Northampton County
State ESP County Performance Award

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Staff Cooperation:
The Northampton County Cooperative Extension Center provides a high degree of researched based information to the citizens of Northampton County. A strong Extension Advisory Leadership System forms the basis for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Northampton County Extension program.

The strength and positive support that Cooperative Extension receives from Northampton County is due to the efforts of a strong Extension team consisting of five extension agents, four program assistants, and three secretaries. Teamwork is not an occasional occurrence with the Northampton CES staff. Teamwork forms the basis of how extension work is accomplished in Northampton County. This teamwork begins with customer service as all of the staff strive to respond to persons that walk through the Extension Center door, call, or ask for assistance in the community with the attitude of "Yes, we can help you."

Hurricane Isabel recently provided a need that resulted in the Northampton Extension team demonstrating excellence in response to a need. Within a twenty-four hour period, Extension developed and executed a plan to provide rural distribution of emergency food, water, and ice to eight isolated communities. Craig Ellison, Agriculture Agent, served as the project leader. Extension agents reported to work while county government was closed to develop the plan. Each Extension staff member accepted a key communication role in securing community locations and volunteers. Farmers provided trucks, trailers, and flat beds, as well as volunteer labor to load and transport the supplies. Extension staff served as the key contact persons at the delivery sites to coordinate the distribution of the products. The distribution process took place at eight sights for two consecutive days. Two distribution sites continued the project for two additional days. The Cooperative Extension Emergency Supplies Rural Distribution project resulted in the delivery of 10,072 ready to eat meals, 9,300 bottles of water, and 12,750 pounds of ice.

Farm Safety Day Camp has become a traditional program in Northampton County. Verlene Stephenson, Family and Consumer Education Agent, serves as the day camp organizer. The 4-H Agent coordinates the registration and teen 4-H volunteers to support the camp. Agriculture Agents, Program Assistants, and the County Director serve as instructors or teaching session leaders to provide educational experiences at specific sessions during the camp. Each year the camp is held on a Saturday in June. The average attendance is 90 children and parents.

Animal Agriculture Day is another event that demonstrates strong extension team effort. Animal Agriculture Day provides a hands-on learning experience for all fourth graders in the county. Heather Lifsey, Agriculture Agent, coordinates the project. All other agents and program assistants either serve as instructors or event facilitators. All secretaries play a vital role in registration, preparing packages for the teachers, and formatting the event schedule. This event also provides significant opportunity for the agriculture supporters and school administration to observe the Extension faculty and staff actively engaged in providing education.

Additional evidence supporting staff teamwork include: all staff assisting with peanut pod -blasting; all staff involved in coaching 4-H presentations and presenting awards at the county 4-H achievement program; staff support and involvement in the Extension sponsored Northampton Institute of Leadership Development.

II. Resource Utilization:
"Resourceful" is the key word to describe the Northampton Cooperative Extension staff. Public and private community partners provided $56,102 in contributions to enhance Cooperative Extension Program delivery in 2002. These contributions made up 57.10% of the program support resources for 2002. Program support consists of sponsorship of events, community grants, contributions of supplies and cash dollars to enhance extension program delivery. This community support continues to grow. The 2003 community financial support will exceed the 2002 contributions. Northampton County Government provided 33.64% of the Northampton program support. The Cooperative Extension budget in Northampton County has continued to receive steady support in very lean economic times. Examples of the resourcefulness of Extension Staff include: Heather Lifsey securing a grant form the Roanoke Electric Membership Cooperation to support Animal Agriculture Day; and Verlene Stephenson obtaining a grant from the Northampton Partnership for Children to conduct a teen parenting program.

III. Program Impacts:
The Extension program is creating significant impact in the lives of Northampton County citizens. CES partnered with the Economic Development Commission and Farm Bureau to draft a "Voluntary Agriculture District Ordinance." This ordinance will help non-farm residents to be aware of the practices that are a part of a farming enterprise. The ordinance will also foster land use planning that supports the continuation of the 102 million dollar annual agriculture income that drives the county's economy. Peanut pod blasting provided by the extension program resulted in increased agriculture income of $184,680 for the 3420 acres checked. In a county with three times the North Carolina rate of death from diabetes, Cooperative Extension is assisting citizens with making positive choices in managing their diabetes. The 45 participants in Extension diabetes education classes indicated that they gained practical skills and information that they would apply to preparing foods and making positive choices to manage their diabetes. The Extension sponsored Northampton Institute of Leadership Development has resulted in an ongoing project to support teacher retention and recruitment. Through Extension sponsored education on economic literacy, participants in the Individual Development Account program are acquiring home ownership and starting small businesses. Cooperative Extension is also providing key education for swine industry producers that results in improved management practices and environmental stewardship.