Friday, April 28, 2006

Annual Plant Sale A Success

Once again the annual plant sale at the Nix Horticulture Complex was huge success. Horticulture enthusiasts showed up early to buy plants and get advice from faculty and students alike.
George Thomas assists a customer.
George tallying another sale. All proceeds go support the Horticulture Technology Program at Haywood Community College.
Anita used her culinary and catering skills to provide customers with barbecue sandwiches and grilled vegetables.
Don makes sure those flats stay well watered for customers during the fundraiser.
Dawn helps a customer to her car with a cart full of plants that will soon be in the garden.
This was a common site on campus as people wanted to make sure their newly purchased plants did not overheat in their cars.
In addition to many types of annuals, containerized perennial plant materials were also sold.
Some horticulture students also provided a three piece band to entertain shoppers during the sale.
Good plants, good prices, good food and good music. If you didn't get a chance to stop by the sale this year make sure you put it on your calendar for next year.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

BioDiesel Workshop Informative and Inspiring

The Division of Natural Resources at Haywood Community College was fortunate enough to host a workshop sponsored by Piedmont Biofuels and BioNetwork-BioAgriculture Center. Rachel Burton (pictured at podium) gave an excellent introduction to Biodiesel and how the coop she works with has expanded over the years.
David Thornton who also works at Piedmont Biofuels then gave a live demonstration where attendees participated in making a small batch of biodiesel fuel from canola oil.
Using just a few simple ingredients David and the group were able to turn a quart of canola oil into biodiesel and glycerin.
Neat to think that these Brassica seeds when planted out could provide the fuel necessary to power any diesel engine.
Workshop participants assist in by agitating the mixture manually.
A horticulture student mixes the ingredients necessary to make biodiesel.
Two batches of biodiesel fuel. Left: after 24 hours the biodiesel is on the top and glycerin (which can be used for numerous things including soap and animal feed) is the dark layer on the bottom. Right: Our batch is beginning to separate after about only 30 minutes. This was a great hands-on demonstration.
Generous sponsors of the event (Left to Right): Leslie Jones (BioNetwork BioAgriculture Center), JD Brooks (BioNetwork BioAgriculture Center), Rachel Burton (Piedmont Biofuels), and David Thornton (Piedmont Biofuels).

Recruiting Efforts for Natural Resource Division Continue

It has been another huge week for recruiting in the Natural Resources Divsion at Haywood Community College. Buddy Tignor and Jim Hamilton went to the Asheville Highschool Career Day and spoke to students about careers in the Natural Resources. Shannon Rabby manned a table for the FFA Regional Competition held on the Haywood's Campus. Pete Kennedy visited high schools east of Asheville. W.C. Godfrey and Reggie Widemon went to a local middle school to promote the Pulp and Paper Technology program. We are all working hard to get the word out about the great educational opportunities available at Haywood Community College.

Friday, April 21, 2006

Who's Who In Natural Resources

The 2005–2006 Who’s Who among Students in American Junior Colleges

Students named this year from HCC’s
Natural Resources Programs (Thanks for the list Jenny):

Michael Shane Billings
Fish & Wildlife Management Technology

Daniel Wayne Bryson
Forest Management Technology

Jordana A. Chalnick
Horticulture Technology

Anthony Futrell
Fish & Wildlife Management Technology

Amy L. Garascia
Forest Management Technology

Lucas Samuel Jack
Forest Management Technology

Samuel Lee Koch
Fish & Wildlife Management Technology

Linda Rudisill Soesbee
Horticulture Technology

Tyler Shane Vess
Forest Management Technology

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Faculty, Staff, and Students Recognized at Honor's Day

David Dudek, Jenny Carver, Susan Roberts (pictured above), and many students were recognized at Haywood Community College's 5th Annual Honor's Day Celebration. Our division continues to have much to be proud of. Please congratulate all of these folks when you see them around campus.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

HCC Woodmen's Team Competes in Mid-Atlantic Woodsmen's Meet

The Haywood Community College Forestry Club recently placed second overall at the Mid-Atlantic States Intercollegiate Woodsmen's Meet behind their rival Penn State. The meet was held at Montgomery Community College where six two-year schools competed in both mental and physical competitions. "I am very proud of everyone," said Dan Bryson, vice president of the HCC Forestry Club. "It took a lot of hard work and practice. The biggest challenge we face is finding practice time for 15 students. All our practices take place after classes are completed."

HCC student Patrick Nichols became the first student to participate from a wheelchair where he won the axe throw. Nichols had a motorcycle wreck last semester that resulted in injuries paralyzing him from waist down. Classmate Jay Blackburn says for Nichols to win the axe throw was no surprise to most of his teammates because he is a very determined and driven person who dedicated a lot of time to practicing. Another first for HCC was overall winner Jay Blackburn. Blackburn will now travel to Stillwater, Minnesota to compete in the Stihl Collegiate Competition.

Following are the placements of the HCC team members:

Axe Throw, male: 1st Place-Patrick Nichols
Axe Throw, female: 1st Place-Brandy Banks
Dendrology: 2nd Place-Dan Bryson
Pole Climb, male: 1st Place-Kenny Frick
2nd Place-Zach Scott
Pole Climb, female: 1st Place-Brandy Banks
Single Buck: 1st Place-Jay Blackburn
Pole Fell: 1st Place-Dan Bryson and Brandon Garrison
3rd Place-Jay Blackburn and Jason Jones
Crosscut sawing, male/female: 2nd Place-Jason Jones and Molly Lassiter
Crosscut sawing, female: 2nd Place-Brandy Banks and Brooke Banks
Speed Chopping: 4th-Dan Bryson
Team Log Roll: 4th Place
Team Pulp Wood Toss: 4th Place

HCC Student to Compete in National Collegiate Woodsmen's Meet



For the first time in Haywood Community College's history, one of its students, Jay Blackburn, was the overall winner of Stihl Chainsaw's Mid-Atlantic States Intercollegiate Woodsmen's Meet. Blackburn will travel in July to Stillwater, Minnesota to compete in the Stihl Collegiate Competition. He will face the five best college students in this sport in the nation. The winner of the competition will compete in the professional series for one year.

As a result of winning the Mid-Atlantic States Intercollegiate Meet, Blackburn was awarded a $1000 scholarship for HCC, as well as a new chopping ax and Stihl chainsaw to be used in competition. In addition, Stihl will pay for Blackburn and coach, HCC graduate Jimmy Lawrence, to travel to the July event. Blackburn participates in competitions for HCC three times annually. He also participates in the South Atlantic Woodsmen's Association (SAWA) where he was named Rookie of the Year last year. And rookie is an accurate term for Blackburn who has only been involved in the sport for almost a year. After owning his own business for two years, he decided he needed a change and came to HCC to pursue something he's always been interested in, forestry.

"This is something I really enjoy," Blackburn said. "The key to this sport is technique, accuracy, and practice." He spends one to two hours per day practicing.

The Marion native will finish HCC in May 2007 and wants to be a professional lumberjack. Catch Blackburn's performance on May 16 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. For more information about HCC's Forest Management Technology program, please call 627-4500.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Annual Plant Sale !!!

Click on Flyer to view a larger printable version... Haywood Community College Annual Plant Sale!

WHAT: A sale of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, shrubs and house plants @ VERY reasonable prices.
-All plants grown in house by hort. students.
-Proceeds to benefit HCC Horticulture department and Horticulture club.
-Food and beverage to be sold with vegetarian option!


WHEN: Friday, April 28th 9-4pm

WHERE: HCC Horticulture department, 1100 Nix Building

For information please contact:
George Thomas @ (828)627- 4625

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Educational Spring Break for Horticulture Students

George Thomas, Horticulture Instructor, took interested students on a field trip to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Here George arranged for the students to expand their horizons with reviews of hundreds of new plant species and varieties and discussions lead by internationally recognized experts such as Dr. Allan Armitage of the University of Georgia's Horticulture Department.
Students observed many dazzling displays of horticultural collections including orchids, azaleas, and other species too numerous to mention here.
Callaway Gardens, a stunning 13,000-acre garden, offers the perfect setting for horticulture students. Callaway Gardens' landscape explodes with beautiful displays of over 20,000 azaleas, plus mountain laurel, dogwoods, daffodils and daisies.
HCC student Adam Bigelow manages to make a new friend during a brief break in the garden tour.
One of the many stunning conservatories at Callaway Gardens.
Plants are used for a variety of design purpose at Callaway Gardens. When does a garden stop being a garden and become statuary?

These images were generously provided by HCC student Dawn Pomraning.

Interested in Horticulture at HCC? Send us an e-mail at mtignor@haywood.edu , gthomas@haywood.edu, or jsherman@haywood.edu Come Grow With Us!!! We are also now offering many of our courses On-Line.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Easter Lily Sale !!! Bargains !!!


Need that last minute Easter Gift for someone you care about? Please support the students in the Horticulture Technology Program and Purchase one of their Beautiful Easter Lilies...NOW ONLY $3.00 !!!

Special thanks to Jenny Carver for running the remote florist shop at the Natural Resources Division Office and designing the flyers.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Forestry Management Instructor Presents at National IPM Symposium and Forest Industry Workshop


Hamilton addresses pesticide safety with Hispanic crew

Haywood Community College’s Dr. Jim Hamilton joined over 650 scientists, academics, agency personnel, and international organizations in St. Louis, Missouri to share innovations that lead to a safer food supply, enhance human health and improve environment through Integrated Pest Management or IPM. He led a workshop at the 5th National IPM Symposium, held April 4-6th. With over 23 countries represented, the program included mini-symposia, workshops, roundtable sessions and social events that addressed challenges to educate the public about the importance of integrated pest management—an environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices that can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. Hamilton’s workshop entitled “Training Hispanic Workers and Growers in IPM: Case Studies from the Field” highlighted his experience with developing a pest scouting program with Hispanic workers in North Carolina’s Christmas tree industry. Naná Simone from Wenatchee, Washington co-presented, sharing methods for training Hispanic farmers and orchard owners about fruit-tree pest identification and control. Industry representatives, EPA program personnel, and extension agents attended the workshop.

Hamilton was also recently a speaker and panelist at a workshop in Princeton, West Virginia for the forest products industry, March 27-28th. The workshop “Managing and Understanding the Hispanic Workforce” was organized by Virginia Tech’s Sloan Foundation Forest Industries Center to provide forest industry employers necessary tools to improve safety, productivity, and communication with their increasingly Hispanic workforce. He was invited to speak on “Job Safety in a Multicultural Workplace”. Before joining the faculty of Haywood Community College’s Natural Resources Division, Hamilton worked extensively on a pesticide safety education program with Hispanic farmworkers as an extension agent in Watauga County.

HCC Fish and Wildlife Management Student Shane Billings Wins Awards

Haywood Community College Fish and Wildlife Management Technology student Shane Billings was recently awarded the Ken Wilson Memorial Award by the North Carolina Wildlife Society, as well as winning first place in the 2006 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave essay contest. As a result, the essay will be published nationally in The Wildlife Society Bulletin. Billings also received first, second, and third place in the painting category at the conclave.

Billings is president of the HCC student chapter of The Wildlife Society. Originally from Wilkes County, he moved to Waynesville to attend HCC.

"HCC has an exemplary crew of instructors," Billings said. "Their hearts and minds are in their jobs. They know the business inside and out, from every angle and aspect."

The Ken Wilson Memorial Award is based on academic performance, contributions to research, work projects that contribute to state wildlife conservation efforts, and other accomplishments.
Billings was nominated for the award by HCC fish and wildlife instructor Dave Dudek. "Shane has consistently exhibited a strong work ethic," Dudek explains. "He is a well-respected, energetic organizer who inspires active involvement. He leads by example."
The topic of the essay for the conclave was "Trade Off: Should Conservation Dollars be Spent on Habitat Acquisition or Enhancement?"

"I was extremely surprised when I found out I won," Billings said. "I was pleased and honored."
Billings is married and works full-time while attending school full-time. He came back to school to study something he feels passionate about. Since enrolling at HCC, he has been on the Dean's List each semester and maintains a 4.0 grade point average. Billings volunteers with the Take a Kid Fishing program and stream clean up efforts. He has workshop certifications in Project Wild, Aquatic Wild, CATCH Program (Caring for Aquatics Through Conservation Habits), and ALL Taxa BioInventory. He is currently pursuing a North Carolina Environmental Education certificate and will be volunteering as an intern as a creel clerk for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Billings will finish HCC in May. "I have enjoyed how HCC is small," he said. "It doesn't have the hustle and bustle of a big campus. It feels like home."

Friday, April 07, 2006

Students Continue Shook House Efforts

Built in 1795, by Reveloutionary War veteran Jacob Shook, the Shook House lies close to the Pigeon River in Clyde. It is one of the oldest if not the oldest house standing in Haywood County. As part of an ongoing effort spearheaded by Horticulture Faculty George Thomas and John Sherman new landscaping activities continue.
The students enrolled in landscape management (co-taught by John Sherman and Buddy Tignor)finished sodding the front of the Shook House complex and began seeding the remainder of the yard. Horticulture Instructor George Thomas (in the hat) assists students in putting straw down on the newly seeded yard. After a hard afternoon's efforts the additional turf is in place in both the front of the Shook Complex and...
to the side of the Shook House. If you have a minute drive by and see how things are shaping up. Supplies have been generously provided by Dr. Hall for these student learning activities.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Open House Draws Potential Students

Thanks to the efforts of many in the Natural Resources Division the Open House was a success. Several potential students met with instructors from the GIS/GPS, Wildlife Management, Forestry, Pulp and Paper, and Horticulture Technology programs.
Some of the activities for open house participants included a demonstration by Dr. Sherman on extracting DNA from strawberries. ...a discussion of pulp and paper making by Reggie Widemon
...and a tour of the greenhouse teaching complex and horticultural gardens. Additionally, students toured displays on radio telemetry, GPS/GIS equipment, wildlife management, and much more.

Natural Resources Adopted Chicken Thriving

John Sherman and Buddy Tignor (human in the photo) recently lectured to agriculture students at Buncombe Community School East about exciting career opportunities that open up with advanced training in Horticulture.

We also made a presentation covering the other exciting programs available to students in the Natural Resources Division at Haywood Community College.

The students at Buncombe Community School East raise chickens to help fund their hands-on education. The Natural Resources Division sponsored a chicken at the Organic Grower's School this spring, so while on campus we decided to check up on our Rhode Island Red named 'Haywood C. College'. I know this is a hen and Haywood is a masculine name, but the chicken will just have to suffer a little bit for our namesake. Haywood, like the Natural Resources Division is thriving and growing.