George Quigley was inducted into the Cumberland County Agricultural Hall of Fame this month during the annual Farm City Week program sponsored by the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Service and the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville. “J.R.” Dail was recognized as Cumberland County’s 2016 Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year. 

Quigley’s official portrait was unveiled and will hang on the wall with those of past inductees in the I.B. Julian Auditorium of the Cooperative Extension office at the Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center, on E. Mountain Drive. In addition, N.C. Sen. Wesley Meredith (R-Cumberland), acting on behalf of the governor, presented Quigley with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s most prestigious civilian service award. 

Quigley was a member of Cumberland County’s inaugural master gardener class in 1996. He has remained a fixture at Cooperative Extension for the past 20 years. Quigley has taught horticulture, landscaping and gardening. He has hosted farm tours and frequently visited with lawmakers to ensure passage of legislation designed to benefit farmers and the agricultural industry. 

“Since 1996 when he started with the Master Gardener program, George has not left our office,” said Cooperative Extension Director Lisa Childers. “He has volunteered more than 8,000 hours with the program and contributed so much to our community, not for recognition, but because of his dedication and commitment to Cooperative Extension and Cumberland County,” she added. 

Quigley has served as chairman of the Cooperative Extension Advisory Council and as President of the N.C. Master Gardener Association. He also serves on the Cape Fear Botanical Garden Board of Directors, the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville, Cross Creek Linear Park Committee, Fayetteville Beautiful Board of Directors, N.C. Agriculture Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank and Catholic Charities Board of Directors. Quigley was also an instructor of landscaping at Fayetteville Technical Community College and is a recipient of the Cumberland County Cares Award. Quigley, a native of upstate New York, enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman after graduating from high school. He joined the elite Army Rangers and was later commissioned as an infantry officer. He served for 34 years before retiring in Cumberland County. 

Also during this year’s Farm City Week observance, “J.R.” Dail was recognized as Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year. Dail, son of James and Wanda Dail, is a fifth-generation farmer in the Wade community. He grows cucumbers, tobacco, soybeans and wheat. Dail also helps his father and brother, Zach Dail, at the family hardware store located on the farm.