May 7, 2001

Farm Speak

Pitt County 4-H Livestock Club members earn the title of "Farm Spokespersons of the Year" for their commitment to community and their articulate support of agriculture.

If you get your facts mixed up on agriculture or environmental issues, the Pitt County 4-H Livestock Club will gradly set you straight.

These articulate young people, ranging in age from 6 to 19, recently were recognized as Farm Spokespersons of the Year by Farm Journal magazine for a number of advocacy efforts on behalf of agriculture. It was the first time the recognition was awarded to a group or to youth.

Club leader Betty Burlingham, who shares leadership with her husband, Byron, and Karen and James Roy, had read about the award and decided that club members had done much to serve such recognition. She entered the contest without telling the club members.

"I read about what other winners had done," she said "And I thought that collectively these kids have done an awful lot of work."

When Burlingham received a call in March from a Farm Journal reporter notifying her of the win, she had to let club members in on the secret. 4-H’er Paige Briley recalls getting a call at 10 p.m. one night from Burlingham to explain why a Farm Journal reporter was trying to reach her.

On May 10, the club will host a press conference to inform local news media of the achievement. Local government representatives have been invited as well.

Club members have been active in their community and vocal advocates for agriculture in a number of arenas. Member Rose Burlingham has spoken at hearings on the proposed Tar-Pamlico Basin rules designed to improve water quality in those rivers. Briley helped educate her environmental sciences teacher and class members on practices farmers use to protect the environment. They also participate in environmental field days for fifth graders and other fairs and festivals, and speak to civic groups.

"The Pitt County Livestock Club is an extremely active and traditional 4-H club in many respects," said Dale Panaro, Pitt County 4-H agent. "They do projects, community service, leadership training and meet regularly.

"We are delighted about the award. These youth are a fine and shining example of how youth can mentor youth."

One project that demonstrates club members’ commitment to mentoring other youth is the Lamb Day camp, a popular program the club started in 1997, which gives urban youth an opportunity to learn about livestock. Children ages 8 to 12 spend a week learning to care for a lamb and demonstrate their skills at week’s end with a livestock show.

The Lamb Day Camp has brought some new members to the Livestock Club. Madison McLawhorn, now a club member, recalls the difficulty of learning to place a halter on her lamb as a camper. More than 100 children have participated in the program, in its fifth year this summer.

"It teaches a lot of responsibility," McLawhorn said. "Most kids at camp don’t have livestock of their own."

"They remember the camp for a long time to come," Briley said.

Briley, 16, learned about advocating for agriculture when she questioned some information taught in her high school environmental sciences class. Though the teacher was familiar with urban pollution issues, Briley felt the information on agriculture and the environment was dated. The teacher recognized that Briley, whose grandfather is a farmer, had more expertise and let Briley teach the class.

"I didn’t want these kids thinking all farmers were bad," Briley said. "I had to stand up for my family."

Several years ago, Burlingham persuaded her daughter Rose, 16, to attend public hearings on the proposed rules for reducing nutrient pollution in the Neuse River Basin. Rose was concerned about how the rules would affect livestock producers. She later spoke at hearings for the Tar-Pamlico Basin rules, which hit a little closer to her home in Pitt County.

"I learned to speak precisely and concisely. A youth voice makes a much bigger impact because you’re really talking about the future," Rose said. "If we have to have rules, they need to be sensible rules that agriculture can live with."

Rose said the experience earned her a great deal of respect from adults participating in the process, including former state Agriculture Commissioner Jim Graham, who sent Rose a letter commending her for advocating for agriculture during the hearings.

In addition, Rose has been a regular letter writer to the local newspaper, helping inform readers about livestock issues. Recently, the newspaper published a letter she wrote explaining the threat of foot-and-mouth disease to livestock.

"This club is a great example of how 4-H helps develop leadership and citizenship," Panaro said.

Andy Burlingham, 19, earned a role as a Beef Ambassador by winning a presentation competition at State 4-H Congress last summer. He has traveled across the country, advocating for the beef industry and learning about policy issue of concern to the National Cattlemen’s Association.

"I’ll always be an agricultural spokesman," Andy said. "Lots of people have misconceptions about agriculture today."

Presentation competition at 4-H Congress involves researching and creatively presenting information on a specific topic. Livestock Club members last year presented on a range of topics, including dairy goats, beaver control, conventional tillage and no-tillage crop production, ponies of the Outer Banks and farm safety. Many of their presentations won top honors.

Club members say their 4-H experience has given them confidence required of Farm Spokespersons of the Year.

"We’ve been through more public speaking training since we learned to talk than most people have in a life time," Briley said.

For a class presentation on "something that changed your life," 11-year-old Roxanne Wynne chose to describe her experience with 4-H.

"If I hadn’t been in 4-H, I probably wouldn’t have been able to present in front of the class," she said.

--N. Hampton