Our Mission: North Carolina Cooperative Extension partners with communities to deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolinians.
Cabarrus County 4-H
Kick off the New Year!
January has been a busy month for Cabarrus County 4-H. We are so excited to kickstart the year. We have big plans for 2024 and this is just the beginning! We hope for a bigger and better year than that last!
• January 4th, we had our first County Council meeting. We turned in project record books, portfolios, and scrapbooks at this meeting. We also inducted the County Council Officers and Club Officers for 2024.
• Over 60 project record books were submitted this year! Judging is underway and results will be provided at the 2023 4-H Achievement Night!
• January 17th, our club leaders came together for their first training of the year. We set expectations and went over volunteer guidelines. Our next club leader training will be June 3rd.
• January 18th, the 4-H Foundation had their bi-monthly meeting. Be on the lookout for their Annual Fundraiser! It will be all online this year!
• January 29 We will hold our officer training for all new 2024 officers. The youth will learn about their roles and parliamentary procedures. You can now register in 4-H Online!
• January 25th is our next Clover buddies meeting at 6pm at the 4-H Office.
Kids:Plus Afterschool Teachers attend a 4-H Relaxation Class
Many of us live in a world filled with stress and anxiety. 4-H afterschool wanted to help meet this challenge by providing all 75 afterschool Kids:Plus teachers a day where they can focus on their mental health. The class was presented by Beverly Bollenbecker, 4-H Program Associate and Denise Cooper, 4-H Program Assistant, for North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
Kids:Plus teachers looked at ways to stay calm during stressful situations, how eating a healthy meal will help keep the stress away, and how getting enough sleep each night will keep you alert and more productive.
Kids:Plus teachers practiced taking deep breaths to help stay calm during times when they feel overwhelmed.
The class ended with making 10 different rubs and scrubs so they could continue to relax at home.
Please contact 4-H Agent, Molly Kleman with any questions about Cabarrus County 4-H.
Cabarrus County Family and Consumer Sciences
January has been a very productive month sharing Foods and Nutrition educational information and resources. On January 11th, 2024 we launched Cook-Smart Eat Smart program. This 4 week, hands-on, nutrition cooking classes were hosted in our newly renovated extension teaching kitchen. The Class was full with a waiting list! This class was offered in the evenings to accommodate working adults and will continue until Thursday evening February 1st. This hands-on cooking curriculum teaches cooking techniques that can be used to build a repertoire of quick and easy entrees and side dishes that encourages preparing and eating more meals at home. Local ECA (Extension and Community Association) members serve as station leaders and co-sponsor the program, which requires volunteer assistance.
Food and Nutrition educational programs have also been shared at several locations throughout the County during January. Phone and email requests for food information continue daily. One of the most interesting calls was a request from a local resident on “how to get my chocolate sauce approved for distribution.”
Campus and learning about the “cutting edge” research is happening in Kannapolis, this March. ECA is open to any interested adult. Special thanks to the Planning Committee: Becky Barbee, Sarah Goodman, Gail Linker, Judy McClendon, Debbie Mullis, Donna Smith, Tami Specht, Pam Walker, Ann Wensil, Pat Wickliff, Carolym Wright and Pam Outen, FCS Extension Agent. Dedicated ECA leaders make it possible to have the largest ECA membership in North Carolina!
If you have any questions about nutrition, health, food safety, or food preservation please contact Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences Pamela Outen or call 704-920-3310.
Cabarrus County Horticulture
Extension Master Gardener Training Course
The EMG training course is off to a great start. Classes began January 4th, 2024 and are going wonderfully. It has been a joy to talk about botany, weeds, soils, compost and more! Thank you to all the certified Extension Master Gardeners who have been able to help answer any questions throughout the class.
If you are interested in learning more about garden tours or joining Cabarrus County Master Gardeners email Payton Berry or call 704-920-3310.
Cabarrus County
Agriculture
Southern Piedmont Climate Smart Project
The Southern Piedmont Climate Smart project, a multi-million dollar initiative partnering Rodale Institute with farmers and farmers markets. It's testing the environmental and economic benefits of climate-smart farming practices such as cover crops in vegetable production across five Southeast states. By monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, farmer income, and market response, the project aims to provide robust data for scaling up sustainable agriculture and encouraging climate-friendly food choices in the region.
Farmers will be asked to add cover crops to their vegetable rotation. They will monitor greenhouse gas emissions, soil health benefits, economic impacts, and social barriers to the adoption of using cover crops versus not using cover crops on their fields. This information will provide farmers with the data needed to capitalize on carbon market programs and understand how they can better steward their lands and communities while providing recommendations to the USDA for ways to economically and socially support farmers’ transitions to climate-smart agriculture.
Through partnerships with Southern Piedmont farmers markets, the project will expand markets for climate-smart commodities in the Southeast. Their a marketing campaign investigates the best strategies for educating consumers about the value-added benefits of purchasing climate-smart commodities. The information gained from this work will help farmers get the value of their work and provide the USDA with recommendations on ways to support climate-smart markets through consumer education.
Cabarrus County
Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program
Ready to boost your veggie power in 2024? Gear up for "Eat More Fruits and Vegetables," the Cabarrus County Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program's exciting kick-off class! Join us on February 2nd, 2pm-3:30pm, at 1224 John Kirk Drive, Charlotte NC 28262, and dive into practical skills to fill your plate with vibrant color and flavor. This interactive session will demystify daily serving sizes, help you navigate added sugars, and equip you with food safety know-how and proper storage tips. Plus, master the art of whipping up a Super Stir Fry – a delicious and nutritious way to pack in those essential vitamins and minerals. Let's celebrate healthy eating together!
Contact Information: Danielle_Pennington@ncsu.edu
ninerpantry@charlotte.edu