A little over a year ago, I was walking my dog and passed my community center building. I noticed several cars parked out front and remembered I’d seen them there before about the same time the prior month. I wondered what was going on inside that cute little building and when chatting with my neighbor, I learned this monthly meeting is for the Extension Homemakers Council. When I heard the word “Homemakers” I was instantly intrigued because while I considered myself a homemaker for several years of my life, I was never a particularly accomplished one. Accepting her invitation to visit, I was greeted by a group of women of all ages and backgrounds with shared goals: To learn new skills and to support our local community. I decided to become a member and before too long, was able to contribute service hours, volunteer at my local county fair, and meet a bunch of really great people. Some of the presentations I’ve attended have included soap making and pie-making. These are not exhaustive by any means either. Some clubs focus on quilting and other useful skills of which I have so far in life, cultivated few. But now I have no excuses!

Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council (EHC) is one of the largest nonprofit volunteer groups in the state. With a membership of over 3,700 and over 350 clubs, this organization plays a meaningful role in the communities it serves. For my weekly video podcast, I interviewed three Washington County EHC Officers: Mary King, Incoming President; Amie Birdsong, Incoming Secretary, and Anna Goff, Family and Consumer Sciences County Extension Agent and EHC Advisor at the Washington County Extension Office. I learned how this organization improves the lives of Arkansans through research-based information, through non-formal education to help all Arkansans improve their economic well-being and the quality of life.

If you live in Arkansas, there is likely an EHC club that will interest you. I happen to belong to the one in my own county, Washington County but there are clubs in many Arkansas counties (quite possibly, all). Through the Cooperative Extension Service, you can learn more about agriculture, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, or community development. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

For more information email washington-fayetteville@uada.edu or call the Washington County Extension Office: 479-444-1755.

Washington County Fair: mywashcofair.com

Listen to the WA County interview on Spotify: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/c2ehNOgu7zb