Dear Extension Family,
As we move into the spring season, I want to take a moment to recognize the tremendous work happening across our Extension system. This is one of our busiest times of year, and it is clear from the many programs, events, and activities taking place that your efforts are making a meaningful impact in communities across South Carolina.
From the success of large-scale events like the Spring Dairy Show and Forest Fest to the ongoing work happening daily in your counties, your dedication continues to strengthen Extension’s presence and reputation. These efforts do not happen in isolation—they are the result of strong teamwork across program areas, with agents, specialists, staff, and volunteers coming together to serve our stakeholders.
As we continue through this busy season, I encourage you to remain mindful of our resources while staying focused on delivering high-quality programming. Your work in the field is what drives our success and ensures we remain responsive to the needs of those we serve.
During this week’s Coffee Chat, several important updates and reminders were shared:
- Travel & Budget Awareness: Staff are encouraged to be mindful of rising fuel costs and their impact on operating budgets. Continue attending key meetings and events, but conserve resources when possible by carpooling, combining trips, or utilizing virtual options when appropriate.
- Spring Events Success: The Spring Dairy Show had record participation, with over 400 animals and strong youth involvement. Additional events, including dairy judging and upcoming livestock contests, continue to highlight strong collaboration across program areas. Forest Fest also saw record attendance, with approximately 685 participants.
- Teamwork Across Extension: A strong emphasis was placed on working collaboratively across program areas and supporting one another during this busy spring season.
- Operational Updates:
- Position approvals are beginning to move forward, particularly for state-funded roles.
- Agent promotion materials are due by May 11.
- Innovation Award recipients should submit required reports.
- The new Workday system is scheduled to launch July 1, with in-person district trainings expected in June.
Thank you for your continued dedication to Extension’s mission and the impactful work you do in communities across South Carolina.
Celebrating 10 Years of Pinckney Leadership
More than 100 South Carolina 4-H Pinckney Leadership Program participants and their families gathered at the State House to celebrate the program’s 10th anniversary during South Carolina 4-H Legislative Day. The milestone was made even more meaningful with the presence of Jennifer Pinckney and her daughter, Malana Pinckney, a current program participant. The program was formally recognized in both chambers of the South Carolina General Assembly, highlighting a decade of leadership development and its lasting impact on youth across the state. The application for our middle camp is still open and will close on April 6th. The applications can be found at www.clemson.edu/pinckney
S.C. 4-H Engineering Challenge Inspires Future Innovators
This year marked the 12th annual S.C. 4-H Engineering Challenge, which hosted more than 350 youth from 23 counties across South Carolina, with some participants competing in up to three events. The annual S.C. 4-H Engineering Challenge in Columbia engaged youth in a wide range of hands-on STEM competitions, building problem-solving skills and sparking interest in future STEM careers. The event included 98 Visual Arts entries, 58 Bridge Building teams, 60 Mystery Challenge teams, 12 Rocketry teams, 12 Coding entries, 10 Robotics teams, and 4 Agriscience poster presentations. In addition, 13 exhibitors participated in the STEAM Expo, further enhancing the learning experience for attendees. More than 50 individuals—including volunteers, college students, 4-H alumni, agents representing three Extension program teams, a retired agent, and two district directors—came together to spend the day making the best better.
Top honors included John Terry (Abbeville County), who earned first place in the Junior Agriscience Poster competition, and Adaline Page, who placed first in the Senior division. Additional winners represented counties across the state in events such as coding, visual arts, bridge building, rocketry, and mystery challenges—showcasing the talent and innovation of South Carolina 4-H youth.
Please see full article and list of winners here: https://news.clemson.edu/s-c-4-h-engineering-challenge-provides-hands-on-stem-experiences/
Forest Fest
On March 28, 2026, the Clemson University Cooperative Extension brought its full self to the Clemson Experimental Forest, and 685 people showed up to meet it there. Forest Fest 2026 was more than a signature event; it was a living demonstration of what Extension does best: building bridges between research, place, and the people who call this landscape home. Through the work of 4-H Teen Ambassadors, FFA students from John De La Howe, the SC Botanical Garden, Rural Health and Nutrition, Master Naturalist volunteers, School and Community Gardening, 4-H and Shooting Sports, Adopt-a-Stream, and a wide network of PSA and CAFLS partners across forestry and agriculture, attendees moved through the forest not as spectators but as participants handling live animals, learning about watersheds, trying their hand at shooting sports, and discovering the forest ecosystem. The 125 post-event surveys returned a resounding affirmation: 89% of respondents rated Forest Fest a 9 or 10 out of 10 for likelihood of recommending it to a friend. Nearly 90% of attendees reported being extremely satisfied with event staff, and 100% expressed satisfaction with the educational content, with 89% of those at the highest level. Education stations drew the most interest, chosen by more than half of respondents, a testament to Extension’s enduring belief that learning and doing belong together.
State Fair:
The 2026 South Carolina State Fair is set to run from Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 25. Please plan to represent Extension at our booth in the Ellison Building on one of these days. Any questions or comments, please reach out to Becca Hedden at rthomp7@clemson.edu
Salesforce:
Please take a moment to update your Title on your User Profile in Salesforce. To do so, hover over your photo icon along the top toolbar and click. This will open up to your User Profile. Please update your Title to reflect your County and Program team, ex) Anderson – Agronomic Crops Agent. This helps easily identify users when navigating in Salesforce.
Salesforce will now automatically send a reminder email when one of your Program Events has concluded.
What to expect:
When an event ends:
- You’ll receive a reminder email.
- A task will be created to remind you to complete required reporting fields.
- A banner will appear at the top of the record reminding you to complete required reporting fields.
The reminder is simply to ensure the following fields are completed for reporting purposes:
- Event Status
- Extension Project
- Program County
- Hours of Instruction
The banner will remain visible until you manually dismiss it.
Why we’re doing this:
This update helps ensure timely and accurate reporting across all programs without relying on manual follow-up.
Other things to note:
- Outlook has begun phasing out the Salesforce connector within Outlook. If it has not been disabled for you already, it will be unavailable soon. Please note you will have to adjust your workflow if you are utilizing this tool. https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=002723592&type=1
- Due to an update, Eventbrite will now only allow participants to be added to an event for 10 days after the event ends. If you have issues with Eventbrite, please see: https://www.eventbrite.com/help/en-us/
Congratulations to Dr. Ashley Burns!
“I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” — Malala Yousafzai (Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Education).
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to observe Dr. Ashley Burns during one of her staff meetings. Her poise, depth of knowledge, thoughtful insights, and professional gravitas were immediately evident. She embodies the kind of leadership that uplifts others and advances the important work of education.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Dream Builders Communication believes it is important to recognize and elevate the voices of women whose leadership continues to shape the future of education.
Please join me in celebrating Dr. Ashley Burns’ contributions to education as we respectfully invite her to serve as one of the panelists of women in education for the Dream Builders Communication’s special virtual experience entitled:
“Celebrating Women’s History Month: Honoring Voices, Impact, and Leadership in Education.”
New Employees
Please help me welcome the newest members of our Extension family:
- Alex Thompson: Brewing and Fermentation Extension Associate
- Dr. Ahmet Buyukyavuz: Food Analysis and Formulation Extension Associate
- Dr. Claudia Ionita: Consumer Food Safety and Preservation Extension Associate (not pictured)
- Amanda Lutz: 4-H Agent; serving Chester County
- Presley Bell: 4-H Agent; serving Barnwell, Bamberg, and Allendale Counties
Sunbelt Ag Expo
I am pleased to announce the official call for nominations for the 2026 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award. This award is open to any South Carolina farmer or member of a farming family that is actively involved in the agriculture industry and is at least 21 years of age.
To make a nomination, please use the following JotForm link –https://form.jotform.com/260074486530153. Once completed, save as a pdf, and return to me via email or hard copy. A preview of the nomination application can viewed/printed from the pdf FOY nomination attachment.
To receive full consideration, completed nomination forms must be submitted by April 20th, 2026, to:
Brian Callahan, SC Sunbelt FOY Coordinator
(Electronic submissions): bcallah@clemson.edu OR
(Hard copy submissions): 352 Halton Road, Suite 302, Greenville, SC 29607
Dates for the 2026 Sunbelt Ag Expo are October 19-22nd. For more information, visit the Sunbelt Ag Expo website at: https://sunbeltexpo.com/
If you have questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your support of this program – Brian
NEW! SCBG Wildflower Walks
Greetings from the South Carolina Botanical Garden! We have some exciting news that we hope you all will help us share. CU students and employees can enjoy free guided wildflower walks at SCBG!
Step into spring with us! Clemson University students, faculty, and staff are invited to enjoy free weekly guided wildflower walks along our peaceful Natural Heritage Trail. Wander at a relaxed pace with an experienced guide, soak in the beauty of the spring while discovering the hidden stories of our local plants and wildlife.
On Wednesdays, beginning March 11, join us to discover brand-new landscapes—fresh blossoms, unfolding leaves, and the ever-changing colors of spring. No two walks are the same, so come often and watch the Garden come alive! Space is limited, so pre-registration is required.
More details can be found on our Eventbrite registration page.
Job Openings
We have new openings to fill with talent. The following positions with their job ID numbers are currently posted on the Clemson Careers website. http://www.clemson.edu/careers
- Administrative Assistant, Clarendon, Job ID 110329
- Administrative Assistant, Saluda, Job ID 110331
- Nutritional Educator, Spartanburg, Job ID 110021
- 4-H Agent, Greenwood, Job ID 110305
- Seasonal Landscaper, Clemson SCBG, Job ID 110175
- Livestock and Forages Agent, Saluda, Job ID 110092
- Nutrition Educator, Laurens, Job ID 110023
- Mobile Food Processing Associate, Clemson, Job ID 109966
IN CLOSING …
In closing, I want to thank each of you for the commitment, professionalism, and teamwork you demonstrate every day. The impact of Extension is strongest at the local level, and it is your work in communities across South Carolina that continues to build trust, create opportunities, and improve lives. As we move through this busy season, I encourage you to stay connected, support one another, and remain focused on the mission that brings us together. I am proud to serve alongside you and appreciate all that you do for Clemson Cooperative Extension and the people we serve.
As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Cooperative Extension.
Upcoming Events and Reminders
- April 22-23, 2026: The 45th SCAEAP Annual Conference in Greenville, SC.
- May 20-22, 2026: SC Association of County Agricultural Agents (SCACAA) & SC Association of Extension 4-H Agents (SCAE4-HA) Joint Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference in Lexington, SC.
- Please share your latest accomplishments, awards, publications and other newsworthy updates with Christi Leard ccampb3@clemson.edu to get in the Director’s Newsletter!
