Author: Amy Mallette

Jeff Fellers
Area Forestry & Natural Resource Agent
Chester, Laurens, Newberry, Union, & York

One thing I love about working for Clemson Extension is the diversity of work throughout the seasons.  Rarely do we have the same tasks day after day.  It often changes with the season. The fall and winter seasons bring about fairs and festivals, along with our normal activities.

Union County Agricultural Fair
October is all about the fair in Union County.  The Union County Extension Office is heavily involved in managing the livestock, poultry, agricultural products, and home economics sections.  We also operate the Union County 4-H Shooting Sports Trailer throughout the week of the fair.  On Thursday of the fair, we also host a 5K day where all the Union County public schools bring their kindergarten classes to the fair to learn about livestock and agriculture.  I always enjoy presenting on the crops section for this field trip.  If you have never visited the Union County Agricultural Fair I highly recommend coming by and seeing us. 

Kids in the Parks Track Trail
I had the opportunity to lead a trail hike for the Newberry County Recreation Department for their grand opening of the Kids in the Parks Track Trail.  This trail is located at Lynches Woods in Newberry County.  I really enjoyed spending the afternoon with the children and helping them identify some trees and shrubs, along with learning about growth rings on pine trees.  The Newberry County Recreation Department has a nice kiosk with brochures that help educate those who take the hike.

Wood Magic Forest Fair
Wood Magic Forest Fair is a free field trip for fourth graders, hosted by the South Carolina Forestry Commission.  The program provides a learning experience about the forest industry in South Carolina that meet fourth grade school standards.  Volunteers from around the forest industry come together to teach fourth graders all about forestry.  This year I had the opportunity to teach the Gifts of the Forest station at the Harbison State Forest location.  For more information on Wood Magic visit: https://www.scfc.gov/education/wood-magic/.

Learn to Burn
In November, I had the opportunity to assist with a Learn to Burn program in Union County.  This program was hosted by the Piedmont Prescribed Fire Cooperative at a private landowner’s property.  Participants were able to actively participate in a burn on a mature pine stand.  They were able to see the process from planning, preparation, execution, and mop up.  Learn To Burn provides a great educational experience to landowners that are wanting to learn how to implement prescribe fire on their property.

Newberry Forestry Association
The Newberry Forestry Association had their last quarterly meeting in 2023 on November 14.  We met at Mt. Pleasant UMC.  Eddie Reese, with NRCS, presented on forestry cost share programs.  Our next meeting will be February 13, 2024, and our topic will be estate planning. 

Laurens Forest Landowners Association
The Laurens Forest Landowners Association had their last quarterly meeting in 2023 on November 28.  We met at the Laurens County Farm Bureau Office.  Chris Gordy, from West Fraser, presented on local and statewide mill updates.  Our next meeting will be February 27, 2024.

 Grand American
This was the first year that we took the Union County 4-H Shooting Sports Trailer down to the Grand American in Orangeburg, SC.  Along with Forged In 4-H, we set up a display to help raise funds for the two programs.  Just like at the Union County Agricultural Fair, the trailer is set up for participants to have fun shooting air rifles.  For those less experienced shooters, we spend a little extra time helping them learn the basics of shooting.  Forged In 4-H also provided forging demonstrations, while selling some of the items that were made through the program.  The Grand American provided an excellent venue to advertise our program and educate participants about what great programs we have to offer.

 4-H Food Plots
One of my favorite activities in this job is judging 4-H Food Plots.  We typically do this in January, so the weather is normally not cooperative.  This year however, we had a very nice day to be out in the woods.  We judged 1 in Newberry County and 2 in Union County.  For more information on the 4-H Food Plot Project visit the following link: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/4h/program-areas/natural-resources/wildlife-food-plot-project.html.

Upcoming Events:

Woodland Stewards Silvopasture Webinar Series – January 30 through March 5
https://forestrywebinars.net/sponsor-pages/woodland-stewards

Newberry Forestry Association Meeting February 12, 2024

Indian Creek Field Day February 22, 2024

Laurens Forest Landowners Association Meeting February 27, 2024

Broad River Watershed Landowner Interest Meeting March 7, 2024 Spotlight on Ag March 14, 2024

Adam Petty
4-H Agent
Laurens County

The Whiskers and Tails 4-H Dog Club is a group of 4-H’ers from Laurens and Greenville Counties who are interested in learning more about working with their furry friends and showing them in competitive events.

For many years, Laurens County 4-H has supported opportunities for youth related to dogs. Each year through the Laurens County Dog Project, 4-H’ers are encouraged to learn and keep records of training, health, grooming, and much more as it relates to their pets. There have also been collaborations with the Greenville Kennel Club as they have provided clinics and support over the years. They assist each year in judging the annual dog show as part of the Laurens County Junior Livestock Show.

Beginning in August of 2023, the Whiskers and Tails 4-H Dog Club started offering weekly dog training classes at the Dog Trainers Workshop in Fountain Inn. These classes were for Canine Good Citizen certification, rally, and dog showmanship. They concluded at the end of September with a final competition. Then, with growing interest, it was decided to offer additional weekly classes in January of 2024 that will conclude at the end of February. These classes consist of Canine Good Citizen certification and rally and were open for any 4-H member in Laurens or Greenville Counties.

This club is led by a great group of volunteers; Charity Blumer, DeAnn Karns, and Lisa Stroup. Our 4-H’ers are also receiving quality lessons from qualified AKC instructors. It’s been amazing to see the amount of knowledge and confidence gained by these youth as they work with their animals. Thanks to Dog Trainer’s Workshop of Fountain Inn for the use of their training facility. We look forward to additional training classes throughout the year. Stay posted for the opening of registration for the 2024 Laurens County Dog Project in the spring. This project is open to all interested 4-H’ers in surrounding counties as well. Please contact Adam Petty at akpetty@clemson.edu or 864-705-1102 for more information. Also, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/4Hlaurenscounty

Julia Newsome
Rural Health & Nutrition Agent
Cherokee & Union Counties

“The first Health Extension for Diabetes (HED) cohort in Cherokee county was a community success! The cohort started in August 2023 and graduated in December 2023, with approximately a 90% graduation rate (adjusted)! We are recruiting for a second Health Extension for Diabetes cohort in partnership with the Cherokee County Family YMCA for HED in-person programing. Registration is open from 01/24/24-02/21/24, please contact me if you are interested in participating!

• HED is a free diabetes support program recognized by the ADA as a practice-tested diabetes support program. The main goal of this program is to help participants better manage diabetes to prevent or delay complications. HED is 4 months long and includes a series of 8 education sessions and intermittent support sessions. Each session is designed to help participants learn more about diabetes and provide them with necessary skills and support to successfully self-manage diabetes. Participants will receive bi-weekly materials and weekly follow-up to help navigate resources and reach healthy lifestyle goals. A Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes diagnosis is required for enrollment.

February is American Heart Month; If there is an upcoming event or group meeting that you are looking for a guest speaker and a timely topic, I would love to attend and hold the Know Diabetes by Heart (KDBH) program. Please feel free to contact me if you have any opportunities or questions.

• KDBH is sponsored by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Heart Association (AHA). It is a free education session offered in-person or online. The program aims to help participants better understand the link between diabetes and heart disease. By participating in this one-hour session, you will learn more about risks related to diabetes and heart disease, how to take control of your risks, and learn about community and clinical resources.

Julia’s Contact Information:
864.424.8275
Janewso@clemson.edu

Carolyn Dawson
Area Extension Forestry Agent
Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, & Spartanburg Counties

Now that deep winter is upon us, and the trees are bare of leaves, it is extremely easy to see the round, green balls of leaves scattered throughout the tree canopies. This is mistletoe.

Is it harmful to trees? Well, kind of. It is considered a parasite, a hemiparasite, to be exact. A hemiparasite makes some of its own food through photosynthesis but takes water and most of its nutrients from the host tree. American or Oak Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) is commonly found on deciduous trees such as pecans, oaks, elms, hackberries, maples, and wild cherries. In the fall, it produces white berries that contain toxic chemicals poisonous to people and domestic animals.

Where did it come from? Birds are the most common culprit. They consume the sticky, white berries, and then transport the seeds to other trees where the seeds can germinate and begin their parasitic journey.

Mistletoe uses specialized roots called haustoria, which penetrate the host tree’s bark, allowing them to embed themselves in the vascular tissue. Through this connection, mistletoe siphons off nutrients from its host, sustaining itself.

What should you do if you have mistletoe? The primary method of management involves pruning out the infected branches. Prune the affected branch at least 18 inches beyond the point of attachment. Simply removing the mistletoe plant, without removal of the infected branch, will provide some protection from spreading. However, if you remove only the mistletoe, it will probably regrow.

For more extensive infestations higher in the tree, it’s advisable to enlist the services of a professional Certified Arborist. For some older, larger, heavily infested trees, it may not be feasible to remove such large portions of the canopy, and best just to let the tree live out its natural life or have it removed.

If you’d like to learn more about tree insects, diseases, and issues, or perhaps invite Carolyn Dawson, Clemson Extension Forestry Agent, to speak at your event, please contact her at dawson4@clemson.edu.

Heather Nix
Water Resource Agent
Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, & Spartanburg Counties

Prepare your pond for spring!

The winter is a great time to start preparing for a healthier pond when warm weather arrives! Here are some actions to consider.

• Consider adding plants to the shoreline of streams and ponds. Riparian buffers with healthy, native vegetation support clean water and help prevent erosion along the shoreline. If the waterbody is in a pasture, see our new Land Grant Press article on Livestock-Safe Buffers!
• When vegetation decays in ponds, the nutrients from the plant tissue are returned to the water – and can spur future plant growth. Remove decaying vegetation and compost in an upland area to help reduce in-pond nutrients.
• Consider installing an aerator in ponds that stratify (or, to simplify, that develop layers of different temperature water) and in areas with slow or stagnant water. Pumping air to the bottom of a pond and letting it bubble to the service can increase dissolved oxygen levels and support healthy fish populations.
• For more information on these, and other suggestions, please read our Pond Weeds: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment Options article on Clemson’s Land Grant Press website.

Upcoming events: Want to install a rain garden? Sign up now for the Master Rain Gardener online course (Register by 2/4/24). Please keep an eye on the Clemson Extension Events Calendar for information on additional events.

Haven Blackwell
4-H Agent
Cherokee County

The Cherokee County 4-H Clovers in the Kitchen Club provides a program once a month for kids ages 9 to 18. We want to inspire the youth in our community to learn to cook healthy and nutritious meals for their families. The Clovers in the Kitchen Club has been cooking through the seasons since September. They have learned various valuable skills such as chopping, seasoning, baking, etc. In September, they learned to make nutritious items that can be packed in their lunch boxes. October was full of delicious tailgate food and of course November and December were Thanksgiving and Christmas inspired. We look forward to continuing the year and learning new skills to enhance our confidence in the kitchen. Other clubs that Cherokee County 4-H has to offer are Cloverbuds (ages 5-8), Bits and Pieces Horse Club (ages 9-18), Cherokee Charter Academy 4-H Club (students of Cherokee Charter Academy), and Teen Council (ages 14-18). In the months ahead we will have our Peach Country 4-H Livestock Show in March for any youth interested in showing beef, poultry, market hog, or rabbit and Down on the Farm Day in April for second  grade classes across Cherokee County. Also, be on the lookout for 4-H summer day camps!

If any of the youth in your life would like to be a part of Cherokee County 4-H, please contact Haven Blackwell by email at daynab@clemson.edu or by phone at (864) 649-8252.

Christopher LeMaster, Jr.
Livestock & Forage Agent
Cherokee, Spartanburg, & Union Counties

Many may answer “Yes” to the above question, but nonetheless, that is an insightful question to ask yourself. Hopefully, you are intentional in your record-keeping, accounting, and tax preparation so that the IRS isn’t asking you the same question.  Whether you identify as a hobbyist or businessman, all will agree that it requires real work to answer this question successfully. Besides the work, there are fundamental business concepts that cannot be ignored if you wish to keep your farm around for future generations. A team of agribusiness agents and specialists and I have worked to develop the workshop series Farm Business Concepts. This course is designed to dive deep into the foundations of a well-run farm business. Participants will learn about business structures, labor forms, record keeping, accounting (managerial, tax), and tax management.  The workshop also includes a session on enterprise budgets and some case studies tailored to the cow/calf and hay producer. We are excited to help our farmers run their farms like businesses. There’s nothing wrong with being a hobby farmer, and truthfully, most of us would not endure the long hours and labor if we weren’t truly passionate about farming. We hope this program will help farmers identify ways to keep their farms profitable so that they may survive the ups and downs of the market and, most importantly, be around for another generation of farmers.

Alana West
4-H Youth Development Agent
Newberry County

During the summer of 2023, Newberry County 4-H offered 8 opportunities for local youth to participate in. Some of these programs were on the local level and some were on the state level. In all, 66 Newberry County youth participated in these programs.

Our summer started with our Science of Art/Art of Science Day Camp where ten Newberry youth and one Fairfield youth explored the relationship between science and art. We studied constellations, moon phases, the color wheel, optical and sensory illusions, and more. We are grateful for the partnership with Fairfield County 4-H and the Jenkinsville Community Center.

Next on the calendar was our Summer Engineers Day Camp. This camp took aim at recruiting youth to participate in our annual SC 4-H Engineering Challenge. The three-day camp allowed twelve youth to take a set of parameters and a list of materials and design a solution to a given problem. Participants built and tested bridges, paper airplanes, rockets, spaghetti towers, circuits, penny boats, Pringles rings, marshmallow catapults, and air boats.

The next camp was a two-day venture into forging and blacksmithing. Seven youth from Newberry and two from Fairfield traveled to Union County to glean skills and knowledge from Union County 4-H Agent, Mark Cathcart. In addition to these skills and knowledge, youth took home S-hooks, mini swords, salt spoons, knives, and other trinkets they made.

In addition to these local camps, South Carolina 4-H held their annual Club Camp at Camp Long in Aiken in June. Youth in attendance were exposed to traditional summer camp activities including swimming, campfires, skits, and more.

To close out June, South Carolina 4-H held its annual 4-H State Congress, the pinnacle event for a 4-H member’s career. Three girls represented Newberry County. They attended workshops on self-defense, food safety and preservation, a makerspace, and etiquette as well as toured the Clemson dairy farm, experimental forest, cheese and ice cream labs, and planetarium. The week’s service project included packing 1,700 meals through Meals of Hope. The week was capped off with an awards banquet, with guest speaker, Newberry native Michael Mills and a dance with DJ Travis Gilliam, a Silverstreet native.

In July, we offered two rounds of our Magic in the Kitchen Day Camp, one for younger youth ages five through eight and another for older youth ages nine through fourteen. These camps were more about food science than cooking. We explored sinkers and floaters, astronaut ice cream, sugar substitutes, oil and water, popping corn, butter making, mixed drinks, dehydration, and tricked a lot of parents with our mock apple pie.

The final offering of the summer was for our older 4-Hers. A class on CPR was taught and four went home with new certifications.

Throughout the summer, we also offered our first ever Summer Breakfast Club. Nine youth attended five meetings where they cooked their breakfast and then cleaned up their mess prior to learning a new life skill. Their breakfast menus included French toast roll-ups, chocolate chip pancakes, omelets, biscuits and gravy, and donuts, all homemade. They learned skills like ironing and folding laundry, checking tire pressure and plugging a tire, car maintenance, etiquette and table setting, grocery shopping skills, and how to write and mail a thank you letter.

In addition to our camps, we also had youth growing produce to compete in our Newberry County 4-H Tomato Project and our South Carolina 4-H Small Garden Project. Wrapping up the summer and kicking off the fall show season, we had one youth show his beef heifer at the Jr. Beef Round up in Clemson the first weekend of August. You may have also seen us representing at the South Carolina 4-H State Horse Show and Creative Contest in Clemson and Newberry County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Camp Conservation.

With fall livestock shows just around the corner and school busses now on the road, we look forward to starting our 2023-24 4-H club year, which runs September through August. School programs and clubs are now what’s on the calendar. Stay tuned for an update by checking our webpage: www.clemson.edu/extension/4h/county/newberry or following Newberry County 4-H on Facebook.

Melissa Bales
Rural Health & Nutrition Extension Associate
Statewide; Programs in  Greenville & Laurens Counties

Growing Health just wrapped its SIXTH class! Growing Health is a program that was developed by the Greenville County Rural Health and Nutrition and Urban Horticulture Agents to help beginner gardeners in Greenville learn to grow their own vegetables and incorporate these vegetables into a healthy diet. In order to help beginner gardeners learn about vegetables that can be grown throughout the year, Growing Health is presented in accordance to growing seasons – spring, summer, and fall. Those who participate in the program receive information and growing materials to take home.

We are so excited to have had so many of you participate in the program so far. We would like to thank Clemson Extension’s Innovation Awards program for providing the initial funding for the development and pilot of the program. While the pilot of the program has concluded, we look forward to continuing to offer this program throughout the growing seasons and look forward to expanding the program outside of Greenville County.

We hope to see you in a future Growing Health class! Contact Rural Health and Nutrition Extension Associate Melissa Bales at 864-986-1047 or mbales@clemson.edu for more information or questions regarding the program.

Mary Vargo
Horticulture Agent
Greenville County

Throughout the summer, the Greater Greenville Master Gardener Speakers Bureau and Clemson Extension – Horticulture joined hands to offer a series of invaluable and free gardening programs. These programs covered an extensive array of gardening topics and addressed issues that resonate with the community in Greenville County.

Commencing in April, this educational journey continued every other week until August, enriching the lives of gardening enthusiasts across the region.

The core mission of the Master Gardener program is to empower knowledgeable volunteers who serve as conduits of research-based information, bringing vital insights to our local community. These dedicated Master Gardeners are instrumental in disseminating public education on horticultural and gardening-related subjects.

The 2023 program series was a resounding success, featuring ten captivating topics and speakers that ranged from the beauty of summer bulbs to the challenges posed by invasive species, the art of growing herbs, and the creativity of container gardening, among others.

One of the highlights of this series was the spirited discussions that followed each session. After the informative talks, Mary Vargo moderated these discussions, addressing questions, and fostering a sense of community among participants.

The impact of this initiative was nothing short of remarkable. Not only did it provide a platform for individuals to expand their gardening knowledge, but it also created a vibrant community of gardeners who came together to learn, share, and grow.

The turnout for these free programs was overwhelming, and the response from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Throughout the summer, attendees acquired a wealth of new knowledge, and the bonds formed during these sessions will undoubtedly continue to flourish in the gardens and hearts of Greenville County residents.