On the Local Level: Summer 2017

Fourth-generation farmer and Cumberland County Agricultural Hall of Fame member William “Bill” Tew Jr. passed away on April 1, 2017. Earlier in the year, on Feb. 10, he received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during the 54th annual meeting of the Cumberland County Livestock Association (pictured, from left, are N.C. Farm Bureau President Larry Wooten, Bill Tew and former Sen. Tony Rand, who helped present the award). Bill was a lifelong farmer. He dedicated his life to being an advocate and voice for agriculture and rural communities. He served on the Cumberland County Farm Bureau Board for 45 years; the N.C. Farm Bureau Board of Directors for 25 years; the N.C. Farm Bureau Land Use Advisory Committee for 11 years; the American Farm Bureau Forestry Advisory Committee for three years; the USDA Farm Service Agency Community Committee for 15 years; the USDA Farm Service Agency County Committee for 35 years and as its chairman for 10 years. In addition to local leadership, he also served on former Gov. Mike Easley’s Agriculture Advisory Committee and former Gov. Beverly Perdue’s NC Agriculture and Forestry Awareness Study Commission.