Extension’s Master Food Volunteer Program – Summer ’25 Graduates
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N.C. Cooperative Extension proudly announces the newest graduates of the Extension Master Food Volunteer (EMFV) Program, who completed the 2025 training course this June. This year’s cohort participated in a flexible hybrid format, with a mix of online and in-person sessions that allowed participants to complete most of the coursework at home and on their own schedule.
To become certified as an Extension Master Food Volunteer, participants complete 30 hours of core training and 20 hours of shadowing their county’s Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) agent. The program empowers volunteers to support Extension’s food and nutrition outreach, contributing to healthier communities across North Carolina.
This summer’s newly certified EMFVs include:
- Catawba County – Jennifer O’Donnell
- Gaston County – Altriese Carter, Regina Knox, Crystal McCabe
- Iredell County – Hollie Rash, Traci Thomas Boller
- Stanly County – Sherri Swaringen
The EMFV program is modeled after the highly respected Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer program and is designed to expand the reach of Extension’s food and nutrition initiatives. By training community members to assist with programming, FCS agents can offer more classes, demonstrations, and outreach events, ultimately increasing Extension’s impact in addressing food insecurity and promoting healthy eating.
What EMFVs Do
Volunteers in the EMFV program have opportunities to:
- Conduct cooking demonstrations at farmers markets, churches, and other community venues
- Assist with food preservation and home canning workshops
- Support nutrition education at health fairs, schools, and festivals
- Contribute to youth nutrition and cooking classes
- Lead or assist in Extension programs such as Cook Smart, Eat Smart, Med Instead of Meds, Faithful Families, and Steps to Health
What Volunteers Gain
In addition to giving back to their communities, EMFVs receive:
- Hands-on cooking and knife skills
- Nutrition and food safety training
- Opportunities to tour food processing facilities and research centers
- Deeper connections to the local food system
- A network of fellow volunteers passionate about food and wellness
The EMFV training covers ten modules: Cooking Skills, Cooking Demonstrations, Food Safety, Nutrition, Food Systems and Local Food, Teaching Strategies, Evidence-Based Programming, Changing Health Behaviors, and History of Extension and FCS.
“This program is a great opportunity for individuals who love food, health, and giving back,” said Linda J. Minges, FCS Agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension in Gaston County. “Our trained volunteers are an essential part of delivering wellness programs across the community.”
Gaston County currently has 13 trained EMFVs contributing their time and talents throughout the year. To learn more about becoming an Extension Master Food Volunteer in Gaston County, contact:
Linda J. Minges
Family & Consumer Sciences Agent
Phone: 704.922.2127
Email: linda_minges@ncsu.edu