N.C. Cooperative Extension, Catawba County Center

06/12/2026

The 2026 Corn and Soybean Field Day at ASR Grain Company in Shelby is coming up soon!

Join us to view this year’s corn and soybean trials, learn more about cover crops, and hear from industry representatives. This field day is a great opportunity for growers and agricultural professionals to learn about current production practices and research taking place in our region. Pesticide credits available!

ASR Grain Company: Shelby, NC
Saturday, August 8, 2026
9:00 AM–1:00 PM

To register, scan the QR code on the flyer or visit:
https://go.ncsu.edu/2026cornandsoybeanfieldday

Feel free to call our office with any questions. We hope to see you there!

06/11/2026

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06/08/2026

Our All-America Selection (AAS) trials in the demo garden have been a resounding success this season, giving our community a sneak peek at the absolute future of gardening! If you aren't familiar with AAS, it is the oldest independent, non-profit organization in North America that tests brand-new, never-before-sold flower and vegetable varieties side-by-side with industry standards to determine which ones truly deserve the title of an "AAS Winner" based on their performance, disease resistance, taste (if edible), and beauty. Our garden serves as a testing ground this year, a massive undertaking that was made possible through the incredible support of our partners: Pöppelmann Plastics USA, Wyatt-Quarles, Sun Gro Horticulture, Drip Depot, and AAS!

We invite you to stop by the demo garden to see these potential future champions with your own eyes and get some inspiration for your own backyard!

06/08/2026

Join us for an exciting summer raising broiler chickens! If you know a child interested in learning more about chickens and where their food comes from, sign them up for our 4-H Broiler Project!

More information and registration on this link: https://go.ncsu.edu/2026broiler

06/03/2026

06/01/2026

Please help us welcome Micah Chapman as our summer intern!

Micah is from Taylorsville and is currently attending North Carolina State University, where he is majoring in Agricultural Science with a concentration in Animal and Crop Science. This summer, he will be gaining hands-on experience with Extension programming, assisting with livestock and field crop activities, farm visits, local foods events, 4-H programs, and much more throughout Catawba County.

Micah has a strong agricultural background and is passionate about the future of farming. His long-term goals include continuing to grow his family’s dairy and beef operations, building poultry houses, and finding a career that allows him to support and work alongside farmers.

At NC State, Micah serves as Sergeant at Arms for the Agronomy Club, Treasurer for Young Farmers and Ranchers, and works at the NC State Beef Education Unit.

During his internship, Micah is especially looking forward to learning more about the many areas of Extension and gaining experiences he can apply to his future career.

We are excited to have Micah as part of our team this summer and look forward to working with him!

05/28/2026

Entries are now open! go.ncsu.edu/beefexpo26

Join us on June 27 for the 2026 Catawba Valley Youth Beef Expo! Entries are now open at go.ncsu.edu/beefexpo26

05/26/2026

Interested in raising "Pastured Pork"? Join N.C. Cooperative Extension and NC Choices for a workshop and tour on Thursday, June 25 from 9:00-4:00 at the NC A&T State University Farm Pavilion, 3020 McConnell Road, Greensboro.

Ready to register?
Scan the QR code in the flyer or visit: https://go.ncsu.edu/pasturedpork

05/25/2026

This is the last week to register for the upcoming Safe Plates Food Manager Certification course, which will be on Mondays, June 22 and 29 from 9:00-5:00 at the Catawba County Ag Resources Center in Newton. If you are not familiar Safe Plates, it is similar to ServSafe and carries the same certification, but this course was created by NCSU and based on the most recent adult learning theories. Safe Plates is an approved Food Managers certification course with testing in the afternoon of the 2nd day of the course. The cost is $135 and includes the course materials, instruction, and test. For more information contact the Extension office at 828-465-8240. Register online by June 1 at https://forms.gle/RozpR5wjVToW4xqKA
Safe Plates Food Safety Information Center