FFA Rally at WCC

High School students from 15 counties gathered at Wilkes Community College last week for the North Carolina FFA Northwest Region Rally.  Approximately 375 students and agriculture instructors from Wilkes and the 14 surrounding counties competed. According to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the state’s agricultural industry contributes $78 billion to the state's economy, accounts for more than 17 percent of the state's income, and employs 16 percent of the workforce. The state's 52,200 farmers grow over 80 different commodities. North Carolina produces more tobacco and sweet potatoes than any other state and ranks second in Christmas tree cash receipts and the production of hogs and turkeys. The state ranks seventh nationally in farm profits with a net farm income of over $3.3 billion.