State Advisory Council and Strategic Planning Council

Hold Joint Meeting in Forsyth County

By

Lynn Yokley

The State Advisory Council and the Strategic Planning Council held their joint meeting June 3-5 in Forsyth County.  The councils met together and separately to get updates on Cooperative Extension from both NC State University and NC A&T University.

One of the most enjoyable parts of our meeting is getting to see Cooperative Extension in action.  Forsyth County CED, Mark Tucker, and his staff were perfect hosts.  We had the opportunity to tour the Forsyth County Extension Center where we toured the demonstration gardens, learned about Geocacheing, urban environmental programming, farmland preservation, and the Stokes County purple sweet potato.

We toured the Children’s Home and the Arboretum at Tanglewood. The Children’s Home is a residential group home for troubled youth. Extension staff works with the Experiential Director to provide opportunities for youth to learn and do in the garden and with animals.  Not only do they work in the garden, they get to enjoy the vegetables they grow at mealtime and they sell to local residents. They learn the practical as well as establishing goals, and the satisfaction received from obtaining their goals.  Many of the children there have experienced significant loss in their lives.  Caring for the animals helps them through the grieving process.

The Master Gardener’s of Forsyth County have created a beautiful Arboretum at Tanglewood.  Not only do they maintain the grounds of the Arboretum but they also provide educational opportunities to Forsyth County students. A popular spot for weddings, the Arboretum is maintained by the Master Gardener volunteers and supported by their fundraising efforts.

What better way to see NC Cooperative Extension, NC State and NC A & T Universities empowering people and providing solutions?

Pictures from our meeting for your enjoyment!!