2008 Condensed Tour Summary

2008 Life Member Tours

Norman Harrell – Chair

Scott Shoulars – Vice-Chair (Wed Tours)

Tour Committee Update - June 11, 2007

North Carolina's agricultural industry, including food, fiber and forestry, contributes $62.6 billion annually to the state's economy which accounts for 22 percent of the state's income and employs over 20 percent of the work force. North Carolina is one of the most diversified agriculture states in the nation. The state's 56,000 farmers grow over 80 different commodities, utilizing 9.1 million of the state's 31 million acres to furnish consumers a dependable and affordable supply of food and fiber. North Carolina produces more tobacco and sweetpotatoes than any other state and ranks second in the production of hogs, turkeys, Christmas trees and trout. The professional improvement tours offered for the 2008 NACAA AM/PIC will highlight the many segments of the agricultural industry in North Carolina. Many of the tours will also include stops at historical sites and unique points of interest.

The Professional Improvement Tours Committee has met multiple times, had a conference call, and communicated by email to review, edit, and coordinate tours for the 2008 AM/PIC. As of June 11, 2007, the committee has coordinated 34 tours that will highlight agriculture in North Carolina.

Tours will vary from specific agricultural topics to diverse tours that entire family will enjoy. The majority of the tours will be whole day tours. We tried to minimize the number of tours that travel long distances, but there were some needed to offer the complete view of agriculture in the state.

Tours with long travel distances plan to be noted in the tour write up. All tours are planned to provide lunch and cover admission fees, with the exception of the Biltmore Estate Tour where we plan to offer a reduced fee for this tour. Attached is a summary of the planned tours. A brochure is in the process of being completed that will be used at the 2007 AM/PIC in Michigan to promote the meeting in North Carolina.

The PI Tour Committee plans to have a video on North Carolina agriculture for all tour buses. Wick Wickliffe has spearheaded the project and coordinated with NCSU Communication Services to edit the video and Mike Gray has agreed to read the script.

The Professional Improvement Tours Committee would like to thank the many agents across the state who submitted great tour proposals.

Respectfully submitted;

Norman Harrell Professional Improvement Tour Committee, Chair