Counties

Lowndes County Annual Report

3 min read
A home horticulture agent leading a class on gardening.

Lowndes County Educational Events

Severe Weather

The Lowndes County Extension office offered a series of severe weather preparedness workshops “Be Ready, Lowndes County.” Participants received tips on preparing for storms and mitigating damage to property and injuries during tornadoes. They also learned how to operate and program National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration radios and some received a free radio for their homes, while supplies lasted. These radios were provided through a grant from Midsouth RC&D. Hundreds of residents of Lowndes County have received free NOAA radios through this partnership.

Health & Wellness

The Lowndes County Extension office hosted nearly 400 older adults at the annual May Fest event “ABCs of Good Health.” This event featured exercising, singing, engaging with vendors, and tasting healthy snacks.

Participants learned about nutrition, exercise, money management, and estate planning. They received easy-to-carry water bottles to use throughout the day. The event ended with a vegetable giveaway.

Forestry & Wildlife

Sixty students and teachers from Jackson Steele Elementary School and Lowndes Academy attended the Friends of the Forest program in May. This program was a county initiative organized by Tana Shealey, the county Extension director. The students learned about water safety, ATV safety, wildfire prevention, native wildlife, hunting regulations, animal migration, and water quality. Each student and teacher also received a free NOAA radio along with learning about preparing for severe weather. Plans are underway to increase participation in Friends of the Forest for 2026.

Resource Areas Serving Lowndes County

4-H & Youth

  • Livestock Judging Club
  • 4-H Community Garden
  • Sewing Club

Agriculture

  • Agronomic Crops
  • Animal Science & Forages
  • Commercial Horticulture
  • Food Safety & Quality
  • Home Horticulture

Family & Health

  • Expanded Food and Nutrition Education
  • Financial Management
  • Human Nutrition, Diet & Health

Natural Resources ƒ

  • Friends of the Forest
  • Forestry Education

Community Development ƒ

  • Severe Weather Preparedness

Community Partners

  • Mid-South RC&D Council ($10,500 grant for NOAA weather radios for Be Ready, Lowndes County!)
  • South Central Alabama Development Commission (pledged donation of $17,500 for NOAA weather radios in 2026)
  • Alabama Department of Emergency Management
  • Lowndes County Emergency Management Director
  • The American Red Cross
  • The Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services
  • Lowndes County Commission
  • Lowndes County Board of Education
  • Pioneer Electric
  • Hayneville ACE Hardware

Increasing Quality of Life for Alabamians with Research-Based Information

4-H’ers are four times more likely to give back to their communities and two times more likely to make healthy choices.

County Office Initiatives

  • Friends of the Forest: a forestry education program for youth
  • Severe Weather Preparedness: Be Ready, Lowndes County!
  • Forestry Education: Arbor Day free trees giveaway
  • Art and Gardening Classes for Older Adults

Extension Programs Delivered

  • Community Resource Development: Severe Weather Preparedness
  • Food Safety & Quality classes, including ServSafe and Cottage Food Law
  • Home Horticulture classes
  • Human Nutrition, Diet & Health; Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education; and Health & Wellness classes
  • Commerical Horticulture, Agronomic Crops, and Animal Science & Forages classes
  • Financial Management classes for high school students

Community Impact Highlights: Lowndes County Initiatives

  • Hundreds of Lowndes County stakeholders attended Food Quality and Nutrition programs; Horticulture programs, Animal Forage programs, and Financial Management online trainings.
  • More than 300 stakeholders attended educational classes on severe weather preparedness, receiving free NOAA Weather Radios to stay safe during storms.
  • One hundred students, teachers, and professionals participated in Friends of the Forest, learning about water safety, animals, forestry, wildlife, and all-terrain vehicle safety.
  • More than 200 older adults joined classes at churches and senior centers to explore growing healthy foods and arts and crafts for creative living.

For More Information

Lowndes County Extension

  • P.O. Box 456, Hayneville, AL 36040
  • (334) 548-2315

Tana Shealey, County Extension Director, Lowndes County

New November 2025, Lowndes County Annual Report, ACES-2885

Download this article as a PDF