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

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