The Farm Family of the Day program recognizes 11 farm families – one for every day of the N.C. State Fair – who work hard every day to impact our state’s agriculture industry. Families either nominated themselves or were nominated by members of the community. Thanks to Tractor Supply Company for sponsoring the program, which will run from Oct. 13-23.
Deal Family Farm, located in Macon County, is a multi-generational, diversified farm family. Started from excess produce grown in the garden of Bobby and Elise Deal in 1951, Deal Family Farm has blossomed into our Farm Family of the Day! Cabbage and tomatoes were the main crops until Butch Deal, Joe Deal’s father, incorporated burley tobacco in 1976. Today, there are three generations on the farm growing fruits, vegetables, hay, and corn as well as raising and showing livestock.
Deal Family Farm’s produce is sold both locally through roadside stands, CSAs and wholesale in North Carolina and Georgia. Over seventy years of farming has allowed the Deal Family Farm to become a staple for fresh fruits and vegetables. Many members of Deal Family Farm also serve, or served, on community boards and committees, such as the local Farm Bureau, County Planning Board, and the Macon County Fair Board. Additionally, Deal Family Farm sponsors their local FFA Chapter, 4-H and youth club teams.
“As much as anything, I want my kids to see that there are people who take notice of and appreciate the hard work that farmers do each and every day,” Joe Deal explains, “I enjoy the time spent with my family teaching and learning life lessons each and every day out on the farm.”
For Deal Family Farm, the N.C. State Fair is special. Attending the N.C. State Fair is an annual tradition for the family. Joe Deal’s wife has been attending the fair since she was a child. In 2004, at the waterfall outside of the Dorton Arena, Joe Deal proposed to his now wife. The N.C. State Fair has given the Deal Farm Family the opportunity to watch their children show livestock, catch up with friends from across the state, and to celebrate N.C. agriculture!
If you see the Deal Family today on the fairgrounds, be sure to thank them for all their hard work throughout their seventy years. We are honored to name Deal Family Farm for the October 20th Farm Family of the Day! We look forward to watching Deal Family Farm continue to grow and impact the agricultural industry, and we will think about you every time we see the waterfall outside of Dorton Arena!!
