New County Extension Director

Stephen Duckett, Rutherford County Extension Director since July 2005, has been named Buncombe County Extension Director.

His appointment effective May 11, was approved and announced by Buncombe County Manager, Wanda Greene, and Dr. Jon Ort, Director, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Duckett succeeds Kenneth Reeves, who retired from Cooperative Extension in November 2008.

Duckett is no stranger to Buncombe County. Prior to becoming Rutherford County Extension Director, he was an Extension agent in Buncombe County from January 1997 to July 2005. He also served as an associate Extension agent for 4-H youth development in Macon County from 1992 to 1996.

Duckett holds a master’s degree in human resource development from Western Carolina University and a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Berea College.

“Steve served in Buncombe County and is very familiar with the needs of the citizens, the Extension staff and county government. His experience and leadership gained in Rutherford County has been very positive for that Extension Center and its service to the County,” said Harvey Fouts, District Extension Director for the West District, which includes Buncombe County. “I am now very pleased that Steve wants to continue his career in Buncombe County and look forward to his leadership in providing continued excellence in managing our Cooperative Extension Center.”

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Back to Basic$ Program to Help Buncombe County Residents Deal with Financial Stress

Buncombe County residents, like most Americans, are feeling the stress created by our nation's economic downturn.  To help them deal with the financial and emotional stressors the current economic climate has created, the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Center has launched a new program:  Back to Basic$:  Surviving (& Thriving!) Through Troubled Times.  The program features a web page, factsheets and a series of multi-faceted educational programs that deal with broad personal and family financial issues, stress management, and farm/agri-business financial issues, as well as specific ways to extend financial resources, such as home gardening and food preservation. 

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Selection Criteria for School Grants Program

 The Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Buncombe County offer a School Grants Program that awards monies to selected schools in Buncombe County to promote gardening education and appreciation among school-aged children.  School Grants Program applications are due by June 30^th of each year, and grants are awarded during the first week of September.  Grant awards vary, but the average amount is $250.00.         More..........

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2009 WNC AgOptions Awardees Announced Farmers Diversify Farms, Try Local Markets to Remain Viable

ASHEVILLE — Nearly 50 farmers in the mountain region recently received funding totaling $225,000 from Western North Carolina Agricultural Options to demonstrate ways to enhance farm businesses. The $3,000, $6,000 and $9,000 awards will help farm operations stay viable in the rapidly changing economy.

“It is exciting to see the wide variety of innovative ideas that have been awarded to farmers in Western North Carolina,” said William Upchurch, Executive Director of the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.  “These great projects can meet the demand and desire for local products by consumers, and this program will continue to help these family farms stay in business.”

.........Read More

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WNC Vegetable and Small Fruit News Blog

The WNC Vegetable and Small Fruit News blog serves all vegetable and small fruit producers in Western North Carolina through timely information on events, production issues, disease/insect problems, local weather, etc.  You can subscribe to the blog so that you receive the new posts to your email inbox as soon as they are posted to the web.

http://wncveggies.blogspot.com