McDowell County 4-H Presentation Workshop

Come join us at the McDowell Extension office on Wednesday May 25th at 4:00pm for a workshop on all the ins and outs of 4-H Presentations. Come learn what they are, why they are important, and how to participate. Please call Chad at 828-652-8104 with any questions!

Introducing Greg Anderson, Extension Agent-Agriculture & Natural Resources

After growing up in the youth livestock program in McDowell County, Greg Anderson is now our Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Agent in McDowell County.  Greg was active in all aspects of 4-H and livestock and was a member of the state winning judging team.  He was also the Beef Cumulative Record winner and is a member of the State 4-H Honor Club.  While attending North Carolina State University, Greg was on the livestock judging and academic quadrathalon teams.  He served as President of the Animal Science Club and worked as an intern with the NC Cattlemen's Association.


After receiving his degree in Agriculture Extension Education from North Carolina State in 1990, Greg returned to McDowell County to work in the family real estate business and start his own purebred cattle farm.  He implemented best management practices on his farm and has diversified to include produce and alternative marketing practices.  


Greg has shown cattle throughout the country for himself and fellow purebred breeders representing 10 different breeds of cattle.  He has judged hundreds of shows and fairs in the Southeast in the past 25 years.  He is a member of the McDowell County Cattlemen's Association, NC Cattlemen's Association, and the American Gelbvieh Association.  He is a charter member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Society.


Greg has been active in agricultural efforts in McDowell County.  He has served on the Youth Foundation, Ag Barn, and Tailgate Market committees.  Greg is a member of First Baptist Church of Marion where he serves as a deacon and is active in the mission activities of the church.  He is married to Heather Wood Anderson, and they have two daughters Grace and Molly.  Greg enjoys watching his daughters play softball and show Gelbvieh cattle.

Extension Gardener

Extension Gardener, Mountain Region is a quartlery newsletter written and produced by Extension agents in the mountian region of North Carolina. The McDowell addition also contains information for gardeners in McDowell County. Questions on the McDowell edition and on horticulture in McDowell County can be directed to Molly A Sandfoss, County Director. The purpose of this publicaton is to provide timely information to McDowell County residents regarding home lawn, landscape, and garden practices.

McDowell County 4-H: Hungry to Help

Hunger is a problem hiding "in plain sight" in North Carolina.  Whether it involves skipping meals, eating less than is needed to live a healthy life, or making do with foods that are filling but not nutritious, hunger's effects can be devastating, especially among our more vulnerable citizens, including children and older adults.

To combat hunger, the 4-H Youth Development program and the Food Banks of North Carolina, all of which are affiliates of Feeding America our nation's largest hunger-relief organization, have teamed up to promote awareness of hunger in North Carolina and to make an impact in local communities through a new hunger initiative entitled, "Hungry to Help."


McDowell County 4-H will be collecting canned food items for the month of October.  Please stop by the Extension office, County Administration Building, 60 East Court Street, 2nd Floor, and bring a canned food item.  These items will be donated to local food banks.  


Hunger is a problem right here in our backyard.  Let's do our part to help because McDowell County 4-H is "hungry to help."

Getting to Know You...Molly A. Sandfoss

With over a decade of service to the aquaculture producers in a 12 county area, Molly Sandfoss is now the County Extension Director for the McDowell County Center. While working as an Area Extension Agent, she was housed at the McDowell County Center.  Through the years, Molly worked collaboratively with the McDowell County Extension staff on different programs.  She is now ready to put her focus on the citizens of McDowell County and oversee the overall programming of the McDowell County Extension Center.  Her programs will focus on agriculture, natural resources, and community resource development.  Molly wants the Extension Service to have a positive impact on the citizens of this county and is excited about working with the staff on addressing the needs most important to McDowell County residents. 

Molly is active in the National Association of County Agricultural Agents where she served as secretary, vice-director, and director at the district level.  Molly also has served on the Professional Improvement Council at the state and national level.  She is a member of the World Aquaculture Society where she has presented at the International Meeting of the World Aquaculture Society.  She is a volunteer leader of 4-H Roar!, a club with students from Nebo Elementary.  

Molly enjoys being active in the outdoors.  She is a recreational road cyclist as well as runner.  Molly has completed several biking events including the Assault on Mount Mitchell in 2007 and 2008.  In 2009, she completed the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC.  Nothing excites her more than catching fish.  Molly is married and has one son.  She is looking forward to being more active in local organizations on a personal and professional level.  

Grants to Boost Western North Carolina Agriculture

Western North Carolina Agricultural Options is introducing a new community grants' program that will support projects that are improving the local agricultural system.  WNC AgOptions will fund at least 3 farmer-led group projects that address processing, marketing, packaging, and other distribution needs in the mountain region.


The new Family Farm Innovation Fund, which Governor Beverly Perdue announced, will provide $100,000 to WNC AgOptions, in addition to the $225,000 that the program distributes annually.  Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA's Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund, with the NC Cooperative Extension partners to manage WNC AgOptions, was included in the $18.4 million package to five states and federal programs assisting farmers.


The size of the community grant is dependent upon the expenses associated with the project.  The maximum to be awarded per applicant group is $20,000.


In addition, WNC AgOptions is continuing its grant program for individual farm businesses and will award approximately 40 grants ranging from $3,000 to $9,000 for farm diversification projects.  Since 2004, WNC AgOptions has administered more than 250 grants in 17 counties and the Cherokee Indian Reservation to mountain farmers diversifying or expanding their operations.  McDowell County farmers have benefited from WNC AgOptions in diversifying and developing new market strategies.  

The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has supported WNC AgOptions since 2003. "We're proud to be the funding partner for the WNC AgOptions program," said William Upchurch, Executive Director of the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.  "Over the past few years, the farmers in western North Carolina have developed very innovative projects and have shown that their ideas can generate some great results."


Applications are available at www.wncagoptions.org or at the McDowell County Center, County Administration Building, 60 East Court Street, Marion.  The deadline is November 22, and the grant cycle runs from January to November.  If you are interested in applying, contact Molly Sandfoss at 652-8104 by November 1 to express your intent to apply.


Priority will be given to projects that provide demonstration to other farmers and encourage the economic sustainability of cooperating farm businesses.  Applicants should extensively research the logistics, markets, expenses, and timelines for their projects.


Successful community grant projects will require participation from a diversity of people, organizations, and institutions.  Groups of farmers, farmer coops, farm associations, churches, local businesses, civic organizations, non-profit organizations are eligible and encouraged to apply.  WNC farmers must be active in the leadership of the group.


The ultimate goal of WNC AgOptions is to protect mountain farmland by assisting the longevity of farm enterprises.  For more information, see:  http://www.wncagoptions.org

North Carolina Cooperative Extension-McDowell County Center

Who We Are
Since 1914, North Carolina Cooperative Extension (NCCE) has enriched the land, lives,  and economy of North Carolina.  We bring the best research and resources from NC State University and NC A&T State University to every county and the Cherokee Reservation.  


What We Do
Supply informal community-based learning and technical assistance to people, businesses, and governments.  Our research based solutions can improve the way you live, work, and play.


Our Mission
Help you become healthier and strengthen our community.  Conserve our environment and natural resources.  Strengthen the economy with profitable, sustainable food, forest, and green industries.


Let's Get Started
Visit  mcdowell.ces.ncsu.edu
Call  652-8104 or 652-7874
Drop by (We would love to see you). County Administration Building, 60 East Court Street, Marion, 2nd Floor