2025 Impact Report: Cherokee County Extension Center
The N.C. Cooperative Extension – Cherokee County Center brings evidence-based knowledge and practical experience to address local challenges. Through research-based solutions, the Extension Center recorded over 16,000 resident touchpoints, delivered 32 new job skills acquired, and oversaw 6,441 volunteer hours valued at $224,083 ($34.79 per hour). Volunteers also generated 2,995 direct client contacts. Below is a detailed overview of the center's strategic impact areas for 2025.
1. Agriculture & Natural Resources
Led by County Extension Director and Extension Agent Douglas Clement, this program focuses on wildland protection and farm viability.
Wildfire Mitigation & Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Protection
- 43 Residents Trained: Participated in educational sessions covering Firescape and Firewise structural principles.
- 36 Home Assessments: Received on-site risk evaluations to safeguard properties.
- 50+ Homes Fortified: Safeguarded over 100 residents in high-risk zones.
- 2 Recognized Communities: Achieved national Firewise USA® recognition in partnership with Emergency Management and the N.C. Forest Service.
Agricultural Production & Preparedness
- Livestock & Food Security: Educated 62 residents on backyard poultry, livestock, and bees, while 42 residents attended animal purchasing workshops.
- Producer Financials: Guided 44 farm operators in marketing, financial planning, and operational management practices.
- Biosecurity & Disaster Resilience: Trained 31 producers on disaster mitigation, creating 3 community resilience plans, and instructed 52 producers in biosecurity.
2. Extension Master Gardener Volunteer (EMGV) Program
Following a two-year hiatus, the EMGV Advisory Committee was re-established to lead community horticulture initiatives:
- Volunteer Roster: Maintained 8 Certified Master Gardeners and 15 new active interns in 2025.
- 1,600+ Volunteer Hours: Contributed over $25,397 in direct economic value to Cherokee County.
- Community Projects: Established a Native Plant Garden at Konahete Park, developed therapeutic gardens and activities at local nursing homes, and launched a Community Speakers Bureau.
- Horticulture Education: Hosted specialized workshops on Pawpaw Tree Cultivation (37 attendees), Tree Identification (22 attendees), Home Fruit Production (18 attendees), and Shiitake Mushroom Cultivation.
- 2026 Pipeline: Enrolled 22 residents for the 2026 Master Gardener Initial Certification series and planned the upcoming 2026 Pro Garden Series.
3. 4-H Youth Development
Led by 4-H Agent Shannon Coleman, the program delivers hands-on STEM and leadership learning.
School Enrichment Expansion
- 355 Youth Reached: Integrated hands-on 4-H curriculum into 17 restructured elementary classrooms at zero cost to schools.
- Curriculum Units Delivered: Completed Embryology (10 classes), Winged Wonders (10 classes), Bees (6 classes), Soil Solutions (2 classes), Vermicomposting (2 classes), and Astronomy (3 classes).
Active 4-H Clubs & Achievements
Four volunteer-led community clubs meet regularly at the Extension Annex:
- 4-H Horse Club: Sent 2 teams to the State Horse Bowl (placing 4th and 6th overall), with 1 senior member selected to compete on the NC State Team.
- 4-H Cooking, Crafting & Community: Sent 7 youth to State Presentations and Congress, earning 2 Gold medals, 1 Bronze medal, and a $3,000 scholarship.
- Additional Clubs: Active groups include Bunnies, Bovines, Bees & Birds, as well as Cherokee on the Fly (Outdoor Adventure & Fishing).
4. Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) & Local Foods
Led by FCS Agent and Local Foods Coordinator Marlana Baker, initiatives focus on relief, nutrition, and market development.
Emergency Relief & Nutrition Security
- Venison Donation Program: Donated 17 deer yielding 652 lbs of ground meat, providing 2,608 nutritious meals across 8 food pantries in Cherokee, Clay, and Graham counties.
- Hurricane Helene Relief: Assembled and distributed 112 complete kitchen tool kits across 6 western North Carolina disaster-affected counties through funding from the Cherokee Clay Food Alliance.
- Community Food Initiative: Responded to the SNAP pause by securing $23,000 (including a $12,500 Nantahala Health Foundation grant) for 6 pantries, collecting over 1,600 lbs of food, and establishing 2 new pantries.
- 3rd Annual Extension Food Drive: Collected 1,938 items (1,506 lbs) serving 2,507 food-insecure individuals.
Local Food Economy & Youth Wellness
- Local Growers' Farmstand: Attended 89 market days across 4 local markets, paying $7,378 directly to 40 small growers while selling 177 dozen eggs and over 12,000 lbs of fresh produce. (Cherokee Clay Food Alliance)
- Local Food Resource Guide: Published a digital and print guide accessed over 5,000 times in 90 days and embedded on the Cherokee County Government website.
- Student Weekend Wellness Program (SWWP): Onboarded 6 schools into the MANNA Pack program following Hurricane Helene warehouse losses, securing weekend meals for 125 vulnerable students.
5. Digital Skills & Community Development
Led by Digital Skills Agent Danny Ferreira, this program addresses digital division across the county.
Accessibility & Assistive Technology
- Workforce Independence: Trained a blind resident in NVDA and JAWS screen readers, enabling her to live independently and gain paid freelance work evaluating accessibility tools.
- Historical Preservation: Coached a local senior historian in Google Workspace, enabling independent public historical programming.
- 1-on-1 Consultations: Delivered 180 individual technical assistance sessions county-wide.
Senior Tech & Community Outreach
- Senior Planet Curriculum: Licensed AARP/OATS curriculum to teach multi-week courses (Streaming & Smart TVs, Healthcare, Digital Safety) at local libraries and senior centers.
- Community Outreach: Hosted 95 educational events at 14 sites reaching 284 participants, promoting NC Digital Literacy Standards to over 100 attendees.
- Seed Surplus Recovery: Partnered with Master Gardeners to secure a $1,500 retail seed donation for 4 local seed banks.
Volunteer Economic Impact & Reach Summary
During the 2025 reporting year, volunteers contributed significantly across all program areas:
- Family & Consumer Sciences / Local Foods (Marlana Baker): 3,447 volunteer hours | 1,874 direct contacts | $119,888 value
- 4-H Youth Development (Shannon Coleman): 1,530 volunteer hours | 880 direct contacts | $53,229 value
- Agriculture & CED (Doug Clement): 1,450 volunteer hours | 178 direct contacts | $50,446 value
- Digital Skills (Danny Ferreira): 5 volunteer hours | 3 direct contacts | $174 value
- Total Extension Volunteer Impact: 6,441 volunteer hours | 2,995 direct contacts | $224,083 total value
Overall Digital Reach & Service
- Direct Technical Responses: Delivered over 800 responses through "Agent Assist".
- Digital Reach: Generated 10,400+ website views and reached 4,150 newsletter readers.
Printable Impact Report 2025:
