JEFFERSON — “Community” is a powerful word that can describe many people, or a small number of great people. In Ashe County, there is no better way to describe farmers than as a small community of unique and hard-working individuals. Farmers in America make up 2% of the population and feed the other 98 percent.
This job often goes unrecognized and under-appreciated. That is why on Tuesday, March 19, on National Agriculture Day, the Ashe County Farm Bureau held an appreciation dinner for the farmers in the area. This get-together was the first appreciation dinner hosted in Ashe County, but they are looking to host one annually, according to Judy Bare, president of the Ashe CountyFarm Bureau Federation.
The service celebrated the hard work of many farms, giving out nine awards, including the first-ever young farmer award and recognizing the bicentennial farm of John Waltes, established in 1790, and the century farm of Joseph Phipps, established in 1854.
“We were hoping for about 100 to 115 people and it looks like we are going to get just about that,” Bare said. Friendship Baptist Church was filled with families who knew each other and used the gathering as a way to catch up with friends and talk about how everyone was doing on different farms.
After a delicious dinner provided by Smokey Mountain Barbeque, the presentation commenced. Teresa Lambert, the North Carolina Division of Agriculture Division Director of Research Stations, gave the keynote address, in which she talked about the farmers’ hard work and what technological advancements the state of North Carolina is making. At the research station in Ashe County Teresa explained that they will be installing safe feed stations that track how much feed cattle receive and how much milk the calves will receive as well. These feed stations will be helpful to the county as cattle is the second highest grossing product of the county, producing $7.5 billion in the year 2021, according to the Ashe County Farm Bureau.
“We really want to get the word out to people about the work all these folks are doing so that we can have one of these dinners every year,” Bare said. “We had a few hiccups tonight, but we hope to be better next year.”
After the keynote address, multiple awards were given out to farms, beekeepers, and families for their achievements in agriculture. Then, the closing remarks were given, and thanks were given to all the farmers in attendance who made eating for the country possible.
State Awards:
NC Agriculture Hall of Fame — Charles YoungMaster BeeKeeper/Lifetime achievement award in Beekeeping — Jim RashNational Christmas Tree and Wreath — Alex Church and Amber ScottAshe County Agriculture Hall of Fame Christmas Trees — Joe ClaytonCattlemen Award — Rodney CheekRecognition of Century Farms:Bicentennial Farm — John Walters, 1790Century Farm — Joseph Phipps, 1854Young Farmer Award — Evan WalkerAshe County Agriculture Appreciation Conservation Farm of the Year — C&C Dairy
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