We have lots of programs and partnerships starting and growing at N.C. Cooperative Extension- Lee County Center. We are excited to see all the good being done in our community!

Check it out in our weekly update slideshow on Facebook.

Pam Kerley - I started the week leading a team-building exercise with the 12 new Young Commissioners 4-H Club recruits. Then I filled our 4-H van to the top with jovenes from Juntos 4-H Club headed to Summer Academy at NC State. The Sanford Kiwanis have supported our public speaking program, and they invited me to speak about it at their June meeting. I did a little planning for 4-H Summer Fun: Horticulture Science Camp via Zoom with the team. Saturday, I journey to Rowan County with another van full of youth presenters, parents, and volunteers ready to compete at the district-level public speaking competition.

Jared Butler - Ponds were a hot topic this week as I answered multiple pond weeds and algae questions. I also taught a pesticide course with our summer intern Zaria that helped fulfill credit requirements and educated applicators on safe practices. I also went around the county looking at different cornfields. This also lined up with a graduate course in Raleigh with this week's topic on early-season corn production. 

Amanda Wilkins - This week was all over the place! We finalized our plans for Horticulture Camp with Pam, Zaria, Meredith and Tracie, an Extension Master Gardener. I am still catching up with client emails and phone calls. More come every day! I was glad to record the next two months of LIFE 103.1 Life in our Gardens episodes with the awesome staff there (my spot is on Friday!). I was also excited to work with the Steven’s Center staff to help them get their raised beds updated. Their students there were SO fun to work with. Such enthusiasm, despite the hot, sticky weather. Finally, I crowned the week with the Southeast Plant Symposium, put on by the JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden. It was great to see many old friends and learn some new things! (Shoutout to my friend David Roberts, a breeder from Bailey Nursery, who introduced his first “start to finish” bred plant, Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Eclipse’ (don’t get me started on the trademarking thing!). He donated three to the JC Raulston Arboretum.).

Meredith Favre - The Market season is rocking and rolling. It was a week spent reflecting on the local foods system and talking with and coordinating with local foods partners locally and across the state. She went to CUOC on Friday with Ashley to visit their lending kitchen. Stay tuned for updates from that project. 

Bill Stone was on vacation with his family this week! Whoo!