Hanover County Virginia Cooperative Extension

05/28/2026

Last week to register for the Hanover County Well Water Testing event on June 10th! Must pre-register!

💧 Well Water Testing Clinic – Hanover County 🧪
Do you rely on a well, spring, or cistern for your drinking water? Now is a great time to check your water quality!

Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering a low-cost water testing clinic to help ensure your household water is safe.

📅 Important Dates:
📍 Sample Kit Pick-Up:
June 3 – June 9, 2026 (weekdays)
🕘 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

📍 Sample Drop-Off:
June 10, 2026
🕢 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM

📌 Location:
13015 Taylor Complex Lane
Ashland, VA 23005

💲 Cost: $70 per sample kit
Subsidized kits may be available.

🔬 Testing includes 28 indicators such as:
✔️ Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, iron, copper, manganese)
✔️ Nitrates, fluoride, sulfate
✔️ Water quality factors (pH, hardness, TDS)
✔️ Bacteria (coliform & E. coli)

✅ Pre-registration is required:
👉 https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/events.php

📞 Questions? Contact:
Scot Ferguson, Hanover County Extension
📧 [email protected]
📱 804-752-4310

♿ If you need accommodations to participate, please contact us at least 5 days prior to the event.

05/21/2026

🌱🐄 Calling all youth interested in agriculture! 🍓🌾

For ages 5-8 years old

Join us for the Hanover 4-H Cloverbud Agriculture Day Camp — two fun-filled days of hands-on learning and discovery! Youth will explore the roots of agriculture through exciting activities in agriculture, arts & crafts, and food preservation! 🚜🌻

📅 July 15 & 16, 2026
📍 Hanover Extension Office
💲 $50 for both days

Campers will enjoy hands-on experiences, creative projects, and agricultural adventures while making new friends and learning where food comes from! 🐮🍅🌽

📲 Register today! Scan the QR code on the flyer or click here: https://forms.gle/FSZ594qWXwg9TLc5A

Questions? Email Bridgitte at [email protected]

05/18/2026

📣 Check out what Hanover 4-H has been up to and see what exciting events are coming up! 🌟🐄🍀
https://tinyurl.com/Hanover4-HMayNewsletter

Our latest Hanover 4-H newsletter is here! From recent activities and accomplishments to upcoming programs, camps, and opportunities, there is a lot happening in Hanover 4-H.

Take a look and stay connected so you don’t miss out on all the fun and learning! 💚

A smiling young women with long wavy hair poses in front of a blue backdrop, wearing a light blue button-up shirt. She is seated at an angle and looking toward the camera.

05/15/2026

So proud of these Teen Counselors!!

Tonight our camp cluster got to recognize our senior 4-H Camp Counselors and those aging out of the program this fall at our May training.

We may not be ready to let them go, but they are beyond ready for their next chapter! 🍀

Poppy Finck
Goochland- JMU 💜

Savannah Janke
Hanover- Post HS education 👩‍⚕️

Gloria Jamerson
Powhatan- Virginia Tech 🧡

Amirah Diggs-Majed
Goochland- Spelman College 🐆

Noah Wood
Hanover- Liberty University 🔥

05/11/2026

Meet Our Summer Intern Kelsey Epps! She will begin June 1st!

My name is Kelsey Epps, and I am excited to be joining Hanover County Cooperative Extension this summer. Agriculture has always been a part of my life. I grew up in Goochland County, where there are more cows than people, spending most of my time outside helping my dad in his garden beds. I became involved in 4-H as a little Cloverbud, joining different clubs and going to camp, where I met other kids like me. My best memories were made at camp, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it way past my teen counselor years. I also rode horses as a kid, learning responsibility and patience with these 1/2 ton beasts, which, if you've worked with horses, you'd know are just big dogs. When COVID ended that chapter of my life, it unexpectedly started a new one in FFA. There, I learned how big agriculture is in this world and how desperate we are to protect it. I worked hard throughout high school to earn my All-Stars in 4-H and my American Degree in FFA. This wasn't just a passion for me anymore; it was a future.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, fishing, thrifting, going to the gym, and spending time with my dog, who is pretty much my best friend. I am a proud Hokie graduating this May from Virginia Tech’s Agricultural Technology Program, and I will be returning in the fall to pursue my bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Extension and Education. While I have a strong background in the equine industry, I am especially passionate about horticulture and crop production and hope to continue specializing in those areas throughout my career. One of the things I love most about agriculture is how it brings people together. "Everyone's gotta eat," said a Virginia Tech professor years ago, and it's still stuck with me to this day. Through this internship, I am excited to learn more about the many branches of Extension, connect with local families and producers, and help encourage the next generation to get involved in agriculture. I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity and look forward to meeting everyone this summer!

05/08/2026

Well Water Testing Clinic – Hanover County 🧪

Do you rely on a well, spring, or cistern for your drinking water? Now is a great time to check your water quality!

Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering a low-cost water testing clinic to help ensure your household water is safe.
________________________________________
📅 Important Dates:

📍 Sample Kit Pick-Up:
June 3 – June 9, 2026 (weekdays)
🕘 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

📍 Sample Drop-Off:
June 10, 2026
🕢 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM

📌 Location:
13015 Taylor Complex Lane
Ashland, VA 23005
________________________________________
💲 Cost: $70 per sample kit
Subsidized kits may be available.
________________________________________
🔬 Testing includes 28 indicators such as:
✔️ Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, iron, copper, manganese)
✔️ Nitrates, fluoride, sulfate
✔️ Water quality factors (pH, hardness, TDS)
✔️ Bacteria (coliform & E. coli)
________________________________________
✅ Pre-registration is required:
👉 https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/events.php
________________________________________
📞 Questions? Contact:
Scot Ferguson, Hanover County Extension
📧 [email protected]
📱 804-752-4310
________________________________________
♿ If you need accommodations to participate, please contact us at least 5 days prior to the event.

05/07/2026

🌿🐞 Calling all young explorers! 🦋🔍

Join Hanover 4-H for our Cloverbud Exploring Nature Day Camp on June 10 & 11, 2026! Youth ages 5–8 will enjoy two mornings filled with outdoor fun, discovery, and hands-on nature activities.

📅 June 10 & 11, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Hanover Extension Office
💲 $30

Get ready for adventure, learning, and exploring the outdoors with 4-H! 🌱

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/CBNatureDayCamp

Spots are limited, so sign up today! 🍀

05/06/2026

Congratulations to the seven Hanover youth who participated in the Fredericksburg Area Show and Sale this past weekend! These youth represented Hanover with outstanding skill, sportsmanship, and hard work throughout the event.

🏆 John Haile had an incredible weekend, earning:
• Grand Champion Market Hog
• Grand Champion Market Lamb
• Reserve Champion Replacement Heifer
• Grand Champion Showman in Hogs and Beef
• 4th Place Lamb Showmanship
• 3rd Place Goat Showmanship
• 1st Place Senior Stockman Contest

🏆 Ellie had an amazing show as well, receiving:
• Grand Champion Replacement Heifer
• Grand Champion Showman in ALL species — hogs, beef, lamb, and goats!
• 1st Place Intermediate Stockman Contest

🏆 Katelyn earned Grand Champion Goat Showman!

🏆 Claire placed 4th in Goat Showmanship.

🏆 Tucker Turnbull earned:
• 5th Place Goat Showmanship
• 3rd Place Market Goat
• 1st Place Junior Stockman Contest

We are also proud of Luke for doing an awesome job showing his lamb and always stepping in to help others throughout the weekend. Harrison has shown tremendous growth and confidence in the show ring with his lamb this year!

We are so proud of all of these youth for their dedication, leadership, sportsmanship, and hard work representing Hanover 4-H! 💚🐖🐑🐐🐄

05/05/2026

Plant Sale This Weekend!

Join us for the Hanover Master Garden Association Plant Sale and Grand Opening Ceremony for Hanover’s new arboretum! This Saturday, May 9th from 9:00 am until 1:00pm at the Horticultural Learning Center, 13015 Taylor Complex Lane, Ashland VA 23005.

Natives, Perennials, Herbs, Vegetables and much more! Mushroom compost available! There will also be Mother’s Day gift activities for kids. Hanover Animal Control will be onsite with adoptable pets looking for loving homes.

04/28/2026

come out Friday or Saturday to see our Hanover kids!