N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County June 2020 Newsletter

ALEXANDER COUNTY CENTER

June 2020

Currently the N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center is still closed to the public. We look to be open to the public sometime in June. Stay tuned to our webpage and Facebook page for an announcement on reopening. Agents are still available, so please call them at 828-632-4451 or email. For a list of email addresses click the following link: https://alexander.ces.ncsu.edu/people/

USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program for Farmers

Farmers and Ranchers to Receive Direct Support for Losses Related to COVID-19 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America's farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Read more at:

https://covid19.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/05/usda-announces-details-of-direct-assistance-to-farmers-through-the-coronavirus-food-assistance-program/?src=rss

National Dairy Month

June is National Dairy Month, a time to honor the hard working dairy farm families across the country. The June Dairy Month tradition began in 1937 as a way to help distribute extra milk when cows started on pasture in the summer. Now, 83 years later, the rich tradition of June Dairy Month continues with communities, companies and people from all over the United States participating. It is very obvious from these statistics that dairy farmers work extremely hard for their returns. Dairy farming is a 24-hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year occupation working to produce the most wholesome product we enjoy. Dairy farmers have to be nutritionists, veterinarians, mechanics, agronomists and businessmen to accomplish the tasks required day to day on a dairy farm.

Please visit the NC State CALS website at www.cals.ncsu.edu/discover-nc-dairy and take a virtual tour of a dairy farm and learn more about the dairy industry in NC.

Unfortunately dairy farming in NC is on the decline. It is more important than ever for us to know where our food comes from. Please take time to thank a dairy farmer for all he or she does so that we can enjoy those delicious dairy products. Support these farmers by consuming all these delicious products. Milk does do a body good!

To read more of this article click the following link:

https://alexander.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/05/june-is-national-dairy-month

It's almost time for peaches.....

Get those locally grown peaches and enjoy June Dairy Month by combining the two with the recipes below:

Georgia Peach Smoothie

Ingredients

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

3/4 cup milk

2 cups frozen sliced peaches

2 tsp. honey

1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions

Combine yogurt, milk, peaches, and remaining ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Divide equally among 2 glasses and serve immediately.

Homemade Peach Ice Cream

Ingredients

3 cups peeled, chopped peaches

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1 1/2 Tbsp. pure vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

Peel, core and roughly chop peaches; place in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup sugar and lemon juice to peaches, stirring until well combined. Set aside for about an hour.
Combine milk, cream, remaining 1 cup sugar, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl and stir until sugar is mostly dissolved, about 2 minutes.
Add milk mixture to peaches and stir well. Pour mixture into freezer canister of ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions.

Recipes can be found at: https://thedairyalliance.com/

To find locally grown peaches please call the N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center at 828-632-4451.

NC 4-H Virtual Summer Programs

Keep your youth engaged all summer long!!

Registration Opens June 1st!

Coffee & Culture - Virtual Zoom sessions for teens 13-18. Teens will form a deeper understanding of themselves and others as they explore their own backgrounds, cultural knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes.

Back to the Basics - This virtual learning series will bring back some of the family and consumer sciences skills that many youth have lost touch with from sewing, cooking, table etiquette, baking, and financial management.

Plant Geeks Unite - Join us for a virtual, summer, North Carolina 4-H Plant Science Adventure! In this self-guided exploration for 8-12 year-olds, we will dig into soils, marvel and grow plants with wild abandon and say hello to creeping, crawling, diving, and flying friends and so much more.

Cloverbud STEM - This program goes through 3 main STEM topics: energy, kitchen science, and bugs. Youth learn STEM from their kitchen to their backyard and everywhere in between.

Junior STEM - The main topics focused on in this program is: kitchen science, energy, coding, and natural sciences. From the very basics of natural life to technological advances, youth will become more aware of STEM related topics.

Log on to Leadership - Leadership requires a set of skills that allow a person to influence others in a positive way to achieve great things. 4-H members will have the opportunity to develop their time management, goal setting, conflict management, and public speaking skills so they can be better for their clubs, communities, country, and world!

Down on the Farm - A fun learning experience to allow youth to learn about animals even if you aren't raised on a farm. Youth will learn about where their food and byproducts come from. Youth will learn also about the companion animals that you can find in houses that aren't on the farm.

Explore Outdoors - Explore Outdoors is a fun way to learn about the environment right in your own nature patch - farm, suburbs, or city - it all counts! You can meet scientists and add your discoveries to a real environmental science database!

4-H Healthy Habits Family - This program encourages families to get involved in learning together! 4-H Healthy Habits Family is designed to guide a caregiver and their elementary aged youth through fun and engaging garden-based activities.

For more information: https://nc4h.ces.ncsu.edu/4-h-curriculum-at-a-glance/nc-4-h-virtual-summer-programs/

Count On Me! Campaign

The Count On Me NC program is focused on providing the necessary knowledge and information needed to manage COVID-19 within businesses as restrictions are relaxed. As part of the voluntary program there are free, online courses that provide a consistent approach based on state and national guidelines. The program is also partnered with a marketing campaign and customer expectations, with the intent to create shared responsibility for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

If you are a consumer, check out the Guest Pledge and steps you can take to help keep others safe while dining out, shopping, and visiting hospitality and tourism attractions. If you are looking for businesses in your area who have been trained with the program, check out this interactive map.