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Extension Educational Programs & Services
Cross County, Arkansas

The Cooperative Extension Service offers a host of educational programs and services.  If you do not see what you are looking for below, please contact our county Extension Office for assistance.

 

Agriculture

-  Row Crop (for more information contact Rick Wimberley)

     - Diagnostic Services

  • Free soil sample testing
  • Nematode testing
  • Weed, insect and disease identification
  • Pest control recommendations for pests identified
  • Plant Tissue Analysis
  • Poultry Litter Analysis
  • Irrigation Water Analysis

     - Crop Updates   Arkansas Row Crops blog (http://www.arkansas-crops.com).

     - Variety Selection

     - Irrigation Management

     - Verification Programs – Rice, Soybean, Wheat, Corn, Grain Sorghum, Cotton

                   During 2012 both rice and soybean research verification fields were conducted on the Darrell Walker farm and the Junior Newman farm respectively. During the past several years corn and wheat verification fields have also been utilized to assist producers in fine-tuning their production practices to maximize yields and profits.

     - Discovery Farms

         Two Arkansas Discovery Farms are located in Cross County where water quality research is being conducted. The Mike Wood farm and the Danny and Matt Clements farm, both in Cherry Valley, are the test sites. A total of  six Discovery Farm sites are currently established at five different locations around the state. Production systems selected for study are both crop and livestock based and represent the diversity of Arkansas agriculture. The overarching goal of the Discovery Farm program is to determine the effectiveness of water and soil conservation practices utilized on working farms.

At each site, conservation practices selected for evaluation are based upon the interests and wishes of the farm owner and may coincide with regional water or soil quality issues common to many producers in the area. Research is coordinated by faculty from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and is conducted in collaboration with federal and state agencies promoting conservation of our natural resources.

The Arkansas Discovery Farm Program is supported by a host of sponsors and industry stakeholders who ensure research addresses the needs of Arkansas farmers in a proactive manner. Discovery Farms are designed to operate for five to seven years during which time water quality analysis and data reveal the effectiveness of conservation practices employed at each site.

      - Production Meetings

AG Expo educational session

                 The 2013 East Arkansas AgriExpo was held during the winter at the Technology Center of the Delta with the coordination of the Cross County Extension Service and the Cross County Chamber of Commerce. Morning educational session on the current recommendations for effecient and profitable production of rice and soybeans were conducted along with ag business exhibits. Over 100 producers attended the event which another session being planned for 2014. A separate corn/grain sorghum production meeting on the current recommendations was also conducted with 25 participants.

     - Pesticide Applicator Training

                 Classes are held twice a year for certification and re-certification of agriculture producers for training in order to be eligible to purchase restricted use pesticides for use on their agricultural commodities.

- Livestock and Pastures

     - Livestock & Pasture Updates   @ https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/animals-forages/

            - Diagnostic Services

  •  Manure for Fertilizer Value
  •  Feed Analysis
  •  Free soil sample testing
  •  Weed, insect and disease identification

     - Pest control recommendations for pests identified

     - Brucellosis vaccination scheduling

 -  Lawn & Garden (for more information contact Richard Klerk)

      - Diagnostic Services

  •   Free soil sample testing
  •   Weed, insect and disease identification
  •   Pest control recommendations for pests identified

      - Production information for wide variety of fruits and vegetables

      - Educational programs on topics as requested

      - Master Gardeners

Parkin butterfly sign

                      Serving the residents of Cross County through educational and beautification activities are the goals of the 16 volunteers that volunteer their time and talents for the Master Gardener program. The recent "Planting Your Bloomers" seminar attracted over 90 participants who learned gardening techniques from a variety of speakers. The Master Gardeners also work on projects like establishing and maintaining a butterfly garden at the Parkin Archeological State Park, the Cross County Health Department building, the Three County Fairgrounds in McCrory and the Cross County Library. They also assist with school programs presented to third graders at the Wynne Intermediate School.

            - Farmers' Market

Farmers market stand

The Cross County Extension Service oversees the operation of the Cross County Farmers' Market that is located on the north lawn of the Cross County Courthouse (Falls Blvd. and Union Ave.). The market is open from late May until October with 30 vendors. Days of operation are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:00 am until 10:00 am or until sold out. A wide variety of primarily locally grown vegetables, fruits and homemade crafts are sold at the market. There are no fees but registration is required. Most vendors accept WIC FMNP coupons. Cottage food industry items such as bakery products, candy, fruit butter, jams and jellies are also available.

  

FCS emblem

Family & Consumer Sciences (for more information contact Leigh Ann Bullington)

Family and Consumer Sciences, known as FCS, was founded in Home Economics. Today the program provides researched based information focusing on the way humans relate to their environment and enhancing the quality of life through education. Programs focus on the home, food, finances, and raising responsible children. Learning how to live well is the emphasis of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) programs.

FCS educational areas and programs include:

Food and Nutrition

  • Cooking Schools
  • Living Well with Diabetes
  • ServSafe
  • Food Preservation Workshops
  • SNAP-Education

Marriage, Parenting, and Family Life

  • The Best Care
  • Navigating Life's Journey
  • Guiding Children Successfully
  • See the World Through My Eyes
  • The Parenting Journey
  • The Personal Journey
  • The Marriage Garden
  • Getting Your Heart Right

Family Resource Management

  • Arkansas Saves
  • Financial Management Education
  • Get Real Here's the Deal
  • Smart Start for Newly Weds
  • Small Steps to Health and Wealth

Health and Aging

  • Aging In Place
  • AgrAbility
  • Walk Across Arkansas
  • Small Steps to Health and Wealth
  • Be Med Wise
  • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
  • Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Leadership

  • Extension Homemakers Clubs

4-H Youth Development (for more information contact Linda Stegall)

 Youth at omelet serving line

Cross County 4-H provides opportunities for youth from the ages of 5 to 19 to acquire knowledge, develop life skills, form attitudes, and practice behavior that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. Currently over 50 youth are enrolled in 4-H clubs and youth participate in educational workshops, trips and competitive activities throughout the year. Helping with fund raising and gaining experiences in food safety and handling were obtained by 4-H members participating in the 36th annual Omelet Day event.

Events conducted at the county level include Fashion Revue and Modeling, Talent, Illustrated Talks and Method Demonstrations, Bicycle, Bait Casting, BB-Gun shooting, Poultry BBQ, Crop and Weed Identification, and Ornamental Horticulture plant identification. State level activities include Ross Photography contest, giant pumpkin and watermelon growing contest, raising chicks for Poultry chain program. Educational activities include jelly making workshop, national science day activity, plant propagation workshop, and workshops on giving speeches and preparing record books. Youth also participate in county, district and state fairs. They provide service to their communities by assisting with rabies clinic, visiting nursing homes and conducting food drives. They develop leadership skills by becoming club officers, and organizing various events.

Economic & Community Development (for more information contact Rick Wimberley)

  - Leadership Development

  - Ballot Issues

***END OF OU MIGRATED CONTENT***

Cross Programs

AG Expo educational session

Agriculture

-  Row Crop (for more information contact Rick Wimberley)   

                  

 

     - Diagnostic Services

  • Free soil sample testing
  • Nematode testing
  • Weed, insect and disease identification
  • Pest control recommendations for pests identified
  • Plant Tissue Analysis
  • Poultry Litter Analysis
  • Irrigation Water Analysis

     - Crop Updates   Arkansas Row Crops blog (http://www.arkansas-crops.com).

     - Variety Selection

     - Irrigation Management

     - Verification Programs – Rice, Soybean, Wheat, Corn, Grain Sorghum, Cotton

During 2012 both rice and soybean research verification fields were conducted on the Darrell Walker farm and the Junior Newman farm respectively. During the past several years corn and wheat verification fields have also been utilized to assist producers in fine-tuning their production practices to maximize yields and profits.                     

     - Discovery Farms

Two Arkansas Discovery Farms are located in Cross County where water quality research is being conducted. The Mike Wood farm and the Danny and Matt Clements farm, both in Cherry Valley, are the test sites. A total of  six Discovery Farm sites are currently established at five different locations around the state. Production systems  selected for study are both crop and livestock based and represent the diversity of Arkansas agriculture. The overarching goal of the Discovery Farm program is to determine the effectiveness of water and soil conservation practices utilized on working farms.                     

At each site, conservation practices selected for evaluation are based upon the interests and wishes of the farm owner and may coincide with regional water or soil quality issues common to many producers in the area. Research is coordinated by faculty from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and is conducted in collaboration with federal and state agencies promoting conservation of our natural resources.                     

The Arkansas Discovery Farm Program is supported by a host of sponsors and industry     stakeholders who ensure research addresses the needs of Arkansas farmers in a proactive manner. Discovery Farms are designed to operate for five to seven years during which time water quality analysis and data reveal the effectiveness of conservation practices employed at each site.                     

      - Production Meetings

The 2013 East Arkansas AgriExpo was held during the winter at the Technology Center of the Delta with the coordination of the Cross County Extension Service and the Cross County Chamber of Commerce. Morning educational session on the current recommendations for efficient and profitable production of rice and soybeans were conducted along with ag business exhibits. Over 100 producers attended the event which another session being planned for 2014. A separate corn/grain sorghum production meeting on the current recommendations was also conducted with 25 participants.                     

     - Pesticide Applicator Training

Classes are held twice a year for certification and re-certification of agriculture producers for training in order to be eligible to purchase restricted use pesticides for use on their agricultural commodities.                     

- Livestock and Pastures

     - Livestock & Pasture Updates   @ https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/animals-forages/

            - Diagnostic Services

    •  Manure for Fertilizer Value
    •  Feed Analysis
    •  Free soil sample testing
    •  Weed, insect and disease identification

     - Pest control recommendations for pests identified

     - Brucellosis vaccination scheduling

Parkin butterfly sign
-  Lawn & Garden (for more information contact Richard Klerk)                     

      - Diagnostic Services

    •   Free soil sample testing
    •   Weed, insect and disease identification
    •   Pest control recommendations for pests identified

      - Production information for wide variety of fruits and vegetables

      - Educational programs on topics as requested

      - Master Gardeners

Serving the residents of Cross County through educational and beautification activities are the goals of the 16 volunteers that volunteer their time and talents for the Master Gardener program. The recent "Planting Your Bloomers"  seminar attracted over 90 participants who learned gardening techniques from a variety of speakers. The Master Gardeners also work on projects like establishing and maintaining a butterfly garden at the Parkin Archeological State Park, the Cross County Health Department building, the Three County Fairgrounds in McCrory and the Cross County Library. They also assist with school programs presented to third graders at the Wynne Intermediate School.

Farmers market stand 

Farmers' Market

The Cross County Extension Service oversees the operation of the Cross County Farmers'     Market that is located on the north lawn of the Cross County Courthouse (Falls Blvd. and Union Ave.). The market is open from late May until October with 30 vendors. Days of operation are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:00 am until 10:00 am or until sold out. A wide variety of primarily locally grown vegetables, fruits and homemade crafts are sold at the market. There are no fees but registration is required. Most vendors accept WIC FMNP coupons. Cottage food industry items such as bakery products, candy, fruit butter, jams and jellies are also available.
FCS emblem 

Family & Consumer Sciences (for more information contact Leigh Ann Bullington)

Family and Consumer Sciences, known as FCS, was founded in Home Economics. Today the program provides researched based information focusing on the way humans relate to       their environment and enhancing the quality of life through education. Programs focus on the home, food, finances, and raising responsible children. Learning how to live well is the emphasis of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) programs.   

                  

FCS educational areas and programs include:

Food and Nutrition

  • Cooking Schools
  • Living Well with Diabetes
  • ServSafe
  • Food Preservation Workshops
  • SNAP-Education

Marriage, Parenting, and Family Life

  • The Best Care
  • Navigating Life's Journey
  • Guiding Children Successfully
  • See the World Through My Eyes
  • The Parenting Journey
  • The Personal Journey
  • The Marriage Garden
  • Getting Your Heart Right

Family Resource Management

  • Arkansas Saves
  • Financial Management Education
  • Get Real Here's the Deal
  • Smart Start for Newly Weds
  • Small Steps to Health and Wealth

Health and Aging

  • Aging In Place
  • AgrAbility
  • Walk Across Arkansas
  • Small Steps to Health and Wealth
  • Be Med Wise
  • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
  • Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Leadership

  • Extension Homemakers Clubs
 Youth at omelet serving line

 4-H Youth Development (for more information contact Linda Stegall)

Cross County 4-H provides opportunities for youth from the ages of 5 to 19 to acquire knowledge, develop life skills, form attitudes, and practice behavior that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. Currently over 50 youth are enrolled in 4-H clubs and youth participate in educational workshops, trips and competitive activities throughout the year. Helping with fund raising and gaining experiences in food safety and handling were obtained by 4-H members participating in the 36th annual Omelet Day event.                     

Events conducted at the county level include Fashion Revue and Modeling, Talent, Illustrated Talks and Method Demonstrations, Bicycle, Bait Casting, BB-Gun shooting, Poultry BBQ, Crop and Weed Identification, and Ornamental Horticulture plant identification. State     level activities include Ross Photography contest, giant pumpkin and watermelon growing  contest, raising chicks for Poultry chain program. Educational activities include jelly making workshop, national science day activity, plant propagation workshop, and workshops on giving speeches and preparing record books. Youth also participate in county, district and state fairs. They provide service to their communities by assisting with rabies clinic, visiting nursing homes and conducting food drives. They develop leadership skills by becoming club officers, and organizing various events.

 

 Economic & Community Development (for more information contact Rick Wimberley)

  - Leadership Development

  - Ballot Issues

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