Next Gen Ag is a year long series that will run on our In The Field blog, Facebook page, Instagram page and Twitter account. Each Wednesday, we will highlight a young person pursuing a career in the agriculture industry. Individuals can be in high school, college, or recent graduates who are working to establish a career in agriculture. Stay tuned each week to meet some of our industry’s future leaders!
Creating a legacy to leave behind for future generations is a desire of many parents across the nation, including Lauren Sullivan, co-owner and operator of Hardly Farm LLC in Castalia. Growing up on a farm, Lauren had a knowledge of and appreciation for agriculture instilled in her at a young age, but it wasn’t until her daughter, Emilene, came along that she decided to make farming her dream.
As a third-generation farmer, Lauren has many fond memories of her grandparents and mother on the farm. “My family has always been involved in agriculture, especially my grandpa, who was big in the tobacco industry,” she said. “I remember watching him work on the farm, going to tobacco sales with him, and helping my grandmother shell butterbeans. They always ensured that I had a love for the land and an appreciation for the hard work of farmers across our state.” During the tobacco buyout of 2004, Lauren’s grandfather got out of the tobacco business and switched to growing other row crops and tree farming. Throughout the years, the land that Hardly Farm now sits on has been used for many agricultural purposes, including tobacco, soybeans, and row crops. “This land has a lot of history, which is why we are proud to be farming it today as a family,” Lauren said. “I think my grandfather would be proud if he saw the farm today and knew that we were helping to keep our family in the agriculture industry.”
After graduating high school, Lauren began her college journey at N.C. State University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. “I always knew that I wanted to be in the agriculture industry, because I have a strong love for animals,” she said. “However, growing up, I never would have said that I was going to live here on the family property, much less operate a farm.” After working in the animal science industry for ten years, Lauren switched to commercial insurance for personal reasons. In 2019, Lauren and her husband Chris had their first daughter, Emilene, and decided to do what Lauren never thought she would do, which was move back home on the family property. “I immediately knew that I wanted my daughter to have the same experiences that I had growing up on this land,” she said. “So, my husband and I built a house on this property and our journey here began.” When Emilene was three years old, the family travelled to a small craft fair in Cedar Point and met a vendor selling teddy bears made from alpaca fiber. “That was the first time we had heard of alpaca farming, and we were immediately hooked,” Lauren said. “At that moment, I realized that I didn’t only want my daughter to grow up on the farm, but I wanted to leave her a legacy.” That very day, Lauren and Chris began researching the ins and outs of alpaca farming.
From the summer of 2022 until February of 2023, Lauren and her husband attended classes, alpaca farm events, did online research and met with other alpaca farmers across the state to fully understand the process of starting and maintaining an alpaca farm. On June 9, 2023, they brought home their first herd of alpacas and began their very own farming journey. “I’ve always had a strong love for animals, so the idea of raising them, honestly, seemed like a natural fit,” Lauren said. “Our farm has grown so much in this last year. It’s been both exciting and incredible to see how far we’ve come and how much support the community has given us.” Today, the farm is home to 13 alpacas and 1 llama, with plans to expand beyond that in the coming months. When asked why they have just one llama, Lauren explained that it is so they can show the public the difference between the two animals. “Many people think that llamas and alpacas are the same animal, but they are not. In fact, llamas are about double the size of alpacas,” she said. “We have both on our property so that we can not only explain those differences to people, but so that they can see them with their own eyes.” In addition to caring for the animals throughout the year, Lauren and her husband host a variety of events for the public to enjoy on the farm, including field trips, private tours, craft classes and alpaca yoga. When visiting the farm, make sure to check out their on-site farm store for all types of goodies made out of alpaca fiber!
In addition to her degree in Animal Science and passion for animals, Lauren brings a variety of skillsets to the industry, including social media management experience, strong communication skills, and a passion for educating people on the importance of agriculture. “Agriculture provides all of us with food and clothes every day,” she said. “Without it, we wouldn’t survive. I want people to not only acknowledge and recognize that importance, but also learn how rewarding it is to support local members of the community. There is nothing quite like purchasing products from a neighbor or farmer in the community. Not only are the flavor and taste of those products often better than what you can find in the grocery store, but they also provide a sense of community that is very rewarding.”
In the future, Lauren and her husband are seeking to expand the farm in many ways. Beyond expanding the herd and continuing to grow their agritourism offerings on the farm, they plan to open a hiking trail in the next few months where visitors can enjoy nature and walk a llama on the property. “In addition to being an alpaca farm, we are also a loblolly pine tree farm,” Lauren said, “so, we want to give people an opportunity to enjoy both aspects by creating a hiking trail that they can follow while spending time with our llama, Wednesday.” The farming couples ultimate dream is to have an Airbnb on the property where visitors can come and spend a weekend on the farm to relax and escape the pressures of life, which is ironically Lauren’s favorite part of owning and operating the farm. “I love going out to simply sit in the field with the alpacas,” she said. “All the worries and stresses of life seem to fade away in the peaceful environment surrounded by loving and friendly animals. There is no other feeling quite like it.”
For anyone considering a career in the agriculture industry, Lauren reminds you to do your research, ask questions, and follow your passion. “Agriculture needs young people to continue to grow, innovate and thrive,” she said. “So, find what part of the industry speaks to you and go for it. Do your research. Truly think about the pros and cons. Ask questions. Shadow a farmer. Bring your ideas to the table and chase your dream.” We are so proud of all that Lauren and Chris are doing to further the N.C. Agriculture industry at Hardly Farm and can’t wait to see how it will continue to grow and impact others!
