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Abby Cavenaugh
KENANSVILLE — Local farmer and owner of Master Blend Family Farms Ron Simmons was a presenter at the North Carolina Commodity Conference, recently held in Durham.
“Being able to be a presenter at the Commodity Conference was a big deal to me because it had been in development for about a year,” said Simmons.
His presentation was based on a talk he had given at North Carolina A&T University, where he discussed the importance of supporting small farms and how the agricultural community must adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Simmons noted the importance of inspiring younger generations to engage in agriculture and the challenges we face with an aging farmer population and shrinking farmland. He stressed the need to expose young people to the various career opportunities in agriculture.
“Let’s inspire more younger people to be involved in agriculture and make them aware that there’s multiple ways that they can contribute to the industry of agriculture,” said Simmons.
Reflecting on his experiences, Simmons commented on how much agriculture has evolved.
“When we were taught about agriculture in the community I was raised in, the possibilities were not as wide as they are today,” he said, adding that technology has greatly influenced the agriculture industry we have now. “Drones are able to fly to fertilize fields now… The device is able to go up in the air and actually spray and get the plants and the crops what they need.
He noted how technology is making agriculture more efficient and less reliant on manual labor, creating a wide range of career opportunities beyond the traditional stereotype. Simmons also pointed out how GPS technology integrated into modern tractors has enhanced precision in fieldwork, enabling operators to remotely control planting or tilling without always needing to be physically present. He highlighted agricultural marketing as another career path.
“There’s several different directions that you can go within the industry of agriculture. It’s not just the silly assumption that you have to get dirty now,” said Simmons.
He highlighted the importance of educating younger generations in farming families and prioritizing the preservation of farmland.
The Duplin farmer shared that he has observed that younger generations who learn about the value of farming from their parents or grandparents are more likely to continue the family legacy and pursue a career in agriculture. In contrast, in some communities that are indigenous, he noticed that younger generations tend to stray away from farming as they seek distance from it. “This often happens because the previous generation was not made aware of the resources that could help them thrive,” he explained.
Simmons stressed the importance of mentoring youth in agriculture and the value of articulating complex agricultural concepts in ways that make them more accessible.
“We can make a difference when it comes to those communities that aren’t getting exposed to what agriculture is or the individuals that had a humble beginning in agriculture. They grow to realize that there’s other ways that they can have a thriving farming operation,” he said.
His experience with Wendell Murphy as a mentor provided him with guidance and is a prime example of how mentorship can shape success in the field. “When I met Wendell Murphy, he gave me so much of the playbook,” said Simmons, emphasizing the importance of seeking out the right mentors and for young farmers to surround themselves with organized, and disciplined individuals who can discuss solutions when challenges arise.
Lastly, Simmons shared practical advice for farmers about creating multiple revenue streams and prioritizing profitability over volume. He also shared insights from a conversation with an economist who emphasized the importance of understanding both fixed and fluctuating costs.
“In farming, I’ve learned the value of creating multiple streams of revenue,” he said, adding that the advantage of farming is that if a farmer establishes multiple revenue sources, they won’t be overly reliant on one source.
While North Carolina’s agricultural sector had a significant economic impact totaling $111.1 billion in 2024, the state also faced substantial setbacks due to natural disasters, including droughts, excessive rainfall, and tropical storms. These events led to agricultural losses across the entire state, with every county included in federal disaster declarations.
Last Thursday, North Carolina House of Representatives Jimmy Dixon (Rep.) filed H.B. 130. Dixon told Duplin Journal that this legislation is aimed at helping affected farmers recover and continue their production.
According to Dixon, the bill aims to provide much-needed support to North Carolina’s farming community in the wake of disaster-related agricultural losses suffered in 2024.
The legislation includes a significant fund allocation of $475 million for the 2024 Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program, which will be administered through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Dixon shared that the goal of this program is to offer financial relief to farmers, with the funds intended for agricultural production expenses and recovery.
The proposed legislation outlines that the program will provide financial assistance to farmers who have experienced verifiable losses of agricultural commodities planted or raised by Jan. 1, 2024. Financial assistance will be calculated based on a formula that considers county loss estimates and national statistics, among other criteria. Payments will be determined using yield and price averages at either the county or state level.
To ensure transparency, the department will provide semi-annual reports to the Fiscal Research Division detailing information on applications, grants awarded, fund distribution, and any refunds issued. Additionally, the department has the authority to audit recipients’ financial records to ensure the proper use of the funds. If any recipients are found to have submitted inaccurate information, they will have to repay the amount received.
Additionally, the proposed legislation states that the program will terminate 30 months after becoming effective, and any unused or unallocated funds will revert to the State Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund.
MAGNOLIA — Last week, members of the Magnolia town board discussed funding for the Magnolia gymnasium project during their regular monthly meeting.
Town Manager Charles Banks provided an update and passed along the grant administrator’s recommendations about returning the funds to the state.
Banks explained that the grant was awarded in 2018 for disaster relief as part of a revitalization effort. The original project involved revitalizing houses and the auditorium of the old Magnolia High School campus. The auditorium had suffered severe damage from Hurricane Matthew, compromising its roof and windows and exposing the interior to the elements. According to county documents, insurance claims were insufficient to cover the necessary repairs after the storm, which led to the deterioration of the auditorium. Ultimately, it was deemed a threat to public safety and was demolished to allow the adjacent recreational fields to reopen. When the auditorium was deemed unrepairable, the revitalization project shifted to redirect funds toward the construction of a gymnasium instead.
Banks noted that the grant initially provided $750,000 for revitalization, some funding went to administrative costs, and $180,000 went to revitalizing homes in the community. As a result, $569,000 remained available for the gym project. However, after consulting with the grant administrator, he determined that the town would not have enough time to meet all the requirements by the September deadline for the grant.
“There is a hard deadline of September 2025 by The U.S. Treasury, which I understand cannot be extended,” said Banks, explaining that the work should have started in the fall of 2022 or 2023 in order to meet the required deadlines. He shared that the grant administrator suggested evaluating the process needed and the financial risk to the town.
Banks determined that the best course of action is to return the funds to the state and reapply for a new grant cycle that will allow them to move forward with the project in the future.
Mayor Dawn Ward explained to the public that this was a reimbursable grant with funds reserved for Magnolia that they are releasing back to the state. “They’re no longer reserved on our behalf because we can’t meet the timeline,” she explained.
Banks said they will aim for a sizable grant, like other towns.
“There’s been some significant moves in the last month. Beulaville, Rose Hill and Duplin County received substantial grants, around $950,000 a piece for this same exact funding,” said Banks. “And we will have a fresh seven years that we can actually use.”
Banks explained that grantees are given a seven-year period because it is a lengthy process.
“It takes that seven years just, unfortunately, for a lot of governmental red tape that we go through because it’s going to be a year and a half to get the environmental processes done and stuff before we can start bidding things out,” Banks explained.
Another key highlight of the meeting was a discussion about animal control.
Magnolia Police Chief Jerry T. Wood addressed the challenges the town is experiencing, highlighting issues with outdated ordinances and the lack of adequate animal control services.
He shared that while there is no official word, it was estimated that the towns would pay approximately $30,000 annually to the county to cover the cost of having county animal control extend its services into the towns. He added that as a more affordable solution, the town considered hiring an independent contractor for specific animal control needs, costing around $250 per incident.
The town is also considering revising its animal control ordinance to better address these issues. They also discussed having a public hearing to involve the public and get community feedback to ensure it reflects the residents’ concerns and needs.
In other business:
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A resolution of intent to close an undeveloped portion of Dogwood Drive was approved. The next step will be to send certified letters to all the property owners and conduct a public hearing to give everyone the opportunity to speak before the board decides whether or not they believe it’s in the best interest of the town to close the street.
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The board approved the budget calendar. A few highlights include a public meeting scheduled for Feb. 25 where residents can provide input on what they’re looking to see in the town so it can be considered. The planning retreat will be on March 6 at the Duplin County Airport. On May 27 there will be a public hearing to present the FY 25-26 budget to the public and on June 10, the town will conduct a budget hearing and adoption.
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Commissioner Eric Graham read a proclamation in observance of Black History Month honoring the achievements and contributions of African Americans.
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The town board appointed Jessica Melton and Tisha Terrell for a two-year term and Pamela Faison for a three-year term to the town of Magnolia Planning Board.
The next meeting will be on March 11.
KENANSVILLE — Since the last biennial economic impact study of airports, Duplin County Airport has expanded its footprint and more than doubled its economic impact, contributing an impressive $146,370,000 economic output to North Carolina’s economy.
“We are excited about all the growth and development here at the airport. The airport is a real asset to the county and the more we can improve it, the more impact the airport will have on the community,” said Joshua Raynor, Duplin County Airport director.
When asked about the factors contributing to this significant growth, Raynor explained that he worked to analyze which businesses utilize the airport and made a concerted effort to involve them in the report. Notably, there has been an increase in corporate traffic using the airport since the last report.
In 2024, the airport sold 29,000 gallons of aviation gasoline and 220,238 gallons of jet-A fuel, resulting in $1,024,669 in fuel tax revenues. According to Raynor, currently, the airport has 42 aircraft based at its facility, generating $323,000 in local tax revenues.
These tax revenues help fund infrastructure improvements aimed at attracting job-creating companies. According to the NCDOT’s 2025 economic impact study, Duplin County Airport supports 455 jobs that generate $34,270,000 in personal income and return $6,308,000 in state and local tax revenues.
The airport is currently engaged in several infrastructure projects, including road construction and the development of a shell building at the AirPark. Also, the Airpark will be home to the NC Forestry Service Region One Headquarters, which is slated to break ground this year.
Raynor noted that they plan to start construction on a new taxiway around March, enhancing runway functionality and allowing for quicker exits off the runway. Additionally, in April, construction will begin on a new hangar and rehabilitation of an existing hangar.
“Really want to emphasize the rehab at no cost to the county and what a huge deal that is,” said Raynor. Other upcoming projects include replacing and upgrading the fuel farm this summer for increased safety and capacity and will also start on an airport maintenance facility.
ROSE HILL — The Rose Hill Board of Commissioners took action to close a street within the town limits at the regular monthly meeting on Feb. 11, after a citizen brought up the matter during public comment.
“Tashau Mathis and her husband Derrick came before the board to ask for an exemption from the zoning ordinance rule because part of her property is a once proposed street that was never dedicated as a street, Avalon Drive,” explained Town Administrator Angela Smith. “She asked that the street be closed and a quit claim deed be issued to her for the portion that is named Avalon Drive.”
Mathis stated she had asked for a permit to be issued to put a building on Avalon Drive and was not issued the permit because she does not own the property. Smith advised her that a Resolution of Intent to close the street had to be adopted by the board to get the process started. Town Attorney Kenn Thompson said he thought it would be fine to issue the permit since Mathis owns both lots on either side of Avalon Drive. The board instructed the town administrator and town attorney to start work on the street closure process.
Later in the meeting, the board discussed approving the upset bid process for a parcel of property on Kenansville Road. As the board was about to approve the resolution authorizing the upset bid, Mathis spoke up, saying she had a concern.
Mathis stated that she had offered $13,110.74 during the foreclosure process, but the town had not accepted her offer.
Smith informed her that the opening bid during foreclosure should have included the lien on the property and it did not. The lien was in excess of $16,000 and a resale was ordered on the property to include the lien. At the time, Smith explained, the town was not willing to accept her offer as it did not include the lien. Mathis inquired why the town was now willing to accept the $20,000 offer. Smith explained that the town was entering the upset bid process, which means there may be another bidder who could make a higher offer, or there may be no competing bids at all. However, the board retains the right to accept or reject any bid at their discretion.
Commissioner Ross Powell told Mathis that the town has had the property for about a year and a half, and now may be willing to take the loss at $20,000 but was not willing during the foreclosure process.
The board ultimately approved the resolution starting the upset bid process.
In other business at the Feb. 11 meeting, the board:
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Approved a budget amendment for $15,264 to help pay for a new batting cage at Buck Bradshaw Field at the park.
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Approved an audit contract with Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams & Co. for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
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Approved the grant funding of $950,000 for the Community Development Block Grant for Neighborhood Revitalization, which was awarded last month.
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Heard from Ronda Rivenbark, who pointed out that the town will celebrate its 150th year of incorporation on March 10. She’d hoped that there could be some sort of town-wide event, but there was not enough time to plan. She said she would reach out to Fire Chief Billy Wilson to see if a banner can be hung at the fire department to commemorate the anniversary.
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Learned from Smith that the town will be hosting the first meeting of the year for the Duplin County Municipal Association on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.
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Agreed to offer $500 compensation to property owners affected by three easements needed on Walnut Street.
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Held a closed session to discuss a legal issue. No action was taken.