When the NC Agriculture Disaster Crop Loss Program transitioned to an online-only application process, it posed a real challenge for many of our farmers in Columbus County. These producers, already dealing with the impacts of crop loss, now faced the additional hurdle of navigating unfamiliar digital systems to access much-needed relief.

As the County Extension Director and Digital Skills Educator, Howard Wallace worked alongside three of our agriculture agents to directly support 154 farmers through the digital application process. Some needed help filling out and signing PDFs for the first time. Others created email accounts to submit documents and receive notifications—marking their first meaningful steps into the digital world.

For many, it wasn’t just about accessing emergency assistance. It was about gaining confidence with essential digital tools that will now serve them well into the future—from communicating with agencies to applying for future programs and managing their operations more efficiently.

This is the heart of the NC Digital Futures Program: equipping North Carolinians with the skills they need to thrive in a digital economy. Whether in a downtown senior center or out on a rural farm, our goal is to meet people where they are and move them forward, one skill at a time.

For Columbus County’s farming community, that journey began with a disaster—but it’s leading toward resilience.