What is NC Cooperative Extension?

We are more than cows and corn.

NC Cooperative Extension is Randolphs Countys link to the two land-grant universities in North Carolina (NC State and NC A&T). Land-grant universities have three parts to their mission: education, research and extension. NC Cooperative Extension extends research-based knowledge to all North Carolinians, helping them transform science into everyday solutions that improve their lives and grow our state.

Why Cooperative Extension?

Essential to extensions mission to grow the state is our collaboration with the US Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), NC State University, NC A&T State University and local (county) governments across the state. This strategic partnership and cooperation are why it is called Cooperative Extension.

Statewide, our funding is 14% federal, 36% state, 25% county and 25% other (grants, contracts donations etc). It is truly a cooperative effort to offer our services to North Carolina residents.

History of success: Then and now

In 1909, information was shared through a Boys Corn Club (the beginnings of 4-H) in Ashokie, NC, that adding nutrients to your cornfield by spreading manure could increase the corn yield. A young boy took that information when the average yield was 18 bushels per acre and increased his yield to 196 bushels per acre in two years. NC Cooperative Extension is still researching ways to increase farm productivity as the worlds population increases and with its demand for food.

Currently, agriculture is North Carolinas largest industry, generating $91.8 billion annually while employing roughly 17 percent of the states workforce. Ours is the third most diverse agriculture economy in the country, with more than 80 commercial crops and a large animal agriculture presence.

Another example from the early 1900s happened through Girls Canning Clubs. Young girls were taught food preservation. These girls sold their canned food in the wintertime to earn money. NC Cooperative Extension is still teaching life skills that build capacity in people. n 2019, 47,041 North Carolina consumers increased their knowledge of safe home food handling, preservation or preparation practices.

The Randolph County Center is fully staffed and offers services in all the NC Cooperative Extension program areas.

Adam Lawing is the Livestock Agent. Did you know that Randolph County has more beef cows and goats than any other county in North Carolina? Adam is a great resource for our Randolph County producers.

Blake Szilvay is the Field Crops/Forestry Agent. Blake helps producers identify pests and diseases in crops. He is a licensed drone pilot and uses that technology to help farmers. Blake has also brought forestry programming back to Randolph County to help woodland owners improve management practices. Over 50% of Randolph County is forested, and in 2016, those forested acres provided $4.6 million through harvests.

Ben Grandon is the Horticulture Agent. In 2019, Ben conducted 226 on-site consultations with homeowners. He helps with gardening questions, landscaping and lawn issues, and many more. Ben also leads the Randolph County Master Gardener Volunteer educational group. After Bens training, a Master Gardener Volunteer can provide research-based information about gardening and environmental stewardship to individuals. This years Master Gardener Training Course begins in April.

Jeannie Leonard is the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent. Jeannie can teach food preservation and cooking skills. Recently, her Cooking Under Pressure (Instant Pot) classes have been popular. Her next class is on March 26. Jeannie also works with Randolph County businesses and organizations when they want to offer their employees wellness programs. Jeannie provides training on healthy recipes and cooking tips on location or here at the office.

Allison Walker is the 4-H Agent. Allison is passionate about Randolph County youth. Currently, she is working with 60+ classrooms on the Embryology Project. Allison provides 1 dozen eggs and incubators to each classroom so the teachers can teach the provided embryology curriculum. The second graders learn firsthand about chick development and get to see the chicks emerge from their shells. 4-H is a great youth development program open to all youth, not just farm kids.

Jody Terry is the 4-H Program Assistant. Jody spends many days in afterschool programming. She helps children through character education, healthy lifestyle choices or STEM education. She is gearing up for Bike Safety Week where she helps teach bike safety to the fourth graders. Jody has worked with thousands of children in Randolph County through the years and still remains committed and passionate about 4-H programming for the children.

Contact us by calling 336-318-6000 or visiting https://randolph.ces.ncsu.edu/

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Connecting with NC Cooperative Extension - Gaston Gazette