The first in a series of monthly Friends of Agriculture breakfast meetings will be on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 a.m. The meeting will be held at the 4-H Youth Center on Locust Street in Columbus.

Polk County Agricultural Economic Development Director Lynn Sprague says the meetings will provide information about some very successful programs available to service farmers, agribusinesses and the community in Western North Carolina. He says each month the meetings will feature resource people working with agriculture development in the region.

&bsp;The November breakfast will feature Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP).&bsp; ASAP works with both large and small scale farmers on marketing, value added products, business planning and locating available resources.&bsp; Most of their services are provided free as part of their existing grants and programs. &bsp;

The breakfast meetings are supported by the Polk County Community Foundation.

He says the invitation to attend the breakfast meetings is open to anyone who is interested in agriculture from farmers, support businesses to local decision makers.&bsp; His office is asking people to RSVP by Tuesday, noon, so enough food can be prepared. To RSVP, call 894-2281.