Do you remember being asked in elementary school what you wanted to be when you grew up? Even better, do you remember what you wrote down? Jonathan Morgan, owner of Morgan Farms in Laurel Hill, knew in second grade that he wanted to be a farmer. Today, he is living out that dream by raising a variety of produce and row crops, including soybeans, as well as raising livestock.
As a young boy, Jonathan spent many hours at his grandfather and father’s side learning the ins and outs of farming. “My grandfather and grandmother both grew up around farms during the Great Depression and worked on them shortly thereafter, so I heard countless stories about their experiences on the farm, how crops were grown and even how mules were used in production,” he said. “My dad has also worked for many years on a nearby farm called ZV Pates, a 12,000-acre operation, so I’ve seen first-hand how a real farm functioned from one season to the next since I was young.” Not many adults get to experience the dream job they wrote down on an elementary school assignment. Jonathan, however, made his dream a reality in 2023 by establishing Morgan Farms, a farm in Laurel Hill encompassing a few hundred acres. “I ran into my second-grade teacher not long ago and she told me, ‘you’re living out the dream you wrote on that paper so many years ago,’” Jonathan said. “It’s unreal that this dream of mine has become a reality and it’s better than anything I could have even imagined.” Today, Morgan Farms grows a variety of produce, including collards, tomatoes, cabbage, sweet corn, okra and peppers, in addition to row crops like wheat, soybeans and oats, and raises pigs and cattle.
Soybeans have been a cornerstone in North Carolina agriculture for centuries, and Jonathan is honored to bring his knowledge and experience to the crop at Morgan Farms. Each year, he produces anywhere from 80 to 150 acres of soybeans that are used for animal feed, both through partner companies like Smithfield Foods and for his own livestock. “Ninety-seven percent of soybeans grown in our state are used as a protein source in animal food,” Jonathan said. “The other three percent is used for human consumption in proteins, cooking oil, soy sauce, tofu and other items that we use every day. That’s why this crop is so important to our state’s agriculture industry, because it touches our life every day either through the meat products we eat or other products we use.” Jonathan has a strong partnership with Smithfield Foods as well C&M Hog Farm, a hog operation in South Carolina, that he sells a large portion of his soybean crop too. The other percentage of his crop is ground in his personal hammer mill with other ingredients grown on the farm, like corn, to feed his pigs and cattle.
In mid-April, Jonathan and his uncles will begin planting early soybeans on the farm. “For our operation, soybean planting always follows our harvest of wheat and oats,” he said. “Soybeans are a great rotational crop, allowing our fields to be used all year long.” Soybeans are drilled into the ground, ideally after a rainfall for ease of planting. Throughout their growing season, soybeans need weed management and fungicide control, keeping Jonathan and his team busy. “Soybeans have a higher chance of producing fungal diseases than some other crops due to the fields staying too wet and soybeans being overcrowded when planted,” he said. “We have to keep a close eye on the crop to manage those diseases, as well as ensure proper spacing between each plant to manage airflow.” Typically, soybeans are ready for harvest around October or November each year, although they can harvest earlier depending on the weather. “Like all farms in our state, our operation is heavily reliant on the weather,” Jonathan said. “Soybeans are heavily affected by the weather because their growing season coincides with hurricane season in North Carolina, not to mention other issues, like droughts, we can experience during that same time. So, one year we may harvest in September and the next year not harvest until November just depending on the weather.” All soybeans produced at Morgan Farms are used for animal food.
Products from Morgan Farm can be found at produce stands and hardware stores in Scotland County and surrounding areas. Jonathan is currently in the process of setting up his own produce stand at the farm to offer on-farm sales to customers. “Many people in our community know who we are, so I’ll often get calls or just have people drop by and pick up items they know that we have,” Jonathan said, “but I want that opportunity to be open to people all across this state, so we are working on building the produce stand for customers both in-town and out-of-town to come and visit.”
Growing up surrounded by farmers and learning from many across the industry, Jonathan is excited to leave his mark on our state’s agriculture industry. “Being a farmer is one of the best feelings in the world,” he said. “There have been so many incredible farmers before me who have helped shape me into who I am today and given me the confidence to chase after my dreams on the farm. I look forward to building my legacy here and, hopefully one day, inspiring the generation of farmers that will come after me.” Although he loves playing with his big boy toys, like the tractor and combine, Jonathan’s favorite part of farming is the faith and pride it produces. “Watching a seed be placed in the ground and having the faith to watch it grow is a special thing,” he said. “It generates a lot of pride to see the final product and know that I grew that, especially in the hard years. I couldn’t do it without my faith in God and my trust that He will bring me through each and every season.” We are so proud of all that Jonathan is doing to inspire the next generation of farmers and further our state’s agriculture industry. We look forward to seeing his legacy grow in the years to come!
