Orange County Honored with County Partnership Award at NCACC Annual Conference
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — Aug. 27, 2026 Orange County Government was recognized on Thursday, Aug. 20, during the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) First Night Reception in Durham with a County Extension Partnership Award. Presented by North Carolina Cooperative Extension, this award honors up to five counties each year—one per Cooperative Extension district—for exceptional partnership, support, and commitment to advancing Extension’s mission of extending research-based knowledge to all North Carolinians, helping them transform science into everyday solutions that improve their lives and grow our state.
The recognition took place during the NCACC's 119th Annual Conference, held Aug. 20–22 in Durham County. The conference’s First Night Reception, hosted in collaboration with NC Cooperative Extension, highlighted local partnerships and North Carolina agriculture through a locally sourced dining experience and interactive exhibits featuring Extension-driven initiatives in the areas of agriculture and food, health and nutrition, community development, and 4-H Youth Development. Orange County Extension Director Jonathon Smith and Orange County Commissioners Marilyn Carter and Phyllis Portie-Ascott accepted the award on behalf of Orange County.
Orange County’s selection reflects longstanding dedication and investment in Extension programs and staff. Highlights of this partnership include:
Staffing Commitment
Orange County Cooperative Extension has fully funded a 100 percent county-paid 4-H agent program assistant for more than three decades, funds the Breeze Farm site manager position, and stepped in to provide full support for a community and rural development (CRD) agent when state funding ended.
Technology and Capital Investments
The county invested over $110,000 in hybrid meeting and kitchen technology at the Bonnie B. Davis Center that is used for trainings such as the Master Gardener series, purchased a new 15-passenger 4-H van, and funded Mac computer leases yearly for staff to enhance program delivery.
Departmental Integration
The county extension director serves as a county department head, and extension agents contribute directly to Orange County’s Strategic Plan by serving on subcommittees accountable for countywide deliverables.
Agriculture and Food Leadership
The Orange County Cooperative Extension leads the annual Orange County Ag Summit, which brings together more than 120 farmers; drives the county’s food security strategy; and is working with the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR) to integrate the Breeze Farm into the Master Trails Plan, among other initiatives.
Emergency Food Response
During the 2025 federal shutdown, Orange County Cooperative Extension co-lead a rapid-response effort using $54,000 from the Social Justice Reserve Fund to safeguard SNAP food access for 9,163 residents.
The NC Cooperative Extension Orange County Center is located at 1020 US Hwy 70 West, Suite 130, Hillsborough. More information about their programs and services may be found on their website at https://orange.ces.ncsu.edu.
Cutline for photo: From left to right: NC A&T State University Dean of the College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences Dr. Greg Goins, Orange County Commissioner Marilyn Carter, Orange County Extension Director Jonathon Smith, Orange County Commissioner Phyllis Portie-Ascott, and NC State University Dean of the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Garey Fox.
For Media Inquiries:
Kristin Prelipp, Asst. Community Relations Director
kprelipp@orangecountync.gov
(office) 919.245.2322
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