September 25, 2024
The ServSafe® food safety training uses material from the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and is taught by Clemson University Extension Agents who are Registered ServSafe Proctors and Certified ServSafe Instructors by the NRA. Permitted Retail Food Establishments (RFE) in South Carolina are required to have a least one Certified Food Protection Manager.
Need a class or to re-certify? Sign Up for a class!
September 5, 2024
Become a South Carolina Master Food Preserver!
Join our community of passionate food enthusiasts and extend Clemson Extension’s educational programs. Our comprehensive training includes an 8-week online course and a 2-day intensive session in January 2025. Gain 30 hours of hands-on experience and volunteer in your community to earn your certification. Sign up today and start your journey to becoming a food preservation expert!
Complete the Pre-Registration by Wednesday, September 11th.
September 5, 2024
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, a resource book, other printed materials, and knowledge of safe home canning methods.
Cost is $35 per workshop. Class size is limited to 10 participants, with a minimum of 5. Participants should bring their lunch and wear closed-toe shoes.
Workshops will be held at the FCL Homemakers Building in Camden, SC from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on the following Dates:
Register for a Canning Workshop!
February 21, 2024
The Fairfield County 4-H Take-Home Kits include instructions and supplies for simple STEM and art activities each month. They have been an ongoing project since Fall 2022 to give students opportunities to design and create at their convenience. They also provide links to further explore the topics. Kits will be available at the Fairfield County Library on a first-come first-served basis starting January 3rd. They are targeted for ages 8-13, but are free to any Fairfield student K-12. Get a sneak peek of the activities below or follow the links to get an early start!
February 21, 2024
Check out these learning opportunities available statewide from South Carolina 4-H!
STEM Challenge Day
Mark your calendar for the 2024 Engineering Challenge on April 24th at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. Team and Individual Challenges for youth ages 9-18 will include Mystery, Robotics, Bridge Building, Coding, Visual Arts, Rocketry, and a new Agri-Science Poster Contest. Youth ages 5-8 may enter the Visual Arts Challenge. To find out more, connect with the Chester County Agent: Abigail Phillips atimmon@clemson.edu | 803-385-6181.
Physical Activity Project
New for 2024! South Carolina 4-H has created a physical activity project to encourage healthy bodies and minds. Participants log their exercise and connect with other students and learn proper techniques from experts! The project runs from March 4th to May 31st. There will be an Eventbrite link to come for registration.
Also keep your eyes peeled for registration for the Small Garden, Pullet Chain, and Honey Bee Project this spring!
In case you missed it, here are some events that took place this January:
Horse Bowl, Hippology, and Creative Contests:
SC 4-H Horse Bowl and Hippology contests were held Saturday, January 20th at the Anderson County Clemson Extension Office. This annual event allowed South Carolina 4-H members who are 9-18 years old to show off their horse knowledge among their peers. Members with a passion for horses who were looking to improve their skills were able to express it through art in the SC 4-H Horse Creative Contest as well. Categories included drawing, photography, poetry and more!
Pinckney Leadership Roundup
The Pinckney Leadership Roundup was held January 20th at the Brookland Baptist Conference Center in West Columbia. Registration included breakfast, lunch, a t-shirt, and a day of interactive workshops. Through this event, students could connect with like-minded individuals, learn from experienced leaders, and gain valuable insights to enhance their leadership skills. This opportunity was designed to empower middle and high school students to take charge and make a positive impact in their personal lives.
February 21, 2024
Discover the benefits of using Silvopasture Systems and register for the upcoming Webinar Series and Field Day.
Webinar Sessions
The two-part webinar series will address the establishment, management, and economics of implementing silvopasture systems.
Session 1 – March 7, 2024:
Session 2 – March 14, 2024:
Field Day
You can also join Extension specialists and agents for a
Field Day on April 11, 2024 from 8:30 AM to Noon.
The field day will focus on topics about the establishment and management of woodlands and forage systems and the challenges and successes in using a silvopasture system for commercial livestock production. This event will be held at Varnville, SC.
Register for these events:
February 21, 2024
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.
Persons with or without experience are encouraged to attend any workshop.
Participants will receive:
Registration is required, so sign up today!
February 21, 2024
Do you rely on a private well for your drinking water source? With more than 20% of South Carolinians falling into this category, it is essential that these wells are properly maintained in order to ensure safe drinking water. Maintenance of the well is the responsibility of the well owner and can often get overlooked. If you feel overwhelmed when it comes to all the different well components, water quality testing, and treatment options, then you are not alone! The Clemson Extension Water Resources team recently developed numerous resources to help well owners on these very topics as part of the Be Well Informed program. This includes a three-part HGIC factsheet series – Residential Drinking Water Well: Well Components, Water Quality, and Water Treatment Options.
F
or a more in-depth overview for well owners, check out the new Be Well Informed Online Course. Here well owners are able to dive into three modules covering SC water resources, well maintenance, and water quality. This course is free for all and is self-paced! For more information and to sign up for the online course, Click Here.
If you have any questions regarding your well or other water-related questions, please contact:
Charly Greenthaler charlym@clemson.edu | 803-520-1679
September 21, 2023
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.
September 21, 2023
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:
