Photo Caption: Alleghany County Farm Bureau Member Johnny Wishon has 300,000 trees on 300 acres.

With the Christmas season over, you might think the activity at Wishon Evergreens has slowed down.

“It’s a year-round thing when you’ve got 300,000 trees in the ground. If you think you’re caught up, you’re not looking hard enough,” says Alleghany County Farm Bureau member Johnny Wishon, who has raised Fraser firs for 25 years.

Wishon became interested in raising Christmas trees to help pay for his education at North Carolina State University. After graduating, he taught high school agriculture classes for 10 years while still tending to trees.

“It was something of a sideline business, but then it actually turned into full time,” says Wishon, who grew up and still lives in Sparta. “I had enough trees at that point to pay my mortgage so to speak. I always wanted to work for myself so I went into it full time.”

Wishon predominantly wholesales his trees when the harvesting begins in early November. He also sells fresh greenery for garland and wreaths mainly through mail-order sales through early December from his 300-acre spread.

“We’ve got the right elevation, the right moisture and growing conditions. The soil is just right for growing Fraser firs. We’re just in the perfect setting,” Wishon says.

And not just for the trees. Wishon also raises about 100 acres of gourds and pumpkins.

With his wife, Linda, and sons, Brad and Garrett, Wishon hopes the steady growth of his tree operation continues.

“My older son is starting to show some interest in the business,” Wishon says. “We’ll see if that’s something he wants to come back to or not. But I hope we’ll continue to be viable for 25-plus years so if either one or both of my boys want to come back to the business, it will be here for them.”

1. Distinguished Service Award—N.C. Rep. Harold Brubaker of Randolph County receives the award from NCFB President Larry Wooten (right).

2. County of Excellence Division One—Wayne County Farm Bureau President Gerald Ballance receives the award in Category One from NCFB President Larry Wooten (left).

3. County of Excellence Division Two—Chatham County Farm Bureau President Charles Lutterloh receives the award in Category Two from NCFB President Larry Wooten (left).

4. County of Excellence Division Three—Warren County Women’s Committee member Ann Johnson receives the award in Category Three from NCFB President Larry
Wooten (right).

5. Legislative Award—Catawba County Farm Bureau President Jon Gladden receives the award from NCFB President Larry Wooten (left).

6. AITC Teacher of the Year—Daniese Smith of Alamance County receives the award from NCFB Vice President Elton Braswell (right).

7. Women’s Program Award—Brenda Brisson, of Bladen County Farm Bureau, receives the award from NCFB Vice President Elton Braswell (right).

8. Public Relations Award—Duplin County Farm Bureau President Dexter Edwards receives the award from NCFB Vice President Scott Whitford (right).

9. Safety Award—Harry Sain, of Cleveland County Farm Bureau, receives the award from NCFB Vice President Scott Whitford (right).

10. YF&R Achievement Award—NCFB Vice President J.M Wright Jr. (right) presents the award to Jamie Ager (left) and Amy Ager.

11). YF&R Discussion Meet Award—Heather Barnes, of Wilson County Farm Bureau, receives the award from NCFB Vice President J.M Wright Jr. (right).

12. YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award—Kaleb Rathbone, of Haywood County Farm Bureau, receives the award from NCFB Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. (left).

13. Collegiate Discussion Meet Award—Victoria Whitener, of Catawba County Farm Bureau, receives the award from NCFB Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. (left).

14. YF&R Program Award—Cleveland County Farm Bureau Vice President Dennis Martin receives the award from NCFB Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. (left).

15. Sunbelt Expo Southeast Farmers of the Year—Vicky and Tommy Porter, of Cabarrus County Farm Bureau, are congratulated by NCFB President Larry Wooten (right).

16. Communications Award—Bob Townsend, of WECT-TV in Wilmington, receives the award from NCFB President Larry Wooten (right).

WARREN COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee co-chair Ann Johnson presented a framed placement promoting Warren County agriculture to Lisa Blackwell, owner of Southern City Café in Warrenton, who will place it over the buffet. The placemats were distributed to local restaurants this past spring. HERTFORD COUNTY Farm Bureau board member Jimmy Mason hosted a 4-H camp group at his farm on Aug. 9, and Hertford County Farm Bureau served lunch. Mason talked to the kids about growing cucumbers and farm safety. ]]> http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/11/achievements-lifestyles-10/feed/ 0 http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/09/achievements-lifestyles-9/ http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/09/achievements-lifestyles-9/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:41:05 +0000 Farm Bureau http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/?p=3422 North Carolina Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers are doing their part to help feed millions of Americans faced with hunger by participating in Harvest for All.  This program is sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers program in conjunction with Feeding America.

NCFB YF&R State Committee Members have been collecting canned food for North Carolina food banks since early this year, as part of their project for Harvest for All.  Members collected 1,238 pounds of canned food at their spring meeting in Siler City.  State Committee members went a step further and challenged themselves to bring 50 canned food items each to Perquimans County on the weekend of July 29-31, as part of a service project the group adopted for 2011. Committee members also asked their own County Farm Bureaus to match their contributions for the cause. The local food bank sent a truck to meet the group on Sunday morning in Perquimans County to collect the cans. When all the tallies were done, the group had generously donated 4,836 pounds of canned food items to the Albemarle Food Bank.

The YF&R State Committee has also pledged to set up boxes this fall inside county Farm Bureau offices to collect cans to be donated in November. The goal is to help fill the truck for Harvest for All on Nov. 3 at NCFB offices in Raleigh. All cans will be donated to the Food Bank of North Carolina. ALAMANCE COUNTY Farm Bureau recently donated $1,500 to Loaves and Fishes Ministry. Pictured are, front left to right, Henry Vines, Vaughn Willoughby, Brenda Ingle Allen, Cyndi Smith and Bill Covington; and, back left to right, Debbie Stikeleather, Michael McPherson, Tim Covington, Jane Iseley and Steve McPherson.

ALAMANCE COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee purchased snacks for children who come to the Alamance County Family Justice Center. Pictured, from left to right, are Women’s Committee Member Lillie Enoch, Center Coordinator Cindy Brady and Women’s Committee Member Donna Vines. ALLEGHANY COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee recently presented the Alleghany County Public Library with five books for the library’s summer reading program. The books were all related to Alleghany agriculture, including dairy, beef, pumpkins and vegetables. ASHE COUNTY Farm Bureau donated $2,000 to sponsor the Ashe County fourth of July Livestock Show, pictured above. The donation provided premiums to youth exhibiting cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits and chickens. BERTIE COUNTY Farm Bureau recently presented a donation of $10,000 to the North Carolina Baptist Men’s Association toward disaster relief efforts following the April 16 tornadoes that caused major damage in Bertie County. Contributions for the gift came from Farm Bureaus in Alexander, Ashe, Bertie, Burke, Camden, Davie, Duplin, Franklin, Granville, Hyde, Iredell, Jones, Lenoir, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Rutherford, Stokes, Vance, Warren, Washington and Yancey counties. CATAWBA COUNTY Farm Bureau sponsored Old Time Wheat Harvest Day on June 11 at the farm of county and State Board member Dan Hunsucker. The event featured horse-drawn combines, antique tractors and implements. Hunsucker demonstrated his John Deere 9660STS combine. Catawba County Farm Bureau set up a booth where they highlighted membership benefits, farm safety and county activities.

CATAWBA COUNTY Farm Bureau Board of Directors member Ira Cline was recently appointed to the North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority by Thom Tillis, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives. CARTERET COUNTY Farm Bureau donated $1,000 toward publication of the book Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Services. In the photo, county President Mickey Simmons accepts two copies of the completed text from Regina Bell. Carteret County Farm Bureau Board of Directors who also attended were left to right, Greg Garner, Henry Davis, Rusty Bryan, June Bryan, Ray Garner, Ray Harris and Herbert Page. CHOWAN COUNTY Farm Bureau held its first Membership Appreciation Day event May 22 at the county office. More than 250 members attended the event, which included displays from local tractor dealerships, lawn mowers and new Chevrolets from the local dealership. Members enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers and snow cones, and door prizes were awarded. The event ended with the presentation of a plaque to Jimmie Parrish Sr. for his 34 years as Chowan County Farm Bureau President and 28 years on the State Board. CLEVELAND COUNTY Farm Bureau President Ronald Price, left, presented a check for $3,000 to Cleveland County FFA, with $1,000 each going to Burns High School, Kings Mountain High School and Crest High School for agricultural education and FFA programs. Pictured are FFA advisers and participants from the three schools. DAVIDSON COUNTY Farm Bureau has purchased five shares from a local farmer offering a community-supported agriculture program. Members pick up fresh produce once a week, for 10-12 weeks, and deliver it to Medical Ministries to be given to needy families in the community. The extension office contributes brochures on how to prepare the food. More than 50 needy families have benefitted. FORSYTH COUNTY Farm Bureau recently gave $5,000 to Wade Jurney Homes toward the company’s efforts to raise money for area schools. The presentation was made during Forsyth County Farm Bureau’s annual picnic on July 28. Franklin County Farm Bureau helped plant the second school garden May 2 at Youngsville Elementary School. Adults pictured, from left to right, are county Ag in the Classroom Ambassador Lynn Hamner, board member Alton Foster and President Bennie Ray Gupton. GATES COUNTY Farm Bureau held its first Membership Appreciation event recently. Willy the Safety Squirrel, pictured, was there, and Gates County Farm Bureau fed and donated prizes to more than 100 attendees. GREENE COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee and Board of Directors presented a drinking-and-driving prevention program to juniors and seniors on April 13 at Greene Central High School, in conjunction with the school and the N.C. Highway Patrol. Some students maneuvered a road course while wearing goggles that simulate driving while impaired, Trooper C.B. Kase spoke to students about alcohol’s impact on reaction time and judgment and Women’s Committee Chair Tina Murphy handed out information about drinking and driving laws and the consequences of violating them. RICHMOND COUNTY Farm Bureau President Chris Yaklin and his wife Amy were recently featured in the Richmond County Daily Journal newspaper. The article highlighted their work with Steven Webb, a young farmer in the county who works with them at their New Grounds Farm and intends to build additional poultry houses on 20 acres he intends to purchase.

RICHMOND COUNTY Farm Bureau donated $500 to help purchase 550 T-shirts for students participating in the “Wild About Wellness Activity Day.” Betty Wilson, Molly Stutts and Amy Yaklin presented a program on the importance of farming in the community. This event was one of several community and educational programs Richmond County Farm Bureau aided. They donated $500 to help send World War II veterans to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.; $250 to Camp Journey, a Hospice grief camp for children and youth; $405 to purchase new incubators for the 4-H embryology program in area schools; $300 to 4-H for Summer Fun classes; and $301 to help send area fourth-graders to visit the Rankin Museum in Ellerbe. SCOTLAND COUNTY Farm Bureau recently toured the greenhouse and student-run restaurant, The Bagpiper, at Scotland County High School. Produce from the greenhouse, which received support from Scotland County Farm Bureau, is being sold to local restaurants. During the visit, Vice President Joe Barnhill Sr. presented a gift bag to the school’s new horticulture teacher, Ashley Batts. WATAUGA COUNTY Farm Bureau recently hosted an event to celebrate board member Robert “Bob” Shipley’s 99th birthday and his wife Agnes’ 94th birthday. Bob, a former agriculture educator and Western NC Agriculture Hall of Fame Member, has served on the board since the late 1950s and was president during the 1960s and 1970s. In honor of the Shipley’s birthdays, Watauga County Farm Bureau donated $994 to the couple’s scholarship foundation. Also attending the event were N.C. Rep. Jonathan Jordan and representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx. NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU WOMEN’S COMMITTEE sent several members to the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Conference in April in Baltimore, Md. Pictured, standing from left to right, are Betty Mathews, Lillie Enoch, Helen Moretz, Betty Wilson, Pearl Freedman, Jackie Pope, Sandra Vann and Eloise Register; and kneeling from left to right, Becky Faulkner, Lorenda Overman, Judy Bare and Donna Vines. WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureau recently donated $400 for a miter saw to Habitat for Humanity on June 30. Nancy Jones of Habitat for Humanity, left, accepts the check from Board Member Shirley Burt. YADKIN COUNTY Farm Bureau member Gilbert Hemric hosted U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx at his Jonesville farm, Hemric Farms, where he raises broiler chickens, cattle and tobacco. Foxx’s visit was part of a three-day tour of the 5th Congressional District to listen to and discuss energy concerns. Foxx, Hemric, County President Justin Somers, member Van Hemric and legislative assistant Javier Sanchez were among those at Hemric Farms to discuss how soaring energy costs are affecting farms and agriculture. WILKES COUNTY Farm Bureau hosted a Member Appreciation Day June 24 at the North Wilkesboro office. About 200 members and their families attended. ]]> http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/09/achievements-lifestyles-9/feed/ 1 http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/07/achievements-lifestyles-8/ http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/07/achievements-lifestyles-8/#comments Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:05:13 +0000 Farm Bureau http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/?p=3340 ASHE, ALLEGHANY, WATAUGA AND WILKES COUNTY Farm Bureaus hosted an educational meeting on the history and importance of the Upper Mountain Research Station to the high country of North Carolina. More than 65 Farm Bureau Members and elected officials attended. ASHE COUNTY Farm Bureau donated $5,000 to assist with tornado relief in Bertie County. Pictured, from left to right, are board members Bill Little, Tony Phillips, Bobby Absher, Tom Reeves, Judy Bare, Bill Henson, Rodney Cheek and Kenneth Richardson. ASHE and LINCOLN COUNTY Farm Bureaus recently put on Fatal Vision events for high school students in their counties. Fatal Vision training was held May 3 at Ashe County High School. Over 150 students participated in the training to discourage teenage drinking and driving. In Lincoln County, the Women’s Committee put on the training April 6 at West Lincoln High School. More than 400 students participated in Fatal Vision at this location. BLADEN COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee on April 12 visited the Capitol Building in Raleigh for a historic session focused on the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which officially ended slavery. BRUNSWICK, CALDWELL and NEW HANOVER COUNTY Farm Bureaus recently hosted elementary school teachers in their counties for training sessions on “The Farmer Grows a Rainbow” kits. The elementary schools in those counties were also given the kits and lunch was provided at the training sessions. CABARRUS COUNTY Farm Bureau Board Members Jerry Pless and his son, David, welcomed a kindergarten class from Mt. Pleasant Elementary School to their farm, Jerry Pless Dairy Farm. The children started the day with an ice cream treat and then visited four stations where they saw baby calves, learned what cows eat in the grain barn, saw a milking parlor where cows were being milked and then got to milk a “cow.” About 130 children and 50 adults attended. CAMDEN COUNTY Farm Bureau Members Jeff & Susan Jennings and Martha Meiggs at John E. Ferebee Farm recently hosted 147 third-graders, seven teachers and four teacher’s assistants from Grandy Primary School to teach them about planting potatoes. CURRITUCK COUNTY Farm Bureau donated $10,000 for the Currituck County Rural Center at the Rural Farm Festival, which kicked off the grand opening of the center. In the photo, county President Roy Harrison presents a check to Currituck County 4-H Extension Agent Ellen Owens. CASWELL COUNTY Farm Bureau, along with Caswell County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, donated $250 to the Caswell County Relay for Life Fund. The event was set for June 3 at Bartlett Yancey High School. Pictured, from left, are County President Hester Vernon, Women’s Committee Member Tina Vernon and Relay for Life Chairman and Farm Bureau Member Sherry Cobb. CATAWBA COUNTY Farm Bureau Board Member Ira Cline was given the Hall of Fame Award from the North Carolina Vegetable Growers’ Association recently. It is the organization’s most prestigious award. Cline, a fourth-generation farmer, is the owner-operator of Ira Cline Farm in Conover. CURRITUCK COUNTY Farm Bureau donated $10,000 for the Currituck County Rural Center at the Rural Farm Festival, which kicked off the grand opening of the center. Also, county President Roy Harrison presented a check to Currituck County 4-H Extension Agent Ellen Owens. DAVIDSON COUNTY Farm Bureau sponsored and participated in a Davidson County Cooperative Extension Service project on April 6 and 7 that used pizza to demonstrate agriculture. All fifth-graders from Thomasville City Schools and Lexington City Schools, about 450 students, visited 10 stations showing the agricultural inputs of a pizza and how pizza ingredients are produced. A pizza lunch was then served. DUPLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau had a booth at the Duplin County Expo. They offered a spinning wheel for items and board members gave out scholarship information, member service books, peanuts, sunscreen and other information about North Carolina Farm Bureau. FORSYTH COUNTY Farm Bureau President Edgar Miller was presented with the “Volunteer of the Year” Award by the Forsyth County Cooperative Extension on April 15 at the Ag Center. Miller was recognized for allowing tens of thousands of children on his farm to educate them about the importance of agriculture. BRUNSWICK, CALDWELL and NEW HANOVER COUNTY Farm Bureaus recently hosted elementary school teachers in their counties for training sessions on “The Farmer Grows a Rainbow” kits. The elementary schools in those counties were also given the kits and lunch was provided at the training sessions. FRANKLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau recently donated $5,000 to the local 4-H program and $5,000 to the local Cooperative Extension Program. County President Bennie Ray Gupton, left, presents a check to Meg Wyatt, local 4-H agent. HYDE COUNTY Farm Bureau recently made its annual donation of $500 to each of the county’s six Volunteer Fire Departments. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY Farm Bureau President Kelly Vann and Vice President Mike Belch recently presented retired board member Wayne West with a plaque honoring him for his years of service. He retired in December 2010 after serving the county for 28 years. Mr. West, with his wife Eddie, owned Mowfield Plantation, home of the famous racehorse Sir Archie. On May 25, shortly after this photo was taken, Mr. West passed away. NEW HANOVER Farm Bureau recently donated $5,000 to the local 4-H program and $5,000 to the local Cooperative Extension Program. County President Bennie Ray Gupton, left, presents a check to Meg Wyatt, local 4-H agent. ROCKINGHAM COUNTY Farm Bureau recently donated $15,000 to Rockingham County Cooperative Extension for the Rockingham Community Kitchen, where local farmers may can items and label them for sale. The Women’s Committee also served a reception to survivors participating in Relay for Life, as they picked up their T-shirts May 9 at Main Street United Methodist Church in Reidsville. Rockingham County Farm Bureau also held its 15th Kids Safety Day on May 27 for Wentworth Elementary School fourth-graders at Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center in Reidsville. The kids learned about energy conservation, among other things, and took home goodie bags. Leftover goodie bags were donated to Rolling Ridge, a horse riding program for physically and emotionally disabled children ages 3 through 12. DAVIE and WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureaus recently donated copies of Seed, Soil, Sun to schools in their communities. Davie County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee presented a copy to Cornatzer Elementary School in Mocksville. Wake County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee presented a copy to Yates Mill Elementary School during Science Day March 31. They also helped 100 kindergartners milk a cow and make greenhouses. SAMPSON COUNTY Farm Bureau, the Women’s Committee and the N.C. Highway Patrol held a Highway Safety Transportation meeting March 1 at Sampson Community College in Clinton. Dinner was furnished by Sampson County Farm Bureau and served by the Women’s Committee. About 75 people attended the event, which educated farmers about regulations and farm exemptions relevant to hauling agriculture-related products on North Carolina highways. SURRY COUNTY Farm Bureau held its annual Member Appreciation Day on May 26. Members were treated to an evening of music, food, goodies and fun. There were games for the children, a tractor display and local emergency vehicles. Law enforcement were there to talk about their work and the local chapter FFA was also in attendance to discuss its activities. WARREN COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Members, from left, Ann Johnson, Judy Seaman and Ann Kilian, chairperson, presented needed items and drink can tabs on April 13 to Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill. WILKES COUNTY Farm Bureau held its first Policy Review Day on May 17. About 25 Board Members and volunteer leaders met to begin work on the county’s policy recommendations for 2012. A number of county Farm Bureaus hosted Healthy Living for a Lifetime mobile health screening events recently and contributed to health services in their communities. Ashe County Farm Bureau, Avery County Farm Bureau, Polk County Farm Bureau and Watauga County Farm Bureau held Healthy Living for a Lifetime events. ]]> http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/07/achievements-lifestyles-8/feed/ 0 http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/05/achievements-lifestyles-7/ http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/05/achievements-lifestyles-7/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 15:42:34 +0000 Donald Sanders http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/?p=3199 ALEXANDER COUNTY Farm Bureau Board Member Donald Payne was selected as the 2011 Alexander Farmer of the Year by the Alexander County Chamber of Commerce. BLADEN COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee sponsored and prepared a healthy, nutritious luncheon for the newly formed Bladen Agriscience Academy FFA, a group for homeschooled students. The luncheon was held Feb. 22, during National FFA Week, and attendees included a National FFA leader, state FFA leaders, a National FFA director, the Bladen County manager, county commissioners and many others. The importance of healthy and nutritious food and its affordability were emphasized during the luncheon, which was attended by about 60 people.

Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Members, from left, Kelli Hill, Louise Smith, Brenda Brisson, Joyce Gillespie, Joyce Walters, Joyce Ward and Elizabeth Pait, served a healthy, nutritious lunch for Bladen Agriscience Academy FFA during National FFA Week. BLADEN COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee on Feb. 22 presented Bladen Crisis Center Director Kathy Page with a check for $250, which will provide 1,360 pounds of food for those in need. The donation was given in conjunction with Food Check-Out Week, Feb. 20-26. Pictured, from left, are Kelli Hill, Joyce Ward, Bladen Crisis Center Director Kathy Page, Louise Smith, Brenda Brisson, Joyce Walters, Joyce Gillespie and Elizabeth Pait. CARTERET COUNTY Farm Bureau donated $200 to Hope Mission of Carteret, a local soup kitchen. Hope Mission currently provides 100 meals a day for the county’s individuals in need. Pictured, from left, are Hope Mission Director Steve Creech, Chef Scott Willie and President Mickey Simmons. DUPLIN COUNTY. Phyllis Flye, left, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House of Greenville, accepted a $200 check and 27 one-gallon bags of drink tabs from Duplin County Women’s Committee. Glenda Beavers, of the Duplin County Women’s Committee and the State Women’s Committee, made the presentation. DUPLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee held an event at Jackson’s IGA in Beulaville to promote Food Check-Out Week. Committee Members gave out reusable grocery bags, recipe cards and information about nutrition and how to eat healthy while stretching your dollar. Pictured are, front left to right, Hallie Whaley and Hannah Whaley; and rear, left to right, Georgiana Whaley, Committee Chairman Frances Wilson and Ann Lyles. NASH COUNTY Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Member Brent Leggett is pictured with the new Case tractor that was presented to him and his wife, Sue, in March. Case awarded the tractor to the Leggetts as part of the prize for being finalists for the American Farm Bureau YF&R Achievement Award. NORTH CAROLINA Farm Bureau recently sponsored two regional events offering health screenings and information about farm safety and road regulations. A number of exhibitors, including the N.C. Highway Patrol, Ag Carolina Financial, Mount Olive College, the N.C. Forest Service, the N.C. Agromedicine Institute and many others, were also on hand for the events, which were held at the Cunningham Research Station in Roper and the Vernon James Research Station in Kinston. HAYWOOD COUNTY Farm Bureau recently presented Terry Rogers, retiring county Farm Bureau President, with a plaque in recognition and appreciation of his accomplishments during his tenure as President. Rogers retired after 11 years as President, but he continues to serve on the county Board of Directors. The plaque was presented by current President Don Smart. RUTHERFORD COUNTY Farm Bureau helped launch an Agriculture Literacy Program during National Agriculture Week. Second-graders from four schools participated in the program, which included visits from farm agents and volunteers who talked about food production and gave the schools copies of the book “Seed, Soil, Sun and Harvest Year.” Women’s Committee Members Kay Carswell, Donna Bailey and Kathy McCurry participated in the events. SAMPSON COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, in recognition of Food Check-Out Week, had eight members make vegetable soup and assist with serving a meal to more than 250 Sampson County residents Feb. 19 at Mr. Windows Soup Kitchen in Clinton.

Sampson County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Members, from left, Lynn Lanier, Eloise Register, Chair Shelby Blanchard, Joanne Starling, Jackie Pope, Brenda Tyndall, Elaine Highsmith and Sybil Smith volunteered at Mr. Windows Soup Kitchen. SAMPSON COUNTY Farm Bureau donated paper goods and cleaning supplies to U. Care Domestic Violence Shelter in Clinton. Pictured, from left, are Farm Bureau Members Shelby Blanchard and Sybil Smith. TYRRELL COUNTY Farm Bureau Board Member Kenneth Cherry hosted second-graders for a tour of his Cherry Seed Farm. Linda Holton, Tyrrell County Ag in the Classroom Ambassador and Washington County Farm Bureau member, organized the trip. Tyrrell County Farm Bureau Members Brian Ashford and David Brickhouse, Cherry Seed Farm employees, also helped welcome the student visitors. VANCE COUNTY Farm Bureau hosted a farm transportation regulations meeting Feb. 21 at the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library in Henderson. State troopers from the Motor Carrier Enforcement Section presented a program covering regulations regarding the transportation of farm products and equipment and the various farm exemptions to these regulations. Sixty farmers attended the catered dinner meeting. WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee teamed up with Wake County Extension and Community Association to collect and deliver 30 pounds of aluminum drink can tabs to the Ronald McDonald House of Durham in February. The project is ongoing and tabs are collected throughout the year and sold for recycling. Those proceeds support operating expenses at the house. Also, Wake County Farm Bureau donated $750 to the house in observance of Food Check-Out Week, Feb. 20-26. ]]> http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/05/achievements-lifestyles-7/feed/ 0 http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/03/achievements-lifestyles-6/ http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/03/achievements-lifestyles-6/#comments Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:35:38 +0000 Donald Sanders http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/?p=3065 AVERY COUNTY Farm Bureau provided Fatal Vision goggles and informational handouts for a recent safe driving event sponsored by Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Avery County High School. The event was to show students the dangers of texting while driving and driving while intoxicated. About 690 students attended. Students wore the Fatal Vision goggles and texted while they tried to navigate obstacle courses in a golf cart. BLADEN COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Chairman Brenda Brisson, left, and County President Ray Allen, right, present a Political Action Committee (PAC) check for $1,000 to N.C. Senator Wesley Meredith at a recent board meeting. PAC funds are typically used to support the campaigns of candidates and lawmakers who have proven themselves to be friends of agriculture. DUPLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau President Dexter Edwards, on behalf of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and NCFB President Larry Wooten, presented former N.C. Sen. Charlie Albertson with a plaque for his years of dedication and service to agriculture at the January board meeting. Albertson was chosen as the recipient of North Carolina Farm Bureau’s President’s Award of Excellence for 2010. DAVIDSON COUNTY Farm Bureau, along with North Carolina Farm Bureau, recently made a $3,450 donation to the local medical community. The donation was given in conjunction with a Healthy Living for a Lifetime event Oct. 30 at Davidson Medical Ministries Clinic in Lexington. The donation will be used to provide ongoing support to the clinic, including repair and replacement of equipment and staff training. FRANKLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau Board Member Shirley Pendergrass was presented with a plaque at the Board of Directors Christmas dinner on Dec. 13, 2010. Pendergrass, who is retiring, was recognized
for 22 years of outstanding service as a Board Member and Women’s Committee chair. FORSYTH COUNTY Farm Bureau and North Carolina Cooperative Extension of Forsyth County recently hosted a breakfast and invited several elected officials to participate in “Issues in Agriculture in Forsyth County.” The event was planned and coordinated by Forsyth County Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee and presided over by Forsyth County Farm Bureau President Edgar Miller. Farm Bureau Board Members, 40 Forsyth County elected officials and other agricultural leaders attended. They heard updates on the status of agriculture in the county and on national and local issues affecting agriculture. Among the speakers were Forsyth County Board Member James Hester, County Extension Director Mark Tucker, Myron Marion of the Village of Tobaccoville, Dale Parker of Carolina Farm Credit and Farmer Marvin Eaton. HENDERSON COUNTY Farm Bureau promoted sun protection and safety during the annual Blue Ridge Apple Grower’s Apple School Feb. 9 at Blue Ridge Community College. Blue Ridge Community Health Services also helped in the effort to raise awareness of skin problems while educating attendees about what the agencies offer. Attendees that took part in a skin self-analysis received a sun-safe Farm Bureau hat. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY Farm Bureau Member Ellis W. Taylor has been re-elected by association stockholders of AgCarolina Financial to continue serving on the association’s Board of Directors. Taylor is the owner and operator of Mush Island Farms in Roanoke Rapids. He manages a 2,500-acre farming operation consisting of cotton, soybeans, wheat, corn and timber. WARREN COUNTY Farm Bureau supported a number of efforts benefiting young people in the county. They assisted Ag Ambassador Pat Riethmeier with garden plots at Marian Boyd Elementary School by providing labor, seeds and plants. They also gave $600 to county 4-Hers participating in the livestock show. Furthermore, they gave out a $6,500 county scholarship last year. YADKIN COUNTY Farm Bureau Board Member Kevin Matthews recently won third place in the No Till/Strip Till Non-Irrigated division of the 2010 National Corn Growers’ Association’s Corn Yield Contest in North Carolina. Matthews won with a Pioneer hybrid and yielded 241 bushels per acre. North Carolina State University Young Farmers & Ranchers recently split into seven teams for a competition to see which group could collect the most canned goods to donate to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh. The competition was the group’s entry in the American Farm Bureau Harvest for All Awards. The teams collected 336 cans and the team of Sydney Edwards, Jordan Jackson and Milo Lewis collected the most cans. Ann Margaret Dietrich was also honored for committing the most hours at a soup kitchen. ]]> http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/03/achievements-lifestyles-6/feed/ 0 http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/01/achievements-lifestyles-5/ http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/01/achievements-lifestyles-5/#comments Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:23:45 +0000 Farm Bureau http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/?p=2987 THE TRI-COUNTY YOUNG FARMER COMMITTEE, which includes Farm Bureau Members from Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania counties, held a gleaning Sept. 25 at Hilltop Farms, owned by Gary and Adam Pryor. The gleaning was held in conjunction with the Society of Saint Andrew and FFA members from North Buncombe Middle School. The group picked more than 80 bushels of apples in three hours for the Manna Food Bank. They also visited one of the Pryor’s cornfields to learn about corn production. ALAMANCE COUNTY Farm Bureau held its Fourth Annual Homegrown Tour on Sept. 25. After visits to seven farms in southeastern Alamance County on the tour, a “Taste of Alamance” dinner was served, with all foods from Alamance County. County President Vaughn Willoughby greeted attendees. Proceeds from the tour will go to local charities. ASHE COUNTY Farm Bureau members presented a Christmas tree and wreath that adorned the state Capitol building in Raleigh during the holiday season to Gov. Bev Perdue on Nov. 30. In the photo at top, Gov. Perdue, Don Tucker and Carol Tucker stand in front of the official tree. In the photo at bottom left, Gov. Perdue, Joe Freeman and Linda Jones stand in front of the official wreath. The growers received the honor after competing against other North Carolina growers. Freeman’s Mistletoe Meadows also produced the national reserve grand champion tree for 2010, which means he provided the tree for the vice president’s residence. BUNCOMBE COUNTY Farm Bureau Members Jamie and Amy Ager, owners of Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview, recently installed a 16-panel solar energy system at their sustainable operation. First Light Solar of Asheville installed the system, which is expected to produce 240 kilowatt hours of energy per month and save $45 on monthly energy costs. CARTERET COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors was visited by officers and advisers from the FFAs at Croatan, East Carteret and West Carteret high schools during a meeting and commodity supper. The schools’ representatives were there to give presentations about how their chapters used money donated last year by Carteret Farm Bureau, and President Mickey Simmons presented the programs from the three schools with a total of $3,110 for 2010-11 activities and events. CASWELL COUNTY Farm Bureau donated $1,000 to send two teams from Bartlett Yancey High School FFA to National Competitions this year in Indianapolis. The money will go toward travel expenses for the nine students, who are on the Environmental Natural Resource team and the Agricultural Issues Forum team. Both teams have already won at the state level and will compete for a national award. FORSYTH COUNTY Farm Bureau provided the trophy and sponsored the Showmanship Lamb Show Oct. 3 at the Dixie Classic Fair. Pictured from left are Beverly Hampton, senior division winner; Leah Thomas, intermediate winner; Abigail Wilson, junior winner; and Forsyth County Farm Bureau President Edgar Miller, who presented the awards. HENDERSON COUNTY Farm Bureau and the TRI-COUNTY YOUNG FARMER COMMITTEE—which includes Farm Bureau members from Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania counties—took part in Farm City Day Oct. 2 in Hendersonville. Henderson Farm Bureau had a dairy display and gave children milk and cookies. West Henderson FFA members helped Farm Bureau members talk about the importance of agriculture. Tri-County Young Farmers demonstrated plowing and log skidding using teams of horses. MONTGOMERY COUNTY Farm Bureau had its annual Ag Heritage Day Oct. 1 at the Ag Center in Troy, and about 350 fifth-graders attended. The event featured a petting zoo, a tractor, and stations such as milking a cow, plant growing, cordage, butter churning, beekeeping, quilting and sewing, spinning, old tools, pottery and food safety. MOORE COUNTY Farm Bureau recently made a donation to the Moore County Cattleman’s Association toward their purchase of an aerator. Moore County livestock producers will be able to use the aerator on their pastures. NORTH CAROLINA Farm Bureau and about 20 County Farm Bureaus contributed to the farm section of the I CAN Be Healthy exhibit in the new Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville children’s museum. ONSLOW COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors had a booth at Farmer’s Day on Sept. 11. Farmer’s Day is an annual fundraiser for Richlands Friends of Farmers, an organization that sponsors agriculture scholarships, held on the first Saturday after Labor Day every year. ROCKINGHAM COUNTY Farm Bureau awarded county scholarships to Jessica Baker, John Norwood and Kayla Ore. STANLY COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Ag Ambassador, Sandy Hatley, reports that Ag in the Classroom activities were in full swing in September at Stanfield Elementary School. Second-graders learned about apples during a unit on Johnny Appleseed and made chains using paper plates, yarn and construction paper to demonstrate the life cycle of an apple from a seed. SURRY COUNTY Farm Bureau helped welcome U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan to Pilot Mountain Pride, a packaging and distribution facility for Surry County fruit and vegetable growers, where she learned about the operation. Board Member Charles Boles is manager of Pilot Mountain Pride, and Surry County Farm Bureau contributed money and equipment to the effort, which opened earlier this year. TYRRELL COUNTY Farm Bureau Member Jacob J. Parker was recently appointed as a farmer-director to the United Soybean Board. He was sworn in on Dec. 8. UNION COUNTY Farm Bureau Members George C. and Frances Parker and their family have been named Union County Farmer of the Year for their farm, Parker and Sons Farms. Parker and Sons Farms was founded in 1975. They grow corn, hay, milo, soybeans and wheat, and have bulls and Angus cross cows. WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureau had a display at the Jordan Lake Heritage Day on Oct. 2. Vice President Richard Jenks and Women’s Committee Member Shirley Burt invited visitors to shell corn, loop tobacco, milk a cow and learn how agricultural byproducts are used. Children were given Rudy Rooster coloring books, and about 150 visitors participated. ]]> http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/01/achievements-lifestyles-5/feed/ 0 http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/01/ncfb-75th-annual-convention-award-winners/ http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2011/01/ncfb-75th-annual-convention-award-winners/#comments Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:22:05 +0000 Farm Bureau http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/?p=2982