ALEXANDER COUNTY Farm Bureau President Lee Herman recently presented a $1,000 Theft Reward program check to a member. The recipient, who wishes to remain anonymous, gave the sheriff’s department information regarding a theft where the proper sign was posted. The Theft Reward program offers $1,000 for information leading to an arrest for arson, malicious damage to property, burglary or other felonies committed at a property where a sign is posted and resulted in a final conviction or guilty plea on a felony charge or a lesser included offense.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY Farm Bureau, in conjunction with Alleghany Partnership for Children, co-sponsored a Car Seat Safety Day, Aug. 16. The board of directors and office staff participated in this event, which served many families by inspecting, replacing or adjusting car seats.

ASHE COUNTY Farm Bureau President Don Tucker sent two N.C. Fraser fir Christmas trees to troops stationed in Farah, Afghanistan. Richard Sessoms, Tucker’s son-in-law, received the trees for his unit, PRT (provision reconstruction team). Sessoms, seated at far right, said the troops really enjoyed and appreciated the trees.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY Farm Bureau President Billy Johnston, right, presented a plaque to Kenneth Reeves, county extension director, during the November Board Meeting. Reeves, who is a loyal associate “honorary” board member, is retiring after 32-plus years. He was honored for being a valuable resource for Buncombe County’s residents and farmers, for fostering strong relationships among ag groups and for fostering a strong appreciation for farmers and farmland in the county.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY Farm Bureau board member Gary Hutchins and Willy the Safety Squirrel visited TC Roberson Pre-School Dec. 12 for a Home Chemical Safety Day event. Hutchins discussed relevant safety issues, led relevant classroom exercises and passed out coloring books and crayons to the students.

CASWELL COUNTY Farm Bureau participated in the Caswell County Christmas Parade Dec. 6 in downtown Yanceyville. Farm Bureau member Donna Ligon drove Willy the Safety Squirrel and U.S. Congressman Brad Miller. Farm Bureau member Neal Bowen drove his 1954 Chevy. Member Loria Slade walked with the Head Start float, and member Cathy Hayes walked with her son and the Bartlett Yancey High School band. N.C. Rep. Bill Faison tossed candy to the crowd. Also, county President Hester Vernon helped Georgie Holden and Jennifer Cook decorate the outside of the county Farm Bureau office, which competed in the Chamber of Commerce’s Window Decoration Contest.

CATAWBA COUNTY Farm Bureau’s past President Ira Cline (left) was presented the Old North State Award for dedication and service beyond expectation and excellence to the Great State of North Carolina. Presenting the award is N.C. House Rep. Mark Hilton. The award, signed by Gov. Mike Easley, was presented at the Catawba County annual Farm City Dinner on Nov. 25.

CATAWBA COUNTY Farm Bureau hosted Richard Thompson (left) of the Hickory Kiwanis Club as he presented the Outstanding Contributor Award to Worth Killian, of Catawba County Farm Bureau, at the Annual Farm City Dinner on Nov 25. Killian is a Board Member of Catawba County Farm Bureau and has been a Soil and Water District supervisor for more than 50 years.

HENDERSON COUNTY Farm Bureau sponsored a booth at the annual Farm City Day event at Jackson Park. Board Member Larry Roper and his wife, JoAnne, volunteered at a booth that included a mechanical cow used to demonstrate hands-on milking to children, as well as a full-grown cow and a calf. Board Member Wayne Barwell contributed gift certificates, which were prizes in a contest to guess the weights of the cow and calf from his roadside packing house, Free milk and cookies were also available to booth visitors.

ONSLOW COUNTY Farm Bureau member Arnold Maready continued his annual tradition of lending his spotted draft team of horses and handmade cart on behalf of Onslow County Farm Bureau for the Jacksonville Christmas Parade. Maready finished this cart the night before the parade and Onslow County Farm Bureau would like to thank him for his years of dedication to rural North Carolina and Onslow County Farm Bureau.

PERQUIMANS COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee marked National Farm-City Week, Nov. 21-27, by donating a “The Farmer Grows a Rainbow” kit to Mrs. Julie Roberts’ kindergarten class at Perquimans Central School. Students were also given Rudy Rooster agriculture coloring books, pencils and a copy of American Farm Bureau’s 2007 Book of the Year, Chuck Leavell’s The Tree Farmer. The committee also put Farm-City placemats in local restaurants.

SURRY COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program organized an “Operation Santa Claus” drive for less fortunate children in Surry County. Participating were Andy Collins, Wesley Johnson, Sidney Whitaker and Joshua Cave.

WAYNE COUNTY Farm Bureau conducted a workshop, Jan. 12, at Mt. Olive College for Ag in the Classroom’s “The Farmer Grows a Rainbow” kit. Fifteen teachers from nine schools attended the workshop. Wayne County Farm Bureau donated a “The Farmer Grows a Rainbow” kit to each school represented with the hope that the newly trained teachers will excite other teachers at their schools to use the curriculum.