Julia Newsome Rural Health & Nutrition Cherokee & Union Counties
Julia Newsome, new Rural Health & Nutrition Agent
Hello Everyone,
My name is Julia Newsome, and
I am the new Rural Health & Nutrition Agent for Union and Cherokee
counties. I moved from Upstate New York to Upstate South Carolina in June 2022,
and in November 2022 I became part of the Clemson Extension team.
Two programs I’ll work on are
the “Know Diabetes by Heart (KDBH)” and “Health Extension for Diabetes (HED)”
programs.
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.
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.
The goal of the Rural Health
and Nutrition Extension Team is to help all South Carolinians prevent and
self-manage chronic disease. Our programs are valuable because they are free,
mobile, and can be held virtually, in-person, or hybrid (delivery is program
specific). Please feel free to email me if there is something you think I can
help you with. Overall, I’m looking forward to serving Union and Cherokee
counties, while maintaining the Clemson Extension standard of service.
Laura Haddon Cherokee County 4-H Youth Development Agent
Ms. Ruppe’s 2nd grade class from Draytonville Elementary enjoyed their visit to Sarratt Farms for 4-H Down on the Farm Day.
Cherokee County 4-H hosted its first annual “Down on the Farm Day” event for all the second graders in the county. Laura Haddon and Christopher LeMaster wrote a grant in the spring of 2021 and received $1,000 to cover the cost of transportation for the public schools within the district. After meeting with school district staff, the date was set for Friday, April 1, 2022.
2nd graders had hands-on opportunities to learn where their meat and milk come from.
Ben Sease from SC Farm to School shared about mushrooms and earthworms.
Almost 600 second grade students (public, private, and charter) attended the event hosted at Sarratt Farms in Gaffney. Children rotated with their classes through six stations where they learned about different areas of South Carolina agriculture. Stations included strawberries, earthworms, sunflowers, pigs, cows, and a combine! County extension agents from across the Upstate, teachers and students from the ag classes at Cherokee County’s Institute for Innovation, SC Ag in the Classroom, and SC Farm to School all helped to give the students hands-on knowledge about farming in our county and state.
Students from Cherokee County’s Institute for Innovation’s FFA helped the 2nd graders plant sunflower seeds.
The goal of this event was to connect youth to the source of their food and fiber and develop in each one an appreciation for South Carolina agriculture. For many of the students, this was their first time ever seeing a cow, a pig, or even stepping foot on a farm! It was an adventure they will always remember.
Rabbit Judge, Julia Waddell, presents Jason Connors and his Mini Rex rabbit, Gene, with the Grand Champion Ribbon.
On Friday, March 11th and Saturday, March 12th Cherokee County 4-H hosted its first annual spring livestock show event. Fifty-seven youth from three states braved the rain, wind, and freezing temperatures to show off the hard work they have put into raising and training their livestock. Market hogs, beef cattle, and rabbits were exhibited over the course of the two days. Our distinguished judges were John Barnes (hogs and cattle) of Wilson County North Carolina and Julia Waddell (rabbits) of Inman.
Laura Haddon, Chris LeMaster, and Peter Wilkins recognized Robert Blanton for his hard work and dedication to the youth of 4-H and specifically to the Cherokee County 4-H Spring Livestock Show.
Friday night was the Market Hog Show. Youth showed their hogs in showmanship and market classes. In showmanship youth were divided into age groups and judged on how well they were able to present their hog and exhibit its best traits to the judge. Anna Barrett Penland, of Laurens, won the belt buckle for top Junior Showman and Langley Vernon, of Anderson, won the belt buckle for top Senior Showman. Market classes were determined by the weights of the hogs. The top pig from each weight class was chosen by the judge and held over to compete for Grand and Reserve Champion Market Hog. Grand Champion Lottery Market Hog went to Cade Simpson of Anderson and his pig, BBQ. Jack Dill of Jonesville received Reserve Champion Lottery Market Hog for his pig Uno. The Open Market Hog Grand Champion was Anna Barrett Penland and her pig Slushie, while Reserve Grand Champion Open Market Hog went to Carley Tolbert of Franklin County Georgia and her pig Trigger.
Judge John Barnes recognizes the Beef Showmanship winners.
Jonathan Felipe was presented with a $1,000 check for his Supreme Champion Heifer.
The competitions continued Saturday morning with beef cattle and Saturday afternoon with rabbits. Once again, the youth were judged on their knowledge of their animal and ability to present their animal in a way that would display its best traits. Belt buckles were awarded to Lillian Wilkins of Blacksburg for top Cloverbud Beef Showman, Josey Tolbert of Franklin County Georgia for top Junior Beef Showman, Jonathan Felipe of Habersham County Georgia for top Intermediate Beef Showman, and to Hailee Campbell of Enoree for top Senior Beef Showman. The winner of the Rabbit Showmanship Belt Buckle was a Senior Showman, Jason Conners of Van Wyck.
After the showmanship competitions were completed, the animals were divided by breeds and judged by how closely they conformed to the standard for their breeds. A top animal was chosen for each breed of cattle and held over for the Supreme Champion Heifer competition. At the end of the day, Jonathan Felipe and his Simmental heifer, Woodlawn Splendid, were awarded the $1,000 check and title of Supreme Heifer for the show. The Best in Show of the Rabbit breeds was awarded to Jason Conners and his Mini Rex rabbit, Gene.
Cherokee County 4-H also presented a Herdsman Award to one youth in the Market Hog Show and one youth in the Beef Show. This award was given to two young men who demonstrated a positive attitude, a diligent work ethic, and a willingness to help others during their time at the show. Andrew Jewell of Gray Court was awarded the Swine Herdsman of the Year and Ross Arthur of Union was awarded the Beef Herdsman of the Year. In addition to a beautiful plaque, each young man was awarded a cash prize of $250.
Cade Simpson showing his market hog.
This show would not have been possible without the support of our community. Cherokee County 4-H wishes to thank all 37 of our sponsors who made it possible for us to award over $10,000 in cash prizes to the youth for their hard work. Chick-fil-A of Gaffney and Firehouse Subs of Gaffney provided us with concessions to raise money for our 4-H Scholarship Fund. Mr. Bill Sarratt and his staff at Sarratt Farms prepared their facilities for our use. Mr. Peter Wilkins, Mrs. Karen Allen, and countless others were instrumental in all the behind the scenes work that goes into organizing a livestock show. A special award was given to Mr. Robert Blanton to recognize him for his hard work and dedication to the youth of 4-H and specifically to the Cherokee County 4-H Spring Livestock Show.
Laura Haddon Cherokee County 4-H Youth Development Agent
Hands-on learning about watersheds at this summer’s 4-H Nature Camp.
Cloverbuds use their hands for larger service by making thank you cards for the veterans living at The Palmetto Patriots Home in Gaffney.
Cherokee County 4-H stayed busy all summer! We continued to provide programming to the five Boys and Girls Clubs of the Upstate locations in Cherokee County. Programs included Healthy Lifestyles lessons, STEM activities, and Ag in the Classroom experiences for first through fifth grades. Our partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs is invaluable!
We also hosted day camps and workshops. Our first day camp of the summer was Nature Camp. It was offered to a total of 25 youth each Friday in June and covered a different topic each week. This year the topics included Watersheds, Birds, Aquatic Wildlife, and Tree Identification. The camp was hosted with the help of Duke Energy and Cherokee County Soil and Water Conservation District. Each of the participants had fun and gained a greater appreciation for the natural resources in our county.
4-Hers enjoyed interacting with a variety of animals at Animal Science Camp held at Cherokee County’s Institute for Innovation.
The Cloverbuds (ages 5 to 8) enjoyed a camp all to themselves as they learned about the opportunities 4-H has to offer. They had fun with STEM, Healthy Lifestyles, Natural Resources, and Community Service activities centered around a theme for each day of camp. The themes were Patriotism, Butterflies, and My Plate. At the end of the week, we were able to provide the residents at Palmetto Veterans Home in Gaffney with red, white, and blue cards thanking them for their service to our country.
4-H partnered with the horticulture teacher at Cherokee County’s Institute for Innovation to host a succulent workshop for teens and tweens.
One of our most successful day camps took place in July at the Cherokee County Institute for Innovation. The agriculture teachers partnered with 4-H to host an Animal Science Camp for 20 youth. Campers learned how to restrain animals safely, give injections, and bandage and suture wounds. We had special guests from Latti-moo’s Farm and the Humane Society of Cherokee County. The youth brought donations of food, bedding, and cleaning supplies to share with the animals at the Humane Society and made pumpkin dog treats and recycled t-shirt toys too!
Volunteers from the American Sewing Guild helped 4-Hers learn basic sewing skills. The pillowcases were donated to a local nursing home.
The Summer Workshops for Tweens and Teens included planting succulents and basic sewing skills. The American Sewing Guild of the Upstate provided the supplies and expertise needed for the sewing workshop, while we continued our partnership with the Institute for Innovation for the succulent workshop. The youth that attended enjoyed learning new skills and developing a new hobby!
Community partnerships were the key to our summer successes! We appreciate all those who helped us make the best of Cherokee County better!
On May 5th we had our Alfalfa in the South Field Day at Foxpipe Farm, owned and operated by Laurens County farmer, Reed Edwards. We had a great attendance of 100+ producers and extension specialists and agents from South Carolina and surrounding states. For this event, everyone had the opportunity to tour Mr. Edwards farm as our specialists and agents offered instruction about how to manage the forage varieties in each field we toured. The program was kicked off by Dr. Jennifer Tucker (University of Georgia), Kim Mullenix (Auburn University), and Dr. Liliane Silva (Clemson University) covering alfalfa and alfalfa-bermudagrass systems for hay and grazing. The next talk was given by Dr. John Andrae (Clemson University), Dr. Joe Bouton (University of Georgia emeritus), and Dr. Jennifer Tucker covering novel fescue varieties and the best strategies for converting Kentucky 31 fescue fields into novel endophyte fescue to improve herd health and performance. Our last talk before lunch consisted of Dr. Leanne Dillard (Auburn University), Dr. Liliane Silva, Mr. Reed Edwards, and myself teaching producers about the benefits of incorporating winter annuals and other cover crops into their hay and grazing systems. After lunch, Mr. Reed Edwards accompanied by Dr. Liliane Silva gave a talk about the knowledge he gained from growing sericea lespedeza for the small ruminant hay market. To wrap things up, Mr. Chris Prevatt (University of Florida) talked to us about the future economic challenges facing our forage producers over the next decade. This field day was a great success for not only Laurens County but also for South Carolina’s agricultural industry. We hope to continue this event and more like it to keep our producers informed and at the top of their game.
Stephanie Eidt 4-H Youth Development Fairfield County Extension Agent
Do you like working with children and/or want to be involved as your child explores their interests? Is your family suffering from the cabin fever of short winter days? Tired of the refrain “I’m bored” when there’s a wild and wonderful world out there?
4-Hers
Consider becoming a certified 4-H volunteer and offering positive experiences for students about a subject you enjoy. Clubs typically meet once a month to conduct an hour of hands-on interaction with a group of 5-20 students. 4-H is innovative and flexible and can support clubs around specialized topics such as fishing, sewing, or robotics. If you prefer to be less specialized, your group can investigate the breadth of 4-H programming with an Explorers’ Club.
Miss Stephanie can guide you through the application process and planning the club’s itinerary of activities. Through a club, members will have access to programmatic resources (like the aforementioned rocket launcher) and statewide opportunities like 4-H camp and the Pinckney leadership conference. 4-H relies on volunteers to make programming available to larger audiences, and we thank you for your interest. Inspiring a child is easier than you think! Contact Stephanie Eidt at 803-589-8977 or seidt@clemson.edu for more information.
Stephanie Eidt 4-H Youth Development Fairfield County Extension Agent
See where 4-H can take your child
Wondering if 4-H programming is a good fit for your child? Consider signing them up for one or more of our upcoming no-commitment, no-cost virtual activities. The Fairfield 4-H office, in conjunction with the Chester 4-H office, will be exploring poultry, STEM, nutrition, and gardening in four one-hour sessions hosted on ZOOM this spring. Come practice a new skill, meet others with similar interests, and learn how 4-H opportunities can match your extracurricular goals.
The format of the Project Preview series will mimic a typical 4-H club meeting, allowing students to determine if joining a club fits their interests and availability. Thematically, they also tie-in to upcoming regional and statewide 4-H projects that can be completed on an individual level. Look at the Fairfield 4-H Facebook page or email seidt@clemson.edu for up-to-date information regarding projects and programming.
Faith Isreal Food Systems & Safety Agent Fairfield, Kershaw, Richland Counties
Canned Fruits & Vegetables
Canning is an important and safe method of food preservation if practiced properly. The canning process involves placing foods in jars and heating to a temperature that destroys organisms that could be a health hazard or cause the food to spoil.
Participants will be engaged in hands-on activities utilizing current USDA recommended techniques for preserving foods for home use.
Person with or without experience are encouraged to attend any workshop.
Aaron C. Swank, MPH, is an applied epidemiologist working with the Fairfield County Extension Service as a Nutrition Educator under the EFNEP program. His academic background and training include Bachelor’s degrees in both Human Nutrition and Kinesiology (2015). Aaron completed a Master of Public Health at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS) in 2017. He studied the impact of chronic psychological distress on nutrition and physical activity behaviors among low-income Americans.
As an applied epidemiologist, Aaron has worked in many roles with health professionals, scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to promote health and well-being in rural communities. Aaron’s primary focus has been building connected, accessible, culturally-competent, safe health systems in communities deeply impacted by food insecurity and physical inactivity. One of his greatest strengths is building capacity and trust within local coalitions to empower all residents to thrive together in their community. Aaron has accomplished this by delivering and implementing evidence-based health interventions developed and designed to make health a priority to individuals, communities, and organizations. Additionally, he has advocated, engaged, and trained in the education and promotion of strong social support systems that offer safe opportunities to purchase healthy foods, maintain an active lifestyle, and create an accessible, affirming, culturally-competent health care system for all.
Aaron’s most recent job was as a Health Assistant for Accolade, Inc., where he assisted customers in navigating health insurance coverage and eligibility. He served as the Nutrition & Family Finance agent for K-State Research & Extension from 2018 to 2020. He has nearly ten years of experience in direct, skilled nursing care. During this time, Aaron worked as a nurse’s assistant in senior living communities in Topeka and Manhattan, KS. During graduate school, Aaron worked as a Household Coordinator, supervising the care of a 16-resident dementia-care house at Meadowlark Hills Senior Living Community in Manhattan, KS. He supervised and trained the nursing staff, led care planning for residents and families, and oversaw the household budget and dietary planning.
Aaron is a veteran and Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps, serving from 2004 to 2012. He has published co-authorship in peer-reviewed health science journals and has written many health-related articles for local newspapers. Aaron moved to Blythewood from south-central Kansas in December 2021. He lives with his brother, sister, and four nieces and nephews.
Cherokee County 4-H has continued its partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Upstate by providing STEM activities to the clubs located in Cherokee County. Youth at Blacksburg, Draytonville, Luther Vaughan, BD Lee, and Limestone-Central Elementaries have experienced Biology and Chemistry through hands-on activities. During the month of October students dissected Barn Owl pellets to discover which animals make up the Barn Owl’s food chain. In November, they had a tasty introduction to Chemistry as they made “Pumpkin Pie in a Bag”.
Cookies, Crafts, & Pies, Oh My!
Cherokee County 4-H community clubs used their “hands for larger service” over the holidays by collecting non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army, crafting Christmas ornaments for residents at Brookview Healthcare Center, and baking Christmas cookies for Meals on Wheels. They have also been busy learning about all the opportunities that 4-H has to offer them!
Third grade students at Corinth Elementary have been learning about how to make healthy choices by learning to read nutrition labels and how many servings of fruits and veggies they need to eat each day. Students made and enjoyed Fruit Smoothies and a salad with a rainbow of vegetables and a low-fat Ranch dressing. They have also learned about GO, SLOW, and STOP drinks and are ready to make healthier choices in 2022!
Cookies & Ornaments made by 4-Hers
Looking ahead to a busy spring, Cherokee County 4-H is preparing for its First Annual Spring Livestock Show on March 11th and March 12th. Youth may exhibit market hogs, beef cattle, and rabbits. Sponsors are needed for this show to be a success. Please contact Laura Haddon (lhaddon@clemson.edu) for more information or to offer your support!
The first annual “Down on the Farm Day” is scheduled for this spring too! On Friday, April 1st second graders from across the county will be bussed to Sarratt Farms where they will be introduced to agriculture, both plants and animals! This event was made possible by a Cherokee County Community grant as well as partnerships between Clemson Extension, Cherokee County Farm Bureau, SC Farm to School, and local farmers.
