Upcoming Events in FCS:
- Arthritis Exercise – come by the Senior Center to participate in classes!
- Youth Sewing Classes are every other month starting September 2025 (can sign up individually for classes)
- A 4-part Youth Quilt Class will be every other month starting October 2025 (must sign up for all classes)
- Pressure Canner Safety Checks – bring your dial gauge, or entire canner to get the gauge’s pressure read and make sure your canner is in good shape (FREE year-round service)
- Marathon Month – this year the classrooms and preschools will be striving to walk a marathon during the month of September
Family and Consumer Sciences provides educational programs that focus on strengthening individuals, families and communities by addressing critical issues and needs, such as parenting, nutrition and health, food preservation and safety, managing finances, child care needs, and other areas of life that families and individuals face.
Check out our local Farmers Market if you’re looking for local farm, fresh produce and products. During the summer months, we participate with some great programming at the market – be sure to come visit!
FCS program areas include:
- Family – fosters healthy parenting skills, enriching relationships, and promotes emotional, social and personal wellness.
- Food – helps people make healthy food choices, manage weight, preserve food, and handle food safely.
- Health – works to help families and individuals make healthy choices, manage health conditions, and create healthier environments.
- Home– seeks to save energy, prepare for emergencies, make home healthy, and to be safe.
- Money – focuses on increasing savings, decreasing debt, spending wisely, and planning for the future.
Available Youth Programs
Partnering with 4-H, students visit activity centers focused on Child and Human Development, Nutrition and Food Safety, Consumer and Family Economics, Health, Housing and Environment. They learn how to make good decisions in situations they’ll be facing in life.
For more information on Life Skills teams contact Sarah Ransom at the Johnson County Extension Office at (423)-727-8161.
Teaches students to observe, compare and make decisions based on facts they collected. They rank products based on standards and quality, then present oral reasons to support their choices.
To learn more about Consumer Decision Making teams contact Sarah Ransom at the Johnson County Extension Office at (423)-727-8161.
Own My Own is a hands-on financial education stimulation, which gives youth the opportunity to experience their futures in a fun and exciting way! Volunteers come from all sectors in the county to help put on this educational experience.
Credit College provides a unique and entertaining way to learn about managing finances, using credit cards safely and the pitfalls of credit and debit card debt.
Available Adult Programs
Each month, one of the eight Family and Consumer Sciences Agents will be airing a short segment on WCYB News during the noon hour. For all the segments, head over to www.eastern.tennessee.edu to watch all the previous recordings and access handouts.
Here’s the handout for February 2023’s segment on Love Languages.
Partnering with the Tennessee Department of Human Services, USDA Food and Nutrition Service and UT Extension, Tennessee Nutrition & Consumer Education Program (TNCEP) uses a variety of lessons on cooking healthy and cost efficient meals. In cooking classes we focus on:
- Fix healthy, low cost meals, and snacks for you and your family.
- Feel better and have more energy.
- Get the most for your food dollar.
- Develop spending and saving plans to make food last throughout the month.
Formerly called Home Demonstration Clubs, these Family & Community Education clubs meet once a month to discuss service projects, community events, and build friendships. It’s a great way to be tied into your community.
Currently there are two clubs meeting in Johnson County. They are located in Laurel Bloomery and Butler.
See a flier with more information!
Parenting Apart is a 4-hour mandatory class for divorcing parents or other court ordered requirements. The class covers communication techniques, ages and stages of development, Adverse Childhood Experiences and more. Pre-registration is required
Click here to register for the class!
Call (423)-727-8161 for more information or for specific questions. Classes are offered virtually. If needed, in-person classes can be arranged.
This is a 6-week program, with classes twice a week, which teaches gentle stretches to increase flexibility and mobility for those struggling with arthritis or muscle pain.
*Pre-registration is required*
Download the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program.pdf
If you would like to host a program at your facility, please contact the extension office at (423)-727-8161 for more information.
Providing a deeper look into a chronic condition, this free 6-week workshop series offers an up close look into diabetes, teaches participants how to self-manage and gives additional information about caring for diabetes. Open to individuals with diabetes or caretakers.
Download flier here: TCOYD Flier.pdf
A program designed for childcare providers to train employees, volunteers or directors on new and innovative ways of working with children. Helps meet the education requirements for childcare workers.
Download flier: Bright Future Flyer.pdf
Do you have more fresh veggies and fruits than you can eat? Do you want fresh foods all year long!? Then this is the class for you! Special training is provided on the proper methods of canning, experiential learning at these hands-on workshops.
Canning items include: tomatoes, jellies/jams, green beans and pickles, other surprise foods can be offered.
Great for experienced or beginning canners!
FREE pressure-testing is available at the extension office.
Canning College is held in the late spring and mid summer
Download the Canning College Flier.pdf
Contact Information
Sarah Arnold
Family & Consumer Sciences & 4-H Extension Agent and County Director
Phone: (423) 727-8161
Email: sarnold@utk.edu
