Author: ccampb3

Dear Extension Family,

I want to take a moment to follow up on the information shared in our January letter regarding the university’s expenditure pause and the ongoing planning efforts around the new financial model. As we closely monitor the situation. The CAFLS Leadership Team have met last two days to develop spending guidelines that will help you plan for future expenditures, travel, and hopefully answer a few of your questions. We are meeting on a daily basis and I will keep you updated. Our careful attention to spending, along with the ongoing efforts of the legislative affairs team, ensures that we are well-prepared for any changes.

As always, the most important thing we can do is stay focused on our mission: providing exceptional educational programs and supporting our stakeholders with valuable research and expertise. By doing so, we will not only weather this economic period but continue to grow and thrive.

On that note, I’m excited to share some of the great things happening in Extension! February and March have been incredibly busy months for our programs. One standout event was the 11th Annual South Carolina 4-H Engineering Challenge, held in February at the SC State Fairgrounds. This year’s event was the largest yet, with over 400 youth participants competing in a variety of hands-on STEM challenges. From rocketry and robotics to bridge-building and the Visual Arts Challenge, our youth demonstrated impressive skills and creativity. The event also included a STEM Expo with over 20 exhibitors, showcasing the diverse opportunities available for youth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Additionally, South Carolina 4-H Legislative Day in March was a huge success, with over 500 participants coming together to engage with state legislators. This event serves as a powerful introduction to civic engagement and highlights the impact of our 4-H programs in communities across the state. We were also excited to hear that legislation will soon allow school absences for 4-H and FFA events to be excused, providing even more opportunities for youth to participate in these valuable programs.

This past weekend, we successfully hosted the 2025 South Carolina 4-H Horse Program Hippology and Horse Judging Contest, as well as Forest Fest. As we move forward through the spring, there are several other exciting events to look forward to and participate in. These are great opportunities to get involved and share in the success of our Extension programs.

I am grateful for all the hard work and dedication you continue to show, and I want to assure you that we are all committed to keeping our financial footing steady as we move forward together. I will keep you informed of any significant updates as they arise.

Thank you for your continued service and leadership in your communities.

Engineering Challenge

On Tuesday, February 11, the South Carolina 4-H Youth Development STEM Committee held their annual Engineering Challenge: their 11^th and largest event yet. The event started in 2012 but skipped 2020 and 2021 due to COVID. Over the years, it has been held in various locations around the state but moved to the SC State Fairgrounds in 2019.  

This year, 402 individual youth ages 5 through 18 from 21 South Carolina counties registered to participate in at least one of the seven competitive challenges offered. Several hands-on challenges are available for youth ages 9 through 18 years old, and youth ages 5 through 8 are invited to participate in the Visual Arts Challenge. Some events are open to individuals and others are open to teams of two to four. In all, youth can compete in Visual Arts, Agriscience Poster, Coding, Rocketry, Robotics, Bridge-Building, or a Mystery Challenge. 

Sometimes, science and art meet in the middle. Through the Visual Arts Challenge, we hope to draw interest to STEAM fields using visually captivating artwork. This year’s theme was Agriculture. Youth submitted over 70 pieces of artwork in the categories of illustration, photography, and AI-generated artwork. 

The Agriscience Poster Challenge is modeled after an FFA event with the hopes of recruiting older participants. Each individual or pair designs and presents a scientific poster to illustrate experimental emersion, and their use of scientific principles and/or emerging technologies related to agriculture, food, or natural resources systems. There were five exceptional entries this year, the second year for this challenge. 

For the Coding Challenge, 16 youth designed a game or animation using Scratch computer coding that highlights how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in agriculture. Participants created their projects prior to the event and gave a brief presentation on the day of the event, explaining how AI is used in their game or digital animation. 

Youth participating in the Rocketry Challenge built and brought a rocket to launch with air power. The launch objective is to travel the greatest distance with an accuracy of +/- 5 degrees left or right of center. For the first time in recent Engineering Challenge history, our 11 teams launched their rockets indoors due to rain. In addition to their launch, youth made a presentation describing their design processes, materials, and challenges. 

The LEGO Robotics Challenge showcased work from 11 teams. Robots arrived preassembled but were programmed on site to meet the Challenge specifics throughout the competition. Teams were judged on robot design and successful programming, teamwork, and score at the competition table.

The Bridge Building Challenge proves to be a favorite each year. This year, a record 50 teams of two to four youth designed, constructed, and tested a truss-style bridge past the breaking point to determine which bridge could support the greatest weight. Bridges were constructed with a maximum 70 craft sticks and five, four-inch glue sticks in a time of 40 minutes. 

The Mystery Challenge is also a popular event. It requires no prior preparation but allows teams of two to four youth to work collaboratively and under pressure to accomplish the design engineering challenge. This year, 50 teams built air power vehicles and tested them to see which vehicle would travel the farthest distance. 

In addition to STEM-based challenges for youth competition, there was an interactive STEM Expo free to any participant or family member. Exhibitors offered hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) related activities and tabletop displays for visitors to browse between challenges. This is a great opportunity for exhibitors to advertise their opportunities for youth. This year, there were twenty STEM Expo exhibitors including booths from SCDNR, CAFLS, NOAA, Midlands Tech, SCORS, USC, and more. 

An event of this size wouldn’t be possible without help from agents from various program teams and 4-H volunteers from around the state. Over 40 volunteers helped with this year’s event, offering assistance as challenge facilitators, challenge judges, checking schools in at registration, distributing awards, and even serving lunch. In addition, special thanks to Engineering Challenge sponsors the C.H. and Anna E. Lutz Foundation from Chester, Google, the SC State Fair, and Mr. Eric Eliassen. All sponsorships go directly towards running the event.

South Carolina 4-H Youth Development works to prepare youth to become beyond ready for life after 4-H by providing opportunities to spark their interests and environments for them to thrive with a goal is to develop healthy, productive, and engaged adults. Youth that participate in this event report increased confidence and knowledge in science skill. The 4-H Engineering Challenge is coordinated by Clemson Cooperative Extension through 4-H Youth Development. 4-H is the largest youth development organization in the nation and is implemented by land-grant universities across the county, dating back to 1902.  Here in South Carolina, 4-H is offered through Clemson University and South Carolina State University. Clemson has Extension offices in all 46 counties across the state. If you are not already involved in 4-H in your home county, we highly recommend you reach out to your local Extension Office after this event and see what programs are available in your area!   

4-H Legislative Day

South Carolina 4-H Legislative Day provides 4-H members a unique opportunity to promote the South Carolina 4-H program to elected state officials. Participants share their personal 4-H stories with legislators and discuss the benefits of their local Clemson University Cooperative Extension programming in their home communities. County 4-H delegations make appointments with their representatives, senators, or legislative aides to discuss how the South Carolina 4-H program has impacted their lives. Many counties take time to visit the SC Department of Agriculture, tour the State House, and watch proceedings from the House and Senate chamber balconies as well.

On March 11, 2025, over 500 participants (495 pre-registered with Clemson Extension; 83 attendees from SC State) painted the State House green as they assembled on the north steps for a ceremony and words of encouragement from State 4-H Teen Council and Representative Patrick Haddon of Greenville. A new addition to the ceremony this year was county roll call where a 4-H’er from each county delegation had a county-shaped 4-H sign to hold up as their delegation waved and cheered. The highlight of the ceremony was the announcement by Representative Haddon that legislation will soon be passed allowing school absences for 4-H and FFA events to be excused.

This event serves as a crucial introduction to civic engagement for many participants. It may be their first interaction with legislators and the state government system, potentially sparking future careers in legislative offices, executive agencies, or advocacy groups. South Carolina 4-H is proud to provide this opportunity to make the best better and prepare our youth to become beyond ready for life.

The 2025 South Carolina 4-H Hippology and Horse Judging Contest was held March 28-29 in Clemson, SC

Hippology was on Friday, March 28^th and is a multi-part contest where youth take an exam, answer slide

based questions, answer questions in a physical station format and participate in a team problem where their team is tasked with a situation, and they must provide a solution to the problem to a panel of judges. We had over 50 youth ages 9-18 compete this year. The next day, the youth then judged 4 live judging classes to wrap up the contest.  Our Top 8 seniors were invited to be a part of the South Carolina 4-H Educational State Team where they will compete in multiple regional and national level contests. 

Horse Judging was on Saturday March 29^th at the Garrison Arena. We hosted 4-H and FFA teams from all over the state to compete in placing 8 different classes of horses and gave reasons on 2-4 classes on why they placed the class the way they did and defend their reasoning. We had over 150 youth that day and they judged classes ranging from Ranch Riding to Tennessee Walking Horse Park Pleasure and Hunter in Hand and Warmblood in Hand. Again, the Top 8 seniors were invited to be a part of the South Carolina 4-H Educational State Team where they will compete in multiple regional and national level contests.

We hosted officials from all over the state and region to share their expertise and be a part of giving our youth a fantastic experience in the contest. These officials are members of the equine industry who have support judging contests all over the nation. We were thrilled to have them join us. 

Additionally, the Harvey S. Peeler School of Veterinary Medicine provided multiple members of the faculty to assist as judges for both contests and additionally partially sponsored our lunch for the contestants. 

South Carolina Farm Bureau provided additional funds to cover the cost of lunch.

#WeRideTogether sponsored gifts for every exhibitor.

YEDA sponsored some of our awards.

The Elizabeth Buist Memorial Fund sponsored our monetary awards for our winners in each contest.

The Clarence W. Senn ’34 Memorial Fund sponsored plaques that were given to each winner.

The South Carolina Horse Council additionally sponsored awards for our contest. 

2025 Forest Fest

Forest Fest, held on March 29, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM, was a successful community event co-coordinated by Dr. Betty Baldwin, a PRTM professor, and Patricia Whitener, 4-H Natural Resource Program Leader. The festival took place along the scenic 4-mile Issaqueena Lake Rd. and attracted approximately 517 visitors, including 73 volunteers. The event featured 28 activity stations, offering a wide variety of interactive learning experiences for all ages, centered around forestry, wildlife, and environmental stewardship.

Food for the event was provided by Simpell Sammies food truck, while live bluegrass music was performed by Tiger Town Roots, a student band from the Brooks Performing

Arts Center. The event brought together a diverse group of participants and organizations, including Extension staff, Clemson students, local partners, and community volunteers. These included representatives from Water Resources, Rural Health, 4-H, School and Community Gardening, Ag Services, the SCBG, the Soils Lab, and CAFLS (including FEC students and faculty). Other contributors included student clubs like MANRRS and Students for

Sustainability, as well as groups such as SC Master Naturalists, CORE, SCDNR, the SC Forestry Commission, and the Anderson Soil & Water Conservation District.

The purpose of Forest Fest was to strengthen relationships with local partners, promote skill-building through collaborative learning, explore career paths in natural resources, and engage participants in

hands-on educational activities. The event highlighted the wonders of forests and provided an opportunity to foster connections between Clemson University and the surrounding Upstate communities.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a customer relationship management software that also serves as Clemson Extension’s reporting system

Helpful Tips:

• Please bookmark the Salesforce link https://clemson.my.salesforce.com
• Eventbrite syncs with Salesforce once a day. Each team has their own accounts and policies for Eventbrite, please contact your PTD should you have questions.   If your programs are missing 48 hours after the event is created, please contact Becca Hedden at rthomp7@clemson.edu.  Remember, you may search on the Program Events tab for events under other users’ ownership.
• You may add a Team Member to an Interaction or a Program Event.  To do so, create the interaction and save and then view the interaction. Once you scroll you will see a box for “Team Members” where you can add assisting users.   For program events, view the Details tab on Program Event record and you can add an assisting user as well.  You may also run a report to view records you have been added as a Team Member on.
• Check out the “Agent Reports” folder on the Reports tab.  In this folder you will find a number of reports you may find helpful. You may clone these reports and save a copy under your name to make edits and learn how the reports work.  Please feel free to contact the Advisory team should you need assistance or would like to request a report.

Service Milestones:
I would like to congratulate the following on their service milestones to Clemson University:

• Miracle Rabon, Horry County 4-H Youth Development Agent, 10 years

Congratulations!

• T.J. Savereno was awarded the South Carolina Vegetation Management Association Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 South Carolina Vegetation Management Annual Conference. The SCVMA Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for individuals who have contributed substantially to advance the vegetation management industry in South Carolina. Thank you to Terasa Lott for the highlight!
• Mallory Maher has embraced her new position and was highlighted in OurClemson. https://news.clemson.edu/clemson-extension-names-new-coordinator-for-sc-master-naturalist-program/?utm_campaign=our-clemson&utm_medium=email&utm_source=emma&utm_term=2025 She oversees six host sites across the state – Upstate, Catawba, Midlands, Winyah, Charleston and Lowcountry.

New Employees 

• Mike Windhorn: Area Forest and Natural Resources Agent, Dorchester Office 
• Lauren Smith: 4-H Youth Development Agent, Laurens County 
• Shannon Seegers: Statewide Program Coordinator for the South Carolina Master Gardener Volunteer Program

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, Dorchester Extension Office, 109608
• Administrative Assistant, Bishopville Extension Office, 109609

IN CLOSING …

In closing, I want to thank you all for your continued dedication to Clemson Cooperative Extension. As we navigate through this period of careful financial planning, your hard work and commitment to our mission remain vital to our success. With exciting events ahead and new opportunities to engage with our communities, I’m confident that we will continue to grow and thrive together. I look forward to keeping you updated and appreciate everything you do to support our programs and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Thank you for all that you do, and here’s to an exciting and successful spring ahead!

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

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/events/index.html

• This year’s Spring Plant Sale is scheduled for April 4-5 and will feature a variety of plants, including hard-to-find native species, seasonal annuals and vegetable transplants. Early access to the Plant Sale begins April 4 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for Friends of the Garden and is open to the public April 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dear Extension Family,

I know that all of you have heard about the Clemson University Expenditure SLOWDOWN and all the turmoil on the federal level with Executive order slowing down spending. The University’s expenditure slowdown is a request from Provost Jones to get a gut check on the state of the economic status of the university. As you know, the Provost’s office has been studying and planning to implement a new financial model for the university. The RBB model is a budgeting tool that will be used to build the university’s budget. For a smooth transition to this model, we must have an accurate account of our current budget situation. The other factor that is driving this spending slowdown is the university’s bond rating. We have a very good bond rating however, our Clemson University Board of Trustees want to ensure we have a better bond rating.  As you know, Clemson University has enjoyed unprecedented growth over the pass several years where most universities have had a downturn in growth. With the addition of the new Harvey Peeler College of Veterinary Medicine and numerous other building projects, we need to make sure we are on a solid financial path that will allow us to continue to grow. 

The rumor mill is full of half-truths, and you need to know the facts. Clemson University Cooperative Extension Budget is in GREAT shape. We have not received any cuts from the state or current federal budgets. We have watched our spending, and we have plans to implement our bonus plan. We had a great budget hearing with the house subcommittee and will present to the senate on Wednesday. I am concerned about what is going on in Washington, but our legislative affairs office is monitoring that situation and if anything changes, we will inform you.

We will continue to monitor all spending and will ask for justification on major purchases as we have always done. In state travel should be continued as usual, out of state travel must have a justification as we have always requested. 

What you can do to help the University with this slowdown is to do your job. The best thing that will help us in an economic slowdown is to produce the outstanding, educational programs that you always have, assist our stakeholders with research fact-based information, be available to our stakeholders and be true servant leaders in your community. If you do these things our budget will continue to grow on the local, state and federal levels. 

Let me worry about the budget and you worry about how you can serve your stakeholders better. I pledge to you that your administrative leadership team is working every day to stay on top of the budget situation and making sure that we are on sound financial footing. If anything changes, I will make sure that you are made aware of these changes. The work you  do is valuable to the economic growth of our communities and our state. I want to thank you for all you do to keep the Extension brand in the forefront and growing. 

Welcome Dr. Maria Bowie, Director of the Extension Center for Health Outreach!

Maria Bowie, DrPH, began her role as Director of the Extension Center for Health Outreach on January 1. Previously, Dr. Bowie worked with University of Georgia Extension where she served as a grant & project specialist on the Athens Campus. Her recent efforts address emergency preparedness, farm and rural stress, opioid misuse prevention, and vaccine education. Maria completed her doctorate in public health in 2020 and has a master’s in public administration and bachelor’s in education. She worked with UGA Extension for over 26 years in a variety of roles, including serving as a 4-H/youth development Extension agent, UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences marketing and communications director, Walk Georgia program director, employee recruitment and internship coordinator, and grant management specialist. Maria and her husband Brent have three children – Alex, 18, Spencer, 21, and Emily, 25, who all live in Athens. Maria and Brent have relocated to Westminster and are excited to be new SC residents. Dr. Bowie’s email address is mbbowie@clemson.edu and her office phone number is 864-646-2183. She was recently featured in The Stacked Keys podcast, where she shared about her career path and leadership values.

The 2025 Joint Cooperative Extension Conference

South Carolina’s two land-grant institutions—South Carolina State and Clemson University—are thrilled to host the 2025 Joint Cooperative Extension Conference in the vibrant capital city of Columbia. February 12-14 at the Columbia Convention Center. Please see website for more information:

 https://www.clemson.edu/extension/conference/

Remember the service project!

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/conference/service-project.html

SC FaSC Farmer & Agribusiness Association Hosts Annual Convention 

The Hyatt Regency Downtown Greenville was the host site for the 2025 SC Farmer & Agribusiness Association’s annual convention on January 24-25. The convention provides educational workshops for both farmers, agribusiness people, & agriculture teachers. Collaborating with Extension agents, college instructors, & agribusiness experts, the convention is an all-inclusive learning experience for its attendees. In addition, the convention celebrates the achievements of its members. With awards for crop production, energy efficiency, conservation, & specialty agriculture ventures, the Association promotes achievement in all aspects of agriculture. This year, Evan Streeter was named Farmer of the Year by the Association. Streeter, a first-generation farmer, operates

Streeter Heritage Farms in Chester County, where he raises heritage breed swine. He is a member of the Fort Mill Farmer & Agribusiness Association chapter. Sponsored by Farm Credit, the award recognizes those farmers who have maintained accurate records, quality standards, & humane practices. SC Farmer & Agribusiness Association is an entity of SC Agricultural Education. Local chapters are operated throughout the state via local Agricultural Education programming in middle & high schools with Agriculture programs. For more information, visit https://www.clemson.edu/extension/scaged/sc-farmer-agribusiness-association/index.html or contact Lee Petitgout, Executive Director, at lpetitg@clemson.edu 

2025 Clemson University Cooperative Extension Bull Test Sale Recap

Lindsey Craig, Director of Livestock Improvement Programs

The 49^th Annual Clemson University Cooperative Extension Bull Test Sale was held February 1^st, 2025, at the T. Ed Garrison Arena. The sale was one for the record books. We had our highest sale average ever at $6,975. 51 bulls sold for a total of $355,750 in sales. The sale ring was packed with bidders and the online and phone bids were major contributors to the success of the sale. This year’s set of bulls were some of the most complete, industry genetic leading bulls that we have ever had. We sold bulls with the help of DV Auction who handled our online bidding, and we had bidders from across the country. Bidders were from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Nebraska, Iowa, Tennessee. Bulls went home to South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Iowa. We would like to thank both the consigners for sending phenomenal bulls to test along with buyers who continue to have confidence in the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service Bull Testing Program. 

Our highest selling bull was lot 26, an angus bull consigned by Berry Wells Farm (Johnathon Wells) from Rayle, Georgia. Mr. Frank Howey from Ruby, SC purchased the bull for $24,500. This was one of 5 bulls Mr. Howey bought on sale day. Lot 26 was a true standout in this year’s test. He took home awards for highest ADG at 6.7lbs, WDA at 4.23 lbs and Highest Index at 185.4. Bull 26 was an Elite bull with 4 EPDs in the top 1% of the breed with another 3 EPDs in the top 2% for the breed. He weighed off test at an impressive 1782lbs and was over 2100lbs on sale day.  

Our second highest bull was lot 70 a SimAngus bull consigned by Owens Family Farm, Steve Owens from Whitaker, NC. Mr. Frank Howey also bought bull 70 for $13,000. This impressive bull had a blaze face partnered with a set of impressive EPDs and was another Elite bull for our test. Lot 70 had several growth traits in the top 5% or higher of the breed and had a negative RFI meaning he will add efficient weight to his offspring. 

Our third highest selling bull was lot 23, an angus bull from Allgood Angus, Jamie Allgood, from Athens, GA.  Mr. Frank Howey again purchased this bull for $12,000. Bull 23 was another Elite bull with outstanding EPDs several of which were in the top 10% or better for the breed. Lot 23 was another negative RFI bull, so his efficiency and growth characteristics are going to be beneficial traits to pass down to his offspring. 

Our breed averages are as follows.

Angus average: $7482 (28 Angus bulls sold)

Red Angus Average: $4,666 (3 Red Angus bulls sold)

Hereford Average: $5656 (8 Hereford bulls sold)

Simmental Average: $7250 (3 Simmental bulls sold)

SimAngus Average: $7785 (7 SimAngus bulls sold)

Balancer Average: $5250 (1 Balancer bull sold)

Ultrablack Average: $5500 (1 Ultrablack bull sold)

Once again, on behalf of Clemson University, the Cooperative Extension Service as well as the Clemson Bull Test program, we thank our consignors, buyer’s and bidders for their dedication in breed improvement and excellence in genetic advancement within the beef industry! The confidence each of you has in the Clemson Bull Testing Program is humbling and appreciated.  

The 49^th Annual Sale was sold by Col. Dale Stith of Mays Lick, Kentucky. Ring men were Mr. Paul Wall of Athens GA, Mr. Michael Ryan of Townville SC and Mr. David Gazda of the American Angus Association. These four gentlemen are true professionals, and we thank them for a job well done. With all the sale enthusiasm these guys never missed a bid. Thank you, gentlemen! Please mark your calendars for the first Saturday in February 2026 for another powerful offering of industry improving bulls.

Ag Safety: Great Job on Trainings!

On Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, the Ag Safety Program received a call that a gentleman was entrapped in grain to his waist in a bin in Dillon County and they were in need of additional rescue panels. Through training other departments in the area, the program knew that Howe Springs Fire Department had additional panels. The program contacted Howe Springs, and the panels were dispatched to Dillon County. Once on scene, the additional panels were used to complete the wall around the victim, and the grain was removed. After safely rescuing the victim, he was airlifted to the hospital where he was then later discharged that evening. Thanks to training provided bythe Agricultural Safety Team, Dillon

County Fire and Rescue was equipped with the knowledge and the tools to respond quickly and efficiently.   The collaborative effort between Dillon County Fire and Rescue and Howe Springs Fire Department, along with the crucial support from the Agricultural Safety Program, helped ensure that the operation was carried out efficiently and with minimal risk to the victim. A very special thank you to Hunter Massey and Shelley Lovern for their dedicated efforts.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a customer relationship management software that also serves as Clemson Extension’s reporting system

Helpful Tips:

• Please bookmark the Salesforce link https://clemson.my.salesforce.com
• Eventbrite syncs with Salesforce once a day. Each team has their own accounts and policies for Eventbrite, please contact your PTD should you have questions.   If your programs are missing 48 hours after the event is created, please contact Becca Hedden at rthomp7@clemson.edu.  Remember, you may search on the Program Events tab for events under other users’ ownership.
• You may add a Team Member to an Interaction or a Program Event.  To do so, create the interaction and save and then view the interaction. Once you scroll you will see a box for “Team Members” where you can add assisting users.   For program events, view the Details tab on Program Event record and you can add an assisting user as well.  You may also run a report to view records you have been added as a Team Member on.
• Check out the “Agent Reports” folder on the Reports tab.  In this folder you will find a number of reports you may find helpful. You may clone these reports and save a copy under your name to make edits and learn how the reports work.  Please feel free to contact the Advisory team should you need assistance or would like to request a report.

Service Milestones

I would like to congratulate the following on their service milestones to Clemson University:

• Amanda Smith, Administrative Coordinator, 10 Years
• Michael McManus, District Extension Director, 30 Years
• Justin Ballew, Fruit and Vegetable Research Associate, 10 Years

New Employees 

Please help me welcome the newest members of our Extension family:

• Camilla Herndon: Rural Health & Nutrition Agent, Greenville County 
• Stevie Griffen: 4-H Agent, Williamsburg County
• Talithia (Ty) Jolley, 4H Agent, Pickens County 
• Tess Moody: Extension Associate for Natural Resources Program Team, TEACH Center Charleston
• Molly Jones: Area Water Resource Agent for Natural Resources Program Team, Dorchester office in Saint George, covering Dorchester, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper, Allendale, Beaufort, Bamberg, Barnwell, Aiken, and Edgefield Counties

Onboarding

In addition to HR Orientation, Clemson Extension now offers an Onboarding course for all Extension Professionals.  The course is housed in canvas and should be completed at the participant’s own pace.  The course will be available to be referenced at any time after enrollment for the duration of employment with Clemson University.

Please Note: Existing Extension Professionals who wish to be enrolled in the course may request to be added here.

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

• Urban Horticulture Agent, Union, 109527

University Awareness Month

• Check out what events are happening in Extension and the University: https://calendar.clemson.edu
• February topic: Financial Wellness Webinars (prioritizing finances for young families, retirement planning across generations and an introduction to tax planning)  https://emma-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/9mveb/fe3ef6ee11dcdd2b03f6ac087a849af9/Financial_Wellness_Webinars_February.pdf

IN CLOSING …

As we move forward into February, let us continue the great work that defines Clemson University Cooperative Extension. Thank you for your dedication and hard work. Your commitment to our stakeholders, communities, and the Extension mission is vital as we navigate these challenges together. Remember, we’re all in this together, and by staying focused on what we do best, we can continue to thrive and grow. I look forward to the successes we will continue to achieve this year, and I am confident that, with your continued efforts, we will remain a strong and resilient force for positive change in 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

• February 12-14: 2025 Joint Cooperative Extension Conference
• April 23 – 25: South Carolina Association of Extension Administrative Professionals Conference
• October 8 – 19: SC State Fair

Dear Extension Family,

As we embrace the changing of seasons this October, we have much to celebrate and reflect on. From our successful presence at the State Fair to the outstanding representation at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, the past month has been full of opportunities to showcase the impactful work we do every day in communities across South Carolina. This month’s Director’s Letter highlights these events, as well as exciting updates on new staff, training opportunities, and service milestones. I am proud to share these achievements with you and express my deep appreciation for your continued dedication to Clemson Cooperative Extension.

State Fair:

This year’s State Fair proudly celebrated all 46 counties of South Carolina, highlighting the unique qualities and distinct characteristics that each county brings to our vibrant state. 

As we reflect on this year’s success, we’re already gearing up for next year’s State Fair, which is scheduled for October 8 through October 19. We look forward to continuing to celebrate the remarkable work of our program teams in 2025. 

Sunbelt Ag Expo, Moultrie, GA

2024 provided for yet another outstanding year at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA.  From ag exhibits and simulators, food safety demonstrations, to Madagascar hissing cockroaches, the 2024 Clemson building truly had something for everyone – from students to hobbyists to professionals.  Thanks to special funding from Extension administration, the 2024 Clemson building featured several updates and improvements including the addition of a porch and concrete pad. These updates were certainly noticed and appreciated by many, including Sunbelt Executive Director, Chip Blalock, who made it a point to stop by on the opening day!

Each member of the Clemson Sunbelt team did a phenomenal job and devoted numerous hours ensuring our building would be amazing in 2024.  Aside from representing Clemson at the Expo with their exhibits, our Sunbelt team members spent weeks in preparation, transport, set-up, and tear-down.  The same thing can be said for Hunter Massey and the Ag Mech students that travel to Clemson.  Thank you to each of you for all your efforts.  For those who have interest in participating in the 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo exhibit, please reach out to Millie Davenport or Brian Callahan.  

The 2024 Sunbelt Ag Expo Farmer of the Year was Ty Woodard of Woodard Farms in Darlington, SC, and was nominated by David DeWitt.  Ty and his wife, Tracy, did a truly wonderful job of representing farming, family, and agriculture for our state.  It was truly an honor for our entire team to get to work with them and know them a little bit better this year.  To learn more details about Woodard Farms, check out the official press release at https://sunbeltexpo.com/2024-farmer-of-the-year-ty-woodard-south-carolina/.  Special thanks to David DeWitt for serving as the nominator for our 2024 Sunbelt Farmer of the Year.  We are already brainstorming nominees for the 2025 Sunbelt Farmer of the Year program.  For anyone interested in potentially making a nomination, please feel free to reach out the Brian Callahan for more information.  
Special thanks to the Millie Davenport for coordinating the building and so many of the small details that come along with it.  Thank you as well to Extension and CAFLS administration for the continued financial investment in Sunbelt activities, and to Dr. Dobbins, Dr. Privette and Dean Holt for visiting the Sunbelt Ag Expo.    
Go Tigers!
Brian Callahan

5 K Day at the Union County Agricultural Fair

In 1996, Union County Clemson Extension Office started the 5K Day at the Union County Agricultural Fair and we have continued that tradition since. 5K Day is designed to teach kindergarten students about agriculture and how our food is produced. The program has grown throughout the year, and we are fortunate to be able to offer this to all the kindergarten classes in Union County. In total we have all 4 elementary schools attend the program. Each year we have between 250 to 300 kindergarten students attend the program, along with chaperones and volunteers.  

Each class rotates through nine stations where they spend five minutes learning about the specific agricultural commodity. The stations consist of beef cows, dairy cows, goats, horses, chickens, rabbits, bees, and crops. The crops station focuses on cotton, corn, soybeans, and vegetables that are planted by the Union Clemson Extension Office as a demonstration garden for the fair.  

This program would not be possible without the help of agents from neighboring counties and several local volunteers.

Salesforce:

Helpful Tips:

• Please bookmark the salesforce link https://clemson.my.salesforce.com
• You may add a Team Member to an Interaction or a Program Event.  To do so, create the interaction and save and then view the interaction. Once you scroll you will see a box for “Team Members” where you can add assisting users.   For program events, view the Details tab on Program Event record and you can add an assisting user as well.
• Please see the “Agent Activity – EPMS Summary” for a snapshot of your activities.  You may clone this report and save it to make edits and learn how the report works.

The Salesforce Advisory Group continues to host office hours on Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. via https://clemson.zoom.us/j/96691555805?from=addon

Service Milestones:

I would like to congratulate the following on their service milestones to Clemson University:

• Terri Sumpter, Sumter County 4-H Youth Development Agent, 30 Years
• Becca Hedden, Reporting and Staff Development Coordinator, 10 Years

Congratulations!        

Becca Hedden graduated in the fourth cohort of CU Grow participants!

Project: Civil Rights Compliance Course – A collaboration between Clemson Cooperative Extension Service and CU Online for all Extension staff to complete that will enhance staff knowledge and awareness of civil rights compliance.

New Employees 

Please help me welcome the newest members of our Extension family:

• Robert Carter: Forestry & Wildlife Agent, Kershaw County 
• Cateya Davis: Administrative Assistant, Abbeville County 
• Allie Trotter: 4-H Agent, Greenwood County 
• Toni Heriot: 4-H Agent, Kershaw and Lee Counties
• Dr. Maria Bowie: Director of Extension Center for Health Outreach Center (ECHO)
• Katie Silver: livestock and Forages Agent, Aiken and Edgefield Counties
• Mallory Fulmer: 4-H Youth Development Agent, Newberry 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

• South Carolina Botanical Garden Visitor Services Assistant Manager, Clemson, 109366
• Extension Wildlife Damage Associate, Clemson, 109367
• 4-H Agent, Charleston County, 109420
• Forest & Natural Resource Agent, Dorchester County, 109419
• Extension Wildlife Damage Specialist, Extension Assistant Professor, Clemson, 109411
• 4-H Youth Development Agent, Laurens, 109381
• Extension Educator, Climate Smart, Florence, 109382
• Horticulture Agent, Sumter, 109281
• Account & Fiscal Analyst, Sandhill REC- Columbia, 109418

IN CLOSING …

Thank you for your tireless commitment to Extension’s mission and the communities we serve. Whether you’re preparing for the next event, engaging with stakeholders, or celebrating milestones, your work is vital and truly appreciated. Please take time to rest and recharge as we head into the remainder of the year and continue making a difference in the lives of those around you. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the coming months.As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Cooperative Extension.

Dear Extension Family, 

I want to thank you all for your dedication and passion for Extension work. This became very clear during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. I have witnessed our folks helping their neighbors and our stakeholders, as well as working with other agencies to assist however we could to help our communities get through this catastrophic event. This is what we do, this is who we are, this is our mission to help our communities to become better to get through tough times. Once we get through this, we will assess what we did, how we did it, and how to improve what we do. I could not be prouder of our folks- thank you! 

The beginning of Fall is always a busy time for us – fairs, harvest, Sunbelt Expo, Extension Programs of all types and planning for 2025. It seems like an Extension Agent, Associate and Specialists work is never ending. We will have teams at Sunbelt Expo, SC State Fair, and the National FFA Convention. At the same time, we will have teams determining the economic cost to our stakeholders of Hurricane Helene. However, in all this time of work, we need to remember our families and reflect on what is most important in our lives. We need to take time and reflect on how we balance our lives and how we make the “Best, Better”. 

State Fair:

The State Fair begins Wednesday, October 9 through Sunday, October 20.  The Clemson Cooperative Extension Booth is located in the Ellison Building.  If you are working in the booth, please know the fair has a clear bag policy and we will be providing light refreshments.  If you would like to work a shift or have any questions, please contact Becca Hedden at rthomp7@clemson.edu.  

University NDEAM Disability Awareness Month:

Oct 9 – accessible design with Canva, Adobe Express, and Friends (also refer readers to other events listed on website): https://calendar.clemson.edu/search/events?event_types%5B%5D=128818

New Accessibility portal website launched with digital accessibility resources: https://www.clemson.edu/accessibility/digital/index.html  

Salesforce: 

Updates from Matt/Becca in addition to below training dates 

We have in-person Salesforce trainings for districts coming up on the following dates: 

• Midlands: Friday, September 27 at the Lexington County Extension Office (Will be rescheduled soon) 

• Savannah Valley: Thursday, November 7 at TEACH Center in Charleston 

• Piedmont: Wednesday, December 4 at Anderson Extension Office 

The Salesforce Advisory Group continues to host office hours on Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. via zoom at https://clemson.zoom.us/j/96691555805?from=addon

Service Milestones: 

I would like to congratulate the following on their service milestones to Clemson University:

Christopher LeMaster, Area Livestock and Forages Agent for Spartanburg and Union Counties, 10 years; and Jennifer Weaver, Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator Lexington and Aiken Counties, 10 years.

Congratulations to Ben Boyles! 

I would like to congratulate Ben Boyles for being a recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for their Reciprocal Exchange. 

“The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders—the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)—was created in 2014 to invest in the next generation of African leaders. The Reciprocal Exchange component provides U.S. citizens with the opportunity to build upon strategic partnerships and professional connections developed during the Fellowship through collaborative projects with Fellowship Alumni. As a Reciprocal Exchange Participant, you have the unique opportunity to implement a co-designed project with Stephane Okou and Sosthene Auguste Guei that will help you form lasting partnerships, expand markets and networks, and increase mutual understanding between the United States and Africa.  

Congratulations again on being selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange component. We look forward to hearing about the results of your collaboration with your Fellowship Alumni Collaborator.  

Sincerely,  

The Mandela Washington Fellowship Team” 

He will be heading to Africa in about a month. 

New Employees:

Please help me welcome the newest members of our Extension family: 

• Savannah McKenzie: Administrative Assistant, Georgetown County  

• Nicole Goodman: Urban Horticulture Agent, Spartanburg County  

• Mallory Maher: Master Naturalist Program Coordinator and Natural Resources Extension Associate 

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  

• Agriculture/Forestry Associate, Clemson, 109320 

• Natural Resources Extension Associate, Charleston, 109326 

• Food Systems and Safety Agent, Berkeley, 109327 

• Area Water Resources Agent, Bamberg, 108889 

• Office Assistant, Colleton, 109301 

• Horticulture Agent, Sumter, 109281 

• Nutrition Educator, Greenville, 109272 

• Nutrition Educator, Richland, 109268 

• Nutrition Educator, Williamsburg, 109267 

• 4-H Agent, Greenwood, 108760 

• Area Agronomic Agent, Kershaw, 109211 

• Forest Management Specialist, Various Counties, 109167 

IN CLOSING … 

We would like to congratulate and welcome Dr. John Andrae named as the director of Edisto REC. As he transitions into his new role, we in Extension will support him in any way possible as he continues to improve Edisto REC for our stakeholders. 

Clemson names Andrae director of Edisto REC 

As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Cooperative Extension.