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DRAFT MEETING SUMMARY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD September 21, 2005 MEMBERS PRESENT: Elizabeth Walters, Louise Tate, Gordon Warren, Marty Mandell, Vickie Brown, James and Patricia Wynn MEMBERS ABSENT: Tony Kleese, Bob Strayhorn, Don Johnson and Whit Morrow GUEST: Matthew Roberts, VAD candidate and Andrew Branan, North Carolina Farm Transition Network STAFF: Environment & Resource Conservation Director David Stancil, Preservation Planner Tina Moon and Carol Melton, staff ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER Stancil called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. as the Vice Chair Kleese was absent. ITEM #2: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS TO AGENDA Stancil requested an addition to the agenda regarding the status of the APB Chair since RanelIs vacated the position. ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES June 15, 2005 Stancil entertained motion for approval of the August meeting minutes. MOTION: Warren motioned approval of August 17, 2005 meeting minutes. Seconded by Wynn. VOTE: Unanimous approval. ITEM #3a: APB CHAIRMAN VACANCY Stancil reported that even though Vice Chair Kleese had previously served two consecutive terms as chair, the county commissioners' office ruled that he could continue to serve as the chair for the remainder of the year as he did not succeed himself. It was also noted that Kleese could run for chair position at the upcoming election. Another option, the APB could hold a special election for a chair this fall to carry through until the regularly scheduled election time, in February. Members discussed options for filling the chairman position for the remaining term of office and agreed to ask Vice Chair Kleese to continue in the chairman role. ITEM #4: SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS a. Andrew Branan — North Carolina Farm Transition Network Branan described the NC Farm Transition Network's mission - -to ensure that working farms remain in agricultural production by connecting retiring farmers with aspiring farmers to ensure that active farms will transition from one generation to another. Effective farm business transitions require advanced and sustained planning, a process many farm families have yet to undertake. Branan said that it is equally important to help young or beginning farmers overcome the barriers they face starting and operating a profitable farm business. These entering farmers need creative equity building strategies to acquire land and equipment as well as management skills to run a successful operation. Branan noted that the 2002 Census confirms that North Carolina's farm community is aging. Since the late 1970s the average age of a North Carolina farmer has steadily increased to about 56 years old. Roughly half of North Carolina farmers are over 55, and about half that number are over age 65. These statistics point to an enormous transfer of farm assets over the next two decades. If steps are not taken now to plan for their continued use, a large amount of North Carolina's most valuable asset, land, will be permanently removed from production. DRAFT September 21, 2005 Agricultural Preservation Board Meeting Summary Page 1 of 3