On Wednesday March 18, RAFI will participate in the NC Ag Awareness Day at the North Carolina General Assembly. The Ag Awareness Day is an opportunity for the voices of farmers, food business representatives, ag leaders, and consumers to be heard by NC legislators. The convening will be a first-time event for North Carolina and NC Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Troxler, has expressed the importance of a large turnout to show our state Representatives, Senators and the general public the importance of NC agriculture.
RAFI and CFSA will attend with the goal of educating lawmakers about the critical role sustainable agriculture plays in the health of North Carolina’s rural economy, land, air and water.
RAFI staff and a group of farmers we have assisted in the past will attend to inform legislators about the agricultural innovations and economic growth made possible through state-supported agricultural programs and initiatives. RAFI will also continue educating legislators about the danger posed to landowners by forced pooling, a process by which non-consenting landowners are forced into mineral rights leases.
All attendees have been invited to make an appointment to meet with their Representative to personally discuss matters of importance. Here is a link to find your legislator: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator.
Here is a link to the full list of NC Ag Awareness Day events: https://www.ncagr.gov/ncagday
If you plan to attend and would like help from RAFI, please RSVP.
The day will start at 9am at the State Fair Grounds (where there will be plentiful, free parking). Shuttle buses will run from the State Fair Grounds to the General Assembly every 30 minutes between 9 am and 3 pm If you prefer, you can drive to downtown Raleigh and park in one of several municipal lots close to the General Assembly.
You will need to pay for parking should you decide to use one of these lots.
We look forward to seeing you in Raleigh and together showing the importance and power of sustainable agriculture.