The Rowan County Chamber of Commerce’s next Power in Partnership (PIP) breakfast will be a special “Salute to Agri-business and Farmer’s Appreciation” breakfast on Thurs., March 17, 7:30 a.m. at the Millbridge Ruritan Club (690 Sloan Rd., Mt. Ulla; across from Sloan Park).

Joe Hampton is the keynote speaker and Amy-Lynn Albertson will be introduced as the new Rowan County Extension Agent.

Hampton is the superintendent and research operations manager at the Piedmont Research Station. His topic will be the economic impact of Agri-business in Rowan County. All the breakfast food will be locally sourced.

Hampton has been with the Research Station since 1981, working at both the Salisbury facility and the Upper Piedmont Research Station. He came “back home” in 2004 when he was named superintendent of the Piedmont Research Station. Hampton is a graduate of N.C. State University and a popular speaker for the Leadership Rowan classes.

Albertson was named as the new Rowan County Extension Agent in December 2015, having worked for the N.C. Cooperative Extension since 2001. She holds a Master of Science degree in Horticulture from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Colorado State University.

The Leadership Rowan Class will start the day at the breakfast and then venture out for each day’s session focused on a different aspect of the community. The dates for the remaining spring breakfast meetings are: April 21 (Health Care); and, May 19 (Dr. Jim Johnson, UNC Chapel Hill – Leadership Rowan Graduation). The program will take a break in the summer and begin again in September.

If you are interested in obtaining a Power Card, contact the Chamber. The Power Card is the Rowan Chamber’s frequent attender program. You receive a discounted price for the series and do not have to make a reservation each month.

If you are not a Power Card holder, individual reservations for the breakfast are welcome; however, the reservation deadline is Tues., March 15 by 5 p.m. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. The price includes the cost of breakfast and the program.

Contact the Chamber for information on reservations or sponsorship opportunities at 704-633-4221 or info@rowanchamber.com.