[{"id":2343,"date":"2026-10-07T20:27:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T20:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2343"},"modified":"2026-10-07T20:27:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T20:27:17","slug":"greenville-4-h-kicks-off-a-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/greenville-4-h-kicks-off-a-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Greenville 4-H Kicks Off a New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Amie Mabe
<\/strong>4-H Youth & Development Agent<\/strong>
Greenville<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amie<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Greenville 4-H kicked off the first month of the new 4-H year with an exciting Open House at the Greenville State Farmers Market. Families enjoyed learning more about 4-H opportunities while celebrating with farm-fresh ice cream generously sponsored by Happy Cow Creamery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following day, the South Greenville Fair opened in Simpsonville, bringing together many talented 4-H youth who showcased their livestock projects, including goats, dairy cows, and rabbits. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment were on full display throughout the fair.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"4-Hers<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Greenville 4-H clubs are open and ready to welcome new members! Visit our website to explore our club listings and find the right opportunity for your family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Amie Mabe4-H Youth & Development AgentGreenville Greenville 4-H kicked off the first month of the new 4-H year with an exciting Open House at the Greenville State Farmers Market. Families enjoyed learning more about 4-H opportunities while celebrating with farm-fresh ice cream generously sponsored by Happy Cow Creamery. The following day, the South Greenville Fair […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3902,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[190],"tags":[13303],"coauthors":[93468],"class_list":["post-2343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-greenville","tag-4-h"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3902"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2343"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2348,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343\/revisions\/2348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2343"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2338,"date":"2026-10-07T20:15:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T20:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2338"},"modified":"2026-10-07T20:15:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T20:15:34","slug":"expanding-access-to-obesity-care-and-treatment-in-the-upstate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/expanding-access-to-obesity-care-and-treatment-in-the-upstate\/","title":{"rendered":"Expanding Access to Obesity Care and Treatment in the Upstate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Camilla Herndon
<\/strong>Rural Health & Nutrition Agent<\/strong>
Greenville & Laurens Counties<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n
\n
\"RHN
RHN Agent, Camilla Herndon, and RHN Associate, Danielle MCFall, with their training certificates at the American Diabetes Association in Arlington, Virginia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In October 2025, the American Diabetes Association\u00ae (ADA) invited the Clemson Extension Rural Health and Nutrition (RHN) team to participate in a pilot program to address obesity care and treatment. The Clemson Extension Rural Health and Nutrition team was one of 10 selected organizations for the obesity care program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obesity is a prevalent condition. In 2024, approximately 2 in 5 adults in the United States had obesity. In previous years, 1 in 4 U.S. adults had obesity, indicating an increase in new cases. While some believe that obesity is caused by a lack of willpower, poor eating habits, or a lack of physical activity, these beliefs are an inaccurate generalization. There are several factors outside of a person\u2019s control that contribute to obesity, such as genetics, stress, grief, and trauma, medications, sedentary jobs, lack of access to healthcare, food deserts, and lack of safe spaces for recreation.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"RHN
RHN Agent, Camilla Herndon, facilitating the Understanding Obesity as a Chronic Disease program with a group in Fountain Inn, SC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Understanding Obesity as a Chronic Disease program, outreach of the Obesity Association\u2122, a division of the ADA, focuses on understanding obesity as a chronic disease, addressing stigma, roadblocks to care, and evidence-based strategies for prevention and management. The program emphasizes why obesity treatments involve more than just an eating plan and physical activity. As of August 2026, Clemson Extension\u2019s RHN Agent, Camilla Herndon, and RHN Associate, Danielle McFall, had facilitated 6 program sessions for communities across the Upstate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you or your organization is interested in the Understanding Obesity as a Chronic Disease program, check Eventbrite for upcoming sessions or email Camilla at herndo3@clemson.edu to schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Camilla HerndonRural Health & Nutrition AgentGreenville & Laurens Counties In October 2025, the American Diabetes Association\u00ae (ADA) invited the Clemson Extension Rural Health and Nutrition (RHN) team to participate in a pilot program to address obesity care and treatment. The Clemson Extension Rural Health and Nutrition team was one of 10 selected organizations for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3902,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[190,91743,52614],"tags":[69305],"coauthors":[93468],"class_list":["post-2338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-greenville","category-laurens","category-rural-health-nutrition","tag-rural-health"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3902"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2338"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2352,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338\/revisions\/2352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2338"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2349,"date":"2026-10-07T20:12:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T20:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/?p=2349"},"modified":"2026-10-07T20:12:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T20:12:37","slug":"greenville-county-horticulture-a-busy-year-and-more-to-come","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/upstate\/greenville-county-horticulture-a-busy-year-and-more-to-come\/","title":{"rendered":"Greenville County Horticulture: A Busy Year and More to Come"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Drew Jeffers<\/strong>
Horticulture Agent
<\/strong>Greenville<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been a busy spring and summer for horticulture programming in Greenville County, and the pace is not slowing as we head into fall and begin looking ahead to 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past several months, much of my work has focused on helping homeowners, Master Gardeners, and green-industry professionals make better horticultural and pest-management decisions. That has included educational programs, professional training, diagnostic assistance, research, and the continued development of new Extension resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer also provided several opportunities to share some of that work beyond Greenville County. In August, I presented three research projects at the American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference in Dallas. Those presentations focused on consumer demand for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services, Master Gardener knowledge of IPM, and factors affecting long-term retention of Master Gardener volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closer to home, work has continued on the South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional program, including efforts to update and strengthen the curriculum for future participants. We have also been developing new educational resources for the green industry, including an IPM video project with the Clemson Campus Research Greenhouses and the transition of commercial pesticide applicator exam-preparation material into a more applied, online, on-demand IPM course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Full Fall Ahead<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2026 is already shaping up to be busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Greenville County Master Gardener Training Course began in September and will continue through February 2027. Over the next several months, participants will work through topics ranging from soil and plant physiology to pest management, trees and shrubs, diagnostics, and other core horticultural subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On October 17, I will be at the Kilgore Lewis House Fall Festival and Plant Sale, presenting Increasing Biodiversity in the Landscape<\/strong> and answering gardening questions at a horticulture Q&A booth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

October will also bring our annual IPM Symposium<\/strong>, which provides continuing education for landscape, nursery, greenhouse, and other green-industry professionals. The program focuses on practical, research-based approaches to pest identification, diagnosis, pesticide stewardship, and Integrated Pest Management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November, Jackie Jordan and I will present a hands-on Microscope and Diagnostics Workshop<\/strong> at the South Carolina State Master Gardener Conference in Myrtle Beach. The workshop will give Master Gardeners an opportunity to strengthen their diagnostic skills and gain experience with microscopes and other tools for investigating plant problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking Ahead to 2027<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

We are already planning a full slate of horticulture programs for next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For green-industry professionals, 2027 programs will include live webinars on plant diagnostics, biological controls, ornamental diseases, thrips, mites, whiteflies, and scale insects. We are also planning pesticide applicator training opportunities, a Greenhouse & Nursery Growers Summit<\/strong>, and continued IPM programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homeowners will have several opportunities as well. Programs already planned include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n