UT Extension Roane County

06/03/2026

🏆 Congratulations to the Master Gardeners of Roane County! 🏆

We are proud to announce that the Master Gardeners of Roane County have been recognized with the University of Tennessee Extension’s Search for Excellence Award for their outstanding Lunch and Learn educational program!

What began as a vision of our founding members in 2006 as the “Brown Bag Lunch” series has grown into one of our community’s most successful educational programs. Held on the second Saturday of each month at the Roane County Extension Office, Lunch and Learn provides free, research-based gardening and horticulture education to residents throughout our community.

This achievement reflects the dedication of so many volunteers and partners who have contributed over the years. Whether you helped plan programs, coordinate logistics, present educational topics, welcome participants, promote events, or provide refreshments, you played a role in making this program a success.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this program over the past 20 years. This award is a testament to the passion, service, and commitment of our Master Gardeners and their dedication to educating and serving Roane County.

🌱 Want to see what all the excitement is about? Join us on the second Saturday of each month at noon at the Roane County Extension Office and be a part of this award-winning program! Each session features a new gardening or horticulture topic and is open to the public at no cost.

🎉 Congratulations, MGRC! We are proud of your accomplishment and look forward to many more years of educational excellence!

06/02/2026

Canning classes are going strong!

I have a couple spots available for pickle canning tomorrow at 1:00.

Call 865 376-5558 to register!

06/02/2026

🎉 Please join us in welcoming Maggie Legarda to UT Extension Roane County as our new 4-H Youth Development Agent! 🍀

Maggie is a Middle Tennessee native who headed west after high school to pursue adventure and her education at the University of Wyoming. After several years of teaching agriculture and serving as an FFA advisor, she has returned home to Tennessee with her husband and their dogs.

Maggie is excited to work with Roane County youth and families through 4-H, helping young people build leadership skills, confidence, and a love for hands-on learning.

Feel free to reach out and say hello to Maggie! You can contact her at [email protected] or call 865-376-5558.

Welcome to Roane County, Maggie! 🧡

05/29/2026

Get ready to dig into some summer fun! 🦴🌞

Mrs. Gardner from 4-H will be at the Oliver Springs Library on June 1 from 11 AM–12 PM for the Summer Reading Program. Come dressed in your dig site clothes because we’ll be excavating a dirt pile!

Then join us again on June 3 at the Harriman Library for even more fun at both the 11 AM and 1 PM programs.

Don’t miss out on this hands-on adventure—we can’t wait to see what you discover!

Oliver Springs TN Library Harriman Historic Carnegie Library

05/28/2026

The Roane County Poultry Club has been working hard this month! 🐔

We’ve had two processing days—one in service to a fellow club member and another to wrap up our broiler project. Both days came with some tough moments, but through it all, our members showed respect, responsibility, and care.

By the end of each day, everyone who participated felt a real sense of accomplishment and walked away having learned valuable skills that will stay with them for years to come.

Proud of this group and the growth they continue to show!

05/22/2026

🎡 It’s time to start preparing for Fair season! 🎉

There are so many ways to participate—showing livestock, submitting arts & crafts, canning, sewing projects, and more. 📸 Enter your best photos in the photography contest, or 🍰 bake a cake (or another delicious treat) to show off your skills!

Check out the 4-H competition details and start planning your entries:
Appalachian Fair: https://www.appalachianfair.com/departments/youth
Tennessee Valley Fair: https://www.tnvalleyfair.org/p/competitions/easternregion4-h

You can win ribbons AND cash premiums! 🏅💵

We really want Roane County 4-H to show out this year—let’s make it happen! 💚

If you’re interested in entering something into a fair, email Courtney Gardner at [email protected] and she’ll be happy to help you get started.

05/21/2026

Our Grill Masters team has been putting in the work over the past few weeks, and it’s been an awesome experience so far! 🔥

We’ve been learning everything from food safety and how flavors reflect different cultures, to making sauces and marinades, identifying cuts of meat, and knowing exactly when food is cooked just right.

There’s still plenty of practice ahead, but we’ve got a strong group and I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone.🍖

05/20/2026

Have you ever thought about entering the state fair?

Enter your Class 1 jam, jelly, or preserves and I will take it down there for you! They will not be returned but this is your chance to win!

The Wilson County State Fair link will handle registration for your jars. It is not open to register YET but I wanted you to be thinking about this and getting prepared. Let's make Roane County the county to beat in entries!

I have 4 spots left in the jam preservation class, June 28th. We will make a jar to keep and a jar to enter too! Sign up for that class if you would like to learn and get into the state fair that way.

https://www.wilsoncountytnstatefair.com/

05/16/2026

05/14/2026

This is our last homeschool class for the school year, so make sure you don't miss it! Learn about freshwater fish in Tennessee and be ready to share your knowledge every time you go fishing this summer.

We are meeting May 20, from 3:30-4:30 at the Extension office.
Please contact Courtney Gardner at [email protected] with any questions.