NC Farm Bureau Magazine » Alamance

NCFB 74th Annual Convention Award Winners

Farm Bureau — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:33:40 +0000

NCFB 74th Annual Convention Award Winners

	Achievement Award—John Allen, of Iredell County Farm Bureau, received the award from NCFB Vice President Scott Whitford (right).
	Collegiate Discussion Meet—Andrew Cagle, of Alamance County Farm Bureau, received the award from NCFB Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. (right).
	Farm Safety Award—Rockingham County Farm Bureau President Darryl Dunagan received the award on behalf of the county from NCFB Vice President Elton Braswell (right).
	Legislative Award—Caswell County Farm Bureau President Hester Vernon received the award on behalf of the county from NCFB President Larry Wooten (right).
	County of Excellence—Duplin County Farm Bureau President Dexter Edwards received the award on behalf of his county from NCFB President Larry Wooten (right).
	Discussion Meet—Jamie Ager received the award from NCFB Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. (right).
	President’s Award—State Conservationist Mary Combs, of USDA, received the award from NCFB President Larry Wooten (right).
	Public Relations Award—Gaston County Farm Bureau President Bill Craig received the award from NCFB Vice President Scott Whitford (right).
	Teacher of the Year—Sandy Hatley, of Stanly County Farm Bureau, received the award from NCFB Vice President Scott Whitford (right).
	Distinguished Service Award—U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole received the award from NCFB President Larry Wooten (right).
	Excellence in Ag Award—Matt and Kaye Harris, of Cleveland County Farm Bureau, received the award from NCFB Vice President Elton Braswell (right).
	YF&R Program Award—Cleveland County Farm Bureau YF&R Chairman Mandi & Brian Parker received the award from NCFB Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. (right).
	Women’s Program Award—Wayne County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Chair Lorenda Overman received the award from State Women’s Committee Chair Becky Faulkner (left) and NCFB Vice President Elton Braswell (right).

Achievements & Lifestyles: November/December 09

Farm Bureau — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:37:08 +0000

ALAMANCE COUNTY FARM BUREAU member Jane Iseley was the subject of a “tar heel people” feature in the August issue of Our State magazine. The article told the story of how Iseley left her career as a photographer for auction house Sotheby’s to carry on her family’s farm with her uncle after the passing of her father.

CRAVEN COUNTY FARM BUREAU sponsored a luncheon for local farmers on Aug. 17. Congressman Walter B. Jones was the guest speaker.

DAVIDSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Member Henry Sink recently received a surprising honor, during what he thought was going to be a visit with Rep. Howard Coble at the Farm Bureau office in Lexington. In fact, Coble was there to present Sink with eight medals for his service in World War II. On Thursday, Aug. 27, Sink was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Honorable Service Lapel Button, the Expert Badge with Rifle bar and a Sharpshooter Badge. Sink retired from the U.S. Army in 1963 as a lieutenant colonel.

GASTON COUNTY FARM BUREAU recently hosted an Ag in the Classroom workshop. The county has also pledged to donate a The Farmer Grows a Rainbow Kit to every elementary school in the county that sends a representative to an AITC workshop.

MCDOWELL COUNTY FARM BUREAU helped support the Historic Marion Tailgate Market’s Watermelon Week, an event to raise awareness of local farmers and their goods and bring more people to the market. County Farm Bureau President James Nations was joined by Board Member Lester McClure, Women’s Committee Members Shelby McClure and Susan Nations, and staff in serving donated watermelon slices Aug. 25.

MCDOWELL COUNTY FARM BUREAU is celebrating the success of one of its scholarship winners. Justin S. Jornigan is the winner of USDA’s Saul T. Wilson scholarship, which is given to one student nationwide each year. Jornigan graduated with a bachelor of science in animal science last May and is now in veterinary school at N.C. State University. He spent the summer doing research full time on poultry farms. The Wilson scholarship pays for Jornigan’s education and a summer job at USDA’s Eastern Regional office in Raleigh. After graduation, he will have a contract with USDA to work in a district as a Veterinary Medical Officer for Veterinary Services. Furthermore, Jornigan was interviewed for an N.C. Farm Bureau/RFD-TV program about the need for large animal and food animal veterinarians. The program will air January 20.

MOORE COUNTY FARM BUREAU hosted a membership appreciation luncheon and open house at its new office in Carthage. Grilled hot dogs were served to the Volunteer Leaders and Members who attended. County President David Allred says people are invited to stop by the new location at any time to discuss the county’s agricultural and rural issues.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY FARM BUREAU held a Family Auction Night in support of the R. Flake Shaw Scholarship Fund in June at the home of President Darryl Dunagan. The event featured a cookout and auction that raised more than $2,500.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY FARM BUREAU recently held its 12th annual Progressive Foundation Kids Safety Day at Wentworth Elementary School. The event featured talks and information about electric safety, animal awareness and safety, eye and skin safety, small and large equipment safety and more. Farm Bureau logo items, including Willy the Safety Squirrel coloring books and safety booklets, propane safety brochures and others, were given to the 155 students in attendance.

TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY FARM BUREAU Members volunteered their time and knowledge to support the Farm Fair Day sponsored by the Brevard Chamber of Commerce and the Transylvania County Heritage Museum on Sept. 5. Farm Bureau Volunteer Leaders rotated through one-hour shifts at the booth, where they talked about the scope, diversity and importance of agriculture to the county’s economy.

YADKIN COUNTY FARM BUREAU’S Women’s Committee donated 150 loaves of wheat bread to the teachers at Forbush and Starmount High Schools to promote Ag in the Classroom. They also delivered supplies and a monetary donation to the Ronald McDonald House in Winston-Salem.

WAKE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Women’s Committee Members volunteered their support for in “From Field to Food: A Harvest Celebration” hosted by Historic Yates Mill County Park. Members helped visitors make Moo Masks and learn how to milk a cow. About 75 children participated and were given Rudy Rooster or Food for Thought activity books.

NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU had several Members inducted into the first class of 100 in the 4-H Hall of Fame in July. A short list of Farm Bureau inductees includes Rockingham County Farm Bureau Member Leola Meador, Currituck County Farm Bureau Member Rodney Sawyer, Wilkes County Farm Bureau Member Claude Shew Jr., and NCFB President Larry Wooten.
Editor’s Note: Please let us know of any others. We want recognize them all in the January/February 2010 issue of North Carolina Farm Bureau Magazine!

Horticultural Hero’s Dedication Benefits Everyone

NEW HANOVER COUNTY FARM BUREAU Vice President Durwood Baggett should be thanked for his hand in developing the state’s thriving Master Gardener program, but he isn’t done educating people about horticulture.

His generosity will continue through the recently established Durwood Baggett Extension Horticultural Program Endowment for New Hanover County.

Baggett retired from Cooperative Extension in 1978 after a 30-plus year career, but his work was not finished. Even today, he is a familiar presence at the Extension Center Arboretum.

Baggett was born in 1922 on a Sampson County farm near Spivey’s Corner, and he went to work as an assistant agricultural agent at Yancey County Cooperative Extension in 1946, after serving in World War II with Patton’s Third Army in Europe, where he was awarded a Bronze Star.

In 1950, he took the New Hanover County Agent job, which would later be re-titled County Extension Director.

By 1974, New Hanover County was becoming more urban, and he found himself fielding an increasing number of non-traditional horticulture questions. During a visit to an Extension office in Florida, Baggett learned about a program that could work in his agency.

He returned to Wilmington, and following a conversation with the county manager, he visited garden clubs to look for volunteers willing to be trained to answer questions from the public. The response was strong, and North Carolina State specialists came in and trained the volunteers to work two at a time answering calls to a sort-of horticultural hotline.

Thus, the idea for the Master Gardener program was born, and Master Gardener programs are now flourishing nationwide.

In retirement, Baggett has served on the County Extension Advisory Council and helped establish a horticultural therapy program and a 4-H junior Master Gardeners program.

In addition to his involvement in Farm Bureau, Baggett served 20 years on the Soil and Water Conservation Board of Supervisors and is a long-time Lions Club member. He is the father of three children—David, Dudley and Deborah.

Achievements & Lifestyles: July/August 09

Farm Bureau — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:39:15 +0000

ALAMANCE COUNTY Farm Bureau is proud to sponsor the 2009 Farm Bureau Farm Experience Tour on Sept. 26 and invites everyone to travel a scenic route through northeastern Alamance County to discover some of agriculture’s hidden gems.
After visiting five farms, the tour will conclude with a dinner of locally grown foods at Martin’s Chapel Church in the Pleasant Grove community. The cost for the tour and dinner is $5 for adults and free for children under 12. For more information, call Alamance County Farm Bureau at (336) 226-2477.

ANSON COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors recently played an instrumental role in writing the county’s Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance. The board sponsored the first meeting, and directors Bobby McCollum, Kevin Martin and Robert Ross served on the steering committee that wrote the ordinance.
County commissioners officially adopted the ordinance March 3. Farm Bureau members are now working with Anson County Cooperative Extension to implement and oversee the ordinance for county landowners.

BEAUFORT COUNTY Farm Bureau Member Horace Hilton Harris passed an important milestone April 1, when he celebrated his 100th birthday. Harris is a charter member of Tyrrell County Farm Bureau and is listed as an agent on an original program for the dedication ceremony of the Tyrrell County Farm Bureau office Sept. 23, 1937. Friends and family celebrated Harris’ birthday with a party in his honor.

Bladen County Farm Bureau and State Women’s Committee Member Brenda Brisson volunteers in the classroom and chaperones field trips for first-graders at Dublin Primary School. Brisson promotes agriculture through her work with the students.

CAMDEN COUNTY Farm Bureau recently helped with Project Grow, a community gardening effort that provides garden space and assistance to people who want to grow a garden and to the Salvation Army Food Bank of the Albemarle. Farm Bureau donated materials and gardening assistance.

CRAVEN COUNTY Farm Bureau had several members of its Women’s Committee and Board of Directors at NCFB’s Legislative Event.

CRAVEN COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee and Board of Directors sponsored a Legislative Breakfast at Health Farm, owned by board secretary Donald Heath.
Sen. Jean Preston, Rep. Alice Underhill, Robert Page and NCFB State Legislative Director Paula Gupton-Page, assistant Extension agent Mike Carroll, Craven-Carteret FSA Executive Director Kay Yates were among the attendees.

CRAVEN COUNTY Farm Bureau recently helped sponsor a DWI Awareness Program for juniors and seniors at West Craven High School. The Women’s Committee and County President Jason Jones served soda and cookies to students participating in the program. The students drove golf carts through an obstacle course while wearing Fatal Vision goggles.

DUPLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee hosted members of the Kenansville Fire Department for a safety presentation on fire extinguishers.
Department members Lee Graham, David Kilpatrick and Alan Jones talked to the group about different types of fire extinguishers and what extinguisher to use on certain fires.

FRANKLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members presented Award Jars to first-graders at Bunn Elementary School. They also gave goody bags to the school’s seven first-grade teachers, six teacher assistants, the assistant principal and the principal.

FRANKLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau was a co-sponsor of the 19th Annual Four County 4-H Junior Livestock Show held in April at the Double “D” Farms in Louisburg. Youth from Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties participated in the regional show, which was a cooperative effort among the staffs of those four county Cooperative Extension offices. Silas Dorsey, son of Franklin County Farm Bureau members Matt and Alyssa Dorsey, won Grand Champion in the beef heifer category and first-place in junior beef showmanship.

HENDERSON COUNTY Farm Bureau Member Fred Pittillo has been selected as a finalist for the 2009 Swisher Sweets Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award. Pittillo is the owner of the family business Turf Mountain Sod, where they operate 1,200 acres in Hendersonville. He and his wife Merle began their successful career in sod after making the switch from dairy farming over 20 years ago. Pittillo will receive a check for $2,500 and other prizes. He will represent North Carolina at the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, Ga. where he will compete for the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award. The winner will receive $14,000 and free use of a Massey Ferguson tractor of his choice for 12 months or 500 hours, whichever comes first, plus other prizes.

HERTFORD COUNTY Farm Bureau brought NC Ag in the Classroom Director Louise Lamm, Curriculum Specialist Ellen Gould and County Ag in the Classroom ambassador JoJo Nichols to The Ridgecroft School for training on “The Farmer Grows a Rainbow” curriculum kit.
The lessons are for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, and connect nutrition and fitness to core curricula and the source of food, the farmer. HERTFORD COUNTY Farm Bureau sponsored a Blood Drive at Ahoskie Methodist Church in Ahoskie, and 48 people donated. Helping with the event were Monica Spitznagle, Kay Greene, Gladys Brown, Katrine Spruill, Brenda Copeland, Patricia Hughes, Pam Jenkins, Evelyn Rawls, Andy Woodard, Johnny Farmer, Jean Dilday and Addison Hoggard.

HERTFORD COUNTY Farm Bureau sponsored a Blood Drive at Ahoskie Methodist Church in Ahoskie and 48 people donated. Helping with the event were Monica Spitznagle, Kay Greene, Gladys Brown, Katrine Spruill, Brenda Copeland, Patricia Hughes, Pam Jenkins, Evelyn Rawls, Andy Woodard, Johnny Farmer, Jean Dilday and Addison Hoggard.

HYDE COUNTY Farm Bureau members Dawson and Bethany Pugh recently visited kindergartners at Mattamuskeet Elementary School in Swanquarter. They read “The Busy Barnyard” to two classes. They also brought the students corn and showed them toy farm equipment.

JOHNSTON COUNTY Farm Bureau helped organize Ag Awareness Day at Princeton Elementary School. During the day, children made candles.

JONES COUNTY Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers recently helped with the environmental center at Pollocksville Elementary School by spreading two large piles of mulch and making three beds.

JONES COUNTY Farm Bureau Members Trent and Rebecca Scott and her brother, Philip Carpenter, traveled to N.C. State University to cook a hog and fixings for a barbecue-plate sale to benefit the Alpha Zeta agriculture honor fraternity. The fundraiser was part of Ag Awareness Week, and Rebecca and Phillip’s sister, Amanda Carpenter, is a member of Alpha Zeta.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY Farm Bureau recently sponsored a fundraiser at Oehler’s BBQ Barn that raised more than $15,000 for the family of William Cook, who was a longtime Farm Bureau member and dairy farmer who died in October at age 54. He left behind two
special-needs children.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY Farm Bureau hosted an information hearing on establishing a Voluntary Agriculture District in Montgomery County.
Speakers included county president Benny Hampton and Tommy and Vicky Porter from Cabarrus County, who were instrumental in establishing a district there. All five county commissioners and 125 people attended the meeting.

Wake Up to Ag Day. " width="216" height="165" align="left" />PASQUOTANK COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee recently helped with “Wake Up to Ag Day,” an event for county third-graders. Women’s Committee Members prepared bags containing pencils, tattoos, and corn seeds in dirt for students and teachers. They also had a display of cotton, barley, corn, milo, soybeans and products made from those things for students to see and feel, as well as pictures of farm animals and plants.
Also, Pasquotank High School freshman Colin Brickhouse, the son of county president Kevin Brickhouse, attended the event with his Angus Maine Cross cow, Amy, and her calf, Rocky. Colin, 15, is in his first year of FFA.

PAMLICO COUNTY Farm Bureau Member and North Carolina Farm Bureau Vice President Scott Whitford was recently honored with a plaque for his years of dedicated service, including serving as chairman, to the N.C. Pesticide Board.

SCOTLAND COUNTY Farm Bureau has donated funds to the 4-H Health and Fitness Boot Camp, which runs June 15- August 20 at the Laurel Hill Community Center.
The camp will offer about 200 Scotland County youth to participate in activities such as Tae Bo, dancing, fitness games and more to learn the importance of healthy eating and exercise.

WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Member Shirley Burt visited with students April 18 and 19 at Sunrise United Methodist Preschool in Holly Springs. All nine classes got to hear a story about life on a farm and make greenhouses to take home. Students were also given a Rudy Rooster coloring book, and teachers were given goodie bags with Ag in the Classroom brochures.

WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureau recently helped with Planting Days at the garden at Willow Springs Elementary School. Willy the Safety Squirrel was joined by Women’s Committee Member Michelle Dupree to welcome students to the garden and remind them of safety rules to follow. County Vice President Richard Jenks helped students plant seeds, and Wake County Farm Bureau donated garden tools and $1,000 toward the purchase of a greenhouse. Furthermore, the Women’s Committee provided refreshments to students and presented “The Farmer Grows A Rainbow” kit to the school.

WARREN COUNTY Farm Bureau recently awarded a number of scholarships. Jacob Bender, son of Jeff and Lisa Bender of Norlina, and Erin Bender, daughter of Steve and Susan Bender of Warrenton, were selected as the 2009 recipients of Warren County Farm Bureau scholarships, which are worth $1,000 and are renewable for three years upon meeting certain criteria. Jacob, a senior at Franklin Academy in Wake Forest, plans to attend N.C. State University. Erin, a 2008 graduate of Warren County High School who has served in the National Guard, will attend St. Andrews Presbyterian College. Four Warren County High Schools seniors received one-time awards of $500. They are Marcus Hargrove of Warrenton, DeKisha Hendrick of Wise, Tyler Harmon of Norlina and Jessica Kearney.

Two students from North Carolina Farm Bureau families have won $1,000 FFA scholarships to pursue agricultural studies. Joy Askew of Jamesville and Elizabeth Eastep of Yanceyville are among 50 students nationwide who earned the awards, given by the National FFA Association in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Dodge Division of Chrysler LLC.

North Carolina Farm Bureau Member Dwayne Myers, a former NCFB director from Elkin, has been elected as the new president of the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative. Myers has been the First Vice President of the organization for the past five years, and he farms 800 acres and milks 800 cows with his wife of 35 years, Barbara, and their family in Jonesville.
Myers is also president of Dairy Cooperative Marketing Association, Southern Marketing Association, a current director and past president of Carolina Farm Credit, and a past president of the Wilkes Soil & Water Conservation District.

North Carolina Farm Bureau’s WOMEN’S COMMITTEE held a silent auction that raised $3,900 for the Ag in the Classroom program. The fundraiser was part of the Women’s Conference, held March 3-4 in Raleigh.

County Annual Meetings – 2009

Farm Bureau — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:44:50 +0000

County Annual Meetings – 2009

Alamance	The Cutting Board, Burlington	Oct. 20	6:30 p.m.
Alleghany	Sparta Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Sparta	Oct. 8	7:00 p.m.
Anson	Lockhart Taylor Center, Wadesboro	Oct. 15	6:30 p.m.
Avery	First Baptist Church, Crossnore	Oct. 15	6:30 p.m.
Beaufort	Washington Civic Center, Washington	Oct. 13	7:00 p.m.
Bladen	Powell-Melvin Ag Service Center, Elizabethtown	Oct. 1	7:00 p.m.
Brunswick	Co. Farm Bureau office, Shallotte	Oct. 8	7:00 p.m.
Buncombe	WNC Ag Center, Arts & Crafts Bldg., Fletcher	Oct. 26	6:30 p.m.
Burke	Community House, Morganton	Oct. 15	7:00 p.m.
Cabarrus	St. John’s Fellowship Hall, Concord	Oct. 8	7:00 p.m.
Caldwell	Hudson Uptown Bldg, Hudson	Oct. 23	6:00 p.m.
Camden	Co. Farm Bureau office, Camden	Nov. 19	4:00 p.m.
Carteret	Co. Farm Bureau office, Beaufort	Nov. 10	7:00 p.m.
Caswell	Co. Farm Bureau office, Yanceyville	Oct. 20	7:00 p.m.
Catawba	Ag Resource Center, Newton	Oct. 12	6:00 p.m.
Chatham	Ag Center, Pittsboro	Oct. 26	6:30 p.m.
Chowan	Co. Farm Bureau office, Edenton	Oct. 15	7:30 p.m.
Clay	Brasstown Community Center, Brasstown	Oct. 17	5:30 p.m.
Cleveland	Cleveland Extension Service office, Shelby	Oct. 16	7:00 p.m.
Craven	Craven Co. Ag Ext. Complex, New Bern	Oct. 8	7:00 p.m.
Cumberland	Crown Center, Fayetteville	Oct. 19	6:30 p.m.
Currituck	Co. Farm Bureau office, Currituck	Oct. 22	7:00 p.m.
Dare	Co. Farm Bureau office, Kill Devil Hills	Oct. 29	7:00 p.m.
Davidson	Davidson Co. Ag Center, Lexington	Oct. 22	7:00 p.m.
Davie	Davie Co. High School, Mocksville	Oct. 20	7:00 p.m.
Duplin	Duplin Commons, Kenansville	Oct. 15	7:00 p.m.
Edgecombe	Co. Farm Bureau office, Tarboro	Oct. 26	7:00 p.m.
Forsyth	Forsyth Ag Center, Winston-Salem	Oct. 22	6:30 p.m.
Franklin	County Extension Annex, Bickett Blvd., Louisburg	Nov. 2	7:00 p.m.
Gaston	Citizen’s Resource Center, Dallas	Oct. 19	7:00 p.m.
Granville	Cooperative Extension Bldg., Oxford	Oct. 28	7:00 p.m.
Greene	Greene Co. Extension office, Snow Hill	Nov. 5	6:30 p.m.
Guilford	Guilford Ag Center, Greensboro	Oct. 22	7:00 p.m.
Haywood	Haywood Co. Fairgrounds, Waynesville	Oct. 19	6:00 p.m.
Hertford	Co. Farm Bureau office, Ahoskie	Oct. 27	7:30 p.m.
Hoke	West Hoke Middle School, Raeford	Sept. 28	6:00 p.m.
Hyde	Co. Farm Bureau office, Swan Quarter	Sept. 24	7:30 p.m.
Iredell	Statesville Civic Center, Statesville	Nov. 12	7:00 p.m.
Jones	American Legion Building, Trenton	Oct. 1	7:00 p.m.
Lee	Ruby McSwain Ag Center, Sanford	Nov. 2	7:00 p.m.
Lenoir	Co. Farm Bureau office, Kinston	Oct. 6	7:00 p.m.
McDowell	Marion Community Bldg., Marion	Oct. 5	6:00 p.m.
Macon	Cullasaja Fire Dept., Franklin	Sept. 22	6:00 p.m.
Martin	Co. Farm Bureau office, Williamston	Oct. 19	7:00 p.m.
Mecklenburg	Oehler’s Mallard Creek BBQ, Charlotte	Nov. 2	6:00 p.m.
Mitchell	Creekside Restaurant, Bakersville	Oct. 27	6:30 p.m.
Montgomery	James H. Garner Conference Center, Troy	Oct. 20	6:30 p.m.
Nash	Co. Farm Bureau office, Nashville	Nov. 5	7:00 p.m.
New Hanover	Co. Farm Bureau office, Independence office	Sept. 28	6:30 p.m.
Onslow	Onslow Co. Multipurpose Bldg., Jacksonville	Oct. 19	7:30 p.m.
Orange	Occheechee Steak House, Hillsborough	Oct. 28	6:30 p.m.
Pamlico	Co. Farm Bureau office, Alliance	Oct. 21	7:00 p.m.
Pasquotank	Co. Farm Bureau office, Elizabeth City	Oct. 19	7:00 p.m.
Pender	American Legion Post #165, Burgaw	Oct. 13	7:00 p.m.
Person	Person Co. Office Bldg., Morgan St., Roxboro	Nov. 9	7:00 p.m.
Pitt	Co. Farm Bureau office, Greenville	Oct. 27	7:00 p.m.
Polk	Polk Central Elementary School, Mill Spring	Oct. 6	7:00 p.m.
Randolph	Captain Tom’s Seafood, Staley	Sept. 28	6:00 p.m.
Richmond	Richmond Sr. High School Cafeteria, Rockingham	Oct. 22	6:00 p.m.
Robeson	Co. Farm Bureau office, Lumberton	Oct. 19	7:00 p.m.
Rockingham	Ag Center, Wentworth	Oct. 15	6:00 p.m.
Rowan	Frank Small Sr. farm, Salisbury	Oct. 27	6:30 p.m.
Rutherford	Chase High School, Forest City	Oct. 8	7:00 p.m.
Sampson	Sampson Community College, Clinton	Nov. 2	7:00 p.m.
Scotland	Scotland Place Civic/Senior Center, Laurinburg	Oct. 8	7:00 p.m.
Stanly	Stanly Ag/Civic Center, Albemarle	Oct. 15	7:00 p.m.
Stokes	Stokes Cooperative Ext. bldg., Danbury	Oct. 6	7:00 p.m.
Surry	Co. Farm Bureau office, Dobson	Nov. 9	7:00 p.m.
Transylvania	Transylvania Co. Library, Brevard	Oct. 3	6:00 p.m.
Tyrrell	Co. Farm Bureau office, Columbia	Oct. 12	7:00 p.m.
Union	Agriculture Center, Monroe	Oct. 6	7:00 p.m.
Vance	Leslie Perry Memorial Library, Henderson	Nov. 5	7:00 p.m.
Washington	Vernon James Ag Center, Roper	Nov. 3	7:00 p.m.
Wayne	The Wayne Center, Goldsboro	Oct. 20	6:00 p.m.
Wilkes	Co. Farm Bureau office, North Wilkesboro	Oct. 20	6:30 p.m.
Wilson	Co. Farm Bureau office, NC 42 Hwy, Wilson	Nov. 2	7:30 p.m.
Yancey	Town Center, Burnsville	Oct. 15	6:00 p.m.

County Fair Happenings

Farm Bureau — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:18:50 +0000

2009 County Fair Happenings

Alamance County Agricultural Fair	Burlington	May 5-10
Alexander County Agricultural Fair	Taylorsville	Oct. 6-10
Alleghany County Agricultural Fair	Sparta	Aug. 24-29
Avery County Agricultural Fair	Newland	Sept. 8-12
Bethware Community Fair	Kings Mountain	July 28-Aug. 1
Burke County Fair	Morganton	Aug. 4-8
Cabarrus County Agricultural Fair	Concord	Sept. 11-19
Caldwell County Agricultural Fair	Lenoir	Oct. 7-11
Cape Fear Fair & Expo	Wilmington	Oct. 29-Nov.7
Central Carolina Fair	Greensboro	Sept. 11-20
Chatham County Fair	Pittsboro	Sept. 16-19
Cherokee Indian Fair	Cherokee	Oct. 2-6
Chowan County Regional Fair	Edenton	Sept. 29-Oct. 3
Cleveland County Fair	Shelby	Oct. 1-10
Coastal Carolina Agricultural Fair	New Bern	Oct. 22-Nov. 1
Columbus County Agricultural Fair	Whiteville	Oct. 13-18
Cumberland County Fair	Fayetteville	Sept. 10-20
Davidson County Agricultural Fair	Lexington	Sept. 21-26
Dixie Classic Fair	Winston-Salem	Oct. 2-11
Drexel Community Fair	Drexel	Aug. 18-22
Harnett Regional Agricultural Fair	Lillington	Nov. 3-7
Haywood County Fair	Waynesville	Sept. 24-Oct. 1
Hickory American Legion Fair	Hickory	Sept. 1-7
Halifax-Northampton County Agricultural Fair	Roanoke Rapids	Sept. 4-8
Iredell County Agricultural Fair	Statesville	Sept. 7-12
Lee Regional Agricultural Fair	Sanford	Sept. 15-20
Lenoir County Fair	Kinston
Moore County Agricultural Fair	Carthage	Sept. 1-5
N.C. Mountain State Fair	Fletcher	Sept. 11-20
N.C. State Fair	Raleigh	Oct. 15-25
Onslow County Agricultural Fair	Jacksonville	Oct. 5-10
Pitt County American Legion Agricultural Fair	Greenville	Oct. 5-10
Richmond County Agricultural & Industrial Fair	Hamlet	Oct. 13-17
Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair	Lumberton	Oct. 1-10
Rocky Mount Agricultural Fair	Rocky Mount	Oct. 12-17
Rowan County Agricultural Fair	Salisbury	Sept. 21-26
Stanly American Legion Post #76 Agricultural Fair	Albemarle	Sept. 22-26
Stokes County Agricultural Fair	King	Sept. 14-19
Surry County Agricultural Fair	Mt. Airy	Sept. 28-Oct. 3
Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair	Goldsboro	Oct. 1-10
Wilkes County Agricultural Fair	North Wilkesboro	Oct. 13-17
Wilson County American Legion Fair	Wilson	Sept. 22-27

Achievements & Lifestyles

Farm Bureau — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:16:11 +0000

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.

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 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’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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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. 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NCFB 73rd Annual Convention Award Winners

Farm Bureau — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:29:06 +0000

NCFB 73rd Annual Convention Award Winners
Greensboro | December 7-9, 2008

	Achievement Award—Jason and Robin Starnes, Rowan County Farm Bureau, received the award from NCFB Vice President J.M Wright Jr. (right).
	County of Excellence—President Larry Wooten (right) presented the award to Cleveland County Farm Bureau President Jim Blalock.
	Discussion Meet Winner—Joe Deal, Macon County Farm Bureau, received the award from NCFB Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. (right).
	Distinguished Service Award—NCFB President Larry Wooten (right) presented the award to Billy Ray Hall, president of the Rural Center.
	Excellence in Agriculture—Andy VonCanon and Brittany Whitmire, Transylvania County Farm Bureau, received the award from NCFB Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. (right).
	Legislative Award—NCFB President Larry Wooten (right) presented the award to Alamance County Farm Bureau President Vaughn Willoughby.
	Public Relations Award—NCFB Vice President Elton Braswell (right) presented the award to Caswell County Farm Bureau President Hester Vernon.
	Safety Award—NCFB Vice President Elton Braswell (right) presented the award to Cleveland County Farm Bureau President Jim Blalock.
	Women’s Program Award—NCFB Vice President Elton Braswell (right) and State Women’s Chair Becky Faulkner (left) presented the award to Bladen County Farm Bureau’s Brenda Brisson.
	YF&R Program Award—NCFB Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. (right) presented the award to Greene County Farm Bureau’s Brooks Edmondson.

2008 County Annual Meetings

Farm Bureau — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:03:58 +0000

COUNTY	LOCATION	DATE	TIME
Alamance	Occasions, Burlington	Oct. 28	7:00 p.m.
Alexander	Alexander Co. Senior Center, Taylorsville	Oct. 16	6:30 p.m.
Alleghany	Alleghany Inn Conference Room, Sparta	Oct. 7	7:00 p.m.
Anson	Anson Senior High School, Wadesboro	Oct. 21	6:15 p.m.
Ashe	Ashe Co. High School, West Jefferson	Oct. 20	6:30 p.m.
Avery	Crossnore Baptist Church, Crossnore	Oct. 23	6:30 p.m.
Beaufort	Washington Civic Center, Washington	Oct. 16	7:00 p.m.
Bladen	Powell-Melvin Ag Service Center, Elizabethtown	Oct. 28	7:00 p.m.
Brunswick	Co. Farm Bureau office, Shallotte	Oct. 9	7:00 p.m.
Buncombe	Co. Farm Bureau, Leicester office	Oct. 27	6:00 p.m.
Burke	Friday Friend’s Restaurant, Morganton	Oct. 23	7:00 p.m.
Cabarrus	St. John’s Fellowship Hall, Concord	Oct. 9	7:00 p.m.
Caldwell	Hudson Uptown Bldg, Hudson	Oct. 17	6:00 p.m
Camden	Co. Farm Bureau office, Camden	Nov. 11	6:30 p.m.
Carteret	Co. Farm Bureau office, Beaufort	Nov. 11	7:00 p.m.
Caswell	Co. Farm Bureau office, Yanceyville	Oct. 21	7:00 p.m.
Catawba	Ag Resource Center, Newton	Oct. 6	6:00 p.m.
Chatham	Ag Center, Pittsboro	Oct. 27	7:00 p.m.
Cherokee	Murphy Elementary School Cafeteria, Murphy	Oct. 27	6:30 p.m.
Chowan	Co. Farm Bureau office, Edenton	Oct. 16	7:30 p.m.
Clay	Brasstown Community Center, Brasstown	Oct. 18	5:30 p.m.
Cleveland	Neal Senior Center, Shelby	Oct. 2	7:00 p.m.
Columbus	Interim Centre, Liberty St., Whiteville	Oct. 6	7:00 p.m.
Craven	Craven Co. Ag Ext. Complex, New Bern	Oct. 9	7:00 p.m.
Cumberland	Charlie Rose Agri-Expo, Fayetteville	Oct. 20	6:30 p.m.
Currituck	Co. Farm Bureau office, Currituck	Oct. 23	7:00 p.m.
Dare	Co. Farm Bureau office, Kill Devil Hills	Oct. 23	7:00 p.m.
Davidson	Davidson Co. Ag Center, Lexington	Oct. 23	7:00 p.m.
Davie	Davie Co. High School, Mocksville	Oct. 14	7:00 p.m.
Duplin	Duplin Commons, Kenansville	Oct. 16	7:00 p.m.
Durham	Co. Farm Bureau office, Roxboro Rd., Durham	Nov. 13	7:00 p.m.
Edgecombe	Co. Farm Bureau office, Tarboro	Oct. 27	7:00 p.m.
Forsyth	Agriculture Building, Winston-Salem	Oct. 23	6:30 p.m.
Franklin	Franklin Co. Cooperative Ext. Annex, Louisburg	Nov. 3	7:00 p.m.
Gaston	Citizen’s Resource Center, Dallas	Oct. 20	6:30 p.m.
Gates	Tarheel BBQ Restaurant, Hwy. 13 South, Eure	Nov. 11	6:30 p.m.
Graham	Co. Farm Bureau office, Robbinsville	Sept. 26	2:00 p.m.
Granville	Cooperative Extension Bldg., Oxford	Nov. 5	7:00 p.m.
Greene	Greene Co. Extension office, Snow Hill	Oct. 21	6:30 p.m.
Guilford	Guilford Ag Center, Greensboro	Oct. 23	6:30 p.m.
Halifax	Co. Farm Bureau office, Halifax	Nov. 13	7:30 p.m.
Harnett	Harnett Central High School, Angier	Oct. 17	7:00 p.m.
Haywood	Waynesville Middle School, Waynesville	Oct. 20	6:00 p.m.
Henderson	Mike’s on Main, Hendersonville	Oct. 21	6:00 p.m.
Hertford	Co. Farm Bureau office, Ahoskie	Oct. 28	7:30 p.m.
Hoke	West Hoke Middle School, Raeford	Sept. 29	6:00 p.m.
Hyde	Co. Farm Bureau office, Swan Quarter	Sept. 25	7:30 p.m.
Iredell	Iredell Co. Agricultural Building, Statesville	Nov. 13	7:00 p.m.
Jackson	Community Services Building, Sylva	Oct. 7	6:00 p.m.
Jones	American Legion Building, Trenton	Oct. 15	7:00 p.m.
Lee	Ruby McSwain Ag Center, Sanford	Nov. 3	7:00 p.m.
Lenoir	Lenoir Co. Extension office, Kinston	Oct. 7	7:00 p.m.
Lincoln	Lincoln Cultural Center, Lincolnton	Sept. 30	7:00 p.m.
McDowell	Marion Community Bldg., Marion	Oct. 13	6:00 p.m.
Macon	Cullasaja Fire Dept., Franklin	Sept. 23	6:00 p.m.
Madison	Carolina Cafeteria, Hwy 213, Marshall	Oct. 16	7:00 p.m.
Martin	Co. Farm Bureau office, Williamston	Oct. 20	7:00 p.m.
Mecklenburg	Oehler’s Mallard Creek BBQ, Charlotte	Nov. 3	6:00 p.m.
Mitchell	Creekside Restaurant, Bakersville	Oct. 21	6:00 p.m.
Montgomery	James H. Garner Conference Center, Troy	Oct. 21	6:30 p.m.
Moore	Union Pines High School, Cameron	Oct. 16	5:45 p.m.
Nash	Co. Farm Bureau office, Nashville	Nov. 6	7:00 p.m.
New Hanover	Co. Farm Bureau office, Burnt Mill office	Oct. 13	6:30 p.m.
Northampton	Co. Farm Bureau office, Jackson	Sept. 22	7:30 p.m.
Onslow	Onslow Co. Multipurpose Bldg., Jacksonville	Oct. 20	7:30 p.m.
Orange	Occheechee Steak House, Hillsborough	Oct. 22	6:30 p.m.
Pamlico	Co. Farm Bureau office, Alliance	Oct. 22	7:00 p.m.
Pasquotank	Co. Farm Bureau office, Elizabeth City	Oct. 20	7:00 p.m.
Pender	American Legion Post #165, Burgaw	Oct. 14	7:00 p.m.
Perquimans	Hertford Fire Department, Hertford	Oct. 21	7:00 p.m.
Person	Person Cooperative Ext. Bldg., Roxboro	Nov. 10	7:00 p.m.
Pitt	Co. Farm Bureau office, Greenville	Oct. 28	7:00 p.m.
Polk	Polk Central Elementary School, Mill Spring	Oct. 7	7:00 p.m.
Randolph	Snyder Farms Restaurant, Sophia	Sept. 22	6:00 p.m.
Richmond	Richmond Sr. High School Cafeteria, Rockingham	Oct. 16	6:00 p.m.
Robeson	Co. Farm Bureau office, Lumberton	Oct. 20	7:00 p.m.
Rockingham	Ag Center, Wentworth	Oct. 10	6:30 p.m.
Rowan	Frank Small Sr. farm, 580 Lake Rd., Salisbury	Oct. 28	6:30 p.m.
Rutherford	Chase High School, Forest City	Oct. 24	7:00 p.m.
Sampson	Sampson Community College, Clinton	Nov. 3	7:00 p.m.
Scotland	Scotland Place Civic/Senior Center, Laurinburg	Oct. 9	7:00 p.m.
Stanly	Stanly Ag/Civic Center, Albemarle	Oct. 16	7:00 p.m.
Stokes	South Stokes High School, Walnut Cove	Oct. 28	5:00 p.m.
Surry	Co. Farm Bureau office, Dobson	Nov. 10	7:00 p.m.
Swain	Darnell Farms, Bryson City	Oct. 11	5:00 p.m.
Transylvania	Transylvania Co. Library, Brevard	Oct. 4	6:00 p.m.
Tyrrell	County Library, Columbia	Oct. 13	7:00 p.m.
Union	Agriculture Center, Monroe	Oct. 16	6:00 p.m.
Vance	Leslie Perry Memorial Library, Henderson	Nov. 6	7:00 p.m.
Wake	Co. Farm Bureau office, Western Blvd, Raleigh	Nov. 3	7:00 p.m.
Warren	Co. Farm Bureau office, Warrenton	Nov. 4	7:00 p.m.
Washington	Vernon James Ag Center, Roper	Oct. 30	7:00 p.m.
Watauga	Greenway Baptist Church Family Life Center, Boone	Oct. 6	6:30 p.m.
Wayne	The Wayne Center, Goldsboro	Oct. 20	6:00 p.m.
Wilkes	Co. Farm Bureau office, North Wilkesboro	Oct. 21	6:30 p.m.
Wilson	Wilson Co. Agricultural Center, Wilson	Nov. 3	7:30 p.m.
Yadkin	Yadkin Moose Lodge, Yadkinville	Nov. 3	6:00 p.m.
Yancey	Town Center, Burnsville	Oct. 9	5:30 p.m.

Achievements & Lifestyles: July/August 2008

Farm Bureau — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:16:45 +0000

AMERICAN FARM BUREAU’s Women’s Leadership Committee hosted the third National Women’s Leadership Conference April 25-28 in Louisville, Ky. Nearly 700 farm and ranch women from 38 states attended the event, sharpening both their leadership and networking skills. The conference included sessions on a variety of topics, including farm business dynamics, grassroots political advocacy, challenges and opportunities in animal agriculture, women’s health and many more. In an opening address, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman urged the attendees to make Farm Bureau the organization that “people think of first when the words ‘women, agriculture and opportunity’ are linked in a sentence” and ensured that Farm Bureaus at all levels would be better off because of their input and leadership. The conference, which is open to all farm and ranch women involved in agriculture, has been scheduled to occur every four years. Due to a dramatic increase in interest, the event will now be held at two-year intervals. The next conference is planned for spring 2010.

CARTERET COUNTY Farm Bureau presented Amber Nead, of Croatan, and Hannah Mical, of Gramercy Christian School, each with a $500 scholarship.

ANSON COUNTY Farm Bureau President Eloise Harrington and the county Board of Directors met April 7 with the county extension agents, two county commissioners, a county planner and a Soil and Water Conservation District member, to discuss starting a Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance (VAD) program within the county. Tommy and Vicky Porter of Cabarrus County were the guest speakers at the meeting.

ASHE COUNTY Farm Bureau sponsored, in conjunction with the Safe Kids N.C. program, a Car Seat Safety event April 19 at its office. The event allowed passersby the opportunity to get children’s car seats inspected for free. Approximately 19 vehicles passed through the site and 35 car seats were inspected.

CASWELL COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Spaghetti Dinner on March 14 raised $500 to assist the D.A.R.E. program. Retro Bill put on a free show for about 125 people. D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

CLAY COUNTY Farm Bureau helped provide Hayesville Elementary School kindergarten classes with quite a treat March 6 when they traveled to Rolling Green Farms for a field trip. Located in Clay County and owned by Smith and Becky Danielson, the farm includes such animals as chickens, goats, sheep, horses and rabbits. The children were able to pet new lambs and were introduced to “Strawberry,” a miniature horse on the farm. Besides being able to feed the goats and goldfish, the children also learned about goat’s milk, lanolin found in the wool of sheep and the many different types of farm animals.

DAVIDSON COUNTY Farm Bureau recently donated $5,000 to the local 4-H organization. The money will be used, in part, to help fund the program as it works to educate the county’s youth and to create scholarships for those wanting to attend district and state 4-H programs and activities that promote leadership, teamwork, communication and community service.

GASTON COUNTY Farm Bureau President Bill Craig and wife Wilma were recognized for their contributions to Gaston County agriculture during an April 29 event at the Dole Foods Bessemer City facility. More than 100 people attended the breakfast, which featured local fresh foods and was designed around the theme, “Celebration of Gaston County Agriculture.” Attendees also had the opportunity to tour the Dole Foods fresh vegetable facility. Craig also serves as a member of North Carolina Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors.

NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU’s Women’s Committee hosted its annual conference April 3-4 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley hotel in Raleigh. The conference, “Growing Stronger, Reaching Higher,” drew more than 120 women from across the state. The women enjoyed workshops on a variety of topics including alternative energy, women’s health, photographing county events, legislative and policy issues, retirement planning, and a session on a national Ag in the Classroom initiative focused on the USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid. The key speaker was breast cancer survivor Andrea Lohr, who talked with the group about gaining a new perspective on life and believing in oneself as well as others.

NEW HANOVER County Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors, along with Hollis-Sasser, worked with the second-graders at Anderson Elementary School to plant a garden on the school grounds. The event was fun and educational, and everyone had a wonderful time.

NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU Women’s Committee members Monnie Jenks, Shirley Burt and Rebecca Sadi participated in Yates Mill Elementary School’s Science Day on March 27. They led 80 kindergartners in learning activities that included milking a cow and making greenhouses.

MECKLENBURG and CABARRUS COUNTY Farm Bureaus hosted an Ohio Farm Bureau group Saturday, April 5. The retired Ohio farmers were passing through North Carolina on their way to Myrtle Beach, S.C. when they stopped and asked to see some agriculture operations in the surrounding areas. Mecklenburg County Farm Bureau President Eddie Stroup gave them a tour of Baucom Nursery in Charlotte, and Tommy Porter, Cabarrus County Farm Bureau president, gave a tour of his farm. The Ohio group also enjoyed a dinner sponsored by NCFB board members of Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties. Mallard Creek BBQ owners Donnie and Susie Oehler provided the delicious meal. The group was grateful for the Southern hospitality it received and said they hoped to come back again.

In Memory Of …
Mr. John H. Ihrie III, a well-known Franklin County dairy farmer, passed away at his home on May 2. Ihrie served as the president of the Franklin County Farm Bureau from 1968 to 1980 and was a member of the North Carolina Farm Bureau State Board from 1969 to 1982. He also served as a member of NCFB’s Executive Committee. He will be missed greatly and always remembered for his humor, positive attitude and loving devotion to his wife, Sarah.

PITT COUNTY Farm Bureau members Jasa Allen and Pat James delivered a basket of goodies, on behalf of the Pitt County Farm Bureau and the Women’s Committee, to the Ronald McDonald House in Greenville, March 27. Allen (left) is pictured giving the basket to Dee Harper of the Ronald McDonald House, along with a $200 check for the “Share a Night” program, which collects monetary donations to fund needy families’ stays at the house.

FARM BUREAU members from several different counties took an active role in supporting the Coastal Plains Livestock Show and Sale that took place March 24-25 in Lenoir County. The show featured exhibits of goats, sheep, swine and cattle.

PITT COUNTY Farm Bureau members Pat and Eugene James were honored on Feb. 26 during a county board meeting for their outstanding service to Farm Bureau. Eugene has served on the Board of Directors of Pitt County Farm Bureau for 50 years, while Pat has served as Chair of the Women’s Committee since 1992. Both have also served on various state and county committees.

PERQUIMANS COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee prepared and distributed more than 60 appreciation and information “goody bags,” May 8-9, as part of Teacher Appreciation Month at Hertford Grammar School. Betty Mathews, Dolna Proctor, Hollis Williams, Carol Roberts and Varina Hollowell were instrumental in the project. Another event was also recently sponsored at the Hertford Grammar School. PCFB members Proctor and Mathews distributed safety program brochures to 140 third-grade students. The materials included, “Is it Time to Change Your Hat?” and “Willy’s Farm Safety Case Book.” Other event sponsors included Perquimans County’s North Carolina Cooperative Extension office, North Carolina A & T State University, the American Trauma Society, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Ace Hardware of Hertford and Elizabeth City, and Don’s Place.

UNION COUNTY FARM BUREAU hosted its 30th Annual Candidate Forum April 5. Sponsored by the Union County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, the forum attracted approximately 75 people, including candidates for local elections, state offices and Congressional offices. Candidates for agriculture commissioner, judge, lieutenant governor, state auditor and the house of representatives attended. Candidates who spoke included U.S. Congressman Robin Hayes and Larry Kissell, who is running against Hayes.

WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureau Women’s Committee member Shirley Burt provided dairy farm education to 32 students at Sunrise UMC Preschool. In the photo, a happy herd of students show off the moo masks they made as part of their Farm Bureau Ag in The Classroom activities. Students also took turns milking a replica of a dairy cow and learned about the process of making ice cream. At the end, they were able to enjoy an ice-cream snack.

WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureau members spread the word about agriculture at Middle Creek High School during its Science Family Night March 20. Students and members of the community set up displays about science projects along with some hands-on activities. WCFB members assisted Ag Ambassador Kelly Rayfield (right) with a PowerPoint game, based on American Farm Bureau’s misconceptions about agriculture study. Volunteers also explained the “Careers in Agriculture” poster and handed out “Food for Thought” coloring books to the younger children.

WAKE COUNTY’S Women’s Committee member Donna Thompson taught some valuable lessons to more than 50 children April 10 at The Growing Place. The Growing Place, a three-day preschool program, was held at Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Thompson presented a safety program on farm equipment and lawnmowers. The children were also shown how to make greenhouses using plastic cups and were taught how heat and moisture cause seeds to germinate and grow, thus making the greenhouses work. Butterbeans, string beans and purple hull peas were planted, and children were able to take their greenhouses home to watch the seeds grow.

WAKE COUNTY’S Donna Thompson also presented a donation of approximately 75 Farm Bureau bags to the Mission Raleigh Food Pantry at Mount Vernon Baptist Church April 15. The bags were filled with food from the pantry and then distributed to families and others in need. Approximately 50 Willy the Safety Squirrel safety activity books were also donated to the pantry to be handed out to families who have small children.

ALAMANCE COUNTY Farm Bureau is sponsoring An Agricultural Experience Tour, Sept. 27. Contact: Linda Albright, (336) 226-2477. www.acfb.com

YANCEY COUNTY Farm Bureau President Johnny Hensley helped cook up hot dogs for the county Farm Bureau’s first Membership Appreciation Day. A lunch of hot dogs, hamburgers and the fixin’s were served Thursday, May 8.

County Fair Happenings

Farm Bureau — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:14:22 +0000

ALAMANCE CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Burlington
Aug. 26–30, 2008

ALEXANDER CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Taylorsville
Sept. 30–Oct 4, 2008

ALLEGHANY CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Sparta
Aug. 16–23, 2008

ATLANTIC DISTRICT FAIR
Ahoskie
Oct. 27–Nov. 1, 2008

AVERY CO. FAIR
Newland
Sept. 9–13, 2008

BETHWARE COMMUNITY FAIR
Kings Mountain
July 29-Aug. 2, 2008

BURKE CO. FAIR
Morganton
Aug. 5–9, 2008

CABARRUS CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Concord
Sept. 5–13, 2008

CALDWELL CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Lenoir
Sept. 23–27, 2008

CAPE FEAR FAIR & EXPO
Wilmington
Oct. 30–Nov. 8, 2008

CENTRAL CAROLINA FAIR
Greensboro
Sept. 12–21, 2008

CHATHAM CO. FAIR
Pittsboro
Sept. 17–20, 2008

CHOWAN CO. REGIONAL FAIR
Edenton
Sept. 23–27, 2008

CLEVELAND CO. FAIR
Shelby
Sept. 25–Oct 4, 2008

COASTAL CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL FAIR
New Bern
Oct. 16–26, 2008

COLUMBUS CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Whiteville
Oct. 6–11, 2008

CUMBERLAND CO. FAIR
Fayetteville
Sept. 18–28, 2008

DAVIDSON CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Lexington
Sept. 15–20, 2008

DIXIE CLASSIC FAIR
Winston-Salem
Oct. 3–12, 2008

DREXEL COMMUNITY FAIR
Drexel
Aug. 19–23, 2008

HALIFAX-NORTHAMPTON CO. FAIR
Roanoke Rapids
Oct. 21–25, 2008

HAYWOOD CO. FAIR
Waynesville
Sept. 22–29, 2008

HICKORY AMERICAN LEGION FAIR
Hickory
Aug. 27–Sept. 1, 2008

IREDELL CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Statesville
Sept. 1–6, 2008

LEE REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Sanford
Oct. 6–12, 2008

MOORE CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Carthage
Oct. 7–11, 2008

N.C. MOUNTAIN STATE FAIR
Fletcher
Sept. 5–14, 2008

N.C. STATE FAIR
Raleigh
Oct. 16–26, 2008

ONSLOW CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Jacksonsville
Oct. 6–11, 2008

PITT CO. AMERICAN LEGION
AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Greenville
Sept. 29–Oct. 4, 2008

RICHMOND CO.
AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Hamlet
Oct. 14–18, 2008

ROBESON REGIONAL
AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Lumberton
Oct. 2–11, 2008

ROCKY MOUNT AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Rocky Mount
Sept. 8–13, 2008

ROWAN CO. AGRICULTURAL
& INDUSTRIAL FAIR
Salisbury
Sept. 15–20, 2008

STANLY AMERICAN LEGION POST #76 AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Albemarle
Sept. 16–20, 2008

STOKES CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
King
Sept. 8–13, 2008

SURRY CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Mt. Airy
Sept. 1–6, 2008

WARREN CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Warrenton
Sept. 23–27, 2008

WAYNE REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Goldsboro
Sept. 25–Oct. 4, 2008

WILKES CO. AGRICULTURAL FAIR
North Wilkesboro
Oct. 14–18, 2008

WILSON CO. AMERICAN
LEGION FAIR
Wilson
Sept. 16–21, 2008