November 2025
Community
2026 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award. Nomination forms are available in Franklin County at the following location: N.C. Cooperative Extension Center. They can also be found at volunteernc. Nomination forms are due by February 6th, 2026 to the Franklin County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension office (103 South Bickett Blvd., Louisburg, NC 27549). They can also be emailed to Charles Mitchell. For further questions, please contact N.C. Cooperative Extension at 919-496-3344.
Franklin County 4-H
Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Franklin County 4-H is happy to announce the 2025 4-H Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Congratulations to our winners!!!
- 1st Place in Painting Division 8-10 years old-Anna Faulkner
- 1st Place in Carving Division-8-10 years old-Jamerson Kidd
- 1st Place in Painting Division Cloverbud Division-Grace Wilkerson
Four County 4-H Show and Sale
11 Franklin County 4-H'ers participated in the 2025 Four County 4-H Show and Sale on Saturday, October 25th. Some of the 4-H'ers received awards including:
- Holly Thornburg for 1st Place Project Book ages 16-18 and 2nd Place Sr. Showmanship.
- Ayden Wyatt for 1st Place Project Book ages 13-15 and 3rd Place Sr. Showmanship
- Kennedy Wyatt for 1st Place Project Book ages 8-10 and 2nd Place Jr Showmanship.
- Oliver Baker 1st Place Jr Showmanship.
- Joseph Thornburg 3rd Place Project Book ages 8-10.
NC State Fair 2025
Franklin County was well represented at the NC State Fair. Some youth shared their successes. We know there may be more, but these are the ones that submitted fair information. Some youth showed Livestock, some entered crafts. Franklin County 4-H received 4th place in Sweepstakes with the most youth participating from our county.
Youth who participated but no photo:
- Liam Blair-submitted a drawing
- Youth Conservationist Program Hollie Proctor-1st in her class in the junior show with her ewe lamb
- Dawson Proctor-2nd in his class in the junior show with his ewe lamb
- Ava and Hollie Proctor also participated in various crafts and baking contests and received 1-3rd place in all of the categories they entered!
Youth with photos:
- Chaney Leonard -7th senior showman, 2nd-4th place with all 6 of her sheep. She also exhibited a lot of pictures which placed 1st-3rd in the 4-H photo contest as well as 1st and 2nd on jewelry and 1st place canned green beans
- Meredith Potter-a doll dress, quilt and two needle felted items (owl and bunny) Winnings, For the quilt she won the Ashe County peacemaker quote guild award and first place, doll dress first place, owl first place and bunny third place
- Nolan Cross and Fletcher Cross - Nolan won 5th Novice showmanship and Cloverbud art contest
- Meredith Poole -Grand Champion Dorset Ewe, 1st place Spring Born Class 1 Dorset Ewe Lamb, 2nd place and 2nd place Got to Be NC Spring Born Class 2 Dorset Ewe Lamb, 1st place and 1st Got to Be NC Heavyweight White Face Market Lamb, 4th Overall Junior Market Sheep Showmanship
- Valerie Poole -1st place and 1st Got to Be NC Class 3 Spring Born Dorset Ewe Lamb, 3rd place Dorset Yearling Ewe Junior Market Sheep Showmanship
- Callback Nathaniel Poole -2nd place and 1st place Got to Be NC Lightweight White Face Market Lamb, 2nd place and 2nd Got to Be NC Yearling Dorset Ewe Novice Market Sheep Showmanship Callback
Family & Consumer Science
Pesto Class
Spring Flowering Bulbs
There is a wide range of Narcissus that is grown commercially. The so-called hardy types are generally called “Daffodils” or “Jonquils;” while the tender types are called “Paperwhite” or “ Tazetta” Narcissus. Flower sizes can range from 1-5 inches in diameter, depending on the cultivar. Some cultivars have multi-flowered inflorescences. Flowering periods are cultivar and weather dependent. Therefore, there is Narcissus for almost all garden and landscape uses.
If you have other questions regarding bulbs, feel free to contact your local Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office at 919-496-3344.
Ag News
NC Small Grain Growers Assessment Referendum
The North Carolina Small Grain Growers 2025 Assessment Referendum will be conducted Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., at County Extension Centers or Extension meetings held that same day. The Franklin County referendum will be located at the Cooperative Extension office, 103 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg. Small grain farmers will vote on continuation of the self-assessment program for six years. Any North Carolina farmer who is a grower of small grain (wheat, oats, rye, barley, grain sorghum and canola/rape seed) over the age of eighteen on Dec. 4th, 2025 is eligible to vote. A farmer/grower must sign an affidavit sheet claiming age, ownership, and residency North Carolina growers of small grain (wheat, rye, oats, barley, rape seed, canola and grain sorghum) continue to assess themselves an assessment of ½ of 1% on the gross dollar amount sales on all small grain produced on their farms for a six year period-collection of these funds to be collected by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and paid to the North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association for grower education, research, marketing, administration and enhancing small grain profitable for North Carolina Farmers. Should you have any questions about the referendum, please call the office of the North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association, 919-809-8657.
NC Ag Ventures Farm Grant Program
NC AgVentures, a NC State Extension program provides grants to NC farmers and non-profit community groups that work with family farms, for agricultural project ideas that will increase farm profits. The program, which is sponsored by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, will award a minimum of 50 grants to independent family farms. This is a great opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their farm operation.
Local Foods
Farmers Market
The Franklin County Farmers Market will be closed on November 28th, Black Friday, and return on Friday December 5th, 9 am until 1 pm. Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
Visit NC Farms
VisitNCFarms.com, features a regularly updated list of festivals and farm events happening statewide—perfect for planning your next autumn outing. Visit our events page today to discover where you can sip cider, pick pumpkins and make lasting fall memories.
Upcoming Programs & Events
- Dec. 3rd- Franklin County Beekeepers Association and Birdwatchers Meetings-Extension annex
- The Small Farms Needs Assessment is still open! Please fill out this quick survey to help identify key issues and opportunities within Franklin County agriculture.
- Dec. 8th - Composting Class
- Dec. 9th - Adapting Your Forestry Plan to Changing Markets
- Dec. 9th - Landscape Professionals December Credit Class
- Dec. 10th - Santa’s Workshop
- Dec. 11th - "Ag Money Game Plan: Farm Taxes and Farm Recordkeeping"
- Dec. 18th - Franklin Region BEEF Producers Marketing Dinner Meeting
For more information about our programs and events, contact Franklin County Cooperative Extension office , 919-496-3344, or visit our website.
Credits:
Franklin County Center