Spartanburg EFNEP has been partnering with the Bethlehem Center to bring nutrition education to their afterschool groups this school year. The second-grade class enjoyed a six-week series learning the Show Me Nutrition curriculum.
During this time, the children were introduced to MyPlate by playing games with the five food groups and diving deeper into each category each week. The class enjoyed tasting a myriad of recipes including a fruit smoothie, colorful fruit skewers, food group sandwiches, and more.
Over six sessions, the children studied how to build strong bones, power up with protein, eat a rainbow of fruits and a variety of vegetables in addition to moving their bodies more. They enjoyed playing games and creating their own personalized MyPlates to set healthier goals for themselves.
These students are ready to tackle all that the remainder of the school year has to bring with healthy and active mindsets!
The world of horticulture is as dynamic as it is rewarding. Every day presents new opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with nature—and the more I immerse myself in this field, the more I discover how much there is to explore. Moving continents certainly accelerated the learning curve—Switzerland, with its colder climate, presented far fewer pest challenges compared to the Upstate!
As the Horticulture Agent for Spartanburg County, my mission is to serve our community by continually expanding my own knowledge. The more I learn, the better I can support and empower others to grow and thrive in their own gardens and landscapes. One of the questions I’m often asked is, “What native plants should I grow here in the Upstate?” This led me to create a native plant identification program for Wofford College’s Lifelong Learning program. In the course, we explored botanical terms like lenticels and sepals and examined 50 plant species that are native to our region. This project not only deepened my understanding of local flora but also allowed me to teach others about the beauty and benefits of these plants, all while expanding my own botanical vocabulary.
In addition to my work with local plants, I’ve had the privilege of advising St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic on their journey toward growing food and developing a teaching garden. Through this collaboration, I’ve learned more about vegetable gardening in the Upstate—no small feat, given our unique growing conditions. These insights have allowed me to better assist clients with their own home gardening questions, offering advice that is both practical and regionally relevant.
I’m also excited to be working closely with our local Master Gardeners, who play an invaluable role in our community. Their outreach efforts continue to inspire me, and I look forward to collaborating with them on an upcoming class, set to launch in Fall 2025. Together, we’ll empower even more people to grow their knowledge and skills in horticulture.
On the horizon, I’m working on something I’m particularly excited about: the Backyard Homesteading classes. Many homeowners are eager to become more self-sufficient, and I’m thrilled to offer them the tools and guidance to do just that—even with a small backyard. From planning your property to raising and butchering poultry, from canning to beekeeping, and even eating your weeds—there’s so much potential in small spaces. It’s my goal to help homeowners reclaim their food sources and find joy in their gardens in ways they may never have imagined.
As I continue to grow in this role, I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and support I receive from my fellow agents and supervisors.
Nicole Goodman – County Consumer Horticulture Agent
It will soon be time for our 4th annual Peach Country Livestock Expo! This partnership between Spartanburg and Cherokee County 4-H provides a much-needed opportunity for our area youth to exhibit their animals during the spring season.
Each year the event has seen growth in youth participants, species exhibited, and community sponsors. For 2025 we have added a Dairy Goat Show and a Horse Show! Last year we hosted almost 70 youth exhibitors and hope that with the addition of two new species that we are able to increase that number to 100 this year!
The show is open to the public and there is no charge for admission. Please join us to cheer on our 4-H and FFA youth!
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, March 21st at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds
6:00pm – Market Swine Show
Saturday, March 22nd at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds
11:00am – Beef Cattle Show
2:00pm – Rabbit Show and Chicken Show
5:00pm – Dairy Goat Show
Saturday, April 26th at Croft State Park
Time TBA – Horse Show
For more information about the show (to attend, enter, or sponsor) please contact Laura Haddon by email at lhaddon@clemson.edu or by phone at (864) 596-2993.
We are happy to announce that Mrs. Lauren Smith has accepted the Laurens County 4-H Agent position. Her first day was March 3, 2025.
Lauren has a B.S. in Animal and Veterinary Sciences from Clemson University. She has spent the past several years working as the Outdoor Program Manager with the Girls Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands (based in Spartanburg), providing over 40 programs each year as well as hiring and training seasonal staff.
We are excited to have her in Laurens County. Welcome, Lauren!
