When land grant universities were founded in the 1800s, many had a special clause in their charter to allow for research to be shared with the public through local communities free of charge. This clause was the foundation of the Extension service, also known as agricultural extension, and most recently Cooperative Extension. In North Carolina, the extension service is connected primarily with NC State University and NC A&T.
I had the privilege of working for the Pitt County Cooperative Extension Office (affiliated with NC State University) several years ago and have a special place in my heart for extension and the valuable resource they are for all citizens. During my time working there, I had the pleasure of getting to know livestock extension agent Andy Burlingham, and learned about his heart for animals, youth, and 4-H.
Andy grew up in the same extension realm he now serves in, being an active participant in 4-H through his formative years before heading to college at Kansas State University and doing a stint on a cattle ranch there. Drawn back to his native eastern NC, he and his fiancée Sarah Howe currently live on and operate Tar River Ranch, a 435-acre homestead on the outskirts of Pitt County. Once his childhood home, the ranch preserves its legacy of service to the youth of eastern NC, while continuing to grow with each new animal that walks its pastures. It is currently home to an array of dogs, lambs, goats, and horses.
With such a diversity of animals and the ongoing need for sudden vet care and specific nutrition plans, it takes a skilled individual to oversee the farm. A jack of all trades, Andy stays busy, and is no stranger to hard work. Burlingham credits extension with being the foundation for his expertise with animals, and as he explains to me the differences in the lambs and goats and how his breeding program is structured, it is apparent that his knowledge is vast.
As we walked around the ranch, baby lambs and goats trot happily around, and Andy’s knowledge flows as he discusses how they select studs for their breeding program, the quality of the wool, and the crosses they have done. In addition to showing and breeding, they sell some for meat. The majority wind up being loved on and shown by the youth of 4-H, and that is truly where his heart lies.
The youngsters in 4-H and the community at large are able to learn, connect, and get hands-on experience with animals through special camps, programs, and on-call assistance from Burlingham and the rest of the team at the Pitt County Office. When not dealing with four legged critters and paying visits to local livestock to assist with issues, Andy is found tending to his acreage to produce the finest quality hay, and the State of NC has recognized his efforts with several blue ribbons at the fair for his forage crops.
His fiancée, Sarah, has a heart for animals as well, having rescued and rehabilitated several horses, now thriving at Tar River Ranch. She also has a soft spot for Patti, one of the recent additions on the ranch. This young lamb had a complicated birth and became a bottle baby with a special attachment to her human mother. Sarah even made a special coat for Patti, which is functional and adorable.
This couple continues to pour into the local community, and at a time when appreciation and understanding for agriculture is lacking, I’m thankful to have devoted folks like Burlingham and his partner Howe working to keep it alive.
If you have livestock, or children, I encourage you to connect with agent Andy Burlingham of Pitt County Cooperative Extension.
