Dear Extension Family,
As summer transitions into fall, I am reminded of the tremendous impact Clemson Cooperative Extension continues to make in communities across South Carolina. The stories highlighted in this month’s newsletter reflect the dedication, expertise, and passion our employees, volunteers, and partners bring to our mission every day.
From the remarkable service of our Master Gardener Volunteers and the outstanding accomplishments of youth participating in the Junior Beef Round-Up, Wildlife Habitat Education Program, and Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships, to the lifesaving work being led through our Agricultural Safety Program, these successes demonstrate the breadth and depth of Extension’s influence across our state. We also celebrate the national recognition earned by our Rural Health Team, the achievements of employees reaching service milestones, and the newest members joining our Extension family.
Each of these accomplishments tells a larger story about what happens when research-based education, community partnerships, and dedicated professionals come together to improve lives. Whether you serve South Carolina through agriculture, natural resources, youth development, family and consumer sciences, community development, or administrative support, your work matters and makes a difference.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Clemson Cooperative Extension and the people we serve. I hope you take pride in the accomplishments highlighted throughout this issue and in the collective impact we are making together.
Master Gardener Volunteers Extend Clemson’s Impact Across South Carolina
One of Clemson Cooperative Extension’s greatest strengths is the dedicated network of Master Gardener Volunteers who serve as trusted ambassadors of research-based horticultural education in communities across our state.
During the 2025-2026 reporting year (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), South Carolina Master Gardener Volunteers contributed an impressive 68,518 hours of service, reaching 217,148 adults and 37,002 youth through educational programs, community outreach, demonstration gardens, plant clinics, and other volunteer activities.
To put this contribution into perspective, the volunteer service provided by Master Gardeners is equivalent to the work of nearly 40 full-time Extension Agents.
Beyond the impressive numbers lies an even greater impact. Master Gardener Volunteers help connect South Carolinians with reliable, science-based horticultural information while fostering meaningful local relationships. In an age when information is readily available online, the value of trusted, knowledgeable volunteers engaging directly with community members cannot be overstated.
Their commitment helps ensure that Clemson Extension’s research and expertise remain accessible, relevant, and impactful in every corner of the state.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our Master Gardener Volunteers for their dedication, service, and passion. Their efforts continue to strengthen communities and enhance Clemson Extension’s mission of delivering research-based solutions that improve lives across South Carolina.
Thank you, Master Gardeners, for another outstanding year of service and impact!
Celebrating the 2026 South Carolina Junior Beef Round-Up
Clemson Extension proudly welcomed youth and their families to the 2026 South Carolina Junior Beef Round-Up (SCJBRU), held July 31–August 2 at the T. Ed Garrison Arena.
This year, 124 youth from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama participated, leading 168 head of cattle through the Garrison Arena over the three-day event. Youth competed in a variety of educational contests, including the Junior Cattlemen’s Contest, and demonstrated their skills in showmanship. A total of 13 educational scholarships were also awarded to deserving youth to support their continued education.
The success of SCJBRU would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and the proceeds from the silent and live auctions. We extend our sincere appreciation to the SCJBRU Advisory Committee, SCJBRU Implementation Team, South Carolina 4-H Agents, Clemson Extension Livestock & Forage Team, families, and alumni whose continued support makes this event possible year after year.
A special thank-you goes to the outstanding T. Ed Garrison Arena crew for their leadership and tireless behind-the-scenes efforts in helping make the 2026 Round-Up a success.
Congratulations to all of the youth who participated and thank you to everyone who helped make the 2026 South Carolina Junior Beef Round-Up a memorable and meaningful experience!
WHEP
The Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP), coordinated through Clemson Cooperative Extension and the South Carolina Master Naturalist Program, continues to prepare South Carolina youth for success in wildlife conservation, natural resource management, and environmental leadership. Since Extension reestablished the statewide competition in 2019 under the leadership of Mallory Maher, South Carolina Master Naturalist Program Coordinator, South Carolina teams have earned seven national championships, highlighting the strength of Extension’s youth education and educator development efforts.
This year’s National WHEP Championships, hosted in Myrtle Beach, brought together 18 teams from 15 states. Competitors participated in hands-on wildlife and habitat management challenges at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve, while also engaging in educational experiences that showcased South Carolina’s natural resources.
South Carolina students once again excelled on the national stage. Pendleton High School captured the national championship in the FFA Division, marking the state’s sixth consecutive FFA national title, while Pendleton’s Cooper Lindley was named the nation’s top individual competitor. The Governor’s School for Agriculture also represented South Carolina with a strong fifth-place finish in the 4-H Division.
Beyond competition, WHEP inspires future leaders in conservation, agriculture, and natural resources while demonstrating the power of partnerships among Clemson Extension, educators, volunteers, state agencies, and industry partners. These outstanding results reflect Clemson Extension’s continued commitment to developing the next generation of natural resource stewards and conservation professionals.
Congratulations to the students, coaches, volunteers, and Extension professionals whose dedication continues to position South Carolina as a national leader in wildlife education and conservation.
Congratulation to Rural Health Team for Winning Team Award at SR-PLN!!
The Clemson Extension Rural Health and Nutrition Program Team received the Team Award for Excellence in Extension at the Southern Region Program Leadership Network (SP-PLN) conference. Led by Rhonda Matthews, the 27-member team includes Extension agents, associates, and program coordinators dedicated to improving health outcomes in South Carolina’s rural communities.
Since its formation in 2018, the team has delivered more than 400 programs reaching over 10,000 participants statewide. Through evidence-based education, research, and community partnerships, the team addresses critical health issues including nutrition, physical activity, chronic disease prevention and management, food access, and maternal and infant health. The award recognizes the team’s collaborative approach and significant impact on the health and well-being of communities across South Carolina.
State Horse Show
From July 28th through August 2nd, 26 outstanding 4-H youth representing 10 South Carolina counties traveled to Perry, Georgia, to compete in the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships, facing top 4-H equestrians from 13 surrounding states.
Earning a place on the South Carolina delegation is an achievement, as competitors must qualify through state 4-H equestrian events to represent the Palmetto State at the Regional Championships. Once there, South Carolina’s youth rose to the challenge, demonstrating exceptional horsemanship, teamwork, sportsmanship, and equine knowledge throughout the week.
The 2026 Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships proved to be a successful event for South Carolina 4-H members, with participants earning numerous top 10 finishes across both riding events and knowledge competitions. These accomplishments are a testament to the dedication, perseverance, and countless hours of preparation invested by the youth, as well as the unwavering support of their families, coaches, volunteers, and Extension professionals. South Carolina 4-H proudly celebrates these young equestrians representing their counties and state with excellence and bringing home an impressive collection of regional honors.
Clemson Extension Expands Agricultural Safety Training Across South Carolina
Clemson Extension’s Agricultural Safety Program continues to play a critical role in protecting South Carolina’s agricultural community through specialized grain bin safety and rescue training. What began in 2019 as a youth-focused farm safety initiative has expanded to equip first responders with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to one of agriculture’s most dangerous emergencies: grain bin entrapment.
Led by Shelley Lovern, Agricultural Safety and AgrAbility Extension Associate, the program has trained more than 50 fire and rescue departments since 2023 through hands-on grain bin rescue simulations supported by the South Carolina Corn Board. These trainings provide first responders with practical experience using rescue equipment and responding to life-threatening entrapment scenarios that can occur on farms across the state.
The program’s impact is already evident. Following training and equipment acquisition, firefighters in Dillon County successfully responded to a grain bin entrapment incident earlier this year, demonstrating how preparation and partnerships can help save lives in rural communities.
As awareness grows, the program continues to identify critical equipment and training needs across the state. Through collaboration with commodity boards, emergency responders, and agricultural stakeholders, Clemson Extension is helping strengthen South Carolina’s capacity to respond to agricultural emergencies while advancing its commitment to farm safety, workforce preparedness, and community resilience.
The Agricultural Safety Program exemplifies how Extension education, partnerships, and applied training can make a lifesaving difference for South Carolina’s farmers and first responders.
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 18th and Saturday, October 24. Please contact Becca Hedden at rthomp7@clemson.edu.
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.”
This information must be entered for our reports to pull your data and show your hard work.
Service Milestones:
I would like to congratulate the following on their service milestones to Clemson University:
Puskar Khanal, Associate Professor of Forest Economics and Management, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Program Team, 10 years; Christi Leard: Extension Program Manager, 20 years, and Stephen Pohlman, Jr.: Area Forestry & Wildlife Agent: Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick and Saluda, 20 Years.
New Employees
Please help me welcome the newest members of our Extension family:
- Garrett Ulmer: Area Livestock and Forages Agent, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties
- Margaret Rigby: Administrative Assistant, T. Ed Garrison Arena and Expo Center
- Ayush Kumar: Mobile Food Safety Program Associate, Pendleton (not pictured)
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
- Greenwood 4-H Agent, JR-10512
- Barnwell, Bamberg, and Allendale 4-H Agent, JR-10534
- Aiken Rural Health Agent, JR-10349
- Food Safety Online Education, Marketing and HGIC Extension Associate, Clemson, JR-10363
- 4-H Agent, Beaufort, JR-10125
- Rural Health Agent, Orangeburg, JR-10126
IN CLOSING …
As I reflect on the accomplishments highlighted throughout this month’s newsletter, I am reminded of the tremendous impact Clemson Cooperative Extension has across South Carolina. From developing future leaders through 4-H and natural resource education programs, to supporting communities through volunteer service, agricultural safety, and health initiatives, our collective efforts continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to our land-grant mission. The successes celebrated in this issue are a direct reflection of the passion and hard work of our employees, volunteers, and partners across the state.
As we move into the fall season, I encourage you to take pride in these accomplishments and remain focused on the opportunities ahead. Working together, we will continue to strengthen communities, advance research-based solutions, and create lasting impact for South Carolina.
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
- Please share your latest accomplishments, awards, publications and other newsworthy updates with Christi Leard ccampb3@clemson.edu to get in the Director’s Newsletter!
