Hale County-Alabama Extension

10/16/2026

Snack Attack! What’s in Your Snack Bag?

Healthy snacking starts with smart choices! On Thursday, October 15, 2026, Franchesca Burrell, EFNEP Educator, taught Lesson 6, “Snack Attack,” from the Teen Cuisine curriculum at Greensboro Middle School.

Students learned how to identify nutritious snacks by looking for whole grains, fruits and vegetables, important nutrients, and less added sugar. They also explored portion control and choosing snacks that support their health and energy needs.

The lesson came to life with a Trail Mix tasting, giving students a chance to connect nutrition education to everyday choices they can make at school and at home.

A special thank-you to Principal Jemison and Mrs. Davis, teacher volunteer, for supporting this learning opportunity and partnering with the Hale County Extension Office to help students develop healthy habits.

Let’s talk snacks! What’s your favorite snack to fuel your day? Share it in the comments!

Teen Cuisine is helping students build practical nutrition skills that can make a lasting difference in their health, their families, and our community.

10/16/2026

Thank You for Supporting Literacy in Hale County!

Thank You for Supporting Literacy in Hale County!

Hale County 4-H would like to thank Barbara Kelly for delivering books on behalf of the John Hodge Foundation in support of the Hale County 4-H Book Drive benefiting the Literacy Council of West Alabama!

We appreciate this generous contribution toward promoting literacy and a lifelong love of reading in our communities.

Hale County, We Need Your Help!

We’re still collecting new and gently used books, and we invite individuals, families, churches, schools, businesses, and community organizations to join us! Have books at home that are ready for a new reader? Donate them to the Hale County 4-H Book Drive and help put more reading materials into the hands of those who need them.

Hale County Drop-Off Location:

Hale County Extension Office
701 Hall Street
Greensboro, AL 36744

Every book makes a difference! Bring your donations to the Hale County Extension Office and help Hale County 4-H support the Literacy Council of West Alabama, one book at a time.

10/16/2026

Hale County, Let’s Shine a Light on Lung Cancer!

Lung cancer touches more lives than we may realize. It may affect a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or someone we see every day. By coming together, we can raise awareness, share knowledge, and remind those impacted by lung cancer that they are not alone.

The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at The University of Alabama at Birmingham invites you to participate in Shine a Light on Lung Cancer, a global awareness initiative dedicated to educating communities about lung cancer and raising awareness of its impact on individuals and families.

In partnership with Five Horizons Health Services and the Hale County Extension Office, this event brings an important conversation to our community.

Event Details

Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Hale County Extension Office
Address: 701 Hall Street, Greensboro, AL 36744

Take a moment to make a difference! Mark your calendar, invite a friend or family member, and join us on November 13 to help shine a light on lung cancer. Your presence can help spread awareness, strengthen community support, and remind those affected that they are not alone. Share this post to help spread the word throughout Hale County!

For more information, contact:

Ada Webb, Program Coordinator I, CHW III
Wallace Tumor Institute
O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center
Phone: 205-407-0728
Email: [email protected]

10/16/2026

Eating out? Make every bite count!

On October 14, 2026, Franchesca Burrell, EFNEP Educator, brought nutrition education to life at Hale County College and Career Academy with Lesson 5, “Eating Out,” from the Fuel for Life curriculum!

Students learned that healthy eating is about making informed choices, not giving up the foods they enjoy. Through interactive classroom discussions, they explored practical ways to make healthier decisions when eating out, including adding fruits and vegetables, being mindful of portion sizes, choosing beverages with less added sugar, and balancing food choices throughout the day.

The learning went beyond the classroom discussion! Students prepared and sampled Simple Spaghetti, putting their nutrition knowledge into practice through a hands-on food experience. By connecting what they learned to everyday meals, students gained practical strategies they can use when choosing foods at restaurants, packing lunches, and making food decisions at home.

These lessons help students build confidence in making informed food choices, develop healthier eating habits, and understand how small decisions can contribute to their overall health and well-being.

A special thank-you to Principal Lakessiah Franklin and Hale County College and Career Academy for partnering with the Hale County Extension Office to provide students with meaningful nutrition education and opportunities to put learning into action.

Let's hear from you! What's one healthy choice you can make the next time you eat out? Share your ideas in the comments!

Fuel for Life: Equipping students with knowledge and skills to make healthier choices today and for years to come.

10/15/2026

Clean hands can make a big difference!

October 15 is Global Handwashing Day, a reminder that a simple daily habit can help protect you, your family and your community from germs and illness, including colds and flu.

Follow five steps: wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry. Use soap and clean, running water, and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Remember the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails!

Make handwashing part of your routine before eating or preparing food and after using the bathroom, coughing, sneezing or handling pets.

Find more handwashing tips in the Links section on our page.

10/14/2026

Two Fellows, Double the Impact!

Double the fellowship, double the teamwork, and double the community spirit! On Wednesday, October 14, the Hale County Extension Office welcomed Margaret Wei, a Project Horseshoe Farm Fellow visiting from Pomona, California, who joined Emily Adler, our Project Horseshoe Farm Fellow based in Greensboro, for a day of service, learning, and community engagement.

During Margaret’s visit, Emily accompanied her as she experienced how Extension supports the Hale County community. Together, they assisted with clerical tasks and helped our EFNEP educator prepare nutritious tastings for Fuel for Life Class and incentives for upcoming graduations.

The learning went both ways! Our Administrative Associate demonstrated how to use mail merge to streamline document preparation, make printing easier, and reduce the need to store multiple individual documents on a computer. It was a great opportunity to share practical office skills while working together to support our community!

We enjoyed welcoming Margaret and hope her stay in Greensboro is filled with delicious Southern food, meaningful connections, and wonderful memories!

At Hale County Extension, we learn together, serve together, and make a difference together!

Pictured left to right: Margaret Wei, Project Horseshoe Farm Fellow visiting from Pomona, California; James Lewis, Hale County Extension Director; and Emily Adler, Project Horseshoe Farm Fellow serving in Greensboro.

10/14/2026

🪴Raised Bed Garden Workshop🪴

Build it. Fill it. Grow it! Join us for a hands-on experience in gardening. This is an opportunity to learn how to construct and fill raised beds and enjoy a farm tour. Lunch will be provided!

📅 Friday, October 30, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
📍 575 Federation Rd, Gainesville, AL 35464
📞 205-652-9676
📧 [email protected]

To register or for more information, contact Tia Parker at the Federation of Southern Cooperative.

10/13/2026

Health Extension for Diabetes: Session 3 — Healthy Eating for Diabetes

Making healthier food choices is an important step toward managing diabetes and improving overall wellness!

Tera Glenn, Extension Agent for Health & Wellness Thriving Communities, led Session 3 of the Health Extension for Diabetes program, focusing on Healthy Eating for Diabetes. Participants learned about the importance of making nutritious food choices and how healthy eating habits can support diabetes management.

To bring the lesson to life, Tera prepared a tasting of Rotini Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons, a recipe featured on the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Food Hub. This flavorful dish provided participants with an opportunity to explore a delicious recipe while learning how healthy meals can fit into a diabetes-friendly lifestyle.

Through the Health Extension for Diabetes program, Alabama Extension continues to provide education and practical resources that empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

Learn more about the recipe: https://diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/rotini-caesar-salad-garlic-croutons

10/13/2026

Bringing Flowers to Life Through Creativity and Community!

The Hale County Extension Office was pleased to share the beauty of horticulture with the Greensboro Seasonal Citizens as Margaret Ann Snow, Extension Agent for Commercial Horticulture and Home Horticulture, presented “Cut Flowers: Growing and Arranging.”

During the presentation, participants explored the art of arranging fresh-cut flowers in a vase, learning how flower selection, color, placement, and balance can transform individual blooms into beautiful floral arrangements.

A special thank-you to Evelyn Hill, Director of the Senior Center where the Greensboro Seasonal Citizens meet, for partnering with Alabama Extension to provide this engaging and creative learning opportunity.

To show his appreciation, Hale County Extension Director James Lewis presented Evelyn with the two floral arrangements created during the presentation, allowing her to enjoy the beauty of the hands-on experience.

Would your organization or community group enjoy this presentation? Margaret Ann Snow would love to bring this horticulture experience to your group. Contact the Hale County Extension Office at 334-624-8710 to learn more or schedule a presentation.

Alabama Extension is committed to connecting our communities with practical knowledge, creative experiences, and opportunities to learn and grow together.

10/13/2026

Strong communities grow when knowledge, resources, and partnerships come together!

We are proud to celebrate Alabama Extension’s Margaret Snow for partnering with the Akron community and helping connect residents with valuable educational resources. On Friday, October 9, Margaret shared information about community gardening and planting options, encouraging residents to grow fresh produce, promote healthy eating, and explore ways to strengthen local food resources.

Margaret’s commitment to community engagement reflects Alabama Extension’s mission to empower residents through education, collaboration, and practical solutions that make a lasting difference.

Thank you, Margaret, for helping plant the seeds of knowledge, partnership, and positive change in Akron!