SANFORD, N.C. — On the evening of Monday, November 25th, Lee County celebrated Farm-City Week with a banquet recognizing the connection of urban and rural communities and the interdependence of each. Sponsored by the N.C. Cooperative Extension in Lee County and the Sanford Kiwanis Club, 165 attendees enjoyed fellowship, music, awards and agricultural education. The keynote speaker for the evening was Dr. Matthew Vann, Assistant Professor and Tobacco Extension Specialist at NCSU. Dr. Vann’s comments focused on the changing dynamics of global tobacco markets, describing how increased competition from Zimbabwe and the ongoing tariff battle with China is having profound effects on North Carolina farmers.
Multiple accolades were also given out during the evening, including the recognition of the 2019 “Farm Enterprise Award” winners, The Jackson Family of White Hill Farms. Located in the White Hill community on the Lee /Moore County line, the family manages 10 broiler poultry houses, beef cattle and raises numerous field crops; including hemp, tobacco, corn and numerous produce crops. Every family member has his or her own role on the family farm, making decisions together and working together as a team. A true family operation, the Jackson’s have also won numerous awards, including the 2018 Environmental Stewardship Farm Family of the Year award from the North Carolina Poultry Federation and 3rd place in the 2019 NC State Fair Forage Contest. The family noted that no two years are alike and feel that the diversity of their farm has allowed them to continue to sustain.
Mr. Avron Upchurch was recognized during the evening as the 2019 “Friend of Agriculture”. Awarded to an individual making significant lifetime contributions in agriculture, Mr. Upchurch has been a tremendous asset to Lee County in countless ways through the years. His efforts serve to remind us of the connection between farms, education, communities, and service; and his impacts in each area have meant so much to the community. Mr. Upchurch has made a lifetime commitment to giving back to others and continues to lead and guide today by sharing his decades of experience. His technical acumen for horticulture and infectious enthusiasm for education make him one of the most experienced, knowledgeable, and respected Extension Master Gardener Volunteer educators in the state. For over 23 years, he has served the community by developing and teaching gardening programs and answering countless consumer questions about all things green and growing. Not only is he a mentor for new Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, he continues to serve on the Advisory Board for NC Cooperative Extension in Lee County as he has done for over 15 years, advocating for Extension programs and helping the local center better address the changing needs of county clientele.
–Bill Stone, N.C. State Extension