By Betsy Finklea
The 2014 Dillon County Farm-City Week tour and luncheon was held on Monday, November 24th.
This year’s event celebrated 60 years of Dillon County Farm-City Week events and 100 years of Clemson Cooperative Extension.
On the tour, those who attended visited the new Harbor Freight Tools store, Coleman Farms, and Minturn Cotton Co., Inc.
After the tour, a luncheon was held at the City of Dillon Wellness Center.
Wes Daniels of the Farm Service Agency and the co-chairperson of the Farm-City Week Committee gave the welcome. Barbara Causey led the pledge of allegiance and performed a selection. Reverend Dr. Dean Parker of Union Baptist Church gave the invocation. Those in attendance enjoyed a hot dog lunch. Door prizes were given.
Roger Cooper of Natural Resources Conservation Service introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Steve Meadows. Dr. Meadows is the associate dean of Public Service and Agriculture and is director of PSA Program Integration at Clemson University.
Meadows said when he thinks about Farm-City Week, he thinks about a partnership. He said a healthy vibrant community helps the state as a whole. He said one thing that has not changed is the prospering agriculture in the state.
Meadows said in his new role of program integration, he looks at the true economic impact of agriculture on the operations on Main Street.
Meadows gave some statistics about Dillon County. He said the commodity sales in Dillon County. He said the commodity sales in Dillon County in 2012 were $169 million. The number of direct jobs created by that was 615. The direct and indirect jobs created were 921.
Meadows said, “rural agriculture in South Carolina is still alive and well,” and that agriculture is the “heartbeat” of many communities in the state.
Meadows stated that there is a “bright, bright future in agriculture, which is very high tech.” He said agriculture is not just farming.
Meadows said he could not stress the importance of youth programs such as FFA and 4-H.
Meadows also spoke briefly about the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act which created a national extension program. He said in 1914 the act was signed. Frank Lever III still lives in Charleston, and the Lever family was honored at the Statehouse in March. Meadows said Clemson University is “your land grant university.”
The Clemson Extension agents in attendance were recognized.
When Meadows concluded his remarks, awards were presented.
The Outstanding Student Awards were presented by Len Power of the Dillon Kiwanis Club. The Outstanding students were:
-Dillon County Technology Center – Casie Vann. Vann is a student at Dillon County Technology Center and has been homeschooled for the past six years. She has maintained an A average for two consecutive years in cosmetology. Among her attributes are her “can-do” attitude, optimism, dependability, ability to be a team player inside and outside of the classroom, and her precise vision about her future. She volunteers at the Carolina Family Planning Center, Samaritan’s Purse Processing Center, the Back-to-School Bash, and Dillon Animal Shelter. Her hobbies include photography, traveling, cooking, reading, doing hair and makeup, painting, and helping out in the community. She hopes to attend the University of South Carolina-Beaufort.
-Dillon High School – Joseph Scott. Joseph is a member of the Key Club, FCA, and National Honor Society. He is a varsity baseball player. He helped with the 2014 Spring Games and Hallowe’en for the Special. He plans to attend the University of South Carolina Next fall.
-Lake View High School – Luc Newell. Luc is a member of the Lake View High School Future Farmers of America, the Leo Club, the Principal’s Council, the Cranium Club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and is the President of the Lake View Chapter of the Senior Beta Club. He has been a member of the Lake View Baseball team since the seventh grade. He has volunteered at the Playcard Environmental Center and the Relay for Life Cancer event. He plans to attend the University of South Carolina and major in pre-pharmacy.
-Latta High School – Nic Bethea. Bethea is a member of the LHS FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter having joined in the ninth grade and where he now serves as an officer. He helps with the local greenhouse, plant sales, and has been a member of the award-winning Tractor Driving Team. He has played both Junior Varsity and Varsity football. He is very involved with his church youth group. He has helped with a ministry to build ramps and has participated in the Salkehatchie Summer Service and plans to attend this summer. He plans to attend Horry-Georgetown Technical College and is interested in the forestry program. He would like to eventually transfer to Clemson and pursue a Bachelor’s degree.
-Dillon Christian School – Matthew Price. He has participated in football, basketball, and the SCISA Speed and Strength competition and has won numerous awards. He was a Junior Marshal and was vice-president of the DCS student body in 2-13-14. He is a member of the Senior Beta Club and the chaplain of the DCS Student Council for 2014-2015. He is a member of Little Rock Baptist Church where he is involved with the activities. He plans to attend Campbell UThe Dillon County Business Person of the Year was also presented. Owen Wallace of Dillon Seed & Supply was the recipient. The following was read:
“Dillon Seed & Supply was started in 1976 by Osbourne L. Wallace and five local business partners. With a farming background, a Clemson University degree in agriculture and experience working in a similar local business they started out small. Calling on local farmers and expanding out as far as 200 miles to reach independent feed and seed stores was the goal. It grew and changed over the years to include greenhouse growers, organic farmers, garden centers, hardware stores and vegetable seed of all description.”
“The independent feed and seed stores remain the bulk of the business today, and most of the business is not considered local. Originally there were two salesmen, two truck drivers and two warehouse workers. Today there are 17 full-time employees with six trucks for delivery. They have built the business by having scheduled deliveries and weekly customer contact. They like to think of selling to friends in the industry, not just customers.”
“Osbourne was president of the South Carolina Seedman Association, and Owen has been president of the Southern Seedman Association recently. Being active in the industry has opened many doors and has helped build the business in ways they could not have imagined in 1976.”
The Dillon County Farmer of the Year Award was presented to Daniel Baxley. Baxley took over his family’s farm when his father, Roy, a well-known farmer, passed away in December 2012. At the age of 16, he received his pilot’s license. He is a graduate of Wilson High School and a 2012 cum laude graduate of Southern Wesleyan University. He is engaged to be married to Jennifer Brown in August 2015.
After the presentation of the awards, Wes Daniels gave closing remarks.
2014 Farm-City Week committee members are: Johnnie Luehrs, Co-Chairperson, Dillon County Chamber of Commerce; Wes Daniels, Co-Chairperson, Farm Service Agency; Grady Sampson, Clemson Extension Service; Len Power and Lonnie Turner, Dillon Kiwanis Club; Earl Gleason, Jr., Chamber Member; Cullen Bryant, Farmer Representative; Roger Cooper, Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Angela Baker, Dillon Soil & Water Conservation District.
