Welcome to Person County Cooperative Extension
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Welcome to Person County Cooperative Extension
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NC Cooperative Extension Person County Center  Plan of Work January 1, 2008 | |
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I. Executive Summary Person County is located in the North Central District of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. The 2000 Census indicates the current population at 36,864, with 30.3% being non-white. This percentage is smaller than many neighboring counties. With the proximity of the rapidly urbanizing counties of Durham and Orange to the south, residential and economic interest in the county is expected to increase in the near future. Person County has a slightly older population than North Carolina. The median age of Person County is 38 years old, compared with the state's 35.3. With the location of two recreational lakes in the area, Person County is attracting an older retiree to our population base. Needs for senior adults are projected to rise above state averages. Person County has a lower percentage of sub-standard housing than many of our neighboring counties. However, estimates of housing needs and demand indicate a need for more assisted rental housing than the neighboring counties. Mobile home permits issued greatly exceeded other building permits issued in the county. Manufacturing plays an important role in Person County's economy with approximately 40% of the labor pool working in this industry. This rate is higher than that of the United States and neighboring counties. Major employers are textile manufacturers, makers of metal working machinery, and automobile parts and accessories. However, Person County has lost approximately 1000 manufacturing jobs in the past 24 months. Our unemployment rate in 2007 was slightly above the state average.  Agricultural income has increased by one-third since 1986. The majority of the agricultural income in the county is still derived from tobacco. Livestock production continues to grow and as a group follows tobacco production. Person County is still basically a rural county and agriculture is important to its economy. For the next four years, agriculture will slowly expand and barring any bad weather situations, income will increase another 15% during the next four years.The latest data indicates that 15% of the county's residents are below the poverty level with the largest age group being children under the age of sixteen. On average, Personian's have a lower income (37,159) than the average for the state of North Carolina. With the above information in hand, the Extension Advisory Council along with the Extension Staff set about identifying problems and setting priorities for Extension programs using the Environmental Scan Process. Commodity groups, 4-H groups, ECA groups, advisory groups, governmental groups, volunteers, and random residents were surveyed for their perception of needs for citizens of Person County. After the process was completed, it became clear that the objective of the Extension staff would include finding new sources of income, increasing the efficiency of present income, helping individuals cope with family problems, educating family members on environmental protection and working to increase personal health and welfare in the home. As agriculture contributes at least 30 million dollars to the local economy, farmers will continue to be of great importance to local commerce. The Extension Service will continue its mission to provide the latest technical information to livestock and crop producers, with the focus on increasing net family income while protecting the environment. Emphasis will be given to small and part-time producers looking at specialty crops. Fruit and vegetable production will increase as farmers look to diversify into more profitable areas. Livestock producers will be given the technical assistance needed for profitable expansion. Producers will continue to receive the latest information on herd health and proper marketing techniques. One significant shift in livestock production will be the growers taking a proactive stand to inform the general public about food safety, environmental management, and animal welfare. Implementation of a Person County Land Development Plan will become a primary concern for the Person County Government and its citizens during the next four years. The Extension Service will serve in an educational capacity to help the citizens understand the best methods of controlling rapid residential growth along the US 501 Corridor. Family and Consumer Science efforts will focus on strengthening and sustaining families. While programs will address all areas identified in the State FCS Plan of Work, major emphasis will be placed on building healthy families and helping families cope with tough economic times. Programming will be conducted highlighting healthy lifestyles with regard to both food choices and physical activity. These will be targeted towards families with school aged children, and our fastest growing population segment, senior adults. Person County ranks 2nd in the state in bankruptcy filings, our unemployment rate is consistently above state average and citizens are living on the edge economically. Our citizens continue to need education in the areas of personal finance. Progams targeting financial planning for families, affordable housing, credit/debt management and retirement planning will be strengthened during the next 4 years. Efforts will also be expanded in basic consumer skills, household saving strategies, and financial goal development and planning, with the ultimate goal of hellping families become more viable economically. The youth of Person are no different from other youth in the United States. As they enter their teen years, they began to exhibit certain degrees of irresponsibility. The importance of safety and health will be stressed to these teens in the hope that serious injury or death can be avoided, and their quality of life can be improved. Efforts will be made to help youth make better choices in realizing healthier lifestyles.  Our 4-H program will provide emphasis on wholesome activities for youth to be involved in, including both the traditional club program, after-school programs and special interest opportunities. Efforts will be made in expanding opportunites for leadership development, especially for young and older teens serving as mentors and leaders for the younger 4-H audience. A special effort will be made to help identify "youth at risk" to help decrease the number of substance abusers and school dropouts. Statistics show that kids from a single parent home or kids that live in certain neighborhoods have a greater chance of winding up in our justice system. By giving these youth special attention, we hope that some of them will become productive members of the community. More and more individuals are becoming aware of mans effect on the environment in which he lives. Water quality is a term that many of our Advisory Council members use regularly. As a result of this, the Person County Cooperative Extension Staff will jointly undertake a program to help the citizens prevent the problem of water contamination from growing locally. II. Objectives to Address the Cooperative Extension Long Range Plan Youth and adults with develop and strengthen critical life skills. With multiple influences in life (technology, media, culture, politics), connecting to create healthy human interaction has led to increased stress and negative relationships in work, school, family and community. By teaching and developing positive interpersonal and social skills, individuals will become better connected to and invested in family and societal relationships. The high school drop out rate in NC continues to rise at an alarming pace. Over 17% of adult North Carolinians are classified as illiterate and 20% of adults have less than a high school graduation. While subject matter content is important, coping and contributory skills provide the social emotional intelligence needed for academic success. North Carolina's plant, animal and food systems will become more profitable and sustainable. Educational and training programs for producers of agricultural, horticultural and of forest products and services will enhance their ability to achieve financial and lifestyle goals and to enhance economic development locally, regionally and statewide. North Carolina's producers produce a wide variety of agricultural, food, fiber, and horticultural products that make major contributions to local communities and the states economy. In 2006, the estimated farm gate value of agricultural and horticultural production was $8.2 billion, placing NC as the 8th largest in the nation. The total economic impact of these agricultural, horticultural and food industries accounts for approximately one-quarter of the states economy. North Carolina farm numbers have declined consistently for decades as a result of economies of scale and global competition in traditional agricultural commodities. Producers of traditional commodities have been forced to expand or leave agriculture. There is continual technological change and the relative profitability of individual farm enterprises changes over time; therefore, farmers must respond by modifying their farming operations. Changes in consumer demand create new opportunities for producers unable or unwilling to compete in commodity production. North Carolina's rapidly growing population creates competition for resources and the need for well informed and well crafted public policy to resolve conflicts and meet societies goals. Producers will increase sales of food locally to more agriculturally aware consumers through market development, produce and consumer education, and new farmer and infrastructure support. Farmers will increase their capacity to supply product for local food sales through market planning efforts, producer and consumer education, beginning farmer training programs and local market infrastructure development. The fastest growing area of consumer demand in agriculture continues to be organic. Farmers' markets continue to expand as do multiple efforts in local sustainable agriculture. Nationally, "Buy Local, Buy Fresh" movements have emerged in the face of concerns about the risks involved in long distance transportation of industrialized food production. Increasingly, public officials and business leaders see promotion of local farm products as good public policy and local economic development. Youth and adults will address community issues and/or challenges through volunteerism Youth and adult volunteers not only contribute by addressing educational needs in North Carolina Communities, but also develop new skills and aspirations. Cooperative Extension provides interpersonal, leadership skills and content knowledge to citizens who in exchange share that expertise with others across the state and nation. Current research suggest that youth and adult volunteer participation positively impacts civic engagement and contributes to leader development. Involved youth and adults, contributing their knowledge and skills provide for community sustainability. North Carolina has an opportunity to improve its less than stellar rank of 39th nationally in volunteerism.(NC Progress Board, 2003) Youth and adult program participants will make healthy food choices, achieve the recommended amount of physical activity and reduce factors for chronic diseases. Many North Carolinians are affected by chronic disease and conditions that compromise their quality of life and well-being. Heart disease, stroke and cancer continue to be leading causes of death in our state. In addition, obesity and obesity related chronic diseases such as diabetes continue to rise at alarming rates. Healthy eating and physical activity are critical to achieve optimal health. Many North Carolinians have diets that are too high in calories and too low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Portion sizes, foods eaten away-from-home and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages continue to rise. In addition, most North Carolinians do not engage in regular physical activity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity has nearly doubled in the past 10 years. If the trend of overweight is not slowed, it will eliminate the progress we have made in reducing the burden of weigh-related chronic disease. One in every three US children born after 2000 will become diabetic unless many more people start eating less and exercising more. The cost of obesity in North Carolina in health care costs alone is over 2 billion dollars. There are many proposed reasons for the obesity epidemic, however unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are widely recognizes as primary contributors to the problem. Those who make healthy food choices and are physically active are more likely to achieve and maintain a healthy weight as well reduce chronic diseases. Ultimately, this will lead to reduction in health care costs, increased longevity, greater productivity and improved quality of life. Parents and caregivers will effectively use recommended parenting, self care practices and community resources. North Carolina communities are only as strong and viable as the families that reside there. To create and maintain viable communities where children and youth succeed and the elderly are protected and cared for parents and caregivers need knowledge and skills that build their capacity to function effectively and carryout their responsibilities. They need to be equipped to: 1) foster positive parent-child relationships, 2) address anti-social behavior with appropriate disciplinary techniques, 3) implement positive role modeling, child monitoring and supervision strategies and 4) prevent practices that lead to the abuse and neglect of children. State data suggest that strengthening parenting skills could serve as an asset to families and communities. Risk and needs assessment data on 46,041 youth involved in NC courts found that 59% of the youth had problems in school, 40% had relationships with peers associated with gangs and delinquent behavior, 40% had parents who were either unable or unwilling to supervise them, and 68% had parents with either marginal or inadequate supervision skills. A large percentage of NC working families with children under six (63.34%) must rely on child care services. Child care practitioner education and training is key to providing quality childcare. Family members provide care to a rapidly growing aging population that could double, reaching 2.8 million in the next two decades. A majority of elderly North Carolinians suffer from multiple chronic illnesses. Caregiver demands can trigger health problems, financial and emotional stress. Families who provide care and support for elderly family members also need skills to succeed with less stress and financial burden and need to be linked to community resources that provide support for the care and maintenance of elderly family members. Landowners and farmers will understand and implement effective best management practices to optimize ecosystem services. Ecosystems provide multiple benefits in terms of environmental, social and economic implications. To have optimal benefit from the environment, especially in a state with a rapidly growing population, it is important for private landowners, who control the majority of land, to implement practices that ensure high water quality, reduce erosion and runoff, enhance biodiversity, sequester carbon, and other best management practices as a part of their agriculture and forestry and land management operations. Consumers and communities will enhance the value of plants, animals, and landscapes while conserving valuable natural resources and protecting the environment. Residential, commercial and public entities will make decisions regarding plant selection, placement and management that will decrease water consumption, preserve and improve water quality, mitigate storm water contaminants, reduce erosion, energy consumption, and greenwaste, expand wildlife habitat, improve real estate value, and improve diet and nutrition of consumers. The horse and "farmer-lifestyle" industry will continue to grow and have an increasing impact on North Carolina's economy, while protecting the environment. The NCDA&CS reports that 65,000 horse producers own over 225,000 horses which annually generates over $704 million of gross revenue from training, showing, boarding and breeding establishments in addition to agri-business sales of horse-related products. The total economic impact of the NC green industry is $8.6 billion, involving 151,982 employees, and 120,741 acres of production (Green Industry Council, 2006). North Carolina residential consumers spend $5.9 billion dollars per year on garden and landscape related expenses (Green Industry Council, 2006). For 2007, North Carolina's population is estimated to be 8,968,800 (LINC). The population grew by 1,323,288 (15%), between 1997 and 2007 and it is projected to grow by another 1,330,055 (13%), over the next ten years (LINC). Over 50% of the population now lives in urban areas. Despite evidence of the ecological and financial benefits, environmentally responsible landscaping strategies are not being implemented widely. Renovating a landscape to incorporate water conserving strategies may result in using 36% less water. Urban water run-off accounts for the majority of water pollution, mostly pesticides and fertilizers, that does not come from a specific industrial source. Selection of well-adapted plants, effective pest management, and appropriate care and feeding of plants will greatly reduce dependence on fertilizers and pesticides. Rain water that is not absorbed by the soil becomes erosive storm water runoff, which transports pollutants such as fertilizer, pesticides, sediment, motor oil, litter, and animal waste to local streams and rivers. Landscape designs will include rain gardens and other runoff catchment facilities (underground cisterns, etc.) that are attractive and easy to maintain in residential areas. Homeowners will learn that proper plant selection and placement can reduce winter heating bills by as much as 15% and summer cooling bills by as much as 50 percent, while reducing the need to prune over-sized plants. Wild habitat areas are rapidly being converted into housing and commercial properties, displacing native plants and animals. Choosing native or adapted plants that provide food and shelter creates a haven for butterflies, birds, lizards, and other animals. Edible landscaping can increase the amount and expand the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed. III. Other Objectives There are no other objectives. IV. Relationship to County Government Objectives Person County recognizes that communities—urban and rural alike—that have proven to be attractive places to live and do business in the 21st century knowledge-based economy possess a distinct set of characteristics. More specifically, highly attractive and competitive communities:
As a result of the recent strategic plan conducted by Person County, Cooperative Extension plays a major role in the following challenges. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Mission Statement: Continue to provide and strengthen our economic base. AGRICULTURE Throughout its history, Person County has rested on a firm agricultural foundation. Even with the recent industrial growth, it continues as a major component of the economy, and will fore the foreseeable future. Key Findings
Strategies Include: The city and county, through their ordinances and regulatory arms, need to protect Person County farmland from unreasonable encroachments and negative influences. Person County needs to ensure that agricultural producers continue to receive needed technical assistance in order to remain competitive. Cooperative Extension is a intregal part of the Local Emergency Planning Committee. The committee meets monthly to plan and to practice how to react to emergencies and natural disasters. Cooperative Extension has several roles spelled out in the Emergency Response Plan. Cooperative Extension is also active in the CART. Trainings have been offered to volunteers, and equipment has been purchased to aid in animal rescue. V. Diversity Plan The Person County Center of North Carolina Cooperative Extension has always been proactive in reaching under-served audiences. In the past, it has provided programming for the visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically challenged, Hispanic, and other groups with disabilities. The Center makes all reasonable efforts to market its programs to ensure all groups are notified. All are welcome. All reasonable efforts are made to accomodate special needs groups or individuals. VI. Primary Delivery and Evaluation Methods Delivering timely, relevant educational programs that meet critical local needs is the cornerstone of Extension’s mission. Extension educational programs are designed to equip the citizens of Person County with the knowledge, skills and tools to improve their economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and quality of life. An Extension program delivery system is a planned and organized eclectic mix of educational methods used during an educational program. Extension educational methods are the specific ways by which research-based information is shared with targeted learners. Extension educators in our county employ a wide variety of hands-on, experiential educational methods, such as interactive workshops and classes, demonstrations, field days and tours, that allow learners to fully engage in the learning process, test new knowledge and/or practice new skills during the educational session. Equally important, this plan will also include educational methods such as seminars, client visits, fact sheets, newsletters, and home study kits that serve to support and reinforce learning as well as provide motivation for continued learning. Armed with the most current literature on effective teaching and learning, Extension educators also skillfully select educational methods based on the learning style preferences and special needs of the targeted learners. These client-focused methods afford learners the opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to change their lives in meaningful ways. Another key feature of Extension program delivery that is evident in this plan is our commitment to being customer driven and customer focus. As such, in addition to the County Extension Center, Extension educational programs are delivered online, in community centers, on farms, and other locations in order for our programs to be available and accessible to, and fully utilized by, the citizens of Person County. In Extension, success is defined as the extent to which our educational programs have made a difference in the lives of the citizens of Person County. Evaluation methods are the way we make those observations about first and foremost whether any changes occurred as a result our educational programs, and subsequently the significance of those changes. As an educational organization, the changes we seek focus on key outcomes such as the knowledge and skills participants gain from our programs. More specifically, in this plan, we are using quantitative research methods such as retrospective testing, pre and post tests and/or surveys to measure change in knowledge gained, the application of that knowledge, number of new skills developed, and types of new skills developed. Extension, as a results-oriented organization, is committed to also assessing the social, economic and/or environmental impact that our programs have on the individuals who participate, their families and communities and ultimately the county as a whole (i.e. true significance of the changes stemming from our programs). We plan to measure these impacts in both the long and short-term. In this annual plan (short-term), we have outlined financial impact and cost benefit analysis as our primary evaluation methods. Another value held in Extension is actively listening to and dialoguing with targeted learners. Therefore, this plan also includes qualitative evaluation methods such as testimonials from program participants, and interviews and focus groups with participants. VII. Advisory Leadership System Membership VIII. Staff Membership IV. Contact Information Telephone: (336) 599-1195 Fax: (336) 598-0272 Mail: 304 S.Morgan Street - Room 123, Roxboro, NC 27573 Courier Mail: 23-33-29 E-mail: derek_day@ncsu.edu | |
