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Board of Commissioners Honors John McInnis as “Richmond County Farmer of the Year” at December Meeting

Richmond County Commissioners present John McInnis with the “Richmond County Farmer of the Year” award.
Photo courtesy of Chuck Thames.

ROCKINGHAM-  The Richmond County Board of Commissioners held its December meeting Tuesday night. The Reverend Walt Smith, of Rivers of Life Family Worship Center, opened the meeting with prayer.   

The election of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and County Attorney were first up on the agenda and went quickly with Kenneth Robinette, John Garner and Stephan Futrell all being re-elected unanimously. 

“Thank each and every one of you for having the confidence in me, to allow me to serve this county, and also as your chairman,” Robinette commented following the vote.

On behalf of the Richmond County Commissioners, county manager Bryan Land presented John McInnis the recognition of “Richmond County Farmer of the Year.”

“John Mcinnis currently serves on the Richmond County Livestock Advisory Board, The North Carolina State 4-H Endowment Board of Directors, North Carolina 4-H Youth Livestock Advisory Board of Directors, North Carolina Meat Goat Association Board of Directors, and President of the Mountain Creek Fire Department Board of Directors,” Land noted in a proclamation. 

“The Richmond County Board of Commissioners is pleased to take this opportunity to commend Mr. McInnis for his dedication and exceptional commitment to the youth of Richmond County,” Land continued. “John McInnis has spent numerous hours teaching and instilling values in our local youth. The Board of Commissioners takes great pride in honoring John McInnis who has spent his lifetime doing for others and for the farmers of Richmond County.” 

North Carolina Senator (and brother) Tom McInnis brought a proclamation on behalf of the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, Steven W. Troxler.  In the proclamation, John McInnis received the recognition of North Carolina Ambassador of Agriculture.

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Senator Tom McInnis (right) presents his brother John McInnis with “North Carolina Ambassador of Agriculture” recognition.

“Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in our state,” Senator McInnis noted. “Agriculture makes up $84 billion in revenue annually for the state, and one farmer feeds over 150 people, so it takes a lot of farmers because we have a lot of people. North Carolina is now at 10.3 million  people and counting.  Our two major counties of Wake and Mecklenburg are gaining over 200 people per day with people moving from other states and other parts of the world.

“We have to feed them, we have to give them a place to live and we have to give them safe housing, clean water to drink and nice air to breathe,” McInnis continued. “But mainly, we have to give them something to eat.  As the Commissioner of Agriculture would say, ‘a hungry man is a mad man.’  We want to make sure people are not mad and they are well fed.  That all falls on the back of the American farmer, more particularly described here as the Richmond County Farmer.”

Previously, Jimmy Hayden had been recognized as the Conservation Farm of the Year.

Additional agenda items were brought forth including the monthly report from the county manager and the First Health EMS Annual Report. Requests for approvals were heard for a USDA Community Facilities Grant/Loan Application, resale of property by the taxing unit and extension for personal property by the tax administrator.  All items were approved by the board unanimously. 

The final action was to approve the consent agenda.  Following this item the meeting was adjourned. 

For additional information on this meeting contact the Richmond County Administrative Office at 1401 Fayetteville Rd, Rockingham, or by phone at  910-997-8200.



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