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
Dinah Gore 4-H Healthy Food Challenge
EFNEP Educator, Danielle and Molly were able to coach 2 teams to attend this event. These youth practiced for two hours for six weeks. Each week the youth cooked and learned about food and nutrition. The competition was in Raleigh at the Got to Be NC Festival on May 18th. This competition focus 25% of the score on preparation and 75% on Presentation. We learned so much and I hope we can do it again next year.
South Qualifying Horse Show
Cabarrus County 4-H'ers successfully participated in the South District Qualifying Horse Show at Lake Waccamaw in May. Youth earned the ability to show at the State 4-H Horse Show, 4-H'ers must qualify at the district shows.
We had Kickin' Tails and At-Large Club members compete, including many first-year competitors. Way to go everyone! Congratulations!
Cabarrus County 4-H After School
On Wednesday, May 1 we honored our seventy-five Cabarrus County 4-H after school teachers with a Celebration Luncheon. Congratulations to Cheyann Johnston who was selected the 4-H After School Teacher of the Year. Cheyann is a teacher at Bethel Kids:Plus where her students love her enthusiasm and creativity. She enjoys working with Bethel's 4-H club officers and helping out with 4-H community service activities. The children wanted to be more involved with the community and help in as many ways as possible this year, so Cheyann went to work to find ideas to help the children accomplish their goals. With Cheyann's help, they had canned food drives to help local families, sent cards to nursing homes, Bethel teachers and staff, and even collected items for the Cabarrus County Special Olympics. Also honored was Dianna Newsome who won the 4-H After School Spirit Award. Dianna is a teacher at Mt. Pleasant Kids:Plus who loves children and has a very special bond with them. She shows so much 4-H Spirit everyday. Also honored were three teachers that are retiring this year. Michelle "Mike" Holderby, Jewel Flake and Leslie Cruse all from Rocky River Kids:Plus was honored with a 4-H G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all Time) trophy for their dedication to the 4-H after school program.
Please contact 4-H Agent, Molly Kleman with any questions about Cabarrus County 4-H.
Cabarrus County Family and Consumer Sciences
NC State Cooperative Extension is a research based source of food preservation information. As we continue into a busy Home Food Preservation season please remember all Dial Gauge Pressure Canners need to be tested for accuracy, and residents are invited to set up an appointment to have their dial gauge canners tested by contacting our Extension Office at 704-920-3310 to set up an appointment.
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Bradford Preparatory School
We recently hosted Bradford Preparatory School students in our newly remodeled Teaching Kitchen for a "hands-on" Cooking Class. Teachers were very appreciative of the skills they practiced to foster their independence.
Quick and Easy" Meals Workshop
We taught a "Quick and Easy" Meals hands on workshop with 15 DSS students and their adult supervisors during their Spring Break. The students prepared a complete , nutritious meal featuring "packet meals", salad and a baked fruit dessert. They were very surprised to be able to prepare a complete meal and enjoy it while at our Extension Kitchen!
Extension and Community Association Updates
Cabarrus County ECA members recently attended the South Central District ECA Spring Meeting in Harnett County. A highlight of the day was the District Cultural Arts Contest. Congratulations to Cabarrus ECA members who captured honors in the South Central District Contest. They included : Debbie Barr, Nancy Carlson, Sandy Kendall, Barbara Looney, Janet Stancil, Slyvia Stancil, and Judy York. Cabarrus ECA members Joyce Kluttz and Barbara Looney are also actively helping plan the National Volunteer Outreach Network's National Meeting that will be held in Asheville, NC in July. Cabarrus member Joyce Kluttz serves as Conference Chairman.
Congratulations to the Cold Water ECA Club that recently hosted a 2 day bus trip to the " Eastern" parts of North Carolina. This was a fundraising trip to help sponsor Cold Water ECA members registration to attend the upcoming NVON national meeting in July!
Cabarrus County Horticulture
Roly Poly Fest
The recent Roly Poly Fest was a wonderful event that brought together over 240 participants for a day of education, fun, and hands-on activities.
At the heart of the event were dedicated Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs), who worked tirelessly to create an enriching experience for children. Their aim was to blend fun with learning, and the day was a great success!
Young participants had the opportunity to dive into a variety of interactive and educational activities:
Germination Necklaces: Kids crafted their own germination necklaces, giving them a personal connection to the process of seed germination. They learned how seeds sprout and grow, right before their eyes!
Understanding Germination: Through hands-on demonstrations, children gained a deeper understanding of how germination works. They observed the stages of seed growth and were able to ask questions and get involved in the process.
Dissecting Lima Beans: A fascinating activity where kids dissected lima beans to see the internal structure of seeds. This exercise helped them grasp the basics of plant biology and the importance of each part of the seed.
Garden in a Glove: Perhaps the highlight of the day was creating a mini "garden in a glove." Children selected different seeds to germinate in a plastic glove, combining creativity with scientific exploration.
Roly Poly Fest was more than just an event; it was a celebration of nature, science, and community. The efforts of the EMGs and the enthusiasm shown by all the young participants were commendable.
Heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who attended and contributed to making Roly Poly Fest a memorable experience. The support and participation of the community made this event possible and impactful.
The organization looks forward to more opportunities to educate and inspire the community. Stay tuned for upcoming events!
Greenhouse Benches
Our greenhouse is currently undergoing a significant revamp to enhance its functionality and aesthetics. This upgrade aims to provide a better environment for both our plants and gardeners, making it a more efficient and enjoyable space for everyone. We are pleased to have these new benches made by one of our very own Extension Master Gardeners
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
Cooperative Extension
Congratulations NC 4-H Hall of Fame
Help us celebrate the new class of the NC 4-H Hall of Fame including our very own Pam Outen! CABCO 4-H was very well represented!
Welcome to the Team
I am delighted to introduce our newest addition to the Cabarrus County Extension Office, Sarah Newman. Sarah joins us as our dedicated Livestock Agent, bringing with her a wealth of experience and passion for the agricultural community, particularly in livestock management.
Sarah is a native of Cabarrus County and has deep roots in our local agricultural scene. She grew up on her family's horse farm, where her love for animals and agriculture was nurtured from a young age. Sarah's extensive involvement in the FFA during her time at Northwest Cabarrus High School speaks volumes about her dedication and leadership within the agricultural community. She held numerous leadership positions and actively contributed to managing our on-campus farm facilities, gaining invaluable hands-on experience along the way.
We are thrilled to have Sarah on board, and we are confident that her knowledge, skills, and dedication will greatly benefit our local livestock community. She is eager to collaborate with the Cabarrus County Cattlemen Association and assist you in any way possible.
Should you have any questions, need assistance, or wish to discuss any livestock-related matters, please do not hesitate to reach out to Sarah. You can contact her via email at sarah_newman@ncsu.edu or by phone at 704-920-3310.
Please join me in welcoming Sarah to our team. We look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly make in our community.
Laila Pratt - Student at UNC-Greensboro studying Human Biology Summer Internship includes building a network of contacts in the community food system, including growers, organizations, businesses all centered around food grown in and around Cabarrus County. She is working to develop a job description for a future Community Food System Extension Agent. If anyone has a contact to add to her network list, please contact tracy_lecompte@ncsu.edu.
Laila enjoys creating ceramics and loves visual arts. She has a minor in Spanish, her favorite color is purple and is a former student of the double bass and piano. She is an avid baker.
Mikayla Daniels - Student at NCSU - getting her Master's in Agricultural Extension & Education. Summer internship includes planning and implementing day camps and teen leadership experiences for our 4-H Summer Fling program. She is also researching and organizing our 4-H curriculum collection and curating it specifically for our local educators to showcase at the August RISE conference for Cabarrus County Schools.
She has two dogs, a black Aussie doodle name Paris and a black French bulldog named Petunias and is an independent creative crocheter and her favorite color is pink! Her masters thesis is centered around exploring the experience of non-rural black minorities in agriculture.