With grocery prices continuing to rise, many families are looking for ways to make their meals go a little bit farther. A few small changes in the kitchen can help you save money without giving up flavor or satisfaction.

One easy trick is to stretch your meat dishes by mixing in budget-friendly ingredients. Try adding refried beans, black beans, or lentils to taco meat for extra texture and protein. Or, mix cooked quinoa, rice, or oats into ground beef when making meatloaf, burgers, or casseroles. These additions can nearly double your portions at a fraction of the cost.

The Union County Extension Office will be hosting a Simmer Pot Kit Christmas Class on Tuesday, December 2nd at 5:00 p.m. This festive and hands-on workshop will take place at the Union County Extension Office and offers a fun opportunity to learn new skills while preparing for the holiday season.

The Union County Extension Office invites the community to kick off the holiday season with a festive, hands-on Christmas Wreath Making Workshop at Chuck Swan State Forest in Sharps Chapel.

The workshop will take place on Thursday, November 21 at 10 a.m. at 3500 Sharps Chapel Road, Sharps Chapel, TN 37866. The cost to attend is $20, and space is limited.

As the holiday season approaches, the Union County Fresh Wagon program is asking for the community’s help to collect non-perishable food items for local families in need. Donations will be accepted November 1-14, and every contribution helps make a difference for a neighbor this holiday season.

We are currently collecting boxes of stuffing mix, packages of instant mashed potatoes and boxes of macaroni and cheese. Any brands and sizes are acceptable.

The Union County Family and Community Education (FCE) Club invites the public to attend its November meeting on Thursday, November 21, at 10 a.m. at the Extension Office.

This month’s meeting will serve as the group’s annual Thanksgiving gathering, featuring a menu of soups and sandwiches. Members and guests are encouraged to bring a soup, sandwich, dessert or drink to share as everyone enjoys a time of food and fellowship.

Union County farmers made a strong showing at this year’s Tennessee State Fair, earning recognition among 1500 entries in the annual State Hay Contest

The fair, held at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, brings together the best of Tennessee agriculture each summer. This year, Union County’s hay producers proudly represented their community.

As the weather cools down, there’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of chili to bring family and friends together. This time of year means it’s officially chili season—and that means cook-off time too! Whether you’re stirring up a pot for your family, tailgating at a game, or entering a local competition, everyone has their own secret recipe.

Here are a few tried-and-true tips to help you make the perfect pot of chili:

Hunters and community members from across the region gathered on Saturday for a hands-on deer processing class hosted at Johnson’s Deer Processing & Taxidermy, at 520 W Mountain View Road in Corryton. The class was led by Tyler Johnson, who provided a live demonstration and detailed instruction on how to properly and safely field dress a deer.

The annual Pie and Cake Contest at the UC Heritage Festival was a huge hit this year, drawing an impressive 27 delicious entries from local bakers eager to show off their culinary talents. The sweet aroma of pies and cakes filled the air as judges sampled everything from fruit-filled creations to rich chocolate delights.

In the Pie Contest, Kathy Venturella took home the title of Grand Champion Pie and a $100 prize with her show-stopping Lemon Meringue Pie.

The Union County Jr. High 4-H team recently competed in the Eastern Region Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Skill-A-Thon, held in McMinn County. This hands-on contest gives youth the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in areas such as food and nutrition, child development, clothing and textiles and housing, and interior design. Participants rotate through a series of skill stations where they solve real-world problems and apply what they have learned.