Johnston County
State ESP County Performance Award
Teamwork is the key to the success of the Johnston County Extension staff in implementing a total Extension program. Some examples of how the members of the Johnston County Extension staff work together include newsletters, news releases about Extension events, news articles for the Harvest Edition of the Smithfield Herald, Extension involvement at County Festivals (such as Smithfield's Ham and Yam Festival, Benson's Mule Days, Selma's Railroad Days,) Summer Youth Programs (including the Environmental Camp, New Technology Camp, Farm to Table Cooking and other 4-H Day camps), and the Report to Johnston County Commissioners.
Here are a few specific examples of the teamwork used by the Johnston County staff.
- Extension Staff Retreat - All staff members assisted in planning the retreat.
- Johnston County Youth Livestock Show and Sale - All staff members assisted with activities from setting up the arena, working in the food concessions, to clerking the sale. Staff members also assist with the Youth Tobacco Sale.
- Nurseryman’s Marketing Tour and Trade Show - Staff members helped with all aspects including set-up, programming, and meals.
- Newsletters and a weekly Agricultural Report news column and an active Agribusiness Council are joint efforts among 4 staff members working in Agriculture.
- Stormwater Wetland - Staff members worked together in planting over 2000 wetland plants in a constructed wetland located on a high school campus.
- Extension Advisory Council Tour and Meeting - All staff members participated.
- Johnston County Employee and Family Picnic - Initiated by Cooperative Extension several years ago, staff members coordinated the event at the Johnston County Livestock Arena, made sponsor banners, organized activities and helped with set-up and clean-up.
- Birthdays of Staff Members - We all celebrate by taking the person having the birthday out to lunch.
- Horn Of Plenty - In 2000 staff members purchased and prepared baked sweetpoatoes.
As a result of teamwork the Johnston County Extension staff has been able to expand their programming efforts to provide the residents of Johnston County with the latest up-to-date research based information. They serve as a vital community link to the university. The local Extension Center is recognized as the North Carolina State University Campus in Johnston County.
Working together and utilizing university and local resources, staff members have documented the following impacts.
- Eleven High School Seniors received $3750 in scholarship money for Higher Education
- Residents of the Neuse River watershead have a cleaner environment due to the removal of 90 pounds of nitrogen by the stormwater Wetlands on the SSSHS Campus.
- Over 600 Johnston County residents received information on the care of their lawns, garden, and landscape by Extension trained Master Gardener Volunteers
- Over 4000 youths are benefiting from nutrition & physical education materials through 212 of their teachers attending and participating in the Be Active Kids training program.
- Twenty-five restaurant and cafeteria managers improved their food handling skills by attending and participating in the Serv-Safe safe food handling course.
- Fifty-nine senior citizens learned how to improve their health and nutritional status by participating in Partners-n-Wellness.
- Six hundred twenty (620) members of 21 4-H Clubs learned life skills education and participated in community service activities during 2000-2001
- Over 85% of the 138 youth livestock participants have put aside the profits from the show & sale to go toward their education beyond high school
- Ninety-six (96) applicators of liquid Swine Waste met their educational credit hours over the require this year period.
- 35 Goat producers are organized and working toward a marketing program.
2001 ESP Awards
Xi Chapter ESP
