Greenville County Rural Health and Nutrition Agent, Melissa Bales, stands with the Clemson Extension table at the Appalachian Health Summit in Roanoke, VA.
Representatives from the Rural Health and Nutrition (RHN) Team, including the Greenville County RHN agent, and individuals from the horticulture and 4H teams, attended the Extension Appalachian Region Health Summit in Roanoke, Virginia in November. The summit was an opportunity to showcase what the Clemson RHN team is doing to address the health of South Carolinians as well as learn more about the different health and family consumer sciences teams from Extension services across the Appalachian region. The summit opened up opportunities for additional collaboration between Extension services for how we can best serve our stakeholders.
Melissa Bales, Rural Health and Nutrition Extension Agent
Bilingual Recruitment at Monaview Elementary
Know Diabetes by Heart (KDBH) and Health Extension for Diabetes (HED) offer classes in English and Spanish. Eight percent of individuals living in Greenville County speak Spanish. Through the delivery of HED and KDBH in English, we identified a need for these programs in Spanish. Statewide Rural Health and Nutrition agent, Camden Bryan, and Greenville Rural Health and Nutrition agent, Melissa Bales, collaborated with program team leaders to translate and culturally adapt the two programs for the Spanish-speaking population.
HED had its first Spanish cohorts in 2022 and is starting additional cohorts in February of this year. KDBH had its first Spanish groups in early 2022 and will offer many program dates in 2023. The first KDBH offered in English and Spanish for Greenville County was offered in January. For more information about KDBH and HED in Spanish, contact Camden Bryan at cnpatse@clemson.edu or 843-504-0299.
There are five online cohorts for English HED enrolling in February for Greenville County and one in-person English HED enrolling in February for Laurens County. KDBH was offered in both languages in January both in-person and online. For more information about KDBH and HED in English, contact Melissa Bales at mbales@clemson.edu or 864-365-0635.
Start Your Own Vegetable and Flower Seeds This Year
Want to learn how to start your own vegetable and flower seeds this year? Join Greenville County Horticulture Agent Mary Vargo and the Greenville Master Gardeners for a seed-starting workshop on February 25, 2023, from 11 AM to 12:30 PM at the Greenville State Farmers Market. Participants will receive a seed starting tray with a humidity dome and learn new techniques and methods to start their own seeds at home successfully. There will be lots of show and tell, as well as vegetable and flower seeds to share! The cost is 12.00, and registration is required for this event. Contact Mary Vargo with any questions: mavargo@clemson.edu
Registration is now open for the Carolina Yards Online Course.
This asynchronous online class will provide information and techniques to help you create and maintain a more environmentally friendly landscape. Participants are encouraged to complete at least 18 action items from the Carolina Yards Scorecard in order to receive Carolina Yard Certification although yard certification is not mandatory. The course is organized into modules. Each of the 12 content modules contains five parts: Action Guide, Presentation(s), Resources, Discussion, and Measure Up. Modules must be completed in chronological order.
An optional field day will be offered the week of May 8 in the Columbia area. This is an un-graded course. A digital Certificate of Completion will be issued for completing all coursework. A digital badge will be issued for completion of coursework and a minimum of 80% on each module’s Measure Up.
Stay in the Loop
Be on the lookout for additional local gardening programs this spring and summer on various topics taught by Horticulture Agent Mary Vargo and the Greenville County Master Gardeners. Use the Clemson Extension Event Calendar to stay in the loop!
Master Gardener Course Postponed
The Greenville County Master Gardener Course was postponed due to difficulty securing a new location to host the class and is now slated to begin in the fall of 2023. Complete this form, and we will let you know when pre-registration is available.
Travis Mitchell Livestock and Forages Agent for Newberry & Saluda Counties Director for The South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association
The spring season is in full swing across the Carolina’s. It is a joy and relief to see pastures greening up and cattle grazing. Spring always brings optimism which was evident in the “beef cattle market outlook” presentation Dr. Andrew Griffith gave at the South Carolina Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting. Cattle producers from across the state met at the T. Ed Garrison Cattle Complex on February 3rd for this event. Dr. Griffith, an Extension Livestock Economist with the University of Tennessee, presented to the group a favorable market outlook report indicating higher cattle prices for the next two years. Producers also enjoyed a presentation from State veterinarian Dr. Michael Neault. Dr. Neault presented on the Asia Longhorn Tick, educating producers regarding control measures and identification strategies. The meeting concluded with a joint awards banquet with the Clemson Bull Test.
Be on the lookout in next month’s issue of the Carolina Cattle Connection for photos and awards of excellence winners. I want to thank each of our Prime, Choice, and Select members for putting on an outstanding trade show and for their financial support in making the 2023 Annual Meeting a huge success.
Alex Thompson Food Systems & Safety Agent Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, & Spartanburg Counties
ServSafe is a family of training programs offered by the National Restaurants Association that trains restaurant owners, managers, and employees on food safety. ServSafe certifications are recognized by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) as meeting their standards for restaurant food safety training. Clemson Cooperative Extension offers ServSafe Food Handler and Food Protection Manager trainings and exams, as well as recertification exams for Food Protection Manager’s whose certifications have expired. Contact your local Clemson Cooperative Extension office to schedule a training or recertification.
Patricia Whitener 4-H Natural Resources Program Leader Statewide
4-H Thrive Model
This past fall Greenville County 4-H agent, Patricia Whitener, received $25,000 through a competitive distribution of Extension Innovation funding to further the implementation and adoption of the 4-H Thrive model. SC 4-H Agents from both Clemson University and South Carolina State participated in professional development training sessions held regionally across the state. The impact of initiative is widespread. Sessions were designed to increase 4-H professional and volunteer capacity for designing and implementing high quality 4-H programs that promote youth thriving. SC 4-H agents worked collaboratively to identify 4-H program capacity strengths and needs. Research demonstrates youth programs must be done well if they are to make a positive difference in the lives of youth. Long-term outcomes of quality Developmental Context (i.e., 4-H programs) are academic or vocational success, civic engagement, employ-ability and economic stability, happiness, and well-being. Monthly Thrive hour zoom sessions are ongoing through the Spring of 2023. An additional Thrive session will be held for new hires as SC 4-H continues to establish itself as the leading resource of quality youth development programs and practice.
Patricia Whitener 4-H Natural Resources Program Leader State-wide
Patricia A. Whitener, 4-H Natural Resources
Welcome to Patricia A. Whitener who will serve as our new Extension Associate leading the 4-H Natural Resources Program Area.
Patricia is a native of Clemson, South Carolina. She graduated from Clemson University where she obtained her undergraduate degree in Environmental and Natural Resources and earned her master’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology. Patricia served as a field technician with the U.S. Forest Service, Youth Conservation Corps leader with National Park Service, and naturalist with Table Rock State Park. Since 2014, Patricia also had the opportunity to serve as the Greenville County 4-H agent where she led a dynamic and diverse youth development program in the most populated county in the state. Currently, Patricia is pursuing a doctoral degree in Youth Development Leadership under the College of Behavioral, Social & Health Sciences. She holds many certifications in environmental education and is well published. She is driven to educate, connect, and inspire others.
Patricia can be reached at 864-650-0991 or pwhiten@clemson.edu. Her office will be located at 279 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, SC 29634.
Personal Message
I have accepted a position as the Natural Resources Program Leader for SC 4-H Youth Development and will be located on the Clemson University campus. With new opportunities, comes sadness as well, and I’ve loved this job so much.
I can’t express how much I’ve enjoyed working with you all over the last 8 years in this role. I’ve grown so much, not only personally but professionally, doing this work in our community, and helping our youth grow. I am so grateful for the support of the amazing partners, organizations, and volunteers I have had the privilege to work with. Even though I will no longer be here in this role, Greenville County 4-H still has so many exciting things on the horizon and I look forward to continuing to support this community and the new 4-H agent as best I can.
I want to personally thank you all for your help and support over the last 8 years in this role. I have truly loved every minute. I’ve met some incredible people and been touched by so many families along the way. I will greatly miss everyone. But this isn’t goodbye, just a see you later, because I still plan to be involved as a volunteer and supportive of the amazing Natural Resource programs 4-H offers state-wide!
Alex Thompson Food Systems & Safety Agent Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, & Spartanburg Counties
From left to right: motorized grain mill, four 7.5 gallon fermenters, and glycol system, Photo Credit: Alex Ryan Thompson
Work on creating the Clemson Cooperative Extension Brewing Program for South Carolina is moving forward. Recently four 7.5-gallon stainless steel fermentation vessels, a glycol system for controlling fermentation temperatures, and a motorized grain mill were moved into a laboratory space in Newman Hall on the Clemson University campus. This equipment is a bench-top version of the equipment used by production breweries across South Carolina. Students in the course will learn to operate this equipment in a safe and effective way; creating a skilled workforce to aid South Carolina’s craft brewing industry. In the coming months, the team working to complete this program will work closely with Clemson University facilities and administration to bring the brewing program laboratory online.
Last summer Janet Steele and Carolyn Dawson successfully offered two Woods in Your Backyard workshops in our area. These workshops were designed specifically for landowners with 1-10 acres to help them learn how to implement sustainable outcomes for their woodlands, wildlife, water, and recreational objectives.
The focus on smaller acreages was to educate owners on how to better manage areas of their property, as well as to help them find professionals to complete the more significant tasks. Participants attending the workshop utilized the Woods in Your Backyard guide and workbook pages to learn more about their land.
Participants engaged in the Woods in Your Backyard Workshop.
Elements of The Woods in Your Backyard Workshop consisted of Understanding the benefits of managing your land, Mapping your property, assessing why you own it and what you hope it will become, Understanding how your property functions in the larger landscape, Identifying habitat units on your property, Learning basics of tree ID, forestry, and habitat management, Assessing and improving your property’s water resources, recreational possibilities, and aesthetic appeal, Choosing a few backyard projects to help meet your goals, and setting a timetable and marking your progress.
Due to the success of the workshops, the program will be offered again later in the year.
The Water Resources Team continues to develop a variety of educational materials and programs, including these new offerings:
Pond Maintenance: Dredging a Land Grant Press article outlining potential regulations and additional factors before undertaking a freshwater pond dredging project.
Livestock Ponds in South Carolina a Land Grant Press article for livestock owners depending on a pond to provide water for their herd.
Lead Solutions – educational information showcasing simple ways to reduce potential exposure to lead in drinking water.
Water planning efforts continue throughout the state to ensure plentiful, clean water for future generations. The SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is leading the creation of River Basin Councils in each of SC’s eight major river basins; these Councils will work over a two-year period to draft a River Basin Plan.
The Broad River Basin Council formed in 2022, and ongoing monthly meetings are open to the public; applications may be accepted for a representative from a Local Government located within the Broad River Basin.
