Extension News January 2026

January Employee Spotlight

Amanda Royall

Making a Difference, One Classroom at a Time

In the world of community outreach, nineteen years is more than just a tenure—it is a testament to dedication and heart. This month, we are incredibly proud to feature Amanda Royall, our EFNEP Youth Educator, who has been with Extension 19 years. Since 2006, Amanda has been a constant source of energy and inspiration for both her colleagues and the countless students she serves.

A Passion for Nutrition

For Amanda, the best part of the workday begins the moment she enters a school. As an educator, she finds her greatest joy in watching students’ faces light up as they discover the world of nutrition. While the curriculum is important, it is the personal connections that drives her. She looks forward to the stories the kids share each week—particularly the excitement in their voices when they announce they have finally tried a new, healthy food. Her impact on the community is as measurable as it is meaningful. This past school year, Amanda reached an incredible 764 K-12 students, a feat that stands as a highlight of her long and impactful career. Her success is rooted in her ability to make learning fun, a trait that is also appreciated back at the office, where she values the close-knit bond, she shares with her coworkers.

Beyond the Classroom

When the day ends, Amanda swaps her educator hat for her roles as a singer, traveler, and "dog mom." A woman of faith and talent, she finds immense fulfillment in leading the ladies' choir at her church and attending gospel singing concerts. She treasures time spent with her husband, family, and friends, whether they are exploring new places locally or dreaming of far-off destinations. If she could travel anywhere tomorrow, the tropical beauty of St. Lucia would be at the top of her list.

Fun Facts and "Fur-Babies"

While Amanda is a familiar face to many, her coworkers might be surprised to learn that she has never been fishing—a rarity in our neck of the woods! Instead, she prefers spending her downtime with her two beloved Black Labs, Cash and Cole. And if you’re looking to brighten her day, you can’t go wrong with her favorite comfort snack: dark chocolate paired with salted caramel apples. Amanda, thank you for nearly two decades of service, smiles, and snacks! Your commitment to the youth of our community makes Extension a better place every single day.

Easy Cheesy Tortilla Bake

Here is a healthy recipe that can be prepared with a pre-cooked chicken/rotisserie chicken. You can also easily shred a precooked chicken and throw it into other soups, salads, casseroles, and stir fry. Makes 12 servings Ingredients

• 16 whole-wheat tortillas
• 2 cans low-sodium tomato soup (10 oz.)
• 2 cups chunky salsa
• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 4 cups cubed, cooked chicken or turkey
• 2 cups low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
• Vegetable cooking spray

Directions 1.   Wash hands and surfaces. 2.   Preheat oven to 400°F. 3.   Lightly coat baking dishes with cooking spray. 4.   Cut or tear tortillas into 1-inch pieces. 5.   Divide cheese in half and save 1 cup for topping. 6.   In a large mixing bowl, combine tortillas, soup, salsa, milk, chicken, and 1 cup of cheese. 7.   Divide the mixture into two baking dishes. 8.   Bake for 30 minutes or until hot. 9.   Remove from oven and sprinkle 1 cup of remaining cheese over each baking dish. 10. Refrigerate leftovers immediately. Original Recipe from: K-State  

Storing In-Season Produce for the New Year

Taking time from your busy week to plan your next shopping trip is important. Making a list, checking your budget, and even involving your family in your planning are things you must have already heard many times. What you may not know is that you can also plan when buying produce. In North Carolina, fruits and vegetables vary throughout the year by growing conditions and weather. Fruits and vegetables that are in season are often cheaper.  Today we will share insights on winter produce that is currently in season in North Carolina, and how to properly store it. Apples Apples are in season from August to February in North Carolina.  They are a good source of fiber and can be enjoyed for snacks, diced in a salad, or baked with cinnamon. When buying fresh apples, select firm crisp and well-colored apples. When you bring them home, keep apples in a plastic bag in the refrigerator away from foods with strong odors. Wash well before eating, rubbing them under running water. Dip cut apples in one part lemon juice and three parts water to prevent the apples from turning brown.   Carrots Carrots are available all year round in North Carolina. They provide a good source of vitamin A and C. Not all carrots are orange. You may find carrots that are white, purple, deep red or orange, and with their tops still attached. When buying them fresh, look for firm and bright-colored carrots, avoiding any that are rough, cracked, soft or wilted. Once you bring them home, remove the greens and compost them. Store the carrots in a plastic bag with holes punched in it for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Carrots, which turn soft, can be used for soups or baked goods. Carrots are great eaten raw or on salads but make sure to wash them before eating. Sweet Potatoes Did you know that North Carolina is the number one producer of sweet potatoes in the U.S.? You can find sweet potatoes in season all year round. A great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and fiber, you can add sweet potatoes to soups, stews, or casseroles. When choosing sweet potatoes, select potatoes with smooth, evenly colored skin. Store potatoes in a cool dark place at home. Never store sweet potatoes in the refrigerator. You should use them within three to five weeks. If you choose to boil your sweet potatoes, peel after they are cooked to make the process easier.    Winter Squash Winter squash is in season in North Carolina from September to January. They provide an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C. When shopping for winter squash, look for the ones that are heavy for their size with good color and unblemished rinds. This produce is available in different varieties, such as spaghetti, acorn, hubbard, turban, kabocha, butternut, sugar pumpkins, and more. At home, store squash in a cool dark place for up to a month. Once cut, refrigerate unused portions. Winter squash has tough skins and contains seeds. Many need to be peeled or have the inside pulp scooped before baking. You can always prepare them like you would prepare a pumpkin and can easily replace pumpkin in many dishes with winter squash.

New Year & Fresh Beginning

The new year marks a fresh beginning after the busyness of the holiday season! It’s a great time to set goals or implement some positive changes for your family. Maybe you want to focus on making healthier choices this year. Meal planning is a great way to avoid the last-minute rush that often leads to poor food choices. When the grocery sales ads are released mid-week, it’s a great time to plan your menu for the coming week based on what is on sale. After making your grocery list, allow your children to go shopping with you and challenge them to find the items on the list. When it comes time to prepare the meal, involve your children in the process! Even little ones can assist with measuring, peeling, stirring, and other simple tasks. Children are more likely to try different foods if they have helped prepare them! While you’re already in the kitchen, make enough of your recipe so that you can put a meal in the freezer for later. Meatloaf, lasagna, chicken pie, and casseroles all freeze well. When you have a busy evening, you’ll be glad to have a quick and healthy option to pop in the oven! Slow cooker meals are another great option during the winter. Soups and stews are easy ways to incorporate veggies that your kids may not ordinarily eat by themselves.  Just put your ingredients in and set it to low before heading out for the day, and you can come home to a warm meal ready to eat with little preparation. It’s more difficult to stay physically active during the wintertime because we’d much rather stay inside where it is warm! However, even short bursts of activity throughout the day can help. Bundle up and take the dog for a walk; give the kids a winter scavenger hunt to search for as you take a walk around the neighborhood. Put those new bikes, scooters, or rollerblades they received as gifts to good use, and get some much-needed fresh air and sunshine. Just don’t forget the helmet and safety pads! No one wants to start the year off with an injury. You may even set a goal to try a new activity in the new year! We are very fortunate to have so many state parks nearby! Go for a visit and get in a hike while you’re there. We also have some great trails in Surry County for walking, running, and bike riding. If it’s just too cold for you outside, we have several recreation centers across the county. Try a new class, and you may just find a new hobby. It’s a great time of year to implement some healthier changes for yourself and your family. It just takes a little bit of planning and willpower to follow through!      

Farewell from Bailey

After a rewarding journey with Extension, I am writing to let you know that I have accepted a new opportunity. I will transition into a new professional role starting January 5th. Working here in Surry County has been a wonderful experience, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have met and collaborated with so many of you. Thank you for your kindness and support over the years—you have made my time here truly special. I will cherish the memories and connections made during my time with N.C. Cooperative Extension - Surry Center.

Mark your calendars for the February Beef Producer Meeting

February 16, 2026

Upcoming Winter Production Meetings and Pesticide Training

It is approaching that time of the year again for North Carolina Cooperative Extension to hold winter commodity production meetings and various pesticide recertification trainings for farmers and pesticide applicators to attend. The first offering that will be on the calendar this year is a Private Pesticide V Safety Training that is solely for private pesticide applicators needing their 2 hours of V credits to attend. This will be held in Surry County on Thursday, January 8th at 9 am. This is not the only Private Pesticide V Safety Training that will be offered this year, so more offerings and details should be coming soon! If you would like to register or are curious as to how many private pesticide credits you currently have, please call 336-401-8025. For our tobacco growers within this region, our area tobacco production meeting and GAP certification training will be held in Yadkin County again, like usual. The area tobacco production meeting and GAP certification training will be held on January 26th at 9 am. If you would like to register or have any questions regarding the GAP certification process, please call 336-849-7908. For our grain growers within this region, there will be an area grain production meeting that will be held in Surry County this year on February 6th at 10 am. There will be pesticide credits offered to attendees at this meeting, more details should be coming soon! Topics to be featured at this production meeting include agricultural economic analysis update, corn management practices to limit input prices on the farm, weed management practices update, and a presentation of local on-farm research trials from 2025. If you would like to register for this event, please call 336-401-8025.

2026 Peach Production Workshop

Foothills Specialty Crop Growers Roundtable

The 12th annual Foothills Specialty Crop Growers’ Roundtable is scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. The event will be held in person at the Extension Center in Surry County, 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 commodities. All farmers, new and old, are invited to attend. Topics vary from year to year. A few of the topics this year will include: *Sprayer Calibration *High Tunnels for Small Farms *Growing Uncommon Fruit – like pawpaw, elderberry, and more! *Digital Marketing for Small Farms *Integrated Pest Management for Small Farms *Preparing for Tax Season *Basics of Plasticulture *Wildflower and Meadow Planting for Farms and Venues *Creating a Business Plan for Small Farms *Farmers Market Ready with Certifications   Some sessions will have pesticide credits available. Register by calling 336.401.8025 or visit our website at https://surry.ces.ncsu.edu

Thank you for all you do!

A special end-of-the-year shout-out to our Surry County Facilities Department!