Hartsville Chamber of Commerce hosts Agriculture Appreciation Breakfast
Speakers at the Agriculture Appreciation Breakfast (left to right): Matt Myers of GSSM Hydroponic Research Lab, Dan Rummel of Arbor One Farm Credit, Gill Rogers of Gillespie’s Peanuts, Will and MaryAnn Chapman of Chapman Farms/Cotton Patch Hemp Co., and Murphy Monk, President of the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce and host of the event. PHOTO BY STEPHAN DREW
By Stephan Drew, Editor
On Thursday, March 30, the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce hosted the Agriculture Appreciation Breakfast at the Hartsville Country Club, 116 Golf Course Rd., Hartsville. Duke Energy was the Presenting Sponsor and CareSouth Carolina sponsored the extensive breakfast buffet. The event was held to honor the importance of agriculture in this area and the contributions made by the farming industry. Agribusiness is the largest industry in the state. Over 100 people attended the event and speakers were Matt Myers of GSSM Hydroponics Lab, Dan Rummel of Arbor One Farm Credit, Will & MaryAnn Chapman of Chapman Farms/Cotton Patch Hemp Co., and Gill Rogers of Gillespie’s Peanuts.
Myers spoke of the advancements made with the Hydroponics Lab at the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, even though the lab itself is the size of a railroad boxcar or large storage unit. Rummel stated that his company has issued approximately $600 million in loans and they are committed to fully supporting the agribusiness industry.
Spencer McLeod of McLeod Farms was scheduled to address the crowd but was unable to attend. Murphy Monk, President of the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce and host of the event, delivered the address in his place, along with a detailed video presentation. Monk told the crowd that there are 25,000 farms in South Carolina, using approximately 5 million acres, employing over 259,000 people and producing almost $52 billion in economic impact.
Eliciting chuckles, Gill Rogers told the crowd, “I’ve grown just about everything, but marshmallows and elbow macaroni. I couldn’t find any seed.” MaryAnn Chapman spoke of how her daughter’s health problems and her own migraine headaches were greatly improved by the use of hemp, prompting she and her husband to start their own company.
ArborOne Farm Credit, The Citizens Bank, Darlington County School District and Cotton Patch Hemp Company sponsored tables in the “packed to capacity” dining room.