The Farm Family of the Day is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company and seeks to recognize and celebrate the state’s rich agricultural heritage and many farm families that are behind the state’s agriculture and agribusiness industry. One family is recognized each day of the Fair, either nominated themselves or by members of their community. Congratulations to the 2023 Farm Families!
Meet today’s Farm Family of the Day, J & J Martins Farm Produce! For four generations, the Martin family has operated out of Mount Olive, and has grown and changed with each generation. The family currently owns and operates both J & J Martin Farm Produce and Martin Hogs, LLC.
“The Martin family traces its history back to the late 1700s when Rachel was born into enslavement in North Carolina. Rachel’s grandson, Harry Martin escaped and joined the 135th United States Colored Troops. At the end of the Civil War, Harry returned to the area and Harry worked the land as a sharecropper until 1883 when he purchased the land that the family owns and operates today,” Jeannette Horn said.
The rich history of this family means that they have a love and passion for their farm. It is not easy to keep an operation running for four generations, so the family takes a lot of pride in being able to maintain and expand the farm through the years.
“My blood is here; my life is here. It means a lot to pass it on to the next generation. That’s the way we maintained it over all these years, somebody passed it on to somebody else. This is just one of the many reasons we as a family love farming,” Jeannette said.
J & J Martin Farm Produce grows a wide variety of vegetables and produce ranging from collards to green beans and even melons. They have a roadside stand where they sell products directly to their community and have stands at the local farmers markets in Mount Olive and Goldsboro. Giving back to their community is important and they support their local food shelter and food banks.
This year, the Martin Family is celebrating the 140th year of their farm operation. This milestone calls for celebration! The family started in March, celebrating with their local community. A marker was placed downtown, honoring the lives of the 135th Colored Troops in which their ancestors served. The N.C. State Fair is the perfect place to continue this celebration.
Just like the Martin Family, the N.C. State Fair is dedicated to agriculture. “Agriculture has been a leading force for the state of North Carolina and continues to rank very high in meeting nutritional needs of our country. The N.C. State Fair has always been a strong supporter of Agriculture, and this is a highlight of the fair for me and my family,” Horn said.
One hundred and forty years of dedication and hard work has allowed the Martin Family to be successful and expand their operations. Their passion for agriculture is outstanding, and we are so happy to have them as a part of our agriculture family!
If you see the members of J & J Martin Farm Produce on the fairgrounds today, be sure to say hello. We are honored to have them as the Farm Family of the Day for October 15th, thank you for your commitment to our state’s number one industry!