It is the end of one era and the beginning of a new one with the election of Shawn Harding as the president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and the retirement of Larry Wooten as president after 20 years at the helm.

Harding became the new North Carolina Farm Bureau president in December when 552 voting delegates elected him during NCFB’s 84^th annual meeting at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons.

We congratulate President Harding in his new position and commend former President Wooten for exemplary service as leader of North Carolina’s largest general farm organization. We will miss seeing Mr. Wooten at meetings and functions across the state and look forward to working with Mr. Harding in his new role.

Larry Wooten certainly developed a sterling reputation as one of North Carolina’s stellar leaders since being elected North Carolina Farm Bureau President in 1999. Gov. Roy Cooper honored Wooten as the first recipient of the North Carolina Rural Leadership Award in November.

“Larry Wooten has been a tireless advocate for North Carolina farmers and rural communities, and I thank him for his many years of outstanding service to our state. I am proud to honor Larry by presenting him the first-ever North Carolina Rural Leadership Award, which will honor his legacy and the service of leaders who make an impact in rural communities for years to come,” the governor said.

North Carolina Farm Bureau is under good hands with Harding as president. Harding was formerly Beaufort County Farm Bureau president and chairman of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Resolutions Committee. He also previously served on the North Carolina Farm Bureau Board of Directors and as a member of various state advisory committees. For the last year, he has been employed as a Public Policy Director for the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation.

Harding was born and raised in rural eastern North Carolina and farmed tobacco with his brother until the late 1990s, when they transitioned to fruits and vegetables. Harding and his wife, Tracey, have three adult children and two grandchildren.

The North Carolina Farm Bureau has always been a bright star in the Tar Heel State. We know it will continue to shine bright under the leadership of Shawn Harding.