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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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Lawn Care by the Season- Fall Expectations
August 18th at 7PM
In this ZOOM meeting, we will cover fall seeding, fertilization, pest management, and irrigation.
FREE- Register with Eventbrite
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NC 4-H Virtual Summer Fun
Ages 5 and older
Registration for these FREE virtual self-paced modules will continue through August 15 and access to the sites will be available until August 31.
Check-out these options:
* Back to the Basics
* Plant Geeks Unite
* Cloverbud, Junior and Senior STEM
* Log on to Leadership
* Down on the Farm
* Explore Outdoors
* Healthy Habits Family .
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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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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, Aug 15, 2020, 9:00 AM -
Sat, Aug 22, 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: August 15 & 22. Exam given on the 22nd.
Unless the class is canceled, there are no refunds.
Registration and Payment are due August 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 August 22. The retesting fee is $60 and would need to be paid by August 7, 2020.
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Landscape Contractors - CEU Extension
NC Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board voted to approve an Emergency Rule regarding Continuing Education (CE) credits required for license renewal for August 1, 2020 - July 31, 2021.
The emergency rule allows a one year extension of continuing education requirements for the license year ending July 31, 2020. Credits already obtained for the current licensing year ending July 31, 2020 will be applied to the next year ending July 31, 2021.
You may view the Emergency Rule by clicking HERE.
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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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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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Catawba County Youth Council
Now Accepting Applications for New Members 
Youth Council consist of high school students that represent different high schools throughout the county. Students are focused on improving their leadership skills, learning more about different issues impacting Catawba County, and working on community service projects. One of their favorite projects is working with United Way on the Youth Grant Awards, where the students select the award winners to receive $10,000 in funding.
Youth Council meets once a month on a Monday evening. We currently have openings accept new students from ALL Catawba County high schools, including private and home schoolers, too. To apply, complete the application that can be found on the Cooperative Extension website at https://catawba.ces.ncsu.edu/catawba-county-youth-council/.
Picture: Luke Fountain, Youth Council President, is pictured with Kitty Barnes (right) at the NC County Commissioners Conference. Each year a Youth Council Council member participates in the youth tract at this conference.
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Pencil Box Donations Needed
Collected during August
Help elementary students return to school by donating a regular-sized pencil box filled with the following items:
* 24-pack of crayons
* 12 pack of colored pencils
* 2 glue sticks
* blunt-edge scissors
* 5-10 sharpened pencils
* 2 block erasers
* Pencil Top erasers
Optional items: earbuds, child-size mask, spiral-bound notebook, and encouraging note for a student.
Drop-off your donation at the Cooperative Extension (1175 South Brady Ave, Newton). The building remains closed, but call 828-465-8240 when you arrive and a staff person will meet you at the door. 4-H'ers that donate TWO filled boxes, can receive a 4-H Summer t-shirt, while supplies last. This is a service project of the Catawba County Youth Council. The teens will get the pencil boxes to local elementary schools where they will be distributed to children in need.
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New 4-H Club Coming -
Golf Club
We have a new 4-H Golf Club that will be starting when we can resume our in-person 4-H meetings. In the meantime, the leader is posting some info in a Google Classroom site for you to beginning learning some golf basics. In addition to learning about golf, you will get a chance to learn about teamwork, leadership, and horticulture science, too!
The club will be meeting on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon AND Saturday. If you are interested in being part of the Golf Club email donna_mull@ncsu.edu and our 4-H staff will keep you posted of plans and pass along your information to the club leader.
Hope you will consider this new Healthy Living Club option. Club Leader: Ronnie Hicks.
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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
Topic: Pasture Finished Beef Production-Overview .
Date&Time: August 11 from 7- 8 PM, This Zoom Educational Meeting will be available by laptop or phone
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Speaker: Greg Halich, University of Kentucky
When: August 11, 2020, 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Call Glenn 405.219.1902 to get put on the email list or text list to receive an invitation to register and join the meeting. If using a laptop, email glenn_detweiler@ncsu.edu to receive your invitation to the meeting.
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.
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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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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