N.C. Cooperative Extension, Catawba County Center

08/31/2026

This will be last week to support Donation Station at the Hickory Farmers Market on Wed and Saturday. Donations of cash or produce are collected and then donated to help provide greater access to fresh fruit and vegetables to those in need. To date, 174 lbs. of produce valued at $345 dollars have been collected and distributed. This summer, donations have been directed to Older Adults and distributed in partnership with Catawba County Sr Nutrition program. Seniors at East Hickory Sr. Nutrition site have also been learning about healthy eating strategies with Take Control, a monthly nutrition and wellness program offered by Cooperative Extension which wrapped-up in August.

08/29/2026

Cooperative Extension has been out and about at some recent Resource Fairs in August. Perhaps you spotted staff at the Newton City Schools staff Health and Wellness event or LRU Student Job Fair. We look forward to partnering with LRU to employ some work-study students to help with Junto this year. Contact Yuli at the Extension office at 828-465-8240 to get more info about these positions, if you are a LRU student. Look for the Extension booth at the fair this week in the exhibit hall….and THANKS to Master Gardener volunteers to staffing our fair booth.

08/26/2026

Did you know that Dolly Parton had a lichen named after her? Dolly’s Dots (Japewiella dollypartoniana) can be found in the Appalachian Mountains and are particularly prevalent in heath balds of Southern Appalachia. The small purple cups here are the fruiting bodies (apothecia) of Dolly’s Dots.

Photo by Tomas Curtis CC BY-NC 4.0

08/24/2026

Fair books are now at the Extension Office! Remember to finish all livestock show entries by this Wednesday, August 26.

08/22/2026

08/20/2026

Join us tomorrow and/or Saturday (8/21 and 8/22) at 10 AM for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census! Come learn about pollinator insects and participate in a cool citizen science project!

08/15/2026

Are you seeing lots of cucumbers in your garden or at the farmers markets? Preserve summertime goodness with our upcoming Pickling Basics workshop at our Thursday, Aug 20 workshop. 4:00-6:30 p.m. at the Ag Resources Center. Cost: $10. This a small group, hands-on workshop with space to accept a few more. Deadline to register is Monday morning, so we can get cucumbers and supplies ordered. Register at https://forms.gle/tZupF14dfixX6yb38

07/31/2026

💡 Have you been thinking about growing your legacy through planned giving, supporting the programs you value?

This live presentation (in-person and via Zoom) will help! Join us at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 8/27/26, for Growing Your Legacy: A Guide to Planning Giving. 🌱

During this free estate planning seminar led by Mandy Queen, NC State CALS Director of Philanthropy, you'll learn:

✔ practical tips, strategies and often-overlooked secrets of estate planning to protect loved ones and assets

✔ how to easily cultivate a lasting legacy to support the future of the NC State Extension Master Gardener program at the statewide or local county level, the JC Raulston Arboretum, or the Juniper Level Botanical Garden

REGISTER to participate via Zoom ➡ go.ncsu.edu/plannedgivingseminar

(OR events.blackthorn.io/en/amMUOeX7/cals-2026-growing-your-legacy-a-guide-to-planned-giving-5a34Vp1Fn1R/overview)

To participate in person, join us at the JC Raulston Arboretum (4415 Beryl Rd, Raleigh)!

07/29/2026

Registration for the 2026 Hickory American Legion Fair Livestock Shows closes in less than one month!

If you plan to show at this year's fair, don't wait to submit your entries. The registration deadline is August 26.

Register online here: https://showman.app/shows #/hickory-american-legion-fair-livestock-show-14b0

We look forward to seeing everyone at this year's fair!

07/28/2026

Don't miss the final Drought Management Webinar in this series tomorrow, Wednesday, July 29, at 12:00 p.m.

We hope you'll join us!

Register here: https://ncsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/AJ82Lj9GRASQj_HMtkEHrg