Dr. Charles Petty, a professional motivational humorist, will be the speaker for the Greene County Partnership Agribusiness Committee's 24th Annual Farm-City Banquet at the Clyde Austin 4-H Camp on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m.

Bryan Townsend, who was originally announced as the banquet speaker, died unexpectedly after the information was released.

Petty was raised in farming communities in England and in Stuttgart, Ark. He has been a counselor, has been a visiting professor, has served on the staffs of large corporations in Texas and North Carolina, and was on the senior staff of the North Carolina governor for seven years, according to a news release from the Greene County Partnership.

He is founder and president of Family Success Unlimited.

With his soft, Southern accent and original humor, Petty says, "My job as a speaker is to put a smile on faces, information in minds, motivation in hearts, inspiration in spirits and make the program planner look good!"

Petty entered the National Speaker Hall of Fame for his ability to "shoot off his mouth -- which should give hope to every parent whose child fails conduct in school."

He has earned the designation of "Certified Speaking Professional" from the National Speakers Association.

The banquet will feature a chicken meal with all the trimmings followed by the presentation of the J.W. Massengill Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award and the Robert C. Austin Distinguished Service to Community Award.

Sponsors for this event are title sponsor Andrew Johnson Bank, George Mays, C&C Millwright Maintenance Company, Consumer Credit Union, Farm Credit Services, Greene County Soil Conservation District, Greene County Veterinary Medical Center, Greeneville Federal Bank, Greeneville Light & Power System, Greene County Farm Bureau, John Deere Power Products and Unity Urology.

A limited number of tickets at $15 are available to the public at the Partnership offices, 115 Academy St., at Farm Credit Services, 100 Nevada Ave., and at Greene County Farm Bureau, 1431 W. Main St.

For more information about the banquet, call Lori Collins at 638-4111 or email (gcp@greenecop.com)