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l5 <br />Four of every 5 respondents believed that Orange County needs a new agricultural <br />resource center, with only 15% indicating that a new ag center is not necessary. <br />Respondents were afforded the opportunity to rank various potential features of an ag <br />center (Fig. 3). In general, 4-H program facilities were the mast desired element <br />followed closely by teaching children about farm animals and how to grow and <br />preserve food. Respondents also wanted meeting rooms to hold 30 to 75 people. <br />Review of the data by the Work Group noted that some possible elements of an ag <br />center were not exclusive of others, such as the meeting room sizes. In addition, other <br />possible uses of an ag center, such as the vegetable /fruit processing center may not <br />have been well understood by survey respondents. <br />4-H programs <br />Teach children to grow 8 preserve food <br />Outdoor facilities for events <br />Teach children about about farm animals <br />Medium mtg rooms - 30 to 75 <br />~ Sustainability Resource Center <br />~ Outdoor env.l education learning lab <br />o Equine exhibition facilities <br />0- Outdoor urban horticulture facilities <br />Meat processing facility <br />Ag Heritage information <br />Small mtg rooms - 30 people <br />Vegetable & fruit processing (multi- <br />county) <br />Large mtg room - 250 people <br />10 20 30 40 50 <br />Number of Supportive Respondents <br />Figure 3. Survey results for desired features of a new agricultural center <br />2. Outreach Events <br />Two outreach events were held to obtain public comment on the Work Group effort. <br />One event was held on 14 February 2006 at the 8th Orange Ccunty Ag Summit at <br />the Schley Grange Hall and attended by 80 people. A 1-hour presentation by Work <br />Group Chair Betty Tom Davidson was provided followed by questions from the <br />attendees. Fifty surveys were distributed at the event and other individuals were <br />made aware of the survey on the Orange County web page. <br />A second event was planned for the evening on 15 February 2006 at the Southern <br />Human Services Center in Chapel Hill. Members of the Work Group canceled the <br />meeting after no citizens arrived for the event. <br />Agricultural Center Work Group Report Page 13 <br />