Livestock Association holds annual meeting
By Steve Herring
Published in News on February 23, 2016 1:46 PM
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Curtis Shivar gives the president's report during the annual meeting of the Wayne County Livestock Development Association.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Dale and Ben Dunn, from left, of Sandy Ridge Farm in Mount Olive are presented the 2016 Outstanding Producer of the Year Award by Stefani Garbacik during the Wayne County Livestock Development Association's annual meeting. Ben began farming in 1975 and was later joined by his son Dale in 1989.
Ben Dunn and his son, Dale, owners of Sandy Ridge Farm at Mount Olive, Monday night were presented the Wayne County Livestock Development Association's Outstanding Producer of the Year Award.
The Dunns were recognized for their contributions to the association and the county's livestock industry. In addition to their livestock operations, the Dunns continue to grow corn, soybeans and wheat.
More than 200 people attended the association's annual meeting held at Lane Tree Golf Club, during which the association also presented its Service Award to the Wayne County Extension and Community Association.
Scholarships were awarded to eight high school seniors, new officers were elected and updates presented on its finances and the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair that it sponsors.
The association has awarded 129 scholarships totaling $192,800 since 1985.
Wayne County Extension Service Director Kevin Johnson spoke about the progress on the county's planned agriculture and convention center.
Ben Dunn began farming in 1975, making a lifelong commitment to the farming industry, said Extension Service agent Stefani Garbacik, who presented the award.
"His wife, Sue, has always supported and worked alongside Ben," she said. "They have three children, Dale, Lavone and Sherri and six grandchildren.
"When Dale was a child, his dad would take him along to the Faison Fruit and Vegetable Market and the tobacco market, where he would follow along with the sales and admire the auctioneers."
That interest led Dale Dunn to earning his auctioneering license in 1990 from Lenoir Community College, she said.
He started his own auctioneering company, RDD Auction in 2005 after the tobacco buyout.
The company specializes in farm equipment sales and continues to grow and expand, Ms. Garbacik said.
"He can be seen all around Wayne and Sampson counties volunteering his auctioneering skills at church harvest sales," she said. "His wife says that he's told many people that he can't preach, he can't sing, so this is his way of giving back to the church."
Ms. Garbacik said that Ben Dunn has been diagnosed with kidney failure, but continues his daily activities on the farm.
"It is clear he loves doing it and will continue for a long time," she said. "Ben continues to be the glue that holds the family together, and we are proud to have him here in Wayne County."
He is an active member of Westbrook Grove Free Will Baptist Church, she said.
Dale Dunn graduated from N.C. State University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in field crop technology and began row crop farming with his father.
Sandy Ridge Farm was started in 1994 to expand the row crop operation into hogs (contracted with Maxwell Foods) and cattle, she said.
Ms. Garbacik said Dale Dunn is an important member of the Wayne County Livestock Development Association, Wayne County Livestock Show and Sale Committee, Wayne County Cattlemen's Association, Newton Grove Masonic Lodge and Jordans Chapel Fire Department.
"Dale's children, Mary and Daniel, have been active participants in the Wayne County Livestock Show and Sale, the fall circuit shows and compete in the livestock educational competitions," Ms. Garbacik said. "The love of livestock that they learned from their father and grandfather is something to be proud of."
He and his wife, Angie, and their children attend Falling Creek United Methodist Church.
Curtis Shivar, who was re-elected association president, presented the Service Award to the Wayne County Extension and Community Association (ECA) -- formerly known as home demonstration clubs.
ECA has been a valuable asset to the fair for many years, he said. Each year more than 40 volunteers manage the registration, judging, arrangement and return of fair entries for 13 categories, Shivar said.
Members also organize and manage the Senior Citizens Contest/Showcase each year, he said.
"We cannot forget the educational booths that ECA members created and put up for the fair for so many years," he said. "All of this volunteer service adds up to over 900 volunteer hours each year that ECA members have contributed to the fair. We simply could not provide what we do without them.
"ECA has always been willing to adapt and try new things to help us keep our fair current and relevant to the world we live in today."
The volunteers show up regardless of weather conditions, he said.
"The excellence in service they have provided has done much to ensure the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair remains a strong, award-winning fair for the citizens of Wayne County as well as surrounding counties," he said.
Along with re-electing Shivar, the association re-elected R. Charles Aycock as first vice president, Ashley Glover as second vice president, and Mark Hood as secretary-treasurer.
Roy Outlaw and Billy Ray Thomas were elected to four-year terms on the board of directors.