The Best of the West

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The Best of the West

• People Programs
• Progress

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West District

• Overview District Information
• People
• Progress

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Overview Information

• 17 Counties and Cherokee Reservation
• 18 of NCCES Centers
• 6725 square miles (14 of NC)
• from 1170 to 6684 feet elevation
• 15 of 17 counties border another state
• 27 to 357 persons per square mile

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Views, Eco-systems, Environment

• Diversity of flora and fauna
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Grandfather Mountain
• Fraser fir

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Rare Yellow Lady Slippers
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Blueridge Parkway
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Grandfather Mountain State Park
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Fraser Fir near Grandfather Mountain
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District Overview

• Regional scenic beauty.
• Economy based on Tourism, Agriculture, Real
  Estate, Construction, Retail, Professional
  Services, Manufacturing.
• Strong sense of place and pride.

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District Overview

• 31,042 farms (USDA-FSA, 8/2007)
• 457,859,000 farm income (2006)
• About 5 NC farm income - 9.7 billion
• 4,139 farmers - (2002 Agr. Census)
• 554,942 acres in farmland

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Our Mountain People

• Region
• 670,000 people in year 2000.
• 755,000 people projected in 2010

• Growth
• Since 1970, 23 counties in WNC grew 54, NC grew
  71, US grew 48.
• (wncpulse.org)

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Our Mountain People

• Senators
• S. Goss (D)
• J. Queen (D)
• T. Apodaac (R)
• M. Nesbitt (D)
• J. Snow (D)

• Representatives
• - C. Justus, - P. Frye T. Walend, R. West
• - S. Fisher, B. Goforth, C. Thomas, P. Haire, R.
  Rapp, C. Tarleton

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Our Extension People

• 811,302 grants 2007
• 974,576 grants 2008
• 277,445 face to face contacts - 2007
• 695,705 non face to face contacts 2007
• 3208 educational meetings/events 2007

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Our Extension People

• 79 Extension Field Faculty
• 25 Program Assistant/Associates
• 33.5 Secretaries

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Our Progress

• State Advisory Council
• John Schnautz Buncombe County
• Dr. Connie Buckner Madison County
• Sue Glovier McDowell County
• Charles Boyd Haywood County
• Jim Parlier Yancey County

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Our Progress POW Objectives

• 01 Life Skills (16 counties)
• 03 Profitable, Sustainable Agri. (15)
• 10 Healthy Eating, Wellness (15)
• 18 Natl Resources Conservation (15)
• 20 Urban- Consumer Agriculture (14)

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Our Progress POW Objectives

• 04 Local Food Systems (11)
• 05 Emerging Ag., Value Added (11)
• 08 Volunteerism (11)
• 11 Parenting-Caregiver Skills (10)

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Our Strategic Goals

• To adapt adopt issue-based integrated
  programming.
• To increase use of evaluation tools and identify
  impacts.
• To improve Success Stories.
• To increase Advisory Council and Committees
  functionality.

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Our Progress Ag Options

• Ag Options Program
• 04 198,000 Tobacco Trust Fund
• 05 104,000
• 06 250,000
• 07 90,000 USDA, Risk Management
• 08 242,000 Tobacco Trust Fund
• Total 884,000

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Our Progress Ag Options

• 2009 - 2011 The West District Agricultural
  Extension Agents will use the Ag Options Program
  in partnership with the Rural Advancement
  Foundation International to implement over 60
  farmer grants to encourage diversification with
  900,000 from Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

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Our Progress -- Programs

• Avery 180 youth in Summer WOW and 160 youth in
  after school 4-5 days/week at 5 Schools.
• Buncombe ECA up 10, 414 rain barrels sold,
  Food Preservation classes teach safe food skills.
  

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Our Progress -- Programs

• Shiitake mushrooms developing industry in 6
  counties.
• Solar and Alternative Energy Workshops -- two
  micro-hydro demos and energy conservation- and
  Chief Hicks green mandate.

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Our Progress -- Programs

• 15 trout farms have completed a National
  Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
  permit.
• The Bee School in Buncombe had 277 participants
  with 160 becoming certified bee keepers.

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Our Progress -- Programs

• 730 youth in 42 second grade classrooms
  experienced and learned embryology in Henderson
  County.
• Water Wise Works distributed to 24,900 water
  customers in Henderson during first ever
  mandatory water restrictions.

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Our Progress -- Programs

• Chemical mowing widely adopted by Christmas
  tree and nursery growers saves 100,000s in
  labor costs.
• McDowell 4-H Clubs grow from 6 to 11 units in 6
  months.
• Increase in local foods sold at Farmers Markets
  in McDowell, Haywood, others

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Our Progress -- Programs

• Goats eat Kudzu in Tryon coverage by 4
  television stations.
• Science House and 4-H team up on science teacher
  in-service training in Brevard.
• The Mountain Forage Field Day in Watauga 80
  participants 53 will adopt weed control, 43
  adopt grazing plan.

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Our Progress -- Programs

• Wataugas LEAD provided a 4 day camp for girls to
  learn Science, pursue careers.
• 4-H EFNEP reaches 792 youth in Yancey -- improves
  nutrition skills.
• Yancey increases 2 dairies Mitchell assists
  goat dairy to profitability.

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The Overview
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The Best of the West

• People, Programs, and Progress