Halifax County Center 2023 Key Impacts

N.C. Cooperative Extension is a strategic partnership of NC State Extension, Cooperative Extension at NC A&T State University, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), and local governments statewide. Extension professionals in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee connect millions of North Carolinians with trusted tools and technology from NC State and N.C. A&T. Together we enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolinians.

Agriculture Production Systems

• Awarded 500 hours of pesticide certification, 18 Beef Quality Assurance certifications, and 36 hours of animal waste continuing education credits for farmers, livestock producers, and animal waste operators.
• Engaged in an inaugural Corn Variety trial testing 20 new hybrids across seven area counties in an effort to provide more region-specific research data to farmers when selecting their corn hybrids.
• Hosted the 2nd annual Forestry meeting reaching owners and managers of more than 16,000 acres of timber.

Horticulture

• Collaborated with Extension Master Gardener™ Volunteers to construct ten raised bed garden boxes at three different sites to be used for education to expand horticulture knowledge as well as healthy eating skills, including establishment of a community garden at the 4-H Rural Life Center.
• Provided 85 teachers with Choanoke Area Development Association (CADA) education on gardening basics.

575 youth and adults gained knowledge or skills related to fruit/vegetable gardening

Health and Nutrition

• Trained 98 individuals in safe food handling practices, 48 of which have gone on to pass the standardized national food safety exam, Safe Plates for Food Managers.
• Engaged 55 individuals in an 8 week long LIFT program (Lifting Improvements for Fitness Together) that helps improve strength and mobility, learn healthy food options, create a habit of physical activity, and most importantly, help form a community.
• Take Control, a chronic disease and nutrition program where participants learn lifelong habits to help them eat healthy and be physically active, was completed by 43 adults.
• Facilitated Pop-Up Food Markets every month of the year, providing food for 5730 people.

1253 youth increased their fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity through EFNEP

282 people adopted extension recommended best management practices related to field crop and livestock production

4-H Youth Development

• Facilitated seven weeks of 4-H Camps at the 4-H Rural Life Center, including the “All Around the World” Camp where youth learned about various cultures from educators visiting from the UNC-Chapel Hill Global Education Center and from local games such as Halwa-Saponi tribal members.
• Started two high school based 4-H clubs that focus on financial literacy, career pathways, and life skills and through community partnerships we chartered two new 4-H Clubs in communities where after school activities are limited.
• Embryology life cycle instruction was provided to 359 elementary and middle school students. Seven 4-H’ers compete at the district level in 4-H Presentations and Public Speaking. Four competed at State Finals where they earned two gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
• Completed the 1st ever Halifax County 4-H Dairy Project where nineteen youth were able to experience working hands-on with dairy calves for six weeks while learning responsibility and sportsmanship, increasing their confidence and self-esteem.

Operation Restart/ Community Service/ WIOA

• Continually created safe spaces for at-risk youth to provide opportunities for growth, fulfill community service requirements, and receive support in achieving high school graduation, workforce placement.
• Provided preventative education in all school systems in the county to youth 4th to 12th grade and during summer camp programs.
• Assisted with several area food banks each month, giving back through community service.
• Supported participants to gain one GED certificate, four job placements, two professional development classes, and partnered with Social Services to support youth in specialized foster care enrolled in community college.

Halifax County Harvest Days:

• Because of county-wide collaboration of county departments and local organizations, the 31st annual Harvest Days event was a complete success! Over 860 4th & 5th grade students from eleven schools experienced hands-on educational fun, and on Saturday, an estimated 2400 community members attended where they were able to learn about the agricultural history of Halifax as well as be informed of the many resources available in our county.

2023 Volunteer Support:

363 Volunteers donated 1295 hours of their time at a value of $38,816! We could not do what we do without them!

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