Achievements & Lifestyles

January/February 2009 • Category: Achievements & Lifestyles • Print This Page Print This Page
Homegrown Alamance County attendees visited Smith Clanton Greenhouses.
ALAMANCE COUNTY Farm Bureau held Homegrown Alamance County, a chance for locals to enjoy agriculture in their county, Sept. 27. The 160 attendees made five stops to get five different agriculture experiences. Participants concluded their day at the Alamance Cattleman’s Association Shelter for a delicious meal of Alamance-grown foods. The group saw a poultry operation that produces hatching eggs at The Vines Family Farm, flower production at Smith Clanton Greenhouses, beef production at Smith Angus Farm, a dairy operation at Fogleman Dairy and organic animal production at Braeburn Farm.
YF&R members from Alamance, Chatham, Guilford and Rockingham counties met at the Alamance County farm of Eric and Tammy McPherson.
In other news…Eric and Tammy McPherson hosted a multi-county Young Farmers and Ranchers meeting in August at their farm. YF&R members from Alamance, Chatham, Guilford and Rockingham counties enjoyed an afternoon with their families and each other.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY Farm Bureau held a Hay Day event at the Western North Carolina Nature Center
BUNCOMBE COUNTY Farm Bureau held a “Hay Day” event at the Western North Carolina Nature Center on Oct. 30 in an effort to expose people to farming and rural lifestyles. The county’s Farm Bureau had a real tractor and hay baler on site to go along with the theme. Buncombe County Farm Bureau’s Greg Young (pictured in green shirt) was on hand to pass out safety tips to both children and adults. The county also supplied an event booth.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY Farm Bureau held a Hay Day event at the Western North Carolina Nature Center
BUNCOMBE COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Tucker Worley, son of Tim and Sonya of Leicester, showed the Reserve Champion Steer during the North Carolina Mountain State Fair, Sept. 5-14, 2008 in Fletcher. Tucker is pictured here with the steer, along with (l to r) Buncombe County Farm Bureau members Martin Morgan and Gary Hutchins, Buncombe County Agency Manager Keith Cable and his son Spencer, and N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
CLAY COUNTY Farm Bureau took an active part in helping out at the county’s Tractor Parade
CLAY COUNTY Farm Bureau took an active part in helping out at the county’s Tractor Parade Sept. 27. The parade, sponsored by the Clay County Tractor Club, featured 76 tractors of all models and years, the oldest being a 1933 model and the newest a 2008 model. The $20 entry fee went toward the Dwight Smith Scholarship fund, which was created by Hayesville High School to honor a local boy killed in a farming accident. The scholarship will be awarded to someone going into agriculture, farming or forestry. An estimated 1,500 spectators, including N.C. Sen. John Snow (pictured on his John Deere tractor), attended the parade, where they could look at and ask about the tractors, as well as pose for pictures on them. The parade generated $3,500 for the scholarship fund.
Pictured (l to r) are contestants: Crystal Roberts, Jaron Jones, Carla Saunders and Lee Tyre. Roberts, of Buncombe County, will represent North Carolina at the National Collegiate Discussion Meet in Sacramento, Calif., in February 2009.
NC FARM BUREAU FEDERATION held its annual Collegiate Discussion Meet on Nov. 8 at the Federation’s headquarters in Raleigh. Contestants for this year’s meet included Crystal Roberts and Lee Tyre, both students at N.C. State University, and Jaron Jones and Carla Saunders, students at North Carolina A&T State University. The participants discussed the topic of “How do we correct misconceptions about Farm Bureau?” for approximately 25 minutes and were judged on their cooperation, communication and ability to offer constructive criticism while analyzing this agricultural problem and developing solutions. After a competitive discussion, Crystal Roberts was the winner. From Buncombe County, she is a junior at NCSU with a major in animal science. She was awarded a plaque, $500 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Sacramento, Calif., where she will represent North Carolina in the National Collegiate Discussion Meet held during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference, Feb. 7-9.

 

David Collier sits at the winery Castle Ravensburg in Germany during his McCloy Fellows trip.

 


CUMBERLAND COUNTY Farm Bureau member David Collier was recently named a 2008 McCloy Fellow. He was given the opportunity to travel to Germany, where he received a closer look at agricultural, farm and food-supply conditions abroad.

The McCloy Fellowship was established in 1975 and gives young Americans and Germans the opportunity to broaden their professional experience in environmental affairs, journalism, urban affairs and agricultural production.

David Collier, a Cumberland County Farm Bureau member, stands in front of a Red Hartz cow in Germany during his McCloy Fellows trip. There are only about 800 of the Red Hartz Mountain Cattle breed left in that country.
Dixie Classic Fair,FORSYTH COUNTY. Pictured: Adam Lawing, Kayla Birkholz, Emma See and Farm Bureau President Edgar Mills
FORSYTH COUNTY Farm Bureau President Edgar Mills (far right) was on hand at the Dixie Classic Fair, held Oct. 3-12 in Winston-Salem, to present trophies to the winners of the Jr. Market Lamb Show. The show included a senior, intermediate and junior division. Winners were Adam Lawing (left) for the senior division, Emma See (right) for the intermediate division and Kayla Birkholz (center) for the junior division. The Forsyth County Farm Bureau Board of Directors donated $1,000 to this event.
Franklin County Farm Bureau President Bennie Ray Gupton stands with county 4-H participants in the area’s Poultry Show and Sale on Nov. 8.
FRANKLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau President Bennie Ray Gupton was on hand to pass out awards to recipients at the Poultry Show and Sale, held at the county’s Farmers Market on Saturday, Nov. 8. More than 30 area 4-H’ers, who raised their chicken projects from May until November, showed Dominicks, Rhode Island Reds and Red Start Link chickens for egg production at the event. They raised more than $850 from the live chicken auction and won more than $1,200 in premiums.
HERTFORD COUNTY Farm Bureau hosted one of the first training sessions in North Carolina for “The Farmer Grows a Rainbow” workshop at Ridgecroft Elementary School. Through this program, the teaching staff was given instruction in the use of nutritional and physical activity lessons, which bring the students’ attention to the fact that farmers provide the nutritious food the USDA food guide pyramid recommends that people eat. The workshop was well received by the faculty.
Reba McNeely is pictured here with Iredell County Farm Bureau president David Sides
IREDELL COUNTY Farm Bureau board member Reba McNeely was recently honored for her years of dedicated service to Farm Bureau. McNeely was awarded a plaque for her 25 years of service to the board at the Iredell County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, held on Nov. 13 in Statesville. She is pictured here with Iredell County Farm Bureau president David Sides.
JONES COUNTY YF&R members Trent and Rebecca Scott recently visited the first-grade class of Terri Mack and Anita Scott at A.H. Bangert Elementary School in New Bern

 


JONES COUNTY YF&R members Trent and Rebecca Scott recently visited the first-grade class of Terri Mack and Anita Scott at A.H. Bangert Elementary School in New Bern. They read the book The Tree Farmer and presented it to Mrs. Scott and the assistant principal for the school’s library.

They took the class outside to plant a Leyland Cyprus tree, and each child was able to help dig the hole, put dirt back in the hole and then a child watered the tree. Each of the children wrote them thank-you notes and drew pictures of their visit and planting the tree.

JONES COUNTY YF&R members Trent and Rebecca Scott recently visited the first-grade class of Terri Mack and Anita Scott at A.H. Bangert Elementary School in New Bern
Bill Jones of Barnardsville was the Grand Champion winner of the 2008 Mountain State Fair beef shows
MADISON COUNTY Bill Jones of Barnardsville was the Grand Champion winner of the 2008 Mountain State Fair beef shows. His parents, Edward and Tina Jones, are Madison County Farm Bureau members. Ingles Markets, a grocery store chain in the region, purchased the steer.
PAMLICO COUNTY Farm Bureau had reason to celebrate on Tuesday, Sept. 23 when it held an Open House and Ribbon Cutting from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at its new office building. The building is located at 13709 Highway 55.
Perquimans County Farm Bureau member Betty Mathews, seated at left, visited kindergartners at Perquimans Central School, where she talked about pumpkins and the importance of hand washing.
PERQUIMANS COUNTY Farm Bureau member Betty Mathews made fall a bit more festive for students at Perquimans Central School. Mathews, while visiting the kindergarten class of Julie Roberts and Jean Whedbee on Oct. 2 (October was N.C. Ag in the Classroom Month), shared fact sheets and lessons about pumpkins with the students. Betty gave each child a pumpkin from the Mathews’ farm garden, a pumpkin seed and a pumpkin coloring sheet. Mathews also talked about the importance of hand washing by sharing the Mrs. Wishy-Washy song and information about proper hand-washing techniques with the students.
On hand for the RANDOLPH COUNTY ribbon-cutting were board members Ronald Self, Bud Smith, Sheela Wright (holding her granddaughter), Jerry Davis, AnnaRae Hodgin, N.C. House Rep. Patricia Hurley, agency manager Bill Foster, Congressman Howard Coble, Archdale Mayor Bert Stone, board members Lloyd West and Jimmie Moffit, and several employees.
RANDOLPH COUNTY Farm Bureau recently celebrated the Grand Opening of a new satellite office in Archdale, at 102-A Bonnie Place. On hand for the ribbon-cutting were board members Ronald Self, Bud Smith, Sheela Wright (holding her granddaughter), Jerry Davis, AnnaRae Hodgin, N.C. House Rep. Patricia Hurley, agency manager Bill Foster, Congressman Howard Coble, Archdale Mayor Bert Stone, board members Lloyd West and Jimmie Moffit, and several employees.
J.M. Wright Jr. (center) was recently honored for his 42 years of service to Rockingham County Farm Bureau. The establishment of a scholarship in his name benefits chosen recipients attending Rockingham Community College. He is joined in commemorating this event by (l to r) Secretary Clifton Tucker; Rockingham County Farm Bureau President Darryl Dunagan; Dr. Robert Keys, president of Rockingham Community College; and Rockingham County Farm Bureau Vice President Ray Styer.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY Farm Bureau’s past President J.M. Wright, Jr. was honored for his 42 years of dedication and commitment to Farm Bureau through the establishment of a scholarship in his name by the Board of Directors of the Rockingham County Farm Bureau in Reidsville.
The J.M. Wright Jr. Scholarship will be awarded annually to chosen recipients who attend Rockingham Community College. The scholarship was created by co-workers and friends of Wright to honor a man many describe as an “effective and efficient leader” whose loyalty and quality service has been invaluable to Farm Bureau.
In addition to his service at Rockingham County Farm Bureau, Wright has served as vice president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and as a member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company.

ROWAN COUNTY Farm Bureau sponsored a forum for all candidates for Rowan County and North Carolina offices.
ROWAN COUNTY Farm Bureau sponsored a forum for all candidates for Rowan County and North Carolina offices on Thursday, Oct. 2. Candidates for the General Assembly included Lorene Coates, Ada Fisher, Andrew Brock and William Burnette. In addition, three of the four county commission candidates were present: Raymond Coltrain, Carl Ford and Jim Sides.

In other news…Farm Bureau members Jason and Robin Starnes hosted a “Day at the Farm” event for nearly 35 school children on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the couple’s farm. Jason and Robin are active in YF&R activities county and statewide. The children were entertained by a hay ride, crafts using farm products and learning how to milk a cow. The event was a fun learning experience for all who attended.

Farm Bureau members Jason and Robin Starnes hosted a “Day at the Farm” event for nearly 35 school children.
Rutherford County Women’s Committee chair Margaret Helton presented the check to museum director Wilbur Burgin.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY Farm Bureau recently donated $1,000 to the Rutherford County Farm Museum, which serves the county and Rutherford County Schools by promoting agriculture history with old farm machinery.
Pictured above with donations are (back row, left to right) Joanne Starling, Beanie Hobbs and Jackie Pope, and (front row, left to right) Eloise Register, Grace Williams, Sherry Williams, Sybil Smith, Edna Raynor and Joyce Hill.
SAMPSON COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee contributed gently used items to a Duplin/Sampson fundraiser auction for Valley of Hope, a center that helps women in need, on Nov. 8 in Wallace.
Josephine Evans and Shirley Burt talk to middle school students about the importance of agriculture and possible ag careers at the Apex Business Alliance Career Fair.
WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members Josephine Evans and Shirley Burt shared the importance of agriculture with more than 120 students when they attended the Apex Business Alliance Career Fair on Oct. 17. Each student was given an “Ag Paths to Success” brochure and viewed a poster about careers in agriculture. The fair, held at the Apex Community Center, caters to three local middle schools in the area.
Michelle Dupree uses pumpkins to reinforce lessons for kindergarten students at Willow Spring Elementary School
In other news…Women’s Committee members Michelle Dupree and Shirley Burt visited six kindergarten classes at Willow Springs Elementary School to teach about pumpkins on Oct. 20 as an “Ag in the Classroom” event. The children were read the book Pumpkin, Pumpkin, and were taught how a pumpkin grows. Using pumpkins donated by the Wake County Farm Bureau, Dupree and Burt reinforced students’ learning about such lessons as prepositional words. Each student was given a pumpkin to paint, and teachers and assistants were given goody bags along with “Sights and Sounds on the Farm” coloring sheets. Approximately 132 students participated.
Monnie Jenks talks with students at St. Michael’s School on Oct. 14. The children learned about cows, the milking process and sweet potato pie.
In other news…Women’s Committee members Monnie Jenks and Shirley Burt visited with preschoolers and kindergartners at St. Michael’s School in Cary on Oct. 14 for an “Ag in the Classroom” event. Students learned about cows, were allowed to milk a pretend cow and made a “Moo Mask.” Burt read to the students the book Sweet Potato Pie and helped them make their own pie to eat. A total of 75 students participated. The teachers were given goody bags filled with treats and “Ag in the Classroom” brochures.
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One Response »

  1. victoria on February 5th, 2009 at 6:28 pm :

    NC Farm Bureau Magazine was really what I’ve been searching for. THanx!

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