Nash Community College proudly hosted the 2nd Annual Agriculture Forum led by the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, January 29. The event, held at NCC’s Brown Auditorium, welcomed around 150 attendees, including 16 vendors, to explore the future of agriculture in Nash County and the region.
NCC President Dr. Lew K. Hunnicutt provided an engaging and informative welcome to attendees. During his remarks, Dr. Hunnicutt reflected on the growth of the agriculture program at NCC, noting that just one year ago, he spoke about the vision for the program at the inaugural forum. “After the announcement about NCC creating an Agriculture Program at last year’s event, much has been accomplished. We hosted an Agriculture Breakfast where we gathered around 60 stakeholders from production agriculture, business and education and got their assistance to develop a program needed in Nash County.”
NCC got to work on building a 96 instructional hour Agriculture Production Certificate, covering over 3 semesters in partnership with the N.C. Cooperative Extension in Nash County. The program prepares students for careers in agriculture, produce and vegetable crops, precision agriculture, horticulture and gardening, plant protection, farm biosecurity, food safety, good agricultural practices, marketing and farm business planning.
“The agriculture program was developed in direct response to feedback from stakeholders in the local agricultural industry. It equips students with the practical skills needed for various career paths within agribusiness,” said Carla Dunston, dean of continuing education at NCC.
Dr. Hunnicutt also emphasized that the development of the program was based on invaluable input from individuals in different sectors of the agriculture industry in Nash County. “We wanted to build a program that would provide employers with the skilled workforce they need. This is about preparing the next generation to take over and sustain the agriculture industry in Nash County and beyond.”
He expressed that the program is still looking for instructors. The program was slated to begin Fall 2024 and was delayed until Spring 2025 due to unforeseen circumstances. “We planned to begin in January, but we have had to go into a “pause” mode. We are hopeful as a few attendees approached me after the event to share their interest. Once we pull together and finalize all the details, our Continuing Education department can set a date to begin this important program.”
The forum, which was led by Emily Wagner, host of CBS17’s On Carolina Soil, featured insightful breakout sessions and panel discussions. Attendees were able to engage with local agricultural experts and hear from keynote speaker Steve Troxler, North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.
In addition to the keynote address, the forum included networking opportunities, breakfast, and brunch, providing guests with the chance to connect and discuss the future of agriculture.
The event was a success, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between NCC, the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce, and local agricultural organizations. It served as a vital platform for discussing the growing needs of the agriculture industry and the ways in which NCC is preparing students to meet those needs.
For more information about Nash Community College’s agriculture program, please contact Continuing Education at 252-451-8216 or coned@nashcc.edu.
