Tag Archive for: #paulmckenzie

Paul McKenzie - NACAA

Paul McKenzie, Ag. Extension Agent, Receives Distinguished Service Award

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, National Association of County Agriculture Agents (NACAA)

Paul McKenzie received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents (NACAA) during the 2020 Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference. McKenzie was one of several honorees who represented the top two percent of the membership selected by their peers and the Director of Extension.

Paul McKenzie received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents (NACAA) during the 2020 Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference. (Photo courtesy NACAA)

McKenzie has served over twenty years as an agricultural extension agent in four different counties, the last eleven years as an area agent serving Vance and Warren counties. In that capacity, McKenzie has implemented a comprehensive education program serving farmers, gardeners, woodland owners and licensed/certified pesticide applicators.

He oversees a Master Gardener volunteer program consisting of almost forty volunteers that contribute well over 1,000 hours of service to the community each year. In addition to gardening workshops, youth education projects, and informative newsletters, the Master Gardeners have implemented various educational gardening projects. The most recent and ambitious is a pollinator habitat garden at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.

McKenzie was also instrumental in the campaign to raise grant money for the construction of the Vance County Regional Farmers Market and continues to support it through training and technical assistance for produce farmers and other vendors.

For several years, McKenzie has partnered with the local offices of the NC Forest Service to conduct educational workshops for woodland owners so they can make better management decisions that benefit wildlife, timber production, natural resources, and profitability.

Educational workshops, seminars and tours are a key component of his educational efforts, and he is involved in implementing dozens each year on topics such as pesticide safety, timber harvesting, high tunnel production, alternative crops, vegetable gardening and more. These well-run events have strong attendance, positive reviews and many repeat customers.

McKenzie is well-respected among co-workers both locally, regionally and across the state, having been called to serve as a mentor for several early-career Extension Agents. Through his good work and commitment to serve, he has fostered strong relationships with many partner agencies, including Farm Service Agency, Soil & Water District, the Small Business Center at Vance-Granville Community College and others.

Farmers and gardeners alike rely on Paul to provide accurate and reliable advice regarding garden problems, pondweeds, crop production, pest management and more.

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market to Reopen in Late April, New Vendors Welcome

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Paul McKenzie, agricultural extension agent for Vance and Warren County Cooperative Extension, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the opening of the Vance County Regional Farmers Market in late April.

According to McKenzie, the VCRFM, located at 210 Southpark Dr. in Henderson, will kick off the season by opening on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional Wednesday hours will be added in late May.

McKenzie said this standard opening date coincides with the time “produce starts coming in and folks are getting the bug for spring planting.”

Early in the growing season, McKenzie said fresh produce – greens, peas, potatoes and onions – as well as flowering plants are plentiful.

In addition to produce and plants, the market includes vendors selling handmade, high-quality crafts, homemade baked goods, and locally produced pork, sausage and beef.

Locally produced fresh eggs are also a fan-favorite. “There’s just a difference in the taste and in the texture,” said McKenzie. “It’s hard to turn back once you’ve gone the fresh eggs route.”

When visitors first come to the market, they should expect to be greeted by Tracy Madigan, manager for the VCRFM. “When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by our friendly and outgoing market manager,” McKenzie said. “Tracy will greet you with a smile and help you find the products that you are looking for.”

McKenzie said this friendliness extends to the rest of the market experience as people interact with each other and build a sense of community.

“Our customers enjoy speaking to the vendors and getting to know the farmers. There’s a saying ‘know your farmer, know your food.’”

The freshness of the food sold at the market can’t be beaten, according to McKenzie. “You’re getting something that was picked the previous afternoon and brought to you as fresh as possible. You can find quality products at the grocery store, but it’s probably been on a truck for a couple of days, and potentially much longer. You can’t beat the freshness, and freshness equals flavor.”

Supporting local people and the local economy is also a benefit of shopping at the market. “When you buy here, you are supporting mom-and-pop enterprises, you are supporting someone who is trying to add something to the local community,” said McKenzie.

The VCRFM is currently accepting new vendors. Types of acceptable products include local handmade crafts, produce, plants, farm products and homemade baked goods with proper certification.

The market offers vendors electricity, convenient outlets and ceiling fans inside a comfortable, covered environment.

There is an application process and a $30 application fee for interested vendors. Each day the vendor participates in the market also requires a $10 fee.

For more information about the VCRFM, please contact either Tracy Madigan at tmadigan@vancecounty.org or (252) 598-0814 or Paul McKenzie at paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu or (252) 438-8188. You may also check out the VCRFM’s Facebook page by clicking here.

To hear the Town Talk interview with Paul McKenzie in its entirety, please click here.

NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension Announces Upcoming Workshop Series for Woodland Owners

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— Written By Paul McKenzie, Area Agent, Vance County Cooperative Extension Center

MANAGING YOUR WOODS FOR PROFIT AND PLEASURE

Whether you own a few acres of trees or a few hundred acres, this FREE workshop series will provide you with valuable information to maximize profit and pleasure from your woods. Register online. Sign up for all three, or pick and choose the ones you like.

January 24, 2019 – Trespass, Surveys, and Boundary Marking – Learn about the laws regarding trespass, how to use a survey, and marking property lines. Presenters will include representatives from the local sheriff departments, as well as enforcement officers from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Granville Expo Center, 4185 US Hwy 15 South, Oxford, NC.

February 28, 2019 – Taxes and Estate Planning – Extension Specialists from NC State University will provide timely information on tax issues that relate to woodland owners, as well as tips for estate planning. 7 to 8:30 p.m., Vance County Regional Farmers Market, 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC.

March 29, 2019 – Woodland Tour – Hop on board for a tour of a well-managed woodland. Both forestry professionals and expert landowners will be on-hand as we showcase the practices and methods that give results. Topics for discussion will include prescribed fire for wildlife management, woodland management practices, using herbicides, and more. 1 to 4 p.m., convening at Union Chapel Church, 6479 Raleigh Rd, Kittrell, NC.

Print out this flyer for all the details. To register, call 252-438-8188, 919-603-1350, or register online. Co-sponsored by the NC Forest Service.

Read more at https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu/2018/12/workshop-series-for-woodland-owners/

Vance County Cooperative Extension to hold pesticide disposal day tomorrow

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Do you have lawn, garden or farm chemicals you no longer need? Do you have products more than three years old?

Protect your family, your pets and the environment by bringing unneeded chemicals to our pesticide disposal day.

This event will be held on Thursday, May 25th, 10 am to 2 pm at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market (210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC).

We will accept all pesticide products, including herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, etc. in original, labeled containers. Both liquids and solids (e.g. granules, powders) are acceptable. For large containers (e.g. 5 gallons or more) or large quantities, please call in advance.

We CANNOT accept: fertilizer, paint, solvents, gasoline, household cleaners, or other household hazardous waste.

This service is offered at no charge in cooperation with NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. For more information, e-mail paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu or call 252-438-8188.

Vance County Cooperative Extension to host Forest Symposium

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Healthy forests provide healthy habitat and healthy profits!

Learn how managing the health of your forest benefits wildlife and your bottom line. Come to the Vance County Regional Farmers Market on December 8th for a Forest Landowner Symposium with a great line up of speakers plus an optional tour.

All the details and registration information can be found here.

Sponsorship contributions are welcome and will be gratefully acknowledged in the program.

For more information, paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu or 252-213-6095.