Alleghany County Cooperative Extension

4-H Plant Sale

2012-02-08T14:40:00.004-05:00

Alleghany 4-H is currently taking orders for their 2012 Annual Plant Sale. Visit the 4-H blog at http://alleghany4h.blogspot.com/2012/02/4-h-plant-sale.html or contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597 for more information.

SEAFOOD AT ITS BEST - Low Country Boil

2012-01-12T13:13:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for budget-wise ways to introduce morehealthy seafood into your diet, you should join us for “Seafood at its Best: Low-Country Boil”, a cooking class sponsoredby the Alleghany County Extension & Community Association.

The classincludes taste testing as well as tips on food prep, recipes and nutritionalinformation. Lunch will also be provided. The class will be conducted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 from 10:00 amuntil 2:00 pm at the Alleghany County Wellness Center. A fee of $10.00 covers the class along withall food and materials.

Pre-registration is required by January 25, 2012. Contact the Alleghany Extension Office at336-372-5597 for more information.

WREATHS FOR LUKE

2011-12-06T15:08:00.002-05:00

Luke Hampton is a 17 year old Senior at Alleghany High School in Sparta, North Carolina. His parents are Randy and Benita Hampton. He broke his neck in a wrestling accident during a tournament on Saturday 12/3/11. He’s being transported to the Sheperd Spinal Trauma Facility in Atlanta, Georgia. In order to help the family with expenses some community members have joined together to sell Christmas wreaths.

Wreaths will be for sale for $10 and all proceeds will go to benefit Luke Hampton and family to cover expenses. You can also make donations at the State Employees Credit Union – account # 6100252 and is set up in Luke’s name. Wreaths will be available at the JV and Varsity Basketball games tonight and at the Wrestling tournament this Saturday 12/10 at AHS. Wreaths will also be for sale at 4 Brothers Country Junction, 21 Quick Stop, Glade Valley Country Store, CJ's Hardware and Alleghany Beauty Shop.

This community effort has been made possible by Mike & Julie Sprinkle, C. Grove Farms, Wishon Evergreens and more.

For more information contact Julie Sprinkle (336) 657-0563 , Brad Edwards (336) 200-1708 or Bill Nilo (336) 200-3411.

Crouse Park/Sparta Greenway Public Hearings

2011-10-20T12:07:00.000-04:00

Please try to attend the Crouse Park/Sparta Greenway public hearings scheduled for October 25th at the Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation conference room, 1889 Hwy 21 South, Sparta, NC. This is an opportunity to hear from you about the proposed greenway and walk system that the Town of Sparta is working toward to provide fitness opportunity and improve the walkability of our town. There will be two morning meetings beginning at 10am and two afternoon meetings beginning at 5:30pm. The Comprehensive Greenway Master Plan will be presented at the first of both the morning and the evening meetings.

The Site Plan of Phase One will be presented at the second of both the morning and evening meetings. It is imperative for purposes of securing a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Grant that we have a large turnout with lots of input from the public. We anticipate this proposed greenway and walk system will ultimately enhance the livability of our town and improve the health of our citizens.

Alleghany County Ag. Fair

2011-08-21T16:56:00.004-04:00

The 24th annual Alleghany County Agricultural Fair starts tomorrow, August 22. Tomorrow we will be accepting entries into the Exhibition Building from 12 pm - 6 pm. There are both youth and adult categories with over 70 categories for youth and more than 400 categories for adults. This is when youth and adults can enter their favorite picture, prettiest flower or best Lego construction for competition in our Exhibition Building.

We will also be having a horse show beginning at 6 pm. Come out an enjoy the fun.

For more information please visit the fair blog by clicking HERE or contact the office at 336-372-5597.

Pressure Canner Testing

2011-07-25T11:54:00.000-04:00

A FREE pressure canner testing will be held inside of Farmer's Hardware on Friday, July 29th from 10am until 1pm. For more information, contact the Extension office at 336-372-5597.

Carquest Mowdown

2011-07-16T15:02:00.002-04:00

SATURDAY JULY 23, 2011

Gates will open at 12 pm and tickets are $6
Children 8 and under FREE.
Concessions available at 3pm.

For more information contact the Extension Office at

336-372-5597.

Justice Carlisle Higgins Fairgrounds

1525 US Hwy 21 N

Sparta, NC

DIRECTIONS

AMRA

Appalachian joins Bee Informed Partnership USDA project will monitor honey bee health

2011-05-18T13:24:00.001-04:00

BOONE—Appalachian State University’s Department of Computer Science is part of a nationwide network to monitor and maintain honey bee health.

The Bee Informed Partnership is a five-year, $5 million program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and is led by Penn State.

Other university partners are the University of California, University of Illinois, University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, University of Minnesota, North Carolina State University and Lincoln University. The Florida Department of Agriculture and NASA are also part of the project.

The Bee Informed Partnership will use an epidemiological approach to identify common bee management practices and use them to develop best practices on a regional and operationally appropriate level. The partnership will include many institutions already involved in pollinator work, but will also strive to include citizens involved in bee keeping or other aspects of the problem for data collection and integration.

The multistate team hopes that their work and especially their educational efforts to introduce the best management practices will reduce national losses in honeybee populations by 50 percent in the next five years.

“We would like to reduce honey bee mortality, increase beekeeper profitability and enhance adoption of sustainable management systems in beekeeping,” said Dennis vanEngelsdorp, senior extension associate with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture who will lead the project. “At the same time we want to increase the reliability of production in pollinator dependent crops and increase the profitability of pollinator-dependent producers.”

Appalachian’s Department of Computer Science, housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, was awarded $729,736 through the project to create and maintain a honey bee health database with an interactive web-based interface that also will provide valuable feedback to beekeepers as well as information for future research. Appalachian’s funding will support full-time research associate as well undergraduates who will work part time on various aspects of information technology support.

Department chairman James Wilkes’ experience as a beekeeper and his desire to blend computer science with the science of beekeeping led to the university’s involvement in the project. “Personally, I had a horrible winter this past year with my own bees,” he said. “I thought I was doing what I was supposed to do, but something happened and I lost a lot of bees. That’s what’s been happening in the beekeeping world for the past several years.”

Wilkes said the database will enable beekeepers to provide real-time information about their hives, which in turn may help others determine if winter losses are related to a virus, pesticides or other causes. “Everyone in the beekeeping world is trying to discover what’s causing these losses,” he said.

Wilkes said the Bee Informed Partnership database also will provide historical as well as current data that will become a much-needed source of information for future research.

Computer science majors and faculty at Appalachian have already developed an Android mobile phone application that will help beekeepers keep track of beehive maintenance. Hive Tracks, the Web application found at www.hivetracks.com, provides a simple electronic way for beekeepers to record data and keep track of maintenance they have performed and future maintenance needed for the hives.

Penn State and project partners will also survey colony mortality, pathogens and parasites, as well as beekeeping management strategies, costs and outputs. They will create a pollinator quality and availability reporting system and an emerging-issues alert system.

Some of the surveys planned by the partnership include the continuation of the colony winter loss survey, an annual survey of management practices and a survey of pollinator availability. Other surveys will focus on determining colony mortality, parasite loads and socioeconomic factors.

“By surveying beekeepers about their management practices as well as their colonies’ overwintering success, we can use epidemiological methods to tell beekeepers which practices work and which do not,” vanEngelsdorp said.

For more information about the Bee Informed Partnership, visit http://beeinformed.org.

'Bee Informed' to inform beekeepers

2011-05-18T12:59:00.003-04:00

May 17, 2011

Media Contact: Dr. David Tarpy, associate professor of entomology and N.C. Cooperative Extension apiculturist, 919.515.1660 of david_tarpy@ncsu.edu

'Bee Informed' to inform beekeepers

North Carolina State University will play a central role in a 5-year, $5 million U.S. Department of Agriculture effort to compile a nationwide honey bee database designed to make beekeepers more productive.

Dr. David Tarpy, associate professor of entomology and North Carolina Cooperative Extension apiculturist in N.C. State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will direct the North Carolina part of an effort that has been dubbed the Bee Informed Partnership.

The partnership is an effort “to fill a void at the national level in our ability to collect data and information about the managed honey bee population,” Tarpy said. The nationwide effort, which is being led by Penn State University, will involve entomologists around the country.

Tarpy explained that surprisingly little is known about the nation’s honey bees, which play an indispensible role in pollinating many crops.

“Honey bees tend to fall between the cracks,” Tarpy explained. “If you have a cow, you know it’s there, and it’s going to be there. With honey bees, you have a hive. All of a sudden next week, it can swarm, and then you have two hives, or you have half a hive. Or they (the bees) die out. And they get moved all across the country. It’s much more of a fluid thing.

“That lack of information or the fuzziness of that information has hindered our ability to make strong, concrete recommendations.”

The Bee Informed Partnership is designed to rectify this situation by creating a database that will contain information about all things related to honey bees. N.C. State’s role in creating the database will be to try to get a handle on important pathogens and parasites that afflict honey bees.

“There’s no systematic mechanism to track patterns of disease and disease outbreaks (in honey bees),” Tarpy said. “That’s what our component is going to do.”

Project field teams will collect honey bees around the country, then ship them to N.C. State, where the bees will be analyzed for the presence of disease or parasites. What is learned about bee health at N.C. State along with a range of other information collected as part of the project will be compiled in a database that will be available to beekeepers and others through a website.

“A very large component of this initiative is to develop an infrastructure to take those data and turn them into useful information, and through a web conduit broadcast that information so that beekeepers can see where disease outbreaks are in real time so that they can make informed decisions (about their bees),” Tarpy said.

Tarpy added that the interactive website that is developed as part of the project should allow beekeepers to enter information about their bees -- information, for example, about a parasite that is afflicting their bees -- then get back strategies for dealing with that parasite or other problem.

The website will provide beekeepers with the information they need to assess the risks and rewards of using various strategies to deal with a problem.

It is hoped that the project’s educational efforts will introduce beekeepers to best management practices that will reduce national losses in honeybee populations by 50 percent over the next five years.

Project collaborators, in addition to N.C. State and Penn State, are the University of California -- California Cooperative Extension, University of Illinois, University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, University of Minnesota, Appalachian State University, Lincoln University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Written by: Dave Caldwell, 919.513.3127 or dave_caldwell@ncsu.edu

More news from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is available at http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/news-center/

2011 Carquest Spring Mowdown

2011-05-11T08:31:00.004-04:00

RACE HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

The spring lawnmower race will take place May 14th at the Alleghany County Fairgrounds beginning at 5 pm. Don't miss out on the first mower race of the season! Proceeds go to support the Alleghany County Fair. Without this race the fair would not be possible.

Gates will open at 2 pm and tickets are $6
Children 8 and under FREE.
Concessions available at 3pm.

For more information contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597.

Justice Carlisle Higgins Fairgrounds

1525 US Hwy 21 N

Sparta, NC

DIRECTIONS

AMRA

RACE HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

4-H Plant Sale

2011-02-21T15:22:00.000-05:00

Alleghany County 4-H is currently taking orders for the 2011 Annual Spring Plant Sale.

The following types of plants are available to purchase:

**Blueberries
**Blackberries
**Grapes
**Herbs
**Horseradish
**Raspberries
**Strawberries

All orders are due by March 15th. Payment is due at the time orders are placed. Click here for your plant description / order form. The tentative pick-up date is Friday, April 15th. For more information, contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597. All proceeds will help send kids to summer camp & other summer fun opportunities.

Regional Christmas Tree Marketing Worshop

2011-02-07T12:34:00.000-05:00

A Regional Christmas Tree Marketing Workshop will be held on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 at the Watauga County Cooperative Extension Conference Center. The registration fee, which included lunch and materials, is $15 and will be collected at the door. Registration begins at 8:30am and the program will start at 9 am.

This workshop will help producers "fine tune" their current marketing program and maximize marketing investments. Local speakers, as well as specialists from NCSU will share information focusing on wholesale, retail and Choose & Cut.

Please contact the Extension Office (372-5597) to register. The registration deadline is Monday, Feb. 14, 2011.

Pesticide Recertification Classes

2011-02-03T14:56:00.000-05:00

On February 17th there will be 2 pesticide training classes, as well as a pesticide applicators exam, offered at the Upper Mountain Research Station (Hwy. #88, Laurel Springs).

8:00 am - V class (2 hours credit)
10:00 am - X class (2 hours credit)
1:00 pm - Exam

If you plan to attend either of the trainings and/or the exam, please call the Extension office (372-5597) to register.

ACTA Business Meeting & Program

2011-02-02T16:49:00.000-05:00

The Alleghany Christmas Tree Association will hold a general business meeting and program on Tuesday, February 15, 2011. The program and meeting will follow the meal, which will begin at 6 pm. If you plan to join us for the meal, you must RSVP (336-372-5597) by Friday, February 11th.

**IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION**
Due to the sales directory being printed much earlier this year, the deadline to turn in your membership form and dues is March 1, 2011. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made.

Click here to download and print your form. You can bring it to the meeting on Feb. 15th or to the Extension Office. You may also mail it to P.O. Box 892, Sparta, NC 28675.

Economics in 90 Minutes or Less

2011-01-26T18:39:00.002-05:00

What Policymakers, the Public, the Press, and Parents Need to Know about Economics… in 90 Minutes or Less

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 • Noon-1:30 p.m. ET

Everybody has something to say about economics -- and a lot of it is outdated, out of bounds, even outrageous. To help those making economic decisions -- all of us, really -- five outstanding scholars and scribes will distill the essence of their field in less time than it takes to watch Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. They’ll cover what you need to know now -- from the theories that explain economic fundamentals to the taxes that fuel government programs, from the hum and hiccups of the American economic engine to the bottom line on how government uses your dollars.

To watch the video webcast or a recording, click HERE

(No registration is necessary)

Panelists:*
* *Greg Ip*, U.S. economics editor, The Economist; author, The
Little Book of Economics: How the Economy Works in the Real World

* *Donald Marron*, director, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center;
former member, President’s Council of Economic Advisers; editor,
30-Second Economics: The 50 Most Thought-Provoking Economic
Theories, Each Explained in Half a Minute

* *Robert Reischauer*, president, Urban Institute; former
director, Congressional Budget Office (moderator)

* *Diane Lim Rogers*, chief economist, Concord Coalition; former
chief economist, House Budget Committee; blogger, EconomistMom.com

* *Eugene Steuerle*, Institute fellow, Urban Institute; former
deputy assistant secretary of the treasury for tax analysis;
author, Contemporary U.S. Tax Policy

**For those not familiar with The Urban Institute, this is a nonpartisan economic and social policy institute that gathers data, conducts research, evaluates programs, offers technical assistance, and educates Americans on social and economic issues — to foster sound public policy and effective government.research. It is a well respected, unbiased source for information.

Leadership & Cattle Handling for Women Producers

2011-01-25T10:26:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, April 6, 2011 April Shaeffer and Jeannette Moore, of N.C. State University Department of Animal Science will be working with the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association to provide women cattle producers with a chance to network and enhance their cattle handling skills at the Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers. This workshop is designed to offer leadership training for women cattle producers in North Carolina and to offer them the opportunity for hands-on experiences led by professionals in the field.

The goal is to encourage more women to be active as leaders in the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association and in their communities. This event is limited to twenty-one participants so that work groups will be small and the opportunity for active, hands-on experience will be maximized. The workshop will cover Low Stress Cattle Handling, Reproductive Health Practices, Pasture Management, and General Health Management (including proper vaccination techniques, deworming, and eartagging).

If you are interested in attending this event, contact Teresa Herman at 336-372-5597 or teresa_herman@ncsu.edu.

Cattle Meeting Reminder

2011-01-10T13:59:00.000-05:00

Reminder - Alleghany County Cattlemen's meeting, 1/13/2011 at Blue Ridge Electric Conference Room 6 pm ~~ Meal, Please RSVP to the Extension Office (336-372-5597) by 1/11/11.

2010 Prescribed Grazing Pasture Walk

2010-12-08T09:12:00.000-05:00

Despite the cold 29 degree air and brisk breeze, area high country cattleman bundled up to attend the 2010 Prescribed Grazing Pasture Walk. In attendance were representatives from NRCS, SWCD, NCCES, NCDA, along with cattle producers from two counties. On the agenda was Dr. Jim Green, Grassland & Forage Agronomist with the Department of Crop Science at NCSU. Dr. Green discussed the advantages of grazing stockpiled forages over conventional hay feeding by placing an emphasis on economics of farming in the high country.

It is estimated that producing hay costs approximately $80/ton, including equipment and fertilization. Hay quality is also a very unpredictable factor that must be considered in the traditional hay feeding regime. Lower quality hay must be supplemented and high quality hay is often times difficult to produce in the mountains. The premise behind stockpiled forages is to reduce the amount of stored feed that a farmer must have on hand.

The recent Prescribed Grazing Pasture Walk illustrated that the concept certainly has merit in this area. With high quality stockpiled fescue under foot (and under snow), one local farmer was able to winter 20+ cow/calf pairs by strip grazing his pastures. Only when the snow turned to ice was he forced to feed stored hay. Even then, he only fed 18 rolls of hay for the entire winter, selling the remainder to other area farmers.

More pasture walks are scheduled for January. Stayed tuned for updates on this ongoing project right here in Alleghany County.

New Ag Extension Agent

2010-12-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

The staff of Alleghany County Cooperative Extension would like to welcome our new Agriculture Extension Agent, Teresa Herman, who joined us on Wednesday, December 1st.

Teresa began work at Upper Mountain Research Station (UMRS) as a freshman in college & did everything from breeding cows, shearing Christmas trees and sheep, to hoeing and harvesting burley tobacco. After graduating from NCSU in Animal Science in 1995, she became the livestock Extension Agent in Forsyth County. Teresa later returned to NCDA/UMRS as the Livestock Research Technician & worked in various roles ranging from livetock research and husbandry to community supported gardens. She remained in that position until offered a position with NCDA/Meat & Poultry Inspection (MPID). With MPID, she served as an Area Inspector covering roughly 16 counties in northwestern North Carolina.

Welcome Teresa!

Alleghany 4-H Plant Sale

2010-02-19T16:19:00.002-05:00

The Extension Office is currently taking orders for the 2010 Alleghany 4-H Plant Sale. All sales will go to help support 4-H camping and summer fun programs open to all Alleghany County youth ages 5-18.

The following types of plants will be available to purchase:
**Blackberries
**Raspberries
**Grapes
**Horseradish
**Blueberries
**Strawberries
**Cherry Trees
**Apple Trees

Click HERE for order form. For full plant descriptions click HERE. All orders and payment must be received by March 15th. The tentative delivery date of the plants is Friday, April 9th from 9am to 5pm. We ask that you mark your calendars with this date, but please call our office (336-372-5597) to be sure the delivery date hasn't changed.

ACTA Winter Business Meeting & Program

2010-01-12T11:08:00.003-05:00

The first meeting of 2010 for the Alleghany Christmas Tree Association is scheduled for Thursday, January 28th at 5:30 pm. The program and meeting will follow the meal. ACTA members please make plans to attend this informative meeting. RSVP required by Friday, January 22nd. You can call the extension office at 336-372-5597 or email David Isner, Kathy Miller or Michele Hamm.

Area Beef Conference

2010-01-12T10:35:00.002-05:00

An area beef conference has been scheduled for Thursday, January 21st. It will be held from 4:00pm until 7:30pm at Family Central in Ashe County. Please click here for the flyer with the agenda and other information.

Forestry News

2009-12-15T13:13:00.003-05:00

The December Forestry Newsletter is now available online. Click here to view.

ECA Newsletter

2009-12-14T14:28:00.003-05:00

The December ECA newsletter is now online. Click here to view.

NCDA&CS Makes Changes to Agronomic Reporting

2009-10-30T13:38:00.003-04:00

Beginning Nov. 1, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will no longer routinely mail out paper copies of agronomic reports. This policy will apply to reports for soil tests and nematode assays, as well as plant tissue, waste, solution and soilless media analyses.

Testing results can be easily accessed & downloaded. For more information you can can contact the Extension Office at 336-372-5597 or visit the NCDA&CS website.

RAFI Grants For Farmers Workshop

2009-10-30T13:26:00.003-04:00

Agriculture producers in Alleghany County who are thinking of new ways to improve their farm income have an opportunity to discuss those ideas with organizations that can be of assistance with planning and funding. Cooperative Extension along with the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) will host a “How to Apply” grant workshop for Alleghany County farmers on Monday, November 9th at 5:30 pm. The workshop will be held in the meeting room of the County Building at 90 South Main Street, located between the Kangaroo station and Medi-Home Care.

The Grants are for agriculture operations considering new or expanded production, processing, and marketing approaches for their enterprises. Supported by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, the grant program is designed to keep farmers in farming and to maintain the agricultural economic base of North Carolina’s rural communities. Qualifying producers must be farmers (or farmer “groups”) actively engaged in full or part-time farming. Priority is given to projects providing opportunities for a new generation of farmers.

The grant program is designed to help farmers put their own ideas to work to develop new income sources. These cost-share grants can help reduce the risk of trying innovative and new ideas that can help sustain the bottom-line of the business. Some farmers may have ideas for improved methods of production, processing, or opening new markets, but are hesitant to shift operating costs or to borrow money to try new approaches. This is where this program can assist farm businesses. The maximum amount available to individual farmers is $10,000, and for collaborative farmer or community projects the amount is $30,000.

To RSVP for this workshop and/or for more information, contact David Isner at 336-372-5597.

Cut Flower Production Workshop

2009-10-08T12:10:00.003-04:00

Are you interested in adding cut flower production to your operation? Are you currently growing cut flowers and looking for the latest production information? The NC Cooperative Extension Service, McDowell Center is offering a program on cut flower production for small growers.

The program will be held on Thursday, October 22nd, at 2:00 pm in the Extension Conference room, 60 East Court Street in Marion NC. Craig Adkins, Extension Area Specialized Agent - Commercial Horticulture will be speaking on all aspects of cut flower production including, site selection, species selection, fertilization, pest control and more. Meredith McKissick, of Sweet Earth Flower Farm will be speaking about her experience growing and marketing cut flowers. Meredith has experience growing flowers and marketing them at tailgate markets and for weddings and other events. She will also be talking about 3-5 different annual cuts that can be easily grown for each spring, summer, and fall.

This program is free, but pre-registration is required by calling the Extension Office at 828-652-8104 or by emailing Jane McDaniel at Jane_McDaniel@ncsu.edu by October 20th. For additional information please call 828-652-8104.

Christmas Tree Newsletter

2009-10-08T11:15:00.006-04:00

The September Christmas Tree News is now available online. Click here to view.

4-H Zooms into National 4-H Week

2009-09-17T11:04:00.001-04:00

National 4-H Week will take off with a speedy start on October 4th, as the 4-H emblem makes its debut appearance in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The well-known national icon will be featured on the 'TV panel' of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon at Kansas Speedway that day. The placement of the 4-H clover on the No. 24 Chevrolet was made possible through a generous donation by DuPont, sponsor of both the No. 24 team and of 4-H.
National 4-H Week is an annual celebration for the 100-year old youth development organization. The highlight of the week includes the highly anticipated, 4-H National Youth Science Day, which brings together millions of youth to participate in the National Science Experiment. This year's experiment, Biofuel Blast, will introduce youth to alternative energy. DuPont is a premier sponsor of 4-H National Youth Science Day and the Biofuel Blast National Science Experiment.

"The appearance of the 4-H emblem on Jeff Gordon's car in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is a wonderful salute to 4-H by DuPont, and an amazing way for us to begin National 4-H Week," said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council. "Now, millions of current 4-H'ers, 4-H alumni and racing fans alike can watch with excitement as the clover takes to the track for the first time."
The Kansas event is the third in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and the 1.5-mile track is the site of two of Gordon's 82 career victories in NASCAR's premier division.

"4-H has been a leader among youth development organizations, enriching the lives of millions of young people for more than100 years," said Gordon. "It is an honor to have such an iconic emblem featured on the DuPont Chevrolet and to provide such an exciting way to help the nation kick-off National 4-H Week."

4-H National Youth Science Day was created to spark an early youth interest in science education and to combat a national shortage of young people pursuing science in college and future careers. Participants in this year's National Science Experiment will learn how cellulose and sugars in plants - such as corn, switchgrass, sorghum and algae - can be converted into fuel, and how alternative energies can be used in their own communities. Youth will create their own biofuel through Biofuel Blast, lead discussions about what they've learned, and see how their small creations are a part of a larger, global discussion.

"Research into biofuels and bio-based materials is an important area for our company, and we are proud to sponsor 4-H in their extraordinary effort to help young people understand one of the most important issues facing our nation today," said James C. Borel, group vice president, DuPont Agriculture.

Currently, more than five million youth across the nation take part in 4-H science, engineering and technology (SET) year-long programming that introduce youth to new areas of interest and help them explore environmental and scientific issues. 4-H SET programming span from robotics, rocketry, and computer science, to agricultural science, GPS mapping and renewable energy.

According to a longitudinal study by Tufts University, youth who participate in 4-H programs are more likely to get better grades in school, to seek out science classes, to see themselves going to college, and to contribute positively in their communities. In addition, 4-H youth have been shown to better resist peer pressure and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.

Open Youth Horse Show

2009-09-02T16:28:00.005-04:00

The second Open Youth Horse Show of 2009 will be held on Saturday, September 12th. The gates will open at 7:30 a.m. and Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. Click here for the Show Program which lists all the classes for the day.

The cost to participate in the show is $4 per class or $20 to show all day. Friday night (September 11th) there will be a show pre-registration as well as an open ring from 7 - 8:30 pm.

Fencing Clinic

2009-08-18T10:12:00.005-04:00

The Ashe County Center is hosting a fencing clinic on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. This clinic will be held at the Upper Mountain Research Station in Laurel Springs.

Lewis Sapp, Territory Manager for Stay-Tuff Fence Manufacturing, will be providing his expertise on correct procedures for installing woven wire and Hi-tensile fencing. He can help with fencing projects from start to finish. He will have encing products and the latest tools on hand. There will also be a demonstration on flat and steep grades. If you have any questions, please contact the Research Station at 336-982-2501 or the Ashe Extension Office at (336) 846-5850.

4-H camps get much deserved recognition

2009-08-06T16:55:00.002-04:00

In addition to traditional 4-H camp sessions, we conduct a variety of specialty camps each summer. Two of those camps were featured by local TV stations. Thought you would like to see the coverage on one of our /Operation Purple Camps /(at Swannanoa) and /Take Off 4-Health Camp/ at the Eastern 4-H Center. We are justly proud of all of our camps. It is gratifying to see two of them featured in such a positive way by area media.

Enjoy:

http://www.wlos.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/wlos_vid_695.shtml (look for Operation Purple)http://www.wnct.com/nct/news/local/article/take_off_for_health_camp_in_its_second_week/46680/
Larry Hancock
Extension 4-H Specialist

Alleghany 4-H’er Inducted into Honor Club

2009-07-27T10:48:00.003-04:00

An Alleghany County 4-H’er received one of the highest honors a 4-H’er can achieve during the annual state 4-H Congress.

Congress is the high point of the 4-H year, bringing young people from across the state to the North Carolina State University campus and Raleigh for a week of activity. This year’s Congress was July 20-24 and included a celebration of 100 years of 4-H in North Carolina.

Cate Hall, 19, daughter of Bonnie C. and Al Hall of Sparta, was inducted into the 4-H Honor Club. Cate, a student at Wilkes Community College, has been active in the 4-H program for nine years.

New Honor Club members were tapped during a candlelight ceremony Monday night, July 20. Membership in the Honor Club is based on service to the 4-H program, leadership, moral standards, 4-H activities and project achievement. Less than one-half of 1 percent of North Carolina 4-H’ers are selected for membership each year. Members must be at least 16 years old and have a minimum of three years 4-H experience.

Approximately 800 4-H’ers, volunteer leaders and North Carolina Cooperative Extension agents attended 4-H Congress.The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities. More than 239,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 23,000 adult and youth volunteers.

For more information about 4-H in Alleghany and how you can get involved, please contact Amy Lucas at (336) 372-5597 or amy_lucas@ncsu.edu.

2009 Farm Expo

2009-07-23T16:56:00.006-04:00

The Ashe and Alleghany County Cooperative Extension, the Ashe and Alleghany County Christmas Tree and Cattlemen's Associations and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture are hosting an all-inclusive Farm Expo on Saturday August 29 from 12:30 pm until dark at the Upper Mountain Research Station in Laurel Springs, NC.

The 2009 Farm Expo will highlight research projects at Upper Mountain Research Station, farm diversification opportunities, and have vendors showing off new farm equipment, conservation opportunities, farm related funding, area banks, and many other for profit and nonprofit agricultural services.

The Ashe and Alleghany County Cattlemen's Associations will be grilling fresh roast beef for dinner and the NCDA will be providing a "Taste of North Carolina" exhibit with strawberries, and other farm fresh produce to highlight the abundance and diversity of crops grown in North Carolina.

The 2009 Farm Expo is being co-sponsored by NC Farm Bureau and Carolina Farm Credit. NC Farm Bureau's ice cream truck (free ice cream all day) will be on hand for the Expo.

Click here for the brochure that gives all the information needed about attending this event.

Open Youth Horse Show

2009-07-17T14:08:00.003-04:00

The first Open Youth Horse Show of 2009 will be held on Saturday, July 25th. The gates will open at 7:30 a.m. and Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. Click here for the Show Program which lists all the classes for the day. The cost to participate in the show is $3 per class or $15 to show all day. Friday night (July 24th) there will be a show pre-registration as well as an open ring from 7 - 8:30 pm.

Alleghany County Fair

2009-07-17T12:45:00.004-04:00

The 22nd Annual Alleghany County Agricultural Fair will be August 22-29, 2009. Click here for more information about the fair. There is a complete Schedule of Events, as well as Rules and Entry forms for the Demolition Derby, Livestock Shows and the Exhbibition Building.

We hope to see you and your family at the fair!

Community Health Fair

2009-05-22T10:44:00.002-04:00

Be Happy Be Healthy Community Health Fair

Friday, June 19, 2009

3 - 6 pm @ the Alleghany Memorial Hospital Lawn

Alleghany Memorial Hospital and the Wellness Center will be having a health fair on hospital grouds and will include health services information, lab work for adults, as well as tons of fun activities for the kids. Everything is free except for lab services. Snow cones, bounce house, jump rope, climbing wall, train rides, live music, and a FireHouse to learn about fire safety and calling 911 for help. The helicopter will also be on site. Bring the whole family and enjoy a fun afternoon to learn about healthcare services from our local hospital.

Insulin Resistance in Horses

2009-05-01T09:57:00.004-04:00

I’ve had several questions about insulin resistance – here’s a good abstract from the late Dr. Kronfeld from Virginia Tech (J. Animal Science, 2005). Take home message is to avoid high starch, high fructan, high glycemic feeds in these types of horses.

Insulin resistance in the horse: Definition, detection, and dietetics1,2
D. S. Kronfeld*,3, K. H. Treiber*, T. M. Hess* and R. C. Boston
* Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Middleburg 20117; and and School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348
3 Correspondence: Dept. of Anim. and Poultry Sci., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0306 (e-mail: kronfeld@vt.edu

Specific quantitative methods for determining insulin resistance have been applied to obesity, activity/inactivity, reproductive efficiency, and exercise in horses, but only nonspecific indications have implicated insulin resistance as a risk factor or component of equine diseases. Insulin resistance derives from insulin insensitivity at the cell surface, which regulates glucose availability inside the cell, or from insulin ineffectiveness due to disruption of glucose metabolism inside the cell. Interplay of insensitivity and ineffectiveness should be considered in regard to patterns of disease, such as laminitis. Detection of insulin insensitivity is made weakly on the basis of fasting hyperinsulinemia, more strongly with a statistically validated surrogate, such as the logarithm of the reciprocal of basal insulinemia, or best by a specific quantitative method. Subjects found to be at risk can be managed to improve their insulin sensitivity by dietetics. Claims for dietetic prevention of a disease should be distinguished from claims for avoidance of a dietary risk factor. The evidence required for a claim of prevention is a controlled intervention trial as for a therapeutic drug, according to the U.S. FDA. In contrast, the evidence required for a claim of avoidance is association revealed by population studies plus causation shown by mechanistic experiments, as formulated in the Surgeon General of the Public Health Office’s (1988) Report on Nutrition and Health. In this view, no appropriate evidence is available for the prevention or treatment of insulin resistance in an equine disease. Evidence is available, however, to justify avoidance of high-glycemic feeds, such as high starch intakes in grains, clover, and alfalfa, and high fructan intakes in grasses, to decrease the risk of acute digestive disturbances associated with rapid fermentation, and chronic metabolic disorders associated with insulin resistance. During submaximal exercise, high-glycemic meals have been shown to increase glucose utilization immediately. On the other hand, chronic adaptation to feeds that exchange corn oil and fiber sources for sources of sugar and starch confers benefits to athletic performance that may be due to several aspects of fat adaptation, including the regulation of insulin sensitivity, as well as glycolysis and lipid oxidation by signals from insulin receptors. Information regarding insulin resistance suggests methods for protecting health and promoting horse performance.

J.Tim Potter, Ph.D., PAS
Area Specialized Agent-Equine

RC Car Race

2009-04-30T10:32:00.000-04:00

During the intermission of the 2009 Carquest Spring Mowdown Lawnmower Race on Saturday, May 9th there will be a RC(remote control) Car Race. If you are a student in grades 6-8 or an adult and would like to participate in the race, click here for your entry form. Entry forms are due to Joe Whisnant or to the Extension Office by Thursday, May 7th.

There is also a raffle taking place. If you would like a chance to win a RC Car (valued at $200) stop by Carquest in Sparta to enter. Tickets for the raffle are $1 each or 6 for $5.

2009 Strawberry Field Day

2009-04-27T09:25:00.005-04:00

The Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury is hosting the 2009 Strawberry Field Day on Tuesday, May 5th. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and the program will begin at 9:50 a.m. Highlights of the program includes: strawberry tunnel research, plant material considerations for tunnels, strawberry breeding research and biological mite management. Click here for directions. For more information, contact Barclay Poling at 919.418.9687 or barclay_poling@ncsu.edu.

Did you know it is National Park Week?

2009-04-21T10:41:00.002-04:00

National Park Week is an annual Presidentially proclaimed week for celebration and recognition of National Parks. Consider visiting one of the National Parks in North Carolina!

Here is a little challenge-can you name all the National Parks in NC? (there are nine).
http://www.nps.gov/state/nc/

For more information and a list of National Park Week events in NC, go to http://www.nps.gov/npweek/

Miss America gives credit to 4-H

2009-04-21T08:59:00.005-04:00

Ask Katie Stam about her passion for community service, and she'll tell you it all started with 4-H. Long before winning her title as Miss America, Katie Stam from Seymour, Ind. would spend hours in 4-H performing in creative dramatics, competing at the Jackson County fair, and visiting with 4-H friends and family. It was there that she learned the values of leadership, mentorship, and community service. And like most 4-H kids, she collected blue ribbons and trophies along the way to mark her accomplishments.

In January the Indiana farm girl was crowned Miss America 2009 and now that she's in the national spotlight, Stam is getting the message out that community service is important and rewarding. Stam's platform, Promoting Community Service and Involvement, aims to get youth involved in their own neighborhoods.

With community service as her national platform, Stam could potentially transform the way millions of young people think about giving back to their communities and 4-H. "4-H is such an advocate for community service," says Stam. "It encourages you to reach out to people in so many different ways."

She is also the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network and is the official spokesperson for Zerosmoke.Stam is currently being considered for Time Magazine's annual 100 Most Influential People List. The annual list asks the public to rate each candidate on their influence on the world. Those recognized fall in one of five categories: Leaders & Revolutionaries, Builders & Titans, Artists & Entertainers, Scientists & Thinkers, and Heroes & Icons. Within each category, the 20 most influential people are selected, for a grand total of 100 each year.

This article was reprinted from The Cattle Business Weekly.

Soil Testing

2009-04-20T15:05:00.002-04:00

Have you ever wondered what a soil test is or what the purpose of one is? Here is a in-depth fact-sheet from NCDA that gives you the answers to these questions and more. If you have further questions or need more information regarding soil testing, please feel free to contact our office.

Aquaculture Workshop

2009-04-20T14:08:00.003-04:00

The McDowell County Center of NC Cooperative Extension is hosting a Small Scale Aquaculture Workshop on Monday, May 4, 2009. The registration deadline is Thurs., April 30th. Click here for the flyer that contains all the information regarding this workshop.

ACTA Membership

2009-03-26T13:57:00.009-04:00

REMINDER.... The deadline for sending in your Alleghany Christmas Tree Association Membership Form and dues is Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Growing the Blue Ridge Farmers Market

2009-03-26T09:04:00.004-04:00

There will be an informational workshop on how gardeners and producers of vegetables, fruits, meats, processed foods and baked goods can utilize the consignment method of marketing their goods with this newly organized retail market, the Blue Ridge Farmers Market. The workshop will be held on April 9th, 2009 from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM in the conference room of County Office Building.

Pesticide Recertification

2009-03-25T16:20:00.002-04:00

Alleghany County Cooperative Extension will be offering several classes that will help you meet your pesticide recertification credit requirements this year. Please click here for the class listing that was sent out.

Also, if you are unable to attend the classes being offered in Alleghany County, please be sure to check the NCDA website to view up-to-date recertification classes. You can also look up your credit information and current exam schedules.

FDA Peanut Recall News Release

2009-03-24T15:41:00.000-04:00

On March 23, 2009, the FDA issued a press release with more information about the recent peanut product recalls. To read the full press release, please click here. Included in this release is a website address that lists all of the products being recalled.

Riverside Advisory Board Meeting

2009-03-23T13:25:00.001-04:00

This is a reminder to the members of the Riverside Advisory Board that there is a planning meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Your Diet and Diabetes

2009-03-23T10:58:00.000-04:00

Diabetes is the leading cause of premature deaths and the sixth leading cause of all deaths in the United States. If you fail to manage diabetes properly, it can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, leg and foot amputations and death. According to health experts at NC State University, minor changes in your lifestyle can greatly reduce your chances of getting the disease.

WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not use the sugars in food in the usual way. Normally, some of the food you digest is changed into glucose (sugar) which the body uses for fuel. Diabetics produce too little insulin or none at all, or cannot use insulin properly. Then dangerously high levels of glucose can build up in the blood. If left untreated, high blood glucose can lead to all of the serious and potentially fatal conditions listed above.
ARE THERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DIABETES?
Type I is the most severe form. It usually occurs early in life around age 12 or 13. Type I is often called “juvenile-onset” or “insulin-dependent” diabetes.
Type II is the most frequently occurring form, and is adult-onset, and sometimes insulin-dependent. Most Type II diabetics are older adults who are overweight and have or had a blood relative that has or had diabetes.
Gestational occurs in pregnant women. This type of diabetes generally disappears after childbirth.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES?
Abnormal thirst, frequent urination, weakness, excessive hunger, rapid or unexplained weight loss, poor growth, flushed skin, fruity breath or nausea and vomiting may be symptoms of diabetes. If you have any of these problems, on a regular basis, you should contact your doctor.
HOW IS DIABETES TREATED?
Each person needs individualized treatment. Type I requires insulin, diet and exercise. Type II usually can be treated with diet and exercise only. If you have diabetes, the American Diabetic Association suggests the following guidelines:

Maintain a healthy weight;
Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol;
Increase your intake of fiber foods;
Control sugar consumption;
Use salt (sodium) only in moderation;
If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
Get regular exercise (always consult with your doctor prior to beginning any exercise program.)

There is no cure for diabetes, however, you can manage or delay diabetes through diet, exercise, weight control and if necessary, medication. For additional information on diabetes, contact Jacquelyne Gordon, via email or by calling 372-5597.

Home Vegetable Gardening

2009-03-20T09:36:00.000-04:00

Spring is here and it is time to start thinking about gardening. Click here for a Home Vegetable Gardening Guide, created by Cooperative Extension, that is full of helpful information.

Welcome to the new Alleghany Extension Blog

2009-03-19T10:21:00.002-04:00

This blog has been created as way to get information to the residents of Alleghany County. We will try to cover a wide range of topics, as well as information regarding our associations, community events, etc. We hope that you will enjoy the blog and find the posts here helpful.