UT Extension Union County

10/08/2026

🧵✨ What an AMAZING 4-H Quilting Adventure Day Camp! ✨🧵

From October 5th–7th, our youth had an absolute blast learning, creating, and putting their quilting skills to work! 💕 They worked hard, had lots of fun, and created some truly beautiful quilts that they can be proud of!

We are so impressed with the creativity and talent of our 4-H youth! 🥰 Each quilt is unique and turned out absolutely beautiful!

A special thank-you to Mrs. Morgan for partnering with me to put on this wonderful day camp, and to Mrs. Debra Keck for coming and helping us! We couldn’t have done it without your support and willingness to share your time and talents with our youth. 💚🧵

Interested in learning more about 4-H Sewing opportunities? Contact Mrs. Sarah Stokely-Cook at 📞 865-992-8038 or 📧 [email protected].

We can’t wait to see what our young quilters create next! 🪡💚

10/06/2026

📅 Have you seen our 4-H Calendar?! 💚

Be sure to check it out so you don’t miss all the fun, educational, and exciting opportunities happening with Union County 4-H!

We have lots of activities, meetings, events, and projects planned for our 4-H members! 🐐🐔🐰🌱

Have questions? We’re happy to help!

📞 Call: 865-992-8038
📧 Sarah Cook: [email protected]
📧 Harley Runions: [email protected]

👉 Check the calendar, mark your dates, and come join the fun!

Union County 4-H — Growing leaders, building skills, and making a difference! 💚

10/06/2026

🎉 It’s Giving Tuesday! 🎉

Help support Union County 4-H by making a donation today! Your generosity helps provide our 4-H’ers with opportunities to attend camps, conferences, competitions, and other 4-H events. 💚

To donate, visit www.tn4hgive.org and select Union County when asked where you would like your donation to go.

Every gift, big or small, helps create opportunities and experiences that make a difference for our youth! 🍀

Thank you for supporting Union County 4-H! 💚

10/06/2026

🐔 Union County 4-H Poultry Auction! 🐔
Looking to add quality laying hens to your flock? Come support Union County 4-H by bidding on poultry raised by our dedicated Union County 4-Hers!
📅 Thursday, October 15th
🐔 Show: 6:00 PM
💰 Sale: 7:00 PM
📍 3019 Hickory Valley Road
Maynardville, TN 37807
Your choice of:
• Buff Orpington Hens
• Barred Rock Hens
These birds have been raised by hardworking 4-H youth who have gained valuable hands-on experience in poultry care, responsibility, record keeping, and animal husbandry.
Come out, support our 4-Hers, and take home some quality laying stock for your flock!
📣 Help us spread the word!
Share this post, tag a friend, and invite someone who may be looking to add to their flock. Every share helps us get the word out and support our Union County 4-H youth!
📞 For more information, contact Sarah Stokely-Cook by calling 865-992-8038 or email: [email protected].
We hope to see you there!

10/05/2026

🦌 DEER CLASS COMING TO UNION COUNTY! 🦌

Grainger County is hosting this year’s Deer Class, and we’re excited to have it taking place right here in Union County!

Join us on October 10 at 10:00 a.m. at Johnson’s Deer Processing in Corryton for a fun, hands-on morning focused on safely handling and making the most of your harvest.

Here’s what will be covered:
🔪 Field Dressing Demonstration – Learn proper field dressing techniques to help protect the quality of your venison.
🥩 Know Your Cuts – Learn about different cuts of venison and how to make the most of your deer.
🐕 Deer Tracking with Brandon & “Copper” from Rack Rescue – See a deer tracking presentation featuring Brandon and his four-legged tracking partner, Copper!
🌡️ Deer Jerky Information – Learn about safely dehydrating venison to make deer jerky.
📣 NEW THIS YEAR – Youth Deer Calling Contest!
Youth participants can show off their deer-calling skills using rattle bags or antlers. Bring your own if you have them!

📅 October 10, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m.
📍 Johnson’s Deer Processing
520 W. Mountain Road
Corryton, TN

💰 FREE TO ATTEND!

Whether you’re an experienced hunter or just interested in learning more about safely handling and preparing venison, come join us!
Questions? Contact the UT Extension-Grainger County Office at 865-828-3411 or [email protected].

🦌 We hope to see you there!

10/05/2026

🍂🏆 2026 Union County 4-H Heritage Festival Results 🏆🍂
The Heritage Festival was held on October 3rd at Wilson County Park in Maynardville, TN, and Union County 4-H had an amazing showing!
We had over 70 youth entries and 11 adult entries! We are so proud of all of our 4-H members who took the time to create, prepare, and enter their projects. ❤️
Here are our 4-H youth results, organized by category and grade:
🎃 PUMPKIN
Pre-K
• Hadassah Cook — 🥇 1st Place
Kindergarten
• Nathanael Miller — 🥇 1st Place
1st Grade
• Participant 1 — 🥇 1st Place
• Levi Mike — 🥈 2nd Place
2nd Grade
• Gia Payne — 🥇 1st Place
• Eli Miller — 🥈 2nd Place
• Adaiynn Gendreau — 🥉 3rd Place
4th Grade
• Mason Moore — 🥇 1st Place
• Clara Hughes — 🥈 2nd Place
• Allana Helton — 🥉 3rd Place
• Haven Burnau — 4th Place
5th Grade
• Kylee Payne — 🥇 1st Place
• Sierra Bell — 🥈 2nd Place
• Amia Bell — 🥉 3rd Place
• Nettie Mike — 4th Place
6th Grade
• Jaxson Moore — 🥇 1st Place
• Caleb Miller — 🥈 2nd Place
• Noah-Grace Hoes — 🥉 3rd Place
• Luke Groce — 4th Place
7th Grade
• Aspen Davis — 🥇 1st Place
8th Grade
• Payton Miller — 🥇 1st Place
🌻 SEED ART
Kindergarten
• Nathaniel Miller — 🥇 1st Place
2nd Grade
• Addy Gendreau — 🥇 1st Place
• Gia Payne — 🥈 2nd Place
4th Grade
• Charlotte Gendreau — 🥇 1st Place
• Haven Burnau — 🥈 2nd Place
• Allana Helton — 🥉 3rd Place
• Brynleigh Martynoweiz — 4th Place
5th Grade
• Coral Davis — 🥇 1st Place
• Kylee Payne — 🥈 2nd Place
• Sierra Bell — 🥉 3rd Place
6th Grade
• Bristol Sweet — 🥇 1st Place
• Caleb Miller — 🥈 2nd Place
• Jaxson Moore — 🥉 3rd Place
• Luke Groce — 4th Place
7th Grade
• Aspen Davis — 🥇 1st Place
8th Grade
• Payton Miller — 🥇 1st Place
🥚 WHITE EGGS
• Nettie Mike — 🥇 1st Place
🥚 BROWN EGGS
• Levi Mike — 🥇 1st Place
• Luke Groce — 🥈 2nd Place
• Madeleine Groce — 🥉 3rd Place
• Lucas & Ryan Headrick — 4th Place
• Nettie Mike — 5th Place
• Payson Assad — 6th Place
🥚 ANY OTHER VARIETY EGG
• Levi Mike — 🥇 1st Place
👨‍🌾 MINI SCARECROW
• Participant 2 — 🥇 1st Place
🧵 SEWING & NEEDLE ARTS
• Nettie Mike — 🥇 1st Place
• Clara Grace Hughes — 🥈 2nd Place
🍁 FALL-THEMED MASON JAR
• Levi Mike — 🥇 1st Place
• Ella DeWitt — 🥇 1st Place
• Henley DeWitt — 🥉 3rd Place
• Clara Grace Hughes — 4th Place
• Nettie Mike — 5th Place
🌻 SUNFLOWER HEAD
• Ella DeWitt — 🥇 1st Place
• Henley DeWitt — 🥈 2nd Place
🍽️ HERITAGE FAMILY RECIPE
• Nettie Mike — 🥇 1st Place
•Levi Mike — 🥇 2nd Place
🍓 CANNED JAMS & JELLIES
• Jaxson Moore — 🥇 1st Place
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR 4-H EXHIBITORS!
We are so proud of every youth who participated in the Heritage Festival! Whether they won a prize or simply challenged themselves to complete and enter a project, their hard work, creativity, and willingness to learn are worth celebrating!
A special thank-you to all of the parents, grandparents, families, and volunteers who encouraged our youth and helped make their participation possible.
💚 We are so proud of Union County 4-H!

For more information, contact Sarah Stokely-Cook at 865-992-8038 or email [email protected].

10/03/2026

Come see us at the Union County Heritage Festival! We had alot of amazing entries!

10/02/2026

Congratulations to Our 2026 Union County Heritage Festival Pie & Cake Contest Winners!

A HUGE congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s contest! We had some incredible entries, and we are so thankful to everyone who shared their baking talents and treasured recipes with us. ❤️

🥧 PIE CONTEST

🏆 Grand Champion – $100
Maggie Cooke – Apple Pie

Fruit
🥇 Maggie Cooke – $50
🥈 Scarlett Hughes
🥈 Aurora Roberts
🥉 Kathy Venturella

Nut/Other
🥇 Kathy Venturella – $50
🥈 Aurora Roberts
🥉 Faith Tindell

Cream
🥇 Brittany Bowlin – $50
🥈 Kathy Venturella

🎂 CAKE CONTEST

🏆 Grand Champion – $100
Harley Runions – Maple Pecan Praline Layered Cake

Bundt Cake
🥇 Brittany Bowlin – $50
🥈 Harley Runions
🥈 Rebecca Hughes
🥉 James Sallings

Sheet Cake
🥇 Amity Wilson – $50
🥈 Brittany Bowlin
🥉 Ayla Wilson

Layer Cake
🥇 Harley Runions – $50

👏 Congratulations to ALL of our winners and participants! Your time, creativity, and love of baking helped make the 2026 Union County Heritage Festival Pie & Cake Contest such a success.

A special thank-you to everyone who entered, our wonderful judges, and everyone who helped make the contest possible. We appreciate you helping us celebrate the baking traditions of our community! ❤️

09/30/2026

The TAEP application window is open October 1–7, 2026. These seven days are the only time each year that you can apply for TAEP programs. They have added more cost share items! Check out all the programs: https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/farms/taep/producer-programs.html

You can apply online beginning tomorrow, October 1, using this website:
https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/farms/taep.html

The application window for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) opens soon.

Producers may apply online only from Oct. 1-7.

TAEP helps Tennessee farmers improve their operations, strengthen the state’s agricultural economy and support a reliable local food supply.

Updates for the 2026-27 program year include:

• Reduced minimum requirements for certain sectors
• A new Livestock Fencing program for livestock producers
• A name change from Livestock Solutions to Farming Solutions

Learn more about the program and apply at tn.gov/TAEP.

09/30/2026

The 2026 Union County Heritage Festival Pie & Cake Contest is happening this Friday, October 2! 🎉

And remember — the contest is open to ANYONE and EVERYONE! You do not have to live in Union County to enter. If you love to bake, we’d love to see what you’ve got!

💰 Cash prizes include:
🏆 $100 Grand Champion
🥇 $50 First Place Winners

🥧 Pie Categories: Fruit • Cream • Nut/Other
🎂 Cake Categories: Layered • Sheet • Bundt

📍 Drop off your entry:
Union County Extension Office
2721 Maynardville Hwy., Maynardville, TN

⏰ Drop-Off Times:
📅 Thursday, October 1 | 4:00–5:00 p.m.
📅 Friday, October 2 | 8:00–11:00 a.m.

⚠️ PLEASE READ! Be sure to read the complete contest rules and entry requirements in the images below before preparing your entry. All entries must meet the contest requirements and include the required recipe card and registration form (completed when turned in).

👀 Read the rules, bake your best, and bring it on Friday! 🥧🎂

We can’t wait to see all the delicious entries! ❤️

📣 Please share this post and tag a baker who needs to enter!