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<br />b, Encourage farmers to use the website established by the AED (see above) <br />to participate in a bulletin board discussion or listerv for posing and <br />answering questions, and for discussions about joint marketing <br />opportunities, <br />c. Develop a county-level farm transition program, which may include <br />programs where older farmers transition skills to younger new farmers. <br />3. Develop Stronger Connections Between Schools and Local Farms, Schools offer <br />an excellent opportunity to educate students and their parents about the <br />importance of local farms, <br />a. Encourage local farms and orchards to offer tours to school students, and <br />make schools and teachers aware of available educational tours for <br />students by distributing materials to area schools at the beginning of each <br />school year. <br />b. Coordinate with the North Carolina Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom <br />program <br />c, Encourage school administrators (or the county school board) to purchase <br />local produce for county schools <br /> <br />ARTICLE VII. <br />SCHEDULE TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN <br />TO ENSURE A VIABLE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY <br />IN COUNTY <br /> <br />A. First Year Action Steps43 <br />1. Month One <br />a, Develop a budget, draft a job description, and begin search for an <br />Agricultural Economic Development Specialist position. <br />b. Meeting of Agricultural Advisory Board to prioritize elements of plan <br />implementation <br />c. Identify stakeholder groups and who will serve as their representative, <br />develop a contact list <br /> <br />2. Months Two to Four <br />a, Hire Agricultural Economic Development Specialist position <br />b, Complete work plan and implementation schedule for AED specialist <br />c, Schedule and conduct stakeholder group meeting <br /> <br />3, Months Five to Seven <br />a, Begin implementing prioritized elements of Agricultural Protection Plan <br />b. Schedule first county-wide meeting of farm and agribusiness operators <br />and elected officials to discuss Agricultural Protection Plan <br />c, Develop schedule of farmer workshops on marketing, diversification, <br />business planning, estate planning, etc, <br />4, Months Eight to Twelve <br />a, Develop written materials (eg. brochures, packets) called for under plan <br />b. Develop web-site <br /> <br />16 <br />,-\' 3 <br />