Local Programs
While viewing the family unit as the cornerstone of a healthy community, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agents and volunteers work in Planning District 16 (the Counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline) with a focus on improving wellness for individuals and their families.
FCS Extension Agents offer a wide variety of programs in the areas of nutrition, finance, family development, physical activity, food safety, and food preservation. As educators, community resource, and link in the community, our goal is to implement effective educational and outreach programs that provide people with the life skills needed to make positive changes, and improve their overall sense of well-being.
Please Contact April Payne at 540-507-7568 or arpayne@vt.edu for more information on classes available and how to arrange programming for your location!
For ServSafe Class information please call 540-507-7568
Stafford County 4-H offers multiple clubs, a summer camp, and school enrichment programs. Please check out the link below for complete details.
Become a Virginia Extension Master Gardener!
Join a dedicated team of more than 5,000 volunteers who work in communities throughout Virginia to promote research-based horticulture. Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) provide vital public education related to creating and managing home landscapes, vegetable gardening, turf management, and more!
To become an Extension Master Gardener, you will receive 50 hours (minimum) of training and complete 50 hours (minimum) of volunteer service. Exact hour requirements vary by county. To remain an active Extension Master Gardener, you must complete 20 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of continuing education each year.
Complete our interest form or contact Sam Ragon, Horticulture Technician and Master Gardener Coordinator, if you have any questions.
Soil Testing Information
Soil testing kits are available for pickup at the Rowser Building (1739 Richmond Hwy, Stafford VA, 22554). Soil testing kits are located outside the building (next to the main entrance), inside the foyer, and outside the Stafford Extension office in the hallway. Soil testing kits must be picked up in person.
Each kit contains:
Folded soil sample box
Sampling instructions
Required form that must be filled out for each sample
If you have questions on how to take a soil test, or how many soil tests you need for your property, please review this VCE publication: Soil Sampling For Residential Areas.
Soil tests cost $10 per sample. If paying via check, please make check payable to "Treasurer of VT". If you are a farmer, please call or email the office.
Each soil sample must have an accompanying form filled out. This form is required to get the sample tested. On the form, you will be asked to create a unique five number and/or letter code. This is to ensure that each form is paired up with its corresponding soil sample. That code should be written on both the form and the corresponding soil sample box.
Soil sample results are reported by email only. Please provide a legible email address on the required form to ensure results arrive in your inbox. Check your spam folder.
Shipping the soil samples:
Soil samples are not mailed by the Stafford VCE office. The person taking the soil sample is responsible for shipping the samples.
Once all soil samples are taken and each sample box is full and closed, all the sample boxes should be assembled in one larger box suitable for shipping. Each corresponding soil sample form (completed) should be included in the shipping box, as well as payment.
Please ship the samples to the Virginia Tech Soil Lab in Blacksburg:
Virginia Tech Soil Testing Lab
145 Smyth Hall (MC 0465)
185 Ag Quad Ln
Blacksburg VA 24061
To learn more about the soil testing process, check out the VT Soil Testing Lab website: https://www.soiltest.vt.edu/. If you have questions about soil testing, please reach out to our office via email or phone call. You can contact the Agriculture Agent or the Horticulture Technician.
Soil Testing Information
Soil testing kits are available for pickup at the Rowser Building (1739 Richmond Hwy, Stafford VA, 22554). Soil testing kits are located outside the building (next to the main entrance), inside the foyer, and outside the Stafford Extension office in the hallway. Soil testing kits must be picked up in person.
See tab for more details