Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, the tour group poses for a photo in their Farm Credit caps at Rocky Mount Mills.


Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T loaded the bus and headed down east for a tour of the Eastern Region counties and the farms, programs and areas currently collaborating on projects with Extension specialists and county staff.

Twenty participants from campus, including Chancellor Harold Martin, Provost Tonya Smith-Jackson and Dean Mohamed Ahmedna, joined Extension specialists, regional area directors and faculty in making the seven-county trek to see firsthand Extension’s work in beekeeping in Halifax County; developments in hemp and CBD in Martin County; row crops and tobacco in Bertie County; a look at the Cooperative Extension Center, and its high tunnel demonstration area, in Currituck County; work on an exercise with Teen Entrepreneurship Camp in Nash and Edgecombe Counties; and to take a tour of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Wayne County, among other projects. 

Participants also met 2023 Small Farmers of the Year Jeannette Martin Horn and Joyce Martin Bowden of J&J Martin Produce in Wayne County, a “century farm” founded by the sisters’ ancestor more than 100 years ago.  

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Jeannette Martin Horn, left, and Joyce Martin Bowden, of J&J Martin Produce Farm in Mount Olive, stand beside the new sign recognizing their being named the 2023 Small Farmers of the Year.

Small Farmer of the Year runners-up 4-Ever Vista Farms in Halifax County was also on the tour, where owners Linette and Richard Hewlin showed visitors their high-tunnel produce operation. 

“The Eastern Tour provides an opportunity to showcase the impacts of N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension on the human condition and economies of individuals, families, and communities in eastern North Carolina, and it allows people in those communities the chance to visit with and talk to the leadership of N.C. A&T, an opportunity that so few get,” said Extension Administrator M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D.  

Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T makes more than 500,000 contacts with North Carolinians living in limited-resource communities each year, providing education related to small-scale farming, nutrition health and wellness, and environmental sustainability.  

Extension also reaches nearly 15,000 youth each year through 4-H programs. 

“We have such an awesome team of staff across Eastern N.C. who are all committed to the Extension mission and the individuals they service,” said Shannon Wiley, Ph.D., Regional Extension Director, Urban and Non-Traditional/Underrepresented Audiences, who organized the tour. “This was an opportunity for those leaders to experience ‘boots on the ground’ action and gain a greater understanding of how we can continue to work together to leverage our work in outreach and research.  

“We saw a lot, learned a lot and know the areas we need to build action around!”

Gallery

Eastern Tour 2023 Currituck Extension Ctr 0156 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Ph.D., greets the audience gathered at the stakeholder’s dinner in the Currituck County Cooperative Extension Center in Barco.

Eastern Tour 2023 CEFS 0858 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, tomatoes are abundant in the high tunnel at the Center for Environmental Food Systems (CEFS) in Goldsboro.

Eastern Tour 2023 Bertie Mizelle 0430 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Jimmy Mizelle, right, shows off the row crop vegetable production at Mizelle Farms in Colerain.

Eastern Tour 2023 Bertie Walton 0673 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Wayne Walton directs a tour of his Green Pond Farm in Lewiston.

Eastern Tour 2023 Halifax Hewlin 9789 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Linette Hewlin, of 4ever Vista Farms, explains how she and her husband, Richard, left, have had successful plant growth.

Eastern Tour 2023 Bertie Walton 0619 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, piglets huddle on Wayne Walton’s Green Pond Farm in Lewiston.

Eastern Tour 2023 Currituck Extension Ctr 0240 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Cyndi Knudson, area small farms agent, talks about niche agriculture in front of the University’s high tunnel structure next to the Currituck County Cooperative Extension Center in Barco.

Eastern Tour 2023 Bertie Mizelle 0394 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Cyndi Knudson, center, area small farms Cooperative Extension associate, shows off the high tunnel vegetable production at Mizelle Farms in Colerain.

Eastern Tour 2023 Bertie Walton 0708 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, the tour group poses for a picture on Wayne Walton’s Green Pond Farm in Lewiston.

Eastern Tour 2023 Bertie Mizelle 0512 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, the tour group leaves Mizelle Farms in Colerain.

Eastern Tour 2023 CEFS 0786 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, (from left) Shameeka McKoy, Joyce Martin Bowden, and Lin Zhao, marvel at the quality of the vegetables at the Center for Environmental Food Systems (CEFS) in Goldsboro.

Eastern Tour 2023 CEFS 0900 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Mark Blevins, Assistant Extension Administrator, explains the functions of the high tunnel at the Center for Environmental Food Systems (CEFS) in Goldsboro.

Eastern Tour 2023 East Carolina Ag Ctr 9263 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, one of the students from the Conetoe Family Life Center, raises her hands to demonstrate having completed staking Smarties candy during the festivities of the tour ceremony held at the East Carolina Agricultural & Education Center in Rocky Mount.

Eastern Tour 2023 East Carolina Ag Ctr 9136 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Traci Dixon, left, Nash County agent, and Shoneca Kent, Edgecombe County agent, share in the festivities of the tour ceremony held at the East Carolina Agricultural & Education Center in Rocky Mount.

Eastern Tour 2023 CEFS 0775 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Willard Humphries III, shows off the research-focused row cropping, extra-wide rows and all, at the Center for Environmental Food Systems (CEFS) in Goldsboro.

Eastern Tour 2023 Bertie Mizelle 0441 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, left, explains his successful row crop vegetable production at Mizelle Farms in Colerain.

Eastern Tour 2023 Albermarle Matthews 0084 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Chancellor Harold L. Martin, center, congratulates Douglas Jones for his assistance in getting the bus out of the garden on Moses Matthew’s farm in Williamston.

Eastern Tour 2023 East Carolina Ag Ctr 9442 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Tour Coordinator Shannon Wiley, Ph.D., speaks during the ceremony at the East Carolina Agricultural & Education Center in Rocky Mount.

Eastern Tour 2023 Albermarle Matthews 0058 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, the tour bus works to get out of the garden on Moses Matthew’s farm in Williamston.

Eastern Tour 2023 East Carolina Ag Ctr 9520 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Rev. Richard Joyner, center, of the Conetoe Family Life Center, greets A&T officials including CAES Dean Mohamed Ahmedna, right, during a tour ceremony at the East Carolina Agricultural & Education Center in Rocky Mount.

Eastern Tour 2023 Bertie Walton 0698 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Wayne Walton talks about one of his pigs that was cooling off on the hot day on his Green Pond Farm in Lewiston.

Eastern Tour 2023 Albermarle Matthews 0072 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Douglas Jones, center, interim assistant superintendent at the University Farm, gives a direction for getting the bus out of the garden on Moses Matthew’s farm in Williamston.

Eastern Tour 2023 Halifax Hewlin 9692 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Linette Hewlin, center, of 4ever Vista Farms, shows off her successful vegetable growth in her mini high tunnel.

Eastern Tour 2023 Albermarle Matthews 9903 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Moses Matthews, center, of the Albermarle Sound Cooperative, talks about the organization during a visit to his farm in Williamston.

Eastern Tour 2023 J&J Martin 0957 – Resized – 1920px – 150 dpi

Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University sponsored the Eastern Region Tour. In the photo, Derrick Coble, Ph.D., of the CAES, greets Larry Martin, left, on J&J Martin Produce Farm in Mount Olive.