Haywood agricultural leader awarded state’s highest honor
Longtime Haywood County farmer and agricultural community leader Bill Yarborough has been recognized with the highest honor the state has to give, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
Former N.C. Rep. Joe Sam Queen presented the award at a regional Soil and Water District meeting this fall, which Yarborough was attending as chairman of the Haywood Soil and Water Conservation District. The prestigious award is given to people who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.
Yarborough’s day job is special assistant to Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler, and he’s been recognized in myriad ways for contributions throughout his career. He was named State Employee of the Year for Outstanding State Service in 2006, inducted into the WNC Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2011, chosen as Outstanding Conservation District Supervisor in 2012 and inducted into the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame in 2016.
