Leneel Chamberlain, owner of the farm where Farm Day was held recently, was presented by Nancy Keith, county extension agent, with the Volunteer of the Year Award Thursday night at the Yadkin County Park.
County Extension Director Nancy Keith thanked her staff, Melissa Staebner, extension agent and 4-H Youth Development leader, Marilyn Wells, extension agent and Family Consumer Sciences director, livestock extension agent Phil Rucker, Extension Area Specialized Agent in dairy Elizabeth Moretz, Ginger McGhee, administrative secretary, and secretary Cathy Sprinkle.
Leneel Chamberlain, owner of the farm where Farm Day was held recently, was named Volunteer of the Year. He was very emotional when he accepted the award from Keith, and he thanked the entire crowd. He is looking forward to July when there will be special open house near his farm.
“I have open house for a rodeo building we are building,” he said. “I hope it will open in late fall. The building will be up in July, but it won’t be completed inside. It will be the home base for Tri-State Youth Rodeo, but they will have other events to raise funds for scholarships. It’s all for kids four through 19.”
The building will contain 60,000 feet of space.
“This year our recipient is always involved in the community and the state,” said Keith. He has served on many boards and is a supporter of the Yadkin County 4-H Club.
“He has been and continues to be very involved in the leadership of agriculture. He’s opened his farm up many years for Farm Animal Day where over 600 children go there each year to learn about agriculture. He holds many field days and works with us on test plots. Also he lets young people come to his farm and do livestock judging.”
Chamberlain got choked up after getting the award, and he was very appreciative to the loud applause.
Volunteer Elsie Davis of East Bend helped out with Farm Day. “I sanitized all their hands,” she said, laughing. “Every one of them. I thought it was great. I had a couple of grandchildren who were in there.” She enjoyed the banquet last year even though it was cold and rainy, she said.
Trish Rupard, a volunteer, helped with Farm Day too, and last summer she volunteered for classes held for Chef and a Child. “It’s an extension program that works with teen-agers,” she said. “They teach them hygiene and how to use knives. It’s a really good program. I also head up the autism support group here in Yadkin County. I’m in charge of it. We meet the last Tuesday night of each month from 6:30 to 8:30.”
“We really appreciate all you’ve done,” said Keith to the crowd.
Marilyn Wells gave the “Thought for the Day.”
“The Gardens of Kindness” was her theme. “It has to do with volunteers also. That’s what you wonderful people are,” she said. “Thanks volunteers for your generous gifts. The world is a kinder, brighter place because of your commitment and care.”
David Moxley said, “I’m very supportive of the Cooperative Extension Service. My kids were in 4-H and showed in many of the livestock shows. We’ve been very supportive. I know what it does for the young folks.” Moxley taught school for 30 years here, teaching architectural engineering and drafting.
What about the economy and farmers?
“The economy is tough right now. I grew up as a farmer. I saved tobacco money. That’s what I put myself through college with. I still raised tobacco into the 90s. You couldn’t get labor unless you had a large crop. I know what they are going through in a way. It’s just one more extreme time now for the farmers and everyone right now.”
Hassel Brown of East Bend was with his wife. He served with the Farm Service Agency, serving nine years with the board.
“The farmers in the district elected me to that position. You can only do nine years. I did test plots for the extension, experimental tobacco,” he said. “You did so many rows and so many plants. A lot of it is variety selection. There are about 40 different varieties that you can plant. You have to decide what is best for the farm.”
Keith said there were 375 volunteers producing 52,211 hours of work. “Our volunteers are extremely important to the programs that we do,” she said, introducing her staff.
Jacob Rucker and Gwyn Shore provided entertainment, singing to the crowd, and volunteers were recognized with certificates of appreciation. Board of Commissioners member David Moxley received a certificate too. There were many door prizes.
Post a Comment
