BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

Nancy Keith knew something was up when her former work family insisted she attend the annual Farm City Week Banquet on Tuesday night.

But Keith, who recently retired as the Iredell County Agriculture Extension agent, was still surprised by what happened at the gathering. She was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian honor.

“Wow! What an honor,” she said. “I mean Order of the Long Leaf Pine — they don’t just come on a daily basis, and I am so honored to receive this award.”

The recognition took the place of the Farmer of the Year Award, which is presented annually at the event. 

Keith said she was particularly proud to be honored for her decades of work in agriculture.

“Agriculture is my passion. It has been my passion … since I was old enough to walk. To be able to work in the this county, come back to this county, not only work for this county but work for the citizens of North Carolina, across the whole state,” she said.

Laura Elmore, an extension agent who specializes in livestock and field crops, talked about Keith’s contributions to the agriculture community and her lifelong history in that community.

“At just three years old she was following her dad around the farm,” Elmore said.

Keith began her career in 1987 and started at the N.C. Cooperative Extension in 1989.

‘Agriculture matters’

With an economic impact of about $600 million, agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Iredell County, which is made up of about 36 percent farmland.

Harmony Mayor Sean Turner, who is also a farmer, spoke about the importance of agriculture in Iredell County — and particularly in North Iredell

“Farming has been here. Iredell County originally was a farming area, the Town of Harmony specifically,” he said. “Harmony was brought along as a farm school … There were people that would bring their kids, not just from the Harmony area, but even Iredell County, to the Town of Harmony for farm school. … Iredell County has been in farming for quite some time.”

He said it is important that the history of farming be passed along to young people.

“Agriculture matters, how it impacts all of Iredell County, including the rural and urban life of Iredell County,” he said.

The Farm City Week Banquet is sponsored by the Statesville Kiwanis Club.