Celebrate Farming in JoCo
Held the week before Thanksgiving, the Johnston County Farm-City Week banquet and service project promotes a better understanding of agriculture between farm and non-farm families. Farm-City Week is part of a nationwide celebration of the partnership of farmers, agribusinesses, processors, truckers, wholesale operations, and retail that it takes to feed the American people. All of the parts of the food chain are important and viable in Johnston County.
NC Cooperative Extension and the staff at the Johnston County Extension Center provide leadership for this celebration along with the support of the County Commissioners, the Farm-City Week Committee, and many other sponsors and volunteers. Local agribusinesses, financial institutions, and grower organizations support the weeklong celebration. For more information on the 2025 Farm-City Week banquet, contact the Cooperative Extension office at 919-989-5380.
2024 Farm-City Week Highlights
The 2024 event highlighted the vital connections between Johnston County’s rural and urban communities while honoring outstanding service to local agriculture and beyond. The banquet featured keynote speaker Ray Starling of the NC Chamber, a prominent advocate for agriculture and rural development. Starling's speech emphasized the importance of fostering relationships between farmers, businesses, and the broader community to ensure a thriving agricultural future. The most significant moments of the evening came during the recognition of two pillars of Johnston County agriculture: Coor Farm Supply and Pace Family Farms.
Coor Farm Supply has been a cornerstone of the Johnston County agricultural community for generations. Founded in 1960 by Ovid Coor, Coor Farm Supply began as an operation dedicated to meeting the needs of local farmers. Over the decades, it has grown into a trusted resource not only for the agricultural community but also for the general public, offering a wide range of high-quality products and services. From farm products to home landscape products, Coor Farm Supply has been a reliable partner for customers across Johnston County. Under the leadership of Ovid’s son, Ozzie, the business has upheld its commitment to service, quality, and community. Whether assisting farmers in sustaining their livelihoods or providing goods to local residents, Coor Farm Supply has played a vital role in the economic and social fabric of Johnston County for nearly 64 years.
Pace Family Farms was honored for their dedication to farming and innovation. The Pace family, led by Jerry Pace Jr., his wife Deborah, and their daughters Michelle Pace Davis and Cara Ruth Dunnavant, has embraced both tradition and progress in their farming operation. For over 100 years, the Pace family relied on tobacco, but as the urban areas around them grew, they recognized the need for change. In 2016, they made the bold decision to transition from tobacco to strawberries, a shift that was met with overwhelming support from the community. Listening to their customers, they quickly expanded to include other crops, and even a thriving CSA box program. The Pace Family is also deeply committed to agricultural education by welcoming students of all kinds to the farm. These field trips provide hands-on learning opportunities that bring classroom lessons to life and pay tribute to the deeply rooted connection to organizations such as FFA that had profound impacts on Michelle and Cara.
The Farm-City Banquet served as a reminder of the strong ties that bind Johnston County’s farm families, businesses, and residents. The evening’s celebrations not only honored the past and present contributions of local agricultural leaders but also served as a call to the community to see that agriculture remains a part of our future.
