May 20 marked the 100th anniversary for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension is an agency that is dedicated to help individuals and families make their lives better with research and information from North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University.
Cooperative Extension is found in every county in North Carolina. Cooperative Extension in Rowan County is located at 2727-A Old Concord Road in Salisbury. Cooperative Extension is also partially funded by Rowan County and partners to bring citizens information in four program areas: agriculture, 4-H and youth programs, family and consumer sciences and community development.
The organization has information on such subjects as vegetable gardening, landscaping, youth and summer youth activities, nutrition programs, livestock, small grains, corn, developing communities. These are just a few examples of educational programs offered by Cooperative Extension.
Today, Cooperative Extension continues this important role, serving communities and families, supporting agriculture and empowering youth to be leaders. Rowan County Cooperative Extension agents help connect consumers with food produced in their communities, help families to embrace a healthy lifestyle and engage youth in science, technology, engineering and math studies.
Rowan County was actually one of the first counties to employee a county agent providing farm demonstration work for struggling farmers 100 years ago.
The legacy of Cooperative Extension is its history of helping move North Carolina forward over the past 100 years. North Carolina remains the progressive state it is today, thanks, in part, to the hard work of Cooperative Extension professionals and volunteers.
The Extension Staff include: Darrell Blackwelder, Extension director, horticulture; Thomas Cobb, animal agriculture; Sarah Drake, 4-H and youth; Danelle Cutting, local foods/Extension Master Gardener program,; Toi Degree, family consumer science; Melva Menius, staff secretary.
More complete information about the service and educational programs can be found on the Cooperative Extension web site www.rowanextension.com or via phone, 704-216-8970.
Please join Cooperative Extension agents, volunteers, 4-H leaders, 4-Hers, Master Gardener volunteers and advisory council members as Cooperative Extension celebrates 100 years of dedicated service in Rowan County. The celebration will be Sunday, Oct. 12, 3-6 p.m., at the Agriculture Center on Old Concord Road in Salisbury.
Join us for 4-H educational booths and cooking demonstrations as well as Master Gardener volunteers who have information on the Pocket Garden demonstration gardens at the Extension office.
Door prizes and refreshments will also be served at the event.