March UT Extension Opportunities

March UT Extension Opportunities

Are you ready for something new to do in March? Well, UT Extension, in Sevier County has many free opportunities for you to enjoy, through Family Consumer Science Programs. These opportunities are designed for fun, plus maybe learn something new. Anyone is welcome to attend the zoom meetings, or participate in the activities. March has the potential to be a busy month!

Tri-County Trailblazers: Do you like walking outdoors? Are you looking for a simple way to get some physical activity? Well, there is a new group forming in Sevier, Jefferson, & Cocke Counties. Anyone is welcome to join. whether you are an avid walker, a beginner, or just want to increase physical activity. The name of this new group is Tri- County Trailblazers, coordinated by UT Extension Family & Consumer agents in Cocke, Jefferson, and Sevier Counties.

Participation as a Trailblazer provides opportunities to socialize in the great outdoors, walking at your own pace. Monthly meetings will be at various locations in the three counties, and will involve walking, as well as a program. These “walk & learn” meetings will include speakers such as Missy Kane, and Carrroll McMahan, Sevier County Historian. Participants will meet the 3rd Monday of each month – March to October from 10 to 12 noon. Program locations for year will be announced at March Meeting. Participants are encouraged to attend each month. Monthly Door Prizes will be awarded among people that walked weekly on their own time. Yes, there is a new group in town – blazing a trail to enjoyable physical activity!

Food Pantry Challenge – Create some recipes that really stretch food dollars for the. . . Sevier County Food Pantry Challenge! March 1 to March 15. Partners in this Challenge are the UT Extension Agency of Sevier County, the Rel Maples Institute of Culinary Arts at Walters State, and the Sevier County Food Ministry. The mission of this project is to take a bag of groceries typically received at the Food Ministries with a list of staples, and create recipes from items in the bag. The recipes are to feed a family of four. Written recipes will be judged, and prizes awarded. The purpose of this Challenge is to increase awareness of the Food Ministry resources, and to provide recipes for foods distributed through various community food pantries. Registration needed by February 24.

Canning Clinic: Preserving Food Safely is a UT/TSU Extension program designed to teach participants basic food preservation principles for safely canning fruits, vegetables, pickles and jellied products. It is designed for individuals with little or no experience canning. However, anyone who would like to brush up on their skills is welcome. Four Sessions: Pressure Canning – March 9, 2021/Best/Practices: Jams/Jellies – April 4/ Tomatoes – May 4/ Pickling – June 15, 2021. Each class is from 7:00pm to 8:30pm held online using Zoom. Zoom classes will be instructed by both Blount and Sevier County Extension Agents.

These will not be the only Food Canning Classes offered in Sever County. Additional “face to face” Canning Classes will be offered in early summer at the Sevier County Extension Office.

Tennessee Saves Piggy Bank Pageant -To Celebrate Tennessee Saves week, UT Extension, King Family Public Library System, TN State Bank, Sevier County Bank and Keep America Beautiful is sponsoring a Piggy Bank Pageant. Teach your child the value of saving money by encouraging them to make a “piggy bank” for the Pageant, March 15 – 26. Actually, the banks do not have to be “pig style”, so youth can be creative. The Pageant is open for all children Pre- K to 12 th grade. Prizes are awarded at the local and state level for various age categories. For entry forms and details, you may visit the local community sponsors’ websites or contact Linda Hyder. What a great opportunity to talk to your children about money and support their creativity!

For more information on any of these activities, please contact Linda Hyder at lhyder@utk.edu or 865-453-3695 or Facebook: UT Extension-Sevier County. UT Extension. Real. Life.Solutions.