CONTENTS

Welcome Message 6

Board of Directors 8

Chairman’s Remarks at the
Annual Chamber Banquet 10

Austin Electrical Enclosures manufacturing quality products
for 60 years in Yadkin County 12

Yadkin Memorial Park offers a
variety of outdoor activities 14

Find a farm, map a trip, or
plot out your day with the Visit
NC Farms App 18

Chamber Events 20

2024 Chamber Champions 21

Chamber Happenings! 22

Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce

205 S. Jackson St., Yadkinville, NC 27055

P.O. Box 1840

(336) 679-2200 | www.yadkinchamber.org

Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce Celebrating 35 years of Service!

Welcome back to the “Yadkin Courant”!

The Chamber has 35 years of supporting member businesses and creating a better economy for all Yadkin citizens. The Chamber is so grateful to have been - and continues to be - a part of this wonderful community for 35 years.

In this spring edition of our digital publication, the Yadkin Courant, we chose to highlight our Chamber Board of Directors, Chamber Champions for 2024, share articles on our Chamber Annual Meeting, Austin Electrical Enclosures, Lake Hampton at Yadkin Memorial Park, Visit NC Farms App and calendar of upcoming major events. The online digital edition also features a listing of Chamber Investors.

Your Chamber provides numerous activities for membership to be involved, network and build relationships. The monthly Chamber Investors Luncheon, Business After Hours, Chamber Outings, and Showcase Yadkin Business Expo are just a few of the networking opportunities that the Chamber offers. Leadership Yadkin County, an informative Leadership development program is currently in progress and will begin recruitment again in early summer for the Class of 2026. Your Chamber works closely with our school system and community college on initiatives such as Surry-Yadkin Works, a program provided paid internships, our traditional internship program, and Dream It - Do It showing all Yadkin County 8th graders some of our manufacturing career opportunities.

If you are not a member of the Chamber, we invite you to join today and make an investment in your community as we work together to build a stronger economy.

Bobby, Jamie & Isabell

Chamber Staff

The Chamber Champions program allows Yadkin County Chamber members to make their sponsorship commitments for the entire year to better assist with budgeting. As a Chamber Champion, your commitment helps us accomplish the Chamber’s mission by providing the necessary funding to support the numerous programs and events we host throughout the year. Please contact the Chamber to learn more about the Chamber Champions program.

Board of directors

Smith Williams
Unifi, Inc.
Chair

David Nance
Gentry Family
Funeral Service
Vice - Chair
Chair of Travel & Tourism

Nolan Brown
NGB Enterprises
Secretary / Treasurer
Chair of Finance

Kevin Austin
Austin Enclosures
Past Chair

Marlana Riley
Keller Williams Realty Elite

Joy Kay
AOA Signs

Rusty Crissman
CMS Insurance
Chair of Membership

Anna Howe
Anna Howe Designs

Marty Driver
Attorney Tom Fagerli Office
Chair of Education

Chris Hampton
Hampton Law Office

Michael Pardue
Town of Jonesville
Chair of Economic Development

David Williams
Aesthetix Laser &
Med Spa

Emmy Matthews Corn
First National Bank

Tim Doub
Quality Steel Fabrication
Chair of Public Relations

Tony McCarson
Retired

staff

Robert (Bobby) J. Todd

Executive Director

Jamie Johnston

Administrative Assistant

Isabell Moody

Starmount High School Intern

Chairman’s Remarks at the Annual Chamber Banquet

Chairman Smitty Willams welcomed guests to the 34rd Annual Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. After a lovely dinner catered by Debbi Hoover and staff, Smitty reflected on the past year.

Highlights of the past year include:

•  Kick off Chamber Champions Program.

•  Childcare Caucus Meeting with Legislators, grant writing, and continued efforts to create child care availability for increase workforce participation.

•  Luncheon Sponsors for 2023 include The Yadkin Rotary Club, Frontier Natural Gas, Smart Start of Yadkin, NextEra Energy, Zirrus, First National Bank, Libraries of Yadkin County, Mercy & Truth Ministries, and Surry Community College.

•  1st Annual Investors Cookout, sponsored by Marlana Riley/Keller Williams Realty and hosted by Unifi, Inc.

•  Welcomed New Members N & K Cleaning Service, Brawley Mechanical, Health Savings Solutions, Bargain Shop Clothing & More, Yadkin Tours, Pella Carolina, Davie Construction, Beechwood Media, Carolina Ink Screen Printing and Embroidery, The Enrichment Center, Perdue Farms – Yadkin Valley Breeders, Aesthetix Laser & Med Spa, Piedmont Realty & Management, HICAPS of Greensboro, Little Heaven B & B, Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, Basin Creek Realty, Firefly Haven, Yadkinville School PTA, and DNR Construction Services.

•  Hosted Chamber Outings at Thunderbirds Hockey, Winston-Salem DASH with 85 attending, and first ever Carolina Panthers outing with the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

•  Held Ribbon Cuttings at Bargain Shop Clothing and More, Aesthetix Laser & Med Spa, Little Heaven B & B, Farm School on Wheels, and Veteran’s Thrift Store.

•  Introduced “Yadkin Courant” biannual video magazine.

•  Hosted a Business After Hours at the Shore House, sponsored by Love Out Loud.

•  Undertook Leadership Class of 2024 with Surry Community College, with graduation scheduled for April.

•  Hosted an Industry Appreciation Luncheon in cooperation with Economic Development Partnership.

•  Conducted “Dream It – Do It” Industry tours for Middle School Students as well as Industry Tours with CTE staff and instructors from Yadkin County Schools.

•  In cooperation with Yadkin County Tourism Development Authority, promoted Trash Pickup Program, attended Atlanta Adventure and Travel Show, Facilitated Winter Reds, Summer Whites and Yuletide Sippin’ Tour wine events, and promoted Tourism Day at the I-77 Welcome Center showcasing Yadkin County.

•  Successfully wrote and administered building reuse grants for Cross Technology and Mountain Valley Hospice.

As you can see, YOUR Chamber had a busy year in making Yadkin County a great place to be!

Annual Meeting

Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award
Emmy Matthews Corn

Yadkin County Farmer of the Year
Round Hill Farms

Economic Development Award
James Inman, Cross Technology

Entrepreneurial Award
Maggie Stokes, Bargain Shop Clothing

Historic Preservation Award
Andrew Mackie

Chairman’s Award
Dr. Todd Martin, Yadkin County Schools

Community Enrichment Award
John & Barbara Norman

Historic Preservation Award
Andrew Mackie

Small Business Award
David Lilly, DNR Construction

Austin Electrical Enclosures manufacturing quality products for 60 years in Yadkin County

By Mike Danahey

Austin Electrical Enclosures, based in Yadkinville since 1972, celebrated its 60th birthday on March 6.

In layman's terms, an electrical enclosure is basically a cabinet – or box – that houses electrical equipment, explained Amanda Felts, the company’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

The enclosures either protect equipment from the elements such as rain or dust or protect a person from coming into contact with the electricity.

“But, honestly there are too many uses to even list,” Felts said. “We manufacture everything from small galvanized 4-inch-by-4-inch junction boxes up to stainless steel, 12-foot-by-12-foot multi door cabinets that are painted green. Because of our amazing engineering team, if it's sheet metal, we can and will build it.”

Everything the company makes is manufactured in Yadkinville. This means the company meets all the "Build America Buy America" specifications required for any federally or state funded job across the nation.

“We are a proud U.S. manufacturer,” Felts said.

Austin Electrical Enclosures’ products are available in all 50 states. The company has sales reps in practically every one of them. It’s actively interviewing for local rep partners in the few where it doesn’t.

“We are also in the process of forging a partnership with an international rep agency and already participate in some export projects,” Felts said. “With the new hire, as capacity allows, we expect to slowly expand our footprint into international markets.”

Like most other manufacturers, post-pandemic Austin Electrical Enclosures faced challenges that included demand outrunning capacity during the past couple of years.

“We had to make some hard choices in regards to which customers we offered our capacity to during this unprecedented time. I am so extremely proud of how Austin Enclosures handled this recent supply chain crisis,” Felts said.

In the face of related inflation, Austin Electrical Enclosures continues to price its products fairly and offer its capacity to its loyal distributor partners.

“We watched as many others in our industry filled their capacity with new and higher margin business,” Felts said. “Our M.O. was, and still is, to operate with integrity and to focus on our customers' long term needs, building partnerships rather than focusing on hitting a homerun with the big order.”

Locally, Austin Electrical Enclosures has been a longtime member of the Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce. Vice President of Manufacturing Kevin Austin was the chair of the Chamber’s board in 2022 and has served for more than 16 years.

The company and its staff are also proud of their strong ties to and involvement in the community.

Corporately, Austin Enclosures has generously sponsored worthy causes that include the Heart of a Child Ball and Hands of Hope's annual gala.

In addition to Kevin Austin’s service to the chamber, he also serves on the Yadkin County Board of Commissioners and numerous other committees. Human Resource Manager Kim Bruce sits on the Surry Community College's Board of Trustees. And Project Manager Todd Pope is involved with local schools through robotics and Lego First Tech programs.

Many other employees volunteer their time with local churches, organizations and nonprofits. They volunteer as sports coaches, scout leaders, at animal shelters, for sportsmen's clubs and teams, assisting in animal transports and to serve on the board of directors with various area nonprofits,

Austin Electrical Enclosures’ employees consistently collect toys for Christmas drives or canned food for those in need, Felts said.

A project of note in which Austin Electrical Enclosures participates annually is "Dream It Do It." Each year, the company invites 400 or so 8th graders from Forbush and Starmount Middle Schools to visit its operation, offering students a glimpse into some of the possibilities that a career in manufacturing might afford them.

“It’s a hands-on day for these young adults that is filled with fun, facts and lots and lots of laughs,” Felts said.

All told, Austin Electrical Enclosures is very happy to have its roots firmly planted in Yadkin County.

“Yadkin County offers Austin a workforce pool of genuinely great people,” Felts said. “The county and the surrounding areas from which our employees live is chock-full of good-hearted, hard-working folks who strive to better themselves daily. Our people are the backbone and the future of our growing company.”

Yadkin Memorial Park offers a variety of outdoor activities

By Mike Danahey

Yadkin Memorial Park along Lake Hampton in Yadkinville opened in November 2014 and has come to be a popular spot for those seeking all sorts of outdoor activity.

Yadkin County began construction of the Hood-Chamberlain Dam in 2008 (formerly known as the 5-D Dam), according to Yadkin County Manager Lisa Hughes. Once the dam was completed, it created the lake now known as Lake Hampton. This lake was established to be a future drinking water source for the County.

To complement the lake, the County created Memorial Park, a passive park that allows non-gas powered boats (canoes, kayaks, jon boats, etc.) on the lake, along with duck hunting, walking trails, picnics and camping.

“The County has been fortunate to receive two grants from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to build the park side of the facility, as well as grants to make the playground and lake accessible for all people,” Hughes said.

Here’s an alpha list of what this recreational gem has to offer.

Kayaks, canoes, trolling motor-powered boats, paddle boats and stand-up paddle boards are all welcome on Lake Hampton. However, gas-powered boats are not permitted.

For those who don’t have boats of their own, a variety of kayaks and jon boats are available that can be rented out by the hour or for the day and taken out from the park’s boat launch.

The facilities also include a universally accessible kayak launch. With step-by-step instructions provided, the kayak launch allows just about everyone to enjoy a day on the water.

From the park, boaters can navigate more than a mile back up South Deep Creek, which feeds into Lake Hampton

Those who love fishing enjoy the quiet lake setting as they come to catch a variety of stocked fish including crappie, bass and catfish from two piers. Shellcracker and brim have also been caught in Lake Hampton.

The park office at Lake Hampton carries a variety of bait, ice, disc golf discs, snacks and soft drinks. Employees are registered to sell hunting and fishing licenses and to register boats.

No swimming for people or dogs is allowed in Lake Hampton at Yadkin Memorial Park.

Yadkin Memorial Park holds seven basic campsites, one of which is handicapped accessible. These campsites are ideal for families who like to explore the outdoors in spring and summer.

Sites are accessible by walking to them, with parking available by the park’s bathhouse. Wheelbarrows are available for loading and unloading camping gear.

Camping sites are only available Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. To reserve a spot, call 336-849-7751.

The 18-hole George Sappenfield Disc Golf Course is part of Yadkin Memorial Park East, which opened in 2020 and is accessible from the new entrance at 2513 Ireland Road in Yadkinville.

That entrance also leads to the Ashley Ladd trail.

According to the Professional Disc Golf Association website, Jonesville native Sappenfield designed the first disc golf course for an officially sanctioned event in the late 1960s.

He started the National Junior Frisbee Contest, which eventually included disc golf and also established the first college credit flying disc class. Sappenfield has designed more than two dozen disc golf courses.

There is a dog park near the main entrance to Yadkin Memorial Park East that offers a run for smaller dogs and another for larger dogs. Both runs have agility equipment, and there are also drinking fountains designed for dogs.

During hunting season, six waterfowl blinds are available for use on Lake Hampton, one of which is handicapped accessible.

The duck hunting application fee is $5, and applicants must be Yadkin County residents.

The duck hunting blind fee is $30. Only three people at a time are allowed per blind. Non-residents of Yadkin County must be accompanied by a Yadkin County resident in the blinds.

Yadkin Memorial Park wouldn’t be a park without a playground, replete with swings and things for kids to climb.

The park holds three picnic pavilions that can be rented for gatherings. There are charcoal grills and picnic tables to use for your cookout, too.

Trails roughly 1.75 miles long on the west side of Lake Hampton have signs to help guide you through the scenic woods close to water. The park’s newest trail, on the southeast side of Lake Hampton, winds its way behind the Hood-Chamberlin dam and across a new pedestrian bridge across South Deep Creek. This trail is approximately three miles long.

With its idyllic lakefront setting, Yadkin Memorial Park is a great place to hold an outdoor wedding and offers customized packages that will please any couple looking to tie the knot.

In fact, with access to two different sized shelters with new picnic tables, restrooms, two piers and a big lawn, the site is a fine one for pretty much any sort of outdoor ceremony or celebration.

A friendly reminder, though, while a party will have exclusive access to rented areas, the rest of the park remains open to the public.

The main entrance to Yadkin Memorial Park at Lake Hampton is 1200 Crystal Lane in Yadkinville.

For further information, go to https://www.yadkincountync.gov/407/Yadkin-Memorial-Park.

The entrance to Yadkin Memorial Park East is at 2513 Ireland Road, Yadkinville. For further information, go to https://www.yadkincountync.gov/625/Yadkin-Memorial-Park-East.

To talk to someone about the park, call 336-849-7909, ext. 3.

Find a farm, map a trip, or plot out your day with the Visit NC Farms App

By Mike Danahey

The Visit NC Farms App is helping bring locals and tourists to farms, fresh seafood, wineries and other fun attractions across North Carolina, including here in Yadkin County.

“We’re a small, rural county and this helps get our name and the names of our agritourism out there,” said Kellee Payne, horticulture agent with the Yadkin County Center NC Cooperative Extension. The office serves as administrator for the app in Yadkin County.

The Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services launched the app in 2018 as a pilot program. It grew with help from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and North Carolina Sea Grant.

Through the app, people can receive push notifications about events and agritourism in three regions of the state – the mountains to the west, Piedmont in the middle and the coast to the east.

If set up to do so, the free app can let someone know if they are close to a farm or other attraction.

The home screen is designed with tiles that offer eight options: farms and fisheries; places to pick your own produce; farmers markets; local food and drink; where to shop locally; farm stays and lodging; itineraries and trips; and special events.

Users can learn about agritourism, find out what’s near and what’s happening by where they might be heading, map their trips, and even plot out a day trip to multiple sites not far from each other. There are also suggested trails and trips available through the app.

Payne said Yadkin County currently has 26 assets included on the app and is actively recruiting participants.

One of those is Enon Meadows Farm in East Bend. Owned and operated by Mike and Pat Jacques, the 15-acre farm offers seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs, handmade craft items for sale, particularly gnomes and a variety of classes.

The couple’s main crops are blueberries, cherry tomatoes, onions and garlic. They have a pick-your-own-blueberry operation, with 400 bushes that include five rabbiteye varieties, so that at least one type is always ripening from July through September.

Pat Jacques said that when the app was first offered in July 2020 in Yadkin County, Enon Meadows Farm was among the first places to sign up. The farm is listed on the app under pick-your-own and family farm tiles.

“Small farms have a hard time getting noticed,” Pat Jacques said. “The app has reached people we would never have reached on our own.”

Pat said she and her husband find it great to hear that visitors found their farm on the app.

“What’s even better is that, after finding us and having a great time picking and eating blueberries, those folks recommend us to their friends. Those referrals account for most of our new business and our most loyal customers,” she said.

There is an annual $50 fee for a place to become an asset. The fee covers promotional pushes and monthly analytics.

In December, Yadkin was the County with the most assets viewed. For 2023, Yadkin County assets that made the top five in the state for views included Enon Meadows Farm, Yadkin Farmers Market in Yadkinville, Sanders Ridge Vineyard & Winery in Boonville, Laurel Gray Vineyards in Hamptonville, Big River General Store in Yadkinville, Golden Star Family Puppies in Union Grove and Alpha & Omega Corn Maze in Hamptonville.

Alpha & Omega Corn Maze is a 20-acre agritourism complex that features maze trails, hayrides, horse drawn wagon rides and more than 30 engaging activities. Corn Maze co-owner Jason Walker said the attraction has been on the app since Yadkin County began participating.

“We saw it as a great opportunity to advertise,” Walker said.

Alpha & Omega Corn Maze is also a Yadkin County sponsor for the app, as are Jonesville Tourism Development Authority, Yadkin County Visitor Center and Yadkin County Farm Bureau.

Walker said he’s heard from a good many patrons that they discovered Alpha & Omega Corn Maze through the VIsit NC Farms app.

In turn, Walker has used the app, too. On a trip to the beach, he and his family used it to locate other things to do. And Walker has used it to learn about what other farms across the state have to offer.

The Visit NC Farms app is available for iPhone and Android. For more information, go to https://visitncfarmstoday.com/. To become a Yadkin County asset call Kellee Payne at 336-849-7908 or email kellee_payne@ncsu.edu.

Chamber Happenings!

May

23rd  Chamber Group Outing to Winston-Salem DASH Ballpark – 7:00 p.m.

28th  Chamber Investors Luncheon – Noon - Yadkin County Agricultural & Educational Building

June

15th  Shred Day Event - 9:00am - Noon - Yadkin County Chamber Office

25th  Chamber Investors Luncheon – Noon - Yadkin County Agricultural & Educational Building

July

23rd  Chamber Investors Appreciation Cookout – 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. –Unifi Guest House in Yadkinville

August

27th  Chamber Investors Luncheon – Noon - Yadkin County Agricultural & Educational Building

September

24th  Chamber Investors Luncheon – Noon - Yadkin County Agricultural & Educational Building

October

19th  Yadkin Valley Grape Festival – 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Yadkinville Town Parking Lot

22nd  Chamber Investors Luncheon - Noon - Yadkin County Agricultural & Educational Building

NOVEMBER

26th  Chamber Investors Luncheon - Noon - Yadkin County Agricultural & Educational Building

Surry Community College Small Business Center offers monthly business seminars for free, visit their website for a list of upcoming seminars www.surry.edu/sbc

Community Happenings!

April

27th  Healthy Kids Day sponsored by Smart Start of Yadkin – 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Yadkin County Park

May

3rd  Cinco De Mayo Party on the Plaza with West End Mambo – Yadkin Cultural Arts Center – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

4th  Jonesville Jubilee - Lila Swaim Park in Jonesville –10:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

4th  Spring Fling – Downtown Boonville – Noon – 6:00 p.m.

4th – 5th  Community Wide Yard Sale – Downtown Boonville

17th  Friday After Five Summer Concert Series – All Star Block Party with The Billy Creason Band – Food Trucks, Live Music – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Downtown Yadkinville

25th  Music in the Park featuring None of the Above - 6:30 p.m. – Yadkinville Community Park

28th  Memorial Day Service at Yadkin County Park – 11:00 a.m.

30th  NC Trail Days in Elkin/Jonesville, www.nctraildays.com

June

1st  RC Truck Pull / Carolina RC Pullers Event – Lone Hickory Indoor Arena

1st – 2nd  NC Trail Days in Elkin/Jonesville,
www.nctraildays.com

8th  Music in the Park featuring Phatt City - 6:30 p.m. – Yadkinville Community Park

8th  Party in the Park for Kids at Tony Reece Community Park – Boonville – 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

8th  Free Movie at the Yadkin Cultural Arts Center showing “Back to the Future” – 2:00 p.m.

14th  Friday After Five Summer Concert Series – Rock the Boat With Camel City Yacht Club – Food Trucks, Live Music – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Downtown Yadkinville

22nd  Kelley & The Cowboys Band live in concert at Yadkin Cultural Arts Center, Willingham Theater – 7:30 p.m.

29th  East Bend God and Country Celebration – 9:30 a.m. parade on Main Street – 11:15 a.m. Festival opens at East Bend Elementary fireworks at dusk

July

6th  Yadkinville 4th of July Celebration, Parade, and Fireworks – Downtown Yadkinville – 5:00 p.m. – Fireworks at Dusk

25th – 27th  Yadkin Cultural Arts Center presents “Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr.” Production, Willingham Theater – 7:30 p.m.

26th – 28th  Annual Hwy 21 Road Market, Jonesville

25th – 27th  Yadkin Cultural Arts Center presents “Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr.” Production, Willingham Theater – 3:00 p.m.

August

3rd  Annual End of Summer Celebration – Back to School 2024 at Lila Swaim Park – 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Movie will be at dusk

9th  Friday After Five Summer Concert Series – Dog Days of Summer with Jim Quick & Coastline – Food Trucks, Live Music – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Downtown Yadkinville

17th  Camel City Yacht Club live in concert at Yadkin Cultural Arts Center, Willingham Theater – 7:30 p.m.

24th  Live Like Norah Foundation Gold Tournament – Silo Run Golf Course

24th  Music in the Park featuring Special Occasion Band - 6:30 p.m. – Yadkinville Community Park

September

7th  Songs from the Road Band live in concert at Yadkin Cultural Arts Center, Willingham Theater – 7:30 p.m.

14th  Music in the Park featuring Wonderwall - 6:30 p.m. – Yadkinville Community Park

October

12th  Music in the Park featuring A Night of Gospel - 5:00 p.m. – Yadkinville Community Park

Please visit our website to learn more about our events happening in Yadkin County and the surrounding area, www.yadkinchamber.org