Become a member of the Voluntary Agricultural Districts
The Farmland Preservation Program of North Carolina launched approximately 25 years ago, with Sampson County being one of the first counties in the program through efforts of then County Extension Director, George P. Upton, Jr. 82 land owners and 15,000 acres have been enrolled in the Sampson County Voluntary Agricultural Districts (VAD) program since 2001. The majority of enrollments happened in the first few years. With 50% of Sampson County’s 604,599 acres in farmland or forestry, our hopes are to significantly expand enrolled acreage in the near future.
The VAD program continues to be administered through Cooperative Extension with advisement of the seven member Agricultural Advisory Board, appointed by the Sampson County Board of Commissioners to represent each of the five agricultural districts. Guidelines of the program are found in the Sampson County Voluntary Agricultural District Ordinance, adopted in 2001 and revised in 2022, in support of the NC General Statutes Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Enabling Act.
Good news for landowners: Cooperative Extension has been awarded two grants to expand and revitalize the VAD program. Through a NCDA grant, our new farm sign is available to existing members of the program at no charge to replace their weathered, faded signs. New members will also receive a farm sign at a reduced cost. Our NC Grange grant offers funding for a sign post for any new or existing Sampson County VAD member who is a NC Grange member.
Should you become a member? Farmland is shrinking every day. Enrolling in the VAD program is one way to preserve and protect agricultural land, while creating an awareness and appreciation for it. This is important even in large agricultural counties like Sampson.
If you own agricultural land and want to preserve that heritage through the program, please consider a membership. Visit the website to learn about enrollment benefits, requirements and eligibility, and to download a membership application form. Additional questions? Call us at 910-592-7161 and ask for Eileen Coite, or email eileen_coite@ncsu.edu.
