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<br />The Board considered an application from John Pape for certification as qualifying <br />farmland within the Cedar Grove Voluntary Agricultural District. <br />Dave Stancil said that these districts are provided to recognize the voluntary protection <br />of farmland at the County level. Orange County began its program in 1992, and since then, 11 <br />farms have joined totaling 2,155 acres to date. He went through the criteria for the designation. <br />This particular farm is 65 acres and is located on Efland-Cedar Grove Road. He invited John <br />Pape forward. This farm will bring the total acreage of voluntary agricultural districts to 2,221. <br />The County Commissioners commended the Pope family for this contribution. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Nelson to <br />approve an application from John Pope for certification as qualifying farmland within the Cedar <br />Grove Voluntary Agricultural District. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />c. Youth Voices Summer Leadership Training Institute <br />The Board received an update on the Fifth Annual Youth Voices Summer Leadership <br />Training Institute. <br />Cooperative Extension Director Fletcher Barber made this presentation. In July 2007 <br />Orange County instituted its Fifth Annual Summer Leadership Training Institute with 15 <br />participants. There were 30 individuals that applied. This program was developed at North <br />Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro and was developed as an adult program, which <br />was called Community Voices. This program develops groups of community leaders who can <br />work together over time to identify important community issues and solve problems in the <br />community. Because of the success of the program, it was adapted to become a youth <br />program. This program has been a collaborative effort of the Manager's Office, Triangle United <br />Way, and Cooperative Extension. Other departments were also involved, such as the Budget <br />Department, Finance Department, and Recreation and Parks Department. The program is six <br />weeks, where a week is spent at N. C. State with the 4-H Congress Program. The participants <br />were involved in building leadership, demonstrating community service, collaborating with <br />community government service, and developing a tangible project at the end. <br />Iris Fuller, Extension Agent for 4-H, elaborated on some of the objectives of the program, <br />the selection process, and the program sessions. <br />Ruth Mayo, a 2007 graduate of the program and a rising senior at OHS, reviewed the <br />community service projects. The first one was cleaning up the Cedar Grove Township signage. <br />The group cleaned debris and litter and pulled weeds around the sign. The second project was <br />to bring a stuffed animal and canned goods to give to the Sheriff's Department in Wake County <br />for the less fortunate. She said that the graduates came up with some ideas for Orange County. <br />The first was that most youth in the County do not have a place to go to hang out and a place <br />for tutoring and computer access. The group decided that afull-time Youth Voices Coordinator <br />would be helpful for Orange County. The final proposal was to have a Junior Board of County <br />Commissioners where teenagers could get together and the Board of County Commissioners <br />could hear ideas on present issues that the teenagers felt were important. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the new library would have spaces for tutoring and <br />computer use for this purpose. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked Fletcher Barber to keep the Board apprised about what is <br />being done at the State and Federal level regarding the drought. Fletcher Barber said that this <br />is being handled under the Farm Service Agency. He will make sure that any information is <br />passed along. <br />d. Tax Collector's Annual Settlement <br />