FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Fourth generation farmer and Cumberland County Agricultural Hall of Fame member William “Bill” Tew Jr. received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Feb. 10 during the 54th annual meeting of the Cumberland County Livestock Association, held at Cooperative Extension.
State Sen. Wesley Meredith and former Sen. Tony Rand presented the award to Tew, a Linden resident who is known throughout Cumberland County for being an advocate and voice for agriculture and rural communities.
Tew served as Cumberland County Farm Bureau Board member for 45 years and the N.C. Farm Bureau Board for 25 years. He also served on the N.C. Farm Bureau Land Use Advisory Committee for 11 years and the American Farm Bureau Forestry Advisory Committee for 3 years. He has received the Cumberland County Farm Bureau Outstanding Service to Agriculture Award and the Kiwanis International Distinguished Service Award.
In 1984, Tew served on the committee to explore the possibility of a building a livestock arena in Cumberland County. The Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center was opened in 1988 and continues to serve as the home office for Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation District and the Farm Service Agency. A member of the Civic Center Commission for 14 years, Tew was instrumental in the formation of the Cumberland County Fair.
Tew served on the Cumberland County Joint Planning Board for two decades where he was instrumental in the initial zoning of the county in the late 1970s and helped develop the 2010 land-use plans for Falcon, Godwin, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, and Wade. In addition, Tew worked with Cumberland County Tax Administration for 38 years as a part-time property tax lister serving the Carver’s Creek township.
Tew has served on the USDA Farm Service Agency Community Committee for 15 years, served on the USDA Farm Service Agency County Committee for 35 years and served as chairman for 10 years. In 1997, when faced with the potential closing of the Farm Service Agency office in Cumberland County, Tew worked with local, state and federal lawmakers to ensure the office remained open.
In addition to local leadership, Tew has served at the state and national level. He has served on former Gov. Mike Easley’s Agriculture Advisory Committee in 2002 and former Gov. Beverly Perdue’s NC Agriculture and Forestry Awareness Study Commission in 2013. He was on U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre’s Agricultural Advisory Board for the 7th District and served on the Agricultural Advisory Board for Rep. Charlie Rose.
Tew’s service on other boards and committees include South River Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors; Linden Community Development Club; Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Westarea Fire Department Board of Directors; Cumberland County Extension Advisory Council; 4-H Foundation; Tobacco Marketing Quota Review Committee and the Southeastern NC Agricultural Society. T
Tew is a life-long member of Sardis Presbyterian Church serving as a Deacon and a Ruling Elder. He has 17 years of Sunday School perfect attendance.
— NC Cooperative Extension
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