Achievements & Lifestyles: July/August 2008

July/August 2008 • Category: Achievements & Lifestyles • Print This Page Print This Page
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.
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