The Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service has been buzzing with activity during the last three months. Already this year, our Agricultural Agents have been involved in:

• training over 300 local citizens in the proper use of pesticides, so they can renew their pesticide license
• conducting a 15-week series of Master Gardener classes
• conducting waste certification training for local animal producers
• writing countless waste management plans for new poultry producers
• conducting forestry educational meetings
• coordinating a rapidly expanding Beekeepers Association
• coordinating a Pesticide Container Recycling Day
• and much more

Our 4-H Staff has:

• provided public speaking competition for almost 100 youth
• worked with more than 30 elementary school teachers to provide embryology in their classrooms for hands-on learning experiences
• signed up almost 100 campers as they prepare for 4-H summer camp
• coordinated almost 40 4-H community and special interest clubs scattered throughout the county

Our Family and Consumer Science Staff are:

• providing several healthy foods educational meetings to help our citizens deal with health issues such as diabetes, obesity, and heart problems
• networking with several agencies to teach parenting skills, stress management, and how to manage the family budget
• teaching some of the BAE courses at Robeson Community College

I mention all this to say that even with the many educational activities provided by our staff; the many news articles provided by our staff that you read in local and regional newspapers almost every day; this column that, hopefully, you read every week; and Susan Noble's healthy foods column which, hopefully, you read in this newspaper at least twice a month, it is surprising the number of people who do not know about the Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Who are we, and what do we do?

Some people think our agency is a branch of USDA, just like the Farm Service Agency. Others think we are a part of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Actually, Cooperative Extension is a field office of the Land-Grant Universities in North Carolina. We are an extension of North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University, right here in your county. Cooperative Extension is not a regulatory agency. We do not enforce any of the federal or state regulations established for agriculture, foods, safety, or health.

Cooperative Extension is an educational agency. Our agents are field faculty for the Land-Grant Universities and, as such, are responsible for providing informal, research-based, unbiased education for the citizens of this county. We do not teach in a formal classroom, and our students are not required to attend any of our activities. There is a Cooperative Extension Center just like ours in every county in North Carolina and in every county in the United States.

Our classrooms are in the fields of our local farmers as they try to learn how to most effectively apply the latest research and technology. Our classrooms are around the kitchen tables of homemakers as they strive to learn more about the topics that will help them deal with their everyday problems. Our classrooms are in the homes of families with young children as they involve these youth in 4-H, so they can be more productive adults as they grow older.

Cooperative Extension is designed to help the citizens of Robeson County best address their needs and the issues they face each day. More than 200 volunteers serve on specialized advisory committees that are coordinated by our agents. These volunteers share their own concerns and needs, as well as the concerns and needs of their friends and neighbors, so our staff can best develop a proactive program to provide these individuals with the knowledge and education they need to properly address their needs and issues. Our staff reacts to local needs and issues, not to state or federal programs that may not be appropriate for the people of this county.

Cooperative Extension focuses on five major areas that are supported on a state level with resources and specialists on the campuses of the Land-Grant Universities to support the field faculty. Each of these are broad issues that are faced by virtually all citizens of the state.

Enhancing agriculture, forest, and food systems is critical, so we can make sure our farmers stay as productive and as profitable as possible. If our farmers are better able to adapt to new technology and can better understand how to apply appropriate research, they will be better able to provide the foods and fibers we will need in the future.

Building quality communities is essential if we want to improve our quality of life, especially in rural counties like Robeson. Strong and well-informed citizens that take the leadership in solving their own problems result in strong and thriving communities.

Conserving and improving the environment and natural resources is an issue that we all should be concerned with. Whether we are farmers, homeowners, or just concerned citizens, we should treasure our environment. Until our scientists prove differently, this is the only world we have. We need to treat it with respect.

Strengthening and sustaining families, especially those undergoing difficult times, better prepares our citizens for the future. Social issues and family issues can best be dealt with when citizens fully understand, appreciate, and deal with the forces that create these issues.

And finally,developing responsible youth is our entire future. Whether we involve youth in constructive learning opportunities through organized 4-H clubs, with hands-on learning in the classroom, or with broad-based community youth activities, we, as adults, are responsible for training our youth to properly care for our society once we are gone.

Cooperative Extension is conveniently located in Robeson County for your benefit. Our offices are located at the O. P. Owens Agriculture Center, adjacent to the Robeson County Health Department,on Highway 72 West, Lumberton. There is no cost for using the services of this agency. If you are not currently using these services, I encourage you to learn more about who we are and what we do. We bring the universities to you; right to your farm, your home, or your work.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 10/10/05