Local Programs
Agriculture and Natural Resources offers programs to help sustain profitability of agriculture and forest production, while protecting and enhancing land and water resources. Effective management alternatives for cattle operations are presented through educational programs. Tobacco, soybean, grain and forage production information is presented through educational programs, newsletters and farm tours.
What We Offer
- Pesticide Safety Training and Recertification Classes
- Soil Testing & Fertilization Recommendations
- Insect, Disease, & Weed Identification & Control Measures
- On-Farm Visits
- Forage Testing
- Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program
Forestry and Natural Resources
VDACS Market News Service
To view the latest Virginia Market News Service Reports, click here.
Join a dedicated team of more than 5,000 volunteers who work in communities throughout Virginia to promote research-based horticulture. Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) provide vital public education related to creating and managing home landscapes, vegetable gardening, turf management, and more!
Virginia Cooperative Extension – Master Gardener Volunteers work specifically towards these goals:
- Enhancing the environment through sustainable landscape practices
- Using horticulture and landscaping to positively impact youth
- Using horticulture and landscaping to promote community development and economic growth
- Producing food in public and private gardens to improve human nutrition and food security
- Using horticulture to improve the overall quality of life for Virginia's citizens
Requirements to Become a Virginia Cooperative Extension – Master Gardener Volunteer
- Receive 50 hours (minimum) of training
- Complete 50 hours (minimum) of volunteer service within horticultural education programs. Exact hour requirements vary by county. To remain an active Extension Master Gardener, you must complete 20 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of continuing education each year.
(These 100 hours must be completed within the first year. Then you earn the title of Virginia Cooperative Extension - Master Gardener Volunteer)
To maintain the title of Master Gardener Volunteer you must complete the below annually:
- Must contribute at least 20 hours of volunteer service each year to remain active
- Must participate in at least 8 hours of recertification training
For more information on the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program, please visit their website Virginia Master Gardener Program.
The 2025 Master Gardener training session is now open! In-person training will take place every Thursday on January 9, 2025 – April 24, 2025, 1-4pm at the Mecklenburg Extension Office in Boydton, VA.
Applications for the January 2025 Training session are due by December 10, 2024.
For more information contact, Vickie Gordon, vgordon@vt.edu, 434-738-6191 ext 4371 located at the Mecklenburg Extension Office.
Family and Consumer Sciences programs in Mecklenburg County provide education to help people increase knowledge and make informed decisions about healthy lifestyles, money management, food safety and a variety of other issues. This education is offered in a variety of ways. Topics are often covered in a workshop format. These workshops range in time from 1-6 hours. These workshops can be informational or interactive. Topics are also covered through newsletters, news articles, publications and one-on-one consultations.
Programming Areas
Food, Nutrition and Health: Adult Chronic Disease Prevention; Diabetes Management; Healthy Lifestyles; Safe Food Handling; Food Preservation
Family Financial Management: Consumer Education; Saving Money; Budgeting; Getting Out of Debt
USDA Publications
To view USDA publications, click on the following topics:
What Is 4-H?
4-H is the youth development component of Virginia Cooperative Extension. 4-H provides hands-on, research-based, experiential education opportunities for youth ages 5 - 19. 4-H serves youth from all backgrounds and interests.
4-H Motto
“To Make the Best Better”
4-H Mission
The mission of 4-H is to assist youth and adults working with those youth to gain additional knowledge, life skills, and attitudes that will further their development as self-directing, contributing and productive members of society.
4-H Pledge
Every 4-H member and leader should know and be able to repeat the 4-H Pledge. The 4-H Pledge is said after the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States. The 4-H Pledge is:
“I pledge
My HEAD to clearer thinking,
My HEART to greater loyalty,
My HANDS to larger service, and
My HEALTH to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world.”
Getting Involved in 4-H
There are a number of ways that youth can become involved in Mecklenburg County 4-H programs. We offer in-school clubs and after-school programs, workshops, leadership programs for teens, membership in volunteer-led clubs, day camps, and residential camping programs.
For news and updates, please visit our Mecklenburg 4-H Blog.
Click here to sign up for our 4-H Email Distribution List and receive email updates about new programs
For current offerings, please contact the Extension Office at (434)738-6191 ext. 4371 or email Jennifer Bowen, Senior Extension Agent/4-H Youth Development at jebowen1@vt.edu.
We also update our Facebook page frequently - Virginia Cooperative Extension Mecklenburg County.
Engaging with Communities
Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists in community viability work with Extension agents, campus-based faculty, organizational partners, communities, and individuals to further opportunity and build capacity in five program areas:
- Leadership & Planning
- Community Enterprise and Resiliency
- Community Food System and Enterprises
- Community Planning
- Emerging Community Issues
Examples of our work include training county elected officials, educating entrepreneurs, facilitating collaborative projects, supporting the growth of community food systems and local economies, enhancing agent skills and community capacity in facilitation and leadership, conducting problem-driven research, and creating publications and tools that address critical community needs.
Do you have a question about Community Viability?
Perhaps one of the Community Viability specialists below can help you. Contact a Community Viability specialist or direct a question to them using our Ask an Expert system.