The AgrAbility Project was created to assist people with disabilities employed in agriculture. The project links the Cooperative Extension Service at a land-grant university with a private nonprofit disability service organization to provide practical education and assistance that promotes independence in agricultural production and rural living.

Those eligible for AgrAbility services may have any type of disability: physical, cognitive, or illness-related. Conditions include amputation, blindness or vision impairment, spinal cord injury and stroke.

“Given the right resources, farmers with disabilities can run productive and profitable farms,” U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says. “The AgrAbility program can provide the resources and tools producers need to enhance their quality of life and be successful.”

Alexander
County Senior Center, Taylorsville    Nov. 1    6:30 p.m.

Alleghany
Sparta United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Sparta    Sept. 29    6:30 p.m.

Anson
Lockhart Taylor Bldg., Wadesboro    Oct. 25    6:30 p.m.

Ashe
Jefferson United Methodist Church, Jefferson    Oct. 17    6:00 p.m.

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

Beaufort
Civic Center, Washington    Oct. 27    7:00 p.m.

Bertie
Co. Farm Bureau office, Windsor`    Nov. 7    6:00 p.m.

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

Brunswick
Co. Farm Bureau office, Shallotte    Oct. 13    7:00 p.m.

Buncombe
WNC Ag Center’s Virginia Boone Bldg., Fletcher    Oct. 24    6:30 p.m.

Burke
Timberwoods Restaurant, Morganton    Oct. 20    7:00 p.m.

Cabarrus
St. John’s Fellowship Hall, Concord    Oct. 13    7:00 p.m.

Caldwell
Hudson Uptown Bldg., Hudson    Nov. 4    6:00 p.m.

Camden
Co. Farm Bureau office, Camden    Nov. 17    4:00 p.m.

Carteret
Co. Farm Bureau office, Beaufort    Nov. 8    7:00 p.m.

Caswell
Co. Farm Bureau office, Yanceyville    Oct. 18    7:00 p.m.

Catawba
Pin Station, Newton        Oct. 15    6:30 p.m.

Chatham
Silk Hope Community Bldg., Silk Hope    Oct. 24    6:30 p.m.

Cherokee
Murphy Elementary School Cafeteria, Murphy    Oct. 24    6:30 p.m.

Chowan
Co. Farm Bureau office, Edenton    Oct. 20    7:00 p.m.

Clay
Brasstown Community Center, Brasstown    Oct. 8    5:30 p.m.

Cleveland
Cooperative Extension office, Shelby    Oct. 28    7:00 p.m.

Columbus
Interim Centre, Whiteville    Oct. 3    7:00 p.m.

Craven
County Ag Extension office, New Bern    Oct. 6    7:00 p.m.

Cumberland
Crown Center, Fayetteville    Oct. 24    6:30 p.m.

Currituck
Co. Farm Bureau office, Currituck    Oct. 20    7:30 p.m.

Dare
Co. Farm Bureau office, Kill Devil Hills    Oct. 13    6:00 p.m.

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

Davie
Davie High School Cafeteria, Mocksville    Oct. 11    7:00 p.m.

Duplin
County Extension office, Kenansville    Oct. 20    7:00 p.m.

Durham
Co. Farm Bureau office, Roxboro Rd., Durham    Nov. 10    7:00 p.m.

Edgecombe
Co. Farm Bureau office, Tarboro    Oct. 24    7:00 p.m.

Forsyth
Forsyth Ag Center, Winston-Salem    Oct. 27    6:30 p.m.

Franklin
County Extension Annex, Bickett Blvd., Louisburg    Nov. 7    7:00 p.m.

Gaston
Citizen’s Resource Center, Dallas    Oct. 10    6:30 p.m.

Gates
Co. Farm Bureau office, Gatesville    Nov. 14    6:00 p.m.

Graham
Co. Farm Bureau office, Robbinsville    Sept. 30    1:00 p.m.

Granville
Cooperative Extension Bldg., Oxford    Nov. 2    7:00 p.m.

Greene
Hamstead Acres Music Hall, LaGrange    Oct. 24    6:00 p.m.

Guilford
Ag Center, Greensboro    Oct. 27    6:30 p.m.

Halifax
Co. Farm Bureau office, Halifax    Nov. 10    7:00 p.m.

Harnett
Harnett Central High School, Angier     Sept. 30     7:00 p.m.

Haywood
County Fairgrounds, Waynesville    Oct. 17    6:00 p.m.

Henderson
Lake Pointe Landing, Hendersonville      Nov. 7        7:00 p.m.

Hertford
Co. Farm Bureau office, Ahoskie    Oct. 25    7:30 p.m.

Hoke
West Hoke Middle School, Raeford    Sept. 26    6:00 p.m.

Hyde
Co. Farm Bureau office, Swan Quarter    Sept. 29    7:30 p.m.

Iredell
Statesville Civic Center, Statesville    Oct. 27    7:00 p.m.

Jackson
Golden Age Senior Citizen Center, Sylva    Oct. 11    6:00 p.m.

Jones
American Legion Building, Trenton    Oct. 6    7:00 p.m.

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

Lenoir
Co. Farm Bureau office, Kinston    Oct. 4    7:00 p.m.

Lincoln
Daniels Lutheran Church, Lincolnton    Oct. 27    6:30 p.m.

McDowell
Marion Community Bldg., Marion    Oct. 10    6:00 p.m.

Macon
Holly Springs Baptist Church, Franklin    Sept. 27    6:00 p.m.

Madison
County Cooperative Ext. Office, Marshall    Sept. 29    6:30 p.m.

Martin
Co. Farm Bureau office, Williamston    Oct. 17    7:00 p.m.

Mecklenburg
Oehler’s Mallard Creek BBQ Barn, Charlotte    Nov. 7    6:00 p.m.

Mitchell
Helen’s Restaurant, Bakersville    Oct. 18    6:00 p.m.

Montgomery
James Garner Center, Troy    Oct. 18    6:30 p.m.

Moore
Union Pines High School, Cameron    Oct. 20    5:45 p.m.

Nash
Co. Farm Bureau office, Nashville    Nov. 3    7:00 p.m.

New Hanover
County Extension Service Arboretum, Wilmington    Oct. 18    7:00 p.m.

Onslow
County Multipurpose Bldg., Jacksonville    Oct. 10    7:00 p.m.

Orange
Village Diner, Hillsborough    Oct. 26    6:30 p.m.

Pamlico
Co. Farm Bureau office, Alliance    Oct. 19    7:00 p.m.

Pasquotank
Co. Farm Bureau office, Elizabeth City    Oct. 17    7:00 p.m.

Pender
Burgaw Depot, Burgaw    Oct. 11    7:00 p.m.

Perquimans
Hertford Fire Dept., Hertford    Oct. 18    7:00 p.m.

Person
County Office Bldg. and Ag Center, Roxboro    Nov. 14    7:00 p.m.

Pitt
Co. Farm Bureau office, Greenville    Oct. 25    7:00 p.m.

Polk
Polk High School, Columbus    Oct. 11    6:30 p.m.

Randolph
Captain Tom’s Seafood, Staley    Oct. 10    6:30 p.m.

Richmond
Richmond Sr. High School Cafeteria, Rockingham    Oct. 20    6:00 p.m.

Robeson
Co. Farm Bureau Office, Lumberton    Oct. 17    7:00 p.m.

Rockingham
Ag Center, Wentworth    Oct. 20    6:00 p.m.

Rowan
Cauble Creek Winery, Salisbury    Oct. 25    6:30 p.m.

Rutherford
Chase High School, Forest City    Oct. 20    7:00 p.m.

Sampson
County Agri-Expo Center, Clinton    Nov. 7    7:00 p.m.

Scotland
Scotland Place Civic/Senior Center, Laurinburg    Oct. 13    7:00 p.m.

Stanly
Agri-Civic Center, Albemarle    Oct. 20    7:00 p.m.

Stokes
County Community Service Bldg., Danbury    Oct. 6    7:00 p.m.

Surry
Co. Farm Bureau office, Dobson    Nov. 14    7:00 p.m.

Transylvania
County Library, Brevard    Oct. 1    6:00 p.m.

Tyrrell
Co. Farm Bureau office, Columbia    Oct. 10    7:00 p.m.

Union
Ag Center, Monroe        Oct. 4    6:30 p.m.

Vance
Leslie Perry Memorial Library, Henderson    Nov. 3    7:00 p.m.

Wake
NCFB State Offices, Raleigh    Nov. 7    7:00 p.m.

Warren
Memorial Library, Warrenton    Nov. 1    7:00 p.m.

Washington
Vernon James Ag Center, Roper    Nov. 3    6:30 p.m.

Watauga
Greenway Baptist Church, Boone    Oct. 3    6:00 p.m.

Wayne
The Wayne Center, Goldsboro    Oct. 18    6:00 p.m.

Wilkes
Co. Farm Bureau office, North Wilkesboro    Oct. 18    6:30 p.m.

Wilson
Co. Farm Bureau office, Wooten Blvd, Wilson    Nov. 7    7:30 p.m.

Yadkin
Moose Lodge, Yadkinville    Nov. 7    6:00 p.m.

Yancey
Town Center, Burnsville    Oct. 13    6:00 p.m.

NCFB Mutual Insurance Company
Each insured of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company Inc. is hereby notified that by virtue of the insured’s policy or policies with the North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company Inc., the insured is a member of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company Inc. The 2011 annual meeting of the company will be held at the Four Seasons (Joseph S. Koury) Convention Center, 3121 High Point Road, Greensboro, N.C., 27407, Mon., Dec. 5, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Reconvened Session
The reconvened session of the annual meeting of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company Inc. and annual meeting of affiliated corporations of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, Inc. will commence at 8:00 a.m. Wed., Dec. 7, at the Four Seasons (Joseph S. Koury) Convention Center, Greensboro, N.C.

These affiliates include:
• North Carolina Farm Bureau Service Company Inc.
• North Carolina Farm BureauInsurance Agency Inc.
• North Carolina Farm Bureau Marketing Association Inc.
• North Carolina Farm Bureau R. Flake Shaw Memorial  Scholarship Fund.
• North Carolina Farm BureauInvestment Corporation.
• North Carolina Farm Bureau Legal Foundation Inc.
• North Carolina Farm Bureau Political Action Committee Inc.
• North Carolina Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom Inc.
• Farm Bureau Insurance of North Carolina Inc.
• North Carolina Farm Bureau Foundation Inc.
• North Carolina Farm Bureau Support Services Corporation.

One way young farmers can find enrichment along with more paths to greater prosperity is networking with participants of North Carolina Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers program.

New opportunities for social interaction and friendly competition are provided each year when young farmers vie for success in NCFB’s Achievement, Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet competitions.

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 93rd Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Honolulu.

In Honolulu, AFBF’s Achievement Award winner will receive several valuable prizes.

The winner also earns paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference. Four state runners-up will also earn a prize to be determined.

The AFBF Discussion Meet winner is also awarded several valuable prizes, including complimentary registration for the YF&R Leadership Conference. Finalists will also be awarded a prize to be determined.

The winner of the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture award will also receive several valued prizes.

North Carolina Prizes
During NCFB’s 76th Annual Convention, to be held in Greensboro in December, the Achievement Award and Discussion Meet winners will each be awarded a trip to the AFBF Convention in Honolulu for them and their spouses, as well as an RTV. Runners-up in the two categories will each receive $500. The Excellence in Agriculture state winner will earn a trip to the AFBF Convention in Honolulu and an RTV, 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. Runners-up will get $250.

Six scholarships were awarded to students headed to a four-year college or university to study agriculture or a related field. This 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 academic-related expenses.

Scholarships were also 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. This 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 academic-related expenses.

The R. Flake Shaw Scholarship Program has awarded more than $3 million in scholarship money to agriculture students since it was founded in 1967.

The following students are this year’s scholarship recipients:

Dillon M. Dunn, a graduate of North Moore High School in Moore County, plans to attend N.C. State University in Raleigh. Dunn was raised on a small family farm. He helps raise meat goats and beef cattle, bails and loads hay for use on the farm and for sale, and grows a vegetable garden. He also tends a hive of Italian honey bees. He says agriculture has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

“Even with the economy’s bad prospects, I can only see positive notes in the agricultural industry’s future,” he says.

William O. Edwards III, a graduate of Clayton High School in Johnston County, also plans to attend N.C. State University. Growing up on a farm and working alongside his father, grandfather and uncles, Edwards says he has learned how to raise all sorts of crops, as well as the responsibility and the importance of safety.

“Even though a career in agriculture will be demanding and challenging, I love every aspect of farm life and hope to continue our family legacy,” he says.

Laura A. Elmore, a graduate of Bandys High School in Catawba County, plans to pursue a degree in animal science at N.C. State University. She also hopes to attend veterinary school. Elmore says she has loved growing up on a beef cattle and poultry operation. Her love of showing cattle has led her to choose a career as a large animal veterinarian.

“It has always been my dream to come back home to open up my own practice here in Catawba County,” she says.

Anthony J. Hobbs, a graduate of Union High School in Sampson County, plans to pursue a degree in animal science at N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro. Hobbs hopes to be a veterinarian, and says his love is raising and caring for animals, a role he had to step into following his grandfather’s heart surgery.

“Agriculture is my past, present, and soon, future,” he says.

Garrett D. Lewis, a graduate of Spring Creek High School and Wayne Community Jump Start Program for Seniors in Wayne County, plans to attend Wayne Community College. Lewis says he thinks agriculture will be a challenging and exciting career that offers a lifestyle he respects.

“I believe that being an agriculture engineer would help contribute to the agriculture industry by designing agricultural systems and helping people in the field of agriculture by giving them newer technology, as well as the knowledge to use it to the utmost proficiency,” he says.

Ethan R. Osborne, a graduate of Alleghany High School in Alleghany County, plans to attend N.C. State University. Osborne’s family has been in farming for four generations on his mother’s side and five generations on his father’s side, and he plans to keep that tradition going.

“I plan to stay in Alleghany County and buy more land in order to expand our family’s beef cattle farm,” he says.

Justin D. Page, a graduate of Leesville Road High School in Wake County, plans to pursue a degree in agricultural business at N.C. State University. He is a Durham County Farm Bureau member. Page, fourth generation at Page Farms, has learned about tobacco, farm animals, hay, produce and working with the public while working alongside his dad, and hopes to run the farm one day.

“I’m simply a guy trying to keep what’s left of the basis this nation was built on alive so that the next generation may be able to do the same,” he says.

Thomas R. Webb, a graduate of Beddingfield High School in Wilson County, plans to attend Wayne Community College. Webb, fourth generation at Webb Family Farms, plans to use his education to bring technology to the farm and find ways to increase crop production as well as run the business economically and efficiently.

“I hope to take our farm to a whole new level and grow with the changes that the future brings,” he says.

First, the show will tour a mountain ornamental greenhouse operation that is branching out into tomatoes. Then travel along as we pay a visit to Dale and Geraldine Lamm’s apple farm in Henderson County.

The next segment focuses on how Granville County Farm Bureau member Phillip Barker is dealing with high fuel costs by making his own biofuel for his farm.

And lastly, it’s a picture-perfect time travel story, as we tour a Wake County grist mill. Look for Farm Bureau Magazine on RFD-TV on Dish Network channel 231 and on Direct TV channel 345.

RFD-TV is now also being offered in some cable TV markets. Check your local listings for more information.

In fact, just 15 counties elect 50 percent of the members of the North Carolina General Assembly–and those 15 counties are, of course, the state’s most urban and populated counties.

In response, North Carolina Farm Bureau is offering members an opportunity to attend its highly regarded Campaign Management Seminar, which is scheduled for Oct. 10-11 in Raleigh.

Political education staff from American Farm Bureau will teach the two-day seminar. The sessions are designed for members who are interested in either running for public office or helping operate a candidate’s campaign as a manager or treasurer or spouse—all vital roles.

“You don’t have to be the candidate or run for state office to participate in the seminar,” says Curtis Hayes, director of NCFB’s Campaign Management Seminar. “In many cases, there are a number of local offices open, and being the person who helps the candidate get elected is just as effective in helping promote the cause of farming as being the candidate.”

Helping lead a successful campaign can, in effect, provide rural advocates and farmers with a direct line of access to the candidate and can also result in campaign associates being appointed to various boards, commissions and committees.

Those who oppose agriculture are already very active in this area,” Hayes added. “We are in the position of having to play catch up. We need our farmers and rural members to step up for rural North Carolina.”
For more information, contact: Curtis Hayes, (919) 782-1705, curtis.hayes@ncfb.org.

One way young farmers can find enrichment along with more paths to greater prosperity is networking with participants of North Carolina Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers program.

New opportunities for social interaction and friendly competition are provided each year when young farmers vie for success in NCFB’s Achievement, Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet competitions.
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 93rd Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Honolulu.

In Honolulu, AFBF’s Achievement Award winner will receive several valuable prizes.

The winner also earns paid registration to the AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference. Four state runners-up will also earn a prize to be determined.

The AFBF Discussion Meet winner is also awarded severable valuable prizes, including complimentary registration for the YF&R Leadership Conference. Finalists will also be awarded a prize to be determined.
The winner of the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture award will also receive several valued prizes.

North Carolina Prizes
During NCFB’s 76th Annual Convention, to be held in Greensboro in December, the Achievement Award and Discussion Meet winners will each be awarded a trip to the AFBF Convention in Honolulu for them and their spouses, as well as an RTV. Runners-up in the two categories will each receive $500. The Excellence in Agriculture state winner will earn a trip to the AFBF Convention in Honolulu and an RTV, 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. Runners-up will get $250.