Keeping your cutting boards clean and in good condition is essential for food safety. Over time, boards can develop deep grooves, cracks, or warping that harbor bacteria and increase the risk of foodborne illness. While there isn’t a specific timeline from University Extension services for replacing cutting boards, following these best practices can help ensure a safe kitchen.
Union County Family and Community Education (FCE) members are gearing up for a busy fall filled with service projects, educational opportunities, and special events.
At the August 21 meeting, the group will host a yard sale fundraiser at the Union County Extension Office from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Proceeds will support community programs, educational outreach, and service projects throughout the year.
Union County 4-H is inviting local youth to kick off the new school year with a morning full of fun, food, and fellowship! The 4-H Back to School Brunch will be held Saturday, August 16th at 10 AM, hosted by the Union County 4-H Honor Club.
The event is open to all students in 4th–12th grade and will feature free food, games, and plenty of activities to get excited about the school year ahead. Youth are encouraged to wear their favorite school-appropriate pajamas and enjoy a make-your-own pancake station along with delicious brunch sides.
The Union County Family and Community Education (FCE) organization will host a yard sale fundraiser on Thursday, August 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Union County Extension Office, located at 2721 Maynardville Highway, Maynardville, TN 37807.
The sale will feature a variety of donated household items, décor, books, and more—all priced to sell. Shoppers from the community are invited to stop by, browse, and find bargains while supporting a good cause.
On Tuesday, July 22, a group of Union County 4-H youth gathered at the Extension office to participate in a special sewing service project benefitting the Union County Humane Society (UCHS). The youth spent the day sewing cozy cat bed blankets to provide comfort for the shelter’s feline residents.
The University of Tennessee Extension, in partnership with the Union County Health Department, is bringing a valuable program to the community this August and September to help community members manage chronic health conditions.
The Living Well with Chronic Conditions Program is a free six-week series designed to help individuals with chronic illnesses—such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, COPD, and others—build skills to take control of their health and improve their quality of life. Caregivers and family members are also encouraged to participate.
As Union County farmers know, summer is a critical time for managing pastures—and one persistent challenge is the spread of broomsedge. Broomsedge is a true grass, not a sedge. Broomsedge is also sometimes called “sage grass” but it falls short of the mark as a forage grass. Cattle will eat it but for only a short period in the spring when the new leaves first emerge and there is nothing better available. Once the perennial, clump-forming, three-foot-tall, erect growing stems emerge in early summer broomsedge is not desirable for grazing.
KNOXVILLE, TN — Families, farmers, and friends are warmly invited to an evening of food, fun, and fellowship at the much-anticipated Annual Picnic & Auction, hosted by the Knox-Union Cattlemens Association on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Proceeds from the event will directly benefit 4-H programs in Knox and Union Counties, helping to cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders.
CROSSVILLE, TN — Garden enthusiasts from across Tennessee are invited to dig into a day of horticultural inspiration at the Fall Gardeners’ Festival, hosted by the UT Plateau AgResearch and Education Center on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
Held at 320 Experiment Station Road, the event kicks off with registration at 8 a.m. CDT, followed by a full day of presentations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public, with no preregistration required—though attendees are encouraged to sign up in advance at tiny.utk.edu/FGF2025.
Union County 4-H member Miranda Boucher recently attended the 2025 Eastern Region 4-H Fashion and Design Conference, held June 3-5 at the Edgewater Hotel in Gatlinburg. She was joined by Union County Family and Consumer Science Agent, Abigail Thomas, for the exciting three-day event.