RANDOLPH COUNTY — After years of planning, Randolph County has its new agricultural center to house cooperative extension offices, county soil and water offices, meeting and classroom space, and space for many other activities.

Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday for the new Allen Ray McNeill Education and Resource Center, named in honor of former state Rep. Allen Ray McNeill, who played a key role in securing funding for the project.

McNeill was there and caught by surprise when county commissioners revealed the name. He acknowledged how long the project had been under discussion.

“It’s been a long road from the first thoughts and conversations about the agricultural center,” McNeill said.

The 104-acre site for the $37 million center east of Asheboro was purchased by the Randolph County Board of Commissioners in 2016.

The new building includes a demonstration kitchen, a digital skills lab, commercial kitchens, and a food hub to connect local producers with institutions and families to increase food security.

Adjacent to the building is an event center and arena that has space for events from career fairs and community meetings to livestock handling demonstrations and sales. Officials say they hope it will be an ideal setting for workshops, trade shows and local celebrations.

“This is a big deal for Randolph County,” said N.C. Rep. David Craven. R-Randolph.

Agriculture is Randolph County’s leading industry, with roughly 1,500 farms spanning more than 150,000 acres. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2012 Census of Agriculture, Randolph County farms generated more than $236 million in product sales, placing the county 11th among all North Carolina counties.

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