Catawba County News
Catawba County 101
Published: September 01, 2026
MAKING. LIVING. BETTER: COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Briefly describe the area you are spotlighting. What is its mission/purpose?
N.C. Cooperative Extension – Catawba County Center is an educational partnership connecting Catawba County Government with NC State University and N.C. A&T State University. Our mission is to bring university research straight to our community, giving people practical, real-world solutions that strengthen our local economy, protect our land and water, and support families and young people across Catawba County.
How do you achieve your mission – what services are offered? Please describe.
We bring our mission to life through hands-on workshops, personal consultations, and community programs across four main areas. In Agriculture and Natural Resources, we help local farmers and landowners with crop troubleshooting, soil testing, pond management, and pesticide licensing. Our 4-H Youth Development program engages kids ages 5 to 18 in hands-on learning in STEM, leadership, public speaking, and agriculture. Our Family and Consumer Sciences program leads practical classes on healthy cooking, food safety, home canning, and managing chronic conditions, while our Extension Master Gardener™ volunteers share reliable, science-backed gardening advice with local homeowners.
Who does this department/service area/program serve?
We are here for every resident in Catawba County, no matter where you are in life. Farmers turn to us when a crop looks sick or when they are planning soil management strategy for the upcoming season. Homeowners and backyard gardeners lean on us to identify mystery lawn pests, learn plant care, or check their garden soil before planting. Parents count on us for affordable, high-quality youth clubs and summer activities, while families and local food workers connect with us to learn safe home canning, food safety basics, or healthy meal planning on a budget.
How and where are services delivered?
We meet people wherever they need us across the county. You can always stop by our main office at the Agricultural Resources Center to drop off soil or plant samples for testing, grab free resource guides, or join an in-person workshop. Our team is out in the community every week—doing on-site farm visits, stopping by commercial nurseries, teaching in school classrooms, and leading nutrition classes at senior centers. We also offer plenty of digital support, so you can easily call us or send in photos for quick diagnostic help.
How many staff members are involved in delivering services?
Our core team includes specialized Extension Agents, Program Assistants, and dedicated administrative support, but our reach goes way beyond our office walls. We are backed by more than 70 active Master Gardener and 4-H adult volunteers, plus a state network of university specialists at NC State and N.C. A&T. Our local team includes Donna Mull, County Extension Director and Family & Consumer Sciences Agent; Monica Wise, Office Administrative Assistant; April Vigardt, Small Farms & Local Foods Agent; Jake Haynes, Horticulture Agent and Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator; Carson Johnson, Livestock & Field Crops Agent; Yulibeth (Yuli) Yañez-Chavez, 4-H Juntos Program Coordinator; and Dana Florez, 4-H Program Assistant.
How does our community and/or organization benefit from these services?
Our work pays real dividends for Catawba County across our local economy, schools, and community health. By providing fast, accurate diagnostics and land management advice, we help farm businesses boost their yields and cut down on waste, putting real dollars back into the local economy. Our 4-H programs give local youth confidence and life skills like public speaking and teamwork, building tomorrow’s leaders. On top of that, our nutrition and food safety classes keep families healthy, while our environmental programs help protect local soil and waterways through smart lawn care and pest management.
Please share anything unique or interesting about this program you would want people to know.
One of the coolest parts of what we do is our direct connection to state university diagnostic labs. If you bring us a strange bug or a plant disease our local team has not seen, we can send physical samples or photos straight to university specialists at NC State for advanced testing. We also make soil testing super easy by offering free test kits and guidance, helping you figure out the exact fertilizer your yard or crop needs without wasting money or running off into local streams.
Is there anything you would like to add?
We want everyone in Catawba County to know that Cooperative Extension is your local tax dollars actively working for you. Nearly all of our workshops, consultations, and resources are completely free or very low cost so anyone can use them. Whether you manage hundreds of acres of farmland, want to grow your very first tomato plant, need great programs for your kids, or want to learn home canning, our team is right here and ready to help.