Livestock producers recognized
By Turner Walston
Published in News on February 15, 2005 2:13 PM
The Wayne County Livestock Development Association reflected on the past year and looked ahead to 2005 at its annual meeting Monday night.
The outstanding livestock producer was recognized, service awards were presented and five students received college scholarships.
Benny Rice was named the Outstanding Livestock Producer for 2004.
News-Argus/Turner Wlaston
Benny Rice, center, received the Outstanding Producer Award at the Wayne County Livestock Development Association's 57th annual meeting. At left is Poultry Agent James Parsons, and at right is Curtis Shivar, president of the association.
After retired from the military in 1996, Rice started raising poultry and nursery pigs near Kenly. In August 2003, Perdue Farms terminated contracts with 29 broiler chicken farmers in Wayne County. Rice then formed the Sand Hills Poultry Group to explore other options for the farmers. The group compiled notebooks on individual farms with maps and pictures of broiler houses. Rice contacted other poultry integrators on behalf of the farmers and presented the notebooks to them. To date, 14 of the 29 affected farmers have received contracts with other integrators.
Katherine Allen, Gilbert Bradshaw and Evans Jenkins received service awards for their years of dedicated service to the association. Allen, Bradshaw and Jenkins are responsible for much of the work that goes into making the Wayne County Regional Fair a success, said Milton Ingram, the chairman of the fair committee, who presented the awards.
Allen, Bradshaw and Jenkins have worked with the fair for almost 20 years each, also helping with the Feast in the East and the annual Junior Livestock Show and Sale.
Ingram gave a report on the 2004 fair. He said he heard many comments from fair customers and officials from other fairs about the quality of exhibits and the carnival. He said he also received comments about the cleanliness of the fairgrounds and the security provided by the county Sheriff's Department.
The Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair received three awards at the North Carolina/South Carolina Fair Convention. The fair won the Commissioner of Agriculture's Award for the third year running for the Goodness Grows in North Carolina exhibit, which was prepared by Sandra Ingram.
The Wayne fair also won first place in the billboard category, and second place in agricultural participation.
Ingram also announced the date for the 2005 fair, which will be held from September 29 through October 8.
The fair, "will continue to grow and get better," he said.
Livestock Association President Curtis Shivar delivered the annual president's report, saying the organization is in sound financial shape.
Wayne County continues to rank high among the leading agricultural counties in the state, Shivar said. He said the association will continue to change to meet the changing needs of the livestock industry.
Shivar said that 53 exhibitors participated in last year's Junior Livestock Show and Sale. The show was considered a success, but, Shivar added, "We need to continue efforts to strengthen the marketing component."
The Feast in the East will again take place on the fairgrounds in late October, Shivar said.
Shivar presented scholarships to the following high school students:
*Kensi Gwaltney of Charles B. Aycock High School received a $1,200 scholarship to attend Wayne Community College.
*Josh Lane of Rosewood High School received a $1200 scholarship to attend Wayne Community College.
*Brooke Radford of Charles B. Aycock High School received a $1,200 scholarship to attend Wayne Community College in the transfer program.
*Scarlett Joyner of Southern Wayne High School received a $2,400 scholarship to attend North Carolina State University.
*Betsy Overman of Southern Wayne High School received a $2,400 scholarship to attend Elon University.
The association's officers were re-elected for another year. They are Shivar, president; R. Charles Aycock, first vice president; Ashley Glover, second vice president; and Eddie Pitzer, secretary-treasurer.
Bud Aycock and Mark Hood were elected to four-year terms on the association's board of directors. Committee chairmen are John Tart II for cattle, Billy Ray Thomas for horses, Barb Williamson for poultry, Mike Williams for swine; and Milton Ingram, for the fair. Serving on the nominating committee will be chairman Roy Outlaw, Lewis Herring and Tony Ballance.
About 120 association members attending Monday's meeting at the Wayne Center.