Dear Extension Family,
A Renewed Focus on Our Core Mission
As we continue serving South Carolina, we must renew our commitment to the core purpose of Clemson Cooperative Extension: improving lives through research-based education, practical solutions, and trusted partnerships. While technologies and communities change, our mission remains constant—and it must guide every decision we make.
Each day our Extension professionals partner with farmers, families, youth, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems and create opportunities. From supporting agricultural producers and training future leaders through 4-H and Middle & Secondary Agriculture Education, to promoting healthy communities, protecting natural resources, and strengthening local economies, our work is service-driven. Our highest priority is to deliver high-quality educational programs that meet the real needs of South Carolinians.
Refocusing on our mission is not a return to the past. It means asking, for every program and partnership: How does this serve the people of South Carolina? That question should be central to program selection, resource allocation, and daily practice. This is not optional—this is essential.
The way we answer that question is by using organized needs assessments, clear plans of work, and systematic impact assessment. Needs assessments identify community priorities. Plans of work align our resources and activities with those priorities. Impact assessment demonstrates outcomes and return on investment. These steps—though time-consuming—are fundamental to ensuring our programs are relevant, effective, and accountable.
When questions arise about who should deliver educational programming across our ten program areas, the answer is clear: Clemson Cooperative Extension Service. Our statewide presence, expertise, and deep community relationships position us to lead.
This newsletter celebrates the dedication, innovation, and accomplishments of our faculty and staff. Let it remind us that our strength is found not only in expertise, but in the relationships and trust we build across the state.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Clemson Cooperative Extension and to the people we serve. Together we will uphold our land‑grant mission—delivering knowledge, fostering innovation, and improving lives throughout South Carolina.
Thank you to our Admins!
Administrative Assistants Day may only come once a year, but the impact of Administrative Assistants is felt every single day. In many ways, that simply isn’t enough time to recognize all that you do for Clemson Extension.
To our Administrative Assistants across the state, from the Extension office to every county office: Thank you!
You are the welcoming face that our clients encounter when they call, visit, or seek assistance. You are the steady hand behind countless processes that keep our organization moving forward. You support agents, associates, specialists, and administrators. You manage complex financial responsibilities, coordinate logistics, maintain accessibility, solve problems before many of us even realize they exist, and provide the kind of dependable public service that often goes unnoticed because you make it look effortless.
The truth is that Clemson Extension could not fulfill its mission without you.
The Cooperative Extension model has always depended on partnership, collaboration, and shared commitment. Just as our success relies on cooperative funding and support at the federal, state, and local levels, it also relies on the dedication, professionalism, and servant leadership of our Administrative Assistants. You are not simply supporting the work of Extension. You are an essential part of how Extension works.
Over the past year, your contributions have been especially meaningful. We have navigated budgetary challenges, changing business practices, and the implementation of entirely new systems and processes. Learning new tools such as Workday while continuing to provide exceptional service required patience, flexibility, and resilience. Through every challenge, you remained committed to helping others succeed. You adapted, learned, and continued moving forward while ensuring that the needs of our faculty, staff, stakeholders, and communities were met.
That commitment has not gone unnoticed.
As we look ahead, we know that change will continue. Institutions with a 112-year history do not remain successful by standing still. They succeed because their people are willing to adapt, respond, and evolve. Those qualities are part of the very foundation of Extension, and they are qualities that our Administrative Assistants demonstrate every day.
You embody the spirit we encourage in the communities we serve. When challenges arise, you find solutions. When systems change, you learn and adapt. When others need support, you step forward.
On behalf of all those whose work is made easier because of your efforts, thank you for your professionalism, your dedication, your patience, and your unwavering commitment to public service. Most importantly, thank you for being the glue that holds so much of Clemson Extension together.
We celebrate you today, but we appreciate you every day.
Thank you for all that you do for Clemson Extension and the people we serve!
4-H: SC Kids at the National Holstein Convention
South Carolina 4-H youth recently represented Clemson Extension at the National Holstein Convention in Orlando, Florida, marking the state’s first delegation to attend the event in many years. Hosted annually by Holstein USA, the convention brings together youth from across the country to develop leadership skills, expand their knowledge of the dairy industry, and compete in educational contests focused on dairy science and agriculture.
The South Carolina delegation participated in several national competitions, including Dairy Quiz Bowl, Dairy Jeopardy, the Scientific Poster Contest, and Prepared Public Speaking. Competing against experienced youth from across the nation, the team earned two national honors.
Emma Uhall of Abbeville County 4-H captured first place in the Intermediate Scientific Poster Contest for her project on Biosecurity, while the Junior Dairy Quiz Bowl Team—Sara Ann Crawford (Saluda County 4-H), Brewer Honea and Harris Honea (Anderson County 4-H), and Emma Uhall (Abbeville County 4-H)—received the prestigious J. George and Anna Smith Sportsmanship Award.
The trip provided valuable opportunities for youth to strengthen their dairy knowledge, develop leadership and communication skills, build friendships with peers from across the country, and proudly represent South Carolina on the national stage. Congratulations to our outstanding 4-H members and to Clemson Extension staff Tina Horn and Amanda Lutz for helping make this memorable experience possible.
Clemson Cooperative Extension Celebrates Success at the 2026 NACAA Annual Meeting
Clemson Cooperative Extension Service was well represented at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference, held July 8–12, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. Extension professionals from across South Carolina joined colleagues from around the country to share innovative programming, present research, and receive national recognition for their outstanding work.
National Recognition
Several Clemson Cooperative Extension agents were recognized for their years of service and professional excellence.
Distinguished Service Awards
- Justin Ballew – 11 years of service
- Matthew Burns – 17 years of service
- Charly Greenthaler – 10 years of service
Achievement Awards
- Chad Carter – 7 years of service
- Mark Cathcart – 7 years of service
- Susan Lunt – 6 years of service
South Carolina National Finalists
South Carolina was represented by four national finalists in NACAA communications and programming competitions:
- Samantha Porzelt – Audio Recording
- Barbara H. Smith – Published Photo
- Ben Boyles – Search for Excellence in Young, Beginning, or Small Farmers/Ranchers
- Justin Ballew – Website/Online Content
Posters Featured at the National Conference
While numerous Clemson Cooperative Extension posters were submitted for consideration, the following were selected for display at the national conference.
Extension Education
- Susan Lunt – Scooping To Prevent Poo-lluting
- Mallory Maher – Backyard Wildlife Habitat: Closing the Residential Wildlife Education Gap
- Charlotte Maxwell – Breaking the Burnout Cycle
- Lauren Hood – Somewhere Over the Rainbow is a Custom Weather and Climate Science Curriculum for K-12 Schools, 4-H and Agricultural Education Programs
Applied Research
- Katie Callahan – COMMUNITY-DRIVEN STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR A SOURCE WATER, TWO-STATE RESERVOIR
- William Hardee – Maintaining the Bacterial Wilt Nursery at Pee Dee Research and Education Center?
Professional Development
In addition to poster presentations, Charley Maxwell presented a professional development session on Program Hospitality, sharing strategies and best practices with Extension professionals from across the country.
Congratulations to all of our Clemson Cooperative Extension faculty and staff whose achievements, presentations, and educational programs were recognized at the 2026 NACAA Annual Meeting. Their accomplishments reflect the innovation, dedication, and impact of Extension across South Carolina.
SC 4-H Dairy Heifer Project Celebrates 52 Years of Tradition and Learning
The South Carolina 4-H Dairy Heifer Project officially kicked off its 52nd year with an evening full of education, hands-on learning, and excitement as 37 youth from counties across South Carolina began their almost 2-year journey. This year’s project includes 23 first-time participants, highlighting the continued growth and impact of one of South Carolina 4-H’s longest-running livestock projects.
Thanks to the generosity of 15 family-owned dairies from across the Southeast, each participant received a dairy heifer to raise, care for, and exhibit over the coming almost 2 years. These dedicated dairy families continue to invest in the next generation by providing youth with an invaluable opportunity to develop responsibility, confidence, and animal husbandry skills.
The kickoff event gave participants and their families the opportunity to build their knowledge before taking their calves home. Youth participated in a mock Junior Herdsman Contest, testing their dairy knowledge while learning new information along the way. This year, parents were invited to participate alongside their children, creating a fun and engaging learning experience for the whole family. Even past showmen and Dairy Heifer Project alumni discovered they had a few things to learn, proving that agriculture is a lifelong learning experience.
Participants also rotated through several hands-on educational stations where they learned how to properly administer vaccines, learned how to weigh their calf using a weight tape, and discuss dairy nutrition and herd health with Dr. Emily Waggoner. These practical experiences help prepare youth to confidently care for their animals throughout the project year.
One of the evening’s most anticipated traditions was the calf draw, where participants selected numbers from historic milk cans to determine which heifer they would receive. The excitement and anticipation in the room marked the beginning of what will undoubtedly be a memorable year for these young livestock exhibitors.
One of the most rewarding moments of the evening was seeing families return to the project generation after generation. Several parents who once participated in the SC 4-H Dairy Heifer Project as youth were back again—this time helping their own children begin the same journey. Their return is a testament to the lasting impact of this program. The knowledge, life skills, friendships, and memories they gained through 4-H inspired them to provide those same opportunities for the next generation. Few things better demonstrate the success of this project than seeing former participants become parents who believe so strongly in the experience that they bring their own children back to be a part of it.
The SC 4-H Dairy Heifer Project Committee extends its sincere appreciation to everyone who helped make the kickoff a success. We are especially grateful to the 15 family-owned dairies that generously donated heifers, to Dr. Emily Waggoner for sharing her expertise and assisting with vaccinations and educational programming, and to Boehringer Ingelheim for generously donating the vaccines that will help keep this year’s calves healthy.
As the 52nd year of the SC 4-H Dairy Heifer Project begins, the committee looks forward to watching these young people grow alongside their heifers. Through hard work, dedication, and hands-on learning, participants will gain valuable skills in animal care, responsibility, and leadership while building friendships that will last a lifetime. Those relationships, along with the lessons learned throughout the year, are what make this project so special. This year’s participants are continuing a tradition that has been shaping South Carolina youth for more than five decades, and we cannot wait to see all they accomplish.
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. We are now taking volunteers to work shifts on Sunday, October 18 and Saturday, October 24. Please contact Becca Hedden at rthomp7@clemson.edu ASAP.
Salesforce:
Please be sure you are updating key fields in Salesforce. These include: the Extension Project, Program County/Work Location, Hours of Instruction/Contact Hours, and marking Program Events as “Complete.” Without this information entered, our reports will not show your hard work.
Service Milestones:
I would like to congratulate the following on their service milestones to Clemson University:
Chad Carter, Food Systems and Safety Program Team Charleston County Cooperative Extension Office, 10 years.
New Employees
Please help me welcome the newest members of our Extension family:
- Angie Sanders: Administrative Professional, Saluda County
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
- Horticulture Agent, Florence, JR-10188
- Rural Health Agent, Spartanburg, JR-10144
- Food Systems & Safety Agent, Charleston, JR-10180
- 4-H Agent, Beaufort, JR-10125
- Rural Health Agent, Orangeburg and Colleton Counties, JR-10126
- Food Systems & Safety Agent, Clemson, JR-10127
IN CLOSING …
As you read the stories in this issue, I hope you see a common thread: Extension’s impact begins with dedicated people committed to serving others. Whether mentoring youth, supporting producers, conducting applied research, or strengthening communities, your work reflects the very best of our land-grant mission. Thank you for your continued dedication, professionalism, and service. Together, we will continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of South Carolinians every day.
As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Cooperative Extension.
Go Tigers!
Upcoming Events and Reminders
- Please share your latest accomplishments, awards, publications and other newsworthy updates with Christi Leard ccampb3@clemson.edu to get in the Director’s Newsletter!
