RALEIGH — Bladen County Farm Bureau recently made a contribution of $500 to the Battleship North Carolina Generations Campaign, the effort to restore and save the Battleship North Carolina.

In all, 93 county Farm Bureaus have collectively donated $54,826 to the campaign.

“Our contribution shows the deep pride and gratitude we have for those 362,500 North Carolinians who served and the 7,109 heroes who lost their lives in World War II,” said Larry Wooten, president of North Carolina Farm Bureau. “We can be especially proud that 73 percent of those North Carolinians who served were from our state’s rural communities.”

This summer, the NCFB Federation Board of Directors approved a giving campaign challenge to county Farm Bureaus, asking them to donate at a minimum level of $25 per each currently serving county board member. Counties with full-board participation were presented with a unique plaque that incorporates original teak wood from the World War II battleship at the NCFB’s 80th annual meeting Dec. 6-8 in Greensboro. Furthermore, participating counties, and the names of all board members serving at the time of the county gift, will be presented and entered into the permanent record of the Battleship North Carolina Commission. The Federation challenge was to meet or exceed the North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company’s $25,000 donation.

North Carolina Farm Bureau’s gift will be permanently recognized throughout the Visitor Center at the Battleship’s Wilmington home.

Courtesy photo Bladen County Farm Bureau representative Ray Allen, center, is presented with a plaque in recognition of the business’ $500 contribution to the Battleship North Carolina Generations Campaign.
http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_FarmBureau.jpgCourtesy photo Bladen County Farm Bureau representative Ray Allen, center, is presented with a plaque in recognition of the business’ $500 contribution to the Battleship North Carolina Generations Campaign.

Staff report