind we worked with our state computer specialist to learn how to create and maintain a current home page. This page has the 4-H monthly newsletter, posted with current contest, news and information from all over the state. We also updated our county extension page with the changes in employees and other agents information. We also advertise our web page on publications including, newsletters, articles and hand outs. By using this technology we hope to reach more people who live in the county and those who will be moving into our area.

Wagner, Brandi - Caswell: This year 13 Caswell County 4-H youth competed in the 3rd Annual Youth Market Turkey Show at the North Carolina State Fair. The youth had a great time and gained a lot of valuable lessons on how to raise, care for and show their turkey. Out of the 7 state finalist, Caswell County had two (2) youth to compete for the Grand Champion honor. Even with the sudden death of one of our finalist turkeys, both the youth went on and did a great job finishing in the top 7. Most of the youth who participated have stated they will participate again next year or move to showing in our bi-county livestock show.

Wagner, Brandi - Caswell: This year the Caswell County 4-H partnered with the Caswell County Fair to erect an educational display for the County Fair tent at the North Carolina State Fair in October 2002. The fair booth was on the history of Bright Leaf Tobacco and Caswell County. On November 18th a gentleman from Dolphin, VA contacted me about the fair booth. He was interested in receiving the information that was on display at the State Fair, "To share with his farming friends." The booth was also mentioned in the Wednesday, November 20th issue of the Southeast Farm Press. Mr. Cecil Yancy wrote about the our fair booth in his commentary titled, "A walk through the North Carolina State Fair" which depicted agricultural aspects of the State Fair. Overall the fair booth was a great success with the recognition of Caswell County and our tobacco heritage.

Williams, Ricky - Caswell: Agricultural leaders in Caswell County felt that they needed to do something to preserve farmland in the county. A committee was formed to look into agricultural districts. The Farm Bureau, Caswell County Board of Commissioners, Natural Resources and Conservation Service and Extension joined together to develop a plan. The Board of Commissioners approved the plan known as the Caswell County Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program. We now have 17 landowners and producers in the program.

Williams, Ricky - Caswell: Due to problems with pythium in tobacco transplant greenhouses in 2001, a strategy was proposed to use Terramaster (a fungicide) as a preventative treatment right after seeding. This practice would add extra cost to the production of transplants. Greenhouse growers in Caswell decided to use the IPM approach. Check the houses regularly and apply a fungicide if needed. In 2002, we only had two greenhouses that needed treatment. By using the IPM principle, the growers saved $6.00 per acre on the 4000 acres of transplants that they grew and had no plant stunting from the fungicide that we observed in the preventative treatment.

Williams, Ricky - Caswell: Rickards Seed Company has a breeding and variety station in our area. I worked with them to place new varieties on five farms in Caswell County so that the local producers could see how they do in actual farm conditions. These Farm Demonstrations were visited by growers during the growing season. At the end of the year, the growers came together to evaluate the varieties. We look forward to expanding this event next year and involving more producers.

Carpenter, Jeff S - Catawba: Three producers experienced death losses in their beef operations due to blackleg. These producers contacted Extension for advice on how to protect their remaining calves. These clients received information on how to administer the vaccines and which classes of cattle were most at risk for the disease. All producers were successful in halting the disease outbreaks. With an estimation of 10 head that were saved through proper vaccination programs at value of $400 each, these producers saved $4000 that could have been lost to further disease outbreaks.

Carpenter, Jeff S - Catawba: Drought conditions in 2002 have forced many cattlemen to make difficult decisions on how best to winter their herds. Two producers used Extension advice on how to cope with limited hay and pasture supplies. One producer utilized his performance testing records to reduce his herd size by 30% by culling old and low producing cows. By marketing 12 low producing cows this producer saved approximately 24 tons of hay at a value of $1500. This producer has also used BCIP records to identify 12 superior replacement heifers to keep for breeding purposes. Another producer utilized pregnancy testing to identify 6 open cows to cull from his herd. The savings in the amount of hay needed to winter these animals would be approximately $750.

Carpenter, Jeff S - Catawba: Extension educational programs for beef producers have been successful in encouraging cattlemen to utilize a locally available by-product (wheat middlings) from a local flour mill. When demand exceeded the supply, the feed mill contacted Extension for other alternatives to supply a low cost, good quality feed for beef producers. With assistance from Extension Animal Husbandry Specialists, the mill began formulating a soybean hull: corn gluten mixture that has been very available, affordable and very effective in promoting animal gains. The local mill has manufactured 158 tons of this product since early summer and feed cost savings compared to conventional feeds of similar quality amount to approximately $7,900.

Carpenter, Jeff S - Catawba: Extension assisted local livestock producers in evaluating the safety of their hay supplies after the drought of 2002 caused elevated nitrate levels in many types of forages. Cattle producers were informed of the dangers through cattlemen's association meetings, newsletters, press releases to local media and one feature article in a major newspaper for the region. As a result of this educational effort 9 producers who sampled hay found elevated levels of nitrates that could harm cattle herds. With assistance from Extension these producers learned how to best utilize approximately 314 tons of hay to prevent losses of livestock and still have enough hay to winter their herds.

Carpenter, Jeff S - Catawba: For several years Extension has advised local cattle producers on the effectiveness of a locally available by-product in rations for calves and replacement heifers. In 2002, these wheat middlings became less available and Extension was called on to help develop an alternative for producers who have become accustomed to feeding these materials. With help from Extension animal husbandry specialists the local feed mill began manufacturing a soybean hull/corn gluten pellet to offer for sale when wheat middlings were not available. Small producers have been very successful in utilizing this alternative in their feeding programs and have fed 228 tons since this feed was made available in May. This feed combines the quality needed for good animal performance with the affordable price sought by cattlemen. At an estimated savings of $50 per ton, these clients have saved $11,400 in feed costs over similar bulk products.

Carpenter, Jeff S - Catawba: REINS volunteers from Region 1 were effective in reaching local horse owners with information on horse management in a variety of programs in 2002. A Large Animal Rescue Clinic was conducted which attracted participants from 3 states who learned the basics of large animal rescue, animal handling guidelines and the Incident Command System. REINS also organized a horse training demonstration with a local certified trainer, which attracted 50 participants. Ten participants returned one month later for an all day riding clinic with this trainer and learned techniques to improve the responsiveness and behavior of their horses. Through the first 3 quarters of 2002, local REINS volunteers have contributed 423 hours of service and have reached 1919 clients with horse management information.

Daniels, Glennie - Catawba: Kids Voting, a community-based program, was implemented due to a poor record of voter turnout. Goals were educating children about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship thereby creating lifetime voters of today's youth and increasing adult voter turnout immediately. Through Kids Voting, students in grades kindergarten through twelve in all Catawba County school systems, private, and home-based schools had the opportunity to participate in classroom and community activities related to issues, candidates, voting rights, and responsibilities. Then they accompanied their parents to polling sites and cast their own ballots on the same issues and candidates as the adults. A total of 2885 student ballots were tabulated; results reported to the media and the students. More than 300 volunteers facilitated the program. Anecdotal and survey data report a high level of appreciation of the achievements of the program among parents, political candidates, educators, and other community leaders.

Miller, N F - Catawba: Employment of grounds maintenance workers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations in response to increasing demand for grounds keeping and related services in Catawba County. Because these positions typically have no minimum educational requirements, many of these workers need additional training and opportunities to increase their professional skills. In response to this need, Cooperative Extension, CVCC and local landscape leaders organized the Foothills Landscape Management Association (FLMA). Currently, 52 landscape professionals from the Uniform area have joined the FLMA. Programs offered by this association have provided members: 4 hours of pesticide recertification credit, updates on Professional Standards for the Landscape Industry and Competitive Bidding, and provided them with the opportunity to interact directly with vendors and test drive new equipment during a FLMA-sponsored Field Day.

Mull, Donna H - Catawba: A total of 34 youth ages 8-12 participated in Mini-Society, a 20-hour youth entrepreneurship program. Youth utilized group decision-making to develop a society with rules, currency, system of government and Mini-Society businesses. They experienced the advantages and disadvantages of business ownership and learned basic business and economic principles such as profit, analyzing market opportunities, pricing, and partnerships as they developed their businesses and adjusted their business based on profit/losses. Based on evaluations, program participation also helped them improve skills in record keeping, organization, problem solving, and decision-making. According the parents, Mini-Society helped youth apply social studies and math in real-life situations as they kept business records with sales and expenditures, calculated Mini-Society payroll (without calculators), elected Mayors, and ran Town Council meetings in which they resolved Mini-Society issues. Evaluations and children's journal entries document the educational value of Mini-Society, complimented by the children asking for the program not to end.

Mull, Donna H - Catawba: There are more than 4000 children in school-age child care programs in Catawba County during the after-school hours. The 4-H After-School program is offered to provide educational enrichment programs to youth in the after-school setting in order to enhance quality of the school-age program while introducing youth to 4-H. During this school year, 612 youth in 21 school-age child care programs have been involved in the 4-H after-school program. This represents 100% participation in the 4-H program from school-sponsored programs. Three sites have organized 4-H clubs involving 47 youth who have not previously participated in 4-H. The clubs which are led by after-school staff person meet as much as twice a week allowing increased number of youth to participate in 4-H on a regular basis. Based on recent evaluations, 4-H improved the quality of 83% of the after-school programs and 100% of the sites responded that 4-H helped youth develop new interests. One director commented, ""4-H is always fun and we can't wait for it to come back to our school."" Cooperative Extension has received funding from Community Schools to support the 4-H After-School program for the past 9 years with funding totaling $7620 for this year.

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Being spread "too thin" to provide requested "house calls," Extension Agents must make good use of their time when responding to requests. When a caller inquired of Chatham County Agent Al Cooke about help with identifying trees and how to know which were healthy, Cooke asked if there were neighbors with similar problems and asked the caller to organize them for a group meeting. Cooke met with seven home owners and discussed individual trees on all their properties. The caller later responded, "thank you very much for the Forestry 101 session this morning. We all learned a lot of helpful information about our trees and properties. Could you please send me the website for the professional arboretum society?" Instead of dealing with one question, Cooke had met with seven individuals in an informal tutorial that allowed for questions to build, taking the learning to a higher level.

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Extension Agents are often asked to intercede with presumed problems and must appear responsive and competent even if the problem is out of their control. Late one Friday afternoon, Chatham County Extension Agent Al Cooke took a voice mail from a caller concerned that utility crews had sprayed herbicides along power line easements. The caller was afraid that the lake from which he ate fish was contaminated. Throughout the week-end, Cooke exchanged voice mail messages with utility representatives until he had determined the products used. He shared with the caller the product names as well as Extension Toxicology websites providing information about the toxicity and hazard of the products. On Tuesday morning, Cooke received the following email: "It looks like the chemicals are pretty short lived and benign. Thanks much for your follow (up) information. You are worth your state salary."

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Getting information to people who need it presents challenges of knowing who needs the information, having it available when they need it, and at best having it at a location where they are likely to find it. Chatham County Extension Agent Al Cooke responds to public questions in a public forum via the Chatham ChatList. When someone asked about getting water sampled, Cooke summarized available analyses and how to get them done. The district coordinator of the Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District replied, "Thanks for your post, Al. I get calls every day about this and never knew who to refer them to." In this case, use of the public forum got the information not only to the questioner in a timely fashion but also to a place where others go for information.

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Extension Agents suggest that plants do better with fewer pest problems if the variety is matched to its location. Gardeners often watch for the newest varieties. Chatham County Agent Al Cooke received an email from a client who wanted to grow fruit. She had browsed a catalog and selected a number of varieties including a number of blueberry varieties unknown to Cooke. Cooke suggested that the varieties would probably do quite well somewhere, but that other varieties might do better locally. He suggested optimizing sun exposure, an autumn rather than spring planting date, and soil analysis. The client responded, "Thank you sooo much for your e-mail! That was exactly what I needed, even though, as you say, you contradicted a lot what I was planning to do. However, I want to be successful, so I will take your advice and get everything ready for planting in the fall."

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: The Chatham County Online Chatlist provides opportunities for sharing research based information to hundreds of subscribers at the classic "teachable moment." In July there was a discussion of the value of using household bleach to kill ticks rather than Sevin since Sevin is a pesticide. Chatham County Extension Agent Al Cooke took the opportunity to explain that some household bleaches are also pesticides with hazard ratings greater than that of Sevin. The posting allowed an explanation of hazard ratings for pesticides as well as other considerations for making choices. The Chatlist moderator replied, "As always - good stuff. I'm glad we have you in our Chatlist group. A lot of people appreciate the information you provide." County Extension Director Glenn Woolard said, "I learned a lot --You made an impact on at least one consumer."

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Extension Agents and Master Gardeners receive frequent requests from worthy organizations to provide some gardening service. Chatham County Agent Al Cooke teaches Master Gardeners that "we can teach folks how and help them get started but doing it for them is not our roll." For two years, Chatham County Master Gardener Gresham Yeager has worked with the Friends of the Pittsboro Library to help them to improve the library's external appearance and to get them to take responsibility for it. He has often questioned whether the Master Gardeners were helping and advising or doing the whole program for them. In September 2002 Yeager reported that the newest board member of the Friends would also be head of the landscaping and grounds committee. Through continued encouragement and coaxing, Yeager worked himself out of the lead roll and now works in the support roll he had aimed for.

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Chatham County Extension Agent Al Cooke deals with many clients who worry about hazards of pesticides but show little awareness of the impact of fertilizers on water quality. In August, he produced an ""Environmental Issue"" of his home garden newsletter addressing questions of Best Management Practices, relations between fertilizers and water quality, and hazards of pesticides. Among the responses: from a landscaper, ""It helped me clarify some of those fuzzy issues in regards to what really is environmentally sound. So keep all the great info coming!"" From a Master Gardener, ""all articles are timely and well-reasoned."" This writer had discussed the issue with a neighbor who wanted to be added to the mailing list. In addition to putting research based information regarding water quality before hundreds or subscribers, he had also provided teaching points to these individuals who reach another stratum of gardeners.

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Extension Agents often deal with clients who assume that whatever the problem, there must be some "magic" that can resolve their problem permanently. A client considering a property purchase was concerned about chiggers and her severe reaction to them. Chatham County Extension Agent Al Cooke said, "I will not tell you that you can get rid of them." He discussed strategies which can be taken but pointed out, "you may reduce the problem but not likely eradicate it." The client responded, "It is a beautiful area, but obviously not a good place for me to reside. I think my husband has come to this conclusion also. I need a place that is 'more tamed,' as he puts it. Your information helps me understand the way chiggers work." With good information, the client understood the problem better and was able to make a decision that was appropriate for her.

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Extension Agents who work with nursery growers often meet clients who can grow plants but lack understanding of the business. It is challenging to help these people find the niche that fits, especially if the likely niche is hobbyist. When Chatham County Agent Al Cooke met a grower selling plants at a local farmers' market, he observed that the plants were grown with observable deficiencies. Developing a relationship with the client, Cooke assisted her in setting up a demonstration comparing how her fertilizers were performing. The client found herself better suited to the research than the selling. She emailed Cooke, "I honestly think, had I not met you, it would not have occurred to me to pursue a doctorate degree, especially in horticultural science." Cooke helped her discover that with her academic background, she has a roll in the nursery industry as a resource rather than as a grower.

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Greenhouse crops and outdoor flowers provide $761,241 income (2001) to Chatham County growers. Many of these crops are susceptible to tomato spotted wilt virus, an incurable plant disease. With the disease established in local tomato crops, Chatham County Extension Agent Al Cooke needed a way to quickly warn growers of the potential for disaster. Cooke took advantage of a list of email contacts including nurseries, greenhouses, and landscapers. His message included disease symptoms and internet sites with pictures of infected crops. Within 24 hours one grower decided he finally knew what was causing unusual symptoms. Rather than attempting to diagnose and salvage infested plants, he was removing them and making plans to reduce his exposure to the insect vector. Without this capacity for quick dissemination of information to a large number of growers, the communication would have taken hours of agent time and would have been less effective without pictures.

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Extension Agents are challenged much as retail sales outlets to predict and address the needs of home gardeners for educational programs. In order to make good use of time, Agents view providing proactive programming that helps a large number of people prevent and prepare for garden problems preferable to reacting to one problem at the time. In winter 2002 Chatham County Agent Al Cooke decided on a series of home gardening classes focusing on topics about which many local gardeners frequently call for help. 76 individuals enrolled in three groups of classes. 71% of persons in fruit classes reported gaining 5 or more new ideas to implement. Average confidence level in a beginners' vegetable class increased 92%. By focusing on local gardening interests, Cooke attracted many gardeners and was able to introduce concepts predicated to lead to success and to instill confidence in those attending.

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Extension Agents are frequently confronted with conventional "wisdom" which may not be factually grounded. Chatham County Agent Al Cooke has used newsletters to challenge the accuracy of a list of "Invasive exotic plants to avoid in the southeastern United States." First on the list was a plant that Cooke would not recommend, not because it is invasive but because it is not likely to thrive locally. Cooke wrote to Dr. Peter White, participant in the St. Louis Invasive Plants Species Workshop to note that the list is inconsistent with the St. Louis principles that such lists should consider "regional differences to the fullest extent possible." White replied with a request to share Cooke's email with the committee that continues to meet over the St. Louis Declaration. White noted the group's attempt to move to the center "where truth and reality lie and because working together is better than working apart."

Cooke, Albert - Chatham: Extension Agents must use multiple methods of getting information to their audiences in a timely manner. Periodical newsletters have proven an effective method but production time makes them inefficient for reaching large audiences when time is critical. Chatham County Agent Al Cooke's home horticulture advisory committee suggested building a list of home gardeners' email addresses that could be used to send notices of timely issues or problems such as Japanese beetles. Cooke initiated an ELetter with electronic distribution to more than 200 recipients. When a December ice storm created many tree problems, by the time many clients had electrical power restored, there were already 2 ELetters advising them on evaluating tree damage and cautioning safety with chainsaws. Every notice brings some response from clients of the value of such a timely warning. Cooke reports daily requests from clients to be added to his Eletter mailings.

Groce, Samuel E - Chatham: Agents with the Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service have worked to educate all citizens of Chatham County about the Chatham County Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance. At the end of the first month of taking applications the county Agricultural Advisory Committee voted to place over 3800 acres of applied for Chatham farmland into Voluntary Agricultural Districts. This ordinance will help protect farmland and farmers from nuisance suits and infrastructure development within the county.

Groce, Samuel E - Chatham: The Town of Siler City, the largest municipality in Chatham county, in April 2002, proposed to extend their extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to the fullest extent allowed by the North Carolina Legislature. This size of the annexation was 56,000 acres which approximately one half is farm land. The farms, once approved into the ETJ would be subject to zoning regulations and infrastructure development cost shares by the town. To show their commitment to agriculture, Siler City became the first municipality in the state to pass a resolution to honor the county's Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance within its ETJ. This resolution will keep the farmers from bearing major costs in infrastructure development and provide protection from nuisance suits from new neighbors of farmers.

Groce, Samuel E - Chatham: At the beginning of 2002, Chatham County began taking applications from farmers to be involved in the Chatham County Voluntary Agricultural District Program. At the beginning many farmers were worried that a program of this type would take away their personal property rights. Agents with the Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service worked with various farm groups and civic organizations to educate citizens about the program and its benefits to farmers and farmland. By the end of 2002 over 16,000 acres of farmland in Chatham County had been placed into the Voluntary Agricultural District Program, resulting in notification requirements for proximity to farms over two thirds of county to people who are in the process of buying real property within the county.

Groce, Samuel E - Chatham: Chatham County, NC ranks number 2 in beef cattle production and fourth in all cattle in the state of North Carolina. The predominant forage in the county is fescue with approximately 95% of all pasture and hayland in fescue. The livestock and forage agent has conducted a series of short courses and workshops teaching about alternative forages, watering systems and rotational grazing. In 2002, 28 producers have expressed interest or request further information or assistance in developing watering and rotational grazing systems and/or planting alternative forages to fescue. This will help livestock producers avoid many of the problems from lack of water and lack of forage to graze that was experienced during the drought of 2002.

Groce, Samuel E - Chatham: The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service has a long history of a close working relationship with the county's in which each office is located. However, municipalities have not typically been seen as a client who needs the educational services that the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service provides. With the advent of zoning and growth occurring with municipalities, the Chatham County Center has made an effort to develop working relationships with the town managers and town boards of the municipalities in the county in order to educate them on the needs of agriculture within the county and how it relates to the cities. As a result of this partnership and educational opportunity the Town of Siler City passed a resolution which resulted in the town honoring the guidelines set forth in the county Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance.

McHam, Vernon E - Chatham: 4-H Youth Incentives Program 4-H Advisory Committee identified a need for more middle school programs to encourage students to improve their behavior and academic in school. Youth Incentives was developed to encourage students to improve their performance in a behavior or academic area identified jointly by student, teacher and principal. Students sign a Performance Goal Contract based on the need of the student. Participation in this program is on a volunteer basis. Students who successfully reach their goals receive recognition each nine wks. and a $50. saving bond at end of year. 197,6th-8th graders participated in this program. 173 participated in the academic performance incentive,(86%) showed improvement and 24 student set goals in the behavior incentive, (94%) showed improvement and met their goals.

McHam, Vernon E - Chatham: 4-H Program Volunteers Chatham County 4-H involves over 247 youth and adult volunteers, reaching 2,167 youth through organized clubs, special interest, camping, school enrichment, and life skills program development.

McHam, Vernon E - Chatham: 4-H Discovery Program School teacher/parent committee identified a need to have more electives class for its 7th & 8th graders after school system change their grading period from 6wks. to 9wks. 4-H discovery program was implemented to give students more class during the school day, 1 hr. per/wk. for 20 wks. After the first ten wks., students were able to select another class of their choice. The program allowed parents, school administration, community leaders and other vols. to share their trade, teach a topic of their choice using 4-H curriculum, or create a project with the students. 292 students&36 vols. were involved in this collaborative effect. Post life skills evaluation were given to students at the end of each 10 wk. session.

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Small farmers need to increase their marketing outlets to remain viable. 65 area farmers attended a January workshop on Marketing Agricultural Products to Restaurants and Independent Retailers conducted by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos. The workshop featured a panel of farmers, chefs, and retail produce buyers. Prior to the workshop, Roos interviewed area chefs, retailers, and farmers and developed a marketing tips publication that was distributed as a handout. In a post-workshop evaluation, 78% of participants rated the workshop as ""excellent"" or ""outstanding"". 44% said it was ""very useful"", and 56% said it was useful. 84% of participants said that they planned on using 3 or more ideas from the workshop within the next year. Participant comments included: ""an excellent and diverse panel which covered a wide range of information""; ""the marketing tips handout alone was well worth the trip from Charlotte""; ""the straight talk from both growers and buyers was very useful"".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Many small, limited-resource farmers are not aware of the many opportunities available to them. 120 farmers from the Piedmont region attended a February NCDA Food Policy Council Conference on Connecting North Carolina Farmers to North Carolina Consumers. The conference was organized by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos. 18 speakers talked about institutional buying, value-added processing and marketing, farmer cooperatives, direct marketing to corporations, and financing opportunities. In a post-workshop evaluation, 55% of participants rated the workshop as ""excellent"" or ""outstanding"", and 45% rated it as ""good"". 71% of participants said that they planned on using 3 or more ideas from the workshop within the next year, and 29% said they planned on implementing 1-2 ideas. Participant comments included: ""great conference, very informative""; ""you did a fantastic job in putting together very timely information for the audience""; ""good ideas, great array of speakers""; ""excellent program that links growers to government agencies"".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: It is very important that growers be able to identify both pests and beneficials in order to choose an appropriate pest management strategy. A hands-on workshop on Identifying Beneficial Insects conducted by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos attracted 40 area farmers in March. Roos showed slides of the insects and passed around actual specimens for participants to view. In a post-workshop evaluation, 86% of participants rated the workshop as ""outstanding"" or ""excellent"". 63% said the workshop was ""very useful"", while 39% said it was ""useful"". 89% of participants said that they gained ""very much"" or ""much"" knowledge. Participant comments included: ""excellent workshop""; ""instructor was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic""; ""excellent handouts""; ""thanks for creating a wonderful series of workshops - keep up the good work!""; ""this workshop is very timely""; ""good resources, clearly comfortable with information, well-versed and clearly tailored to clientele which I very much appreciate!""; ""great presentation, effectively fielded questions""; ""please continue this hands-on approach!""

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Beneficial insects are a vital part of a farm's ecosystem and can provide tremendous help in pest management. 35 area farmers attended an April workshop on Conservation and Augmentation of Beneficial Insects conducted by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos. In a post-workshop evaluation, 48% of participants rated the workshop as ""excellent"" or ""outstanding"". 92% said the workshop was ""very useful"" or ""useful"". 64% of participants said that they planned on using 3 or more ideas from the workshop within the next year, and 36% said they planned on using 1-2 ideas. Participant comments included: ""very good information and presentation""; ""a lot of good, relevant information""; ""well-thought-out speakers and presentations""; ""presented a new way to look at things""; ""enjoyed it, very informative""; ""good information for a wide variety of growers""; ""great resource list, photos, handouts"".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Asparagus is a high-value specialty crop, and demand far exceeds supply in the Triangle. 25 area farmers attended a June workshop on asparagus production organized by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos. In a post-workshop evaluation, 72% of participants rated the workshop as ""excellent"" or ""outstanding"". 93% of the participants reported they found the information presented ""very useful"". 57% responded that they had gained ""very much knowledge"", and 43% gained ""much knowledge"". 38% of participants said that they planned on using 5 or more ideas from the workshop within the next year, and 62% said they planned on using 3-5 ideas. Participant comments included: ""knowledgeable speaker, detailed explanation of asparagus production""; ""excellent coverage of all aspects of the crop""; ""usable information for small growers""; ""excellent topic and great timing to give us time to plan for next year""; ""good question and answer session""; ""excellent information packets"".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Farmer interest in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) as an alternative direct marketing strategy is growing every year. 36 area farmers attended a July workshop on CSA conducted by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos. In a post-workshop evaluation, 100% of participants rated the workshop as ""excellent"" or ""outstanding"". 100% of the participants reported they found the information presented ""very useful"". When asked how much knowledge they had gained as a result of the workshop, 86% responded ""much"" or ""very much"" knowledge. 37% of participants said that they planned on using 5 or more ideas from the workshop within the next year, and 63% said they planned on using 3-5 ideas. Participant comments included: ""this meeting is a perfect example of what I think should be the main role of Cooperative Extension: facilitation of information exchange, and Debbie is a great facilitator""; ""the farmer panel was extremely useful""; ""handout packets are excellent""; ""excellent presentations by speakers and panel""; ""very well organized"".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Cover crops are an important part of sustainable soil management, and many growers have limited knowledge of only a few species. 34 area farmers attended an August field day on summer cover crops conducted by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos that highlighted 18 different species and mixtures. In a post-workshop evaluation, 82% of participants rated the workshop as ""excellent"" or ""outstanding"". 73% of the participants reported they found the field day ""very useful"". When asked how much knowledge they had gained as a result of the field day, 91% responded ""much"" or ""very much"" knowledge. 31% of participants said that they planned on using 5 or more ideas from the field day within the next year, and 64% said they planned on using 2-4 ideas. Participant comments included: ""very well done - good organization and timely information""; ""it was great to actually see the crops - what they looked like, how they performed""; ""enjoyed the combination of lecture, handouts, discussion in the field""; ""lots of useful information""; "" knowledgeable speakers"".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: It is very important that growers be able to identify both pests and beneficials in order to choose an appropriate pest management strategy. 66 area farmers attended a hands-on workshop on crop insect pest identification conducted by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos in September. In a post-workshop evaluation, 87% of participants rated the workshop as ""excellent"" or ""outstanding"". 73% of the participants reported they found the information presented ""very useful"". When asked how much knowledge they had gained as a result of the workshop, 87% responded ""much"" or ""very much"" knowledge. Participant comments included: ""the hands-on ID was very informative""; ""well-organized notebook""; ""excellent presentation""; ""Debbie really put a lot of work into this; ""great handouts""; ""great knowledge of subject""; ""the specimens were great""; ""it was a great benefit to me to learn what I did""; ""I really enjoyed the workshop!""' ""a great workshop - thanks! - once again a super resource for farmers in Chatham"".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: 34 area farmers attended a hands-on workshop on crop insect pest identification conducted by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos in October. It is very important that growers be able to identify both pests and beneficials in order to choose an appropriate pest management strategy. In a post-workshop evaluation, 83% of participants rated the workshop as ""excellent"" or ""outstanding"". 71% of the participants reported they found the information presented ""very useful"". When asked how much knowledge they had gained as a result of the workshop, 83% responded ""much"" or ""very much"" knowledge. Participant comments included: ""good presentation, well delivered""; ""I liked seeing the specimens and person and having the binder to use in the field""; ""the specimens were very helpful, and the notebook and magnifying lens were wonderful""; ""shows tons of hard work""; ""you do a great job!""

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: In Chatham County, approximately 95% of the small farmers use the Internet as an information source. Growing Small Farms is a sustainable agriculture website for small farmers that is created and maintained by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos. The site was launched in January 2002 with 77 pages and had grown to 117 pages by December 2002. The site had 14,407 views in 2002. An on-line feedback form generated 62 responses in December 2002. 54% rated the quality of the website as ""outstanding"" and 40% as ""excellent"". 69% of respondents said the website was ""very useful"" - the highest rating. 82% of respondents said that they had gained ""very much"" or ""much"" knowledge from the website.

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Growing Small Farms is a sustainable agriculture website for small farmers that is created and maintained by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos. 2002 visitor comments included: ""It's so comprehensive. It's helped in many ways, from selecting appropriate cover crops to finding sources for seed and equipment to learning of workshops in the area to just feeling like part of the sustainable ag community""; ""because of your website, our pest management and cover crops are definitely better and yields are improving""; ""one-stop clicking to a lot of well-organized information""; ""The website has definitely helped the marketing aspect of our operation, looking for opportunities. We also like and find the biological control information very helpful""; ""You have developed an impressive array of content that is locally relevant and unavailable elsewhere""; ""increased the ideas and resources to improve my soil and options to increase the profitability of my farm"".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Demand for information on sustainable and organic production is high and supply is low. Plow Sharing is a monthly sustainable agriculture newsletter produced by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos. 2002 reader comments included: ""your newsletter is the best of its kind that I have had the opportunity to read""; ""I really love and look forward to the newsletter - it gives me both local happenings, information, and articles of interest - practical articles! I am so grateful for Debbie's work in the county and having her as a resource!""; ""it's like getting a shot in the arm with information""; ""the information comes at the right time to apply it. Good contact info. The material helps gather the community closer. The newsletter helped make knowledgeable choices on cover crops. Choices we didn't know we had""; ""well-written, timely information, a great resource""; ""you are doing a great job! I like your enthusiasm and you put a lot of effort and commitment into your work"".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Demand for information on sustainable and organic production is high and supply is low. Plow Sharing is a monthly newsletter focused on sustainable agriculture that is written, edited, and designed by Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos. Articles include information on organic pest management and production, specialty crops, marketing, educational events, and much more. In an end-of-the-year 2002 evaluation (81 respondents), 46% rated the quality of the newsletter as ""outstanding"" and 43% as ""excellent"". 70% of respondents said the newsletter was ""very useful"" - the highest rating. 29% of participants said that they planned on using 5 or more ideas from the newsletter within the next year, while 64% planned on using 3-4 ideas. 89% of respondents said that they had gained ""very much"" or ""much"" knowledge from the newsletter.

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Small farmers appreciate and benefit from opportunities to network and share knowledge and experiences. In Chatham County, approximately 95% of the small farmers use the Internet as an information source, and an increasing number use email to ask questions of their county agent. Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos set up an email listserve group off of the Growing Small Farms website in September 2002 to improve networking and communication among farmers and agricultural educators. The listserve had 105 subscribers by the end of 2002. Now when a farmer asks a question, many people can share their knowledge and experience and benefit from the responses. All messages are archived on the web for future reference. Subscriber comments included: "Thanks for starting the listserve. What a great idea to connect farmers even more!"; "It's turning out to be very helpful to me".

Roos, Debbie L - Chatham: Newer growers and growers marketing a new crop for the first time often request help in determining prices. Chatham County Agricultural Extension Agent Debbie Roos conducted a bi-weekly produce price survey during the 2002 peak growing season and posted prices on her website. Roos collected prices from 3 local farmers' markets and 6 retailers. Information on current market prices should only be used to inform pricing decisions, and not as the basis for them. Some farmer comments included: "This information is so useful, even to those of us who are still in the experimentation phase of organic growing. It gives me, as a pre-retailer, an idea of where to place my efforts"; "It's really helpful to me as a new grower to know the price range of individual items so I know how much to charge". The survey was also used by several CSA farms to help calculate share price.

Woolard, Glenn E - Chatham: Eighteen timber owners participated in a FOREST HERBICIDE WORKSHOP on February 28, 2002.....The workshop was conducted by the Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.....The forestry advisory committee indicated that forest land owners needed forest herbicide training. Timber owners need to know how to safely and properly apply forest herbicides to protect themselves and the environment?..2,300 non-industrial private forest owners own 257,000 acres of Chatham forest land?.. 92% gained much or very much knowledge about forest herbicides.....84% indicated the knowledge gained would be much useful or very useful.....69% said the knowledge gained would save them money.....53% currently use forest herbicides..The other six will now use forest herbicides?.100% better understand how to safely use forest herbicides?..92% better understand how to apply forest herbicides in a way that protects the environment.

Woolard, Glenn E - Chatham: Twenty-eight timber owners participated in a TIMBER TAX WORKSHOP on February 7, 2002.....The workshop was conducted in Pittsboro, N.C. by the Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.....With 68% of the Chatham land (over 302,000 acres) in timber and with over $21 million income to private individuals for timber sold in 2001, it is important that forest land owners maximize their after tax income from the sale of timber?..72% gained much or very much knowledge about timber taxes.....76% indicated the knowledge gained would be much useful or very useful.....80% said the knowledge gained would save them money.....64% indicated this workshop would increase their after tax income..Participants estimated their after tax forestry income would increase by $6,700?..87% now plan to put their forest land in the forestry land use tax program?..96% rated the workshop as good or outstanding.

Woolard, Glenn E - Chatham: 234 people (191 youth and 43 adults) participated in YOUTH DAY on September 6, 2002 at the Chatham County Fair. Youth day was conducted by the Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. With less than 5% of the 7,000 school age youth living on the farm, Chatham youth know very little about agriculture. The post-evaluation forms were completed by the classroom teachers. 83% rated the overall quality of youth day as "good" or "outstanding". 67% indicated youth day met their expectations "much" or "very much". 50% of the teachers gained "much" or "very much" knowledge about the topics presented. 67% of the teachers thought the youth gained "some" or "much" knowledge about the topics presented. The topics presented included beekeeping, beef cattle, horses, poultry, worm composting, recycling, sheep, soil and water conservation, forestry, foods and nutrition, and birdfeeders.

Woolard, Glenn E - Chatham: The twelfth annual CHATHAM COUNTY FARM and INDUSTRY TOUR held on September 26, 2002 had 68 participants. The farm tour was conducted by the Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.. With less than 5% of the county population living on the farm, residents are not aware of the diversity and importance of agriculture in Chatham County. Tour stops included a furniture industry, horse breeding farm, plant nursery, breeder hen farm, and alpaca farm. 77% said they gained a lot of knowledge about the farm and industry stops. 86% rated farming as very important. 62% rated industry as very important. Some participant comments on the evaluation included: "The tour was an eye opener. Coming from a metropolitan area, I found it extremely interesting."; "Very well done. Appreciate the diversity. Also good to meet the farm and business owners.".

Woolard, Glenn E - Chatham: About 800 people attended the fourth annual FARM FUN DAY...It was held on October 12, 2002 at the National Guard Armory in Siler City, NC..The event was conducted by the Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service as part of our Farm-City Week celebration..With less than 5% of the county population living on the farm and with more non-farm people moving in each year, less and less people know about the importance of farming in Chatham County..Twenty businesses donated $3,325 to sponsor Farm-City Week. 57 Farm Fun Day participants completed a post evaluation. 96% rated the overall quality of Farm Fun Day as "good" or "outstanding". 93% indicated that Farm Fun Day "much" or "very much" met their expectations. 74% gained "much" or "very much" knowledge about agriculture in Chatham County. 93% said they now know more about agriculture.

Castro, Benjamin - Cherokee: As a result of the 2002 Tri-State Grazing School and the Max Q Fescue Farm Demonstration, area livestock producers have learned some new technology that does two things. One is how to make more profit, and two is how to protect streams from pollution. Four producers reported that they can expand pasture carrying capacity by as much as 50% and withstand drought conditions by implementing new rotational grazing procedures. One producer reports 30% higher weight gains/animal and per acre by using the new entophyte free Max Q Fescue.

Castro, Benjamin - Cherokee: This past February 26 marked the first graduation of local Master Gardeners from the Cherokee-Clay-Graham County Master Gardener Class. There was 21 MG volunteers who successfully completed the training. The educational program received ratings of above average to excellent on the final overall program survey. The Cherokee County MG volunteers have been quite active in a number of community projects.

Castro, Benjamin - Cherokee: The Cherokee County Extension Service planned and conducted the 4-H Mountain Valley Youth Heifer & Goat Show for local youth in Cherokee, Graham and Clay Counties. This is the first livestock show like this to be held in the area and the first local youth livestock show to be held after many years of zero opportunity for them to participate in livestock projects. The local Extension Services taught youth how to select animals, feed them, fit them and show them. The new show had 19 youth who entered 13 meat goats and 8 beef heifers. The show was a hit with the participants and the community. The beef cattle industry is a major farm enterprise in the 3-county area and the meat goat industry is gaining popularity. These youth represent the future of these industries and they have acquired invaluable leadership and livestock production skills.

Castro, Benjamin - Cherokee: A Goat Production Farm Tour was conducted for the three most western NC counties; Cherokee, Clay and Graham. The tour visited 3 farms of various sizes and covered practically all aspects of meat goat production. NC State Goat Specialist, Jean Luginbuhl was the featured speaker for the tour and the evening meeting. Over 70 goat producers and potential producers attended the tour and meeting and said that it was a valuable learning experience. It is through Extension programs like this that is enabling the meat goat industry to rapidly and successfully expand in this area. Marketing opportunities for goat products are on the upswing nationally and these, mostly small and part-time farmers, are much better prepared to make a profit with this newly revived enterprise.

Castro, Benjamin - Cherokee: Requests for a program on how to interpret the NCDA Soil Analysis Report was met by creating a power point presentation. The presentation was given at the Andrews Garden Club, Ranger Community Club, Grape Creek Community Club, Martins Creek Community Club and was given at the multi-county tobacco grower spring meeting. Approximately 200 persons have benefited from their increased knowledge of fertilizer and soil nutrient management. Commercial growers and homeowners were appreciative of this program. A better understanding of this subject is reducing fertilizer costs, increasing yields, making more attractive landscapes and is serving to protect our streams and rivers from excess nutrients.

Castro, Benjamin - Cherokee: Pesticide training is often a boring subject and keeping the audiences' attention is often a problem. During a commercial applicator training and private applicator training given this year the implementation of the Jeopardy game was used. The computerized power point version of the Jeopardy game where the audience is split up and tries to outscore the opposing side puts a lot of fun into pesticide safety and environmental stewardship education. The attending farmers and horticulturists were extremely complimentary of this educational tool.

Castro, Benjamin - Cherokee: An audience of 53 persons attended a Specialty Crops Field Day held at the Wood Farm which is the site of an agro tourism and specialty crop demonstration (grant) project that was started this year. The Wood Farm Corn Maize continues to be a success and this year a soybean maize proved to be a hit with smaller kids and teachers who brought them by the bus load. The teachers liked seeing the heads of the kids as the bobbed up down while going through the maize. Adults also enjoyed watching each other get lost while in plain site of each other in the soybean maize. At the Field Day the audience was taught about a number of specialty crop ideas and alternatives including herbs, heirloom tomatoes, u-pik grapes, blueberries and brambles. Agrotourism and specialty crops are generating more income for farmers in Cherokee County.

Castro, Benjamin - Cherokee: The Cherokee County Extension Service had received a $500 grant to do a butterfly garden at Murphy Elementary School. Cherokee County Master Gardeners who were trained through the Master Gardener Program proved their value as the entire project was handed over to them. They designed the garden and then prepared the ground and did the full landscaping, planting and mulching. The court-yard garden has a bird bath, bird houses and other amenities. After being planted in early spring it was in magnificent grandeur when students returned from summer vacation in August. The butterfly plants were blooming like crazy and the other plants were blooming. This Extension-Master Gardener Project has received great publicity and many compliments.

Clement, Doug M - Cherokee: Grant workshops in the previous years have been conducted by the Cherokee County Center. Groups that have attend the workshops have received funding for various projects that totals over $150,000.00. Grant workshops are planned for Clay, Cherokee and Graham for 2002.

Clement, Doug M - Cherokee: A civic group called Heritage Partners has been developing a strategic plan for tourism development. Cooperative Extension has been facilitating the meetings. The group currently is shaping sustainable tourism development and is planning various events including a Murphy Heritage Walk, Scottish Highlands Games and have submitted a grant to the Duke Endowment for $475,000.00 to help with their efforts.

Clement, Doug M - Cherokee: Hiwasee Dam Community was not going to have a summer program for youth in 2001. Cooperative Extension provided a 10 week program for the community. Grants were received for the project and an average of 15 youth attended the program. Because of Extension's efforts and showing a definite need for a program there will be another program for the community provided by Power Partners. The community building has also received money to renovate the gym which will for $10,000.00.

Clement, Doug M - Cherokee: The NCCE, Cherokee County Center has been networking with several agencies including county government and Tri-County Community College to become an e-community. Tri-County Community College is the lead agency in the project. The designation will allow better access for funding to enhance technology in our area. Because of these efforts a new Tele-Center has been located in Cherokee County and is operated by the community college. The lab provides 2 labs and 33 computers. 12 additional computers are earmarked for offsite use. More info can be obtained at www.e-cherokeecounty.org

Clement, Doug M - Cherokee: Three grantwriting workshops were held for grassroot groups. The workshops were conducted in Graham, Cherokee and Jackson Counties. 28 participants received basic information on the process of grantwriting and understanding group dynamics when preparing grants as a group, resources for grants, and the basics of "how to" write a grant. The workshops were conducted in partnership with the Center for Participatory Change. Evaluations indicated a need for education in grantwriting as well as strategic planning and group dynamics from the participants.

Coleman, Rebecca - Cherokee: On June 4, 2002 I arranged for Mike Yoder from NCSU to provide a program for the Cherokee County Livestock Club. The program was also open to youth in both Clay and Graham Counties. There were 10 youth registered for the program and 8 that actually attended. The program that Mr. Yoder provide was a Meat Quality Assurance program for youth meat producers. The youth not only were given information in the form of a work book and lecture but also had hands on labs. The agents on hand were allowed to help in the labs. The youth that attended seem to have fun and learn a great deal. I feel that the program was a great success and should be used more often. The program could also be very beneficial to adult producers.

Coleman, Rebecca - Cherokee: This summer Cherokee County Cooperative Extension Service hosted 5 different 4-H summer day camps. The day camps were held in the more remote areas in the counties and were held in the community centers. The youth were taught about a wide range of subjects including but not limited to: nutrition, tree identification, rocketry, crafts, and fire safety. There were 70 youth participating in the total program with some wanting to continue in 4-H after the camps were over. I have seen the names of at least 10 of the youth that participated in the day camps on the membership roles of some of our existing 4-H clubs. The day camps were mostly funded by a grant from Summertime Kids Grants.

Coleman, Rebecca - Cherokee: September 21, 2002 was the Cherokee County hosted its first youth livestock show in several years. The show was a huge success and plans are being made to have a show again next year. There were 19 youth showing 21 animals. Beef heifers and meat goats were the animals shown. Community support was outstanding with over 50 people coming to see the show. The show was open to three counties Cherokee, Clay, and Graham. Participants were from Graham and Cherokee counties with hopes that next year Clay County joins in the fun. Youth did an excellent job with the show and are excited about showing again next year.

Stiles, Jane G - Cherokee: Cherokee County 4-H did a program for sixth graders at the Soil and Water Field day September 20, 2002. A Green Thumb activity was the topic for the program. The field day was cut short because of rain but we did reach 164 youth. All items for the activity was donated. Sundae Cup were donated by McDonalds of Andrews, Vermiculite was donated by a feed and seed store, Cuttings of boxwoods were donated, and the rooting hormone was donated by Wal-Mart. The youths were shown how to cut, trim and dip ends in rooting hormones. Each youth was given a cup with lid, vermiculite, a cutting. They placed their cutting in the cup and each youth watered their plant and the cover was placed on the cup so they could carry it home. Each youth was also given a hand out on "How To".

Stiles, Jane G - Cherokee: June, July, August Cherokee County 4-H held five weeks of summer day camps. The Community Centers in each community were the home site. The Communities were Andrews, Texana, Tomotla, Unaka and Hiwassee Dam. A total of 70 youth took part in our daycamps and a total of 15 volunteers. Educational Programs, overnight campouts and field trips were held. The youth made different crafts, and made their own snacks. Their lunch was provided by The Cherokee County School lunch program (free). Programs and Field trips were: Fire Safety, Rocket Making, Foods and Nutrition, Tree and Plant Identification, hiking, swimming,

Sweetwater Farms, Mayfield Dairy, WNC Nature Ctr. Tennessee Aquarium and Imax Theater, Rock City, Oconaluftee Indian Village, Picnic at Vogel State Park, Home made Ice Cream, and overnight camping.

Stiles, Jane G - Cherokee: November 12, 2002 youth from the Hiwassee Dam community did bread making. Each youth made their own loaf of bread. They were taught how to measure, they were taught the different between dry measure and liquid measure, how to use measuring spoons and how to read a recipe. Each youth got to take their bread home to bake. The breadmaking was held in the lunchroom at the school. Nine youth and 2 Adults attended.

Dugan, Kathy H - Cherokee Res.: Basic School Age Training was conducted during the last two months. This is an intense seven-hour training that is required for school-age staff working in licensed centers. Approximately 75 providers were trained in 4 sessions. Hundreds of youth continue to benefit by having daily contact with trained providers. The seven modules are What Is Quality School-Age Care?; Child Development; Guiding Child Behavior; Developmentally Appropriate Activities; Health, Safety, and Nutrition; and Child Care Rules and Regulations.

Dugan, Kathy H - Cherokee Res.: The Cherokee Reservation office was the job training site for a JTPA (Job Training Program Assistant). The assistant worked in the Extension office for 6 months. The program assistant learned very valuable work-related skills including computer skills, financial skills, presentation skills, and general office skills. As a result of this experience she obtained a full time position with benefits at Tribal Childcare.

Dugan, Kathy H - Cherokee Res.: A new business has opened in Cherokee as a direct result of working with the 4-H program. The former Program Manager for the Cherokee Reservation School Age Grants has opened her own business. Kid Zone is a drop-in childcare business. The business gives parents a safe, educational place to leave their children to do errands, work or just take a break. Casino customers may also leave their children while visiting the casino. Parents can also schedule birthday parties and special events for children. The site is set up with many different types of educational opportunities ranging from dramatic play, arts and crafts, electronic games, and computers.

Dugan, Kathy H - Cherokee Res.: As a collaborative effort, the Cooperative Extension office, Cherokee Reservation Preservation Foundation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Community Club Council a part-time position is currently housed in the Extension office. The position is Community Development Coordinator. The Cherokee Preservation Foundation will be awarding up to three million dollars during the first round of proposals due August 1. The Extension office is providing technical assistance and information for grant writing. Communities may apply for a small grant($500-$20,000) and a large grant($20,000 up).

Dugan, Kathy H - Cherokee Res.: Nutrition is a serious concern for young children. Many children are obese and most children do not get the necessary amount of physical activity. Color Me Healthy training was provided for 22 childcare providers that teach 175 children ages 3-5. The purpose of this curriculum is to provide fun, innovative, interactive learning opportunities on physical activity and healthy eating while stimulating all five senses. Each teacher received a kit with posters, picture cards, music recordings, stamps, and reproducible parent newsletters. Partners included Tribal Child Care, and Age Link Childcare. The result is more nutrition and physical fitness activities in classrooms. Children and teachers also learned why it is important to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Dugan, Kathy H - Cherokee Res.: Cherokee Reservation Community Clubs have limited resources available to complete projects. Residents need opportunities for recreation in their own communities. The Cooperative Extension office along with the Community Development Coordinator assisted 7 Community Clubs in applying for and receiving grants totally $83,000.00. These grant funds have enabled communities to improve the quality of life for residents. Projects include beautification, recreational opportunities, cultural preservation, walking paths, and activities for youth and senior citizens. Other projects include restoration of cemeteries and labeling of landmarks. Groups have acquired grant-writing skills through classes presented by Robert Hawk, Area Specialized Agent. The communities will continue to write grants for projects. The group is now planning to study the feasibility of becoming a non-profit group. As a result of acquiring grant-writing skills there is more community involvement and volunteerism.

Dugan, Kathy H - Cherokee Res.: Snowbird Child Care Center, located in an isolated rural community on the Cherokee Reservation serves local child care needs from birth through school age. The child care center has one composite playground structure for all ages. The staff recognizes the importance of the outdoors as a learning environment but no funds were available to enhance the outdoor area. The Cooperative Extension office along with the center received a grant for $10,000.00 to create a plan in collaboration with the School of Design at North Carolina State University. A two day workshop was held to gather local information and a plan was developed to complete the project. Other local child care centers also attended and planned outdoor features. The Snowbird Child Care Center will now apply for grant funds to complete this project.

James, Heather - Cherokee Res.: This year the 2002 NCAE4-HA Annual Professional Conference was held on The Cherokee Reservation. Cherokee Reservation Cooperative Extension assisted in coordinating the speakers and entertainment for this function. The educational goal throughout this process was to expose agents and professionals from 100 counties in North Carolina about the Cherokee people, and have people walk away with a broadened sense of cultural diversity. Partners in this process included The Principal Chief, an expert on Cherokee culture and language, local Cherokee Drama and hoop dancing entertainment. One comment heard during the conference from an agent was "I didn't realize how little I knew about the Cherokee people". Many false stereotypes were dispelled, and professionals had an enhanced understanding of a different culture.

James, Heather - Cherokee Res.: Due to increases in gaming revenues on The Cherokee Reservation, Cherokee youth have access to large amounts of money which is kept in trust until their high school graduation or 21st birthday. The patterns of spending by these youth have been identified as a major problem. Cherokee Reservation 4-H has written and been granted a financial education/small entrepreneur grant. This will be a collaborative effort with Western Carolina University, and Consumer Credit Counseling. The grant will allow for a part time staff to be hired to assist in all aspects of program development and implementation. As a result of this program the youth will have an increased awareness about finances and financial opportunities.

James, Heather - Cherokee Res.: Cherokee Reservation Cooperative Extension has participated and been certified in The Read Me A Story Curriculum/grant. As a result of this training, an extensive outreach has occurred to day cares, and soon to be kindergarten classrooms. An experiential training was offered to a class of Daycare providers. These teachers had an opportunity to experience the curriculum. The Cherokee Reservation Cooperative Extension, has since compiled module kits that can be checked out by daycare providers for use in the classroom. As a result these providers have increased educational resources and training to assist them in the classroom.

James, Heather - Cherokee Res.: Currently on The Cherokee Reservation there is a high rate of teenage pregnancy. As a result an organization has been started to assist with educational programming targeted towards this population. Cherokee Reservation Cooperative Extension was asked to assist in this process. As a result 10 female adolescent parents, were offered workshops related to self-esteem issues. Workshops/trainings included personal body imaging, wardrobe selection, color analysis, makeup application and computer programs used to let youth experiment with different looks(hair, clothing, etc.) Youth were able to gain an increase in personal self esteem, after a reduced self image since becoming a teenage parent.

Mcclellan, Sarah - Cherokee Res.: In partnership with NRCS, the Area Specialized Agent, and BIA Forestry, a Wildlife Food Plot Program was developed and implemented on the Cherokee Reservation. A pre-planting workshop provided information about wildlife habitat requirements and tree planting techniques. Grant funds were pooled from NRCS, EIRP, the American Tree Trust and Harrah's Cherokee Casino for tree and shrub seedlings, fertilizer, lime, orchard grass and clover seeds. BIA Forestry prepared the sites and planted was accomplished by volunteers and staff. Fourteen families benefited from the opportunity to increase the wildlife populations on their property.

Mcclellan, Sarah - Cherokee Res.: A week of informative Indoor Air Quality workshops were held on the Cherokee Reservation. Over 250 Cherokee people participated in workshops for the public, tribal employees, child care providers, 6th grade science classrooms, school teachers and regional Agents. Environmental Housing Specialist, Sandy Wiggins and Radon Educator, Susan Pope, lead the trainings. Radon testing was also conducted in the school and child care facilities. Teachers recieved CEU credit for In-Service training. Public awareness was increased for IAQ issues especially the many triggers of asthma and ways to prevent respiratory irritation. The Agent continues to provide IAQ information to the public.

Mcclellan, Sarah - Cherokee Res.: Cherokee farmers and commercial gardeners were provided an opportunity to try something new to improve their farming. A small amount of funding was available in Spring 2002 though the Cherokee Reservation Extension Indian Reservation Program for on-farm research. The Cherokee Innovative Grant Program encourages farmers to try new varieties, cover cropping, new techniques, new equipment, new products, etc. Three farmers took advantage of this opportunity and are currently practicing pasture/hay land improvement, perennial weed control and cover cropping. This program is allowing both the farmers and the Agent a first hand test and demonstration of new practices.

Mcclellan, Sarah - Cherokee Res.: Robert Hawk, Area Specialized Agent, shared a wonderful idea with new Agent Sarah McClellan. Create a world class environmental education center on the Cherokee Reservation. In a brainstorming session, Director Kathy Dugan, added her desire to create an environmental leadership camp for youth in western North Carolina. These concepts were shared with Carmen McIntyre, planner for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Carmen took the ideas and is moving forward by incorporating them into the Tribe's long range master plan. A feasibility study, based on community involvement, is currently underway.

Mcclellan, Sarah - Cherokee Res.: An Outdoor Cooking workshop was held in Cherokee for Western District Extension Agents and interested community members. Presenters were from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and traveled from Raleigh to teach this workshop. Safe food handling and storage was emphasized while participants prepared more than 10 recipes over an outdoor fire. The workshop was to give Agents (and others) ideas for fun and nutritious foods to prepare with youth during camping and other outdoor activities. Two Agents reported that they had outdoor cooking activities within two weeks after the workshop.

Mcclellan, Sarah - Cherokee Res.: Five youth participated in the 4-H Forestry Camp at Swannanoa. Two 4-H'ers were returning for their third year at this camp. Youth learned forest management principles, tree

Mcclellan, Sarah - Cherokee Res.: Three Cherokee 4-H youth are participating in the Adopt-a-Tree project sponsored by Haywood County Cooperative Extension. The youth received three trees that were planted at their homes. They learned why we plant trees, where the best place to plant trees is and how to successfully plant a tree. These youth will receive three more trees in the spring. Throughout the year the youth will observe their "adopted" trees and record data in their record books.

Mcclellan, Sarah - Cherokee Res.: A Cherokee Farmer and Gardener meeting was held for those who participate in the community farming program. Land leasing policies and procedures were explained. Tammara Cole, our new Small Farms Agent was introduced. Grant opportunities, demonstrations and farmer concerns were discussed. A display from the Specialty Crops Program was set up. Farmers were surveyed for their interest in training and tours. Several farmers indicated an interest in tours - this is a first! Fourteen Cherokee families participated. A total of 29 people attended.

Damrow, Amy L - Chowan: Fear of public speaking has been rated as the #1 fear in America. Some fear it more than death. Chowan County youth have been working hard to conquer this fear.

One of the cornerstones of the 4-H program is to help youth acquire skill, confidence, and poise in the art of public speaking. Public speaking is more than just talking; good public speaking is planned and has a specific purpose. This year eight Chowan County 4-H'ers planned and delivered presentations or speeches at County Activity Day (competition on the county level), five went on to compete at District Activity Day, and one won the bronze medal at the State competition.

Through this aspect of the 4-H Program youth learn the necessity of obtaining all available information on a given topic, the importance of carefully organizing the material, the ability to speak convincingly in public, and poise in front of an audience.

Damrow, Amy L - Chowan: In July, Eileen Nugen, County Council President, attended 4-H Congress for the first time. This was an excellent opportunity for her to learn new skills and be exposed to new ideas. Eileen competed in the Application, Resume, Interview (ARI) competition. The process began in May when she filled out an application and completed a resume and submitted them to the State 4-H Office. In June she was selected to participate in the final step of ARI, the interview. This opportunity helps prepare young people for applying for and interviewing for jobs. The top 25 youth from across the state are awarded trips to national 4-H conferences. Eileen, was not selected this year, but she feels the experience was positive, and she is prepared to try again next year. She knows that this is helping her develop skills that will some day help her get a job.

Damrow, Amy L - Chowan: Sydney and Diana Mason, members of the Silver Saddles, were awarded scholarships through their participation in the 4-H Entertains Program. They were invited to perform at the 2002 North Carolina 4-H Awards and Scholarship Luncheon Program at 4-H Congress. Approximately 240 people were in attendance. "My sister, Diana, and I played our instruments and got a very positive response," noted Sydney. "I played the violin and Diana played the cello. We played a piece by Handel called Air." She had the following to say about 4-H Congress, "I didn't want to go home I was having so much fun."An important part of 4-H is helping kids develop the skills to identify and participate in opportunities. When they have a good experience, word travels quickly to other youth.

Damrow, Amy L - Chowan: Chowan County 4-H offers quarterly County Leaders' Meetings/Trainings to all adults involved in the 4-H Club Program. Club leaders have the opportunity to socialize, exchange ideas with other leaders, learn new skills, and hear about upcoming events and activities. One new leader commented that she liked "asking questions about things I didn't know about." Another more tenured leader said that "seeing and sharing with other leaders" kept her coming back. These meetings/trainings continue to provide support and encouragement to adults who consistently give their time and energy to promote the positive development of the young people in Chowan County.

Damrow, Amy L - Chowan: In 2001 North Carolina farmers produced about 350 million pounds of peanuts. In Chowan County peanuts rank second for gross income of agricultural products. The 4-H Agent and the 4-H Program Assistant have worked with the Albemarle Learning Center over the past three years to present a 3 day program to all Chowan County 4th graders. Approximately 175 students, 8 teachers, and 6 teacher assistants learned the importance of the peanut in the region including planting, harvesting, processing, by-products and nutritional value. Participants worked together to take peanuts from the field and turn them into chocolate covered peanuts or peanut butter. The 4-H Program developed and distributed a booklet on peanuts that targeted the North Carolina Standard Course of Study Objectives for Social Studies.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: Last February I started a successful radio program with daily listening estimates ranging from 16,000 to 32,000 per day. The program continued each weekday through the end of 2001. Program popularity has been evidenced by customer comments. "I love everything you say on that show" . "I listen to you every day and get so much good information" . You put so much creativity and humor into your show"" Initially, I was forced to drive over 60 miles round-trip to record each program. To overcome this I researched the technical, needs to produce the radio program in-house with originally composed and recorded music as well as extensive use of sound effects. Relevant, current, research based information. 50% of listeners polled related application of knowledge with a minimum valued of $150 in educational value, along with approximately $500.00 worth of benefit from the information, for an approximated $11,000,000.00 in benefit.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: All elementary schools in Chowan, Perquimans, and Gates Counties have been offered a specialized systematic science program developed by Chowan County Cooperative Extension. This program has been heralded by participating teachers for it s effectiveness, and unique emphasis on plants as part of an energy capture and availability system, starting in space and concluding in human consumption, and other uses of stored energy. The program is offered outdoors in cooperation with a the Albemarle Learning Center (A non profit educational facility and organization in Chowan County that frequently uses Cooperative Extension as a resource.) This has also been used as a recruiting effort for NCSU, and it challenges students to think on a level that they are not traditionally challenged to do in schools, and are

encouraged to pursue this exciting scientific thought through preparation now, and future

registration and attendance in life sciences at NC State.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: In cooperation with Jeff Copeland, Mike Williams, Lewis Smith, Juanita Bailey, Shari Farless, Jennifer Harris, Amy Damrow, Theresa Story, Risha Foreman, Jewel Winslow, Marjorie Rayburn, the Albemarle Cotton Growers Cooperative, Byrum Farms, H.I. Ward Farming, White Oak Elementary, Walker Elementary, and Hertford Grammar Schools, I organized a farm day adventure, taking second graders to 6 farming stops, and a processing of pumpkin into pie from field to table. This is a concept created by Jeff Copeland, and organized by Jeff Copeland and me. This was the 6th highly successful year of the effort, with ongoing

requests for annual repetition.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: Through the year, I have been called on to serve as a technical support person for both the Sun computer system, and Microsoft based systems. Requested assistance has ranged from updating web pages, to FTP protocol, imaging, file conversion, trouble shooting, e-mail problems, file attachments, software applications, equipment selection, graphics manipulation and equipment replacement and installation. I was called on from Chowan, Perquimans, and Gates Counties for advice and assistance, facilitating educational efforts in these agricultural Extension offices. With approximately 45 contacts, priced at the local rate of $40.00 minimum and hourly charge for service, value of serviced provided exceed $1,800.00.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: Dr. Charles Safley was contacted to assist with a local landscape nursery that suffers from un- clear price setting practices. Interviews with individuals indicated that prices were being set inappropriately, yielding only hourly wages for the crew, while ignoring overhead, gear-up and gear-down time, equipment costs, insurance, etc. etc. After an extensive presentation, followed up with questions, landscapers have reported significant alteration of practices with great success. Advisory committee members asked for the program to be updated and repeated next year, to allow others to get on-line with proper price setting. It is difficult to even guess how this will affect the future of this developing industry. Prices are expected to be doubled after the training, and with 35landscapers affected by the program, assuming a $20,000 minimum gross income per company, directly yields an estimated $700,000 in improved pricing for this year, with immeasurable future financial benefit.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: The Chowan County Horticulture Club was founded years ago by Agricultural Agent Murray Goodwin. With his eventual passing, aging of the club, membership had started to drop off, and arranging for programs was becoming more difficult. As an occasional speaker for the group, I saw the potential for using the club as a format for specialized public educational efforts, assuring a good audience for programs that could otherwise be under-attended.

Attendance had dropped to under 20 at times, however, with the addition of my efforts the

group has reached attendance of 41. Talks were advertised as being co-sponsored by NCCES

and the horticulture club, and were well attended. Members report application of knowledge

gained, with immeasurable value in enjoyment. The club has been revitalized to the benefit

of the long term members, and those now attending events.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: The distance diagnostic technology application that I introduced to Cooperative Extension in the mid 1990's has continued to expand into other states, and around the world. I have continued to be asked to present information, experience, and technology recommendations across the state, and internationally. This year, I was asked to present and demonstrate at the Information Technology Expo at NCSU, The Carolina Farm Show in Kinston, NC, Vegetable Expo in Ontario Canada, and to 250 International Delegates at a Educational Concerns for World Hunger Organization conference in Ft. Myers Florida. This program has gained international recognition for NCCES. LOCAL IMPACT <$100,000.00 IN 2001.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: Developed new concept software, and highly specialized software for classroom immersion educational game. Prototype system has been requested by local schools for purchase (not available of course). Entire system was tested with a live audience very successfully. Further use is planed in 2002 in conjunction with the Chowan County Soil and Water Conservation

Service. Use of equipment throughout the year with students in Schools, and at the Albemarle Learning Center was extensive, resulting in soil and water conservation and plant science information being learned by approximately 1000 youth.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: Continued to use highly efficient distance education methodology I developed in 1994. Thiscombination of slides/PowerPoint and speaker phone technology has saved thousands in travel expenses, allowing presentations nationally and internationally without travel cost. Recent technology should allow this technology to be used at the rate of $0.03/min. Four specialist presentations from Raleigh to Edenton saves approximately $400.00 in travel. Using similar technology, adapted for transmitting live microscope images, I was able to make it possible

for a specialist in Raleigh to present information to a meeting in Ontario Canada.

Dyson, Thomas L - Chowan: Growers in the Ryland area contacted me with a concern that pumpkins were not being produced on the vines. Those that seemed to begin to grow were misshapen, or aborted. Analysis of nutritional status and pollination factors was carried out. Bee activity was tracked, and determined to be ineffective. Bees were tracked flying over pumpkin field into the woods, and to cotton plantings. Grower was advised to trade the bees with other producers, or hire-in new bees who had not trained to this flight and pollination pattern. After this practice was implemented, pumpkin pollination was successful with pumpkins growing to maturity. This was accomplished in a time frame which permitted the grower to enter the Halloween market, even though with some delay. This was clearly a 100% economic impact per acre on approximately 20 acres. Both market value, and

production costs were spared by this Extension action.

Farless, Shari T - Chowan: Older adults received programming that will help them to make decisions that could improve their quality of life. Through programs such as the SHIIP program, Medicare Lookout Program, and "Who Gets Grandmas Yellow Pie Plate" 82 participants gained knowledge to better equip them with issues related to aging. 12 participants completed the SHIIP training which was hosted in Chowan County with the commitment to utilize information gained and to volunteer their time as counselors. Comments such as "I didn't know all that was involved in Medicare and this has made me realize that I shouldn't take this lightly" and "I have such a diverse family that the program "Yellow Pie Plate" has made think that I have to make some decisions that I really have been putting off".

Farless, Shari T - Chowan: Chowan County is participating in the Partners in Wellness program. 16 people have completed three modules that provided subject matter on kitchen safety, nutrition and herbal supplements. It is the goal of the program to decrease malnutrition in older adults which is due to various reasons. In addition, 75 people were reached during a Senior Healthy Fair with educational materials related to aging issues and 25 members of the Mended Hearts group learned about kitchen safety. The Vial of Life program continues to be promoted with over 1200 vials being distributed.

Farless, Shari T - Chowan: In an effort to provide a vast array of training opportunities for child care providers, a conference "Shooting for the Stars" was offered. 156 providers participated in this program which offered 6.5 training hours. In addition, this county has partnered with a neighboring county of offer wide range programming. I have offered Playground Safety and "Unlocking the Mystery of the Food Guide Pyramid" Information that they found the most helpful was on reading food labels and understanding fat content of commonly consumed foods as well as overall safety concerns they need to be aware of on the playground. Comments such as "I am building a center and I needed to understand the rules and regulations of Playground Safety", "I want my kids to be safe" and "I plan to prepare healthy foods for the children I watch as well as for my own family" were responses from evaluations.

Farless, Shari T - Chowan: Chowan County has 83 ECA members who do various community projects. We have members who provide leadership on the county, district and state level. Locally, they hosted our annual commissioners breakfast, made mastectomy pillows, hosted our annual Spring Fling for membership recruitment and provided concessions for our county Livestock Show. Through fundraising, they raised $1500 which allowed them to they award their first scholarships ($400) to 2 high school seniors to assist with furthering their education.

Farless, Shari T - Chowan: In an effort to promote healthier eating habits, I have visited many groups offering information on a wide range of topics. I worked with 10 Boy Scouts in helping them to get their nutrition badges, I presented a program on soy foods and products to older women, I assisted with a Color Me Healthy training for EFNEP PA's and have taught 25 people how to understand and read food labels. Responses such as "I have been checking my food label for calories and fat and know I know what else to look for", "I never understood about the different food groups and I eat too much from the bottom of the pyramid" and "My mom wants me to eat more fruits and vegetables and even though I don't want to I will try".

Farless, Shari T - Chowan: Chowan County is participating in the Partners in Wellness program. 16 people have completed three modules that provided subject matter on kitchen safety, nutrition and herbal supplements. Topics such as the Food Guide Pyramid, reading food labels, understanding the difference between supplements and vitamins were covered. 3 stated they had improved their nutritional status due to this program through eating smaller portion sizes and decreasing fat and salt they use in food preparation. 12 out of the 16 have regular exercise programs and 4 take no medications at all except multivitamins. All stated they wish to improve their intake of fruits and vegetables and that is one of their goals to improve overall health.

Farless, Shari T - Chowan: Limited resource families need to acquire knowledge, skills and changed behavior for nutritionally sound diets. Using the ERIB# curriculum, Nutrition Program Assistants taught individuals and groups nutrition education including food preparation skills. 51 participants enrolled in programs for limited resource families. 98.6 percent of the 31 EFNEP graduates showed a positive dietary change in any of the food groups at exit. 97 percent of the graduates showed improvement in one or more food resource management practices (ie. plans meals, compares prices, uses grocery lists, does not run out of food). 100 percent showed improvement in one or more nutrition practices (ie. plans meals, makes healthy food choices, prepares foods without added salt, reads nutrition labels, has children eat breakfast). 77 percent of graduates showed improvement in one or more of the food safety practices (ie. thawing and storing foods properly).

Farless, Shari T - Chowan: Youth need to acquire the knowledge and skills for nutritionally sound diets and to contribute to their personal development. 4-H EFNEP PAs use age appropriate Professor Popcorn curriculum that focuses on the food guide pyramid. 99 youth age 5?19 participated in the 4-H EFNEP Program. 11 different groups received the Professor Popcorn curriculum with 51 meetings conducted for this six month period and 61 contact hours. Types of groups included 4 school enrichment, 2 short-term/day camp, and 5 school age. 14 percent of youth enrolled in ongoing 4-H programs in the county. 5 volunteers were recruited and trained. They provided 24 hours of volunteer time at a value of 240 dollars.

Gabel, Steven J - Chowan: The yellow perch industry is young in NC, but growing. There are now 5 fingerling producers in the state, a 250 percent increase. 2 of the producers are located in the NE district and by following recommended practices for pond fertilization and use of concrete catch basins for harvesting, produced almost 250,000 fingerlings in 3 ac. 180,000 fingerlings produced in just 2 ac. by 1 producer sold for over 14,000 dollars, a 50 percent increase over the previous year. Although this fledgling industry is still very young, it has attracted much attention nation wide. Orders for NC yellow perch fingerlings for the 2002 year are in exceeds 10 million fish and if met, would exceed 500,000 dollars in revenue.

Gabel, Steven J - Chowan: Via a NC Catfish Yield Verification study, it has been concluded that it will take approximately 16 months to raise a channel catfish to market size in NC. Working closely with a new catfish producer and teaching him correct aquaculture management procedures, this producer was able to begin harvesting his first crop in 7 months. This effort included documenting, on the morning of the 4 of July, an improper stocking procedure performed by an out-of-state live hauler that resulted in a 50 percent mortality at his first fingerling stocking. Because of the documentation, the producer was able to recoup the cost of restocking, approximately 4,500 dollars.

Gabel, Steven J - Chowan: Due budget reductions in NC, the NCDA eliminated a needed Vet Diagnostic Lab in NE NC. Soon after the closing of the Lab, a local catfish producer began experiencing chronic mortalities. Utilizing distance diagnostic equipment in the Chowan county office, precise images of the affected fish were transmitted to a certified fish pathologist in Louisiana allowing for a positive diagnosis in a matter of hours. This provided the producer the information needed to properly manage his disease outbreak, greatly limiting his potential mortalities and potentially saving over $100,000 in fish.

Gabel, Steven J - Chowan: NC yellow perch fingerling producers have expressed the need for an aquaculture commodity that can be grown in their ponds after the harvest of fingerlings. Prawns have been identified as a viable species that fit the time schedule and have been stocked into a test pond. It is anticipated that 500 - 1000 lbs. per ac. of these freshwater shrimp will be harvested by early fall for a gross income of $3000 - $8000 /ac. If production is as anticipated net per acre income for the year could be doubled.

Gabel, Steven J - Chowan: N.C. yellow perch fingerling producers have expressed the need for an aquaculture commodity that can be grown in their ponds after the harvest of fingerlings. Prawns have been identified as a viable species and were stocked into a 1 acre test pond. The prawns were harvested in the fall with a yield of about 660 lbs. The prawns were sold for between $6.00 and $9.00 per lbs. Gross income was approximately $4300 with a net income of about $1500.

Williams, J M - Chowan: The delay in passing the new farm bill caused much concern and confusion among Chowan County producers. The situation was made worse by the fact that Chowan is heavily dependent on peanut quota system which would be eliminated under this legislation. A series of educational meetings was planned and implemented to provide farmers and landowners with current information on this pending legislation. Information provided enabled 90 growers representing 9000 crop acres to initiate their production planning for the current year and avoid losses associated with late planting.

Williams, J M - Chowan: 2002 was an extremely dry season for all of the counties' row crop and vegetable farmers. Because rainfall was extremely short of providing crop needs, growers were increasingly dependent on the abundant surface waters of the Chowan River and the Albemarle Sound. The sound and river become increasingly salty over time when rainfall is limited. Monitoring for salt concentration was initiated in late May and continued through the growing season. Salt concentrations were reported in newsletters and made available on request. Concentrations became high enough(3000ppm ) that continued irrigation would cause crop damage. The Salt Conc Monitoring Program enabled growers to make informed decisions on irrigation timing and frequency and avoided a potential 20% loss in yield. On approximately 10,000 acres of irrigated crops, this could have amounted to a $800,000 loss

Williams, J M - Chowan: Farm City Week is to promote a better understanding between the farm and city community. The new farm bill and the major changes to the peanut program has left many unanswered questions with farm operators, landowners and the business community.

The Farm-City Committee decided that this event, which typically draws about 200 persons, would be a useful setting to explain these changes to a cross section of the community. An ag economist explained the history of the past programs, the changes with the new and how they affect those involved. The non-farm audience commented on the complexity of the program and many voiced that they had no idea of the impact these changes were having on many in the community and the local economy.

Williams, J M - Chowan: Proper tree variety selection is critical for survivability of the tree as well as for the aesthetics of the landscape plan. Many families moving into the area as well as those already in residence, do not have a working knowledge of tree appearance or growth habit.

An Urban Forestry grant was acquired for the purpose of establishing an arboretum so that residents would have the opportunity to look at different tree species before making a final, and costly landscape decision. With the use of over 100 volunteer hours and about $5000 of in kind match donation, the arboretum is 90% completed. Though not yet formally opened, those who have visited have commented favorably on the need for this community resource.

Williams, J M - Chowan: Drought conditions prevented this years peanut crop from maturing on time in many areas. Many peanut growers had fields on time and others that were delayed to some extent. Growers realize that choosing the optimum digging date can mean a difference of up to 100 pounds per day for each day off the optimum. For this reason, the peanut maturity program was more heavily used than in previous years. Approximately 50 growers ran samples representing about 35 acres per sample. Past surveys indicate that use of this system has meant a 3 day difference in digging date. At $.20/pound X 3 days X 100 X 1750 acres = $105,000 income protected by optimizing digging date.

Brown, Silas P - Clay: After having held a goat and sheep herd health meeting concerning the federal scrapie regulations, I've had 2 clients show interest in wanting to join the volunteer scrapie program, one of which is currently working to be certified in that program.

Brown, Silas P - Clay: The Clay County Communities Revitalization Association (CCCRA), which is a volunteer organization whose goal is not only downtown revitalization, but improving the quality of life and beautification throughout the county, has adopted a stretch of neglected roadside entering the town limits of Hayesville. There were over 100 boxwoods planted on either side of the road several decades ago, but in recent years through

neglect had been overtaken by vines, weeds, etc. This group of volunteers spent countless hours restoring this now pleasant entrance into the town among the other activities and projects concerning restoration of the courthouse. The CCCRA was begun just a few years ago with the help of Cooperative Extension and has now become a fully functional, self-supporting organization.

Brown, Silas P - Clay: For the second year CES has held successfully a Tri-State Grazing School. Led by Extension, we have cooperated with other state and federal agencies to host such a program, and again we have seen much success in producers putting into practice what they've learned through this program. The most difficult step of the process is, of course, finding funds. This year I'm proud to say the funds have already been secured for the 2003 School after having applied to South Western District RC&D Council, which has graciously agreed to provide $3000 for this program that has proven to be so beneficial to the producers of our area.

Brown, Silas P - Clay: This year I have had the opportunity to work with 2 community organizations in the beautification of their facilities. Through grant requests to the Keep NC Clean and Beautiful foundation and assisting the 2 organizations in designing landscape plans they were each able to receive 100 azalea plants to be placed around their facilities. This not only helped to improve the appearance, but also boosted the enthusiasm of the community by encouraging more people to be involved in the act of planting and care of the plants.

Brown, Silas P - Clay: After many requests over the past couple years from plant lovers around the county, Clay County finally has its own Master Gardener program. It was the result of a combined effort from Clay, Cherokee and Graham counties to provide the training for volunteer certification. Now, with the beginning of our own program and certified volunteers, all of our counties plant lovers can receive the education and assistance they've been longing for.

Brown, Silas P - Clay: Among other programs, the pesticide recertification program has benefited well from our efforts at performing tri-county programs. With myself in Clay County, and working in cooperation with Cherokee and Graham county agents, we have performed several tasks together, one of which would be our pesticide programs. This reduces the burden of doing several programs each year on our own and divides the responsibilities which has been a big help in reducing each of our work loads.

Abasiekong, Nancy - Cleveland: ""In Search of Joy..."" was the theme for the sixth annual women's health fair and symposium, Woman's World 2002. This event is sponsored by NCCE, Cleveland Community College, the Women's Clinic, Cleveland Regional Medical Center, and the Shelby Star. Approximately 700 people participated. Women and some men in the county depend on information from the health screenings and nurse consultations to monitor and/or alert them to possible health problems. This year more than 200 persons had lipid profile and blood glucose screenings completed at no cost. If administered by their physician, each test would have cost approximately $70 (estimated total value-$14,000). This savings made a difference to each family budget, as health care costs continue to rise. The health fair offers other screenings, workshops and educational exhibits. This preventive health initiative makes a major contribution to the wellness in our community.

Abasiekong, Nancy - Cleveland: "Finding Our Way...Living With Dying in America" was the theme of a Town Meeting and Resource Fair held in January. This event, attended by approximately 90 people, was a seminar and discussion opportunity for Cleveland County citizens, health care professionals and agencies serving families at the end of life. This town meeting was follow-up to the fifteen week series, by the same title, featured in our local newspaper (September - December 2001). The series was sponsored by: Knight Ridder (nationally), Shelby Star and Community Ethics Education Task Force (NCCE/Cleveland County Center is a member). The town meeting gave information to help families initiate discussion of eldercare and end-of-life issues. It also gave citizens the opportunity to become better informed about services available. Requests were made for citizens to join the task force by working on one of three subcommittees: school, workplace, faith, other. Continued programs, information and subcommittee efforts

Abasiekong, Nancy - Cleveland: Family caregivers can become overwhelmed with the role of caregiver which often "creeps" upon them. They begin by "helping out" and suddenly realize

they have, out of necessity, taken on responsibility for aging or disabled family

embers or friends. Twenty-two family caregivers participated in two seven-week classes, "Taking Care of You... Powerful Tools for Caregiving." Four of the caregivers were caring for two persons, each with serious, chronic health conditions that were becoming more fragile. Participants reported the quality of the classes was excellent and the material well presented. They also sited as benefits: it helped to know and talk with other caregivers, used new techniques learned in the class, learned about community resources, made and implemented weekly action plans. One family sought help from local care management consultants and implemented their recommendations. This resulted in improved care for the loved ones and health of the caregiver.

Abasiekong, Nancy - Cleveland: Helping citizens make informed decisions regarding aging, family caregiving, and end of life issues is a goal in Cleveland County. This goal is being realized as local agencies collaborate through coalitions, task forces and special committees. Over 100 citizens came together in a town meeting to discuss our community's response to "Finding Our Way... Living With Dying in America." Volunteers were recruited to participate and identify ways our community can be more responsive to families at various stages of need. 450 dollars were donated by three groups to the local library to purchase materials in support of senior adults and their families. These materials are being widely used by patrons - individuals and instructors. 45 business leaders were informed about long-term life planning and insurance. These human resource leaders were encouraged to inform their employees and to consider making this an employee benefit. Efforts were made to reach different ethnic

Abasiekong, Nancy - Cleveland: Cleveland County childcare centers/homes who have participated in the Quality Enhancement Program are increasing the quality of their programs. This is being demonstrated through scores on the ITERS, ECERS and FDCRS Environmental Rating Scales. In 2002, 31 facilities (18 centers, 13 homes) participated in this program. Returning programs must show certain improvement to continue in the program. Program assistance includes a self-assessment, rating scale evaluation, and review with comments by the review team of agency professionals. Technical assistance is given to improve interior classroom settings and outdoor environments. Total funds awarded was $101,741. This includes state funds and a 10 match by participating providers. The quality of childcare in Cleveland County is being enhanced through our local Partnership for Children's resource & referral agency. 20 providers participated in a 2 hour workshop, "Helping Children Deal with Grief." At $20/hour value, this resulted in an $800 value to all participating providers.

Abasiekong, Nancy - Cleveland: The Extension Basketry Program offers opportunities for teachers and students to extend/increase their income by producing high quality products. Classes are conducted by volunteers for youth and adults at beginner and advanced levels. Students are taught to read and understand the directions, use superior quality materials and use their own creativity to enhance and personalize their products. There is an emphasis on terminology and details that help to improve their craftsmanship and ensure the survival of this heritage skill. The estimated dollar value of the baskets made in class range from 45 - 80. This yields and estimated value of 5,825 for the baskets produced in the classes. Twelve persons reported extending income by making baskets outside the class. The estimated value of these products is $4500. One of the volunteers increases her family income by producing baskets and other items to sell. She markets her handmade items at various festivals

Abasiekong, Nancy - Cleveland: The Extension Basketry Program is a volunteer program that truly makes a difference in the lives of the teachers and students alike. The program was reorganized in 2002 when some of the original volunteers could no longer work due to health problems. This program grew out of the leader training workshops known as Area V Craft Workshops implemented by 5 counties in the SW District. The Cleveland County Basketry Program began around 1995. One of the original volunteers continues to work. Three new volunteers, who are former students, were recruited this year. There is a real dedication, ownership, and commitment to this program as 5 of the 6 classes this year were conducted at night. The teachers have improved in: writing instructions, organizational and team work skills. This is an example of the volunteer and leadership development that is possible when training is encouraged and there is support and supervision

Abasiekong, Nancy - Cleveland: Parents, the child's primary teacher, need to be supported in this key and often challenging, role. Head Start and elementary school parents were trained in parenting styles, effective discipline and how to partner with the school to help their child succeed. Approximately 1000 parents and teachers of preschool children were reached monthly through the Growing Together Newsletter. This is distributed through childcare centers/homes, Head Start, family resource centers, Parents As Teachers and direct mail. Families report they use the newsletters for child development, nutrition, safety information, etc. They also use the calendar of activities to increase the learning and nurturing activities they do with their children and the time spent with them. More families were reached at the Hispanic Resource Fair thought the help of a Spanish speaking volunteer. Approximately 800 families are also reached through the quarterly Successful Families Newsletters. Consumer and family management information is distributed through biweekly

Abasiekong, Nancy - Cleveland: The mission/goal of the Cleveland County Asthma Coalition is to: Increase community awareness of asthma in Cleveland County through a comprehensive public health approach. The strategic plan identifies four objectives and five subcommittees which will help us realize this goal. NCCE is a charter member of the coalition and is providing leadership for the school/childcare subcommittee. We are working with the three school systems in our county to provide in-service training for teachers, school personnel, custodial and maintenance staff in asthma education. Three curricula will be used. ECA Health and Wellness leaders provided asthma education to their members and others in their communities. Over 100 individuals were reached with information on understanding asthma and controlling asthma triggers in the home.

Gibson, Stephen G - Cleveland: For the past 17 years the Cleveland/Gaston Extension field crops program has conducted a long term continuous no-till demonstration on county-owned land. Extension field crops agent Steve Gibson has coordinated this activity. Results of the various demonstrations have been shared with area farmers and with NRCS and other agricultural professionals. In October 2001, the demonstration site was selected for the Soil Quality Tour, held in conjunction with the Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting in Charlotte. The Soil Quality Institute from Auburn and two members of the NCSU Extension Soil Science Department helped the agent showcase what is happening after a number of years of continuous no-till. Also a

local farmer gave his testimony. A total of 85 soil science professionals received new insight on in-field conditions. Participants were from all over the U.S. and from several foreign countries as well.

Gibson, Stephen G - Cleveland: In consumer horticulture, the agent gains experience in dealing with pest problems over the years. This experience is invaluable when clients seek advice on ornamental variety and cultivar selection. Often, certain varieties have such severe pest problems that they should not be planted. In 2001, Steve Gibson responded to many requests for horticultural assistance from Cleveland County homeowners. By conservative estimates he persuaded 10 clients against planting Photenia, 5 against Gardenia, 10 against Euonymus, 15 against Leyland Cypress and 10 against Boxwood. In each of these cases, a nearly pest-free substitute was recommended. Also, 10 homeowners were advised to select mildew resistant Crepe Myrtles and 10 were advised to select lacebug resistant varieties. As a result, a total of 70 clients were able to establish a quality landscape with little or no need for pesticide use.

Gibson, Stephen G - Cleveland: Cleveland County field crops agent Steve Gibson assumed programming responsibility for commercial vegetables when the horticulture agent retired. Steve gained access to the vegetable audience through an agri-supplier

whose clients were complaining about a squash variety not developing normally. Steve and the dealer visited several fields and discovered that the culprit was an inconspicuous insect. Two of the three squash producers involved successfully managed the insect problem based on Extension recommendations. Insect scouting of squash will be a topic for the 2002 vegetable meeting. Steve also used county funds to purchase a plant bed cover which a producer had seen advertised. He distributed the material for testing to three vegetable producers. All reported that wind had destroyed the device early in the growing season. These trials, though seemingly negative, armed the agent with the knowledge to advise against unwise purchases. Both of the above are successful example of how Steve initiated his own vegetable program.

Gibson, Stephen G - Cleveland: Cleveland County agricultural extension agent Steve Gibson serves as the Farmer to Farmer coordinator for the Partners of the Americas Program. His goal is to expose NC producers to agriculture in developing countries. In 2001 he recruited nine travelers from North Carolina. These included a medical doctor at the East Carolina Ag Med Institute, two employees with the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, a university professor, and a farmer. Upon their return home, each traveler interacted with 50 fellow NC citizens for a total of 450 contacts. The program also hosted two Bolivian agricultural workers who visited farms, NCSU, ECU and NC A&T State University. One visited with four NC Congressmen and even addressed the Senate Ag Committee. All total 600 NC citizens and 50 fellow US citizens learned more about the agricultural issues in developing countries.

Gibson, Stephen G - Cleveland: One role of the county agricultural extension agent is to modify crop production recommendations so that they fit local growing conditions and production practices. Such is the case for the spray threshold for the cereal leaf beetle in wheat. The official state recommendations were developed jointly by NC and Virginia entomologists based on a graduate student's work in the tidewater region only, and do not account for traffic damage done by ground operations. The previously developed recommendations for the Cleveland/Gaston County area were the result of the work of 3 agents, and did consider traffic damage caused by spray equipment. The local recommendation allows higher levels of the pest before spraying is justified. If the state recommendations had been used in 2001, half of the 12,000 acres of Cleveland and Gaston wheat would have been treated. Instead, growers used the recommendations and treated only one fifth of the acreage, thereby

Gibson, Stephen G - Cleveland: A hydraulic ram pump is a simple, motorless device for pumping water at low flow rates. It uses the energy of flowing water to lift water from a stream, pond, or spring to an elevated storage tank or to a discharge point. The simple fact that a ram uses no power opens up a world of possibilities for using water that would otherwise flow on downstream. Cleveland County agricultural extension agent Steve Gibson is experimenting with water rams and has constructed several pumps using PVC pipe and fittings available from plumbing supply dealers. Gibson hosted a demonstration field day on April 3, 2002 which was attended by 33 citizens from Cleveland and surrounding counties. Field day participants learned about ram pumps, how and where they work, and how to construct them. Several indicated plans to construct and install their own rams in order to irrigate vegetable crops or water livestock.
Gibson, Stephen G - Cleveland: In 1992, Cleveland County agricultural agent Steve Gibson observed a new pasture and roadside weed and identified it as musk thistle. Shortly thereafter, he responded to an email message from the NCDA Beneficial Insects Division requesting sites to release two weevil species shown in Midwestern states to affectively control the weed. In cooperation with NCDA, Extension made numerous releases of the rosette weevil and later the flower head weevil. In the mid 1990's, Cleveland County Cattleman's Association joined the effort, further spreading the beneficial insects. Slowly but surely, efforts paid off. Gibson monitored several sites where the weed completely disappeared. Boiling Springs Mayor Max Hamrick acknowledged the progress, and was pleased with how two state departments and a local cattleman's association had worked together. Although the weed is still present, it is not the severe problem it once was.

Gibson, Stephen G - Cleveland: Steve Gibson has incorporated a personal interest in hydraulic ram pumps into his work. Ram pumps may become important in watering livestock while keeping animals out of streams. Also, larger pumps can be used in conjunction with trickle irrigation to water small acreages of high value fruit & vegetable crops. Much producer interest has been generated, but unfortunately the 2002 drought prevented many applications. Even so, Steve demonstrated 3 locally fabricated pumps integrated into two setup systems at his home. Five field days were conducted including one in conjunction with our district's county agents meeting. Two vegetable producers have made a commitment to construct and install ram pumps for use in 2003. Technical information was obtained from the NCSU Department of Biological & Ag Engineering and from Warick University in the United Kingdom. Steve also share information with US and Latin American Extensionists during meetings & demonstrations in Guatemala and Bolivia.

Gibson, Stephen G - Cleveland: The rainfall following the devastating drought of 2002 resulted in some unusual insect problems primarily in grass pastures and hay crops but also in alfalfa and soybeans. Cleveland County agricultural agent Steve Gibson responded to more than 100 requests for assistance, making approximately 25 field visits and conducting 3 demonstrations to quantify white grub infestations in pastures. Each situation was different, and Gibson used his knowledge of and experience with IPM as well as predictions of crop performance as a basis for his recommendations. Farmers elected not to use insecticide treatments in more than half of the cases because pests were below threshold or damage had already been done and pests were on the decline. The balance utilized insecticide treatments, many times for white grubs. Farmers who lacked experience with these pests turned to Cooperative Extension for advice in this very unique situation.

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: The Expanded Foods & Nutrition Education Program changes the lives of limited resource families by providing them the information and skills they need to make wise nutrition choices while stretching their food dollar. Cleveland County nutrition program assistant Peggy Jackson often helps her students overcome their reluctance to discuss their food recalls by teaching them that, although considered ""cheap"", dried beans and cornbread are good food choices. Even though their food dollars are limited, program participants learn that they can still purchase inexpensive items like potatoes, cabbage, and carrots, and incorporate them into delicious, healthy meals. They know that meat is expensive, and learn through EFNEP that meat is not a necessity at every meal. Jackson teaches them to incorporate meat substitutes like eggs, dried beans, and peanut butter into their menus. Participants also learn the importance of achieving balanced nutrition by eating daily from each of the food groups.

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: When Cleveland County EFNEP program Peggy Jackson renews an acquaintance with a former program participant, she is often reminded how EFNEP changes lives. Sometimes when the participants are with family or friends, the introduce Peggy as "the food lady". When it is just one-on-one, Peggy often hears what they remember about their EFNEP sessions and how the program has benefited their families. In either case, Peggy is always

glad to hear the highlights of their experience in EFNEP, but more importantly that it was a positive learning experience that can benefit people for a lifetime.

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: In June, 2002, Peggy Jackson markedly enhanced organizational accountability at the county level by collecting data for entry into the Extension Reporting System (ERS). In ERS Section A, Jackson reported 798 face-to-face contacts and 63 non face-to-face contacts during February through June, 2002. She also reported more than 30 structured teaching activities during the same period in ERS Section F. During June, Jackson continued to teach weekly nutrition classes at The Lighthouse (homeless shelter) and Day Treatment Center (substance abuse treatment). Although her students are often under much stress concerning their economic situations or medical problems, they are always receptive to the EFNEP lessons, and eagerly participate in food preparation activities. Through her lessons, Jackson provides

her participants with the information, skills, and encouragement they need to improve the quality of their lives as it relates to foods and nutrition.

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: When Cleveland County EFNEP program assistant Peggy Jackson begins teaching nutrition education classes to parents, she is often distressed about how little they know about the subject. Most are interested in feeding their families as effortlessly as possible, relying on fast foods, pre-cooked foods, and junk foods such as potato chips and cookies. In doing so, they sacrifice nutrition and waste food dollars. Through EFNEP, parents learn that their children can be fed nutrient-rich foods with relatively little effort and expense.

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: Cleveland County EFNEP program assistant Peggy Jackson builds effective partnerships with other agencies and organizations, enabling her to teach the EFNEP curriculum to small groups. For the past several years, an instructor at Cleveland Community College has invited Peggy to teach nutrition education classes to students in her "English as a Second Language" class. The majority of these students are from foreign students, speak little English, and have limited knowledge of basic nutrition. Peggy finds that when she keeps her message simple, these students are attentive and eager to learn.

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: Normally, Cleveland County EFNEP program assistant Peggy Jackson writes a personal success story each month. However, this month, she chooses to salute the Cleveland County Extension staff. The Cleveland County Fair, the largest county fair in North Carolina, is always a big undertaking for the local Extension staff. This year, the fair saluted 4-H on its 100th anniversary and called on the Extension staff to go the extra mile. Many long hours were involved. Each staff member and volunteer used their diverse talents and skills to make the celebration quite grand. All the planning and work was done in a spirit of cooperation and comradery. Job well done!

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: Cleveland County EFNEP program assistant Peggy Jackson contantly strives to enroll new groups into her nutrition education program. During November 2002, she contacted Job Link at the local unemployment office. As she introduced herself to the instructor, he said that he remembered Peggy from an EFNEP class she taught at Cleveland Community College. Without any other discussion, the Job Link instructor wanted to know how soon Peggy could begin EFNEP classes with his group. Peggy finds it encouraging and uplifting to encounter people who have observed her work and who are so positive about EFNEP and her abilities as a teacher.

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: Cleveland County EFNEP program assistant Peggy Jackson continues to teach nutrition education classes at the Lighthouse (homeless shelter). The majority of Lighthouse residents stay at the facility for only a short time. However, those that are there for a longer period of time form bonds similar to that of an extended family. Peggy is pleased that they usually include her in that ""family"" unit. Residents are always requesting a food preparation that they particularly liked. Sometimes when Peggy is repeating a lesson that they have previously heard, they will bring up a point that she has forgotten. Hopefully, when they are back in their own homes, they will practice what they have learned through EFNEP.

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) teaches families with limited incomes how to improve their dietary practices and become more effective managers of available food dollars. Teaching individuals and groups, Cleveland County EFNEP program assistant Peggy Jackson helped 149 citizens increase their knowledge of nutrition. Eighty-seven (87) participants adopted specific practices leading to appropriate diets. These include planning healthy meals, making healthy food choices, preparing foods without adding salt,

reading nutrition labels, and feeding their children breakfast. Fifty-five (55) participants

demonstrated improved food safety practices. Nine (9) participants who were pregnant while attending EFNEP classes sought prenatal care for their unborn infants as a result of their participation in the program.

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: Cleveland County EFNEP Program Assistant Peggy Jackson collaborates with a number of agencies and organizations to identify and recruit her audience and to organize small groups of program participants (teaching nutrition lessons to several persons at one time increases efficiency and productivity). While on a recruitment visit to the Health Department, Peggy made an appointment with a W.I.C. recipient, and began making plans to provide her with one-on-one nutrition lessons in her home. Peggy noticed the student's enthusiasm, but when she arrived at the home for their appointment, was surprised to learn that the student had also invited four of her neighbors to participate in the lessons. Each member of the group had a special need with regard to nutrition education, asking lots of questions about the nutrition label and the fat and sugar content of foods. At the initial visit, they decided to form an EFNEP group and provided

Jackson, Margaret - Cleveland: Cleveland County EFNEP program assistant Peggy Jackson has taught weekly nutrition classes to groups at some agencies for several years. During this time, she has developed effective partnerships and great friendships. These agencies have often treated Jackson as a member of their staffs. Jackson recently notified these agency partners of her plans to retire during the 2003 program year, and was surprised at their genuine dismay that she will no longer be a part of their weekly routine. Everyone probably feels unappreciated for their work at times, so Jackson found it uplifting to realize that she would be missed. It was enough to make Jackson question her decision to retire, but those thoughts quickly passed.

Owen, Lois F - Cleveland: Family and consumer sciences agent Lois Owen collaborated with the Cleveland County Health Department to expand their faith community cardiovascular health initiative. Volunteers from four additional churches were trained to deliver educational programs to members of their congregations on heart-healthy living, focusing specifically on diet and exercise. The initiative enabled Cooperative Extension to deliver research-based information to a geographically- and racially-diverse audience. A "Celebrate Health Day" was held in conjunction with the initiative during June, 2002. Participating church members gathered at the County Extension Center to share a heart healthy lunch and to display the work done by their groups. A heart healthy dessert recipe contest was held. More than 275 persons attended the event.

Owen, Lois F - Cleveland: During 2002, two youth from North Carolina participated in 4-H LABO as exchange students to Japan (one from Cleveland County and one from Macon County). Lois Owen provided orientation training for both students and served as the contact person for this part of the program. Both girls had great experiences abroad. One wrote a two-part article for her local newspaper about her experience. She also put together a newsletter, complete with photographs, and sent it to persons and organizations who had supported her trip. During the orientation, Lois had a friend from Japan visiting her home. Lois involved the friend in teaching the girls some key phrases in Japanese.

Owen, Lois F - Cleveland: When properly prepared, families derive high levels of satisfaction and personal growth from active participation in the 4-H LABO Japanese Exchange Program. During 2002, Lois Owen helped nine NC families gain valuable life skills in the areas of communication, leadership, and diversity through their involvement with LABO. Owen provided orientation training and support to the host families from southwestern North Carolina, better preparing them to host Japanese youth and their chaperones for the three week home stay. She also loaned books and provided resource materials, and joined some of the host families at the Bon Odori Japanese celebration in Charlotte, NC. In today's world, peace depends on people understanding,

appreciating, and accepting persons from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The 4-H LABO Japanese Exchange provides this opportunity.

Owen, Lois F - Cleveland: Food service providers in Cleveland County are improving their food handling practices, thanks to Extension family and consumer sciences agent Lois Owen. During 2002, fifty three (53) restaurant employees participated in ServSafe, an intensive food safety training and certification program coordinated by NC Cooperative Extension. After completing the training, program participants achieved certification by scoring 75% or higher on an exam which was graded by the National Restaurant Association. The average score for the 2002 participants was 86.5. Through their participation in ServSafe, food service providers are learning safe food handling practices, thereby reducing the risk of foodborne illness.

Owen, Lois F - Cleveland: NC Cooperative Extension joined Cleveland Community College, Cleveland Regional Medical Center, Cleveland County Family YMCA, and the Shelby Star in sponsoring Woman's World '02. The event, held during October 2002 on the campus of Cleveland Community College, was the seventh annual community-wide health fair designed especially for women. More than 700 participants received a variety of health screenings and gained valuable information on women's health issues. Seminars and 50 educational booths were a highlight of the Fair. Cooperative Extension's exhibits focused on bone health, osteoporosis, and strength training. Extension's involvement with Woman's World has provided many additional opportunities to collaborate with other agencies to improve the quality of life for Cleveland County women and their families. Woman's World is a preventive health initiative which makes a major contribution to the wellness in the local community.

Owen, Lois F - Cleveland: Family and consumer sciences agent Lois Owen collaborated with the Cleveland County Health Department to deliver the Color Me Healthy curriculum to child care providers during 2002. Cleveland County Child Care Connections promoted the training. The Color Me Healthy curriculum is designed to help child care providers serve as role models in helping kids in their centers adopt good food habits and increase levels of physical activity. Participants indicated that the quality of the training was excellent; that the materials were better than anything they had received in training before; that they were going to begin using these resource materials immediately; and that the kids would love to do the Color Me Healthy activities. The program is expected to improve the health and wellness of more than 500 children enrolled at the various child care centers represented at the training sessions.

Owen, Lois F - Cleveland: Family and consumer sciences agent Lois Owen served as a member of the planning committee to develop a health and benefits fair for all Cleveland County employees. The event provided health screenings, health-related educational information and a heart-healthy meal for more than 600 county employees. Lois used an interactive CD and educational displays to inform participants on healthy diet and lifestyles, bone health, osteoporosis, and strength training. Through their participation in the health fair, county employees are learning strategies for improving wellness and quality of life. Cleveland County benefits from a

healthier, more productive workforce, reduced illness-related absenteeism, and lower health

insurance premiums.

Owen, Lois F - Cleveland: Developing educational exhibits for the Cleveland County Fair provides Extension and Community Association members opportunities to extend the extension research-based information they have learned to a large audience. Each year more than 150,000 persons from Cleveland and surrounding counties attend the 10 day event. Current consumer issues and topics are researched and developed for the exhibits. Topics for 2002 included water conservation, diabetes awareness, identity theft protection, checking suspicious mail, end of life decisions and benefits of exercise. The informational handout with the water conservation exhibit provided useful information at a time when the area's water supply was critically low.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Cleveland County EFNEP Program Assistant Peggy Jackson collaborates with a number of agencies and organizations to identify and recruit her audience and to organize small groups of program participants (teaching nutrition lessons to several persons at one time increases efficiency and productivity). While on a recruitment visit to the Health Department, Peggy made an appointment with a W.I.C. recipient, and began making plans to provide her with one-on-one nutrition lessons in her home. Peggy noticed the student's enthusiasm, but when she arrived at the home for their appointment, was surprised to learn that the student had also invited four of her neighbors to participate in the lessons. Each member of the group had a special need with regard to nutrition education, asking lots of questions about the nutrition label and the fat and sugar content of foods. At the initial visit, they decided to form an EFNEP group and provided input on selecting the lessons they needed most. They will meet on Fridays to learn more about foods, wise food shopping, and to prepare new recipes.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Cleveland County extension director Greg Traywick collaborated with coworkers Steve Gibson and Florence Brooks and 4-H volunteer leaders to provide 22 youth with an educational program on the eastern bluebird on Saturday, March 2, 2002. Participants learned about the biology of the eastern bluebird, each constructed a nesting box, and learned how to install it properly to ensure fledgling survival. Five nesting boxes were fitted with weatherproof signs carrying the 4-H emblem and were donated to the Broad River Greenway, a 448-acre public recreational green space bordering the Broad River south of Boiling Springs. Nest boxes were installed adjacent to picnic areas trails in support of environmental stewardship and to provide increased visibility for the local 4-H program. Youth incorporated the hands-on learning activity into their ongoing wildlife and citizenship project work.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Cleveland County extension director Greg Traywick collaborated with ABS Global, Cleveland County Cattlemen's Association, and Shelby Livestock Yard to coordinate an intensive three-day artificial insemination school for local cattlemen. Sixteen (16) beef and dairy producers from Cleveland, Rutherford, Gaston, McDowell and Cherokee Counties attended the school, conducted March 28-30, 2002. By participating in 24 hours of instruction, which included classroom training and significant hands-on practice, students gained the knowledge and skills necessary to implement successful artificial insemination programs in their own herds. All sixteen participants passed their proficiency exam, received course certificates, and rated the program highly in course evaluations.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Cleveland County Extension staff members Greg Traywick, Nancy Abasiekong, and Florence Brooks conducted a beginner basketmaking class for 4-H youth on March 18-21, 2002. Fifteen children and youth participated in the workshop. Basketweaving stimulates motor, sensory and intellectual activity, thereby promoting the development of hand-eye coordination, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Each child, working with a volunteer instructor at his/her own pace, acquires self-reliance and self discipline. The

joint activities of the youth foster courtesy, consideration of others, neatness, order and

discipline.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Cleveland County extension director Greg Traywick assisted landowners Wayne Hamrick and Plastic Oddities (a small industry) in eradicating weeds from their farm ponds. After collecting samples, Traywick worked with aquatic weed control specialist Dr. Stratford Kay to positively identify the plant as hydrilla, an aquatic weed that forms dense mats that interfere with fishing, boating, swimming, and water intakes. Hydrilla is difficult and expensive to control. Traywick helped Hamrick and industry representatives evaluate various strategies for eradicating the weed and preventing its spread to other bodies of water. Pond owners purchased and released sixty triploid grass carp on April 14, 2002. These fish, which are expected to eradicate the hydrilla over the next three to four years, eliminated the need for herbicides, which could hamper use of the ponds for fishing and irrigation.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Kenneth Self manages a 12-acre hay field in upper Cleveland County, producing square-bale fescue hay for sale to horse owners. When problem weeds invaded his field, Self contacted NC Cooperative Extension for assistance. Cleveland County extension director Greg Traywick assisted Self in identifying the weeds, which included brackenfern (toxic to livestock) and butterflyweed (tough to control). Extension crop science specialists Fred Yelverton and Leon Warren provided herbicide recommendations. With Extension assistance, Self has begun eradicating the weeds from his hay field, thereby improving the quality, value, and safety of his cash crop.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Cleveland County homeowner Roger Crowe lives on a beautiful wooded site complete with a small farm pond, but his privacy was threatened when DeKalb Street was widened to four lanes. To create a visual screen and noise barrier, Crowe planted a row of Leyland Cypress trees on the edge of his property. These trees grew beautifully for several years, but when the center of the row started dying, he contacted NC Cooperative Extension for assistance. With help from NC State's Plant Disease & Insect Clinic, extension director Greg Traywick diagnosed the problem as Armillaria root rot, a fungal disease that was spreading slowly, threatening the health of the entire row. Following Extension recommendations, Crowe removed the affected trees, excavated the root bed to remove the fungus-infected stumps and roots, and planted Armillaria-resistant cryptomeria and holly. This added interest to the landscape, restored privacy to his home, and likely saved him from losing mature landscape trees valued at more than $7,000.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: NC Cooperative Extension receives numerous calls each year from citizens who are experiencing vole damage in their lawns and gardens. We explain the biology of these rodents, the nature of the damage they cause, and generally recommend that they treat with the rodenticide Rozol?. Some citizens call back in frustration after checking with several pesticide dealers, indicating that Rozol? is not available, or that they have been told that it is illegal to use the product in North Carolina. Cleveland County extension director Greg Traywick addressed this issue by developing a detailed memorandum which was sent to all pesticide dealers in the County. It clarified the legal concerns surrounding use of Rozol? in North Carolina, provided detailed instructions for using the rodenticide successfully, and encouraged dealers to educate their customers on proper use of the bait. Several dealers called the Extension Center to express their appreciation for the information and began stocking Rozol?. The number of return calls from frustrated citizens was also markedly reduced.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: There is a growing interest in meat goat production in North Carolina, but persons new to the industry often lack confidence in performing essential animal management and husbandry skills. Cleveland County extension director Greg Traywick conducted a series of live animal demonstrations, teaching more than 60 producers the basics of foot trimming, castration, dehorning, and administration of animal health products. These producers are successfully applying these skills, thereby improving herd health, animal performance, and profitability.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: NC Cooperative Extension collaborated with the Cleveland County Extension and Community Association to plan and conduct a consumer horticulture seminar for the general public as a part of the Association's environmental issues programming area. More than 60 persons attended the seminar, learning principles applicable to patio/container gardening and general landscape maintenance. Topics included plant selection, installation, fertilization, watering, pruning, and pest management.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: During the summer of 2002, Cleveland County experienced the most severe drought in history, presenting a complexity of problems for gardeners. Fruits and vegetable plantings, home lawns, ornamentals, and trees encountered experienced significant environmental stress and were affected by a range of drought-related insect and disease problems. NC Cooperative Extension used a number of strategies including mass media, home and office visits, and telephone consultation, to educate the public about these problems and how to deal with them. More than 500 gardeners utilized Extension resources to enhance plant growth and performance, make judicious use of available water, and to identify, prevent and successfully manage pest problems.
Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: NC Cooperative Extension collaborated with the Cleveland County Fair to salute the 4-H Youth Development Program on its centennial celebration. In addition to a number of marketing activities and activities for alumni, the Fair provided a number of opportunities for youth to demonstrate and compete with their 4-H projects. Junior animal science projects produced $16,942 in premium winnings: 16 meat goat exhibitors earned $930; 49 sheep exhibitors earned $2,815; 35 horse exhibitors earned $2,890; 14 dairy exhibitors earned $4,015; 54 beef exhibitors earned $5,905; and 18 rabbit exhibitors earned $387. One hundred thirty-seven (137) youth participated in the Junior Department, winning $3,250 in premiums, and 198 children ages 5-8 exhibited entries in the non-competitive Participation Division, earning $371. Five 4-H clubs constructed educational booths, earning an additional $625 to support their club activities.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Cleveland County served as host county for 2002 Southwest District 4-H Activity Day, relying on the total staff and numerous volunteers to plan and conduct the event. Five hundred and five (505) persons from across the district participated in the activity, designed to help youth develop and refine their communication and decision-making skills.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Cleveland County extension director assisted Jaqueline Bridges, a young black female from the Cliffside area, in getting established in the Angora Goat and fine-wooled sheep business (an alternative agricultural enterprise). After successfully mastering basic animal husbandry practices, including shearing techniques, Jacqueline has increased her personal income through the sale of hand-woven goods and by marketing high quality fleeces to hand spinners and weavers throughout western and Piedmont North Carolina.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Shelby is home to the largest agricultural county fair in NC, which boasted an attendance of 165,050 during 2002. The Fair serves as an excellent venue for showcasing agriculture and for marketing NCCE to the public. This year, the Fair saluted 4-H on its Centennial Celebration and called on the local Extension staff to assist with planning and promotion. With input from its ALS, the staff adopted four major celebration-related projects and engaged dozens of volunteers in carrying them out. Abasiekong coordinated media coverage and construction of a 4-H Memory Wall, telling the rich history of 4-H in Cleveland County through news clippings, photographs, personal accounts, and memorabilia. Brooks & Gibson coordinated a 30 x 60 foot tent filled with 4-H educational and marketing displays. Owen coordinated an Alumni Celebration. Alumni and former Extension workers shared their 4-H memories, and former 4-H agents were honored for their dedication and hard work. Traywick made 4-H visible to fairgoers by decorating Dorton Exhibit Hall and the fair grounds. Because of these efforts, interest in the local 4-H Program has peaked. NCCE is better positioned to channel the volunteer resources to grow the program and make it highly successful.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: The entire Extension staff took ownership in planning and conducting a Volunteer Appreciation Banquet, held Friday, August 16, 2002 at the Cleveland County Extension Center. The staff identified and invited more than 100 key volunteers who had been instrumental in our success during the past year. These included ALS members, ECA leaders, master volunteer instructors, 4-H leaders & supporters, program sponsors, representatives of partner agencies and organizations, farmers, and media representatives. Volunteers' names were included in a printed program, and staff developed displays showing volunteers in action in their various roles.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Cleveland County has experienced drought for four consecutive summers, severely affecting the quality and performance of cool-season permanent pastures. Affected by hot dry weather, insects, and overgrazing, damaged fescue became displace by common Bermuda grass, crabgrass, and broadleaf weeds. Many producers faced a severe shortage of forage for their livestock. County extension director Greg Traywick provided information an assistance to more than 50 producers, enabling them to renovate more than 5,000 acres of permanent pasture. Twelve producers planted more than 200 acres of drought-resistant pasture grasses including Tifton 44 and World Feeder hybrid Bermuda grass, thereby extending the grazing season and increasing forage yield on their farms by more than two tons per acre (estimated value $40,000).

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: Devastated by the drought of 2002, many Cleveland County beef producers and horse owners were unable to produce adequate forage. With winter hay supplies running low, they were faced with either having to sell animals or purchasing hay to feed them. County extension director Greg Traywick helped more than 30 producers locate and purchase the hay they needed from out-of-county. He also collaborated with the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to arrange for free transport of hay for some growers under the department's Hay Alert Program. With Extension assistance, many growers were able to avert disaster and to procure the inputs needed to remain profitable and secure in their livestock enterprises.

Traywick, Greg B - Cleveland: In Cleveland County, Greg Traywick and Nancy Abasiekong met regularly with leaders in Kingstown, a predominantly African-American township, to identify needs and issues in their community. As a result of these meetings, Kingstown received a $20,000 Kellogg grant through NC A&T State University and are using the funds to support the development of a community-based computer learning center. The center will provided the resources (facility, equipment, personnel) to help middle school students develop the skills they need to pass the computer proficiency examination and to achieve Level 3 or 4 on their end of grade exams. Eight key leaders from Kingstown are actively participating in Voices Reaching Visions, an intensive leadership and community development curriculum developed by NCA&T. These leaders will be utilizing what they learn from Voices Reaching Visions to empower the residents of Maple Valley and Shoal Creek to shape the quality of life in their communities.

Dockery, Dalton B - Columbus: This year I had a call from the Waccamaw Shores a retirement home for the elderly. They had several of the residence that were disabled and in wheel chairs but had a interest in gardening. I could not resist the opportunity to help them. So some way some how I knew I had to help these people. So we(residences, administration and I) started coming up with ideas. The group decide that we would make raised beds, with 4 foot legs on them. They would be high enough that people in wheel chairs could work in them. Within a month we had 2 beds built and filled them with top soil. The residents of the retirement homes brought there transplants and began planting there vegetables. You could not imagine the smiles on these individuals faces. As a result of the success of this project the NC Cooperative Extension Service is continually be promoted as an organization that meets the needs of all the citizens in Columbus County.

Dockery, Dalton B - Columbus: I visited with Mr. A.J. Green of Cerro Gordo NC, he is a young man that is paralyzed from waist from being in a car accident. Because of his disability he is on a fixed income. He called me with a question about controlling insects and diseases in his landscape. Well I decided to I would go and visit him. His landscape was tremendous and I felt that it was really to large for him to handle. So while I was there I took the time to tell him how he could control his problems with the help of insecticides , herbicides and fungicides. He was very appreciative that the extension service took the time to provided this type of service especially with him being disabled. It was very gratifying to know that in a small way we probably made a major positive impact in this individuals somewhat difficult life.

Dockery, Dalton B - Columbus: This year I received a call from Habitat for Humanity. They has just completed building a house for a low income family and were in need of advice on landscaping. Funding was limited so they were not sure if they would be able to get the home landscaped for the new family that would be moving in. The Columbus County Master Gardeners saw this as an great opportunity to help this organization to do something wonderful for this needy family. The Master Gardeners designed and landscaped the home without charging them anything for the labor. This saved Habitat for humanity and the new homeowners at least $500. This also strengthen the ties between Habitat for Humanity and the NC Cooperative Extension service.

Dockery, Dalton B - Columbus: I had several homeowners that contacted me about wanting to purchase peach trees in the county at a reasonable price. They did not want to pay $8 per tree at a retail outlet. So I immediately contacted the NC Seed Foundation located in Zebulon. I new that they sold peach trees at a reduced price. After making contact with them I was able to get the trees for $3.00 a piece and even cheaper if there was a combined order of more than 100 trees. Needless to say the word spread pretty quickly and we had numerous homeowners calling in to order peach trees. We saved these consumers an average of $15.00 a piece. This was a great success and the positive marketing that the NCCES received from this was tremendous.

Dockery, Dalton B - Columbus: I received a phone call from Mr. Williamson who is the Horticulture teacher at East Columbus High School. He was calling in reference to a problem he was having with his Horticulture class. He was interested in entering the students in a Horticulture competition but felt that in some areas he did not have enough training. He wanted some help in training and preparing his students for these events. I saw this as opportunity not only to help the students but also Mr. Williamson. So I coordinated with him and set up a training with him and the students. We covered plant I.D. diseases, insects and weeds. It was successful they placed 1st in the county and 3rd in the district competitions. Mr. Williamson continues to rely heavily on the NC Cooperative Extension Service. This was a great success for the Extension Service.
Dockery, Dalton B - Columbus: I received a phone call from Miss Singletary she is an elderly lady who stays by herself in the Abbottsburg community. She was concerned about her brothers yard not having any shade trees. Her brother lives in Maryland and visited on a regular basis. It was here hearts desire to plant trees in her brothers yard. However she new nothing about the different types of trees or there spacing as far as there distances between the house and the trees themselves. I saw this as a teachable moment, and took advantage of this. We correctly picked out trees suitable for this area and we spaced and planted them together. Miss Singletary continues to spread the word about the NC Cooperative Extension Service. Because she did not have to call a landscaping company she saved at least $200. This was a great success for the NC Cooperative Extension Service.

McCain, Carolyn - Columbus: The Bogue Community Citizen Organization was awarded a grant in the amount of $18,500. The funding comes from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Extension Program. The need for the grant arose from the requirement of the Bogue Community to have a facility to accommodate their After-school tutoring, Summer-feeding programs, and Health fairs. Through partnering with the Columbus County Cooperative Extension Center, the youth in the community will have access to the 4-H Programs, as well as, other extension programs. The community will experience an immediate benefit from the construction of the Bogue Community Enrichment Center, which will provide space for learning, nourishment, and information.

McCain, Carolyn - Columbus: A single mother, age twenty, with four children, opened a savings account as a result of training received during a Parenting Class, in which Family Resource Management was emphasized. The savings account has continued to grow. She originally thought that she had no available money to save. Her objective for saving was to obtain her own residence and purchase home furnishings. She has successfully moved from her mother's home and has her own house with furnishings.

McCain, Carolyn - Columbus: A Medicare recipient was denied reimbursement for Cardiac Rehabilitation. She appealed her case several times and was denied each time. I sorted through all her paperwork and we worked through the process together. It took several telephone calls, a few faxes but we were successful in having her Medicare claim granted retroactively (1,736.00). After going through this process, I had no trouble in recruiting her to become a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) volunteer in Columbus County. She is very active in counseling other seniors regarding health insurance.

Parker, Milton B - Columbus: Linkup with Southeastern Community College is a

success. Partnering and networking took place among the CES,SCC Small Business Center, N.C. Food Policy Council, NCDA and N.C.A and T SU. Teamwork concentrated on a day long Alternative Crops School to address the need for transitioning tobacco producers to alternative crop enterprises such as raspberries and greenhouse vegetables. As a result of attending the school 6 growers are planning to implement new crops. Several growers

shared their success with raspberries. As a result of a survey and evaluation, a 2nd collaborative School will be conducted.

Parker, Milton B - Columbus: Alternative crops continue to increase in Robeson and Columbus counties. Strawberry plasticulture acreage has increased. Three strawberry producers

utilized floating row covers to protect their 2002 crop from damaging frost and freeze in

2002 Program Success Highlights