Month: February 2022

Meet our 2021-2022 Laurens County 4-H Teen Council! The Laurens County 4-H Teen Council, comprised of 4-Hers from ages 12-18, represents 4-Hers from their clubs and/or projects and plan county events and other initiatives.  The Council is a channel of communication among 4-Hers, extension agents, and volunteers.  The Council promotes all that is in the best interests of the 4-H members and will encourage leadership, citizenship, and life skills.  The goal of Council is to promote a positive learning experience for all Laurens County 4-H youth.

Since their first meeting in October, the Laurens County 4-H Teen Council has been hard at work promoting and bettering the Laurens County 4-H Program. All Teen Council members manned the Laurens County 4-H booth at Squealin’ on the Square in Downtown Laurens on October 2^nd, 2021, to spread awareness of the Laurens County 4-H Program. They planned a County Holiday Party for the Laurens County 4-Her’s to enjoy a night of holiday movies and crafts. We also plan to volunteer at the Palmetto Equestrian Therapeutic Riding Program in Clinton, South Carolina and assist providing educational and recreational opportunities for individuals with various disabilities.

The Laurens County 4-H Teen Council have plans to make the most of their leadership experience for the 2021-2022 year! See photos to meet the members of the Laurens County 4-H Teen Council.

            Kaleigh Porter                           Charlotte Crowe                             Olivia Lyda     

                 Allison Jewell

Elizabeth (Beth) Edwards-Morelock / EFNEP

Beth Edwards-Morelock’s love for Extension and the services they provide began while working in the Lexington County and Saluda County offices as an Administrative Assistant. She earned an associate degree in Health Sciences from Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, SC. Over the course of her career, she has also worked in family practice offices as a Medical Assistant.  She loves gardening and is a Certified Master Gardener.

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is aimed at providing practical, hands-on nutrition education. EFNEP delivers nutrition education in four core areas: diet quality and physical activity, food resource management, food safety, and food security.

EFNEP includes programming to a diverse audience of children, youth, adults, and families with limited financial resources and who are eligible for Food Assistance programs such as WIC, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), AFDC, or Head Start.

You may reach Beth by calling the Laurens County Extension Office or contact Beth directly at 864-980-3584 or ekedwar@clemson.edu .

South Carolina Miss 4-H Pageant

The Laurens County 4-H Program invites you to attend the South Carolina Miss 4-H Pageant. The South Carolina Miss 4-H Pageant is not just a beauty pageant.  4-Her’s from across the state compete in four divisions: business attire, 4-H project wear, formal attire, and onstage question.  Two of these divisions are aimed directly at 4-H.  The 4-H project wear division allows the contestants to show off their 4-H project of choice and their passion.  During the onstage question, contestants are asked age-appropriate questions about 4-H and/or their 4-H experience.  The older youth also participate in an interview that allows the judges to learn more about each contestant’s unique 4-H experience and how it has impacted their lives. The judges score the contestants on poise, stage presence, public speaking skills, personality, and confidence. 4-H involvement is also accounted into the score. The pageant is held annually in an effort to raise funds for the Laurens County 4-H Program.  All funds raised will go to support 4-H clubs, programs, and leadership opportunities in Laurens County 4-H.

This event is open to the public and we encourage you to attend this event! The pageant is taking place on Saturday, February 5^th, 2022, at 1:00PM at Clinton High School. Tickets are $5.00 each and children under 3 years old enter for free. Doors open at 12:30PM!

We hope to see you there!

Laurens County 4-H Achievement Banquet

Mark your calendars! The Laurens County 4-H Achievement Banquet will be held on March 24th, 2022, at 6:00PM at the Hollow Oak Barn in Cross Hill, South Carolina. Dinner will be provided.

Tickets are $5 for general admission and $1 for Laurens County 4-H Members. Tickets are available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laurens-county-4-h-achievement-banquet-tickets-253099275747, at the Laurens County Extension Office, or through club leaders.

Livestock record books are due on January 31st, 2022. For those that submit record books, you are eligible for the outstanding junior and senior award. The top three junior and senior record book participants will be contacted and schedule an interview on March 2nd, 2022. The Outstanding Cloverbud award must be through nomination and nomination form is found in the competition guide.

All portfolios, resumes, and cover letters submitted for awards are due at the Laurens County Extension Office on March 2nd, 2022.

Awards for the Laurens County Presentation Contest will be announced at the Laurens County 4-H Achievement Banquet.

Contact kswinn@clemson.edu or 864-705-1102 with any questions.

Laurens County 4-H Spring Break Camp

Laurens County 4-H will be hosting spring break camp!

Youth ages 5-12 years old are invited to enjoy this year’s natural resources themed spring break camp! Youth will get to experience activities and guest speakers each day about honeybees, water resources, plant science, wildlife, and outdoor survival! You do NOT have to be a 4-H member to participate!

When? April 11-15th, 2022

What time? 9:00AM-3:00PM

Where? Joe Adair Outdoor Education Center

Cost? $50

Make sure to pack your own lunch! An afternoon snack will be provided.

Registration is due March 30th, 2022

Registration can be done through Eventbrite using this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laurens-county-4-h-spring-break-camp-tickets-250398527737 or by dropping by the Laurens County Extension Office to register.

Contact kswinn@clemson.edu or 864-705-110 with questions or for more information.

Clemson Sets Up Weather Station in Laurens County

Clemson’s Sandhill Research Center is working to install a weather station in every county. The Center wants to get a network set up across the state for farmers that will provide more accurate local forecasts as well as information on chill hours and growing degree days.

On December 20 Christopher Thomas with Clemson’s Sandhill Research and Education Center came to Laurens County and installed a unit on Reed Edwards’ farm (his farm was the closest to the center of the county of those offering to house the station). The station is up and running and may be accessed at this link:

https://tempestwx.com/station/64950/

Christopher will be setting up a website in the future so that anyone may read information from any of these weather stations across the state. The image shows just how small the unit is when installed, with Reed Edwards and Christopher Thomas standing beside it.  Once at least one station has been installed in every county Christopher hopes to obtain more funding to install more stations in each county in the coming years, for even more accurate local forecasts.

Laurens Extension Welcomes  New Forestry Agent

Mr. Jeff Fellers, Area Extension Forestry Agent, has assumed the responsibility for Forestry and Natural Resources programming in Laurens County.  Jeff is taking over the role formerly held by Mr. Tom Brant, who retired on December 31, 2021.

Jeff is a native of South Carolina and a graduate of Clemson University.  He graduated with a degree in Forest Resource Management in 2002.  In 2013, he earned his master’s degree from Northwest Missouri State in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Jeff is based in the Union County Extension Office and has 17 years of experience with Clemson Extension.  He covers Chester, Laurens, Newberry, Union, and York counties.  Jeff plans to visit Laurens County regularly and is already working with the Laurens County Forest Landowners’ Association to provide local programming.

Jeff can be reached by phone at 864-424-8243 or by email at fellers@clemson.edu .

South Carolina Agricultural Tax Exemption Card

As some of you may have heard, South Carolina Department of Agriculture has implemented the new SCATE (South Carolina Agricultural Tax Exemption) program. This SCATE card will be used in place of SCDOR’s Agriculture Exemption Certificate (ST-8F). The application is available to the public at: https://agriculture.sc.gov/scate/. The card costs $24 for a 3 year term which boils down to $8/year. The last day retailers will accept the ST-8F paper document is April 1^st, 2022. The sales tax laws for South Carolina have not changed. The only thing that has changed is the way buyers demonstrate they are eligible for certain agriculture tax exemptions. The state also does not require producers to generate a certain level of income from agriculture to qualify for sales tax exemptions unlike similar programs. For those with limited or no computer access, public libraries throughout the state provide free computer access. Contact your local library for more information on public computer access for applying for the SCATE Card.

For more specific information on the SCATE program, contact your local Clemson Extension office, call the SCDA direct at 803-734-2210, or visit https://agriculture.sc.gov/faq/scate/.

For producers wanting specific information on what products qualify for tax exemption, please email farmexemption@dor.sc.com.

Laurens County Forest Landowners Association – Tuesday February 22 at 6:30 pm @ Laurens Farm Bureau.  Program will be on Zoning and Land Use.  Contact Jeff Fellers for more information 864-424-8273.

Newberry County Forestry Association – Tuesday May 10 at 7:00 pm. Program will be on Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer and Impacts it could have on SC deer population.  Contact Jeff Fellers for more information 864-424-8273.

Master Tree Farmer – January 24, 2022 through March 14, 2022.  Master Tree Farmer is a virtual program with an in-person field tour.  Registration has closed for this course, but it will be offered again in the future.  If you are interested in future course please contact Jeff Fellers at 864-424-8273.

4-H Forestry Clinic – February 26, 2022 at Harbison State Forest.  This program is for high school youth to learn more about basic forestry skills.  Participants also have the opportunity to compete represent South Carolina on a National level at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational.  Registration details can be found at the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/south-carolina-4-h-forestry-tickets-22143770

South Carolina Champion Tree-Jeff Fellers Area Forestry Agent

The South Carolina Champion Tree program was started to locate the biggest trees by species across South Carolina.  A standard measurement formula is used to calculate a total score for a nominated tree.  The formula is based off of trunk circumference, tree height, and average crown spread.  The program is currently being managed by Clemson Extension and we are working on revamping the web site and updating the database.

Maintaining the database across the entire state can be a chore, and with no supportive funding, requires volunteers and the general public to provide data.  A tree can be nominated by any individual.  Once nominated, a rough estimate of the score is calculated.  If that tree receives a score close or above the current champion, we then verify the tree.  Verifying the tree requires a person with knowledge and the tools to go out and make sure the tree was measured accurately.  Once verified, the tree will then be posted on our champion tree website.  If you believe that you may have the biggest tree in the state visit our champion tree homepage and nominate your tree.

One misconception people have about the Champion Tree Program is the thought that it will protect the trees on the list.  A champion tree does not provide protection from being cut, developed around, or so forth.  South Carolina Champion Trees just provides the data so people can see the large trees we have throughout our state.  Since some of these trees are located on private property we also do not give out the exact location of the tree, just the county.

As we work to improve this website and update the database, we ask that those interested please visit the site, and if you believe you have a champion, nominate that tree.  More details can be found at: https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/champtree/index.html

Clemson Cooperative Extension’s Rural Health Team offers virtual yoga classes every Wednesday from 12-12:30 PM. Yoga for Every Body is an all-levels, gentle yoga class designed to help you get more movement during your week. Modifications are offered to complement all abilities, with the option to participate from a comfortable seat or standing. By participating in these weekly classes, you will learn to listen to your body’s cues to find what feels good, reduce stress, increase flexibility and physical activity, and cultivate a practice of gratitude to help shift your perspective.

If interested, register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-little-goes-a-long-way-weekly-yoga-for-every-body-tickets-138693376623.

By attending just one class, you gain access to our library of all prior recorded classes, too! Join 10 Yoga for Every Body classes + 1 additional Rural Health Team program this year to participate in our 2022 Challenge! After completing the challenge, you will receive a yoga goodie box with a yoga strap, blocks, and therapy balls to help customize your unique yoga experience.

Ellie Lane, Health Extension Agent

Looking to be more active in 2022? Join Clemson Cooperative Extension’s Rural Health Team Program, WalkSC, to reach your physical activity goals this year. WalkSC is a 12-week walking program based around personal step counting.

WalkSC includes weekly interactions with a Clemson Extension Rural Health Agent via email. These emails provide “weekly walking challenges” corresponding to a section of the South Carolina Palmetto Trail. Meet your step goals every week and you will have virtually walked the 500-mile Palmetto Trail spanning from upstate South Carolina to the coast, all while learning about yourself and the state!

WalkSC is self-paced: get your exercise in when it is most convenient for you! The only requirements from us are completion of a pre and post program survey.

Steps can be counted with smartphone apps or wearable devices such as a Fitbit, smart watch, or pedometer. Once enrolled, the Rural Health Agent can assist you in tracking your steps if you do not have access to any of these options.

 We offer multiple dates throughout the year to join! If interested, register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walksc-tickets-241972836267

Ellie Lane, Health Extension Agent

Health Extension in Greenville County has been very busy this winter! Since November 2021, we have received 471 interests for our Health Extension for Diabetes program. We are on track to have 3 full classes filled in February! Health Extension for Diabetes is also expanding into Spanish classes. Beginning this spring, we will be able to offer this program 100 percent in Spanish to reach a broader audience in the county. In addition, our Diabetes Prevention Program will be starting new groups this spring as well. For more information on the Diabetes Prevention Program or Health Extension for Diabetes, you can call or email Health Extension Agent Melissa Bales at 864-365-0635 or mbales@clemson.edu. If you missed the Know Diabetes by Heart program on the link between heart disease and diabetes in 2021, you still have time to sign up at https://knowdiabetesbyheart.eventbrite.com/! Classes for Know Diabetes by Heart will continue through 2022.

Melissa Bales, Health Extension Agent