Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs, organized under the direction of the University of Tennessee, are dedicated to the purpose of helping persons become better homemakers and community members. Home Economics activities are carried out through monthly meetings, special interest activities, workshops, mass media, and individual contacts. Union County currently has two very active FCE Groups, Big Ridge FCE meeting on the second Thursday monthly and Sharps Chapel FCE meeting on the third Thursday monthly.

Fall is a busy time for club members. September 11th was FCE Day at Tennessee Valley Fair with the theme “Brain Health”. Union County won a brain game prize for having the most members at the Fair Opening Session. Members donated the game to one of our Union County elementary schools. Union County members Gloria Holcomb, Carol Pratt, and Sandy Manter also volunteered at the annual Farmers Market Celebration of the Arts Day providing art and music activities for children and adults. September 13th, Big Ridge Club held a Bless You Jar Workshop transforming mason jars in to decorative painted tissue holders. On September 20th, Sharps Chapel FCE Club took a field trip to Wilderness State Park for a tour of the fort, a picnic lunch in the park, and then a tour of the LMU School of Veterinary Medicine in Ewing, VA. After a very informative tour, the members visited The Dutch Treat Amish store in Rose Hill, VA buying lots of delicious items. The next day, September 21st, five Union County members attended the annual Fall Conference at Rothschild’s Event Center in Knoxville where Eastern Region President Gloria Holcomb presided over the day’s events. It is always exciting to acknowledge the annual Cultural Arts and Fashion Revue winners for the Eastern Region. The luncheon is always informative, entertaining, and delicious. Old time musical entertainment was provided by Union County residents Eric Holcomb, Wayne Goforth, and Eastern Region Treasurer Fran Howard. The theme was “It’s Fall, Y’all”. Union County members Carolyn Thomas and Gloria Holcomb won first place Cultural Arts ribbons.

On October 11th, Big Ridge hosted a field trip tour of Brushy Mountain Prison with several members in attendance and a great time had by all. Lunch was had at the Warden’s Table with delicious barbeque and all the fixings.

At the October 18th Sharps Chapel FCE meeting, members held the annual delicious fundraiser donating containers of homemade soup and various breads for other members to purchase. It is always fun to see what the members have made and to take home several days of soup meals to share with our families.

On November 5th, Big Ridge and Sharps Chapel Clubs will join for the annual flannel blanket sewing workshop at the Extension Office. Blankets are donated to Children’s Hospital NICU, Knoxville. November 11-14th, members Leslie Sharpe and Gloria Holcomb will attend the TAFCE Annual State Conference in Memphis. They will ride a luxury bus to Memphis and are looking forward to a multitude of informative and entertaining classes. On November 15th, Sharps Chapel Club will tour the Blue Slip Winery and Train in the Old City, Knoxville. Lunch will follow at the winery restaurant. The Sharps Chapel FCE annual Christmas Party will be held at Norris Shores Community Center on December 20th. Members will again buy and donate children’s books to the Sharps Chapel Elementary School Library. This is the
fifth year of donations. Big Ridge Club will be constructing Christmas decorations at their November meeting. Also for November and December, Big Ridge will have the “Under the Tree” Toy Drive and have some members working daily to process toys and get them ready for the Distribution Day.