Duplin County agent honored
James Hartsfield has received the Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents and the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. He was recognized at the 2013 N.C. Association of County Agricultural Agents State Meeting, held in Fayetteville.
He was recognized by Dr. Fletcher Barber, associate administrator, N.C. Cooperative Extension Program at N.C. A&T State University, and Dr. Sheri Schwab, associate director and director of County Operation of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service at N.C. State University.
Hartsfield is Duplin County Cooperative Extension agent, Area Farm Management.
Distinguished service awards are the most prestigious awards presented by both associations. Winners are selected based on their support and involvement in professional development associations as well as programming excellence.
Agents earning this performance award must have more than 10 years of service with Cooperative Extension and be recognized as doing an exceptionally good job. Hartsfield has been employed by the N. C. Cooperative Extension for 14 years.
He serves as an Area Farm Management agent in Sampson and Duplin counties with special emphasis placed on providing training for small and limited resource farmers in record keeping and financial management.
He has played a major role and worked with fellow Extension agents and agricultural technicians in surrounding counties in conducting an Annual Southeastern North Carolina Small and Part-time Farm Alternative Enterprise Tour.
Since 2007, a total of 234 persons have attended the tour, which has helped farmers explore alternative production strategies and provide information on alternative crops and enterprises.
Hartsfield is an active member of the NCACAA and currently serves as Southeast District chairman on the Sustainable Agriculture Committee. He also is a member of the N. C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service Minority Advisory Council.
He has served on the Transportation Committee for the 2008 NCACAA national meetings.
For more information, contact the Duplin Cooperative Extension at 910-296-2143.