Agenda - 06-01-2010 - 3a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 1, 2010 Action Agenda Item No. � —a SUBJECT: Resolution Honorinq Joe Thompson — 2010 Small Farmer of the Year DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No and Recreation; Cooperative Extension ATTACHMENT INFORMATION CONTACT: Resolution Dave Stancil, DEAPR Director, 245 -2510 Mike Lanier, Cooperative Extension, 245 -2063 PURPOSE: To recognize Mr. Joseph A. Thompson, owner and operator of Thompson Prawn Farm, as the 2010 Gilmer L. and Clara Y. Dudley Small Farmer of the Year through the Cooperative Extension program at North Carolina A &T State University. BACKGROUND: Joseph (Joe) Thompson and his wife Geraldine relocated to northwestern Orange County in 1979 to raise tobacco on 57 acres in the Cedar Grove community. Over the past five years, Mr. Thompson has converted the former tobacco farm into a freshwater prawn farm. The prawn farm is one of nine such farms located in North Carolina, and one of just two operating west of Interstate 95. Mr. Thompson has worked very hard to develop the prawn farm into a highly viable and sustainable operation. He sells 75 percent of the annual prawn harvest directly to local restaurants in the Triangle and the other 25 percent to a Virginia cooperative. Other portions of the farm are used to raise crops (corn, soybeans, and small grain) that are used to create a special, high - protein feed for the prawns. Mr. Thompson has worked with the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District and Orange County Cooperative Extension on several projects to improve the operation. He is also working with the Black Family Land Trust and the County's Lands Legacy program to protect a large portion of the farm with an agricultural conservation easement. On March 24, 2010 Joe Thompson received the Small Farmer of the Year award during a ceremony at North Carolina A &T State University in Greensboro. The award is presented annually to a North Carolina farmer who exemplifies prudent stewardship of the land and advantageous use of Extension in a manner befitting the legacy left by Gilmer L. and Clara Y. Dudley. An informative video presentation regarding Mr. Joe Thompson and his prawn farm can be viewed at: http:// www .ag.ncat.edu /sfy10 /index.htmi. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached resolution recognizing Joseph A. Thompson on receipt of the 2010 Small Farmer of the Year and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution on behalf of the Board.