Agricultural Advisory Board
&
Meeting Information
Agricultural Advisory Board Members
An Agricultural Advisory Board has been established to implement the provisions of this program.
The Advisory Board will consist of no less than nine (9) members appointed by the Board of Commissioners as listed below, and appointments are to be for terms of three (3) years, with reappointment permitted. Terms will begin upon appointment and shall continue through June 30 of the year of expiration.
Board Membership requirements:
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Each Advisory Board member must be a Wilkes County resident or landowner.
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At least seven (7) members must be actively engaged in farming, horticulture, and/or forestry.
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The Wilkes Soil and Water Conservation District (Wilkes SWCD) Board of Supervisors, the Wilkes County Office of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, the local U.S. Farm Service Agency County Committee, the local Farm Bureau, and the local office of the North Carolina Forest Service shall each submit one name for appointment by the Board of Commissioners.
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The five (5) Advisory Board members listed above shall select one (1) member from each region for appointment by the Board of Commissioners. The member appointed for each such region will represent the interests of those Districts located in said member’s region.
Member
Claude Shew, Jr.
Toby Lee Speaks
Brenda Blake
Benny Alexander
Dan Bumgarner
Jimmy Church
Dennis McGrady
James Motsinger
Donald Parker
Position
Chair
Vice-Chair
Sec./Treasurer
Member at Large
Member at Large
Member at Large
Member at Large
Member at Large
Member at Large
Appointing Body
Wilkes SWCD
Region 1
Region 2
NC Coop. Extension - Wilkes
Region 4
NC Farm Bureau - Wilkes
NC Forest Service - Wilkes
Region 3
USDA Farm Service Agency - Wilkes
Term Expiration
June 30, 2024
June 30, 2025
June 30, 2025
June 30, 2024
June 30, 2025
June 30, 2024
June 30, 2026
June 30, 2026
June 30, 2026
Meetings
The Advisory Board uses the Wilkes County fiscal year as its meeting year. The Advisory Board members strive to meet at least once each quarter (approximately every 90 days). Meeting dates and times are posted as far in advance as possible via newspapers, their website, and social media. All meetings are open to the public.
The Advisory Board Tasks:
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Reviews and approves or disapproves applications of landowners for enrollment of qualified farmland in a District;
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Makes decisions concerning the establishment and modification of Districts;
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Execute Conservation Agreements and modifications to or revocations thereof on behalf of the County;
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Conduct public hearings;
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Advises the Board of Commissioners on projects, programs, or issues affecting the agricultural economy and agricultural, horticultural, or forestry activities within the County that will affect Districts;
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Reviews and makes recommendations concerning proposed amendments to the Ordinance;
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File an annual report with the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture or his staff in compliance with N.C.G.S. §106-743;
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Develop a draft countywide farmland protection plan as defined in N.C.G.S. § 106- 744(e) for presentation to the Board of Commissioners;
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Study additional methods of protection for farming, horticulture, forestry, and the attendant land base, and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners; and
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Perform other agricultural, horticultural, and forestry-related tasks or duties assigned by the Board of Commissioners.