Tag Archive for: #vancecountycooperativeextension

Paul McKenzie - NACAA

Vance/Warren Master Gardeners Program 2021

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– submitted by Paul McKenzie –

Cooperative Extension is looking for a few good volunteers to join the Vance/Warren Master Gardeners program. Applications are now being accepted for the 16 week training program, which will begin on August 3rd, 2021. The class will meet on Tuesday mornings, and covers all aspects of gardening including fruits, vegetables, weeds, insects, diseases, trees, shrubs, turf, and more. Some classes will meet in person, while others will convene using the Zoom video conferencing platform.

After training, each volunteer intern is required to provide 40 hours of service in various community outreach projects. No green thumb required, and many other skills are needed including public speaking, writing, photography, social media, event management, graphic design, and much more. Recent volunteer projects have included demonstration gardens in both counties, newsletters, gardening workshops and seminars, youth education and more. The training fee is $125.

For more information, please visit http://go.ncsu.edu/mgvw or call 252-438-8188 (Vance County) or 252-257-3640 (Warren County).

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Paul McKenzie
Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties
NC Cooperative Extension
305 Young St., Henderson, NC 27536
158 Rafters Ln., Warrenton, NC 27589
http://vance.ces.ncsu.edu
http://warren.ces.ncsu.edu

Area Extension Offices To Offer Pesticide Recertification Opportunities In June

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Warren, Vance and Granville counties are hosting a couple of virtual pesticide recertification sessions in June.

The first session is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 10 and the second is scheduled for 6 p.m. on June 14, according to information from Matthew Place, with Warren County Cooperative Extension.

The meetings will be held via Zoom, but Place said participants can make arrangements to watch the webinars from their county’s extension offices if access to a computer or the internet is a problem.
The following category credits will be included with the June 10 class: D, L, N and X
The following category credits will be included with the June 14th class: A, B, D, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, T, X.

Registration is required. Visit http://go.ncsu.edu/pestclasskerrtar to register.

If you have any questions or would like to reserve a spot to watch the classes at the Warren County Center, call Place at 252.257.3640 or email at mbplace@ncsu.edu.

Small Farms Week Food Drive for ACTS

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The North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Vance County Center in association with N. C. A&T State University is hosting a food drive from now until February 15, 2021. The food drive is in honor of local farmers in conjunction with Small Farms Week, which comes up later in March, according to information from Vance County Cooperative Extension.

All food collected through the food drive will be donated to ACTS (Area Christians Together in Service).

Anyone interested in donating to this food drive can take items to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Vance County Center office, located at 305 Young Street in Henderson.  Also, items can be taken to the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 414 S. Garnett Street.

For more information, please contact Wayne Rowland at 252-438-8188.

Vance County Coop wishes to thank you in advance for donating to those in hunger in Vance County.

Community Voices Leadership Program Announces Remaining Session Dates

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Community Voices Leadership Development Training for Vance County

This training series is designed for:

  • People who want to be trained to help others to discuss critical community issues.
  • People who want to create a shared vision for their community’s future.
  • People who are interested in learning good listening and communication skills.
  • People who are willing to volunteer their time to implement a community action plan in support of this community effort.

The training session began with a tremendous kick-off session on April 9, 2019, and we want to keep the momentum going. The sessions will be held nearly once a week and will run through late-June over the next 7 to 8 weeks. Members of our community who have been trained to serve as facilitators for this program will be running the sessions. We plan to conclude the training program with an Action Forum & Graduation in June after the holiday season.

Sessions are held at the Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market, 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson at 6 p.m. on the scheduled dates below.  Some adjustments may be made to the schedule as needed.

April 9:

Kick-Off Session

 Working Together to Build a Strong Community

Facilitators:  Niki Alston and Angela Venable

April 30:

Session 1

 Creating a Shared Vision of Community’s Future

Facilitators:  Niki Alston and Angela Venable

May 7:

Session 2

 Connecting Our Vision to Community Strengths & Resources

  Facilitators:  Niki Alston and Angela Venable

May 14:

Session 3

 Communicating as a Group to Reach Our Vision & Making Shared Decisions as a Group

Facilitators:  Niki Alston and Angela Venable  
May 21:

Session 4

 Learning to Solve Our Community Problems, Step by Step & Selecting Community Problems from our Vision

Facilitators:  Niki Alston and Angela Venable

May 28:

Session 5

 Seeking More Information about Our Problems and Determining Solutions for Our Problems

Facilitators:  Niki Alston and Angela Venable

June 4:

Session 6

 Determining Solutions to Our Community Problems

Facilitators:  Niki Alston and Angela Venable

June 11:

Session 7

 Part 1: Making a Shared Community Action Plan & Planning to Continue Our Work

Facilitators:  Niki Alston and Angela Venable

June 18:

Session 8

 To prepare for action forum
June 25 (tentative): Action Forum & Graduation

Facilitators:  TBD
NC Coop Extension

‘Community Voices’ Kick-Off Session Draws Interest; Next Meeting April 30

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Turner Pride, County Extension Director with Vance County Cooperative Extension, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the revival of the center’s “Community Voices” program.

The community-based program, sponsored by Vance County Cooperative Extension and N.C. A&T State University, helps citizens tackle community issues while developing effective leadership skills.

“Community Voices provides citizens with a free, actionable and self-directed training program,” said Pride. “It is a way to gather individuals, some who may not already be in a leadership position or involved in civic organizations, to talk about issues in their community and develop action plans.”

During a public kick-off session at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market on April 9, an estimated 25-30 interested community members heard from Coop. staff, public officials, business owners and members of the most recent “Community Voices” group – the class of 2016.

“Individuals from the 2016 group spoke and gave testimonials of their experiences and successes with the program,” Pride said.

According to Pride, the 2016 class made great strides in their four chosen areas of focus – healthcare, jobs, education and housing in Vance County.

“This year’s group can decide to continue work in these four areas or they can decide to embark on a different path. We [Coop. staff] are here to act as facilitators and provide the support and the tools for the community to accomplish what they want to accomplish,” explained Pride.

Pride reported that while the initial meeting for 2019 was more of a general interest session, issues surrounding healthcare and housing were discussed, and could possibly become topics the new group decides to tackle.

“At last week’s meeting, the discussion on healthcare focused on health disparities in our community and the prevalence of chronic disease and illness,” Pride stated. “Healthcare issues discussed by previous groups have included the community’s access to insurance, doctors, healthy eating habits, access to fresh foods and health education.”

Pride said he is looking forward to seeing the direction this year’s group will take and hopes that all community members, including local youth, will get involved.

“Youth ages 16 and up that are interested in the direction and future of the community and want to see and be a part of something bigger than themselves are invited to come out as well. We know the youth often see through a different lens than we do, so it would be good to hear their voices.”

The next session of “Community Voices” will be held at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market – 210 Southpark Dr., in Henderson (off Beckford Drive) – Tuesday, April 30, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. All are welcome; attendance at the first meeting is not required for participation in the April 30 meeting.

With questions concerning the program, please contact Pride at (252) 438-8188 or email turner_pride@ncsu.edu.

To hear the Town Talk interview with Turner Pride in its entirety, click here.

NC Coop Extension

Citizens Needed for ‘Community Voices’ Program

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-Press Release, Vance County Cooperative Extension   

Communities everywhere need more people to step forward and lead their neighborhoods to solutions for issues and problems they are facing. The City of Henderson and surrounding areas in Vance County need concerned citizens who are willing to lend themselves to community-­wide dialogue and problem-solving. “Community Voices” can show you the way.

“Community Voices” provides free leadership development for public decision making. It helps ordinary people build leadership skills, teaches problem-­solving skills which help to get things accomplished. It develops decision making which brings people together and strengthens the skills and talents of individuals with untapped leadership potential. It gives community members an actionable, self-­directed training program.

On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 6 p.m., a public kick-off session will be held at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market located at 210 Southpark Dr. in Henderson (off Beckford Dr.). Please join us to find out how “Community Voices” can help your community pinpoint issues and problems and move forward.

Concerned citizens, existing community leaders, and representatives from all community-based organizations are encouraged to attend. The goal of this kick-off is to introduce the “Community Voices” program and give residents the chance to define the issues they face, collectively as a community, and to find ways to solve them.

The program is sponsored by Vance County Cooperative Extension and the Cooperative Extension Program at N.C. A&T State University. Please register by calling Turner Pride, County Extension Director, at (252) 438-8188 or email turner_pride@ncsu.edu and invite friends as well.

NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension to Offer ‘Vance Co. Women in Agriculture’ Leadership Program

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-Information courtesy Turner A. Pride Jr., County Extension Director, NC Cooperative Extension

This year the Vance County Cooperative Extension Office is turning our focus to the women in agriculture in our area.  As integral parts of the agriculture community, we want to provide support for their endeavors and push them to the forefront.

In the spring of 2019, the team is planning to offer a program to cultivate and honor the women in agriculture in Vance County.  This program is called the Vance County Women in Agriculture Leadership Program. Our office will put together a nomination committee to select five to six women with strong agricultural ties to participate in the program. This could be a teacher, farmer, ag business worker/owner, backyard gardener, etc.

By offering a collaborative learning experience we hope to strengthen agricultural ties of the women in Vance County, provide an opportunity to share and learn from each other and to promote a future for agriculture in Vance County.

While in the program these women will have the opportunity to network with and learn from some of the leading women in agriculture from around the state through numerous “lunch and learn” sessions.  Some of the topics covered will include agriculture resources and programs, business development, marketing, time management and more. We want this group to receive a worthwhile and empowering experience, as well as the opportunity to tap into the various resources available around the state.

To culminate their time together and celebrate their contributions to agriculture in Vance County, we will be hosting a banquet at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market in May. At that time, we will recognize all of these women and the nominated winner for the Vance County Woman of the Year in Agriculture.

As we prepare for the kick-off of this program in April, we want to reach out to the community for your thoughts. If there are individuals that you may feel would benefit from this opportunity, please contact County Extension Director Turner Pride at (252) 438-8188 or tapride@ncsu.edu.

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/

NC Dept of Agriculture

Reminder: Farmers Have Until Dec. 20 to Apply for Hurricane Disaster Relief

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-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Area Agent, Vance/Warren Co. Cooperative Extension 

Farmers have until 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 20, 2018, to begin an application for the NCDA&CS Hurricane Disaster Relief program. Assistance is available from both the Vance and Warren offices of NC Cooperative Extension, and also available through the NCDA&CS Agriculture Disaster Assistance Hotline (866-645-9403).

Farmers that START an application by the deadline will have a few extra days to complete it.

To recap, the program is designed to provide assistance to farmers with losses to nursery products, turf, select specialty crops, livestock, poultry, standing forage and field crops. The program will cover losses from Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael.

Agricultural products raised in Vance and Warren ARE ELIGIBLE. The application should take about 30 minutes to fill out. Complete program details and a link to the application are available by clicking here.

NC Coop Extension

Public Invited to Attend ‘Gathering of Gardeners’ Workshop

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-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, Vance/Warren Counties, NC Cooperative Extension

The gardening public is invited to attend a “Gathering of Gardeners: Practical Strategies for Gardening in Challenging Times and Conditions” on September 22, 2018, 9 a.m. to noon. Gardeners in Warren County and surrounding areas can learn about straw bale gardening, rain barrels and more at this workshop sponsored by the Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers.

Participants can also get their gardening questions answered from a panel of Master Gardener volunteers. The event will be held at Buck Spring Park near Lake Gaston, located at 217 Nathaniel Macon Dr. Registration is $10 in advance or $12 at the door. All the details are available at https://warren.ces.ncsu.edu/ or by calling 252-257-3640.