Mar 20, 2026

On this episode of Extension Office Friday on The Valley Today, host Janet Michael welcomes two guests from Virginia Cooperative Extension — Liz Rohrer, the brand-new Clarke County Extension Agent, and returning guest Elizabeth Baldwin from Page County. The conversation covers Liz's journey from 16 years in the agriculture classroom to her new role in the community, and what it means to serve a heavily agricultural county like Clarke. Elizabeth then dives into the details of the upcoming Northern Shenandoah Valley Drinking Water Testing Clinics — a must-know program for anyone on a private well.

In This Episode:

• Liz Rohrer's background as an agriculture and life science teacher
• Why she made the leap from the classroom to extension work
• What the first month on the job looks like as a new extension agent
• How Clarke County's agricultural community shapes Liz's priorities
• The Clarke County Farmer's Market and why Janet calls it her favorite
• Everything you need to know about the Northern Shenandoah Valley Drinking Water Testing Clinics

Drinking Water Clinic Details:

• Who it's for: Anyone on a private water supply (well, spring, or cistern)
• What's tested: 28 parameters including bacteria, nitrates, heavy metals, and hardness
• Cost: $70 per sample kit (scholarship/reduced rate options available)
• Lab: Virginia Tech

Upcoming Dates: 

• Week 1 (April 27-29, 2026) – Clarke, Shenandoah, and Warren. Sample Drop-Off is Wednesday, April 29^th  from 7-10 a.m. The registration deadline for Week 1 is Wednesday, April 22^nd.
• Week 2 (May 11-13, 2026) – Frederick and Page Counties. Sample Drop-Off is Wednesday, May 13^th  from 7-10 a.m. The registration deadline for Week 2 is Wednesday, May 6^th.

How to Register & Learn More:

• Visit your local Virginia Cooperative Extension county website (listed below)
• Download a flyer with complete details: https://warren.ext.vt.edu/news/NSV-Water-Clinics.html 
• Visit the Virginia Household Water Quality Program website to find clinics statewide
• Stop by or call your local extension office for a paper copy or direct registration link

Connect with Virginia Cooperative Extension:

• VCE – Clarke County: 540-955-5164
• VCE – Frederick County: 540-665-5699
• VCE – Page County: 540-778-5794
• VCE – Shenandoah County: 540-459-6140
• VCE – Warren County: 540-635-4549