Welcome to the Alleghany County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, "The Information Place." Alleghany is a beautiful, rural mountain county, located in the Northwestern part of North Carolina. The word "Alleghany" is said to be derived from the Indian name meaning "fine stream." The name is suitable for this scenic, unspoiled county which is drained by the New River, the second oldest river in the world.

With land area of approximately 230 square miles, Alleghany is the sixth smallest of the state's one hundred counties. The county population is 9,500. Sparta, the county seat and only town, is located in the geographical center of the county and serves as the financial, trade and governmental center. The population is approximately 2,000.

Alleghany is known for its clean, natural beauty, relaxed atmosphere, excellent quality of life and friendly people. We hope you will find our website helpful and educational, and as we say in Alleghany, "come again!"

Cooperative Extension is the outreach arm of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University and the School of Agriculture at North Carolina A&T State University. We are county agents, professors, scientists and volunteers working together to improve the quality of life in North Carolina. The key components of NC Cooperative Extension's mission are:

• Sustaining agriculture and forestry
• Protecting the environment
• Maintaining viable communities
• Developing responsible youth
• Developing strong, healthy and safe families.

More than 25,000 lay leaders comprise the Extension Advisory Leadership System. These volunteers keep Extension professionals aware of local issues and needs.

We receive financial support from three levels of government - federal, state, and county - and from private financial sources. We also receive support from agribusiness; organizations devoted to agriculture, youth and health; foundations, and individuals. The Extension Service works cooperatively with other state and governmental agencies.

Our educational programs benefit farmers, rural and urban residents, families, community and civic leaders, and youth.

We are leading the way with programs about:

• Aging
• Agriculture and natural resources policy
• Agriculture and the environment
• Animal production and marketing systems
• Child care education and training
• Community and economic development
• Crop production and marketing systems
• Family and consumer economics
• Family and parents education
• Food and forest products manufacturing
• Food quality and safety
• Health and human safety
• Leadership and volunteer development
• Marketing and production of alternative agricultural opportunities and enterprises
• Natural resource conservation and management
• Nutrition and wellness
• Residential and community horticulture, forestry and pest management
• Residential and community water and waste management
• Resilient youth, families and communities
• Youth development

How we communicate with you

Extension agents, located in every county and on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, are the bridge between specialists on the university campuses and you.

The staff in your Extension Center coordinates educational programs, public meetings, workshops, field days, personal consultations, and satellite broadcasts to help you improve your life. Your Extension Center is stocked with publications, newsletters, computer programs, and videotapes on a variety of topics.

To put Cooperative Extension to work for you, call or visit your local county Extension Center.