Agricultural Exposition Center Site Receives Official Dedication

By Ron Fitzwater

Local and state officials, along with members of the Ashe County Friends of Agriculture gathered Monday,

Dec. 1, to officially dedicate the Ashe County Agricultural Exposition Site. Due to dropping temperatures and intermittent snowfall, the dedication event was moved from the site's location on N.C. Highway 163 in West Jefferson to the county Agriculture Service Center in Jefferson.

Carolyn Shepherd welcomed those gathered for the dedication, thanking them for turning out on such a foul weather day but excited that the long-awaited dedication had at last come.

Shepherd recognized several people in the audience for their help in making the center a reality. Those recognized included the Ashe County Board of Commissioners; county manager Dan McMillan; Dr. Deborah Crandall, North Carolina Cooperative Extension (NCCE), West Central District Director; Sharon Rowland, Executive Director of Development, NCCE and members of the Ag. Expo. Advisory Committee; and Extension Agents Jennifer Miller (4-H) and Charles Young (Agriculture).

Absent, due to health reasons, were Sammy and Shirley Church. The Churches donated the land where the site is now located.

"We are disappointed that they could not be here today, because none of this would have been possible had it not been for their generosity in the donation of the property," Shepherd said.

Charles Young spoke on the historical importance of the site, pointing out that livestock showing through 4-H in the county had a rich history and speaking of the search for a permanent Ag. Expo Site.

"We advertised on the radio and put the word out that we needed a site and Sammy [Church] called and said he 'had a place, let's go look at it,'" Young said.

"It took a while to get it all worked out, there were issues with the floodplain and because of dedicating it through the university, we had to meet certain things and so it took a while.

"In the past year we have used it quite a bit and held a major event at least once a month, weather permitting and some sort of event nearly every weekend," Young said.

McMillan and Chairman of the County Commissioners Richard Blackburn shared stories of their childhood participation in 4-H and livestock showing and expressed their pride that the tradition was being continued through the new site.

Ag. Expo Advisory Board member and 4-H student-participant Courtney Walls was asked to speak to the attendees about his experiences with the site.

"I got involved with 4-H and the site through Charles Young and horse camp and wound up representing North Carolina in break-away calf roping. If it hadn't been for the center as a place where I could work my horse, that wouldn't have happened," he said.

Walls said that the open arena events on Fridays and the access to the site, was truly beneficial to himself and the other youth in the county.

"I think that the site is truly a good thing and has made a difference; I just wanted to thank everyone."

Shortly after the dedication, Young, Walls and other volunteers erected the new sign at the site.

For more information about Ashe County Cooperative Extension, the Ag. Expo Center, 4-H and the many other programs and opportunities available through NCCE, call (336) 846-5850, click to http://ashe.ces.ncsu.edu/ or stop by the Ashe County Service Center Suite 202, next to the courthouse, in Jefferson.