Category: Fairfield

The South Carolina Dairy Heifer Project began in 1974 and is one of the oldest 4-H projects of its kind in the Nation. This project was designed to provide youth in South Carolina an opportunity to raise a dairy heifer and experience the dairy industry, and then sell their heifer at the South Carolina Dairy Heifer Project Bred Heifer Sale. Throughout the years, thousands of South Carolina youth have taken part in 4-H dairy work. These 4-H and Dairy Heifer Project alumni can be found in all “walks of life.” Many are outstanding farmers and leaders of the dairy industry, while others are doctors, veterinarians, and teachers. In nearly every case, these people look back on this 4-H dairy experience as an outstanding part of their youth.

As the dairy industry has changed and evolved over the years, so has the South Carolina Dairy Heifer Project. Due to COVID restrictions, the 2020 Bred Heifer Sale was held online for the first time with great success. Due to that success, the sale has been permanently moved to an online format and the event dates have been adjusted to better suit the needs of the dairy industry. Through all the changes, the South Carolina Dairy Heifer Project has continued to thrive and reach youth across the state. Thirty-seven heifers are currently in project and under the care of 4-H youth and eighteen of those youth are from York County.

The 4-H and FFA dairy project members exhibit their dairy project animals at fairs, shows, and events in nearly every region of the state. Millions of people have seen or learned about 4-H and FFA through these youth dairy exhibits at the many fairs and events in South Carolina. This offers a tremendous opportunity for 4-H, FFA, Clemson Cooperative Extension, and the dairy industry to educate and inform the public about the dairy industry and youth dairy programs. Many thanks go out to the industry for the support of the program. Heifers for the project come from project alumni and producers across the Southeast who have seen the impact the project has had and is continuing to have on our youth.

SC Farmer Resource Rodeo Connects Farmers and Resource Providers

The SC Farmer Resource Rodeo returned in 2023 as part of the annual South Carolina Local Food Summit. Sponsored by Clemson University Cooperative Extension’s South Carolina New and Beginning Farmer Program (SCNBFP), the rodeo showcased over 40 organizations that provide farmer support, including education and Extension staff, lenders, granting organizations, land and production resources, state and federal agencies, regulatory bodies, non-profit assistance and more. Participating farmers were able to learn about these organizations and connect one-on-one.

“We are so pleased to have had the opportunity to bring back the Resource Rodeo,” says Ben Boyles, SCNBFP director. “Farming can often seem like a solitary occupation, and farmers are not always aware of.  The vast number of resources available to them,” he continued. “Through this event, we are not only able to introduce farmers to invaluable sources of assistance but give them the opportunity to connect directly with resource representatives.”

All Aboard! Agritourism Workshop Coming to York County
Interested in adding an exciting revenue stream for your farm business? Agritourism might be for you! Hop aboard a charted bus as we learn all about agritourism trends and resources while touring 3 unique agritourism farms in York County, SC.

Topics will include on-farm sales, u-pick operations, tour logistics, hosting workshops and events, school tours, farm dinners, food sales, and more! Get your questions answered by experienced agritourism providers!

Workshop Tour Stops
• Tatanka Bison Ranch
• Black’s Peaches
• Five Blossoms Farm

Thursday, September 28, 2023 | In-person | 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Meet at Clemson Extension – York County
120 N. Congress Street
York, SC 29745
Workshop Contact: Ben Boyles http://boyles2@clemson.edu

SC New and Beginning Farmer Program Launches Level 3 Program

Now in its 13th year, the Clemson Extension SC New and Beginning Farmer Program (SCNBFP) has graduated over 500 new and aspiring farmers from its basic, beginning-level cohort program. The SCNBFP is excited to launch a new Advanced Level 3 Program in 2023 to offer a higher level of instruction for those who are still relatively new to farming but are looking to further their education in key areas of agribusiness and production. The SCNBFP Advanced Level 3 Program offers 20 full-day workshops and is designed so that qualified participants may choose whatever SCNBFP Advanced Workshops best suit their individual needs. These curated training events are the product of strategic collaborations within Clemson University as well as additional agricultural support organizations such as Soil & Water Conservations Districts, the Small Business Development Center, and farmer educators throughout the state.

“While our established core curriculum provides comprehensive training at a basic level, there is a need in South Carolina for continued new farmer education at a higher level,” says SCNBFP Director and York County Clemson Extension Agribusiness Agent Ben Boyles. “Our new Advanced Program provides a deeper dive into critical and/or niche topics appropriate for the experienced but still growing new farmer audience.”

The SCNBFP Advanced Level 3 Program runs from September 2023 through March 2024 with a series of full-day workshops hosted throughout the state, many at on-farm locations and several through online platforms. All workshops are also available on an individual basis to the general public not enrolled in the full program. More information about these workshops can be found here: 

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/newfarmer/workshops.html

During the school year, 4-H provides hands-on activities with standards alignment for classrooms. Exploring a concept through a craft, building challenge, or demonstration can reinforce knowledge and provide a break from traditional class lectures. Your 4-H agent provides the supplies, prep work, and clean-up to conduct these classroom visits.

4-H offers the following tracts for classroom engagement, but we are flexible and always eager to plan around individual teachers’ needs and interests:

• Embryology: Hatch chicken eggs with your class! All supplies are provided and the automatic incubator makes this project both unforgettable and easy! Traditionally conducted in the spring.

• Butterfly Life Cycle: Raise Painted Lady caterpillars and watch their transformation into beautiful butterflies. Pair with your life cycle unit for a simple yet engaging demonstration of vocabulary in action. Traditionally conducted in the spring.

• School Gardening: Learn how to start and sustain a school garden with the Clemson University School Garden for SC Educators course. The course includes the Garden STEM curriculum guide as well as options for purchasing raised bed kits. Those who have taken the course and maintain a school garden are eligible to receive transplants and seeds. Plant, nurture, and watch your success grow!

• STEM challenges and more: Want to plan a series of classroom visits around your science lessons? Let’s design a custom set of activities!

4-H recommends at least six hours of engagement (either from the 4-H agent or by using the supplies provided). If you or a teacher you know is interested in free, hands-on classroom engagement, please contact your 4-H agent Stephanie Eidt: seidt@clemson.edu | 803-589-8977.

Fairfield 4-H will continue the Take-Home Kit Club for the 2023-2024 school year. Each month a bag of supplies for a craft or science-themed activity will be available for individuals who Sign Up. Examples from last year include a rubber band harmonica, hand-sewn beanbag, and pony bead keychain. Activities are targeted for children ages 8-13, but any student in Fairfield County aged 5-18 can join this independent learning project.

Membership is encouraged but not required for participation. Membership runs from September 1^st through August 31^st  of each year. Cost is $15 and includes a t-shirt if enrolled before October 1^st. Membership is required for participation with in-person clubs, projects, and some summer camps. If cost is prohibitive, contact your 4-H agent Stephanie Eidt: seidt@clemson.edu | 803-589-8977.

Clemson Extension in partnership with Fairfield County’s Carolina Community Actions, Inc. recently hosted a food safety and nutrition program for twenty-two adults. The program focused on teaching participants about healthy eating on a budget while also emphasizing the importance of food safety.

The program included interactive sessions and hands-on activities to help participants learn practical skills for meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking. Participants also learned about the risks associated with foodborne illnesses and how to prevent them through proper food handling and storage. Overall, the program provided a valuable opportunity for participants to improve their nutrition knowledge and skills while also ensuring their family’s safety as well as their own.

Come join us and learn the basics of canning fruits and vegetables from local farms and home gardens through a unique canning workshop. Participants will engage in hands-on activities using current recommended techniques for preserving foods for home use. Those with or without experience are encouraged to attend. Participants will receive the item(s) they prepare in class, resource book, other printed materials, and knowledge of safe home canning methods.

Cost: $35 per workshop. Participants should bring their lunch and wear closed-toe shoes.

Class Size: Class is limited to 10 participants, with a minimum of 5.

Dates:

• Friday, September 29th Salsa
• Saturday, September 30th Salsa
• Thursday, October 19th Pressure Canning
• Friday, October 20th Pressure Canning
• Friday, November 10th Pressure Canning
• Saturday, November 11th Pressure Canning
• Friday, December 14th Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads
• Saturday, December 15th Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads

Location: FCL Homemakers Building 634 Dekalb St. Camden, SC 29020

Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Registration Required to join a workshop.

Beyond offering independently run camps and projects, Fairfield 4-H partners with community organizations to plan and implement activities for students. Check out 4-H’s summer collaborations:

The Fairfield County Library’s summer reading program theme was We’re All in This Together, celebrating connection and comradery. Miss Stephanie co-hosted two programs within this premise, exploring the countries of Japan and France (voted by visitors to the world tasting booth at the Library Summer Kick-Off). Students made themed crafts like origami bookmarks and sampled local cuisine to discover how these countries were both similar and unique as compared to their own community.

4-H also visited the Chameleon Inspirations Learning Center’s summer school. Students combined science and art by designing catapults, playing electronic music with Snap Circuits, and more. By encouraging students to make mistakes and get messy, they practiced problem-solving and persistence. Sometimes kids need a space where they can tinker!

For 4-H agents, summer means day camps! Kids with similar interests join together to receive direct experience with intriguing topics. In partnership with Chester County 4-H, Fairfield County 4-H offered two sets of cooking camps this summer: The Healthy Habits Summit for teenagers, and Cooking Like a Chef Camp for youth.

Through an intensive weekend under the guidance of professional chefs, high school students learn skills in the kitchen at the summit. They are then expected to lead activities at local Cooking Like a Chef camps. We are proud of the Chester 4-H teen leaders who volunteered their time to share their culinary knowledge.

The first round of cooking camps was held at the Chester market building, where students made Tex-Mex favorites (fajitas, refried beans, and red rice) and Asian cuisine (chicken fried rice, turkey wontons, and mango pudding). They practiced knife skills and learned about spices, raw meat protocols, and food groups. The second set of two-day camps occurred at the Mitford Community Center. Students made soups, salads, chicken pot pies, and quesadillas. The food was so tasty and healthy!

Although day camps have wrapped for the summer, Fairfield and surrounding counties offer year-round opportunities for students. Connect with your local agent Stephanie Eidt (seidt@clemson.edu | 803-589-8977) for more information. You may also consider checking out what are neighbors are up to (Richland, Kershaw, Lancaster, Chester, Newberry, Union, Lexington) and joining the fun!

Drew Jeffers
Horticulture and Natural Resource Agent

The South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional Program (SCCLP) is an online, self-paced certification program that provides high-level horticultural education and training to green industry professionals and operators. The program launched in 2020 and has offered spring and fall courses for the last three years. Over 385 professionals have been certified and represent nearly every county in the state. Starting in April of 2023, the course will go fully on-demand to better serve the professionals’ needs.

The course has also been incorporated into the Spartanburg Community College’s Horticulture Capstone course, providing a model for other colleges to integrate the SCCLP into their horticulture programs. We are also in the process of bringing the program to high school classrooms. The goal of the high-school integration is to grow the green industry’s shrinking workforce pool. Clemson Extension also partnered with the SC Department of Corrections, where 37 soon-to-be-released inmates were certified and were given trade skills to renter the workforce. The program will continue if funding is available to further add to the workforce pool.

The significant impact of this program has been its ability to reach a large audience relatively quickly. Many folks have asked if the state requires the certification, but we tell them we hope it will become so ubiquitous that it doesn’t need to be a requirement by law but by demand by the consumer and hiring managers.

Andy Rollins
Upstate Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Agent

Currently, I’m holding all of my yearly production meetings.  At my peach meeting, we had 81 in attendance, with 61 different farms represented.

Along with another agent, we hosted the first meeting of the SC Small Fruit Growers Association.  I assisted Bob Hall in helping to establish the group with representation from across the state.   The production meeting featured a blueberry specialist from out of state, with 50 growers in attendance.

The strawberry production meeting is coming up at the end of February, and the vegetable meeting will be in March.

I will be working on a bloom-thinning product again this year for an on-farm demonstration and I also plan to showcase my on-farm grape work this fall.