Party With A Plan
Sometimes planning for a party can be a challenge. The key to a great party is organization! You will be more at ease if you plan ahead and make all the advance preparations. Lists are always helpful when planning for an event or a party. I love lists! I make lists so I can cross off stuff as I do it. I do it the old- school way with a pen and paper. I find that if I write it down, I actually remember it better!! You need shopping lists, to-do lists, what to make ahead of time lists, what dishes you are going to use lists, and the timing of the party lists. Just remember that everything takes a little longer than you think it will. It’s important to put “shower and get ready” on your lists too! Many times, we get so busy and don’t have enough time to get ready! The key is to make hosting a party look effortless!! That comes from all the planning and preparation you do. It really pays off!! It’s always helpful to plan a menu with mostly recipes you can make ahead of time, or at least recipes you can prep ahead of time. There is nothing wrong with picking up a beautiful cake from your local bakery if baking is not your strong suit or as much of the menu as you’d like if it enables you to have people over with less stress. It only takes a little bit of effort to make a party feel special. It’s nice to have your house look pretty with great food!! But nobody enjoys a party where everything is perfect but the hostess is stressed and miserable! The host sets the tone and puts everyone at ease. We want everything perfect, and achieving perfection is rare!! So, take a deep breath, laugh, and have fun!!!
Holiday Ham
Ham is a traditional meal for the holidays, but it can be enjoyed any time of the year! This pork cut is the meat from the hind leg and is normally cured and smoked. You can buy hams bone-in, in a variety of sizes and cuts, or boneless, which are considered easier to cut and serve. Whole hams are perfect for feeding a large crowd, but you can also find smaller hams. Usually these start out as a whole ham and are cut in two, leaving a shank end and a butt end. The center slices available at the store are cross- center cuts of the shank or butt end. Pork producers work hard to ensure you get a safe, quality product while prioritizing animal welfare and the environment. Pork can be a healthy part of your diet, providing nine key nutrients! A 3 ounce serving of pork is a good source of potassium, riboflavin, selenium, zinc, and is an excellent source of vitamin B6, thiamin, phosphorus, niacin, and protein.
Check out the link below for ideas and recipes!
Got Milk
Did you know that over a recent 10-year period, dairy farming used about 21% less land, 30% less water, 20% less fuel, and 17% less feed? Farmers work hard to ensure that they produce quality, safe, and nutritious food while stewarding the resources we have. In North Carolina, nearly 1 billion pounds of milk are produced each year, with milk and milk products contributing around $200 million in farm gate receipts annually. Most of these farms are family-owned and operated, with the average cow producing around 8 gallons of milk each day! Decades worth of research confirms that dairy products are an essential part of a healthy lifestyle! Milk provides 13 different nutrients; it is a great source of essential nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, and protein! Be sure to get in your three servings of dairy per day!
To learn more, check out the links below!
Dealing With Picky Eater
Loving and caring parents always want the best for our children. Therefore, we naturally worry if our child refuses to eat or eats very little. However, we want to do our best to keep mealtime pleasant and relaxed. In order to do this, we need to avoid arguing about food or getting upset if our child refuses to eat.
May these tips help you patiently deal with your picky eater:
- Serve only a small portion of the new food along with other foods you know they like.
- As the child gets older, let them choose between two healthy choices. For example, you can ask, “Would you like to eat an apple or a banana?"
- Let the child help with the food preparation. This generally makes them more interested in trying it.
- Look for ways to add a little more nutrition to the foods they enjoy. For example, add additional vegetables to the tomato sauce in their spaghetti, add kale or spinach to the fruit smoothie, or add bananas or blueberries to the pancakes.
- Be a good role model. Children are very observant and tend to imitate adults.
Season's Snacking
The holiday season often brings opportunities for get-togethers with friends and family. These gatherings may result in the need for extra food. With the many activities and events, we squeeze into the month of December, spending additional time in the kitchen preparing snacks may not fit into the schedule. Snacks do not have to be complicated to be delicious. The idea that foods that taste good must not be good for you is also a myth. These quick and delicious healthy snack recipes allow time to enjoy the season while making some special holiday memories.
Rosemary Chili Almonds
This is an easy way to add extra flavor to your daily snack. Change it up by choosing a different type of nut or herb combination. Tip: Make a large batch with your favorite nuts and herbs for a great grab-and-go snack throughout the week. These also make a delicious present for someone special on your holiday gift list.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ pound (approximately 2 cups) almonds
- 3 (3-inch) sprigs of fresh rosemary, leaves removed (can use 1 tablespoon dried if you don’t have fresh)
- 3 teaspoons crushed chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
Directions:
- Use a large skillet over medium heat. Heat the oil and add the almonds. Stir to coat the almonds.
- Add the rosemary leaves, crushed chili flakes, and salt. Toss to coat the almonds.
- Cook over medium heat stirring almost constantly for 15 minutes. Do not allow the almonds to get too brown.
Nutrition Information per Serving:
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Vegetables: 0 cups
- Fruits: 0 cups
- Calories: 250 calories
- Carbohydrates: 7 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Protein: 8 grams
- Fat: 23 grams
- Sodium: 230 mg
Source: Med Instead of Meds
Mini Caramel Apple Grapes
INGREDIENTS:
- Desired number of large, red or green, seedless grapes
- 1 tub of caramel dip for apples (I used the reduced-fat variety)
- Toothpicks (optional)
- Crushed nuts (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
- Thoroughly wash and de-stem the grapes. A salad spinner works well to wash grapes. Dry and insert a toothpick in the stem end of each grape.
- Heat a small amount of caramel in a microwave-safe container in the microwave for 10 second intervals until it is warm and has a smooth consistency. Holding the toothpick, dip the bottom half of the grapes into the caramel. Roll in the chopped nuts.
- To make the grapes stand up, make sure there is a small amount of extra caramel on the bottom. Place the grapes on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Refrigerate to cool.
Note: If you have extra grapes, try freezing them for another delicious treat. To make frozen grapes, place the washed and stemmed grapes on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet and freeze until firm. Store frozen grapes in a freezer bag or freezer container until they are ready to eat.
Holiday Challenge
Perfect Party Platters
Raising Good Eaters
Dementia Friends
Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period
4-H Fundraiser A Success
Thank you for supporting Surry County 4-H during our fall fundraisers! Through our sales of Dewey’s Bakery items and evergreen wreaths and garland, we were able to raise over $1,000! This money will be used to support our clubs, school enrichment programs, and 4-H events for our youth. We sincerely thank you for your support! In case you missed this opportunity, we will have another fundraiser in the spring!
Time For Creativity
It’s hard to believe that December is already upon us, and we will soon be welcoming a new year! The holiday season is a busy time of year for families, with all of the festivities and gatherings! It is the perfect time of year to involve your children and teens in preparations. Decorating a gingerbread house helps children practice their fine motor skills while expressing their creativity. Invite your kids into the kitchen as you prepare the holiday meals, and let them practice reading a recipe, measuring, following directions, cutting and peeling, and learning about kitchen safety. Allow children to help with wrapping gifts for others. While it may not look the best on the first try, they are practicing their fine motor skills and enjoy bringing joy to others! It’s also a great time to involve them in a community service project. They can donate food items to a food pantry or blessing box, ring the bell for the kettle campaign, help prepare a meal for the homeless, shop for a senior who is in a nursing facility, or give out hot cocoa and cookies to those who work outdoors in the cold. This is a great time of year to help kids look for the needs of others and how they can meet them, rather than just thinking about the gifts they wish for! Of course, all kids look forward to receiving presents. Instead of gifting them more technology devices or video games, think of things that will get them thinking creatively and using their hands! Play-doh, Legos, magnetic tiles, STEM sets, cooking and baking utensils, and art kits are all ways to keep them entertained during those days off from school while allowing them to use their creativity and maybe even learn a new skill. You may also consider gift certificates for piano lessons, art classes, cake decorating classes, sports lessons, or tickets to a museum or aquarium. There are gift options in all price ranges to help fuel creativity and hands-on learning for our kids and youth. They may even pick up a new hobby in the process!
Farm City
The Farm City concept was created in 1955 when Charles Dana Bennett, businessman from Vermont and Merle H. Tucker, the Chairman of Kiwanis International Agriculture and Conservation Committee, were seated together on a train headed from Chicago to Washington, D.C. During this time, net farm income was declining, and farm costs, debts and property taxes were on the rise. Charles and Merle were discussing poor public image of agriculture, the strong urban influence on ag policies and a growing population with no direct ties to agriculture. To them, it seemed that farm and city people were drifting farther and farther apart. They wanted a more positive public relation between farm and city dwellers. Mr. Bennett made these issues public and soon after that the National Farm-City Committee was created and coordinated by Kiwanis International.
The Kiwanis coordinated Farm-City until 1988 when the American Farm Bureau Federation assumed the responsibility. These same efforts continue today by trying to establish a better understanding between the agriculture community and urban dwellers. Across the entire country Farm-City events are planned by N.C. Cooperative Extension, Agri-Businesses, Farmers, Youth Groups, Civic Groups, and other organizations to educate the public about the interdependence of agriculture and industry.
Each year National Farm City Week is proclaimed by the President as being the week leading up to and including Thanksgiving Day. N.C. Cooperative Extension, Surry Center hosted this year’s Farm City Banquet the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It was a great event bringing together businesspeople and local farmers to learn from each other, enjoy fellowship, and raise awareness about agriculture in the county. This year our speaker was Mr. Shawn Harding, the president of NC Farm Bureau who gave a talk on the Rural-Urban connection.
There were many local sponsors who helped make the event a success and we are thankful for them! There as a large turn out with around 70 people who attended. New for this year was live entertainment which was a huge hit. Wilkes County native, Presley Barker, sang country music during the dinner. He is a talented young man who gave us quite a treat!
The evening ended with the recognition of the FIRST Agricultural Hall of Fame recipient. This award recognized one Surry County citizen for superior contributions and outstanding leadership in agriculture. The night could not have been more perfect!
2023 Agricultural Hall of Fame Induction
Celebrating Excellence in Agriculture: Ned H. Martin Inaugural Agricultural Hall of Fame Award
In a heartfelt ceremony during the Farm City Banquet that gathered members of the agricultural community, civic leaders, and the families of Surry County, the first-ever Agricultural Hall of Fame Award was presented posthumously to Mr. Ned H. Martin. This prestigious award aims to recognize and honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions and displayed exemplary leadership in the field of agriculture. Among a pool of highly deserving nominees, Ned H. Martin emerged as a beacon of excellence in the Surry County agricultural landscape.
A Lifetime Devoted to Agriculture
Mr. Ned H. Martin, a dedicated dairy farmer, devoted an impressive 41 years of his life to the Beulah community. Throughout his illustrious career, Martin not only demonstrated a remarkable commitment to his own farm but also worked collaboratively with the Soil and Water Conservation Service and the Agricultural Extension Service. His open-mindedness towards innovation and a willingness to embrace new ideas set him apart as a leader in the industry.
Building Bridges in the Agricultural Community
One of Martin’s notable achievements was his instrumental role in the establishment of Surco Farms Co-Op. In collaboration with five other dairymen, they successfully sold and distributed pasteurized dairy products to Surry County residents, fostering growth within the agricultural community.
Additionally, Martin, alongside his wife Ivylyn, played a pivotal role in constructing the first Surry County demonstration house in cooperation with the Agricultural Extension Service, Farmers Home Administration, and Duke Power. This groundbreaking initiative not only showcased innovation farming practices but also earned him the prestigious Duke Power Gold Medallion award for an all-electric farm and home, setting a model for others in the farming community.
A Global Vision
Ned H. Martin’s commitment to excellence extended beyond the county borders. He served on the United Dairies Board of Directors, aiding dairymen in surrounding counties to market their milk more effectively. Martin’s dedication to learning and implementing best practices led him to tour eight countries and five states, gaining valuable insights that he brought back to benefit the local farming community.
Mentoring and Recognition
In addition to his substantial contributions to the agricultural industry, Martin was known for his generosity in helping fellow farmers in times of need. His mentorship of numerous young farmers left a lasting legacy, inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Over the course of his remarkable career, Mr. Ned H. Martin received several accolades, including the Surry County Conservation Farmer of the Year and fourth place for Northwest Outstanding Conservation of the Year.
A Lasting Legacy
The Agricultural Hall of Fame Award is not only a recognition of past accomplishments, but a celebration of a lifetime dedicated to agriculture. On behalf of the late Mr. Ned H. Martin, his wife Ivylyn and daughters Gail Shelton and Joy Richardson graciously accepted the distinguished honor, receiving a certification and a metal sign to be displayed at their farm, commemorating Ned’s lasting impact on the community.
As we celebrate the induction of Mr. Ned H. Martin into the Agricultural Hall of Fame, we look forward to continuing this tradition annually, recognizing and honoring those who contribute to the flourishing legacy of Surry County agriculture. The inaugural recipient has set an inspiring standard for the “greats” in agriculture, and the upcoming Agriculture Hall of Fame exhibit will undoubtedly pay homage to the exceptional individuals who have shaped the local farming landscape.
A special thank you goes to our 2023 Farm City Banquet Sponsors
- AgSouth Farm Credit
- First Bank & Trust Co
- First Citizens Bank
- G&B Energy
- Interlam Corporation
- James River Equipment
- Lake Phelps Grain Inc.
- Lowe’s of Mount Airy
- Rogers Realty & Auction Co., Inc.
- Surry Communications
- Surry County Beekeepers Association
- Surry County Cattlemen’s Association
- Surry County Farm Bureau
- Surry Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation
- Wayne - Sanderson Farms
Youth Scholarship
Extension Master Gardeners of Surry County have established a $1,500 scholarship to assist students completing a two-year or four-year degree leading to a career in horticulture or a related field. This career may include but is not limited to horticulture, floriculture, landscape design, botany, forestry, agronomy, plant pathology, conservation, environmental science, soil science, turfgrass, agribusiness, viticulture, etc. The scholarship is intended to encourage professional preparation of future leaders in the field of horticulture or related field. Applications are available now and can be found at the link below.
Lunch and Learn Webinar
Our Lunch and Learn on-line webinar series continues on January 4, 2024 with “Pruning Tips for Woody Ornamental Plants”. Bring your lunch and learn when and how to prune common woody ornamental plants in your landscape.
Foothills Specialty Crop Growers’ Roundtable Scheduled
The tenth annual Foothills Specialty Crop Growers’ Roundtable is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. The event will be held in person at the Surry County Government Service Center located at 915 E. Atkins Street, Dobson. This is a great event to attend if you are a small farm looking for information on growing various fruits and vegetables. Topics vary from year to year. This year our featured topics will include: growing blackberries, managing greenhouses for ornamentals, deer management, marketing trends for fruit and vegetables, precision agriculture, cover crops, pollinators, farm successions planning, and resources for new and beginning farmers. *Pesticide credits will be available for some of the sessions. Registration is required and will open in January. There is no charge for this event as it is sponsored by AgSouth Farm Credit.
NC Plant Science Initiative In The Field
The Plant Sciences Initiative at North Carolina State University officially became a reality last fall when the Plant Sciences Building on NC State’s University Centennial Campus became fully operational. The sole mission of the Plant Sciences Initiative at NC State is simple: improve the world through plant science innovation, sounds simple right?
In today’s world of agriculture, we are faced with a rapidly growing population, overall less farmland, drastic climate and water shifts, and steady emerging crop pests or diseases. To combat some of these ever-prevalent issues, the NC PSI is bringing together the brightest minds in academia, government, and industry to drive vital research that will increase crop yields, create new varieties, extend growing seasons, enhance agricultural and environmental sustainability, and produce new and improved technology. “By fostering connections with people across disciplines, across colleges, and throughout the agricultural community, PSI will deliver extensive impacts to our stakeholders, says director Adrian Percy. Check out some of the latest projects the NC PSI has been working on in this new interactive video here:
Article has been revised from PJ Bogdan, CALS Magazine, North Carolina State University, and from N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, North Carolina State University.
2023 Corn Data Released
The 2023 North Carolina Official Variety Test Corn Data is now available and can be found on the North Carolina Official Variety Testing Program’s website at the link below.
Growers are always encouraged to pick varieties that best suit local growing conditions and have the possibility for a positive return on investment with good yield potential. The Official Variety Testing Program here in North Carolina has developed an interactive database called the “Variety Selection Tool” to help growers with various variety selection criteria. The tool can be used to help with variety selection in not only corn but also with small grains and soybeans. If you are interested in using the “Variety Selection Tool,” feel free to check it out at the link below.