Davidson County Farm Bureau celebrates 50 years

Larry Wooten, president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, quoted former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee to demonstrate how important is was to celebrate benchmarks of success during the Davidson County Farm Bureau annual meeting.

“It's when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached,” he said. “It is important to take the time to recognize milestones.”

Davidson County Farm Bureau celebrated 50 years of service during its annual meeting on Thursday. The local farm bureau was incorporated on Aug. 13, 1963. The annual meeting has been a highly anticipated event over the years.

During his remarks, Wooten reminded the group of how important agriculture is to North Carolina, and especially Davidson County

“One out of five people who went to work this morning owe their jobs to agriculture and agribusiness,” Wooten said. “It is big business in Davidson County.”

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-8th, was also present at the meeting to update members on the agricultural issues he is addressing. Hudson is also a member of the House Agricultural Committee.

“Their is a lot of partisan fighting in Washington, but when it comes to agricultural issues, it is not about partisanship,” Hudson said.

He discussed several issues, including cuts to the Farm Bill and immigration reform. He said issues with visas have a major impact on agriculture in this country. He said that he supports a pathway to get more legal workers based on job skills.

“We need workers and if we can't get them here legally, then there is always going to be that draw for illegals,” Hudson said. “We need to fix the visa program. It is easier to come hear illegally for jobs that to come here legally.”

The North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation was organized in 1936, with the goal of protecting the interests of farm and rural families across the state. The organization's mission statement is to develop, foster, promote and protect programs for the welfare of farmers, including their economic, social and educational well being.

Some of the educational programs championed by the Farm Bureau include the R. Flake Shaw Scholarship Fund, launched in 1965, which assists young people pursuing agriculture-related careers. In 2012 the Davidson County Farm Bureau gave a $1,000 scholarship to Jordan Shipton, who attends North Carolina State University to obtain a degree in agricultural education. They also donated to different Future Farmers of America chapters in the county to be used for educational programs.

Davidson County Farm Bureau continues to work in close relationship with the Davidson County Cooperative Extension Service to help promote programs for the welfare of farmers in the county. In the past years, the Davidson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors donated the Davidson County 4-H program to help fund training expenses for volunteers and to provide scholarships for county, district and state level 4-H programs. Another area, the farm bureau supports is public programs for the general public. Davidson County Farm Bureau purchased five shares of the Community Supported Agriculture program from High Rock Nursery and used these shares to donate boxes of food to the Davidson Medical Ministries.

Wooten reflected on the forethought that former bureau members had when considering forming a farm bureau in Davidson County.

“Fifty years ago the farmers of Davidson County put their faith in the farm bureau,” Wooten said. “You can be proud of what has happened since 1963 and proud of what you have achieved. I hope you will look to farm bureau as a tool to help you meet the challenges and to give hope to you and your family.”

The Dispatch, By Sharon Myers