from:
Eastern Wake News
Knightdale farm hosted annual Farm City Day
When people envision Wake County, they may picture one of the major universities, or they may think of the teaching hospitals and renowned research centers. Typically they will not think of agriculture, even though it is a huge industry in the county. The Wake County Farm Bureau has set out to change this pattern of thought and educate citizens on the interdependence of rural and urban populations.
On Nov. 20 Wake County hosted its annual Farm City Day at David and Renee Pope’s farm in Knightdale. More than 250 people spent the day on the farm, according to Farm Bureau spokeswoman Emily Collins. Members from several agricultural organizations attended including Wake County Cooperative Extension, N.C. Soil and Water Conservation, Farm Service Agency, the Forestry Service, Farm Credit, and several local FFA chapters. Several local and federal politicians also made appearances and took time to speak with members of the community about pertinent issues and general concerns.
Collins noted that while most people generally think about insurance when they hear Farm Bureau, the insurance business is only a small part of the non-profit organization which exists to look out for the well being of farmers, ranchers and the agriculture industry.
“Members of Farm Bureau are committed to protecting those who grow all of our food and most of our fiber through various programs and community outreach.” Collins said. Ag in the Classroom, for example, is a nationwide initiative that provides quality materials and curriculum to help bring agriculture into classrooms. Farm Bureau continues to work hard to reach out to the public through events like Farm City Day so Wake County residents can learn the importance of a vital industry in today’s urban environment.
