When David Vernon’s Aunt Martha was a little kid in the 1930s, she once had some friends ask to come home with her after school to play. When the school bus dropped them off at her house, though, she quickly realized that they weren’t just interested in playing. “She got frustrated because they didn’t actually … Read more
As the holiday season rolls around, people across the state are beginning to pull out their Christmas decorations and keep an eye out in the stores for gifts. One of the holidays’ most recognizable features is the Christmas tree and for many families picking one out is an annual tradition. At Almond Christmas Tree Farm … Read more
Discovering NC Agriculture is a year-long series focusing on twelve N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. 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 … Read more
Standing on her family’s farm in Stokes County, Cheryl Ferguson can see the Sauratown Mountains and two of the range’s iconic landmarks: Hanging Rock and Cook’s Wall. Cheryl grew up on this land, and her roots here run deep: the 54-acre farm has been in her family for more than 150 years. Her father and … Read more
As of November 8, 2024, Rameses, the live animal mascot for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been around for 100 years, but that’s relatively recent history for the farm where he lives. When Rameses debuted at a VMI vs. UNC football game in 1924, Jimmy Carter was five weeks old. Ace … Read more
Phillip Walker lived within a half a mile of where he first saw the light of day, and he loved to share that fact with most anyone he met. For much of his life, he lived on part of the 200-acre northern Orange County farm that has been in his family for over 200 years. … Read more
Norman Jordan Jr. is the third-generation owner of Brush Creek Swiss Farms, a dairy farm in Siler City. Although started by his grandfather, the exact origin of when the farm began milking cows commercially is unknown among relatives. The Jordan family decided to establish 1927, the birth year of Norman Jordan Sr., as the start … Read more
Five miles from the western tip of North Carolina sits Payne Meadows, a sixth-generation farm in the prime tourist town of Murphy. Surrounded by lakes, Appalachian Mountains and North Georgia communities, the atmosphere provides the perfect nature getaway. Previously a cattle farm throughout the years, Payne Meadows has transitioned to the events industry as of … Read more
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has two programs that recognize the long-standing farms in our state — the Century Farm Program and the Bicentennial Farm Program. Bicentennial Farms are Century Farms that have maintained continuous family ownership for 200 years or more. This is an incredible accomplishment within the agriculture community. It … Read more
Mtn. View is a sixth-generation farm located in the foothills of Hickory. Throughout their years as a Century Farm, they’ve grown strawberries and sweet potatoes and raised Hereford and Black Angus cows. Mtn. View became a full-time Japanese Wagyu farm just two years ago. Current owners and married couple, Laura and Chase Blalock, made the … Read more
