January 2026 Newsletter Mitchell County Cooperative Extension

Upcoming Events

Office Closed - Monday, December 22, 2025 - Friday, January 2nd, 2026

4-H Online Enrollment Week - Monday, January 5, 2026 - Friday, January 9, 2026

Volunteer Training - Thursday, January 8, 2026 @ 6pm

Enhanced Fitness Deadline - January 12th, 2026

*See Website for Times and Details*

EFNEP Article

Happy New Year!

It's a New Year so a lot of people might be ready to start a new healthy lifestyle. If you are ready to start a healthy lifestyle just remember there is not one perfect diet for everyone, or is it something that can be reached in one day! Setting small goals is a great place to start a healthy lifestyle. One small change is to increase your family's fruit and vegetables.

Here is some tips on how you could increase your fruit and vegetables:

1. Try one new fruit or vegetable each week during the month of January
2. Have fruit and/or vegetable a every meal for 1 week
3. Find new ways to add fruit and vegetables into your meals
4. Examples: Add spinach to smoothies, top cereal with fruit, add mushroom or peppers to dishes, all kinds of ways to eat those fruits and vegetables!

January 6- National Bean Day Beans are affordable and healthy source of protein January 12- National Hot Tea Day Tea is cheaper than most other beverages. Tea does not have any added sugar and can be a great healthy option as long as you do not add too much sugar. Try adding honey or a splash of milk. January 24- National Peanut Butter Day Peanut Butter contains protein and is an excellent source of niacin and manganese.

No gym membership, no worries!!

Staying active in the winter is easy. Physical activity boosts immunity during flu season.

Weather permitting go outside to get some fresh air and go on a walk or a jog.

Inside activities are endless, some examples would be household chores like sweeping or vacuuming, walking up and down stairs, playing games with children, or finding videos online that works for you!

Use the MyPlate link below to look at recommendations for the 5 Food Groups for you and your family. Plus, other nutritional information!

https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan

In EFNEP classes we learn about all this plus more! If interested or have any questions call Sarah Grinestaff at 688-4811 or email at sarah_grinestaff@ncsu.edu!

Enhanced Fitness Coming Soon

Deadline for payment and paperwork is January 12th. Don't delay, register today!

4-H Online 2.0

Welcome to the new 4-H year! The first step to becoming an active 4-H member, volunteer, or participant during this year’s 4-H program (2026) is to “enroll or re-enroll”. If you are a 4-H member 18 or under (as of January 1, 2026), your parent or guardian can renew your membership. *New youth members, volunteers and participants are strongly encouraged to enroll now too. North Carolina 4-H uses an online system, called 4-H Online 2.0, to manage 4-H memberships, clubs, projects, activities, and communications. *All members who participate in North Carolina 4-H must have a 4-H Online 2.0 profile. 4-H Online 2.0 accounts are family-based, which means every family creates a “master” profile with its own login ID and password. A member file is then created within the family profile for each individual involved in North Carolina 4-H. If you were previously enrolled and / or if someone in your family was involved in North Carolina 4-H from 2021 to 2025, you probably have an existing family profile in 4-H Online 2.0. Previous members should use their existing login and password to access their family profile in the new 4-H Online 2.0 platform. *Members who are re-enrolling should NOT create a new account. North Carolina 4-H has created a new 4-H Online 2.0 Resource Site that houses a variety of tip sheets, videos and step-by step instructions for using the new program including:

• Family Enrollment Guide
• How to Re-Enroll
• New Member Enrollment
• Member Password Support
• 4-H Club Leader Guide to Using 4-H Online 2.0

About 4-H Online 2.0

• 4-H Online is the official NC 4-H online system for youth and adult members and participants with 4-H.
• 4-H Online is a partnership between the 4-H Family, the local 4-H program and the State 4-H Office.
• 4-H Online is a secure system that is in compliance with the PCI Security Standards Council. NC 4-H nor 4-H Online shares or sells any personal information to third party vendors without knowledge or permission.
• 4-H Online is based on “Zero-based enrollment.” Each year, at the start of the enrollment cycle, all 4-H membership in NC goes to zero and everyone must re-enroll. This process is based on federal accounting policies.

Spanish Enrollment Documents

Spanish language enrollment in 4-H Online 2.0 is not available at this time. Please use this link to download Spanish language enrollment documents.

For more information, please contact Erin Silver (erin_silver@ncsu.edu) or call us at 828-688-4811.

CED/Agriculture

Upcoming Pesticide Certification Exam – February 5, 2026

You will have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming pesticide certification exam scheduled for February 5, 2026. If you’re interested in advancing your certification or renewing your credentials, sign up here for more information follow this link

Mitchell County’s Extension Master Gardener program is expanding!

Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) are volunteers who engage the community through education and outreach and answer questions about all types of gardening. To prepare volunteers for this service, in-person attendance at a 12-week training is required. The training will take place in 2026.

Novice gardeners are as welcome to apply as are lifelong gardeners. Successful EMGs generally share three key attributes: 1) They are interested in gardening, 2) They are interested in learning, and 3) They enjoy sharing what they have learned with others.

Interested residents are invited to add their name to the list to receive more information as it becomes available. Call Kelli Grindstaff at 828-688-4811. Be sure to leave your name, a current email address and a phone number.