Community
Governor's Volunteer Services Awards
2025 Governor's Volunteer Services Awards were presented Monday, April 21st during the Franklin County Board of Commissioners meeting.
- Recipients - Rachelle Deats, Sylvia Kramar, Haley Glick
- Louisburg Baptist Church Ramp Ministry - Earl Oldham - Caleb Oldham - Perry Faulkner - DJ FairCloth - Zack Myers
- Patricia Adams - Medallion Award Winner (One of 20 in NC)
4-H
The Franklin County Youth Ag Leadership Program is available to youth in or approaching 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. Limited space so apply today! See the attached flyer and application. Applications are due to the Franklin County Center by 4:30 pm Friday, May 16, 2025. Please reach out to the Franklin County 4-H Agent, Meg Wyatt at 919-496-3344 or meg_wyatt@ncsu.edu with any questions you may have. Application
Central Piedmont Jr. Livestock Show
Abigail Blankenship showed at the Central Piedmont Jr. Livestock Show in Orange County. She won Grand Champion Heifer and Reserve Champion Senior Showman. Way to go Abigail!
Pet Supply Drive
The Franklin County 4-H Strategy Club would like to thank the Franklin County 4-H County Council for supporting their community service project of collecting pet supplies for the Franklin County Animal Shelter. Council members collected so many supplies that we had to take a load over to the shelter! Included in the donations were 10 blankets, 2 pillows (to be used as pet beds), 2 bags full of used sheets and pillowcases, and 4 bags of cat and dog food. 4-H is truly a community and we appreciate the support from our sister club!
Horticulture
Asparagus - A Spring Delicacy
Asparagus is one of the few perennial vegetables that grows well in NC. Once established a bed of asparagus can produce for many years. The best time to plant asparagus is late January to late March, while the plants are dormant.Asparagus likes to grow in areas that receive at least 8 hours of sunlight per day. Asparagus likes good drainage
To produce enough asparagus for table-use plant 10 crowns per family member. Soil preparation is important. Whether you have clay or a sandy loam amending the soil with organic matter is always encouraged. We recommend doing a soil test especially to check the pH and make sure it is around 6.2 because asparagus grows poorly in acid soils. Apply lime if needed along with the organic matter and till the soil deeply. Follow the soil test recommendation for additional fertilizer needs. Learn more
If you have gardening questions, feel free to call your local Cooperative Extension office at 919-496-3344.
Asparagus - Nutrition Facts
April is peak asparagus season! It’s also one of the first spring vegetables to be ready for harvest.
Asparagus is crisp and tender when cooked and is easy to grill at family cookouts thanks to its long and sturdy shape. Generally, thinner spears are more delicate and tender; thicker spears have stronger flavor and hearty texture. Thicker spears can be sliced on the diagonal into smaller pieces to cook more quickly. This popular vegetable comes in green, white, and purple colors.
Green – the most common type. White – covered with soil as it grows to keep green pigments from developing. Considered a delicacy and may cost more than green. Purple – has more sugar and less fiber than green. The skin is burgundy or purple but the flesh is pale green to creamy white. Cooking may cause more green color to show. Less commonly available and may cost more than green. Learn more
Small Farm Bootcamp
Tree Fruit Production, Niche Fruit, Farmer Grants, Support Programs, Post-harvest Handling and Food Safety and Marketing were topics covered during the final two sessions April 17th and April 24th, of the Franklin Regional Small Farm Boot Camp sessions.
Family & Consumer Science
Farmers Market
Opening Day is set for May 9th for the 2025 Season. Market season runs May through December. Thanks to everyone for supporting, their local farmers market. Visit our website for more updates!
Visit NC Farms App
Upcoming Programs & Events
- May 7th - Kerr Tar Grower-Buyer Meetup
- May 9th - Franklin County Farmers Market Opening Day
- May 11th - 4th Annual Franklin County Women in Ag Local Foods Farm Tour
- May 19th-21st - ServSafe Food Safety Manager Training/Test
- Beginning June 16th - Franklin County 4-H Sizzling Summer Sessions
- June 20th - Small Farms Field Day
For more program or event information, contact the office, 919-496-3344, or visit our website.
Credits:
Franklin County Center