CATAWBA COUNTY FARM BUREAU Board of Director’s Member Lucas Richard received the Outstanding Contributor to Agriculture Award for 2009. The award is presented each year as part of the Farm City Banquet Program, which was held Nov. 24 at the Hickory American Legion Meeting Hall.

CLAY COUNTY FARM BUREAU Members participated in the county’s Tractor Parade on Sept. 19. The parade, sponsored by the Clay County Tractor Club, stretched almost two miles and included about 80 entries, from a 1940 Farmall to the latest farm equipment. The event raised $3,000 for the Dwight Smith Scholarship Fund, created in honor of a local resident killed in a farming accident. The money will be awarded to a student studying for a career in agriculture, farming or forestry.

COLUMBUS COUNTY FARM BUREAU Member Garland McCullen was among the first 100 inductees to the North Carolina 4-H Hall of Fame in summer 2009. McCullen was Agriculture Extension Agent and Extension Service County Director.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY FARM BUREAU honored Justin Kyle Smith as its Young Farmer of the Year during its annual meeting. Smith, 23, is a 2007 graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in agricultural business management. He currently produces 700 acres of cotton, 350 acres of soybeans and 25 acres of tobacco with his father on their family farm.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY FARM BUREAU awarded Bill Tew with its Outstanding Service Award. Tew is a Member of NCFB’s Board of Directors, as well as the county Vice President.
Tew is a shining example of outstanding achievement and public service. Among Tew’s many achievements, are the following highlights:
Served as a Cumberland County Farm Bureau Board Member for 37 years.
Served as a North Carolina Farm Bureau State Board Member for 17 years.
Served on the USDA Farm Service Agency Community Committee for 15 years.
Served on Agricultural Advisory Boards.

DAVIE COUNTY FARM BUREAU presented retiring Board Member Charles Phillips a plaque honoring him for 46 years of service. Fellow Board Member Edwin Boger presented Phillips with the recognition during the county Annual Meeting.

DUPLIN COUNTY FARM BUREAU Women’s Committee recently presented 37 one-gallon bags of drink tabs, which were collected for the Ronald McDonald House. Also, they presented a check for $50 to the Kenansville Fire Department.

DUPLIN COUNTY FARM BUREAU held its county Annual Meeting on Oct. 15, with guests Ben Parrish and Josh Smith from the Sheriff’s Department Gang Enforcement Unit. They presented a gang awareness program to about 220 members during the annual meeting.

FRANKLIN COUNTY FARM BUREAU recently participated in the third North Carolina Goat & Sheep Producers Roundup at the Guilford County Cooperative Extension Center in Greensboro. Franklin County Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors sponsored the “NC Chefs Cook-off of Lamb and Chevon,” which included a $2,000 prize for the winning chefs. Catawba Farm Bureau Member and goat producer Susan Proctor was one of three judges in the competition. The two-day event drew more than 135 goat and sheep producers from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. It also included educational sessions and a training session for youth.

HAYWOOD COUNTY FARM BUREAU honored dairy farmer Wade Francis during its Annual Meeting for 48 years of dedicated service to the organization. Francis served 19 years as county President and 28 years on the state Board of Directors. During his service as President, Francis was instrumental in moving Haywood County Farm Bureau from rented property to its own property and a new state-of-the-art building to serve the membership. Francis worked diligently to address the concerns of county and state farmers on issues concerning production agriculture, and was an outstanding spokesman for vocational education, farm land-use tax, farmland preservation, agriculture research and environmental issues. Haywood County’s 4,500 members are appreciative of the 48 years of leadership Francis gave the organization.

HAYWOOD COUNTY FARM BUREAU was recognized for its support for NCFB’s Agriculture in the Classroom Program. The county paid the salary of nine substitute teachers and provided breakfast and lunch for workshop participants. Attendees included Anne Garrett, Superintendant of Schools; Terry Rogers, Haywood County Farm Bureau President; Sandy Caldwell, Elementary Supervisor; and Chuck Francis, School Board Chairman.

IREDELL COUNTY FARM BUREAU recently presented financial aid to the county’s five Future Farmers of America chapters. County President David Sides, fourth from left, presented representatives from the five chapters with the donations.

LEE COUNTY FARM BUREAU was a sponsor of the Third Annual Meat Goat Show held Sept. 16 at the Lee Regional Fair. The event included a Showmanship Competition and exhibitors from Richmond, Moore, Montgomery, Hoke, Anson and Lee counties. County Farm Bureau President John Cameron and Katherine Southard, Miss North Carolina 2009, presented ribbons to the winners of the goat show.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY FARM BUREAU established an Agriculture Foundation endowment in honor of NCFB Senior Vice President J.M. Wright Jr. The $50,000 endowment is a scholarship for Rockingham County students planning to attend North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, or a North Carolina community college to study for a career in agriculture or agri-science. The endowment honors the commitment that Wright has demonstrated as a leader and former President of the Rockingham County Farm Bureau. Rockingham County Farm Bureau previously established an endowment at Rockingham Community College and provides three $1,000 scholarships.

SAMPSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Women’s Committee served a pizza and Pepsi lunch to the Compensatory Education Class at Sampson Community College. About 50 people were served.

WAKE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Women’s Committee recently visited Hope Chapel preschoolers to help educate them during their farm unit of study. Sixty children milked a cow, made “moo masks,” painted pumpkins and made pumpkin pie snacks. Also, Women’s Committee Member Michelle Dupree delivered pumpkins to kindergarten and first-grade classes at Willow Springs Elementary School.

WILSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Women’s Committee recently held a car seat safety check at Rock Ridge Elementary School, with the help of the school’s principal, the Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation and the local EMS. Before the event, parents were notified that when they came to drop their child off at school, they could have their child’s safety seat inspected to make sure it was positioned and secured in their vehicle properly. Parents were also given pamphlets on car seat safety. The inspections were free.

COUNTY FARM BUREAU Members from Anson, Ashe, Catawba, Iredell, McDowell, Lincoln, Rowan and Yadkin counties traveled to Moultrie, Ga. in October 2009 to attend the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo. North Carolina Farm Bureau President Larry Wooten also attended this year’s event as North Carolina was the Spotlight State in 2009. NCFB, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, North Carolina State University and The N.C. State Grange collaborated on an exhibit representing North Carolina agriculture. Henderson County sod farmer Fred Pittillo was recognized as the North Carolina Farmer of the Year.

WAKE COUNTY FARM BUREAU set up interactive agricultural displays at the Jordan Lake Heritage Day on Oct. 3. Vice President Richard Jenks showed visitors how to shell corn and loop tobacco. Michelle and Melanie Dupree offered children the chance to milk a cow, make a “moo mask,” and choose an activity book to take home. About 50 children participated.

WAYNE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Members Bryant and Debbie Worley were among the four winners nationwide of the 2009 Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award given by Pork Checkoff in conjunction with National Hog Farmer Magazine. Judges representing pork producers and environmental groups selected Bryant Worley Farms, Inc. of Princeton from among candidates who demonstrate commitment to upholding the ideal relationship between pork production and the environment. The Worley’s operate their farm with the thinking that farmers were the first environmentalists, and they were previously honored in 2005 as the North Carolina Soil and Water Association’s Outstanding Conservation Farm Family. The Worley’s also played an important role in raising the 2009 National Thanksgiving Turkey presented by the National Turkey Federation for the White House “Pardoning.” The Worley Family Farm, growers for Goldsboro Milling, Company, Inc., cared for the birds.

NORTH CAROLINA FARM BUREAU’S LEAD TEAM had its fall conference Sept. 17-19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Asheville. The focus of this September’s conference was Communicating with the Media. Bob Wilson, of American Farm Bureau, conducted a session called “Have I Got A Story for You,” during which participants held mock interviews with each other and were critiqued. The group visited WLOS-TV’s station to learn how television programs are put together and how to prepare themselves for television interviews. They also visited the Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper, where they met with the editor and the agriculture reporter to learn ways to hone their skills for print media. The conference also included a visit to the Biltmore vineyard, a workshop on the proper way to write Thank You notes and a trip to the Asheville Farmers Market.

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.

CAMDEN COUNTY

CRAVEN COUNTY

CRAVEN COUNTY

CRAVEN COUNTY

DUPLIN COUNTY

FRANKLIN COUNTY

HYDE COUNTY

JOHNSTON COUNTY

JONES COUNTY

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.

PASQUOTANK COUNTY

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. ]]> http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2009/07/achievements-lifestyles-julyaugust-09/feed/ 1 http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2009/07/county-annual-meetings-%e2%80%93-2009/ http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/2009/07/county-annual-meetings-%e2%80%93-2009/#comments Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:44:50 +0000 Farm Bureau http://www.ncfbmagazine.org/dev/?p=1826 County Annual Meetings – 2009

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

CASWELL COUNTY Farm Bureau members Donna Ligon and Jennifer Cook recently represented Farm Bureau at Aging with Gusto, a seniors’ event at the Caswell County Civic Center. Ligon and Cook distributed 150 Farm Bureau bags containing membership information, farm safety information, scratch pads and other items. Ligon and Georgie Holden also gave out information about Ag in the Classroom, lesson plans and Farm Bureau bags containing notepads and brochures during the Caswell County Schools Benefits Fair.

In other activity…Caswell County Farm Bureau recently hosted Congressman Brad Miller. The congressman talked with farmers about their concerns regarding national legislative matters. Also, Caswell County Farm Bureau held a Member Appreciation Day, where they served refreshments and hosted almost 50 guests.

CLAY COUNTY Farm Bureau was a main sponsor of the county’s Tractor Parade, Sept. 27. The parade, organized 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 for the tractors went to a Hayesville High School Scholarship fund. An estimated 1,500 spectators, including State Sen. John Snow, attended the parade, where they were given the chance to look at and ask about the tractors, as well as pose for pictures on them. The parade generated $3,500 for the scholarship fund.

DAVIE COUNTY Farm Bureau and the Davie County Cooperative Extension Service sponsored a Weights and Measures Seminar at the Davie County Public Library recently. Eighty-five people attended the event and said they learned much and appreciated Farm Bureau for offering it to them.

DARE COUNTY Farm Bureau held a Dessert Hospitality Hour for Farm Bureau members from Western North Carolina. During their visit, they toured a local fish company, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Wright Memorial State Park and attended an outdoor theater production of The Lost Colony. The event was held at the Dare County Farm Bureau office in Manteo and a variety of desserts were served.

DUPLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau presented scholarships of $1,000 each to Tiffany Young, who won a scholarship for the third year, and James Hunter Frederick, the 2008 scholarship recipient. Both students attend N.C. State University. Duplin County Farm Bureau President Dexter Edwards made the award presentations.

In other activity…the Women’s Committee prepared a meal for board members to raise money for the R. Flake Shaw Scholarship.

FRANKLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau, along with Time Warner, the Franklin County United Way and Cooperative Extension Service, co-sponsored the 14th Annual Agriculture Field Day Thursday, Sept. 18 at Riverbend Park in Louisburg. About 800 third-graders attended the event, where exhibits created awareness of animal agriculture and showcased the importance of this industry in everyday life. Farmers who helped teach were Bill Wallace, New Light Angus Farm; Maxine Mosley, JaMaLa Farm; Warren Harris, Harris Farm; Carvel Cheves, Clover C Farm; Deborah Perry, Dream Llama Farm; Yevette Green, Cedar Meadow Farm; and Mike Jones, Mae Farm.

PENDER COUNTY Farm Bureau member Calvin (Cal) Lewis Jr. is the recipient of the 2008 Department of Horticultural Science Outstanding Alumnus Award. The award is given yearly by the Department of Horticultural Science at N.C. State University. A 1977 graduate of N.C. State University, Lewis grew up on a family farm that specializes in strawberries, strawberry plants, blueberries and vegetable production. A reception to honor Lewis was hosted by the Department of Horticultural Science at N.C. State University, Oct. 3.

STOKES COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors voted to issue a $20 check to every participant in the Northwest Junior Livestock Show and Sale at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem. Jordan Rawlings bought the winner.

WAKE COUNTY Farm Bureau presented Alexis Anne Brogden, of Wake Forest, with a $1,000 scholarship during the September board meeting. County President Jackie Thompson made the presentation to Brogden, who graduated from Wake Forest-Rolesville High School and is now a freshman at N.C. State University.

In other activity…Belinda Evans, along with Shirley and Fred Burt, participated in Safety Day at Wal-Mart in Fuquay-Varina. They used the Safety in the Sun display board, and Willy was there to help them give out sunscreen, sun-safety pamplets and books and stickers for children.

In Memory Of
Marie Joyner, former North Carolina Farm Bureau State Women’s Committee chair and a member of the State Board of Directors from 1987 till 1990. She was also the first chair of Nash County Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee and was still serving in that role at the time of her passing. She is the wife of Warnell Joyner, former Nash County Farm Bureau president and state board member. She will be remembered as a true friend and dedicated volunteer, and our hearts go out to Mr. Joyner, the Joyner family and Nash County Farm Bureau.

NORTH CAROLINA Farm Bureau Federation held its Leadership, Education and Activity Development (LEAD) Program Conference, Sept.18-20 in Durham. LEAD is a leadership development program designed to develop and strengthen the skills of individuals and couples (ages 36-52) who are involved in agriculture. The three-day conference included guest speakers from American Farm Bureau Federation and North Carolina Farm Bureau, a trip to the UNC-CH School of Government and workshops on a variety of topics, such as farm liability issues and their problems and solutions, and understanding N.C. county governments.

BLADEN COUNTY Farm Bureau Board Member Danny McDuffie (center) and his son Dan (right) received this year’s Peanut Yield Champions Award from Bob Sutter with the N.C. Peanut Growers Association. In addition to winning on the county level, the McDuffies were also awarded the North Carolina State Yield Award. The McDuffie’s average yield for the 2007 growing season was 5,700 pounds per acre, which is an accolade to their farming and production practices.

In other activity…The Bladen County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee donated photosynthesis promenade kits to county schools. Denise White, left, is shown here teaching her class using the kit. Students enjoyed the kits and learned about agriculture.

CARTERET COUNTY Farm Bureau awarded two scholarships of $500 each to Amber Nead and Hannah Mical.

In other activity…Carteret County Farm Bureau recently hosted a two-day meeting of the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. The county provided refreshments for breakfast, afternoon snacks, and the use of its county board meeting room in the Beaufort office.

CARTERET COUNTY Farm Bureau President Mickey Simmons was awarded a plaque “in recognition, appreciation and support for reading in the schools of North Carolina.”

CASWELL COUNTY Farm Bureau member Von “Mac” Baldwin, a beef and poultry farmer from Yanceyville, was recently named the 2008 North Carolina winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. He is one of 10 finalists for the Southeastern Farmer of the Year Award, which will be announced Oct. 14 at the Sunbelt Ag Expo farm show in Moultrie, Ga.

Baldwin has more than 400 grass-fed Charolais cows, which he sells through his Web site, www.baldwinbeef.com, at Whole Foods stores in North and South Carolina and at the Carrboro Farmers Market. Caswell County Farm Bureau President Hester Vernon nominated Baldwin for the award because of his active participation in Farm Bureau and other agricultural activities.

In other activity…Caswell County Farm Bureau participated in “Aging with Gusto,” a seminar for senior citizens held June 11 at the Caswell County Civic Center. Farm Bureau representatives handed out 120 bags containing information about member services to the more than 100 seniors and other vendors in attendance.

CHOWAN COUNTY Farm Bureau members recently took part in a Farm Safety Day at the Chowan County Recreation Department in Tyner. About 300 third-through-fifth-graders from D.F. Walker Elementary School attended the event. The schoolchildren visited a variety of booths and learned ways to stay safe when dealing with combines and tractors, lawn mowers, fire, RVs, chemicals, bad weather and water. Willy the Safety Squirrel was on hand to greet the children as they arrived and passed out coloring books, crayons, safety tattoos and stickers.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY Farm Bureau held a water quality meeting June 3 at the Charlie Rose Center. Twenty-six people from several counties attended. Cumberland County Farm Bureau’s YF&R Committee sponsored the meeting.

DARE COUNTYFarm Bureau’s Board of Directors and special guests feasted on a fresh seafood dinner, which included soft shell crabs that were hauled in by veteran board member Edward Etheridge earlier in the day. The group gathered to congratulate Thomas Pratt-Lozupone on receiving a $1,000 scholarship from the county Farm Bureau to be used toward his expenses at N.C. State University.

EDGECOMBE COUNTY Farm Bureau awarded five $1,000 scholarships to local high school students. The scholarship recipients were: Matthew Drake, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Drake of Pinetops; Caroline Pilgreen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James T. Pilgreen of Whitakers; Jacob Pearce, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Pearce of Tarboro; Eric Parker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Parker of Rocky Mount; and Michele Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kent Smith of Rocky Mount. Drake, Pilgreen, Pearce and Smith all plan to attend N.C. State University in the fall. Parker will attend N.C. A & T State University.

FRANKLIN COUNTY Farm Bureau and the United Way co-sponsored the 14th Annual Ag Field Day Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Riverbend Park. Every third-grader in the county was invited to attend the event, which offered a morning of hands-on experiences with agricultural life.

Top row, from left, Farm Bureau’s Kay Sims was on hand as Franklin County Farm Bureau’s Vice-President Steve Nelms presented a contribution on behalf of Farm Bureau and United Way to event planner Martha Mobley. United Way’s Priscilla Henderson is pictured far right. On hand for the check presentation were the children of Farm Bureau members Alyssa and Matthew Dorsey, who operate Bahemah Angus Farm in Louisburg. They are, from left, Micah, Leah, Anna and Silas.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY Farm Bureau Board Members Johnny and Shelby Wallace picked up an award for Wallace Farm in Huntersville at the Charlotte Business Journal’s Green Awards. The event took place April 16 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Wallace Farm, along with Linda Construction and R.T. Dooley, was presented the Green Entrepreneurial Effort/Innovative Idea award. The program was sponsored by the Charlotte Business Journal and the Charlotte chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

NASH COUNTY Farm Bureau former board of director’s member Elmer Daniel received a certificate naming him an Honorary Director. County President Greg Bunn presented Daniel with the certificate and a plaque “In Appreciation and Honor” of his service during a directors’ meeting April 3 in Nashville. Daniel joined the Farm Bureau in 1947 and served on the board of directors from 1961 to 2007. He also served as a county commissioner and on the board of Nash General Hospital.

American Farm Bureau Federation’s American Farm Bureau Federation’s Foundation for Agriculture awarded North Carolina teacher Sandra Hatley with a $1,200 White-Reinhardt Fund for Education scholarship to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference in Costa Mesa, CA.

Hatley was one of 10 teachers recognized for outstanding efforts to promote agricultural literacy. American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture sponsored the awards in cooperation with the AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee.

RICHMOND COUNTY Farm Bureau Board Member Myers Waddell and his wife, Earlene, participated in Washington Street School’s N.C. Heritage Day, June 6. Mrs. Waddell spoke to nine classes of fourth-graders about North Carolina agriculture and how people farmed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The students learned about the many different commodities produced by N.C. farmers, such as chicken, turkey, cotton, tobacco and corn. Afterward, Mr. and Mrs. Waddell presented each class with donated Frisbees.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY Farm Bureau recently awarded scholarships to three students starting college this fall. Tiffany Brown, of Rutherfordton, is a graduate of Chase High School and is the daughter of Michael and Kathy Brown. She will attend N.C. State University and will receive $1,000 per semester for four years. Haley Lovelace, of Bostic, is a graduate of East Rutherford High School and is the daughter of Ronald and Debora Lovelace. She will also attend NCSU and will receive $1,000 per semester for four years. Tramell Forney, of Union Mills, is a graduate of R-S Central High School and the son of Tramell and Sandra Forney. He will attend N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro and will receive $1,000 per semester for four years.

STANLY COUNTY Farm Bureau held a Member Appreciation Day May 31 at the local Farm Bureau office.

Georgia and Michael, the children of Andrew and Ashley Burleson, milk a cow at Member Appreciation Day.

WARREN COUNTY Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors held its Second Annual Legislative Dinner recently. Among the 60 attendees at the event were four of the five county commissioners, farm advisers from the Washington, D.C. offices of U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, N.C. Rep. Michael Wray and N.C. Sen. Doug Berger.

In other activity…Women’s Committee members participated in the National Education Association’s Read Across America this spring at Mariam Boyd Elementary School in Warrenton. They served refreshments and lunch to 35 teachers at a workshop co-led by Pat Riethmier, local N.C. Teacher of the Year for Ag in the Classroom. In April, the group visited the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill and donated $200 in supplies and home-based goodies. Women’s Committee members also sponsored local Relay for Life activities.

Also…The board of directors focused on community aid this year and donated $700 to the local 4-H for the spring five-county livestock show and sale. They also donated $5,000 to a Jaycees fundraiser for a local Farm Bureau member, a dairy farmer, who was involved in a farm accident.

And…The board of directors awarded $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors Lauren Lesas and Lindsay Varnadore. The scholarships are renewable for three years as long as the students continue to major in an agriculture-related field and maintain a specific GPA. The board awarded one-time $500 scholarships to seven other worthy students majoring in a variety of fields.

WAYNE COUNTY Farm Bureau Board of Directors sponsored a team in the 2008 Wayne County Relay For Life May 16 and 17 on the Wayne Community College campus in Goldsboro. Activities were held throughout the year to raise money for the annual American Cancer Society event.

The team’s theme for its tent at the relay was “Sowing Seeds for a Cure.” The group paid tribute to team members who were cancer survivors. They encouraged event-goers to pay tribute to loved ones who either survived or succumbed to battles with cancer by sowing a seed in a planter and writing their loved one’s name on a paper flower.

In its rookie year, the team, through its fund-raising efforts, donations and corporate sponsorships raised $6,500.

“I am so proud of all the hard work that our team members and volunteers have put in to make our first year participating in the Relay a success,” said team captain Amy Shivar. “On behalf of the Wayne County Farm Bureau Relay For Life team, I would like to thank everyone who has donated to this event.”