Famous American poet, novelist and playwright Alfred Mercier once said, “What we learn with pleasure, we never forget.” Education and outreach are a critical part of what the N.C. Forest Service does to promote forestry across the state. From wildfire prevention...
Devastating. A word meaning highly destructive, damaging, causing severe shock, distress or grief. It’s also a word that has commonly been associated with the Grindstone Fire that ignited Nov. 27, 2021, at Pilot Mountain State Park. It’s not difficult to see where...
Employees with the N.C. Forest Service are called upon to perform a plethora of tasks and responsibilities. Identifying invasive insects and tree diseases, responding to wildfires and assisting North Carolina landowners in a variety of ways relative to forestland...
Now that we are well into the fall months, images of wildfire activity have begun to infiltrate media outlets and platforms across the country as several states are in the heart of fall wildfire season. Local, state and federal agencies are pushing public information...
The N.C. State Fair is just days away from opening and is sure to be a treat for all ages. Whether you’re here for the thrilling rides, educational exhibits or to indulge yourself with a wide variety of delectable food options, this year’s fair will feature many of...
Since 2010, more than 42,000 wildfires have taken place in North Carolina, burning well over 400,000 acres. The approach to fighting wildland fire is anything but “one size fits all” when considering the vast geographical differences throughout the state. The...
The N.C. State Fair's new assistant manager Robert Fogle is new to North Carolina, but definitely not to agricultural fairs. The native of Frederick, Maryland grew up showing animals at his local fair through 4-H and FFA programs, gaining a love for...
There are few things that connect people around the world like agriculture. Everywhere people live, and across the thousands of years they have lived there, agriculture has been a foundational part of what makes human civilization possible. The sharing of agricultural...
The N.C. State Fair has a new police chief who’s just getting settled into the job in time for the Got to Be NC Festival. Anthony “Tony” Prignano started on April 25. Technically, his job title is Public Safety and Security Chief, and it’s a shift from his decades of work in the Durham County […]
At a meeting earlier this year, Commissioner Steve Troxler recognized the 2021 NCDA&CS Employee of the Year SueAnn Locklear Safriet. She is a forest management secretary for the N.C. Forest Service in District 10 – a ten-county district based in Lexington. Safriet was previously selected as the June 2021 Employee of the Month, and early […]
In mid-December, the N.C. Department of Agriculture lost an employee who not only meant a lot to the research station where he worked but to the community around the station. Dale Sheets had worked at the Upper Mountain Research Station in Ashe County since 2013, but he had a much longer, rich heritage with the […]
As we honor veterans today for their service to the country, the In the Field blog highlights Army and National Guard veteran and Emergency Programs veterinarian Dr. Bruce Akers. Thank you Dr. Akers for your continued service to others. Over a career spanning nearly 50 years, Dr. Bruce Akers has made a habit of saying […]