The Fall Town of Carthage Market Fest will be held Saturday, April 20th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Food vendors, music, crafts and bounce houses are just some of the activities planned. Bring the family for an afternoon of fun at the Carthage City Park and Walking Track, 350 Industrial Drive, Carthage, TN.

The annual Friends of Scouting breakfast is set for Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 A.M. at the Carthage United Methodist Church Christian Life Center. Stacey and Tracey Rodenbach, along with their son and Eagle Scout, Ephraim, will be recognized as this year’s recipient of the Good Scout Award.

Stacey & Tracey have been involved with Scouting at both the local and district levels for many years, receiving numerous awards and honors for their service along the way. Tracey has also served Scouting at the national level. Ephraim was selected recently as one of the Scouts of the Year for the Middle Tennessee Council of Boys Scouts of America. A highly decorated Eagle Scout, he is a senior at Smith County High School.

This year’s breakfast will highlight Scouting in Smith County and will provide an opportunity for community-wide financial support in the 2024 Friends of Scouting Campaign. The complimentary breakfast will include Eagle Scout Coleman Pedigo’s brief review of his recent community service project at the Emmanuel House.

If you have not received an invitation and desire to attend, please call David Bass at (615) 735-1122. Come support Scouting and honor the Rodenbach family, one of the most successful and vital Scouting families in our area.

Check out the For the Birds Art Show at the Carthage Junction Depot Saturday, April 13th 2024. Local artists will feature bird related artwork and creative birdhouses. The Carthage Junction Depot is located at 185 Gordonsville Highway. The event is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Second Harvest Food Truck will be at the Smith County Agriculture Center on Wednesday, April 10th. The truck generally arrives approximately 10 a.m. Volunteers work to unload the truck and get the food ready for pick-up shortly after. Food is distributed until it is gone. Cars line up around the Ag Center early. Those hoping to receive food at this distribution are encouraged to be in line no later than 10 a.m.

The food trucks are sponsored by the Hunger Relief Fund of Smith County and grants from Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN. Churches, businesses and individuals donate to the hunger relief fund all year. Generally two dates are scheduled each month. For more information feel free to contact the Smith County Chamber of Commerce 615-735-2093.

By Katie Martin – Smith County Extension Agent

We’ve all heard the saying, “Make hay while the sun shines,” but after we have worked hours to cut, tedder, rake, and bale our hay, then what? As hay season approaches this year, we want beef and forage producers to understand how to make the most of their hay. High-quality hay requires being harvested at the correct maturity stage and correct moisture levels and being stored correctly. However, did you know you can’t tell the nutritional quality of hay simply by just looking at it? That requires a forage sample. Forage testing can help better match the forage to the animal’s nutritional requirements. Even after receiving forage sample results, you must know how to interpret and utilize them. Understanding terminology and concepts like Total Digestible Nutrients, Crude Protein, and Relative Feed Value is key. To better understand and utilize your hay, we are excited to host one of our quarterly beef & forage meetings on the topic.

You’re invited to join us on Tuesday, April 23rd at 6:00 p.m. at the Smith County Ag Center for a Beef & Forage Meeting. We will have Rebekah Norman, Rutherford County Ag Agent with us to talk about unlocking your hay’s potential! This event is free and a meal will be provided, so please RSVP by April 17th so we can have an accurate head count.

Anyone interested in learning more about beef and forages can contact the UT Extension office at 615-735-2900 for more information or to register.

Hope Center Adoption and Family Services will host their first 5K Run/Walk. Miles for Moms will be held on Saturday May 11, 2024 beginning at 8 a.m. at 235 Main Street in Cookeville TN. The race will celebrate and honor all moms across the adoption journey. The event is open to the public. The route will take you through the peaceful and beautiful city of Algood, TN. So gather your friends, family, coworkers, sports teams, children, neighbors and anyone you know for this wonderful event to help honor all mothers in the adoption story. The registration link is as follows:

https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Cookeville/MilesforMom?previewCoverPage=T

Want to share your support through volunteering? There are plenty of opportunities:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094CAAAC2DAAF94-48873887-miles

The Smith County Rescue Squad will be holding their annual roadblock fundraiser on Saturday, April 6, 2024 in Carthage, South Carthage, and Gordonsville. The roadblock will begin at 8:00 a.m. and go until approximately 12:00 noon.

The Rescue squad was formed 58 years ago and still operates off of donations. They operate with 100% volunteers & provide help to those in need without charge. Last year they had approximately 235 calls for service, all provided without charge to those in need and the rescue squad members receive no compensation.

If you miss the road block event you can donate at Venmo @SCrescue, or on their webpage at www.smithcountyrescue.org or by mail:
Smith Co Rescue
Attn Chief
513 Jefferson Ave E
Carthage, TN 37030

The funds collected will assist the Squad in their day-to-day operations. The entirely volunteer Squad is responsible for all search and rescue operations in Smith County and relies solely on grants, donations, and membership dues for funding.

On Sunday, April 14th New Middleton Baptist Church will celebrate their 185th Anniversary and Homecoming. Pastor B.J. Thomason will deliver the message at 10 a.m. Special music will be provide by The Promise Trio. Lunch will follow. The church is located at 493 New Middleton Highway in Gordonsville, TN.

By Katie Martin – Smith County Extension Agent

We are excited to once again be hosting our “Home, Farm, & Garden Lunch & Learn” series at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce. Sessions will be held on specified Tuesdays in the months of April, May, June, and August. April, June, and August will be from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and May will be 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Lunch & Learns are a great opportunity to grab a bite to eat while enjoying an educational talk on the advertised topic. The cost for each session is $5 and can be paid at the door. We do ask attendees to pre-register by calling the UT Extension office at 615-735-2900 by the Friday before the event to give us an accurate headcount for lunch.

The schedule for our upcoming Lunch & Learns is as follows:

· April 2nd – Beekeeping 101

· May 14th – Small Spaces & Strawberries

· June 4th – Composting 101

· August 6th – Family & Consumer Science Topic: TBA

We hope you will make plans to join us for a good meal and great speakers!

Edgar Evins State Park is hosting a Spring Fling Craft Festival at the park on Saturday, May 11l, 2024 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Booth space is available.

Admission to the event is free. There will be crafts, vendors, and tasty treats.