Growing Chatham NC Cooperative Extension - Chatham County | October 2022

National 4-H Week is Coming! Oct. 2-8, 2022

Join us in celebrating the power of 4-H programs empowering nearly six million young people across the U.S., and over 2,400 right here in Chatham County, with the skills to lead for a lifetime. #4Hweek

On Sept. 19th, 2022, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a resolution proclaiming Oct. 2-8, 2022, as National 4-H Week in Chatham County. The resolution follows:

TSC 4-H Paper Clover Campaign

Fall Campaign: 10/5/22-10/16-22

Since 2010, the Tractor Supply Company (TSC) has partnered with 4‑H to help create Opportunity4All and raise more than $14 million through the Paper Clover campaign. The success of these campaigns has impacted over 81,500 youth by providing them with the tools and resources they need to move forward and reach their full potential.

One hundred percent of funds raised through the bi-annual Paper Clover campaign directly benefits 4‑H youth. Ninety percent of donations directly support 4‑H youth in the state where the funds were raised, and the remaining 10% supports the overall mission and growth of 4‑H nationally. By donating at your local Tractor Supply of Siler City, you will help support Chatham County 4-H!

We have a new team member joining us this month!

Bobbie McLean joins the Chatham County Center as our new 4-H Extension Agent on Oct. 3rd, so please be on the lookout for announcements and programming from Ms. Bobbie soon! Welcome aboard, Bobbie!

Chatham 4-H Livestock Show Results | Sept. 10, 2022

Youth battled the elements of a dreary, rainy day on Sept. 10th at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro to compete in the annual 4-H Farm Credit Showmanship Circuit. The event, co-sponsored regionally by Cape Fear Farm Credit and Carolina Farm Credit, was sponsored locally in Chatham County by Chatham County Farm Bureau, Quality Equipment of Pittsboro, Country Farm and Home, and Pittsboro Feed.

Twenty youth from Chatham and surrounding counties took part in the heifer and sheep showmanship and conformation classes during the course of the day. In total, more than $1,100 in premiums were paid out to talented youth who traveled home with numerous ribbons and prizes in tow.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers and supporters who helped make the day such a success! Best of luck to our young people as they continue to compete on the circuit this fall.

Heifer Showmanship Show Results

JUNIOR CLASS FIRST PLACE: SOPHIE MARSHALL

SECOND PLACE: TYLA MARSHALL

THIRD PLACE: CARSON MOORE

INTERMEDIATE CLASS FIRST PLACE: JONATHAN SCARLETT

SECOND PLACE: CHARLOTTE PAYNE

THIRD PLACE: CANDACE CHAPMAN

SENIOR CLASS FIRST PLACE: CAROLINE SCARLETT

SECOND PLACE: AVERY HATFIELD

THIRD PLACE: GAVIN MOORE

Heifer Conformation Show Results

GRAND CHAMPION: SOPHIE MARSHALL

RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION: TYLA MARSHALL

Sheep Showmanship Show Results

JUNIOR CLASS FIRST PLACE: ALAINA OXENDINE

INTERMEDIATE CLASS FIRST PLACE: JOLEEN WINDSOR

SECOND PLACE: CHARLOTTE PAYNE

THIRD PLACE: HUNTER HERNDON

SENIOR CLASS FIRST PLACE: ANNA WELLS

SECOND PLACE: ADDISON FARRIS

Sheep Conformation Show Results

GRAND CHAMPION: ANNA WELLS

RESERVE GRAND CHAMPION: ADDISON FARRIS

State Fair 4-H Opportunities

The North Carolina State Fair provides 4-H’ers with a wonderful opportunity to market 4-H and their county by participating in 4-H Crafts, 4-H Photography, 4-H Hay Bale Decorating, and 4-H Entomology exhibit competitions. There are premiums offered to the winners in each area. 4-H’ers must pre-register through the fair to have their exhibits judged for placing.

Good luck to Chatham County State Fair Participants! We look forward to seeing you at the State Fair Thursday, October 13- Sunday, October 23, 2022!

Register Now! Plant ID Classes Begin October 10th

This fall, we will be holding four of our popular online Plant ID classes offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens! The classes run from October 10 to November 21, and students will have access to course materials for an additional 6 months after the classes end.

Worm Composting 101 Webinar and Workshop

Chatham Extension Gardener Series

“Vermicomposting (earthworm composting) turns many types of kitchen food scraps into nutritious soil amendments or growth media for plants. When vermicompost is added to soil, it boosts the nutrients available to plants and enhances soil structure and drainage.” – Rhonda Sherman

Join Matt Jones Extension Horticulture Agent – N.C. Cooperative Extension, and Shannon Culpepper, Recycling and Education Specialist – Chatham County Solid Waste and Recycling, for a webinar and workshop on how to compost food waste using worms.

This workshop includes two components

Online webinar 10/13/22 5:30-6:30 p.m.

This free, recorded webinar will review the principles and practices of vermicomposting. You’ll learn what kind of worms you need, how to prepare bedding, what kinds of food waste worms will feed on, how to maintain the worm bin, and how to extract an use vermicompost (worm waste) to improve garden soils.

Hands-on Worm Bin Building Workshop 10/20/22 5:30-7:00

The optional, additional hands-on workshop will give you the supplies to build your own worm bin. We will provide worms, bins, bedding, and other materials and show you how to build your bin. This workshop costs $50 to cover supply costs. The registration deadline for the workshop is Oct. 9th.

The Humble Cushaw: Versatile, Easy to Grow, and Keeps Well!

By Dusty Hancock Master Gardener℠ Volunteer in

Chatham County

This mildly sweet and meaty winter squash (Cucurbita argyrosperma or literally “silver seeded gourd”) is the equivalent to a talented utility infielder in baseball. It can fill multiple roles easily in the culinary world. It can be used like a normal summer squash and be baked or fried. It can be used like a pumpkin and pureed to make the most delicious pies. It even does a real good job of imitating sweet potatoes. Home decorators may prefer to use it as fall decoration before serving it up at supper. Something for everyone.

Nature Near Homes Lowers Healthcare Costs

Many of us know — we feel — how essential nature is for our health and wellbeing. We seek fresh air, sunshine, birdsong, flowers, and leaves fluttering in the breeze. Such exposures to nature make us feel happy and alive.

“Collectively, costs were $374 lower per person per year for those living near the greenest space compared to those living near the least green space.”

“Greening might offer an inexpensive, widely applicable strategy for improving population health and reducing health costs. “

Have You Seen the Largest Butterfly in the U.S.?

Every week (sometimes every day!) Extension Agents get asked to identify all sorts of interesting things. We get stopped on the street or queried through emails, social media, texts, calls, and/or office visits by folks wanting to know what is this plant, this bug, this snake, this insect egg, this crop disease, this…well you get the picture. It keeps us on our toes and actually for me is an enjoyable part of my job, especially if I get to learn something new. A few years ago I started hearing from folks asking me to identify a large butterfly they had seen in their yard, one that they had never seen before. Even though I had never seen one in person it was so distinctive I knew it was an eastern giant swallowtail butterfly (Heraclides cresphontes), the largest butterfly in the U.S.! Back when these sightings began I talked with one of our state butterfly experts who was surprised to learn the giant swallowtail was in Chatham County. This species is found primarily along the North Carolina coast but can also be found in some counties in the mountains and piedmont region. The NC Butterfly Atlas has a range map showing county distribution for the giant swallowtail. It is considered an uncommon butterfly here. The U.S. range for the giant swallowtail includes the eastern U.S. and west to the Rocky Mountains, and south through the desert southwest.

Chatham County Extension Hosts Beekeeping Training for NC Beekeepers

On September 16-17, 2022, the NC State University Apiculture Program teamed up with the Chatham County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension to conduct the 2022 Beekeepers Education Engagement System (BEES) Academy at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro, NC. About 60 experienced beekeepers from across the state attended to deepen their understanding of honey bee biology and behavior and learn advanced honey bee management techniques. There was a mix of lecture and hands-on breakout sessions for small groups. At the end of the two days, over 20 attendees took an exam to advance their standing in the Master Beekeeper Program.

Late Summer Snapshots from the Pollinator Paradise Garden

Debbie posted some of her favorite photos from late summer in Extension's Pollinator Paradise Garden on the Growing Small Farms website. You'll find insects and other critters and the blooms they all love and depend on by clicking on the link below.

October Chatham Conservation Partnership (CCP) Meeting

The October Chatham Conservation Partnership (CCP) meeting will focus on Conservation Priorities: Science and Community.

Please join us on Thursday, October 20, 2022, from 9–11:30 a.m. for a virtual meeting where we will provide information and updates to some of the county’s land conservation priorities being developed at the local, regional and state levels, and how those priorities are influenced by science and the Chatham County community.

Meeting Agenda:

Welcome & Introductions

Allison Schwarz Weakley, CCP Steering Committee

History of Chatham Conservation Partnership, Overview of Chatham Conservation Plan and Accomplishments to Date

Allison Schwarz Weakley, CCP Steering Committee

Deep/Rocky River Conservation Plan Update & Community Input

Cole Wicker, Triangle Land Conservancy

Natural Heritage Program Conservation Priority Updates

Misty Buchanan, NC Natural Heritage Program

Eno-New Hope Landscape Conservation Strategic Action Plan

Brooke Massa, NC Wildlife Resources Commission

Updates & Announcements from the CCP community

CCP Steering Committee: Brooke Massa, Brandy Oldham, Debbie Roos, Margaret Sands, Allison Weakley.

For more information about the Chatham Conservation Partnership, visit the CCP website or email info@chathamconservation.org.

The Last of the "Over the Counter" Antibiotics Webinar

Equine Nutrition Workshop

Save the Dates: Women in Ag Day

February 1st, 2023, Moore County Extension Center

Piedmont Beef Tour March 24th, 2023

More details coming soon!

Fencing School

The Chatham County Nickels for Know-How Referendum

Pittsboro, N.C – The Chatham County Nickels for Know-How Referendum will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022.

Kristina Britt, County Referendum Chairman, said one polling place has been established in the county, which will be located at the Chatham County Extension Center, 1192 US-64 BUS, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

Britt explained that the referendum is being held to let users and producers of feed or fertilizer decide if they wish to continue the self-assessment program. This program has been in place since 1948, and the law requires that a new referendum be held every six years.

A 2/3 favorable vote will mean that growers are willing to continue to assess themselves to support agricultural research and education. The assessment is fifteen cents per hundred pounds on feed and fertilizer produced in North Carolina.

The funds, about $1.4 million annually, are collected by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and then allocated by the NC Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc.'s 148 volunteer Board of Directors to support agricultural research and extension projects at North Carolina State University benefitting agriculture in North Carolina.

For more information on the referendum, please call the Chatham County Extension Office at 919-542-8242.

Western NC Meat Goat Conference

Inaugural Carolina Kiko Classic

Oct 28, 8:00 AM – Oct 29, 5:30 PM

WNC Agricultural Center, Livestock Arena, 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd, Fletcher, NC 28732

Can you make it? Registration is not required but please let us know if you'll be joining us on site for this event!

Backyard Poultry Biosecurity

Elm Zigzag Sawfly Found in NC for the First Time

A new invasive insect has been spotted in North Carolina. In August 2022, the elm zigzag sawfly (Argidae: Aproceros leucopoda) was found in North Carolina for the first time. In North America, it has previously been found in Québec (detected in 2020) and Virginia (detected in 2021). Native to Asia, elm zigzag sawfly larvae feed exclusively on elm (Ulmus spp.) and can cause severe defoliation.

Bradford Pear Bounty Back With Two Events This Fall

The Bradford Pear Bounty is back! After a successful inaugural event in April, NC’s Bradford Pear Bounty is coming to two new towns this fall: October 15, 2022 in Matthews (Mecklenburg County) and October 22, 2022 in Monroe (Union County).

This program encourages homeowners to remove their landscape Bradford pear or other planted cultivars of Pyrus calleryana (e.g., Chanticleer, Cleveland Select, Aristocrat) and replace them with free, native trees.

Homeowners who want to participate in this event must pre-register and bring proof of tree removal to the event. Replacement trees are in 3 or 5 gallon containers and there are many native species to choose from. Up to 5 pear trees can be removed for up to 5 free replacements.

You can find the link below to learn more or to pre-register for this program.

2022 Forest Landowner Conference

The Roanoke Electric Cooperative Sustainable Forestry & Land Retention Project will host the 2022 Forest Landowner Conference in Rocky Mount. The purpose of the Forest Landowner Conference is to educate landowners on sustainable forestry practices, on programs and technical assistance available through state and federal forestry and natural resource agencies, on the local timber industry, and on strategies for estate planning, including wills and trusts. Admission is FREE, but advanced registration is required.

When: October 25th (all day) & October 26th (all day)

Where: Rocky Mount Event Center, Rocky Mount, NC

USDA Agroforestry Webinar Series Launches

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agroforestry Center recently announced the launch of a unique 10-part webinar series, which will highlight how different USDA programs can be used to advance agroforestry adoption. Each webinar will include one USDA representative and one program participant who has used the program to enhance their agroforestry work. Highlighted programs include the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conversation Innovation Grant program and the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration program. These webinars are intended to help landowners, agroforesters, and others learn how to best utilize various USDA programs. On the first Friday of each month, with the first installment which began on September 2nd, 2022 and running through June 2nd, 2023, this series will highlight a different USDA program. All webinars will take place 3:00 – 4:00 PM EST. Participation is free, but registration is required. Webinar recordings will be made available once each webinar has passed.

Sidewalk Chalk Festival

Share the Road with Farmers

As North Carolina continues to grow and our cities expand into traditionally rural areas, folks are increasingly likely to encounter farm equipment on local roads. We discuss how to drive safely around farm equipment, and why sharing the road with these tractors, combines and other equipment benefits you as much as the farmer.

Freezing to Preserve Food at Home virtual class

Freezing Food at Home to Preserve

Freezing is a popular way to preserve food at home because it is the easiest, quickest and most convenient form of home food preservation. Another benefit is that once thawed, foods that have frozen are most like fresh food. Freezing retains the natural color, flavor, and most nutrients in the food while protecting it from spoilage.

Learning to freeze foods that may go to waste before you're able to prepare or eat them is essential in protecting your food budget. Buying meat in bulk is a common suggestion for grocery shopping on a budget. One way to make this work for you is to freeze portions of meat that you will not be cooking soon after purchase. This video provides freezing tips for poultry that can also be applied to other meats frozen raw or cooked.

Raising Good Eaters

Are you a parent or caregiver to children under the age of 5? If yes, have you ever struggled figuring what to feed them or how to get them to eat healthy foods?

Young kids have different nutritional needs from adults and a healthy skepticism to new things, including food. These two factors can make meals challenging for caregivers in addition to limited budgets, limited time and sometimes limited patience.

Raising Good Eaters is a class series aimed at helping to take the pressure off mealtimes, give you more understanding of the nutritional and behavioral needs for this age group, and discuss tools and strategies for children ages 1-5 years old.

There are four pre-recorded classes that will be released weekly, starting Monday, October 24th.

Q&A sessions with Tara, the instructor, will be offered weekly on October 31st, November 7th, 14th and 21st.

Get Ready for the Budget Recipe Challenge

Beware of Holiday Budget Busters

As we go into October, we start thinking about all the holidays that are coming up. Taking a moment to come up with a plan to stay on a budget will help us enjoy those upcoming holidays a little more.

Amanda Christensen with Utah State University Extension shares with us a financial tool to help you beware of some of the holiday budget busters.

Counting Down to the Opening of the NC State Fair since 1853

North Carolina State Fair

c. 1972-1974

From the collections of the State Archives of North Carolina.

NC State Fair Facts and Tidbits

1850-1899

• 1853 – State Agricultural Society holds the first State Fair; it was four days long. The largest attendance day had 4,000 fairgoers.
• 1861-1868 – Fair not held due to Civil War and Reconstruction period.
• 1869 – Fair reopens.
• 1873 – Fair moved to a larger site across from N.C. State University.
• 1877 – N.C. Department of Agriculture created.
• 1884 – Electricity is first used at the fairgrounds.
• 1891 – The first Midway ride, the Switchback Railway, is constructed on the fairgrounds.
• 1894 – Photography is a popular exhibit at the Fair.
• 1895 – Main attraction is chicken incubators.

1900-1949

• 1900 – First food booths pop up on the fairgrounds, run by churches and civic groups as fund raisers.
• 1905 – President Theodore Roosevelt speaks to fairgoers.
• 1910 – First airplane exhibit.
• 1916 – Cary United Methodist Church serves its first ham biscuit.
• 1925 – Agricultural Society disbands and no Fair was held in 1926 and 1927.
• 1928 – Fair moves to present site. Commercial and Educational buildings are constructed. The Fair
• placed under the control of the Department of Agriculture.
• 1933 – Fair leased to George Hamid for operation on a commercial basis.
• 1936 – Earl “Lucky” Teeter and his Hell Drivers make first appearance.
• 1937 – W. Kerr Scott returns control of the State Fair to the Department of Agriculture when he becomes commissioner of agriculture.
• 1938 – The Fair features 40 high-type shows and rides, replacing the carnival outfit of previous years.
• 1939 – World of Mirth Shows requires 35 double-length railway cars to bring its mile-long Midway of 50 shows and rides to Raleigh.
• 1941– Record-breaking crowds attend Fair and exhibits were so numerous that tents had to be erected to accommodate the overflow of livestock.
• 1942 – Fair closes due to World War II, reopens in 1946.
• 1946 – One million free tickets issued to North Carolina school children for admittance on Young North Carolinians’ Day.
• 1948 - James E. Strates provides the Midway at the State Fair. Folk Festival is created as a showcase for traditional North Carolina music and dance.
• 1949 – Strates’ Shows returns to Fair with Ferris Wheels, merry-go-rounds, animal shows and dare-devil motorcyclists.

Let's Play Eye Spy!

Can you spot the NC State Fair ground's original location? Click on the link to access the interactive arial map from 1872.

From Our Chatham County Partners

COVID Shot Update

From the Chatham County Health Department

PITTSBORO, N.C. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Food and Drug Administration have authorized a new booster vaccine designed to provide the strongest protection against new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, and the vaccine is now available in Chatham County.

Chatham County Unveils VinFast Project Web Page and E-notification

PITTSBORO, NC— Chatham County government announces two new ways for the public to stay updated on the VinFast project in Moncure.

The Chatham County website now has a dedicated web page for VinFast news located at www.chathamcountync.gov/vinfast. The web page will provide information on the VinFast project including latest news, frequently asked questions, upcoming events, and helpful web links, and will continue to be updated throughout the project.

The public also can receive updates on the VinFast project directly in their email by signing up for VinFast News e-notifications. Individuals may sign up for this free service by accessing the e-notification section on the VinFast web page or by going directly to the e-notification section on the county website.

Semiconductor Manufacturer Selects Chatham County, NC, for $5 Billion Investment

PITTSBORO, NC— On September 9, 2022, Durham semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed announced that it has selected Chatham County, North Carolina, to build a major fabrication plant. Governor Roy Cooper announced that the company has agreed to purchase land at the Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Site in Siler City to build a manufacturing plant for Silicon Carbide semiconductor chips.

Enroll in the Chatham County Voluntary Agricultural District Program

Voluntary Agricultral Distrtict Benefits

for Qualified Farmland

• Farms belonging to a VAD will not be required to connect to county water or sewer.
• Any potential assessment fees are suspended without interest unless and until property is connected.
• Farms enrolled in VAD may also benefit from higher ranking in Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District cost-share programs.
• Landowners enrolled in the Chatham County VAD voluntarily agree to protect their land from development for ten years.

Interested in Serving on the Chatham County Agriculture Advisory Board?

The Chatham County Agriculture Advisory Board, which has three vacancies, advises the County Board of Commissioners on agricultural issues and related land use issues. The Board also reviews applications for farm properties to be designated as a Voluntary Agriculture District to make sure they meet state requirements. The open seats’ terms will all expire on June 30, 2025.

Applicants must be actively engaged in farming, agribusiness, or forestry. The Board would like representation from cattle or other livestock operations and need representation from the southeast quadrant of the county which is south of Highway 64 and east of Highway 87/501.

The Board typically meets at least quarterly at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro.