Discovering NC Agriculture is a social media series focusing on N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. Originally started in 2025, this series has been renewed to run for another year! Tune in each month to see how an N.C. commodity is grown, harvested, packed for consumer use and more. Learn nutritional value, find fun recipes to try, hear from local chefs who use that product, and other unique commodity facts throughout the series. We look forward to helping you better understand some of our N.C. commodities and how they impact your everyday lives!
For over 200 years, the Wester family has been producing wheat, and other crops, in Louisburg. As a legacy crop in our state’s agriculture industry, wheat plays an important role for consumers, farmers and food producers across the globe.
As a fourth-generation farmer, Natalie Wester Farmer has a strong passion for agriculture that was rooted in her at a young age. “Growing up on the farm, I was always passionate about agriculture and livestock,” she said. “Agriculture was always a passion for me. My dad and I would spend lots of time together raising animals for me to show at competitions across the state, so I learned a lot from both him and my grandfather.” Since 1779, Wester Farms has produced a variety of crops, including wheat, tobacco, cotton, corn and soybeans. Today, they continue to produce these crops alongside cucumbers and oats, as well as raise 500 head of cattle. “After graduating from N.C. State University with degrees in Agriculture Business and Livestock Management, I returned to the farm full-time and worked alongside my father until he passed away in 2020,” Natalie said. “While in college I met my husband Jason, who is on the farm full-time as well managing our row crop operations and production.” Although Jason originally worked in turf grass and landscaping, his father-in-law pulled him to the farm in 2019. “We had many discussions about me coming to the farm, because originally it wasn’t something that I wanted to do,” Jason said. “However, I can honestly say that convincing me to work the farm full-time is the best gift he ever gave me.” In addition to the farm, Natalie and Jason also operate a feed store and mercantile store on-site in Louisburg.
Wheat is typically started directly following the tobacco harvest at Wester Farms. “We usually plant and harvest anywhere from 250 to 300 acres of wheat each year,” Jason said. “It’s a great rotational crop with tobacco, which helps us utilize the same acre of land year-round.” Once tobacco is harvested in the fall, Jason and his team will till the land in preparation for wheat planting. During that time, they also spread lime in the field(s) to raise the pH level of the soil and optimize growing conditions for the crop. Planting begins in late October once the fields are ready. “Depending on the year, we will either spread our wheat, drill our wheat, or a little bit of both,” Jason said. “Drilling helps to pack the seed into the ground, which is especially helpful if we’ve had a wet winter or have soil erosion in the field.” From plant date until June harvest, Jason and his team monitor the fields to ensure the crop is receiving enough nutrition from the soil and apply a dose of nitrogen to encourage growth and provide extra nutrients. When it’s ready for harvest, combines are used to gather the wheat and place it into bins for testing and production.
According to Jason, there are different levels of wheat production based on the quality of wheat harvested each year. “Flour milling is what every farmer hopes for each year,” he said. “Only the high-quality wheat is used to make flour, and it sells at a higher market price. However, the lower quality wheat, Feed milling wheat, is used to make livestock feed and sells for a lower market price. Most farmers have some of both each year, depending on the weather and other factors throughout the growing season.” Throughout its history, Wester Farms has worked with many milling companies, feed companies, as well as produced their own livestock feed to sell at the feed store on-site. In fact, the family sold with Sanford Milling, now Buffalo Milling, for many years, and their wheat was made into flour that was used in several of their labeled products, some even sold to restaurants like Biscuitville. “We continue to produce our own livestock feed here at the farm, but we also partner with other feed companies that purchase our wheat and make livestock feed,” Jason said. “As homesteading has grown in popularity over the last five years, the demand for livestock feed has increased across the community.” Livestock feed can be purchased at the feed store on-site. All other farm products can be found at the mercantile store, which is open five days a week year-round. The mercantile store offers Wester Farms beef, produce and other local products from companies across the state. “We really try to chase quality in all of the products that we offer, whether ours from the farm or those that we purchase from surrounding farms and companies,” Natalie said. The store also puts together gift baskets for holidays and special occasions, so be sure to stop by and see what you can find!
When it comes to wheat production, one of the biggest misconceptions Jason and his family face is that farmers spray their crops with chemicals, like roundup, that are harmful in human consumption. “I challenge people to turn off the news media and travel to meet the farmers in your area,” Jason said. “Many farmers are more than willing to talk with you about their operation and tell you the truth about the crops they produce.” Natalie echoes his sentiment in saying that the products produced on farms across our nation are not only produced for farm stand and grocery store customers, but farm families themselves. “We believe in what we do, and we do it with a passion,” she said. “The products that we produce, as well as those like wheat that are then used to make other products found on grocery store shelves, are the very same ones that can be found on our family dinner table. We produce the best for our customers as well as our own family.”
Wester Farms is a part of our Bicentennial Farm Family Program, which means the farm has been in family operation for over 200 years! “Our house is in the middle of the farm, so we get to look out at this land and the legacy that it holds every single day,” Natalie said. “I always knew that our family loved agriculture, but to do it, and do it well, for over 200 years takes intention and sacrifice. I am proud of our family legacy on this farm and fully believe that farming is what we were meant to do.”
As the population in North Carolina continues to grow, the need for food production on farms grows even more. “Wheat is a crop that is used in a lot of products, from bread and crackers to livestock feed for meat products,” Jason said. “We are fortunate to raise it in North Carolina, and even more fortunate that it feeds the world full circle.” We are so thankful for Natalie, Jason and their family for all that they have done and continue to do in our state’s agriculture industry. If you find yourself in the Louisburg area, be sure to stop by the mercantile store to stock up on local products and talk with them about their passion for farming and all things agriculture!
