Dear Friends of the District Member

This first quarter of 2014 has been a busy one and we wanted to share what the Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District has been doing.

Robin Hammond, Friends of Wake SWCD Founder, receives the national Friend of Conservation award from the National Assoc. of Conservation Districts.

The Friends won an award from the National Association of Conservation District for our work assisting the Wake District. Robin Hammond, founder of the Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District, traveled to Anaheim CA in February to accept the award on behalf of the Friends. We are first such group out of 3,000 districts in the country – this is a great honor for the Friends and for the Wake SWCD!

Thank you for your support.
Grace Lawrence, Chair

Upcoming events:

Beer with Friends

May 6, 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The Friends are hosting a Happy Hour courtesy of the Busy Bee Cafe. A $20 charitable contribution lets you enjoy an after work party with Friends, have two beers, some appetizers, and great conservation conversation. Order your tickets online or pay cash at the door. More info

Send-A-Kid-To-Camp

The Resource Conservation Workshop at NC State University is a fantastic opportunity for high school students to spend an intensive week exploring conservation topics. Past participants said: “…a great learning experience” and “…going out in the field and learning about conservation jobs was the highlight of my week.” Wake SWCD administers the competitive scholarship applications and will again sponsor a student this year. The Friends will sponsor 1-2 students accepted to this June workshop. Help us send a student with your tax deductible contribution to the scholarship fund by April 25. More info

March 2014 FoD Update.pdf

Today, we had the honor of being recognized by the Wake County Board of Commissioners for having received the ‘Friend of Conservation Award’ by the National Association of Conservation Districts, the parent group of the 3000 districts in the US. Yeay!  Chairman Phil Matthews called us all up the microphone for a picture.

Greg Fishel has selected five of our Top Ten "Living Soil" posters to spotlight after his weather forecast.

A high five to these five 5th grade students from Farmington Woods, Green Hope, Hunter, and Jones Dairy Elementary Schools!

Be sure to see our 5 posters on channel 5 at 5pm the week of March 10-14!

You can also listen to Greg highlight each poster Mon-Fri by listening to 101.5 FM radio at that time.

Our overall #1 District winning poster by Hill Brooks from Green Hope Elementary in Cary is at the regional poster contest at this
very moment!

Results will be forthcoming later this month. Good luck Hill! We’re rooting for you and your outstanding poster!

Posters on TV with Greg Fishel 2014.pdf

From Sheila Jones at the Wake District office

Hello High School Science Chairs, Envirothon Advisors, Environmental and Key Club Leaders, and FFA / Horticulture Teachers!

It’s only February but students are already looking for fun & meaningful summer camp opportunities!

Please tell them about the 2014 Resource Conservation Workshop (RCW) June 22-27, 2014 at NCSU.

Budget and camp enrollment space allowing, Wake District offers one or more full scholarships for Wake County high school students to attend this week-long seminar taught by NCSU professors and natural resource professionals.

Last summer our District Supervisors awarded four (4) scholarships and a fifth student paid her own way.

Eligible students must be rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. They must submit an application that includes a short essay explaining their keen interest in the great outdoors & natural resource conservation, what they hope to learn, their career plans or how they plan to apply conservation in their life, and why s/he is the best candidate of choice.

Students must also submit one letter of support from an adult (teacher, church pastor, scout leader, etc. but not a parent.)

DEADLINE: Postmark / submit application by 5:00pm Friday, March 28, 2014.

Thank you for assisting Wake District in sending deserving students to this comprehensive and worthwhile summer conservation camp!

Sheila B. Jones
Environmental Education Specialist
Wake Soil & Water Conservation District
4001-D Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
Office: 919.250.1065

RCW Promo 2014.pdf

RCW Info Letter 2014.pdf

RCW Application 2014.doc

Conservation Newsletter Winter 2014.updated Feb 6

From CEFS at NCState – Center for Environmental Farming Systems:www.ncnewfarmers.org
www.ces.ncsu.edu

…

Through the Bringing New Farmers to the Table project, we have posted some new resources for folks working on establishing new incubator farms (here) as well as new resources for beginning farmers developed by our partners, including a web-based NC focused tool for developing a farm business plan and a workbook (under PLANNING FOR A NEW ENTERPRISE here ).

As a reminder, we also have developed (and recently updated) a New Farmer Toolbox Continue reading

Widow and son take over Willow Spring winery and vineyard

from the News and Obwerver – by Andrea Weigl     aweigl@newsobserver.com    February 1, 2014

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/01/3580278/widow-and-son-take-over-willow.html

When Joyce Adams’ husband died three years ago, she not only had to figure out how to run a Muscadine vineyard and winery, she also inherited her husband’s cause: to keep the family farm viable for future generations.

The land meant a lot to her husband, Johnny, whose full name was John Quincy Adams III. The 200 acres that he inherited in southeastern Wake County have been in the family since the 1700s; it was part of a land grant from the King of England, Adams said. Johnny was the seventh generation to live and work on the land. Continue reading

Dear Keeping the Farm Workshop Attendees,
The safety of our Wake County citizens comes first… Therefore the 2014
Keeping the Farm Workshop has been cancelled for tomorrow and rescheduled
for February 12th.

The workshop will be at the same time (Registration at 8:30), same place
(Wake County Commons Building), and on the same topics, on Wednesday,
February 12, 2014.

PLEASE let me know if you will be able to attend. (We still have to pay the
caterer. So an accurate count would be great.) We had 170 people registered
for tomorrow, so we really need to have a new count.
IF you did not previously register, you are still invited and may register
now. Please let us know by February 7th if you will be able to attend on
February 12th.

We don’t argue with the weather, or the weather Maker.

Thank you for working with us,
Dale Threatt-Taylor
Wake Soil and Water
Conservation District
919-250-1068

At the 47th Annual Wake SWCD Conservation Awards Celebration, Dr. David Lindbo was honored with the Envirothon Mentor of the Year award.

Here is an article from NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Perspectives magazine:

Lindbo honored for mentoring Wake County Envirothon Teams

Date posted: January 22, 2014

David Lindbo (left) is congratulated by Wake District Supervisor Marshall Harvey

N.C. State University’s Dr. David L. Lindbo, professor and Extension specialist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Soil Science, has been named 2013 Envirothon Mentor of the Year by the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. The award was presented at the 48th Annual Conservation Awards Celebration hosted by the Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District. The event recognizes exemplary efforts by Wake County citizens in the realm of natural resource conservation, education and outreach.

Lindbo was honored for preparing Wake County middle- and high-school teams for the Envirothon — an academic competition that challenges young people’s knowledge in five areas: soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and current environmental issues.

Lindbo’s CALS research and Extension programs focus on non-agricultural land use and management of soils throughout North Carolina. For many years, he has conducted study sessions to help Envirothoners gain a thorough understanding and appreciation of soil science, while methodically covering the physical, biological and chemical properties of soil that Envirothon competitors are required to know.

As a natural resource professional, he’s been “willing to travel and meet with teams in person or by email or phone to help Envirothoners further understand the appropriate use, conservation and improvement of soils locally and globally,” said the Wake award announcement.

“Dr. Lindbo has been instrumental in helping our Wake County Envirothon teams achieve phenomenal success at the regional, state and national levels,” said Thomas Dean, chair of the Wake District Board of Supervisors. “Great football teams have great coaches. Successful Envirothon teams have dedicated mentors.”

2014 Careers In Conservation Scholarship
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS JANUARY 31ST, 2014

The North Carolina Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation’s Scholarship Program was established to increase the number of qualified people committed to working in the field of natural resource management or other closely related fields that directly support the programs offered by local soil and water conservation districts in North Carolina. Scholarship recipients will be those who are currently pursuing or have firm plans to pursue a college course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource management or other closely related fields.

Basic Criteria and Stipulations

• The Foundation plans to award merit based scholarships up to the individual scholarship amount of $5,000 per school year renewable at the discretion of the Scholarship Selection Committee. Subsequent funding awards are contingent upon the successful and timely academic progression carried out by the recipient.
• The recipient’s declared major should line up with the following courses of study; agronomy, agricultural engineering, animal science, forestry, natural resource conservation or management, plant science, soil science, water management, water quality or other closely related degree programs.
• To be eligible, the recipient must be a resident of North Carolina, attend a college in North Carolina and have achieved academic excellence in their high school or in their completed undergraduate studies. During the selection process, much consideration will be given to superior academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, honors and achievements obtained.
• Applicant eligibility will be influenced by the amount of any other scholarships previously awarded to the individual.
• Priority will be given to students who have advanced in their undergraduate studies to demonstrate a clear commitment to achieving a Bachelor of Science degree in a course of study consistent with skill sets needed for delivering programs offered through local soil and water conservation districts, associated state and federal agencies and the applicable private sector. Students who have completed at least 50% of their required college degree credit hours will receive additional consideration.
• Applicants currently enrolled in college are required to submit a current certified transcript of all college courses completed by the date of the application. Transcripts are to be mailed directly from the college to the Foundation office. Applications will not be reviewed until a transcript is received.
• Interviews will be held with qualifying applicants before a final decision is made by the Scholarship Selection Committee.
• Prior to awarding the scholarship, the recipient must be classified as a full-time college student. Funds will be deposited with the college’s financial aid office for payment of eligible expenses incurred.
• Current applications can be downloaded from the Foundation’s website www.ncsoilwater.org