Summer 2021 Newsletter
Our Mission - North Carolina Cooperative Extension partners with communities to deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolinians.
La Extensión Cooperativa de Carolina del Norte se asocia con las comunidades para ofrecer educación y tecnología que enriquecen la vida de los habitantes, la tierra y la economía de Carolina del Norte.
Visit NC Farms app
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & NC Cooperative Extension have partnered to launch the NC Farm app to connect locals/visitors to local farms and food. There is an annual maintenance fee of $50. If you would like to add your business or farm to the app, please complete the NC Farm app Google form or contact Amy McKenzie at amy_mckenzie@ncsu.edu or (336) 593-8179 no later than June 15, 2021. Go live is July 1, 2021.
4-H & Youth Development
Stokes County 4-H has a great line up for Summer Fun Camps! We are excited to welcome many new youth to the 4-H program and teach them many life skills related to being a Jr Master Gardener, a beginner in Forestry, a chef in the kitchen, and so much more! Take a look at what all is being offered. You will notice the majority of these camps are currently full, but please check back at our website (go.ncsu.edu/stokessummerfun) for updated information. If you’d like to be added to our email list for the 2022 Summer Fun Camps, please email taylor_furr@ncsu.edu.
2 spots remaining - Jr Master Gardener Camp (June 8-10) - Youth ages 5-18 Do you enjoy getting your hands dirty in the garden? Do you want to learn more about being a gardener? This program will introduce young gardeners to the art and science of gardening, while helping them develop life skills to become good citizens in their communities, schools and families. Join us on June 8th, 9th, and 10th from 9am-2pm at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension office. Please bring your own lunch and something to drink. Youth ages 5-18 are welcome to attend this camp.
FULL - Nutrition in the Kitchen Camp (June 14-16) - Youth ages 5-18 - Do you love being in the kitchen and cooking your favorite snacks or meals? This 4-H camp will be just for you! Nutrition in the Kitchen will teach youth food and kitchen safety, and a number of recipes that they will be able to do on their own at home. Youth will gain cooking skills from their experience of being in the kitchen at this camp. Join us on June 14th, 15th and 16th from 9am-2pm at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension office. Please bring your own lunch and something to drink. Youth ages 5-18 are welcome to attend this camp.
FULL - Forestry for Beginners (June 29)- Youth ages 5-18 - There are trees all around us, but do you know what type of trees they are? The Stokes County Forest Service will teach us how to identify trees, identify the different parts of a tree and the function of each part. Join us June 29th from 9am-2pm at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension office. Please bring your own lunch and something to drink. Youth ages 5-18 are welcome to attend this camp.
Lamb & Goat Camp (June 30 & July 1) - Youth ages 5-18 - June 30 - 10 spots remaining; July 1 - 17 spots remaining *Only register for the day of your age group - Join us to learn all abaaaa-out taking care of sheep and goats! We'll learn about being safe around animals, what sheep and goats eat, and even showmanship skills! We will end with a mock show for youth to showcase what they've learned to their families. (Yes! Youth will be working with live sheep and goats.) June 30th will be for youth ages 5-11 and July 1st will be for youth ages 12-18. Each day will be 8am-12pm for camp and 12:30pm-1pm for the mock show, with a lunch break in between. Please pay attention to which day you’re signing up for, so you’re attending the correct age group.
7 spots remaining - Cloverbud Camp (July 6-8)- Youth ages 5-7 - This camp is for all the Cloverbuds! If you’re between the ages of 5-7 please join us! Youth will be learning all the basics to 4-H such as cooking, gardening and animals, just to name a few. Each day we will focus on a different topic and youth will experience hands-on learning activities. Cloverbud Camp will be held July 6th, 7th, & 8th from 9am-2pm at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension office. Please bring your own lunch and something to drink.
FULL - Leather Working Camp (July 13) - Youth ages 5-18 - Would you like to create your own leather artwork? We will be having a leather working camp for youth ages 5-18 who would like to learn more about taking a piece of leather and creating their own artwork. You will have the option to make a bracelet, keychain or bookmark. Leather Working Camp will be held July 13th from 9am-2pm at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension office. Please bring your own lunch and something to drink.
12 spots remaining - Moooving Milk from the Farm to Table (July 15)- Youth ages 8-12 - How does milk end up on our tables? It doesn’t just come from the grocery store. Come learn about the dairy industry and how milk ‘moooves’ from the farm to the table. We’re going to learn about the importance of nutrition for dairy cows, how to milk a cow, how cheese is made, and virtually tour a dairy farm. This camp will be held July 15th from 9am-2pm and is geared towards youth ages 8-12 years old. Please bring your own lunch and something to drink.
FULL - Farm to Fork Camp (August 3-5)- Youth ages 5-18 - Do you know where your food comes from? Do you like to cook? Join us for our Farm to Fork Camp! You will learn about the food on your plate and where it comes from. Participants will learn about agriculture, hear from local farmers, and learn to prepare delicious dishes using local ingredients. Join us August 3rd, 4th, and 5th from 9am-2pm at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension office. This camp is open for youth ages 5-18.
CALLING TEENS 13-18 YEARS OLD! Join us July 19-22 for NC 4-H Congress. This year Congress will be held virtually, but will still be all the fun as if it were in person. Any youth who participate will have the opportunity to join Miss Taylor at the Extension Office to participate in virtual Congress together as a county. Highlights of NC 4-H Congress include: four days with youth from around the county, elect new State 4-H Officers, participate in awesome workshops, hear from engaging speakers, and much more. Please let Taylor know if you are interested. As registration information is released, she will send it out.
Stokes County 4-H Jr Beekeepers Club will meet June 8th, July 13th, August 10th at 6PM at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension Office. Have you always wanted to know more about honey bees and how you can one day become a beekeeper? Come learn all about beekeeping and honey bees! The Stokes County Beekeepers will be teaching youth about the fascinating world of bees. The Stokes County 4-H Jr Beekeepers will meet once a month, on the second Tuesday from 6-7PM. We are welcoming all youth ages 5-18. The Stokes County Beekeepers Association will be organizing this group. Please enroll in 4HOnline 2.0 to be a part of the Jr Beekeepers.
4-H Clubs
Buckets & Boots 4-H Livestock is a club that specializes in livestock judging and skillathon. The club’s goal is to give youth a chance to better understand livestock. For more information, contact Brandon Hartman at 336-830-5292 or brandonhartman755@gmail.com.
Northern Stokes Shooting Sports Club is for North Stokes High School area youth who are interested in shooting sports. For more information, contact Ben Hall at 336-593-8134 or ben.hall@stokes.k12.nc.us.
School Skippers is a community club with a diversity of ages that does service projects and studies centered on various themes. For more information, contact Christian Moorefield at 336-351-4858 or 3littlesmiles@gmail.com.
CloverPaws 4-H Club is for youth ages 5-9 who have interest in dogs. This club in particular will not be for youth to bring their dogs, except for special occasions. It is for youth to learn more about dogs in general, before working and training their dog. Youth will also learn arts and crafts related to dogs. For more information, contact Pam Davis at 336-341-7524 or pamshoredavis@gmail.com.
4 Paws 4-H Club is a dog club for youth ages 9 and up that focuses on dog training, dog sports, projects and studies. For more information, contact Pam Davis at 336-341-7524 or pamshoredavis@gmail.com.
TheraPaws 4-H Club is a special interest club for youth ages 12 and older. Youth MUST be willing and have the desire to serve others. Their focus will be more community service driven. Youth will train their dog to become therapy dogs. Dogs WILL have to pass a temperament evaluation before they are able to participate in the club. For more information, contact Pam Davis at 336-341-7524 or pamshoredavis@gmail.com.
At-Large is a for a child who would rather not join a particular club, then he or she is an At-Large Member. At-Large members , along with club members, are allowed full 4-H privileges. For more information, contact Taylor Furr at 336-593-8179 or tfurr@ncsu.edu.
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Registration form - https://go.ncsu.edu/walnutcovefarmersmarket for new vendors.
To register, go to https://go.ncsu.edu/wildlife-management-in-your-garden.
To register go to - https://go.ncsu.edu/when-to-harvest.
To register go to- https://go.ncsu.edu/stokes_bees.
To register go to - https://go.ncsu.edu/stokes_pesticide_private.
To register, go to - https://go.ncsu.edu/stokes_pesticide_commercial.
To register, go to https://go.ncsu.edu/stokes_master_gardener.
About the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program - Interested in becoming part of this volunteer program that is dedicated to promoting research-based, sustainable gardening? Visit Become a Volunteer to learn how you can become part of the Extension Master Gardener℠ program.
About the Stokes County Extension Master Gardener Program - If you would like more information on becoming a Master Gardener Volunteers of Stokes County or have questions, please contact Bryan Hartman, Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent at bryan_hartman@ncsu.edu or by phone (336) 593-8179.
The Stokes County Beekeepers Association meets the second Tuesday night of each month at the Stokes County Cooperative Extension Office at 7:00 p.m. This meeting is open to the public, new members are welcome and membership dues are $10 a year. To subscribe to the Stokes County Beekeepers list, email Bryan Hartman and put “subscribe to beekeepers list” in the subject line, I will sign you up and you will receive a welcome message. If you have any questions, contact Bryan Hartman at 336-593-8179. Stokes County Beekeepers Association Website Stokes County Beekeepers Association Facebook Group North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. Read more at: https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/stokes-county-small-farms-horticulture/stokes-county-beekeepers/
Family & Consumer Sciences
Livestock & Forages
Make Hay While the Sun Shines
Hay season has officially begun! Since many livestock producers rely on quality hay to winter their animals, it’s important to do everything possible to make high quality hay. Everyone knows we can’t control the weather, but here are some things you can do to control what you can:
- Cool-season perennials, such as tall fescue and orchardgrass, produce a seed head once a year in the Spring. Because of this, first cutting hay is lower quality than the second cutting (which does not mature and produce a seed head).
- Quality of first cutting hay can be increased by harvesting hay before full seedhead emergence.
Adapted from Understanding Forage Quality, University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension
Moisture content is also important to preserve hay quality. Large round bales need to have a moisture content below 18%, while square bales should contain no more than 20% moisture. Hay that is baled too wet can not only mold and lose nutritive value/dry matter, but also spontaneously combust. Our office has a moisture testing probe available for rent to ensure dry hay is being baled at the appropriate moisture level.
If possible, dry hay should be stored off of the ground (i.e. on pallets) and under cover, such as a tarp or roof. Storing hay on the ground without cover allows moisture content to increase because of rain, leading to degradation of quality. The outer few layers of the bale are most susceptible to weathering, although the inside will eventually degrade when left outside long enough. Reports have shown there can be losses of up to 14% crude protein and 25% total digestible nutrients in the most weathered portions of round bales.
It is always recommended to test hay for quality. Ideally, hay should be stored in “lots”, such as all tall fescue first cutting together, etc. Several samples should be pulled from random bales in each lot to determine an average quality for the lots. Knowing the quality of your hay determines if nutritional supplementation is needed, and exactly what nutrients are lacking. As has been said, if you don’t test, it’s just a guess! Our office has several hay probes available for sampling.
Patrick County, VA Cattlemen's Association Truckload Sale
Stokes County cattle producers have the opportunity to participate in a truckload sale with the Patrick County Cattlemen's Association in VA. This sale will be a tel-o auction through the Pulaski Livestock Market in mid-August. Cattle do not need to be present at the sale. Target weights are 400-900lbs with black cattle being preferred. A grader from the Virginia Department of Agriculture will come to your farm and grade your cattle. No small framed or #3 muscle score cattle are accepted.
Deadlines for the August sale:
- Weaning: June 15th, 2021
- Consignment: June 15th, 2021
- 1st round shots: July 10th, 2021
- 2nd round shots: July 31st, 2021
- All calves must be weighed one time before August 1st, 2021.
VQA Marketing Tags - VQA tags are put in at least round of vaccines. I will assist in ordering them for interested producers.
Required Vaccines
Round 1
- Bovishield Gold 5
- Ultrabac 7
- Deworm
- Implant (optional)
Round 2
- Bovishield Gold ONE SHOT
- Ultrabac 7
- Put in VQA tags
- Send weights to Stokes Extension Office
If you are interested in participating, please contact me at kpphipps@ncsu.edu or (336) 593-8179. I will have bulk pricing for required vaccines soon. Click here for results from the August 2020 sale.
To register, go to https://go.ncsu.edu/smallruminantsummit.
To register, go to - https://go.ncsu.edu/stokessheepandgoats.
Equipment Rental
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