Submitted by EBCI Cooperative Extension
The EBCI N.C. Cooperative Extension Office conducted its 2021 Annual Garden Judging Contest the second week of July this year.
“It is an enjoyable week each year for us, we get to see the hard work many of you put into growing your own food,” Ronald “Chumper” Walker, EBCI N.C. Cooperative Extension director, said in a statement. “We know the past year and a half has been difficult for many. Our office continues to stress the importance of food security. As we all have seen over those 18 months, the food supply chain is more fragile than many believed.”
Walker continued, “Worker shortages in the areas of agriculture, processing, shipping, and retail created supply issues. Increased demand with people hoarding food and supplies created increased demand on stressed supply. We encourage all our families and community members to make efforts to supplement their food needs by growing fruits, vegetables, raising chickens for eggs, and/or small-scale meat production.”
Walker addressed one possible issue. “Not all community members have land to raise a garden or the equipment to maintain it. With this in mind, our office has and will continue to teach alternative gardening such as raised bed planting.”
Following are the 2021 winners in the various categories (contact your Community Club to receive your certificate and checks will be mailed soon):
Big Cove Community
Youth Conventional: Ani Adeyah Bradley, first place
Organic 60-69: Mary Bernice Bottchenbaugh, first place
Organic 18-59: Marvin Thomas Bradley Jr., first place
Family Garden: Thomas David Bradley, first place
Conventional 18-59: Tommy Bradley, first place; Vita Nations, second place
Conventional 80-89: Sadie Bradley, first place
Big Y Community
Youth Conventional: Kinley Crowe, first place; Jessilyn Tipto-Lambert, second place; Kimbo Crowe, third place
Youth Organic: Scarlett Bradley, first place
Family Garden: Tara Reed, first place
Conventional 70-79: Charlotte George, first place
Birdtown Community
Youth Conventional: Leighton George
Conventional 18-59: Tyler Ledford, first place
Conventional 60-69: Lloyd Danny Owle, first place
Conventional 70-79: Nellie Lambert Washington, first place; Aylyne Stamper, second place
Conventional 80-89: John Haigler, first place; Bill Wolfe, second place
Cherokee County
Youth Organic: Gabriel Swimmer, first place
Conventional 18-59: John Walker, first place
Conventional 60-69: Hazel Marie Nations, first place; Brenda Cook, second place
Conventional 70-79: Irene Mathis, first place; Louise Davenport, second place
Painttown
Family: Dewayne Lossiah, first place
Conventional 80-89: Geraldine Thompson, first place
Snowbird
Conventional 60-69: William Brown, first place
Conventional 70-79: J.C. Wachacha, first place
Tow String
Conventional 18-59: Samantha Cole, first place
Family Garden: Raymond Mathews, first place
Wolftown
Conventional 60-69: Barry Reed, first place
Organic 70-79: Eddie Welch, first place
Community Garden: Mary Jackson, first place
Organic 60-69: Wilson Oocumma, first place; Patricia Oocumma, second place
Yellowhill
Conventional 60-69: William Russell Smith, first place
Conventional 70-79: John Long, first place
Conventional 80-89: Ella Lee Lossiah, first place
3200 Acre Tract
Conventional 60-69: Connie Rose, first place
Organic 70-79: Amy Walker, first place
