March 2026 Newsletter
(Updated: March 24, 2026, 8:33 p.m.)
Catawba County Center
We Are Here to Serve You!
828-465-8240 or Email our Staff
Be sure to go down to the bottom of your email.
Sometimes we save the best for last!!
*Links to registration, emails, and more information are in red*
March 2026 Activities
March 1: Local Foods Class Sign Up opens
March 4: Library LEGO Robotics
March 10: The Piedmont Herb Growers Group
March 10: Catawba Valley Cattlemens Meeting
March 16: Catawba Valley Beekeepers Meeting
March 18: Winter Food Preservation Canning Meat
March 20: Pesticide Renewal Credit Classes
March 26: Lost Arts Canning Methods Class
March 28: 4-H South Central Teen Retreat
Upcoming:
April 1: Hickory Farmers Market Fundraiser Dinner
We are accepting applications for summer camp and scholarship opportunities! Catawba County 4-H invites children aged 8-14 to Millstone 4-H Camp from June 14-19 for a week of adventure and skill-building. The total cost is $555, and a $100 deposit is required to secure your child's spot. Please note that by paying the deposit, you accept responsibility for the full balance.
Limited scholarships are generously provided by Hickory Kiwanis for families in need of financial assistance. You can apply via Section Two of the Registration Google Form by the deadline of March 27th at 5:00 PM. Scholarship funding is not guaranteed, so we encourage early applications.
For questions, contact Lisa Ortiz at lortiz2@ ncsu.edu or 828-465-8248.
Spring 2026 Pesticide Credits Available
Attention Pesticide Applicators: Mandatory C&T Training
All certified applicators (with certification prior to July 1, 2025) must view the one-hour “NCDA&CS Required Pesticide Certification & Training Standards Update” video to comply with new EPA regulations before their current certification deadline.
Watch the video.
Farmers Markets are Open!
The Farmers Markets in Catawba County are open.
Check out their hours and locations! Catawba County Farmers Markets
2026 Registration opens Sunday, March 1st at Noon.
Price $15 each class $5 off if you sign up for all 7 classes
We will alternate between the Extension office at 1175 S. Brady Ave. in Newton and The Hickory Soup Kitchen 110 2nd Street PL. SE, Hickory
Dates: Monthly classes on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
April 15- Newton
May 13- Hickory
June 17- Newton
July 15- Hickory
August 19- Newton
September 16- Hickory
October 14- Newton
Learn fun and interesting ways to prepare fresh, local produce in this cooking class series. We help local farmers by sourcing whatever they have in abundance for the produce bags and then create recipes to help you learn how to prepare it.
An Overview of Canning Methods with Donna Mull
Thursday March 26 at 6:00 pm
at the Catawba County Agricultural Resource Center
Get organized and ready to can for when garden produce starts coming in.
NC State Family and Consumer Science Agent Donna Mull will give an overview of different types of canning, problems to watch out for and how to can safely.
Register for this class and other Lost Arts Programs in 2026.
Congratulations to Jennifer O'Donnell who has completed the course and requirements to become a certified Extension Master Food Volunteer.
Jennifer completed 30 hours of nutrition and foods related course work through Extension, followed by 30 hours of a volunteer internship where she shadowed Extension agents doing foods programing. Jennifer has volunteered with Donation Station and Local Foods Cooking classes.
To maintain her certification as a Master Food Volunteer, she will need to complete 10 hours of training annually and volunteer 20 hours leading or assisting with foods and nutrition programing.
Jennifer is also an Extension Master Gardener volunteer.
More information about the Extension Master Food Volunteer program
Are you concerned about food insecurity? Like to spend time at the Farmers Market?
Consider volunteering with Donation Station.
This is a collaborative project of Cooperative Extension and Hickory Farmers Market.
Once or twice a month, a Donation Station table is set-up at the Hickory Farmers Market. Shoppers are invited to make a donation of cash or produce. The cash donations are used to purchase fresh produce from local farmers on that day. The purchased and donated produce is given to a local agency that help distribute that produce to families experiencing food insecurity in our county that might lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Volunteers are needed to help with the Donation Station table at the Hickory Farmers Market on the first Wednesday of the month or occasional Saturdays. The market hours are Wednesdays, 10:00-1:00 and Saturdays, 8:00- 1:00.
We welcome teens, adults and families to volunteer with Donation Station.
A Volunteer Orientation will be planned for late April for new volunteers.
If you would like to volunteer with Donation Station, complete the interest form and Donna will be in touch with more details .
For more information or to sign-up to volunteer, contact Donna Mull at donna_mull@ ncsu.edu or 828-465-8242.
* Thursday, March 19 - Developing a Household Food Budget Learn some ideas stretching your food dollars. Practice on developing a household food budget and discussion on budget strategies, such as tracking expenses and shopping on-line. The workshop includes a recipe demo and taste test.
* Thursday, April 23 - Fill Your Basket at the Farmers Market Learn about the benefits of shopping local at the Farmers Markets, cost saving strategies at the market, seasonal finds, and volunteer opportunities with Donation Station at the Hickory Market. Meet and hear from a panel of Farmers Market Managers to learn more about our local markets. Recipe demo and taste test featuring a seasonal favorite.
Attend both workshops and get entered for your chance to win some Farmers Market shopping tokens.
Location: Catawba County Library - Newton Main Offered in partnership with the Newton Library.
Call or register at the Newton Library - 828-465-8664
Learn some food preservation basics and more about canning meat (chicken) with the upcoming Food Preservation series. These canned items would be tasty to use in your wintertime soups.
March 18 - Canning Meat Basics with hands-on workshop to can chicken.
Register by March 13
Workshop will be from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Ag Resources Center, Newton.
Cost: $15.
Offered by Catawba and Lincoln County Family and Consumer Sciences program. For more information contact Donna Mull at 828-465-8240 or donna_mull@ncsu.edu
Sara Drake: sadrake@ncsu.edu
Two Catawba County farmers have received a NC AgVentures Grant, a grant program aimed at supporting family farms. Jeff Elmore and Austin Hirsch are among 68 recipients earning grants between $2,000 and $10,000 from the NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program.
The funding for the competitive grant is provided through the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and is administered by NC Cooperative Extension. The grants are awarded for agricultural project ideas aimed at helping family farms increase their capacity.
Jeff Elmore, with Elmore Farms, operates a diversified family farm consisting of commercial broiler chicken production, beef cattle operation with direct to consumer beef sales, sheep, and a seasonal greenhouse producing annual flowers. The grant will assist the farm in updating and expanding their cattle handling facility to improve animal welfare and safety.
Austin and Madison Hirsch, with Bumble Berry Farms, is a family-run farm producing strawberries and blackberries as part of their u-pick and pre-picked farm
market. Funds from the grant will help the farm build a cool-bot cooler for berry harvests and add a slushee machine for the spring/summer season.
The North Carolina General Assembly created the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (TTFC) in 2000 to lessen the financial impact on farmers and tobacco-related businesses caused by the sharp decline of tobacco in the agricultural economy. Through their programs, the TTFC supports local markets, funds training for new jobs, promotes North Carolina products, and makes farms safer.
Cooperative Extension is an educational partnership of the state’s two land-grant universities, North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University, county governments and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Its mission is to extend research-based knowledge to all North Carolinians, helping them transform science into everyday solutions that improve their lives and grow our state.
Read more: Agventure Grant Program
The next meeting will be held on March 16 at 7:00 PM.
At this meeting, current and past presidents of the North Carolina Beekeepers Association, Maryann Helton, Greg Clements, and Doug Vinson, will answer beekeeping questions as part of a special “Presidential Panel.”
During this moderated panel discussion, they will share their insights and experience while responding to your questions. This is a unique opportunity to learn how seasoned beekeepers manage their colonies and approach common challenges. Bring your questions and join the discussion.
The Catawba Valley Beekeepers are selling bee packages, nucs and queens this spring. To learn more and place your order visit the club's website.