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Catawba County Cooperative Extension Service
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Catawba County Extension
We continue to serve you!
The Catawba County Extension Office is working hard to adjust our programs for social distancing standards. We continue to offer all of the consultation and programming that you are used to - just at a distance. If you need to meet with an agent please use the link below to set an appointment, ask a question, or participate in education and training opportunities. All of our agents are ready to serve your needs.
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Upcoming Events and Activities
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 Local Food Cooking Class
Yeah!!!
We are doing a ZOOM COOKING CLASS
I will miss cooking for all of you and sharing produce from our local growers, but I think we can do this and still have fun, especially if you all cook along with me.
We have classes every two weeks. Sessions remaining are:
Aug 12 and 26 - 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Sept 9 and 23 - 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Oct 7 and 21 - 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Please follow this link to access registration.
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We always welcome your questions
Questions regarding garden veggies, herbs, and fruit
send them to George: gtplace@ncsu.edu
Questions regarding ornamentals, lawn, and trees
send them to Adam: ansmith3@ncsu.edu
Based on popular demand we will continue with the Tai Chi program and introduce new movements, breathing exercises and balance challenges - join in the fun!
Tai Chi For Gardeners, Office Workers,
and People in a Hurry
These zoom meetings are free and open to the public. Simply click on the link to register. Registered participants will get a zoom link before the scheduled program. Share this invite and bring your questions.
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The above link will assist farmers in:
- what farmers need to know for the small business benefits
- what farmers need to know for the CARES Act
 - Info for the 2020 GAP Audit
- farm workers and COVID-19, what if someone is infected
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 Vivian Howard will tell the story of her wild ride from a small North Carolina city (Kinston) to New York and back, a story that is far from over and features a wildly successful television show, a growing number of restaurants and a starring role in the transformation of the Kinston. Howard will discuss pickles and their role in food storage in the southeastern United States. She'll then share a recipe featuring both old and new end of season vegetables.
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Fermentology 101 - weekly mini series
"Fermentology 101" is a weekly series of short talks (20 minutes, on average) for anyone hungry to engage in food, culture, history, and science in the context of what you have in your pantry and fridge at home.
Speakers range from bakers and cheesemakers to archaeologists, evolutionary biologists, chemists, paleontologists and more.
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Now open for the Summer Season!
Wed. 10-2pm, Sat 8-1pm
Parking lot beside Lowes play ground to west of Union Square
Opening Day May 9th
Sat. 8-12pm
Conover Post Office parking lot
Thursdays 11-2pm in the parking lot of Catawba Public Health
3070 11th Ave Dr SE, Hickory
For other updates on sourcing local foods
Vegetables,Fruit, Meat, Eggs,
Tea, Coffee, Honey,Bread, Baked Goods
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Pesticide Classes 2020 - Lincoln County
Online via Zoom
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Call to register - 704.736.8461
September 14 - 6:00-8:00pm - 2 DHLNOX Credits "Pesticide and Fertilizer Math Made Easy with Device Calibration Review"
September 21 - 6:00-8:00pm - 2 V Credits "NCDA&CS 2018-2020 Private Recertification, Nozzle Tip Know How, and Respirator Training"
September 22 - 10:00-12:00noon - 2 DHLNX Credits "Herbicide Use & Safety in the Landscape" |
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Webinar For Farmers:
Making the Most Out of Bulk Sales Opportunities: Two New NC Choices' Tools
For the past year, NC Choices has been rolling out two new resources for North Carolina farms selling meat. These resources are particularly timely as the pandemic has driven an increasing number of consumers to seek local meat and to stock up on supplies.
We'll introduce the Meat Price & Yield Calculator, an easy to use online tool to test and adjust your prices and ensure a profit whenever you sell meat. The calculator uses your farm's data to develop pricing that covers production, processing, and marketing costs, including the value of your time. Also learn about adding your farm to the MeatSuite directory of NC farms selling meat in bulk quantities. MeatSuite is a free website that helps consumers find your farm and "fill their freezer."
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Catawba County Youth Council
Now Accepting Applications for New Members 
Want to be part of a group of teens making a difference in the community and learning about current issues. Now is the time to apply and get involved with the Catawba County Youth Council.
In August, the Youth Council collected and delivered over 200 pencil boxes filled with school supplies. that will help elementary students this year. The project is one example of how this group develops and carries out project to address local needs they identify. At the August meeting, Youth Council learned about the 2020 election and they are encouraging young voters.
Youth Council meets once a month on a Monday evening. We currently have openings to accept new students from ALL Catawba County high schools, including private and home schoolers, too. There is a particular need for students that represent Hickory City Schools, Maiden, Bunker Hill, Bandys and Newton-Conover High School
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ASPIRE: ACT Prep Class
Thursdays, 4:00-5:30, via zoom
October - February
NC 4-H Agents have teamed up to offer the ASPIRE, a 30-hour Princeton Review ACT course. With the course, high school students can learn helpful test-taking skills and sharpen skills in Math, Reading, English and Science. Donna Mull, Catawba County 4-H Agent, will be co-teaching the course on Thursdays. Other days/times are offered with courses taught by other 4-H Agents and with the course offered by zoom, it makes is possible to enroll in any course that works for your schedule.
The cost is $75 and includes the course book, supplement materials, 4 practice test with score feedback, 30-hours instruction, and access to online Princeton Review materials. Scholarship are available. Catawba County 4-H'ers may also use scholarship money they have earned for the course.
Contact donna_mull@ncsu.edu for more information or to registration.
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Empowering Youth and Families
Powerful Families * Powerful Communities
Fall and Spring Sessions
We are excited to be able to bring the Empowering Youth and Families to program to Catawba County. Parenting is tough, but this series can help. The 10-week program is for parents/caregivers and their middle school children. The program is FREE and a meal is provided each week, thanks for grant funding.
Sessions will help to create stronger families with activities and discussion focused on family communication the building stronger relationship and learning about making healthy choices to avoid substance use. The group will work together to create a community project and enjoy a FREE family weekend at a NC 4-H camp.
How can you be involved? * Group Facilitators - want to help build stronger families? We need co-facilitators for the youth and parent groups. Training will be provided with the first training session starting soon. Volunteers will need to complete the NC 4-H volunteer application and screening.
* Activity Helpers - we need adults and teens who will keep the younger siblings entertained, while parents and older siblings participate in the session.
* Attend as a Family - enroll as a family and participate in Empowering Youth and Families. The Fall session will be over zoom. We hope to have the spring session in-person at a Catawba County location.
For more information about volunteering or enrolling your family in Empowering Families, contact Donna Mull or Tina McGillvary at donna_mull@ncsu.edu or 828-465-8240. |
Catawba County Local foods Guide
Time to update for 2020
We will not be distributing the print copy until the stay at home order is lifted. The web version will be updated continuously
All farmers in the guide have been given resources to help them safely harvest, package and distribute food and are being updated by Extension if protocols change.
To view resources shared with farmers visit
Please let us know if you would like your farm or food business to be in the Local Food Guide.
Requirements are that you produce, sell or utilize local foods sourced from within 50 miles of Catawba County.
The Guide will be printed in February and is also available in a mobile friendly version. See link above.
The listing is free, we just need a questionaire to be filled out and a picture or logo. Please contact April Vigardt at alvigard@ncsu.com for more information.
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Catawba Valley Cattlemen's Association Meeting
2 Meeting times - you must choose and call before hand in order to attend.
Topic: Balancing Rations for Cattle
Date &Time: Sept. 8, two times:
from 5:00- 5:30 & 7:30 - 8 PM
Location: Windy Hill Farms 6775 Startown Rd. Maiden, NC
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Speaker: Glenn Detweiler, Area Livestock Agent
When: September 8, 2020, 5:00 or 7:30 PM Eastern Time
Call our office, 828.465.8240 to choose a time. A light meal will be served at each meeting. A business meeting will occur at each meeting. Call Glenn to get put on the email list or text list to receive the cattlemen's newsletter and info on the upcoming meeting. Be prepared to follow all rules set by the Governor for meetings.
return on money lost due to Covid. All Cattle inventoried or sold in the spring have a 100% chance of getting a return of money. This now includes other livestock as well but the deadline is Sept. 11.
All Cattlemen members will receive a newsletter or click below
Questions - Call or text the Livestock Agent:
Glenn Detweiler on his cell: 405-219-1902
Call Brandon Bowman CVCA President or text Amanda Whitener,Treasurer
828-217-3120 Text 339-788-0943
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Beaver Management Assistance Program (BMAP)
Catawba County is a participating county for the statewide Beaver Management Assistance Program (BMAP). The North Carolina Beaver Management Assistance Program (BMAP) is designed to help manage problems caused by beaver on private and public lands. Due to practical and ecological considerations, the program's goal is to address specific beaver damage problems rather than to eliminate beaver from North Carolina.
If you need assistance in Beaver Management in
Catawba County please contact:
Austin Clarke Wildlife Specialist USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Work-(980) 223-1478
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ServSafe is designed for food industry workers and covers contamination, hygiene, time and temperature control, food-borne illness, allergens, and cleaning and sanitizing.
Date and Time
Sat, Sept 12, 2020, 9:00 AM -
Sat, Sept 19, 2020, 4:30 PM EDT
Location
Catawba County Center
1175 South Brady Avenue
828-828-8240
Newton, NC 28658
The registration fee of $125 covers the 7th edition textbook, test answer sheet, and handouts. This is a two-day training: September 12 and 19. Exam given on the 19th.
Unless the class is canceled, there are no refunds.
Registration and Payment are due Sept. 7, 2020.
If anyone has participated in this training offered by Cooperative Extension in the past and needs to retest or re-certify, they can do so on September 19. The retesting fee is $60 and would need to be paid by September 7, 2020.
October dates also scheduled-Please call 828-465-8240 for details.
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Family Consumer Science (FCS) - Food and Nutrition
"Farm to Fork" Recipe Page
Visit the " Farm to Fork" recipe page for recipes and resources to help you prepare produce that you grow or purchase at local farmers markets.
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Attention - Aspiring Food Business Entrepreneurs:
 Click on the link below for answers to questions regarding starting a food business. Whether you are interested in selling value-added products at a farmers market or starting a food truck. You will find information to help you, including agencies that regulate food businesses.
Need help with food preservation?
Stop by the Extension office and pick up a complimentary guide with instructions on how to can and freeze selected fruits and vegetables. For your convenience, the guides have been distributed to several local libraries but supplies are limited.
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Help Us Improve Our Customer Service To You!
In 2 minutes you will help us to improve how we serve Catawba County.
This survey is completely anonymous
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Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination statement
North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran's status. In addition, the two Universities welcome all person without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Persons with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency may request accommodations to participate by contacting Catawba County Extension Director, George Place, at (828) 465-8240 or gtplace@ncsu.edu or in person at the County Extension Office at least 14 days prior to the event.
Las universidades NC State y NC A & T están comprometidas colectivamente a llevar a cabo acciones positivas para asegurar la igualdad de oportunidades y prohibir la discriminación y el acoso independientemente de la raza, el color de la piel, el país de
origen, la religión, la ideología política, el estado civil y situación familiar, el sexo, la edad, la condición de veterano de guerra, la identidad sexual, la orientación sexual, la información genética o la discapacidad de la persona. Colaboración entre las
Universidades NC State y NC A & T, el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos, y los gobiernos locales.
Las personas con discapacidades y las personas con dominio limitado del inglés pueden solicitar adaptaciones para participar comunicándose con el Director de Extensión del Condado de Catawba, George Place, al (828) 465-8240 o gtplace@ncsu.edu o personalmente en la Oficina de Extensión del Condado al menos 14 días antes al evento.
Yog hais tias koj xav tau kev txhais lus Hmoob, thov hu rau peb tus extension thawj coj, George Place, ua ntej nws thiaj li yuav nrhiav tau kev pab koj. Nws tus xov tooj yog 828-465-8240. Ua tsaug.
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