Homeland Creamery - Bowman Dairy | Julian, NC

Committed to continuing a family dairy farm, one North Carolina family established a value-added creamery business that has gained strong local support, enabling them to keep their dairy going. Founded in the 1930s, seven generations of Bowmans have managed their family dairy, growing the operation from half a dozen to 200 cows... Read More

Andrew Elmore - Andy O Farms
Fallston, NC

It almost seems that farming wasn’t really a choice for Andy Elmore. In fact, he says that it’s in his genes- he still works some of the same land his family has farmed for the past 200 years.

Beginning in 1968, Andy’s dad started a Charolais herd with 15 Holstein dairy heifers by breeding them to a Charolais bull... Read More

Carroll Goodman
Statesville, NC

Carroll Goodman is a first-generation farmer who is following the strong tradition of family farms by involving both his son and grandsons in what is now a generational dairy operation.

The son of a butcher, Carroll grew up dreaming of becoming an independent farmer. "I was farming in the sandbox," he says. "Before I was even in school, I was playing with my toy tractors behind the house." He started gaining some real-life experience from the time he was 10 years old by helping his grandfather tend his beef cattle herd. He was paid for that work, and as soon as... Read More

Everette Medlin - Medlin Farms
Monroe, NC

Many agricultural producers evolve their operations over time, employing new technologies or improved methods to reduce their costs and increase their yields. For Everette Medlin, it also meant a significant change in what he raised: after many years raising poultry, he decided several years ago to switch entirely to row crops, growing corn, wheat and soybeans on his 2,500 acre farm... Read More

Brad & Vickie Newsome - Tri-M Farm | King, NC

After growing up separately on their families' tobacco farms, Brad and Vickie Newsome got together and established their own poultry and cattle operation as well as a family, which includes three daughters who are expected to become the sixth generation in this long-time farm family... Read More

William J. "Junior" Revels
Mocksville, NC

We've all heard the term "quality over quantity," but no one lives this concept more than 3rd generation farmer Junior Revels, who tends 55 acres of tobacco in Davie County, with an additional 35 acres of soybeans and wheat... Read More

Lucas Richard
Newton, NC

Although most farmers and ranchers embody the entrepreneurial spirit, few start their agribusiness careers as young as grain and produce farmer Lucas Richard, who bought his first calf when he was just five years old. And while some might think that the grandfather who sold him the calf for just two cents was humoring a favored grandchild, Lucas successfully parlayed that small investment into his first successful business venture: that first calf grew and produced a calf of its own, which Lucas then sold, using the proceeds to buy a second calf... Read More

NewLife Farm, Rising Sons Farm & Elite Farm | Carthage, NC

Young and beginning farmers come to agriculture for any number of reasons. For Jim Xiong, it was a surprising after effect of the 9/11 tragedy that put him in a position to pursue a long-time dream.

Jim lost his job with a private airline repair HUB in Phoenix after 9/11 when demand for services dropped. Deciding what to do next brought him to North Carolina where he had family working in the poultry industry... Read More

Adrian Presnell
Clyde, NC

There are few people who understand the truth of the old adage that a picture is worth a thousands words better than Adrian Presnell, who has been using moving pictures – in the form of video – as a key component of his business model for more than ten years.

Adrian grows 30 acres of tobacco, sold through contract, and three acres of seasonal vegetables he sells through a local produce stand, but by far the largest segment of his diversified business is his thriving cattle operation. Adrian buys cows every week, between five and 100 head of 400 – 600 pound animals. How many he buys depends primarily on the price, which will have a direct impact on his profit when it comes time to sell. ... Read More