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.

The Smith County Humane Association will hold a fundraising event Saturday, April 20th. They will start the day with Pancakes for Paws from 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. A breakfast plate for adults will be $7 and include 3 pancakes, 2 sausage and coffee or orange juice. Plates for children 12 and under will be $4.

An auction will follow beginning at 10 a.m. If you are spring cleaning and want to donate, gently used items will be accepted for the event at the Smith County Armory 3/28 – Friday 4/15-4/19 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. or 4/18-4/19 4-7 p.m. at 140 JMZ Drive.

The Pleasant Shade Community Center will host a large consignment sale March 28th-30th. Any item (new or used) can be entered into the sale as long as it is in GOOD WORKING CONDITION. (i.e. kitchenware, bath items, tools, machinery, furniture, clothing, toys, jewelry, etc.) Keep in mind that Pleasant Shade Community Center is not liable for any of your items broken or damaged in the sale.

If you are interested in entering items in the sale, you may contact one of the following persons to get information and a number will be assigned to you for tagging your items:

Ann Gregory – 670-9845

Wesley Rigsby – 677-6514 or 683-7525

Consignment Dates 2024

Thursday, March 28th – 9AM-6PM

Friday, March 29th – 9AM-6PM

Saturday, March 30th – 8AM-2PM

The Keep Smith County Beautiful committee is hosting a Spring Break clean-up day on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The day will begin at the Smith County Chamber of Commerce at 9 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Gloves and safety vests will be provided to all volunteers. Community service hours will be verified if needed.

Grace Baptist Church will be serving a hot meal the last Saturday of every month. It will be a different meal every time. Additionally there will be clothes and bags of necessities for homeless or anyone who needs them. They are excited to reach and satisfy a need in the community.

The next two dates include:
March 30th – starts at 11 while food/supplies last
April 27th – starts at 11 while food/supplies last