Message from United Way

 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a foundational member of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) National Board and would like to share with our family of partner agencies information regarding its COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought grief to every corner of our nation, taking the lives of over 700,000 people. FEMA is committed to reducing the financial burden of these deaths and is providing individuals who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses with funding for eligible costs.  Since FEMA began the program, over one billion dollars in assistance has already been distributed.

 

FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020. Like other federal assistance, these funds cannot be used in duplication of other programs.  We are seeking your assistance to help get the word out to individuals who may be eligible to apply. Click here on FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for guidance and eligibility requirements and types of services funded.  Instructions on how to apply for this assistance through FEMA's dedicated helpline at 1-844-684-6333 can also be found on the website.

 

Helpline representatives are trained to provide personal application support and answer any questions regarding program eligibility. Since this program is not administered by United Way Worldwide or the EFSP National Board, all questions should be referred to the FEMA Helpline or its website, https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance, for more information. 

 

We would greatly appreciate your assistance in sharing this program with your community and partner agencies so more people are aware of this financial resource.

 

 

JMG News

 

BIWEEKLY UPDATE | NOVEMBER 2021 PLANT PARTS FOOD DRIVE JMG NLT 2022 THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS PARTICIPATE IN A PLANT PARTS FOOD DRIVE! GET INVOLVED Wondering how you can work with your group to make a difference? Collect your fall harvest and/or canned goods, learn more about parts of a plant, and impact your local community with this activity. This is a great activity to support local food banks, most of which are currently experiencing supply challenges and greater demand in the holiday season. Share your group's efforts with the hashtags #plantpartsfooddrive and #jmg so we can share the love and even reward some of our favorite posts with books from our JMG Library! PUT JMG NLT 2022 ON YOUR HOLIDAY WISHLIST! Want to up your teaching and gardening game? JMG NLT 2022 is the perfect opportunity! Join us for a hands-on, fun-filled 3 days of JMG training in College Station, TX on February 21st-23rd, 2022! Hear from experienced speakers and engage in activities with fellow group leaders. We hope you will consider joining us, and be sure to register SOON to get the best pricing! LEARN MORE REGISTER NOW! LOTS OF THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS? Check out these tips to ensure you are storing leftovers safely! Some of our favorite tips from friends at Dinner Tonight include: Cool Food Rapidly Seal Food Well Best Devices to Reheat View their article here with details on all the best tips! STORING LEFTOVERS SAFELY VISIT OUR WEBSITE Junior Master Gardener Program | juniormastergardener@gmail.com CONNECT WITH US:  ‌  ‌  ‌

NC Volunteer Leaders' Conference

 

    The 2022 NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders’ Conference will be February 4-5, 2022 at the Hilton Durham near Duke University. This is your opportunity to participate in workshops and seminars designed especially for 4-H volunteers and agents to create positive learning experiences for young people across the state. Annually, more than 200 conference participants gain skills and knowledge to help make the best better!

    Friday will offer pre-conference optional workshops during the day and a night fun group activity you will not want to miss. Saturday features a variety of workshops, district meetings, recognizing awards recipients and incoming officer installation, plus chances to network and see friends! We hope you can join us for this great training event! To learn more about this great

conference, be sure to check out the agenda here.

    In order to attend this conference, you must be an approved volunteer in 4-H Online and you must register in Eventbrite. Once you register and pay, your 4-H Agent will be able to register you and approve your registration in 4-H Online.  Please look at the agenda and note that you do not have to spend the night.  This year awards will happen at the awards lunch, so there will not be an evening banquet.  

Registration Fees:

Pre-Conference Registration $10

Full Time Registration $140

Saturday Only Registration $110

Awards Dinner Only Registration $50

    Thanks to our United Way Funds we will pay registration for our Robeson County 4-H Volunteers that would like to attend.  (Please note if you do not attend you will be asked to reimburse the program for the funds spent on your registration).  If you would like to spend the night before or after (or even both) we just ask that you pay for the hotel room when you register.  We will make the Hotel reservations for you.   Registration can be found on our 4-H App under programs or by clicking this link.

 

    Registration will close on January 7, 2022 at 3:00 pm.  No cancellations or registration changes will be accepted after January 7th at 5:00pm. We hope to see you at North Carolina 4-H Volunteer Leaders’ Conference 2022:  4-H Family Reunion, Together Again!

4-H Top 4 for the week of November 22

  

    First and foremost we would like to wish you and yours a happy Thanksgiving.  We are grateful to our 4-H member, volunteers, families, and Extension staff for making this program what it is today.  We hope each of you has a happy and safe holiday filled with love and kindness.

  Also want to share some exciting news!  Jordan and Jada McKinnon with Inspirational Leaders 4-H Club travelled to the National Egg and Poultry Conference to represent North Carolina 4-H and compete in Chicken and Turkey Chargrill.  Our youth placed 6th and 4th in the Nation!  Congratulations to them for all their hard work and incredible showing.  Also Maggie Underwood will be travelling to National 4-H Congress this month to represent NC at that event.  We wish her well.

  As we look forward to the end of the year we wanted to share our top 4.  Please note almost all of our  opportunities are available for registration on our app.

-Club Leaders-December 1 is the deadline to have all your club members registered in 4-H Online.  For questions about this please contact Wendy Maynor at wrmaynor@ncsu.edu.  If folks are not actively registered in 4-H Online they will not be recognized at 4-H Appreciation Night. 

-4-H Appreciation Night will be held at our office on December 10 starting promptly at 6:30.  We are excited to be offering a Drive-In Movie night for our families.  You will not want to miss this.  Registration and more information is available on our app (under programs) as well as on our blog.  Deadline to register is December 6.  For more information about this fun and first time ever celebration (where you can see your name on the big screen) contact Wendy Maynor at wrmaynor@ncsu.edu

-2021 Dairy Christmas Photo Contest deadline for entries is Monday, December 6.  For rules and the entry form please check out our blog post at this link.

-Club Leaders your 6 month calendar for 2022 (or entire year would be fine) is due by December 15.  SPIN Club leaders if you know when you would like to meet again and would like to set up your club dates please contact Wendy Maynor at wrmaynor@ncsu.edu.  She can get you registered and make sure you are ready to go for 2022.

That is all for this week.  Thank you for all you do for the youth of Robeson County through 4-H.  We are grateful to all of you.

Wendy, Christy, and Shea Ann

2021 Dairy Christmas Photo Contest

 

Each year, the Dairy Photo Contest allows youth to put their creative talents to use in developing a  message about the dairy industry for the consumer public. In design and development of the project, youth learn a great deal about the dairy industry. The contest is supported by The Dairy Alliance.  For 2021, photo project submissions will be used to celebrate Dairy throughout the Holiday season. They will be shared through social media in celebration of Dairy during the Holidays. Please note the following rules:

    1. Competition in this contest will be conducted on an individual basis in Division I (9-12 years of age), Division II (13-15 years of age), and Division III (16-19 years of age) at the county and state level. Youth in Division IV (5-8 years of age) may participate on a non-competitive basis at the county level only.

    2. Entries can be a singular photo or incorporate up to 3 photos (collage). Entries with multiple photos can be mounted on poster board. All projects whether an individual photo or collage should be submitted electronically as an 8x10 image as .jpeg files.

    3. Photos MUST NOT contain copyright material such as cartoon characters, etc. Photos also should not contain any personal identifiers or information (including farm names), without written permission of the owner.

   4. All photos submitted must be the original work by youth entrant and will be accompanied by a photo copyright release form (attached to this link). Winning photos will be shared online by The Dairy Alliance and NC State Dairy Extension.

 5. Photos must have been displayed at least once in a public place or shared through social media in the county.

    Counties will determine winners in Divisions I through III.  Electronic submissions are due to the 4-H Office by Monday December 5.  Entries can be emailed to Shea Ann DeJarnette at sadejarn@ncsu.edu with the title of 2021 Dairy Christmas Photo Contest Entry in the subject line of the email.  

  First and second place winners in each age category will be submitted to the state competition.  The following cash prizes will be awarded to state winners in Division I, Division II, and Division III by The Dairy Alliance: First Place: $100, Second Place: $75, Third Place: $50

4-H Appreciation Night

 

We are excited to invite you to 4-H Appreciation Night.  This year the special event which celebrates our 4-H members and volunteers will take place at the 4-H office, in the parking lot.  I know that sounds odd but there is a reason.  This year our event will be shown on the big screen as part of a drive in movie night!

  Registration is a little different because we will ask you to register everyone in your vehicle.  Once you arrive, find your prime parking spot and send someone inside to check in.  When they check in there will be a bag for your car that has member and volunteer awards and gifts as well as popcorn, drinks, and other treats for you to enjoy during the event.  

  We will start promptly at 6:30 pm with our video program and then move on to two classic movies.  Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman.  You can curl up with a blanket and enjoy.  If you need a bathroom come into the office and the bathrooms will be available during the event.  This is a night for the entire family and we hope you will come out and enjoy this wonderful event.

 You can register from our app under programs or from this link: https://forms.gle/ig6wfXM327qR3yaZA  Deadline to register is December 6.  If you have any questions please contact Wendy Maynor at wrmaynor@ncsu.edu.  Can't wait to see you for a one of a kind movie event!

It's Turkey Time!

The following article was written for the Robesonian, by Jessie Jones, our Family and Consumer Science Agent and can be found on our Extension Website.

Thanksgiving is this coming week! After Thursday we will be sprinting towards the next big holiday (according to retail stores, we should be halfway to the finish line by now). Regardless of whether you already have your Christmas tree up or not, most of us will be cooking up a turkey in the coming days – you’ve gotten yours, right?

Last week I touched on how you can practice food safety while grocery shopping. There are specific guidelines to follow when selecting, storing, and cooking your turkey. The key is to make sure you are preventing the growth of harmful bacteria that can lead to food-borne illnesses. Follow these guidelines to make sure you are keeping your Thanksgiving feast and guests as safe as possible:

• When purchasing a fresh turkey, check the packaging for leaks and keep it separate from other items in your shopping cart. Once you have it home, leave the turkey in the bag and place in a pan or on a tray (to prevent dripping) on the bottom shelf of the fridge. Do not keep the turkey in the fridge for more than 3 days.
• If you’ve purchased a frozen turkey in advance, the best way to thaw a turkey is in the fridge. This ensures the turkey is being thawed at the same rate on the inside and outside. Of course, this takes a little planning ahead of time. The general rule of thumb is to allow 24 hours per 5 pounds of meat, so it would take a 20-pound turkey at least 4 days to thaw. Keep turkey in original packaging and place in a pan or on a try on the bottom shelf of fridge.
• Don’t wash the turkey. Bacteria, such as salmonella, cannot be simply rinsed off and can transfer onto your kitchen sink and splash to other surfaces. Also, be sure to clean up and sanitize kitchen surfaces and utensils used while preparing the turkey.
• Use a thermometer to make sure the turkey is done. Check the temperature of the turkey using a digital thermometer in three spots: thickest part of the breast, innermost part of the wing, and innermost part of the thigh. Temperatures must be above 165°F.
• Don’t let the turkey or any leftovers sit out at room temperature. Leaving leftovers to sit out allows for the growth of harmful bacteria, and it’s important to get them in the fridge as soon as possible. Dividing up leftovers into small portions will help cool food down once in the fridge.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. As hard as it may seem to do during such a busy time, slow down and spend time with loved ones and friends – the dishes aren’t going anywhere, I promise.

Oh, don’t forget about The Very Local Holiday Festival taking place on December 4, 2021, from 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Robeson County Farmers Market (corner of 8th and Elm Streets). This is a wonderful opportunity to support local farmers and crafters, as well as give back to the local economy.

For more information or questions on how to store and prepare turkey, contact Jessie Jones, Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at 910-671-3276, by email at jessie_jones@ncsu.edu, or visit our website.

Be a Hunger Hero

All high school youth are invited to join us for the 2022 North Carolina Youth Institute (NCYI), a program that provides a platform for youth to research and give recommendations to solve key global challenges that range from food insecurity, access to potable water, poverty, human rights, engineering issues, and more. 

• Write a paper: Youth select a country besides their own and research the challenges families face around food and write a paper with proposed community-based solutions.
  
• Youth present their paper to their peers at the in-person NCYI at NC State and work collectively to find common themes around global hunger.
• Participate in hands-on workshops. Youth will have a chance to explore hands-on sessions led by faculty across CALS to learn more about NC agriculture and food systems.
• Become a Borlaug Scholar. After participating in the NCYI, youth will be named a Borlaug Scholar by the World Food Prize. 

The NCYI is hosted by NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and is a part of the the World Food Prize's Global Youth Institute. 

Youth will need to register and submit their paper by March 4th, 2022 (registration opens soon) and the in-person, one-day NCYI will be held at NC State on Friday, April 1st, 2022. 

If you have any questions or to learn more about the process of this program, contact the North Carolina Youth Institute State Coordinator Dr. Lori Unruh Snyder at lori_snyder@ncsu.edu | (919) 515-4070 or Liz Driscoll, liz_driscoll@ncsu.edu | (919.886.3424)

Spotted Lantern Fly-Be on the Lookout

 

NCDA&CS – Plant Industry Division has received numerous reports of potential Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) finds in our state over the past year and although some of the images sent to us did contain a live SLF life stage, our investigation and follow up surveys have not found any established populations. However, the increasing spread of SLF in Virginia has us especially concerned that the pest may have hitchhiked to NC this summer.  Finding and reacting immediately to SLF will be the only chance we have at control, so we are relying heavily on NC Cooperative Extension helping us spread the word to Master Gardeners and citizens to be on the lookout and report any potential SLF sightings at badbug@ncagr.gov . 

 

 

Be on High Alert

Alarmingly, we received notice from the Virginia Department of Agriculture that Spotted Lanternfly now has an established population in Carroll County,  just north of Surry County, North Carolina.  We are ramping up survey and outreach efforts in that area, however any vehicle, camper and commodity moving from any SLF infested area could move the highly invasive pest to our state.  We believe the highest risk areas in NC are locations with camping, tourist attractions, conventions or other visitor attractions, but we cannot rule out even a single vehicle that stops in our state for gas could carry a gravid female or viable egg mass.  Most recently we learned that SLF can even move on the exterior of aircraft and the insect may not require Tree-of-Heaven to complete its lifecycle.  SLF feeds on more than 70 plants and although vineyards are at greatest agricultural risk, home values, tourism and outdoor venues are just a few industries that take a financial hit in areas where SLF is established. 

Other SLF infested areas in Virginia include Prince William, Shenandoah, Page counties, the cities of Lynchburg and Winchester, and the quarantined Frederick, Clarke, and Warren counties. Additional states with established Spotted Lanternfly populations include: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. New infestations are being found regularly so adjacent states to those listed above could potentially carry Spotted Lanternfly as well.

 

Notice to Vineyards

SLF threatens production of both Old World and New World grapes as well as tourism associated with these operations. Feeding can reduce sugar content in fruit and can kill vines by weakening their ability to survive freezing temperatures. In heavily infested areas, untreated vineyards can be completely destroyed in three years. Adult Spotted Lanternfly tend to swarm mid-September to mid-October, which can lead to restricted treatment options prior to harvest. Swarms of Spotted Lanternfly are also an incredible nuisance to guests and can reduce enjoyability of outdoor events (e.g. weddings) that your venue may host. Furthermore, Spotted Lanternfly can lay eggs on any flat surface, including the vehicles of visitors to your property which will further its spread.

 

This video about the Spotted Lanternfly was created for the NC Winegrowers Association virtual conference earlier this year: Spotted Lanternfly - YouTube. Vineyard Preparedness Kits can be requested by emailing badbug@ncagr.gov.

 

Notice to Christmas Tree Producers

Christmas tree producers often have fields in both North Carolina and Virginia or purchase trees from Virginia to fulfill orders.  Spotted Lanternfly does not feed on Christmas tree species, however, adults could lay highly camouflaged eggs on the stems.  Producers should train their staff to look for dead adults and egg masses that may be in the tree.  Despite rumors, the SLF find in Carrol County, Virginia does not prohibit the sale or movement of Christmas trees harvested in that area.  If Extension Agents get calls this season about insects emerging from homeowner Christmas trees, the description may sound like cinara aphids when they are, in fact, hatching SLF.  If SLF is suspected, the homeowner should be directed to contact NCDA&CS - Plant Industry Division immediately by emailing badbug@ncagr.gov. 

 

Our Newest Tools

NCDA&CS – Plant Industry Division is excited to add two new SLF team members to our staff in less than a week.  Kita and Neeko are USDA trained SLF detector dogs that will be used to find SLF egg masses in an array of challenging situations.  Kita’s Handler is Jackie Fredieu, Entomology Program Specialist and the pair will be stationed in Raleigh and Neeko’s handler is Chad Taylor, Western Region Field Supervisor who is based in Boone.  Kita and Neeko will be deployed daily to survey high risk sites across the state and will be critical in our follow up investigations of SLF reports. 

 

Outreach is Critical

All 101 Extension offices were sent SLF Kid Activity packets that contained fun activities geared at getting our young citizen scientists looking for this ‘bad bug’.  If your office would like more of these kits or if you are interested in our outreach posters, 6’ SLF free standing banner, pest alerts for your information areas or other SLF swag to help us spread the word please reach out to Amy.Michael@ncagr.gov.  The following SLF videos may be useful training tools for staff, master gardeners or targeted industries:

https://gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-resource-page/

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37T9LK3BHTw PPP June 2019 | Spotted Lanternfly - YouTube

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owh6arlShWA Carolina Canopy #6 - Spotted Lanternfly: A Threat to NC Landscapes - YouTube

 

Should you have any questions, concerns or would like to learn more about SLF, please contact Amy.Michael@ncagr.gov, Paul.Adams@ncagr.gov, Allison.Ballantyne@ncagr.gov   or Joy.Goforth@ncagr.gov

Environmental Education Field Trip Opportunities

Book your public school, private school, home school or church youth group for a spring 2022 field trip with The Eastern 4-H Center. Explore the Albemarle Sound with experiential learning curriculum aligned with state teaching standards!

Classes are taught by experienced environmental educators with the beautiful grounds of The Eastern 4-H Center serving as a hands-on, outdoor classroom. For questions or to make a reservation contact Program Director Jonathan Peoples jwpeople@ncsu.edu or 252-797-4800 For a full list of class descriptions, activities and alignment with state teaching standards, download our environmental education guide. Offerings include: Swamp Study for Grades K-5 Students explore the wetlands boardwalk that meanders through one of the Albemarle Sound's coastal swamps, learning about the role of wetlands and investigating the macro-invertebrates that call it home. Microscope Mania for Grades 6-12 Geared toward older students, this take on wetland ecology allows students to explore the swamp from the wetlands boardwalk while collecting organisms to be viewed under compound microscopes. An engaging and minimally structured program which outlines the important role of wetlands while providing plenty of time for exploration. Sound Study and Crabbing for Grades K-12 This exciting lesson contains an overview of the Albemarle Sound's coastal ecology with an emphasis on the biology of the Blue Crab! Students will learn the best techniques for catching these popular shellfish and then test these out first hand by crabbing off the end of the Eastern Center's pier. Forestry 101 for Grades 3-6 Take a closer look at the local forests to learn about the differences between coniferous and deciduous trees. Students will explore the biodiversity of the forest floor while discussing some of the roles of a professional forester. Students will also learn about the factors that affect tree growth and how the size of tree rings can be an indicator of environmental health. Advanced Forestry for Grades 7-12 A review of basic forest characteristics with a more in-depth look at forestry tools for older students. Groups will use Biltmore sticks to measure the commercial potential of a tree and discover how this tool is used to conserve resources. Properties of Water for Grades 3-8 Students learn about water quality standards, side effects of agricultural runoff, and the interactions between fresh water rivers and salt water estuaries. Students test the pH, salinity, turbidity, phosphate and nitrate levels of the Albemarle Sound. Finally, students build a natural filtration system to model how wetlands successfully keep contaminants and sediment out of water systems. Adaptable Animals for Grades K-6 One of the most fascinating aspects of ecology is the role adaptation plays in a system! Plants and animals are constantly changing to increase their chances of survival. This program teaches students about physiological and behavioral adaptations and uses hands-on activities and games to demonstrate the dramatic impact these changes can have on an organism. Ecological Connections for Grades K-6 Explore the interconnected world of food chains and species relationships. This program demonstrates how an ecosystem stays in balance through hands-on activities and experiential games. Students learn how predator-prey and symbiotic relationships function in an ecosystem.

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