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Improving Wellbeing in Accomack County

ID

VCE-1177-1NP

Authors as Published

A woman presenting to a group of students under a large tent.
Accomack County Public School third graders learn about soybean production at Farm Tour Day.

Sharing Knowledge

The Eastern Shore Master Gardeners an integral part of Accomack County Extension’s educational efforts transformed their dedication into tangible benefits that advanced the wellbeing of Accomack Couty residents. Through an engaged network of 58 Master Gardeners, 19 interns, and three emeritus members, they reached more than 5,916 individuals, sharing knowledge via innovative programs such as public radio broadcasts, educational school and community garden projects, tours, and outreach efforts. This resulted in an impressive 5,857 volunteer hours with a public value of $161,067.

A pinnacle of these efforts was Farm Tour Day at Duncan Farms, which engaged 351 third graders, 25 teachers, and 85 volunteers in an exploration of modern farming techniques. This event was a testament to Extension’s mission to implement research in ways that support businesses and communities. The 20 interactive learning stations provided hands-on education on agricultural subjects, supporting Extension’s commitment to community enrichment and the dissemination of knowledge.

Community Voices

“Thank you so much for facilitating the ACPS poverty simulation. Teachers have continued to talk about how important a piece this was to their training. I feel quite sure they will use what they learned and bring more empathy into their classrooms this year as a result of this training.”

Julie Evans
Division Teacher Mentor and Instructional Coach, Accomack County Public Schools

Accomack County Public Schools logo.

32,596
acres benefitting from VCE research


Partners for Solutions

Theresa Pittman.

“You can hear more about agriculture every day by tuning to our local radio station, WESR. I write and record segments focusing on production agriculture, conservation efforts, and economics in order to engage the community about the largest industry in Accomack County.”

Theresa Pittman
Agent

Accomack County - Funding by Source Chart - 43% State, 34% Local, 12% Federal, 11% Other. And the total funding is $287,495.
$1.91 return on investment for every dollar invested by the county in Accomack County.
$59,998 value of extension volunteer hours in Accomack County.

To find out how you can support your local Extension office,

visit www.cals.vt.edu/make-a-gift.

23185 Front St.
Accomack, VA 23301

accomack.ext.vt.edu

757-787-1361


Virginia Cooperative Extension materials are available for public use, reprint, or citation without further permission, provided the use includes credit to the author and to Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Publication Date

June 7, 2024