Alexander County Agricultural Fair  -  Taylorsville  -   Sept. 13-18

Alleghany County Agricultural Fair -   Sparta  -   Aug. 23-28

Avery County Agricultural Fair  -  Newland  -  Sept. 7-11

Bethware Community Fair    Kings Mountain     Aug. 3-7

Burke County Fair -   Morganton  -  Oct. 12-16

Cabarrus County Agricultural Fair  -  Concord  -   Sept. 10-18

Caldwell County Agricultural Fair  -  Lenoir  -   Oct. 6-10

Cape Fear Fair & Expo  -  Wilmington  -   Oct. 28-Nov. 6

Central Carolina Fair  -  Greensboro  -   Sept. 10-19

Chatham County Fair  -  Pittsboro -   Sept. 29-Oct. 2

Cherokee Indian Fair  -  Cherokee  -  Oct. 5-9

Chowan County Regional Fair  -  Edenton  -  Sept. 28-Oct. 2

Cleveland County Fair  -  Shelby  -   Sept. 30-Oct. 9

Coastal Carolina Agricultural Fair  -  New Bern   -  Oct. 14-24

Columbus County Agricultural Fair -   Whiteville  -  Oct 12-17

Cumberland County Fair  -  Fayetteville   -  Sept. 16-26

Davidson County Agricultural Fair -   Lexington  -   Sept. 20-25

Dixie Classic Fair -   Winston-Salem  -   Oct. 1-10

Drexel Community Fair  -  Drexel -   Aug. 17-21

Harnett Regional Agricultural Fair -   Lillington  -  May 2-7

Haywood County Fair  -  Waynesville  -  Aug. 25-30

Hickory American Legion Fair    Hickory -   Sept. 1-6

Iredell County Agricultural Fair  -  Statesville     Sept. 6-11

Lee Regional Agricultural Fair -   Sanford  -   Sept. 14-19

Lenoir County Fair    Kinston   -  Sept. 20-29

Moore County Agricultural Fair -   Carthage  -   Aug. 31-Sept. 4

N.C. Mountain State Fair  -  Fletcher  -  Sept. 10- 19

N.C. State Fair  -  Raleigh  -   Oct. 14-24

Onslow County Agricultural Fair -   Jacksonville  -   Oct. 4-9

Pitt County American Legion

Agricultural Fair  -  Greenville  -   Oct. 4-9

Richmond County Agricultural & Industrial Fair

Hamlet    Sept. 21-25

Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair  -  Lumberton   -  Sept. 30-Oct. 9

Rocky Mount Agricultural Fair  -  Rocky Mount  -   Oct. 11-16

Rowan County Agricultural Fair -   Salisbury  -   Sept. 20-25

Stanly American Legion Post

#76 Agricultural Fair  -  Albemarle  -   Sept. 2-6

Stokes County Agricultural Fair  -  King  -  Sept. 13-18

Surry County Agricultural Fair  -  Mt. Airy -   Sept. 28-Oct. 2

Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair  -  Goldsboro   -  Sept. 30-Oct. 9

Wilkes County Agricultural Fair  -  North Wilkesboro  –   Oct. 12-16

Wilson County American Legion Fair

Wilson  -   Sept. 21-26

Alexander  -  Senior Center, Taylorsville -  Oct. 14  -  6:30 p.m.

Alleghany  -  Sparta United Methodist Fellowship Hall, Sparta  -  Oct. 4  -  6:30 p.m.

Anson -   Lockhart Taylor Center, Wadesboro  -  Oct. 26  -  6:30 p.m.

Ashe  -  Jefferson United Methodist Church, Jefferson -   Oct. 18  -  6:30 p.m.

Avery  -  Crossnore Baptist Church, Crossnore  -  Oct. 7  -  6:30 p.m.

Beaufort  -  Civic Center, Washington -   Oct. 28  -  7:00 p.m.

Bladen  -  Powell-Melvin Ag. Service Center, Elizabethtown  -  Oct. 7  -  6:30 p.m.

Brunswick  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Shallotte  -  Oct. 14  -  7:00 p.m.

Buncombe  -  WNC Ag Center, Fletcher  -  Oct. 25  -  6:00 p.m.

Burke -   Community House, Morganton  -  Oct. 21 -   7:00 p.m.

Cabarrus  -  St. John’s Fellowship Hall, Concord  -  Oct. 7  -  7:00 p.m.

Caldwell  -  Hudson Hub, Hudson  -  Oct. 22  -  6:00 p.m.

Camden  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Camden  -  Nov. 18  -  4:00 p.m.

Carteret  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Beaufort    Nov. 9  -  7:00 p.m.

Caswell  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Yanceyville  -  Oct. 19  -  7:00 p.m.

Catawba  -  Ag Resource Bldg., Newton  -  Oct. 9  -  6:00 p.m.

Chatham  -  Silk Hope Farm Heritage Center, Silk Hope -   Oct. 25  -  6:30 p.m.

Cherokee  -   Murphy Elementary School Cafeteria  -   Oct. 25   -  6:30 p.m.

Clay  -  Brasstown Community Center, Brasstown  -  Oct. 9  -  5:30 p.m.

Cleveland  -  Cooperative Ext. Service office, Shelby  -  Oct. 15  -  7:00 p.m.

Columbus  -  Interim Centre, Whiteville    Oct. 4 -   7:00 p.m.

Craven  -  Craven Ag. Ext. Bldg., New Bern  -  Oct. 7  -  7:00 p.m.

Cumberland  -  Crown Center, Fayetteville  -  Oct. 25  -  6:30 p.m.

Currituck  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Currituck  -  Oct. 28  -  7:00 p.m.

Dare    Co. Farm Bureau sub-office, Kill Devil Hills    Oct. 21    7:00 p.m.

Davidson -   Davidson Ag Center, Lexington  -  Oct. 28  -  7:00 p.m.

Davie -   Davie Co. High School, Mocksville  -  Oct. 12  -  7:00 p.m.

Duplin -   Duplin Commons, Kenansville  -  Oct. 21  -  7:00 p.m.

Durham  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Roxboro Rd., Durham  -  Nov. 11  -  7:00 p.m.

Edgecombe  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Tarboro  -  Oct. 25  -  7:00 p.m.

Forsyth  -  County Ag Bldg., Winston-Salem  -  Oct. 28  -  6:30 p.m.

Franklin  -  Co. Extension Annex, Bickett Blvd., Louisburg  -  Nov. 1  -  7:00 p.m.

Gaston  -  Citizens Resource Center, Dallas  -  Oct. 11 -   7:00 p.m.

Granville  -  Cooperative Ext. Building, Wall St., Oxford  -  Oct. 27  -  7:00 p.m.

Greene  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Snow Hill  -  Oct. 26 -   6:00 p.m.

Guilford  -  Guilford Co. Ag Center, Greensboro  -  Oct. 28  -  6:30 p.m.

Haywood  -  Haywood Co, Fairgrounds, Waynesville  -  Oct. 18  -  6:00 p.m.

Henderson  -  Lake Pointe Landing, Hendersonville  -  Nov. 1  -  6:00 p.m.

Hertford  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Ahoskie  -  Oct. 26  -  7:30 p.m.

Hoke   – West Hoke Middle School, Raeford    Sept. 27  -  6:00 p.m.

Hyde  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Swan Quarter  -  Sept. 30  -  7:30 p.m.

Iredell  -  Statesville Civic Center, Statesville  -  Oct. 28  -  7:00 p.m.

Jackson  -  Community Service Building, Sylva  -  Oct. 5  -  6:00 p.m.

Jones  -  American Legion Bldg., Trenton  -  Oct. 7  -  7:00 p.m.

Lee  -  Ruby McSwain Ag Center, Sanford  -  Nov. 1 -   7:00 p.m.

Lenoir  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Kinston  -  Oct. 5  -  7:00 p.m.

McDowell -   Community Bldg., Marion  -  Oct. 11  -  6:00 p.m.

Madison  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Marshall  -  Oct. 26  -  6:00 p.m.

Martin -   Co. Farm Bureau office, Williamston  -  Oct. 18  -  7:00 p.m.

Mecklenburg    Oehler’s BBQ Barn, Charlotte    Nov. 1  -  6:00 p.m.

Mitchell -   Helen’s Restaurant, Bakersville  -  Oct. 19  -  6:30 p.m.

Montgomery  -  Garner Conference Center, Troy  -  Oct. 19  -  6:30 p.m.

Moore  -  Union Pines High School, Cameron  -  Oct. 21  -  5:45 p.m.

Nash  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Nashville  -  Nov. 4  -  7:00 p.m.

New Hanover   -   Hugh MacRae Park, Wilmington  -  Oct. 26   – 6:30 p.m.

Onslow -   Onslow Co. Multipurpose Bldg., Jacksonville -   Oct. 11 -   7:30 p.m.

Orange  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Hillsborough  -  Oct. 27 -   6:30 p.m.

Pamlico  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Alliance  -  Oct. 20  -  7:00 p.m.

Pasquotank  -   Co. Farm Bureau office, Elizabeth City  -   Oct. 18  -   7:00 p.m.

Pender  -  Burgaw Depot, Burgaw  -  Oct. 12  -  7:00 p.m.

Person  -   Person Co. office bldg, Roxboro  -  Nov. 8  -  7:00 p.m.

Pitt  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Greenville  -  Oct. 26  -  7:00 p.m.

Polk  -  Polk Co. 4-H Center, Columbus  -  Oct. 5  -  6:30 p.m.

Randolph  -  Capt. Toms Seafood, Staley    Sept. 27  -  6:00 p.m.

Richmond  -  Richmond Sr. High School Cafeteria, Rockingham  -  Oct. 21  -  6:00 p.m.

Robeson -   Co. Farm Bureau office, Lumberton  -  Oct. 28 -   7:00 p.m.

Rockingham  -  Ag Center, Wentworth  -  Oct. 21  -  6:00 p.m.

Rowan  -  Frank Small’s farm, Salisbury  -  Oct. 26  -  6:30 p.m.

Rutherford  -  Chase High School, Forest City    Oct. 7  -  7:00 p.m.

Sampson -   Sampson Co. Agri-Exposition Center, Clinton    Nov. 1  -  7:00 p.m.

Scotland -   Scotland Place Civic Center, Laurinburg    Oct. 14 -   7:00 p.m.

Stanly  -  Stanly Co. Agri-Civic Center, Albemarle -   Oct. 21 -   7:00 p.m.

Stokes -   Stokes Co. Cooperative Ext. office, Danbury  -  Oct. 5  -  7:30 p.m.

Surry  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Dobson -   Nov. 8  -  7:00 p.m.

Transylvania  -  Transylvania Co. Library, Brevard -   Oct. 2  -  6:00 p.m.

Tyrrell  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Columbia  -  Oct. 11  -  7:00 p.m.

Union  -  Agriculture Center, Monroe  -  Oct. 5  -  6:30 p.m.

Vance  -  H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library, Henderson  -  Nov. 4  -  7:00 p.m.

Wake  -  Delightful Inspirations, Raleigh    Nov. 1 -   7:00 p.m.

Washington  -  Vernon James Center, Roper  -  Nov. 4  -  7:00 p.m.

Wayne  -  Wayne Center, Goldsboro  -  Oct. 19  -  6:00 p.m.

Wilkes    -   Co. Farm Bureau Office, N. Wilkesboro  -  Oct. 19  -   6:30 p.m.

Wilson  -  Co. Farm Bureau office, Wilson    Nov. 1  -  7:30 p.m.

Yadkin  -  Moose Lodge, Yadkinville  -  Nov. 1 -   6:00 p.m.

Yancey  -  Burnsville Town Center, Burnsville  -  Oct. 14  -  6:00 p.m.

For the first time, scholarships were awarded to two students who will attend community college to receive an associate degree in an agriculturally related field or prepare to transfer to a four-year college or university. The renewable scholarship is valued at $1,000 per year for two years of study, and provides each recipient with a total of $2,000 over two years for tuition, books and other expenses. Ultimately, the scholarship program will assist four community college students each year.
For the six four-year college or university students, the renewable scholarship is valued at $3,000 per year and provides each recipient with a total of $12,000 over four years for tuition, books and other expenses. The scholarship program assists 24 college-level students each year.

The R. Flake Shaw scholarship program has provided more than $500,000 in scholarship money to agriculture students since it was founded in 1967.

All six of the four-year college scholarship recipients have chosen to attend North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh.

Matthew A. Currin, a graduate of Knightdale High School in Wake County, plans to pursue a degree in agricultural education. Currin is also part of a Supervised Agricultural Experience, where he manages a greenhouse and nursery plants, does forestry management with 4,000 red cedar trees and works on a soybean and grain family farm. “To teach students about the need for agriculture is something I am passionate about, because I strive to promote agriculture for the future,” he says.

Cameron M. Davis, a graduate of Northeast Academy in Northampton County, says a career in agriculture has always been his choice. Davis has his own business, Davis Lawn Care, and has spent his whole life on the farm. His father, grandfather, uncle and several cousins are farmers, too, and he thinks the farm is the best place to live, have a family and have a career. “I enjoy the heritage of the farm and knowing I work the same land my father and grandfather did before me,” he says.

Kylie G. Glisson, a graduate of Rosewood High School in Wayne County, will pursue a degree in animal science. Glisson has already garnered experience working with the Wayne County Animal Shelter and participating in sheep production. “Both of these have allowed me to gain experience with both small and large animals, and at the same time, apply the skills that I have learned in my high school animal science classes to real-life situations,” she says.

William R. Harper, a graduate of Greene Central High School, plans to return to the farm that has been in his family for generations after college. But, Harper says today’s successful farm operation requires an education in business and marketing, as well as protecting the environment while feeding the world. “I am interested in all parts of a farming operation, but I know I have much more to learn to keep my family farm successful in the future,” he says.

Forrest C. Howell, a graduate of Pungo Christian Academy in Beaufort County, plans to attend Beaufort Community College (BCC) for one year and then transfer to NCSU to pursue a degree in agriscience. Howell has already been dually enrolled at BCC and wants to return to his community to enhance farming techniques to preserve the environment and improve productivity. “People are dependent on agriculture to survive, but in this growing, urban world agriculture, it is often overlooked,” he says.

Austin B. Jones, a graduate of Creswell High in Washington County, says he’s already experienced some of the personal satisfaction that comes from farming. Jones has already spent several years working on two farms—a grain farm and a tobacco and turkey farm. “I’ve seen a great potential for profit and personal gain through the rigor of agricultural life,” he says.

Zachery B. Morris, a graduate of Lawrence Academy in Bertie County, will pursue a degree in agricultural business management. Morris says his dream is to continue his family’s farm legacy and run the business. “In order to be successful in this current economic state, a much broader education is needed that includes not only good farming techniques, but also knowledge of business and technology,” he says.

Alicia M. Watts, a graduate of Hoyle’s Creek Homeschool in Gaston County, plans to attend Redlands Community College, where she plans to study sheep and goat reproduction and nutrition. Watts says she wants to earn a master’s degree in animal science and work for USDA, possibly as a meat inspector. “This career contributes to the ag industry in many ways,” she says.

The organization’s website, www.ncfb.org, receives 10,000 to 11,000 visitors per week, on average. Website visitors may include both members and the general public. The website is always a work in progress, with its pages modified or enhanced almost daily.

Daily Briefing started in 2008 and is another example of how Farm Bureau is striving to keep its members updated on a daily basis. The general agricultural and news update is e-mailed to more than 350 leaders.

Perhaps one of the organization’s most recognizable communications vehicles is the North Carolina Farm Bureau magazine. The publication has been around nearly as long as the organization itself. It is currently mailed to more than 500,000 members six times per year.

NCFB added a new tool during 2009 when it revamped the magazine website, www.ncfbmagazine.org, which is updated along with every print version.

The Achievements & Lifestyles member section of the magazine is published in the print version, but also online.

Another popular print publication is the Leader newsletter, which is published each month and mailed to 3,000 of Farm Bureau’s core leaders and friends of the organization. The Leader covers policy issues and actions of the state organization. It has been published for nine years and is also available electronically on the NCFB website.

Some of Farm Bureau’s latest communications tools include Flickr, YouTube and Facebook. Flickr is where NCFB stores some photos, such as those taken of award winners during the annual meeting each year. YouTube is the online video sharing website. Farm Bureau’s many video stories have been viewed thousands of times. Facebook is an online communications tool and social network. Farm Bureau has a Facebook identity, as do the state Young Farmers and Ranchers and the Collegiate YF&R.

And the latest new communications tool, Markets & Weather, is also found on the Farm Bureau website.

Did We Mention Prizes?
In addition to good company, new ideas and social interaction among peers, winners of various YF&R competitions at both the state and national levels receive several nice prizes.
Winners of NCFB’s Achievement, Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet competitions receive an expenses-paid trip for themselves and their spouses to the 92nd Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Atlanta, Ga. In Atlanta, AFBF’s Achievement Award winner will receive a well-equipped 2011 Dodge pickup truck. The winner also earns paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. Four state runners-up will also earn a Case IH Farmall 31 Tractor. The AFBF Discussion Meet winner is awarded a 2011 well-equipped Dodge pickup truck. The winner of this competition will also receive complimentary registration for the YF&R Leadership Conference. Finalists will also be awarded a $6,000 savings bond. The winner of the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture award will take home a 2011 Dodge well-equipped pickup truck, and finalists for the national prize will be awarded a $6,000 savings bond.

North Carolina Prizes
During NCFB’s 75th Annual Convention to be held in Greensboro in December, the Achievement Award and Discussion Meet winners will each be awarded $6,500 and a trip to the AFBF Convention in Atlanta, as well as $500 from Dodge. Runners-up in the two categories will each receive $500. The Excellence in Agriculture state winner will earn $1,500 from NCFB and $500 from Dodge, while runners-up will each get $500.

Collegiate Discussion Meet
The winner of NCFB’s college-level Discussion Meet will be awarded $1,000 and a trip to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. Runners-up will get $250.

JOHN ALLEN, 35, of Iredell County, is a finalist for the second year in a row. A tree farmer, Allen holds patents on two varieties of trees and is developing several other tree varieties to patent next year and in coming years.
“Plant patents are expensive to get and enforce, but the royalties can be a nice supplemental income if marketed correctly over the 20-year period of the patent,” Allen says. “The intangible benefits are great as well, because they become an advertisement for your nursery by every other nursery that grows those trees.”
Furthermore, Allen helped form a regional marketing group that won a $30,000 Commodity Community Investment Fund grant from the Rural Advancement Foundation International. The money will be spent on educational field days, pesticide courses for credit, tours and literature at local nurseries.
Allen is manager and part-owner of his family-run, 365-acre operation, which was recently incorporated.
The economic downturn posed a challenge to the nursery, as less homebuilding meant less demand for landscaping.
“Shade trees were very popular, (and) now flowering trees have taken more market share, so plant diversity has mitigated the downturn for our nursery,” he says.
A past president of the State Nursery and Landscape Association, he led an executive search committee for that group last year, and is serving on an N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services advisory committee. He continues his interest in politics and remains active as a volunteer firefighter and member of his church.

ANDREW AND ASHLEY BURLESON, both 31, of Stanly County, met while studying agronomy (him), and animal science (her), in college. Marriage and two kids later, the couple and his family have 3,411 acres primarily devoted to cotton, but they also grow soybeans, corn and wheat and have 24 head of cattle.
The Burlesons farm the land his grandparents bought in the 1940s, and today they farm with Andrew’s dad, uncle and cousin on that land as two limited liability corporations. Ashley also runs a home-based embroidery business and is a homemaker and full-time mother.
The farm is also partial owner of a family-owned cotton gin and warehouse, which serve farms in the seven surrounding counties.
“This past year the farm cooperated with the gin and manufacturers to produce T-shirts that are produced entirely within our state,” Andrew says. “Cotton grown on our farm and ginned at our cotton gin was spun, dyed, sewn and screen-printed locally.”
The Burlesons farm has used some innovative methods to reduce the need for seasonal labor. Andrew worked with a welder and the gin manager to modernize a tarping system to allow them to harvest with two workers, instead of four.
A challenge for the Burlesons has been urban development, yet they’ve taken steps to ensure the future of farming in their family. They’ve purchased land in areas with less commercial and residential growth to provide a stable land base for the next generation.
The Burlesons are involved in the Cotton Producers Association, County Environmental Health Board, the State Agriculture Foundation, Cooperative Extension, Southern States and their church.

LUCAS RICHARD, 29, of Catawba County, bought his first calf at 5 years old, when his grandfather sold it to him for two cents. He reinvested his proceeds from the sale of that cow’s calf and has been investing in his diverse farm operations ever since.
“I’m a firm believer in reinvesting in the operation first,” he says. “This has allowed me to achieve the growth that I have over the past 10 years.”
Until he got out of high school, Richard farmed alongside his grandfather. Then he started with 50 acres of row crops. Today his businesses, L.F.R. Farms & Greenhouses and L.F.R. Grain Chemical, Inc., require three greenhouses, 1,600 acres of his own and 1,000 acres of custom work for other farmers. Richard has 10 full-time employees.
Richard grows wheat, barley, corn, soybeans and strawberries, and started a grain division that includes a grain elevator and chemical and seed store three years ago.
Furthermore, to keep up with the latest chemical and seed products, Richard became a commissioned agent for Coastal Agribusiness.
Richard started farming just out of high school and typically puts in 16-hour-or-longer days but recently decided to make time to go back to school. He is finishing up an associates degree in business administration this semester.
Looking ahead, Richard plans to add more grain storage, add row crop acres, and possibly buy or build another location.
Richard is president of the Small Grain Growers Association, and is involved with the National Wheat Growers Association, his local fire department, and is an Eagle Scout.

Did We Mention Prizes?
In addition to good company, new ideas and social interaction among peers, winners of various YF&R competitions at both the state and national levels receive several nice prizes.
Winners of NCFB’s Achievement, Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet competitions receive an expenses-paid trip for themselves and their spouses to the 91st Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Seattle, Wash.
In Seattle, AFBF’s Achievement Award winner will receive a 2010 well-equipped Dodge pickup truck.
The winner also earns paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Tulsa, Okla. Four state runners-up will also earn prizes, which have yet to be determined.
The AFBF Discussion Meet winner also is awarded a 2010 well-equipped Dodge pickup truck and complimentary registration for the YF&R Leadership Conference. Finalists will also be awarded valuable prizes.
The winner of the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture award will take home a 2010 Dodge well-equipped pickup truck, and finalists for the national prize will be awarded significant prizes.

North Carolina Prizes
During NCFB’s 74th Annual Convention to be held in Greensboro in December, the Achievement Award and Discussion Meet winners will each be awarded an ATV or equivalent in prizes and gifts, as well as $500 from Dodge. Runners-up in the two categories will each receive $500. The Excellence in Agriculture state winner will earn $500 from NCFB and $500 from Dodge, while runners-up will each get $200.

Collegiate Discussion Meet
The winner of NCFB’s college-level Discussion Meet will be awarded $500 and a trip to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Tulsa, Okla. Runners-up will get $100.

To learn more about these rewarding competitions for young people and opportunities for personal growth, contact a county Farm Bureau office.

In the next North Carolina Farm Bureau Magazine edition, which is a part of the Farm Bureau Today TV network on RFD-TV, we will take a look at the large animal veterinarian shortage and how North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is helping to alleviate that shortage. We also follow a recent graduate of the vet school who practices exclusively on large animals and farm animals. And finally, we will travel just north of Greensboro and into the past as we take a tour of the Old Mill at Guilford, one of the last operating grist mills in the state. Join us on RFD-TV, Wednesday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m.on Direct TV, channel 345 and on Dish Network channel 231.