man of the year
Jim Wilder, a former chairman of the North Carolina Agriculture Foundation Inc., has been named one of the 2003 Men of the Year by Progressive Farmer magazine. Wilder, a graduate of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State, was cited by the magazine as a “Leader of the Year in Service to Agriculture.”
“ James F. Wilder is ‘Mr. Soybean’ to North Carolina farmers,” said the Progressive Farmer article, as it lauded Wilder’s 30 years of service as executive vice president of the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association. “During his tenure, Wilder has dedicated himself to improving legislation and marketing opportunities on behalf of farmers and farm communities throughout his state.”
Among Wilder’s accomplishments noted by Progressive Farmer were his service on national committees for the United Soybean Board and its Grain Quality Workshop; his establishment of a joint conference of the state’s soybean, corn and small grain growers; his work as a liaison between farmers and the state legislature; his efforts to start the Grain Growers Cooperative and to develop value-added markets for soybeans; and his support of international marketing of soybeans.
“
Jim tries his best to represent farmers and the farm community,” Bill
Johnston, president of the N.C. Soybean Producers Association, told
the magazine. “He does what he can, not just for soybean producers
but for all farmers.”
