We are excited to welcome 16 summer interns to the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), including 12 students participating in the Agroecology Scholars Program in Research and Extension (ASPIRE) and 4 interns supporting Farm to Early Care and Education (Farm to ECE) initiatives across North Carolina.

This summer, these interns will engage in hands-on research, extension, and community-based learning experiences focused on sustainable agriculture, local food systems and agricultural education. From exploring diverse agroecosystems and advancing professional development through ASPIRE to promoting healthy eating, local food access and garden-based learning through Farm to ECE, this cohort represents the next generation of leaders committed to strengthening food systems.

The 2026 CEFS ASPIRE interns and their mentors/research areas are:

Find more information about the 2026 ASPIRE faculty mentors and research areas here. For more information about the ASPIRE internship, please visit the program website.

The 2026 CEFS Farm to ECE interns are:

For more information about the Farm to ECE internship, please visit the program website.

Shironda Brown, Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Training Coordinator and Extension Associate with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), received the 2026 NC Association of Cooperative Extension Specialists (NCACES) Award for Outstanding Subject Matter Program Developed by an Individual. Brown was nominated by Robyn Stout and Dara Bloom in recognition of her leadership and impact through the NC Farm to Early Care and Education Program.

Launched in 2016, Farm to ECE is an evidence-based program designed to increase young children’s access to local food while providing hands-on learning opportunities through gardening, nutrition education and food preparation. The program serves preschools, child care centers, Head Start programs and family child care homes across North Carolina, helping children develop healthy eating habits and stronger connections to agriculture and local food systems.

Brown joined the Farm to ECE team in 2018 and has served as Interim Program Director since 2024. Drawing on 28 years of experience as a child care educator and director, she develops educational tools and trainings tailored specifically to child care professionals. Her work supports not only young children, but also educators, Extension agents, Smart Start technical assistance providers and community organizations focused on child well-being.

Under Brown’s leadership, Farm to ECE programming has expanded to include a statewide Farm to ECE Collaborative, virtual Learning Burst webinars, Cooking with Children instructional videos, onsite Whole Center Trainings and the annual Farm to ECE Institute. Recognizing that trainings often only reached center directors, Brown developed Whole Center Trainings to engage entire child care staffs — including teachers, chefs and cooks — helping ensure farm-to-ECE practices are fully implemented within centers.

Brown has also worked to strengthen partnerships and expand Farm to ECE programming statewide through collaboration with county Extension agents, local food organizations and statewide early childhood networks. Her train-the-trainer approach helps child care providers of varying capacities build practical skills in gardening, local food purchasing and food-based learning.

Since Brown joined the program, Farm to ECE has reached more than 6,000 children across nearly 200 child care programs in 31 counties and the Qualla Boundary. The annual Farm to ECE Institute has also engaged 80 to 100 participants each year since 2021. In addition, Brown has mentored 25 Farm to ECE interns since 2022, supporting the next generation of educators and food systems leaders.

Participants consistently report increased knowledge and confidence in sourcing local food, starting gardens and incorporating experiential food education into their classrooms. One participant shared, “Working with young children, I see how powerful Farm to ECE is in shaping healthy habits early. Growing and cooking fresh food together helps children feel capable, connected and excited about learning.”

Through her leadership, Brown continues to strengthen connections between agriculture, education and community health while supporting young children, child care professionals and local farmers across North Carolina.

We congratulate Brown on this well-deserved recognition and celebrate the continued impact of Farm to ECE across the state.

On April 22, 2026, Jennifer Badger, Area Specialized Agent, Agribusiness with North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems’ (CEFS) EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) team, received one of the 2026 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Values Awards for Integrity during the CALS Celebration of Excellence held at the StateView Hotel. The CALS Values Awards honor individuals who demonstrate one or more of the college’s core values—excellence, inclusion, integrity, sustainability, community, freedom and collaboration—in their daily work.

Badger was recognized for her commitment to transparency and ethical stewardship through the creation of a comprehensive metrics dashboard that ensures project activities are auditable and grant-compliant. Developed as a five-tab shared tool for the EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) team, the dashboard tracks grant objectives, training events and client data. Its primary tab provides a real-time visual representation of progress, automatically updating as new granular data is entered, helping to guide decision-making and maintain accountability across the team.

She was nominated by Laura Lauffer, Western Regional Director for CEFS, Extension Associate and Project Director for EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems, along with additional supporting colleagues who specifically highlighted Badger’s leadership in directing critical resources to farmers in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Lauffer’s nomination emphasized Badger’s dedication to ethical governance and responsible management of funds during a time of urgent need.

Dara Bloom, assistant director of community based food systems for the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and associate professor and local foods Extension specialist in the North Carolina State University (NC State) Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences received three awards from NC State’s Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement (AOFEE) and the Office of Outreach & Engagement during the Engaged University Awards celebration held March 24, 2026 at the University Club and the CALS Celebration of Excellence held April 22, 2026 at the StateView Hotel.

Bloom was selected by Dean Fox and her peers to receive these three awards, including NC State’s top individual community engaged scholarship award, the 2026 Alumni Outstanding Engagement Scholarship Award. To earn this distinction, she was first nominated for the 2026 Outstanding Extension Award by Dean Fox and her colleagues in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This accolade honors the relevance and impact of Bloom’s work. This award requires nominee selection at the College level and the subsequent consensus of the AOFEE Executive Council.

Bloom’s peers in the Executive Council also enthusiastically voted to induct her into the Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement. The qualifications for this recognition are stringent and competitive. Beginning in Fall 2026, Bloom was asked to serve a three-year term on the AOFEE Executive Council.