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3 <br /> <br />They have had some successes helping farm owners trap and spay/neuter their cats, and <br />have placed some cats in rural settings. They provided an updated handout describing the <br />program. As part of this effort, they are microchipping the cats so that they can better track <br />them. They have 180 cats right now and more keep arriving. They hope this effort will <br />reduce the overall population. Good publicity will help promote the program. <br /> <br />d) Membership: Hughes continued to seek qualified new applicants. Thanks to her efforts we <br />have one: Portia McKnight of Chapel Hill Creamery. Her farm is in the Cane Creek VAD <br />vacated by the retirement of Gordon Neville. Shambley moved to recommend Ms. <br />McKnight to the BOCC, seconded by Vanhook; motion passed. Staff will submit a letter to <br />the County Clerk, probably for the first BOCC meeting in January. <br /> <br />7. Informational Items/Future Agenda Items: <br />a) Updates on Ag Economic Development: Ortosky reported that the Ag grant program is <br />funded at $60,000 per year now. In over two years, this program has received 57 <br />applications and awarded 39 grants totaling over $300,000. . A new grant cycle starts after <br />July 1, 2018. He hopes funding and increase to $100,000 per year. PFAP has about 60 <br />tenants, almost breaking even now. They got an ADFP grant of $32,500 to help provide <br />short term loans to PFAP producers. Weaver Street is matching that. The County applied for <br />a Golden Leaf grant to support the PFAP cold products operations. There is a lot of activity <br />for promoting regional food systems, especially in Wake County; TLC owns a farm in <br />Shotwell where Wake County is funding a program to get small farmers there working that <br />land. County is still working on lease with NC State. The state has clarified the definiti on of a <br />bona fide farm to limit this classification to those farms that are making money/selling <br />items. The County budget included funds to promote GAP training and auditing education <br />programs to help make it possible for the county schools to purchase fro m local farmers. <br />b) Planning for APB Breakfast 2017: Hughes reported that the breakfast will be held on Nov. <br />30 at the Cedar Grove Community Center. Kelsey’s will be catering again. So far there are 44 <br />registrants. The program will be shorter, from 8 to 10. <br />c) Possible Orange County Quilt Trail: Hughes discussed the idea of a quilt trail projects. <br />Randolph County has had successful one for 6 years, now with a phone app to guide you. <br />Person County also has a trail. Tourism grants have helped fund these. The Grange is willing <br />to support, as are Extension and the Soil and Water Board. This could connect with <br />Randolph and Chatham counties. Members agreed to support this by acclamation. <br /> <br />8. Information Sharing: None <br /> <br />9. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 9:05 pm.