Kerrie Roach, Horticultural Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, prepares a potted plant as she gets ready for the annual plant sale which is sponsored by the Robeson County Master Gardeners.

I am pleased to be able to use this column to announce the most recent addition to the staff of Cooperative Extension in Robeson County. Mrs. Kerrie Roach joined our staff on April 1 as Extension Horticultural Agent.

Mrs. Roach grew up on a small farm in Orleans County, New York. She developed an early interest in ornamental plants because of her work on the farm and because of the projects she was involved with as a member of 4-H and FFA.

The long northern winters did not allow her enough time to enjoy her plants, and the summers were too short for many gardening and landscaping activities. So when she finished high school, she was determined to move south where the winters were mild and plants could be grown more than just a couple of months each year.

Kerrie is a recent graduate of Clemson University where she received her bachelor's degree in horticulture and her master's degree in agricultural education. While attending college, she returned home during the summers and worked in the Orleans County Cooperative Extension office as a 4-H Summer Assistant. In this role, she helped 4-H members get ready for their county fair and assisted them with many of their local and state 4-H events. She also assisted agricultural agents as they worked with Master Gardeners, farmers, and homeowners in the area. As she worked toward completing her advanced degree, she worked in the lawn and garden center for Lowe's Home Center near Clemson, South Carolina.

Kerrie's husband recently accepted a job as irrigation specialist with one of the major golf resorts in the area. To share equally in the commute to their work, she and her husband have decided to live in the Raeford area.

In her new role, Kerrie will be responsible for Extension's educational program for both commercial and consumer horticulture. She will work directly with Jeff Floyd, Extension Agricultural Technician, to assist growers in the county in the production, management, and marketing of fresh fruits and vegetables. She will help them learn more about developing value-added products from the commodities they produce and how to implement sustainable practices and alternative commodities into their farm operations.

In her role with consumer horticulture, she will provide information and assistance to homeowners and others related to lawns, ornamentals, turf, landscapes, urban forestry, community pest management, and home gardening. She will serve as coordinator for the current Master Gardener Program and will teach future Master Gardener classes. She will also serve as pesticide educator for turf and ornamentals and will provide assistance to commercial landscapers and lawn maintenance companies.

One of the first projects Kerrie is becoming involved with is the plant sale that is conducted each year as the annual fundraiser for the Robeson County Master Gardeners. This year's plant sale will be held Saturday, April 25, in the parking lot in front of Cox Quality Home Furnishings on Fayetteville Road in Lumberton.

This plant sale is unique in that all of the plants offered for sale will be from the yards and gardens of the members of the Master Gardeners. Many Master Gardeners are well known for their beautiful landscapes, so it will be a treat to be able to purchase plant materials from their landscapes. All plants will be sold for $2 each, which is a real bargain, because some of them are highly desirable and would be very expensive if purchased from a commercial plant nursery. The sale starts at 7 a.m. and lasts until all plants are sold.

The Robeson County Master Gardeners use this plant sale each year to raise funds to support their educational projects across the county. Many of their activities are conducted to help beautify this county and to help people develop a greater appreciation for horticultural plants and a healthy environment.

Come to the Master Gardener Plant Sale on April 25 to buy some plants and to meet Kerrie Roach. If you can't get to the plant sale, call the Extension Center or stop by for a visit and welcome Kerrie to Robeson County.

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 06/08/09