The Region’s Future is Bright
P AR TN ERS I N
The Sandhills region’s economy is constantly evolving. From its railroad and textile origins
and agricultural foundation to manufacturing, education and transportation. Today the people of
Richmond, Scotland and Anson Counties support a diverse economy with feet planted in history
and eyes toward the future.
February 28, 2020
A special edition by:
The Anson Record
Laurinburg Exchange
Richmond County Daily Journal
REGIONAL PUBLISHER
Brian Bloom
MANAGING EDITOR
W. Curt Vincent
DESIGN
Andrea McCloskey
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
W. Curt Vincent, Gavin Stone,
Katelin Gandee, Natalie Davis, John
Hutchinson, Brandon Tester, Donnell
Coley, Nancy Terry
ADVERTISING
Elizabeth Howell, Amy Johnson,
Courtney Cox, Alaina Buchanan
COPYRIGHT
Partners in Progress and all
associated magazines are published
four times per year by Champion
Media affiliates. All articles, graphics
and photographs in this issue may
not be reproduced without the
written permission of the publisher.
Once given up as an agricultural wasteland, with sandy soil seemingly good only for pine trees,
the region boomed when those trees were harvested and textile mills ran full steam.
Today, the regions forestry and poultry operations make this region one of the state’s top
agricultural centers and we explore its future in this very special Progress edition.
Educating our youth is our centerpiece as schools and colleges strive to provide opportunities for
student and business interests alike. In this issue you will read about vocational opportunities and
how students can enter the workforce prepared for their career of choice.
What makes a home and home? It’s the people and places that dictate the quality of life we choose.
We break down each of the three counties of the lower Sandhills Region. We ask, what makes
these counties and these communities special. You may be surprised at what they each offer.
And finally, we talk about our business community. You’ve seen their signs but maybe always
wanted to know what made these businesses special. This magazine gives you a look inside their
doors, doors we hope you will enter and support because only then will we truly be progressive.
Franklin D. Roosevelt once wrote “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the
abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.”
We believe this region’s future is bright. We hope you enjoy what we discovered.
BRIAN BLOOM
table of contents
24 | Vocational Programs
Shape Schools 46 | What Makes Scotland
County Special?
64 | What Makes Richmond
County Special? 80 | What Makes Anson
County Special?
PAR TNE RS IN
2020 EDITION
INSIDE
SPECIAL
WHAT MAKES SCOTLAND COUNTY
SPECIAL
WHAT MAKES RICHMOND COUNTY
WHAT MAKES ANSON COUNTY SPECIAL
$
4.95
ABOUT THE COVER
David Clark, garden manager for God’s
Garden, demonstrates how to use a paper
pot transplanter at the Sandhills AgInnovation
Center. Photo by Gavin Stone.
4 • PROGRESS 2020