Goodbye 2023
We Grow Agriculture
At the end of every year, the Ashe County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGVs) have a very busy job finishing their year’s work in the Ashe County Victory Garden. All the seeds for the 2023 growing season have been counted and remarkably the Victory Garden was able to produce over $22,000 worth of seed. Since we started recording this metric in 2021, the Victory Garden has produced over $50,000 dollars worth of seed for the community, while also saving the oral heritage and history associated with each seed. Additionally, the Victory Garden has also been pivotal in restoring 3 varieties (Ashe County Pimento Pepper, Morse Pole 191, Purple Turkey Craw Beans) back into production use. All of this work would not have been possible without the volunteer efforts of the Ashe EMGVs. Victory Garden Seeds packed for 2024 will be available to the community later this spring, at both the Ashe County Library and the High Country Seed Swap.
On November 9 and 10, Livestock Agent Micah Orfield attended a two day training called Farmer to Farmer: Farmers Helping Farmers. It is a program designed to provide farmers and/or farm family members with a peer that will listen confidently and non-judgmentally. Peers are farmers/farm family members that are specifically trained to provide support and resources to help cope with difficult times. It was developed with funds from the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.
We Grow Youth
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) presented Ashe County Schools the Golden Star Award for their continued collaboration, volunteer and recruitment support. Ashe County Schools and EFNEP began a partnership in 2009. Since that time Blue Ridge Elementary, Mountain View Elementary and Westwood Elementary have partnered with EFNEP every year. Due to the strong partnership with Ashe County Schools, students are better able to understand the importance of preparing and tasting healthy foods and staying physically active as a part of a healthy lifestyle. Through the continued support of Ashe County Schools well over 700 students take EFNEP nutrition classes every year. This type of support has added benefits helping students develop healthy habits early and with confidence continue a healthy lifestyle throughout their lives.
Extension Agent Blake Williams and 4-H Agent Caroline Goss went to Riverview Community Center in December to teach youth about the importance of soil sampling in preparation for their community garden project coming up in 2024. Participants were taught in a classroom setting followed by hands-on soil sampling at the garden location.
Youth have been learning to code and program LEGO Robots in the 4-H LEGO Robotics Club. In December, youth engineered a candy-delivery robot which was programmed to deliver candy to participants at different locations within the room. Participants are engaged and excited about projects that they will pursue in 2024!
We Grow Community
On December 5, 2023, Ashe County’s Migrant Program Coordinator and Farm Worker Health Educator Michelle Pelayo participated in the 2023 Ashe County Children’s Christmas project for the 15th consecutive year. The Project gave out over 798 bags of toys to needy children in the community. Our MEP Coordinator was there to help Hispanic families communicate with the volunteers when they picked up their bags of toys. This helps the process go much smoother and nothing gets lost in translation between the parents and the volunteers of the project.
Employee Spotlight
John Cothren
Interim County Extension Director
John Cothren is a native of Wilkes County whose journey is marked by a profound dedication to agricultural education and community service. Following his passion for agriculture, he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Agricultural Education / Extension with a minor in Beef Production.
He embarked on a career path focused on enriching the lives of others through agricultural knowledge. For over a decade, he served as an Agricultural Education Instructor at East Wilkes High School, where he imparted the love of agriculture to countless students. His commitment to education and agriculture later led him to join North Carolina Cooperative Extension, where he serves as a Livestock and Row Crop Agent for the past 13 years.
Throughout his tenure, his dedication and expertise earned him recognition and trust within the community. In his role as Wilkes County Extension Director for the past 8 years, he has continued to advocate for the agricultural industry and facilitate positive growth / development within the county.
Driven by his passion for agriculture and education, John Cothren stands as a pillar of his community, embodying the values of hard work, integrity and service while empowering farmers with the tools and knowledge needed for success.
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.