What an awesome week it has been in the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce office. As the annual banquet is next Tuesday, Feb. 26, our office is adding the final touches to ensure it is a wonderful evening of celebration and honor to our members, small business nominees, and recipients. We hope each of you are planning to join us next Tuesday. If you have not purchased your ticket yet, please give us a call at 910-592-6177.

I have the honor of representing the Chamber’s Board of Directors and all the Chamber membership on a variety of boards and committees throughout Sampson County. With each of these groups, we strive to achieve a different goal. Using the puzzle analogy that I have used in the past, I look at each committee or board’s goal is our puzzle piece. As each of us continues to put the pieces together within the Sampson County puzzle, we are creating a community filled with involvement, growth, prosperity and an increased quality of life.

One of the committees I serve on is the Sampson County Farmers Market. I am honored to be a part of a committee in which we are striving to give farmers, craft merchants and other vendors the opportunity to showcase their home grown or handmade products. We hope the community will join in on our efforts in order to highlight the backbone of Sampson County, agriculture, as well as craft merchants.

The 2013 Sampson County Farmers Market is “bringing the best of the county to the heart of the city.” It is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., seasonally, Wednesday and Saturday, May through October at the Clinton City Market. As May 1 is quickly approaching for the opening date, we need the community’s assistance in reaching each potential vendor with this opportunity. If you have home grown or hand crafted products, give us a call 910-592-6177 for more information.

Again I am honored to be a part of many organizations and committees throughout Sampson County. I have been able to meet, brainstorm and work with so many people who all have the same goals — the goal for Sampson County growth and increased quality of life. After all, Sampson County is where magic begins and it starts with each of us getting involved and taking ownership within our great county.