Farm-City Week was celebrated with a tour and a luncheon on Monday, November 19th.
The welcome was given by Cullen Bryant, emcee, followed by the National Anthem by Barbara Causey. Rev. Mike Rouse of Latta United Methodist Church gave the blessing of the food.
A chicken bog meal prepared by Donnie and Randy Grimsley was enjoyed by all.
Guest speakers, Callen Outen of Clemson Extension Service and Tre’ Coleman of the Pee Dee State Farmers Market, both gave informative speeches.
Outen spoke about how Clemson Extension improves the quality of life for all citizens. She discussed some of the programs and other things they have to offer.
Tre’ Coleman of the Pee Dee State Farmers Market said that approximately 700,000 people per year come through the farmers market. He said every day is Farm-City Day. He gave some interesting figures on the impact of agriculture on Dillon County including that cotton production has a $10 mllion impact, corn production has an $11 million impact, peanuts have a $15 million impact, soybeans have a $14 million impact, and tobacco has a $700,000 impact. He said agriculture has a significant impact on Dillon County.
After their remarks, several awards were presented by Lonnie Turner of the Kiwanis Club.
The winners were:
Outstanding Student Awards
DILLON HIGH SCHOOL:
LA-TAUREAN T’ARIUS BRIGMAN
La-Taurean T’Arius Brigman is a senior at Dillon High school and will graduate in June of 2019.
Following graduation, she will enter Francis Marion University where she plans to study Environmental Science.
La-Taurean’s many extracurricular activities include, but are not limited to, Army JROTC, where she is in her second year as Battalion Commander; band, where she is a member of the marching and concert band, is skilled in the use of many instruments, and has successfully competed in state and regional competitions; the Interact club and Anchor club; and she has served as student body vice-president.
On February 18, 2018, Ms. Brigman started her military career by enlisting in the South Carolina National Guard as a 92A, Automated Logistical Specialist. Over the summer she completed basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and will complete her advanced individual training at Fort Lee, VA following graduation.

DILLON COUNTY TECHNOLOGY CENTER:
NOAH HOOKS
Noah Hooks exemplifies a can-do attitude. He’s optimistic and has a precise vision about his future.
Noah is a senior at Dillon High School and has maintained an A average for two consecutive years in Auto Technology at Dillon County Technology Center.
His hobbies include but are not limited to working on cars, hunting, and hanging out with his friends.
Noah currently works at Papa Tom’s and will soon have a co-op at Five Star in Florence.
Noah hopes to attend Florence-Darlington Tech in the fall of 2019.

LATTA HIGH SCHOOL:
TAYLOR GASQUE
Taylor Gasque is a sophomore at Latta High School.
She is currently serving as secretary of Latta FFA Chapter.
She is also a member of Girl Talk, the varsity volleyball team, and varsity cheerleading team.
Her roots are deep when it comes to farming as she is part of a multi-generational family farm that still produces tobacco, soybeans, corn and wheat.

LAKE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL:
JAMES NICHOLS EVANS
James Nichols Evans is a senior at Lake View High School, where he is a member of the Varsity Football Team and has held numerous offices in the FFA during his four-year high school career.
He plans to attend Florence- Darlington Technical School and work under his father at Evans Farms following graduation.
Nichols originates from a long line of farmers and has assisted his father, Nick Evans, on the family farm for as long as he can remember.

DILLON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL:
SARAH GRACE STONE
Sarah Grace Stone is an overall excellent student, ranking number five in her class.
Some of her school responsibilities are membership in our Anchor Club, membership in the Beta Club, and involvement on the yearbook committee.
While making time for sports, serving as Captain this year for the basketball team, the cheerleading squad, and the cross- country team. Sarah Grace also allows enough time to fulfill her spiritual commitments to her church youth group, Vacation Bible School each summer, and is involved with community outreach projects such as Love Feeds.
Sarah Grace plans to go to NC State where she will earn a degree in Ag Business, with a minor in crop and soil science then, return to her hometown where she will continue the family legacy working the farm.

BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR:
JOHN BRADDY—BRADDY INSURANCE
John R. Braddy attended Wofford College and is President of Braddy Insurance, Inc. of Dillon.
He has been a member of the Dillon City Council since 2005.
He is currently the Chairman of the McLeod Health Board of Trustees.
Braddy played an instrumental role in the revitalization of Downtown Dillon and the restoration of the Dillon County Theatre and the Dillon County Courthouse.
He is a member of Main Street United Methodist Church, where he has served in various capacities, Past-President of the Dillon County Chamber of Commerce, and is a member and Past President of the Dillon Lions Club.

INDUSTRIALIST OF THE YEAR:
INLAND PORT DILLON
(Accepting the award was Michael Elmore, Terminal Manager)
Inland Port Dillon is the South Carolina Ports Authority’s newest inland port having opened in April 2018, giving cargo owners, including shippers of refrigerated cargo, a powerful new tool to optimize their supply chain.
Located within a prime 3,400-acre industrial site and in close proximity to I-95, Inland Port Dillon has rail service provided exclusively by CSX. It is considered the Pee Dee region’s connection to the world.
Inland Port Dillon is expected to bring untold economic development to Dillon County.

FARMERS OF THE YEAR:
C&M HOG FARM
C&M is an independent hog farm, local grain elevator and trucking company. The farm has been serving the local farming community for many years.
Richard L. “Rick” Myers and the late Robert C. Coleman established C&M Hog Farm in 1987.
The late Robert C. Coleman was a farmer in Dillon County for over 60 years and loved to plant a crop and watch it grow. He passed away earlier this year.
Rick Myers has been a hog farmer for 45 years and really enjoys the grain side of the business, which allows him to work one-on-one with the farmers.
C&M is now operated by Rick Myers and Leslie Thompson, the daughter of the late Robert Coleman.
Currently the farm is expanding into the soybean export market via Inland Port Dillon. Rick and Leslie feel that this will be a good opportunity for C&M and are very excited to now offer all local farmers with more competitive pricing options.

After the awards presentation, Cullen Bryant gave some final remarks.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon Herald
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