By the Numbers

Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T gives everyone in North Carolina the opportunity to benefit from research and know-how from one of the nation’s premier land-grant universities and the largest Historically Black institution.

Through agents in the field who work with people in all 100 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, we help small-scale farmers grow better crops and find new markets. We give youth opportunities to explore technology and develop into leaders. We help families eat healthier food, live healthier lives, and become more informed consumers. We bring the university to the people – including those in underserved and limited-income communities, and those who may have never set foot on our campus.

As we move forward in a time of change and uncertainty, Extension at A&T will continue to educate North Carolinians, cultivate leaders, and empower small-scale farmers, communities, families, youth and individuals. We are partners who live in the communities we serve, and our goal is to help create a better quality of life for all North Carolinians. Below is a snapshot of our reach in the last year.

4-H Youth Development

4-H youth development agents engaged 162,707 young people in 4-H programs in 2023, including more than 19,777 youth who took part in programs that focused on building skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). 4-H Tech Changemakers, a group of 4-H teens who teach technology skills in their communities, worked with 1,560 adults, giving them valuable technical skills to improve their chances of finding employment. Innovation Station, a mobile makerspace designed to bring technology and STEM education to underserved schools and communities, traveled across the state and engaged 954 students in hands-on STEM activities. Twenty-five school gardens helped 314 young people learn to grow food through programs facilitated by Extension. Another 1,900 youth learned leadership and personal development skills. Teachers benefit from the 4-H STEM curriculum too; 123 teachers were trained to use the curriculum and 116 have incorporated it into their classrooms.

Family Resource Management

Extension understands that managing budgets on a limited income takes skills and knowledge. The youth program Real Money, Real World provided 1,746 youth with interactive, hands-on experiences in making the lifestyle and budget choices that adults must make every day. A total of 3,139 adults learned financial management skills to improve their family’s economic security. Another 892 individuals gained knowledge to help them identify community resources that benefit families.

Food Safety and Nutrition

Teen Cuisine, a hands-on cooking program designed for students in grades 8 – 12, worked with 2,913 youth participants. The program teaches life skills for making smart eating choices and provides youth with knowledge that will benefit them as they transition into adulthood. The pre-K through kindergarten Go, Glow, Grow program engaged 727 children, offering interactive learning experiences about healthy eating and exercise. Through the program, preschoolers learn how eating nutritious foods affects their bodies in positive ways.  Extension also helped 65 organizations address food insecurity in their communities by providing Community Garden stipends totaling $77,825.

Food Safety and Nutrition

Teen Cuisine, a hands-on cooking program designed for students in grades 8 – 12, worked with 2,913 youth participants. The program teaches life skills for making smart eating choices and provides youth with knowledge that will benefit them as they transition into adulthood. The pre-K through kindergarten Go, Glow, Grow program engaged 727 children, offering interactive learning experiences about healthy eating and exercise. Through the program, preschoolers learn how eating nutritious foods affects their bodies in positive ways.  Extension also helped 65 organizations address food insecurity in their communities by providing Community Garden stipends totaling $77,825.

SNAP-Ed, aimed at families who qualify for USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP,) reached 20,144 youth and adults, empowering them with essential skills to maximize their food budgets, plan meals and adopt healthy habits to combat obesity. Eighty-nine school staff members learned the principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Certification (HAACP), to ensure proper preparation, storage and handling of school foods. Seniors also benefited from Extension programming, with 2,349 senior adults participating in LIFT (Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together.) LIFT is an eight-week training program designed to help seniors improve body strength to reduce falls, improve mobility and promote lifelong health.

Community and Rural Development

A total of 19,761 pounds of locally grown food was donated to vulnerable populations through community-led activities enabled by Extension at A&T, and 848 people learned about local food and farming systems to understand how food is produced in their community. Extension taught 153 people about best practices to prepare for disasters and reduce their impact, making them better prepared for emergencies. Community organizations obtained $76,653 in funding to support community and economic development as a result of education and outreach efforts by Extension.

Plant Production Systems and Natural Resources

Extension reached 3,697 small farmers with information on improved production practices, pest management and financial management in efforts to improve yields and increase profits. These farmers also implemented stormwater and stream water management practices to prevent crop contamination. Farmers also learned strategies for developing value-added enterprises to increase farm profitability. Through Extension, 1,338 farmers and producers learned new skills or gained knowledge to grow more crops for local markets, and 136 producers and farmers increased revenues by marketing and selling locally produced food 

Consumer Horticulture

Extension education reached 515 participants with knowledge about best management practices in landscapes, turf and gardens, including pests (e.g., insects, weeds, disease, wildlife) and soil management. Another 706 individuals learned how to raise backyard poultry and livestock, such as goats, chickens and bees, for home food production. Extension also helped 299 North Carolinians address food insecurity by providing assistance and knowledge on home food production and starting vegetable and fruit gardens.