County approves NC State Grange grant for agricultural signage and small extension budget amendment

At the June 2 work session the Board of Commissioners approved two Cooperative Extension items: a budget amendment to record recently received event revenue and expenses for Family and Consumer Sciences, and acceptance of a $4,500 North Carolina State Grange grant for agricultural-awareness signage in the voluntary agricultural district program.

Tracy (Cooperative Extension) told the board the Family and Consumer Science program received revenue from events and asked for a budget amendment to raise both the expense and revenue accounts; she said the final cost for an arena event was recorded in the packet as roughly $2,100. Sarah Newman, livestock and field crops agent, explained the Grange grant will offset the $5-per-sign cost of voluntary agricultural district signs placed on road frontage to identify participating parcels. Newman said the grant covers FY26 and will help farmers avoid paying the full cost for signs.

Why it matters: The Grange grant directly reduces costs for farmers who enroll in the voluntary agricultural district program and helps keep visible recognition of farmland in the county. The budget amendment ensures Cooperative Extension can close out an event and start the new fiscal year with correct accounts.

The board suspended the rules and voted to accept the $4,500 grant, approve the related budget amendment, and authorize the county manager to execute necessary documents after legal review. The Family and Consumer Science budget amendment was recorded as routine year-end accounting to match recently received revenue and expenses.