See happenings from farm bureaus across the state.
Transylvania
Blurs of blue and gold corduroy jackets darted around a hilltop on Nov. 7, 2015, at a picturesque farm setting overlooking the French Broad River Valley. Those jackets were worn by FFA members from both Brevard and Rosman FFA chapters who greeted, served, and cleaned up for 100 guests who sat down to a gourmet, four-course dinner prepared by Wild Indigo Catering. The entire menu comprised of locally sourced North Carolina products, from Pitch Pine Farm’s vegetables to BusyBee Farm’s sirloin steaks to smoked Sunburst Trout. The event was designed as a fundraiser to benefit the high school agriculture education programs in Transylvania County that strive to develop student leadership, personal growth and career success through hands-on learning, classroom instruction, and FFA participation.
Community support for this event came from a variety of local vendors. McNeely Companies supplied the tents, tables, chairs and heaters. BusyBee Farm & the Whitmire Century Family Farm provided the venue, beef and hayride shuttles. Wild Indigo Catering owners Anne and Mike Somich prepared the meal. Transylvania County Farm Bureau provided funding. First United Methodist Church donated pumpkins. Cherryfield Baptist Church provided parking needed to accommodate the large crowd. Brown Bean Coffee Roasters provided burlap bags for decoration.
Heather McNeely (Rosman) and Dan Harris and Sarah Rhymer (Brevard) are the county’s agriculture teachers and FFA advisors; Andy VonCanon serves at the coordinator of agriculture education for the western half of North Carolina through N.C. State University. For more information about agricultural education and FFA, visitncffa.org.
