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Bluster, chill fail to daunt large crowd
By BILL SANDIFER Staff Writer
BELHAVEN -- It took true grit to deal with the chill, worsened by blustery winds. Grit got into eyes and mouths Wednesday, but tucked behind hooded jackets and sunglasses were smiles that greeted Rose Acre officials as they broke ground for a 4-million-hen egg farm near the Hyde County community of Ponzer.
There was little bluster from speakers, however. With a warm building and a pig-picking waiting, remarks were short and sweet.
"The first time I think, I called down here I believe, will be four years this July," said Tony Wesner, Rose Acre executive vice president, noting the long haul that led to Wednesday's event.
"I thought that one other thing was going to take longer than this project," added Jack Runion, N.C. 's Northeast Partnership chairman, "and I thought that was going to be to get a secretary of agriculture. Sorry that he couldn't be here today."
"We know its been a challenge," said Dempsey Benton, state Department of Environment and Natural Resources deputy secretary, "but we think the end result is a great project. You all should be pleased with where you are now and where you'll be 10 years from now."
Regarding earlier conversations Wesner had had with Benton and DENR officials, Wesner noted, "They also talked about hurdles that we had to overcome, but I told him that I understand that he has to mend both sides of each fence. Yeah, this took a long time, but you guys didn't want it done wrong, and the environment is a precious thing that we ought to take care of."
In addition to promising to be "environmentally friendly," Rose Acre officials have underscored the company's commitment to the community.
"I want you to know that we take our responsibility very seriously about the resources that we're given," said Victor Rigterink, Rose Acre executive vice president, "and we take seriously the responsibility that we take in coming to your community and wanting to live here and be part of your community."
It became impossible to ignore the weather, and Wesner made hay with it.
"Wade (Hubers) told me they don't have winter in Hyde County very often, but every time I come, they seem to have it," Wesner remarked to a shivering crowd. "We hope now we get the opportunity to make our promises good and show you that what we said we're going to do, we're going to do. I can't begin to express how the board and the family feels about this community. This kind of support does not exist all over this country for people wanting to grow food, and we appreciate it."
Warm applause preceded cold shovels manned briefly for the obligatory groundbreaking. The large crowd that had gathered then beat a hasty retreat to warmer quarters at the Ponzer Community Center. As officials and residents loaded plates, others offered observations on the county's newest enterprise.
"We feel like we've got a good corporate citizen that's moving here and a good family, a family with good moral values," said Don Davenport, Hyde County manager.
Davenport estimates Rose Acre's $55 million to 60 million investment will add about 8 percent to the county's property tax base.
"I can't think of any single thing that would be that type of investment," he said. "I'd say it's definitely a first for Hyde County to have that kind of lump-sum industry to come in. We're just glad to see it come to fruition."
Although state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was unable to attend, Tony Copeland, Commerce Department assistant secretary, served as Gov. Mike Easley's representative.
"This is one of the largest investments in Eastern North Carolina: $56 million, 125 people," said Copeland, who added that such business investments indicate the state has "turned the corner" in recouping huge job losses that have occurred over the past four years.
"Agriculture, forestry: $62 billion a year," noted Copeland regarding the importance of land and farming to the state. As the backbone of Eastern North Carolina's economy, these industries are "a valuable and viable component of the economy," he pointed out.
As Wesner circulated among well-wishers, he paused to reflect on the project's past and future.
"I feel good," he said. "Anything worth doing is worth working hard for, and we've worked hard for this project."
Regarding the complicated and time-consuming route to obtaining state permits, Wesner said, "We have to view the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a partner, and we both have a job to do. ... Now we're on the same side of the fence, and we're working together to show that they've made the right decision and that we're going to own up to what we said we're going to do ... be part of the agriculture community of this state and be environmental friendly at the same time; we think we're going to be able to prove that."
Local folks, local crops
In conjunction with Rose Acre's initial dollar investment in the community, Wesner reiterated the egg farm's employment outlook.
"We have every intention of staffing this facility with North Carolina people," he said. "We think we can take these people here and train them, and we look forward to staffing this with Hyde County (people) and people from this region."
Of the anticipated 125 jobs, Wesner said there "may be two or three transplants from other areas, but we have no intention of having any more than that."
As well, he reiterated the company's intentions of buying grain from local farmers.
"We'll end up drawing corn from a four- or five-county area," he said, adding the region has more than enough grain to supply the farm. "This'll easily be self-sufficient. No need to bring crops in from outside. Our intention is these chickens and these eggs are going to be produced with corn and soybeans from this area."
Some of the additives needed for Rose Acre's proprietary ammonia-reducing feed will be trucked in, explained Wesner. Zeolite, a mineral additive not available locally, most likely will be shipped in by truck. The feed will be blended on-site, using the company's well-guarded proprietary formula, he said.
Construction of pullet houses, at the site of the groundbreaking, will begin in four to six weeks, said Wesner: "That's where the chicken houses and the processing and all that's going to be, right there in that field."
Although the company bought 700 acres, the farm site will encompass only 125-130 acres, explained Wesner. The remaining land, he said, may end up being sold to farmers.
Road-grading for the main entrance began a week ago; bids could be let within a few months.
"We want to use some contractors in North Carolina," he said. "Our goal is to spread the revenue out in the area as much as we can and let as many people have a piece of it as we can spread it out to. ... It's going to take two to three, three-and-a-half years to get it done."
Wesner said the project likely will see him making trips to the area "every three to four weeks."
Wade Hubers, a farmer and Rose Acre's community point man, spoke highly of his new neighbor.
"It's a great day for Hyde County," he said, "a great day for agriculture in this area. Thrilled to death. We just have a great turnout, and it just shows the great support we've had from the local people the whole time. It was just fantastic."
There was little bluster from speakers, however. With a warm building and a pig-picking waiting, remarks were short and sweet.
"The first time I think, I called down here I believe, will be four years this July," said Tony Wesner, Rose Acre executive vice president, noting the long haul that led to Wednesday's event.
"I thought that one other thing was going to take longer than this project," added Jack Runion, N.C. 's Northeast Partnership chairman, "and I thought that was going to be to get a secretary of agriculture. Sorry that he couldn't be here today."
"We know its been a challenge," said Dempsey Benton, state Department of Environment and Natural Resources deputy secretary, "but we think the end result is a great project. You all should be pleased with where you are now and where you'll be 10 years from now."
Regarding earlier conversations Wesner had had with Benton and DENR officials, Wesner noted, "They also talked about hurdles that we had to overcome, but I told him that I understand that he has to mend both sides of each fence. Yeah, this took a long time, but you guys didn't want it done wrong, and the environment is a precious thing that we ought to take care of."
In addition to promising to be "environmentally friendly," Rose Acre officials have underscored the company's commitment to the community.
"I want you to know that we take our responsibility very seriously about the resources that we're given," said Victor Rigterink, Rose Acre executive vice president, "and we take seriously the responsibility that we take in coming to your community and wanting to live here and be part of your community."
It became impossible to ignore the weather, and Wesner made hay with it.
"Wade (Hubers) told me they don't have winter in Hyde County very often, but every time I come, they seem to have it," Wesner remarked to a shivering crowd. "We hope now we get the opportunity to make our promises good and show you that what we said we're going to do, we're going to do. I can't begin to express how the board and the family feels about this community. This kind of support does not exist all over this country for people wanting to grow food, and we appreciate it."
Warm applause preceded cold shovels manned briefly for the obligatory groundbreaking. The large crowd that had gathered then beat a hasty retreat to warmer quarters at the Ponzer Community Center. As officials and residents loaded plates, others offered observations on the county's newest enterprise.
"We feel like we've got a good corporate citizen that's moving here and a good family, a family with good moral values," said Don Davenport, Hyde County manager.
Davenport estimates Rose Acre's $55 million to 60 million investment will add about 8 percent to the county's property tax base.
"I can't think of any single thing that would be that type of investment," he said. "I'd say it's definitely a first for Hyde County to have that kind of lump-sum industry to come in. We're just glad to see it come to fruition."
Although state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was unable to attend, Tony Copeland, Commerce Department assistant secretary, served as Gov. Mike Easley's representative.
"This is one of the largest investments in Eastern North Carolina: $56 million, 125 people," said Copeland, who added that such business investments indicate the state has "turned the corner" in recouping huge job losses that have occurred over the past four years.
"Agriculture, forestry: $62 billion a year," noted Copeland regarding the importance of land and farming to the state. As the backbone of Eastern North Carolina's economy, these industries are "a valuable and viable component of the economy," he pointed out.
As Wesner circulated among well-wishers, he paused to reflect on the project's past and future.
"I feel good," he said. "Anything worth doing is worth working hard for, and we've worked hard for this project."
Regarding the complicated and time-consuming route to obtaining state permits, Wesner said, "We have to view the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a partner, and we both have a job to do. ... Now we're on the same side of the fence, and we're working together to show that they've made the right decision and that we're going to own up to what we said we're going to do ... be part of the agriculture community of this state and be environmental friendly at the same time; we think we're going to be able to prove that."
Local folks, local crops
In conjunction with Rose Acre's initial dollar investment in the community, Wesner reiterated the egg farm's employment outlook.
"We have every intention of staffing this facility with North Carolina people," he said. "We think we can take these people here and train them, and we look forward to staffing this with Hyde County (people) and people from this region."
Of the anticipated 125 jobs, Wesner said there "may be two or three transplants from other areas, but we have no intention of having any more than that."
As well, he reiterated the company's intentions of buying grain from local farmers.
"We'll end up drawing corn from a four- or five-county area," he said, adding the region has more than enough grain to supply the farm. "This'll easily be self-sufficient. No need to bring crops in from outside. Our intention is these chickens and these eggs are going to be produced with corn and soybeans from this area."
Some of the additives needed for Rose Acre's proprietary ammonia-reducing feed will be trucked in, explained Wesner. Zeolite, a mineral additive not available locally, most likely will be shipped in by truck. The feed will be blended on-site, using the company's well-guarded proprietary formula, he said.
Construction of pullet houses, at the site of the groundbreaking, will begin in four to six weeks, said Wesner: "That's where the chicken houses and the processing and all that's going to be, right there in that field."
Although the company bought 700 acres, the farm site will encompass only 125-130 acres, explained Wesner. The remaining land, he said, may end up being sold to farmers.
Road-grading for the main entrance began a week ago; bids could be let within a few months.
"We want to use some contractors in North Carolina," he said. "Our goal is to spread the revenue out in the area as much as we can and let as many people have a piece of it as we can spread it out to. ... It's going to take two to three, three-and-a-half years to get it done."
Wesner said the project likely will see him making trips to the area "every three to four weeks."
Wade Hubers, a farmer and Rose Acre's community point man, spoke highly of his new neighbor.
"It's a great day for Hyde County," he said, "a great day for agriculture in this area. Thrilled to death. We just have a great turnout, and it just shows the great support we've had from the local people the whole time. It was just fantastic."
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| County contends landmark presents potential liabilities |
tunne rat wrote on Jul 6, 2009 8:55 PM:
that is the biggest propganda word that every came out of butterfields and rino jones mouth in the past hundred years .
just 2 water boys for the obama socalist party , and a hand full of red necks that dont have a clue about whast they are talking about . "