agricultural leadership development program · 2 3 for more information contact: dr. w.k. collins...
TRANSCRIPT
Agricultural Leadership
Development Program
College of Agriculture and Life SciencesNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, North Carolina
D I R E C T O R Y
2012 - 2014
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For more information contact:
Dr. W.K. CollinsCALS Agricultural Leadership Development ProgramCampus Box 7645North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, North Carolina 27695919.513.2944919.515.5274 fax
The social, economic, and political changes affecting agriculture and rural communi-ties pose a challenge to farmers and rural leaders. It is important
that potential leaders in agriculture be identified and trained to assume leadership roles. They must be prepared to bridge the gaps between rural and urban interests, to participate actively in issues affecting agriculture, and to foster unity among agricultural interests.
The Agricultural Leadership Development Pro-gram of North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is designed to prepare 30 selected outstanding young agriculturalists for such challenges. Support comes from grants from the the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, Golden LEAF Foundation, commodity and farm or-ganizations and related agribusinesses.
The participants represent diverse agricultural enterprises in North Carolina, and their average age is 34. They take part in 50 days of training over two years. There are eight seminars in Raleigh, a legisla-tive study tour to Washington, a study tour to Brazil, and local and domestic study tours. In Brazil, partici-pants observe agricultural production and marketing strategies of a major U.S. agricultural competitor. The domestic tours provide participants an opportunity to observe production of diverse agricultural com-modities and to understand how producers deal with environmental issues.
Throughout the program, participants focus on important agricultural issues they have identified for North Carolina and their communities. Training fo-cuses on the following areas: • Mastering Self • Mastering an Understanding of Agriculture’s Environment • Mastering Relationships • Managing Social and Organizational Action • Enhancing Participants’ Understanding of Glob- al and National Aspects of Agriculture
Throughout the program, leaders from govern-ment, commodity, and farm organizations interact with the participants on issues and leadership op-portunities.
Agricultural Leadership
Development Program
Agricultural Leadership
Development Program
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Brandon D. Batten138 Jason DriveFour Oaks, NC 27524919-915-4419 (cell)[email protected]
Brandon Batten farms in Johnston County in a fam-ily operation, known as Triple B Farms, Inc., with his father, Doug, and his uncle, Charlie S. The farm includes 130 acres of tobacco, 110 acres of soybeans, coastal hay, and 25 beef cattle.
Brandon received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biologi-cal and Agricultural Engineering in 2008 and 2010, respectively, from NC State University. During this time, he received the E.G. Moss Fellowship, Fred S. Bond Scholarship, and a graduate fellowship spon-sored by Lorillard Tobacco Company.
He is an active member in the Johnston County Young Farmers and Ranchers, Pauline Baptist Church and Strickland Crossroads Volunteer Fire Depart-ment.
Brandon is concerned about competition for farm land, the diminishing number of young farmers avail-able to establish relationships and networks like the ones his older family has, and the lack of high speed internet needed for the implementation of available agricultural technology.
Brandon is married to Jessica Blake Batten, who is also a 2010 Biological and Agricultural Engineering graduate from NC State University. She is an Engi-neer I for the City of Fayetteville.
Jeffrey Brandon Broadaway1326 Ridge RoadMonroe, NC 28110704-221-0997 (cell)[email protected]
Jeff Broadaway lives in Union County and serves Union County and surrounding counties as a large animal veterinarian with South Ridge Veterinary Hos-pital in Kannapolis. He also substitute teaches in the
local school system. With his parents, Jeff maintains 40 to 45 brood cows and 15 dairy goats on the family farm. He has B.S. degrees in Poultry and Animal Sci-ence and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from NC State University.
Jeff recently went on a mission trip to Uganda, Africa, and worked with Human Health Services. Jeff is an active member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, often teaching Sunday school and working with children, and he will begin serving as a deacon this fall. Jeff also is an active member of the NC Young Farmers and Ranchers program.
Jeff has been actively involved in raising pure bred Simmental and Angus as well as commercial beef cattle since he was in high school. He participated in the 4-H Junior Livestock Program in Union County and was an active Future Farmers of America member at Piedmont High School. He currently serves as the chairman for the annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale. Also, for the past two years he has coordinated feeder calf truck loads for local producers.
Jeff is very active in many organizations, including the Union County Farm Bureau (chair of the Young Farmers and Ranchers and 2nd vice president); Union County Cattlemen’s Association; American Simmen-tal Association; North Carolina Simmental Associa-tion; American Dairy Goat Association; NCSU-CVM Alumni Board of Directors; American Association of Bovine Practitioners; and North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association.
He is concerned about urban sprawl, lack of urban knowledge about the role of agriculture in their lives, and the aging producer base for all of agriculture.
Ann Gottbrath Camden8521 Six Forks Road, Suite 300Raleigh, NC 27612919-961-1740 (cell)[email protected]
Ann Camden lives in Raleigh and is an owner at Gibbs-Soell, a global communications agency that specializes in agriculture. She has worked with the agency for 18 years and has major agricultural ac-counts based in North Carolina.
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Ann, a native of Indiana, has a B.S. in Agricultural Communications from Purdue University. She is ac-tive in the National Agri-Marketing Association, hav-ing been president of the Carolinas-Virginia Chapter and a regional director. Her current associations include Elon University, School of Communications National Advisory Board; American Agricultural Edi-tors Association; North Carolina Agribusiness Coun-cil; Wake County Agribusiness Council; and Asbury United Methodist Church.
Ann’s husband, Jeff, is the grant administrator for the NC Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. They have twin daughters, age 8.
Ann has a personal passion for agriculture and would like to help make sure that agriculture is rec-ognized for the innovation and advances it’s made to feed a global population. Ann also sees a need for farmers to be confident in regards to sustainability by being prepared to fully account for their financial, en-vironmental, and social impact. Most of all, she wants to be better positioned to influence mainstream media and key stakeholders with positive agricultural mes-sages.
Michael Scott Clayton9727 Allison RoadCedar Grove, NC 27231336-706-3100 (cell)[email protected]
Scott, his father, and grandfather have a diverse farm-ing and dairy operation known as Cross Creek Dairy and Rock Hill Farm in Person County. They have 250 milking cows, 200 Holstein heifers, 120 black Angus brood cows, 400 acres of corn, 200 acres of soybeans, 200 acres of wheat, 200 acres of barley, 250 acres of hay, and 90 acres of tobacco.
After earning a degree from ECPI Technical Col-lege, Scott worked for Gateway Computers for two years as a corporate sales manager before returning to this current operation.
He has served as chairman of the Southern States Co-op Board of Directors in Roxboro and is active with the NC State Soil and Water Conservation. In 2004 his family received the Conservation Farm Fam-
ily of the Year for the State of North Carolina.Scott’s wife, Shelley, has been a nurse at UNC
Chapel Hill Hospital for six years. They have one daughter, Ava.
Scott is concerned about the loss of farm land to development, the limited number of young farmers, and the lack of public understanding and apprecia-tion for agriculture. Scott is interested in learning more about the political process that impacts agricul-ture and in gaining a broad perspective of what will be required politically and financially to feed an ever-growing world population.
Wilfred DeShon CromartieP. O. Box 1014Hillsborough, NC 27278919-413-4678 (home)919-306-6312 (cell)[email protected]
DeShon Cromartie works for the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation as a district field representative in the central part of the state and is the team leader for the Young Farmer and Rancher Program across the state. He lives in Alamance County and has part-time farming interests, producing corn, soybeans, and produce in Bladen, Columbus, and Pender counties. DeShon holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education and Extension and a Master’s of Science in Agriculture Education from North Carolina A&T State University.
DeShon is a member of Gamma Sigma Delta Hon-or Society, from which he received an honor award, and a member of Alpha Tau Alpha (Professional Agricultural Education Honor Society), from which he received an honor award. He is also active in the Longview FFA Alumni Chapter and Wilson Chapel Baptist Church.
His wife, Tenisha, is a Guilford County school teacher, and they have one child, Samuel. Tenisha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Shaw University and an Early Childhood Certification from Fayetteville State University.
DeShon sees a need for farmers to have a larger voice in agriculture, particularly when it comes to educating the public about the role of farmers in the
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food and fiber chain. He sees the need for young farmers and ranchers to be involved in the agricul-tural policy process on issues such as expansion of domestic energy production and encouragement of the development of new products and adoption of new efficient technologies.
John Louis Fleming1107 Moonlight RoadHalifax, NC 27839252-536-8258 (cell)[email protected]
John Fleming farms in Halifax County in partnership with his brother, Rob Fleming, in Fleming Brothers Farm. They operate in cooperation with A&B Farms owned by his parents, Brent and Annette. Fleming Brothers Farms produces 1,250 acres of cotton, 300 acres of soybeans, and 75 to 100 acres of triticale-rye. John has a B.S. degree in Agricultural Business Man-agement from NC State University, where he was president of the Agronomy departmental club.
He is extremely active with the NC Soybean Producers Association, being a director and chair of the NC SoyPAC, and with the Ag Carolina Financial Advisory Board. He has served on the Halifax County Cooperative Extension Advisory Committee Board. He is a member in the Scotland Neck United Method-ist Church.
John has received the NC Soybean Producers As-sociation Outstanding Service Award, the Syngenta/American Soybean Association Leadership at its Best Award, and the DuPont/ASA DuPont Young Leader Award.
His wife, Kathleen, graduated from NC State University with a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. She currently works for the American Cancer Society as a community manager for four counties responsible for income development (Relay For Life), volunteer management, and mission delivery. Previously she was a 4-H Extension agent in Halifax County.
John sees the need for more leadership to improve rural education and infrastructure, such as having access to reliable high speed internet, and to develop
an environment that would attract more middle-level paying jobs. He also strongly believes that agriculture will now, more than ever, need to have its voice heard in Washington, DC.
Richard Allen Goforth4621 Wolf Pond RoadMonroe, NC 28112704-283-3743 (office)[email protected]
Richard Goforth is an area specialized agent in poul-try for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Ser-vice, being headquartered in Union County. He has a B.S. degree in Animal Science and a Master’s degree in Extension Education, both from NC State Univer-sity. He is a member of the National Association for County Agricultural Agents and the North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents and re-ceived the 2011 Dryland Southern Agent Achievement Award from the NC Cooperative Extension Service and the NC Corn Growers Association. He is an active member of Central United Methodist Church
Richard’s wife, Joy, works for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services as an inspector of plant material for five counties. She has an A.A. in horticulture from Forsyth Technical Community College and a B.S. in Ag Education from NC State University.
Among the local community issues Richard sees are (1) agricultural land preservation in view of urban sprawl that is likely to increase if the US 74 bypass road of Monroe is completed, (2) availability of water and sewer, which is crippling growth of much needed industry to provide local jobs and taxes, and (3) the growing disconnect of the overall population to agri-culture, often most visible with animal rights advoca-cy, which impacts agricultural communities that rely on livestock and poultry production.
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Matthew Wayne Grissom5345 NC 39 HighwayHenderson, NC 27537252-226-6008 (cell)[email protected]
Matt Grissom farms in Vance County in a diversi-fied operation with 85 acres of tobacco, 300 acres of soybeans, 100 acres of grain sorghum, 75 acres of rye, and 100 acres of wheat. He helps his father, Wayne, manage a farm supply and feed store. He is a gradu-ate of Wayne Community College. Matt is on the NC Soybean Association Board of Directors, the John H. Mills Masonic Lodge and the Epsom Volunteer Fire Department, where he had been chief for 7 years. The Epsom Fire Department has recognized him with these awards: Firefighter of the Year (2000 and 2008) and First Responder of the Year.
His wife, Brooke, is a certified dental assistant and was trained at Vance-Granville Community College and gained her certification from Wake Technical Col-lege.
Matt sees the following three issues facing his community: unemployment, crime, and the lack of good public education resources. His vision for in-volvement in this leadership development program is to improve his skills to help improve agriculture in all areas and to inspire youth to become interested so the future of agriculture is ensured.
Benjamin Kenneth Haines1499 Turnpike RoadElizabeth City, NC 27909252-339-3348 (cell)[email protected]
Ben Haines is a Pasquotank County farmer, special-izing in producing certified organic grains. He has an Associate degree from the Nashville Auto Diesel College. Ben and his father own and operate Looking Back Farms, Inc., and Looking Back Farms Trucking, Inc. In addition to maintaining approximately 350
acres, Looking Back Farms is a certified organic grain and seed dealer, custom grinds certified organic feed, and cleans certified organic grain. The addition of the equipment to grind feed and clean grain was partially funded with grant funds awarded by Rural Advance-ment Foundation International (RAFI) and North Carolina Value Added Producers (NCVAP).
Ben is a member of the Board of Directors of Caro-lina Farm Stewardship Association and the Northside Elementary PTA and serves as an advisor for the Organic Livestock and Commodities Conference. He cooperates with NC State University on research and extension programs. His wife, Rachael, has a B.S. de-gree in accounting from Elizabeth City State Univer-sity, where she is employed.
Ben desires to learn how agricultural-related poli-cies are developed and how to shape agricultural policy at all levels. He is interested in how to relate agricultural needs to those moving into his area, how to cope with the declining number of young farmers, and how to deal with global competition for agri-cultural commodities produced by competitors with lower standards and fewer regulations.
Farrah Medlin Hargett2811 Fowler Secrest RoadMonroe, NC 28110704-242-0270 (cell)[email protected]
Farrah Hargett is a cow/calf farmer in Union County. She and her husband, Brad, own Dry Fork Creek Farms, which has approximately 100 head of cattle and supporting hay operations. She also manages a family-owned fencing company specializing in farm fencing. Farrah has a B.S. degree and M.A. degree in Elementary Education from Wingate University. Cur-rently, she is enrolled in a beef science program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. Farrah’s husband, Brad, graduated from NC State University’s Agricultural Institute with a degree in Ag Business Management. He is currently employed by JB Preslar Co, Inc.
Farrah is active in many agricultural organiza-tions, including Union County Farm Bureau, serving
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as state chair of the NC Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher (2009), North Carolina and Union County Cat-tlemen’s associations, and Santa Gertrudis Breeders of the Carolinas. She is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.
Local issues that Farrah is concerned about di-rectly reflect the urbanization in Union County, such as taxation for fire protection services, property rights issues like trespassing on farms, and the lack of favor-able public relations with the farm. Through the lead-ership program she hopes to continue her personal and professional development by enhancing her skills of promoting agricultural issues of relevance to the rural and urban communities on the local, state, and national levels.
Joshua Leonard Hudson2661 Eldridge RoadNewton Grove, NC 28366910-590-7325 (cell)[email protected]
Josh Hudson farms in Sampson County with his fa-ther, Phil; brother, Jeremy, who was a participant in a previous College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ag-ricultural Leadership Development Program; and two cousins. The Hudsons’ operation produces 450 acres of tobacco, 800 acres of sweet potatoes, 450 acres of corn, 900 acres of wheat, 1000 acres of soybeans, 200 acres of produce, 800 cattle (cow/calf), and 8 houses of grow-out swine. Josh graduated from NC State University in 2005 with a B.S. degree in Ag Business Management. He is also a Farm Credit University Ag Business Planner graduate. He is a member of Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church.
Josh looks forward to gaining experiences that will help him to become a better leader and successful in agriculture and to address community issues. He sees a need to be in a position to positively respond to con-stant change in agriculture to remain profitable and sustainable. Among the local issues he sees are (1) competition for farmland, particularly from urban de-velopment; (2) the need for a reliable workforce, with a stable guest work program; and (3) education of the non-farming community about agriculture, especially practices necessary for agriculture to operate.
Teresa Jane Johnson237 Birchwood LaneMocksville, NC 27028336-682-2131 (cell)[email protected]
Teresa Johnson, Davie County resident, is a R&D senior scientist at RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJRT), Winston-Salem, NC. She has a B.A. in Biology from Catawba College, a B.S. in Business Administra-tion from High Point University, and a M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. She and Dr. Paul Harp are responsible for the Agrochemical Stewardship Pro-gram at RJRT. Teresa recently represented RJRT on a CORESTA (international tobacco research organiza-tion) agrochemical sub-group committee.
Teresa is a board member of the Davie County Arts Council; volunteer and advisory board member for A Storehouse for Jesus Medical Ministry; a mem-ber of the Women Leadership Council for United Way; and a musician for St. Luke Baptist Church, Salisbury and Third Creek A.M.E. Zion Church, Cleveland.
Her husband, Yyron Croslin, is a Senior Finance Manager at RJRT. He holds a B.S. in accounting and business administration from High Point University and a M.B.A. from Wake Forest University.
Teresa is concerned about the increasing amount of state and federal regulations that add complexity to operations of farms and agribusiness, the increase in energy costs, and the availability and costs of labor needed in farm operations.
Emily Osborne Lancaster1000 Jay Shambley RoadPittsboro, NC 27312919-428-1641 (cell)[email protected]
Emily Lancaster lives in Chatham County and is the national lead farmer and market outreach coordina-tor for Animal Welfare Approved (AWA), a nonprofit
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certification program and food label for pasture-based livestock farmers. She is responsible for delivering outreach and farmer services in the Southeast region, as well as coordinating AWA’s Labeling Assistance and Good Husbandry Grants program.
Originally from Charlotte, Emily has a certificate of vegetable production from Central Carolina Com-munity College and a B.S. in History with a Biology Minor from UNC-Asheville. In addition to her work at AWA, Emily assists her husband, Farrell Moose, on a mixed vegetable operation, Dutch Buffalo Farm. Farrell, a North Carolina native and graduate of Bos-ton University, is also the nursery manager for Mel-low Marsh Farm in Silk Hope. Emily is vice president of the Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market and a member of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA). She also contributes regularly to Edible Communities publications throughout the region.
Emily sees a great need for open and effective communication between consumers, farmers, and policymakers to maintain the viability, sustainability, and security of our food supply.
Summer Russell Lanier7135 South NC 41 HwyWallace, NC 28466910-876-3332 (cell)[email protected]
Summer Lanier, 30, of Duplin County, is public rela-tions director for Prestage Farms, Inc. She has B.S. degrees in Poultry and Animal Science as well as a Master of Science in Poultry Science, all from NC State University. She is involved with the North Carolina Pork Council, including its running team, the NCPC Road Hogs, and its Intern & Scholarship Committee. Summer is a currently serving member of the NCSU Ag Institute Advisory Board, where she is sitting chair of the Curriculum Committee. In the community, Summer is actively involved in Relay for Life and United Way.
Summer’s husband, Matt, is service manager for Gregory Poole Equipment Company in Wilmington. He earned a B.S. degree from NCSU in Agriculture
and Environmental Technology and a minor in Ag Business.
Issues of importance in agriculture that Summer is concerned about include the need to increase the knowledge and awareness of the public about the im-portance of agriculture to our economy as well as the role public policy plays in food costs and availability. Summer sees a great need for agricultural leadership and advocacy among youth to reverse the often nega-tive public perceptions related to agriculture.
Mark Earl Lassiter803 Bristow Sawmill RoadConway, NC 27820252-578-1228 (cell)[email protected]
Mark Lassiter, Northampton County, farms in part-nership with his brother, Donny, and father, Bobby. The farm is a highly mechanized operation that pro-duces 4,300 acres of cotton, 1,200 acres of peanuts, 700 acres of wheat, 1,000 acres of soybeans, and 400 acres of corn. Mark attended Halifax Community Col-lege and has two brothers (Adam and Donny) who completed previous College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Agricultural Leadership Development pro-grams.
Mark is an assistant chief in Lasker Volunteer Fire Department and a member at Creeksville Baptist Church. His wife, Sarah, is a dental hygienist. She has an Associate of Arts degree from Halifax Community College, attended Wayne Community College, and has an Associate of Science (dental hygiene) from Halifax Community College.
Marks sees the following issues among several others facing his local community: lack of qualified labor, quality of both public and private schools, and abuse of social programs. He would like to become more confident to serve in leadership roles in com-modity organizations.
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Charles Andrew Parker491 Everland Pkwy Angier NC 27501919-395-7152 (cell) [email protected]
Drew Parker, Johnston County, is the proprietary products manager of Loveland Products, Inc., Crop Production Services, which involves crop protection, foliar plant nutrition, adjuvants and seed treatment solutions.
He studied online at NC A&T State University and received his B.S in Agriculture Education. He is also a graduate of the Agricultural Institute (Field Crops Technology) and studied Agronomy while at NC State University. His wife, Amber, received a B.S. degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineer-ing from NC State University and is a quality control chemist with Grifols.
Drew is a member of the board of the Crop Protec-tion Association of North Carolina, NC State Grange (charter member of the Southern Wake Grange), and NC Ducks Unlimited. He received the D. Howard Doane award from Farmhouse Fraternity and the DeKalb top agriculture student in his county award.
He expects the leadership program will help him develop skills to be a better steward of agriculture, especially when it comes to educating others on what agriculture means to us as a society.
Drew sees the following three issues facing his community: (1) the rapid expansion of subdivisions, which is reducing the land available for agriculture, (2) the lack of education for our youth about sustain-able agriculture (Many people have a limited under-standing about the source of food and what life in a farm is like.), and (3) the squeeze on farm profits resulting from labor costs and other impacts that are difficult to pass on to buyers.
David Eugene Parrish610 Old Hinton RoadPrinceton, NC 27569919-920-0174 (cell)[email protected]
David Parrish, Johnston County, is CEO of the NC Cotton Producers Association (office in Nashville, NC) and lives in Princeton, NC, with his wife, Cara. After graduating from Princeton High School, he at-tended Johnston Community College and transferred to NC State University, where he received his B.S. de-gree in Agricultural Education. He is an active mem-ber of Faith Free Will Baptist Church in Goldsboro and since 2008 has been a volunteer assistant varsity baseball coach at Faith Christian Academy.
David recognizes the importance of developing the next generation of agricultural leaders. He knows that sound leadership requires a clear vision and ef-fective communication. David believes that future leaders not only must defend but also proactively ad-vocate for agriculture.
Through the College of Agriculture and Life Sci-ences Agricultural Leadership Development Program, David expects to sharpen his leadership and commu-nication skills by learning more about himself, gain-ing new experiences, and meeting new people from the diverse agriculture-related professions.
Stuart Pate Pierce128 Berkley RoadAhoskie, NC 27910 252-398-7591 (cell)[email protected]
Pate Pierce, Hertford County, farms with his brother, Brent, and his father, Stuart. Stuart was in a previous College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Agricultural and Leadership Program.
Pate has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricul-tural Environmental Technology with a Minor in Ag Business from North Carolina State University.
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The Pierce Farming Operation consists of 1,000 acres of tobacco, 4,500 acres of cotton, 600 acres of peanuts, 1,500 acres of soybeans, 1,200 acres of corn, 600 acres of wheat, and 225 acres of grain sorghum. Pate is also involved in a family fertilizer business and co-owner of a cotton gin.
Pate is a member of First Baptist Church of Ahoskie. He is also active with the Hertford County Soil and Water Conservation District. Pate became an Eagle Scout in 1993.
His wife, Anna, has an Associate of Arts Degree from Peace College and a degree in Middle Grades Education from North Carolina State University. They have three children, Fletcher (7), Camille (6), and Liza (2).
Pate believes participating in the Leadership Development Program will provide him skills and networks to actively participate in agricultural issues. He hopes to gain a better understanding of how ag-ricultural policies are developed. Pate also looks for-ward to increasing his knowledge of agriculture, not only locally, but on a state, national, and global scale.
Kelley S. Precythe159 Park CircleFaison, NC 28341910-545-0404 (cell)[email protected]
Kelley Precythe of Duplin County, is a grower/ packer/shipper in a family business started in 1942 by Harold Precythe. Stewart Precythe, son of Harold Precythe, is the current CEO of Southern Produce. Southern Produce Distributors, Inc., is located in Fai-son. Kelley attended Cape Fear Community College from 2002 to 2005. The farming operation, along with other growing partners, involves around 8,000 acres of sweet potatoes.
Kelley is a member of the Produce Marketing Or-ganization, NC SweetPotato Commission, and Good-ness Grows for North Carolina Program.
Among the issues he identifies in his community are sustainability of small- and medium-sized farms; unemployment and job security; maintaining a safe working environment; and gaining a greater under-standing of the importance of a global workforce.
Shivaugn Marie Rayl900 Athens Drive, Apt. ARaleigh, NC 27606919-576-9173 (cell)[email protected]
Shivaugn Rayl, Wake County, is the coalition direc-tor of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Pittsboro. She is the organization’s state-level policy staff person who coordinates and trains staff from 23 organizations, including non-profits and for-profits, about how to become better advocates for food and farm policy in their communities. She works to bridge the understanding gap between local, sustainable, organic, and conventional agriculture stakeholders so that all growers and community activists can respect and learn from others.
Shivaugn has a B.S. degree in Environmental Studies with specialization in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University, College of Agricul-ture and Natural Resources. Additionally she has a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law, which she attended on a merit scholarship. She is on the grants committee of The Beehive Collective.
She serves on the Leadership Advisory Council for the Wake County Cooperative Extension Service and the Farmer Foodshare’s Advisory Board. She is also a member of the American Agricultural Law As-sociation.
Shivaugn sees three community needs as fol-lows: (1) positioning growers to meet demand for local and organic products, (2) training a wide range of agricultural-related stakeholders in civic engage-ment, and (3) encouraging community organizations to work together to maintain strong farm economy while supporting healthy and abundant food options for residents.
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Bryan Michael Redfern9319 Concord HwyIndian Trail, NC 28079704-242-0680 (cell)[email protected]
With his father, Bryan Redfern, Union County farmer, produces 500,000 bobwhite quail, 20 registered Angus cattle, 20 commercial cattle used for recipient cows, 10 acres of alfalfa hay, and 50 acres of bermuda hay in an operation known as Quail Valley Farms, Inc., and Quail Valley Angus, a breeder of purebred Angus. The quail operation involves other farms in Union County and Worth County, Georgia, and hatchery in Pageland, South Carolina. He has B.S. degrees from NC State University in Poultry Science and Animal Science with a minor in Ag Business. In college he was president of the Poultry Science Club.
Bryan is the current past president of the Union County Cattlemen’s Association; on the Board of Di-rectors of the North Carolina Angus Association; the Union County representative on the Board of Direc-tors of the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association; and member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Asso-ciation, North Carolina Farm Bureau, North Ameri-can Gamebird Association, Union County Extension Advisory Council, and Lakeview Baptist Church. His family was named the Union County Farm Family of the Year in 2008.
Bryan is very interested in learning more about how agricultural policy is developed and influenced on national and global levels. He has experienced a two-week agricultural study tour to Costa Rica.
Among the issues he sees facing his local com-munity are: (1) urban sprawl with serious conflicts with farming, (2) lack of understanding of the urban population about agriculture, particularly why farm-ers have to do certain practices, and (3) lack of farmer interest in getting involved with organizations repre-senting farmer interests.
Suzanne Wood Rhodes1960 Joyner Bridge RoadFour Oaks, NC 27524919-820-2614 (cell)[email protected]
Suzanne Rhodes is an office farm manager for up to 250 employees during harvest at a corporate family farm operation in Johnston County that grows, packs and ships over 1,800 acres of sweet potatoes and produces 150 acres of tobacco, 600 acres of soybeans, and 100 acres of corn. She has a business administra-tion degree from Johnston Community College. Her husband, Jeremy, was in the 2008-10 College of Ag-riculture and Life Sciences Agricultural Leadership Development Program. She has observed first-hand the difference the program made in his leadership skills with his family and employees. They have two children, Taylor and Caleb.
Suzanne is a past president of Stewarts Chapel PFWB Church Ladies Auxiliary and a past president/treasurer of Stricklands Crossroads Volunteer Fire De-partment Auxiliary. She is very interested in becom-ing a leader in her family, business, and community.
Suzanne sees the following three issues facing her community (1) urban sprawl that causes loss of farmland with new neighbors who do not understand agriculture, (2) neighbors who do not understand the importance of having migrant labor in their farm op-erations, and (3) the increase in theft of valuable farm implements and property to sell as scrap metal.
Chane McCray Sadler121 Iredell DriveEdenton, NC 27932252-396-1317 (cell)[email protected]
McCray Sadler, Chowan County, is an agricultural and commercial loan officer for Southern Bank & Trust with branches in North Carolina and Virginia. The majority of his work relates to agriculture, timber,
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and real estate. In 2009 he received the Community Reinvestment Lending Award, and he was named 2011 Commercial Lender of the Year from his bank. He has previous employment in the financial commu-nity with a total of 10 years of lending experience.
McCray has a B.S. degree in Ag Extension Educa-tion with a minor in Ag Business from NC State Uni-versity. He expects the leadership program to help him adjust to the many changes occurring in the very diverse agriculture world.
He sees the following three issues as important to his community (1) age of agricultural producers and agricultural business owners, especially in eastern NC and Southside, VA, (2) world market competition and what our overseas buyers are willing to buy, and (3) his local community and many others surrounding it are faced with aggressively declining populations—the declining tax base is being shifted to land owners to support education and public infrastructure.
Martha A. Smith110 TW Alexander DrivePO Box 110604Durham, NC 27709919-418-6643 (cell)[email protected]
Martha Smith, Wake County, is director of state and local government affairs for Monsanto Company, where she has responsibility for managing policy and legislation on the state level for a nine-state region in the Southeastern United States. She has worked for Monsanto since 2004 in various positions of increas-ing responsibility in Michigan, Hawaii, Illinois, and North Carolina. One of the highlights of her career so far was managing a nearly 1,000-acre seed corn farm in Hawaii. She has a B.S. degree in Agricultural Busi-ness and International Agriculture from Iowa State University. Martha comes from a Virginia family farm that has been in her family for six generations. This farm currently produces cattle, row crops, and for-ages. Her grandparents, parents, sister, and brother are all full-time farmers on the family farm.
Martha is a member of the NC Farm Bureau, NC Agricultural Alliance, Southern Crop Production As-sociation (State Affairs Committee) and the NC Agri-
business Council. She received the Agricultural Ad-vocate Award in 2012 from the National Sigma Alpha Ag Sorority, was a state finalist in discussion meet in 2010 with the Illinois Farm Bureau, and was awarded the FFA American Degree in 2002 and the Virginia 4-H All-Star Award in 2001.
She sees the following three agricultural-related issues: (1) urban sprawl (2) lack of understanding of science, and (3) decreased public funding for education.
Clint Lindsay Strickland2022 South Salemburg HighwaySalemburg, NC 28385910-590-4034 (cell)[email protected]
Clint Strickland, Sampson County, farms with his fa-ther, Sherrill, and cousin, Clay, who was in a previous College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Agricultural Leadership Development Program. They produce 350 acres of tobacco, 600 acres of soybeans, and 600 acres of corn at this fourth-generation farm.
Clint has a B.S. degree in Agronomy with a con-centration in Turfgrass Management from NC State University. His wife, Allison, has an Associate of Arts Degree and a Dental Assisting degree and works as a dental assistant in Clinton.
Clint is open to new concepts and new technology and believes the leadership program will help him contribute leadership in farming and community.
Clint gives some farm production issues in his community as (1) pigweed control (2) land-use effi-ciency in view of the large number of people moving to North Carolina and the need to use best manage-ment practices on the available land, and (3) the need to learn how to produce MH-free tobacco to meet market demand.
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Grace Carol Summers5346 NC Hwy 150 EastBrown Summit, NC 27214336-549-9526 (cell)[email protected]
Grace Summers, Guilford County, is an Extension associate with NC Cooperative Extension stationed at NC A&T State University, Greensboro, NC. She works with limited-resource farmers across the state in sustainable agriculture and coordinates the plas-ticulture program used in vegetable production. She has a B.S. degree in Agronomy from NC State University and M.S. in Ag Education and M.S. in Plant Science from NC A&T State University. On her personal farm, she has 11 acres of vegetables and 500 free-range chickens.
Grace is a board member (Sustainable Ag) at Cha-tham Community College. She received the Addie Tapp Hughes “Pioneer in Agriculture Award” in 2012 from Pine Knot Farms. She is involved with NC Farm Bureau, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.
She gives, among others, the following three is-sues in her area of service: (1) decline in family farms, (2) decline in availability of agriculture land, and (3) limited programs for help with water retention and reclamation.
Dale Threatt-TaylorWake Soil and Water ConservationDistrict 4001 D Carya DriveRaleigh, NC 27610919-669-8596 (cell)[email protected]
Dale Threatt-Taylor, Wake County, is the district director of the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District, Raleigh, NC. She has a B.S. degree in Con-servation from NC State University and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University. She is a board member of Triangle Land Conservancy and the Conservation Trust for North Carolina and
Sunday school superintendent of Oak City Baptist Church. Dale received a merit award from the Hugh Hammond Bennett Chapter Soil and Water Conserva-tion Society (2011) and Goodman Fellow recognition from Leadership Triangle. She is married to Bar-rington Taylor, who owns Vanguard Service, Inc.
Dale expects the leadership program to enhance her skills that promote conservation of our natural resources, which encourages others to understand the need for productive lands that are vital to our local and regional economy.
Dale sees the following three issues facing her local community: (1) the need for farmland protec-tion to support thriving local food production and to provide open space, natural scenic watersheds, clean water, and habitat for wildlife in a rapidly growing county, (2) clean drinking water supply, and (3) farm loss due to lack of smart growth planning.
Bartley Kyle Warren595 Blake RoadNewton Grove, NC 28366910-385-5098 (cell)[email protected]
Bartley Warren, Sampson County, farms in a family partnership that produces 500 acres of tobacco, 900 acres of sweet potatoes, 1,500 acres of cotton, 1000 acres of corn, 2,200 acres of wheat/soybeans (double crop), 500 acres of bermuda hay, 2,000 sows, and 1,000 cows. Partners in the operation include his fa-ther, Gerald, uncle George, cousin Brian, and brother Brandon. He has a B.S. degree in Extension Education from NC State University. Brandon and Brian were in the 2005-07 and 2008-10 leadership programs, respec-tively.
Bartley is active in the Mill Creek Masonic Lodge #125 and the Newton Grove United Methodist Church. He wants to learn better skills to use in their diversi-fied farming operation, especially interpersonal skills with his family and employees. He also wants to become more familiar with commodity organizations and political activities in regards to agricultural issues.
He sees the following three issues facing his com-munity: (1) ever-changing regulations regarding
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farming operations, such as animal welfare, seasonal workers, and funding for county agricultural pro-grams, (2) rising input costs as well as other agricul-tural business-related costs that are difficult to pass on to consumers and, therefore, squeeze profits, and (3) the fact that high school and college graduates are steering away from family farming to pursue other jobs.
Logan Christopher Watson6310 Armfield Mill RoadMonroe, NC 28112704-320-5084 (cell)[email protected]
Logan Watson, Union County, farms in a family partnership that produces 7,000 acres of soybeans, 6,500 acres of wheat, and 3,500 acres of corn and has 17 houses for chickens and hogs. The operation has about 20 employees. He has degrees from the Agricul-tural Institute at NC State University in Field Crops, Livestock, and Poultry Production. He is active in the NC Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers pro-gram and the Alton Presbyterian Church. He was vice president of FFA in Parkwood High School.
Logan expects that participating in the leadership program will increase his knowledge of agricultural-related issues and help him to become more of a leader on the farm and within his community.
Logan sees the following issues facing his local community: (1) water availability, especially for the large poultry operations, (2) decrease in availability of farmland caused by land being developed for hous-ing with the accompanying increase in land value and property taxes that reduce profits, and (3) the lack of understanding by “urban” neighbors about farming practices such as the use of the plentiful supply of poultry manure for fertilizer in crops production.
Brittany Friars Whitmire1065 Whitmire RoadBrevard, NC 28712828-862-3698 (home)919-830-9557 (work)[email protected]
Brittany Whitmire, Transylvania County, farms with her husband, Andy VonCanon, in an operation known as Busy Bee Farm. They farm in conjunction with her parents, Jimmy & Jackie, on land recognized by the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services as a Century Family Farm, one of two farms in Transylvania County that have been in the same family over 100 years.
Brittany and Andy have around 40 head of cattle, 1,000 broilers and turkeys, 20 acres of hay, 4 acres of sweet corn, horses, beehives, and goats. BusyBee Farm primarily produces all natural, pasture-raised meats including beef, chicken, and turkey. The farm products are marketed and sold directly to consum-ers and retailers throughout western North Carolina. Brittany also works as an Extension associate coor-dinating the NC Value-Added Cost Share Program, funded by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, at NC State University.
Brittany was a Morehead Scholar at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Eco-nomics and Master of Public Administration from the UNC School of Government. She has served as a State FFA Officer and the chair of the Transylvania County Agricultural Advisory Board. She also has been a member of the grant review committee for Transyl-vania Education Foundation, the leadership commit-tee of the Transylvania Tailgate Association, and the worship committee of First United Methodist Church in Brevard. She is also a member of the bluegrass and folk band, FolkPsalm, that travels and performs throughout the United States.
Brittany received the Nannette Mengel Capstone Award at the UNC School of Government for excel-lence in delivery and defense of her thesis examining succession planning on farms in North Carolina. She and Andy were the NC Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture State Winners and American Farm Bu-reau National Top 10. Brittany also won the NC Farm Bureau Discussion Meet as a junior in college and
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Previous Leadership Program Participants from North Carolina Classes
1984-86, 1986-88, 1989-91, 1992-94, 1996-98, 1999-2001, 2002-04, 2005-07, 2008-10
Jamie Ager Fairview, NCWilliam Andrews Fuquay Varina, NCLinda Andrews Fuquay Varina, NCAndrew Arnold Washington, NCJohn Ashe Reidsville, NCDavid Askew Elm City, NCAmanda Aycock Louisburg, NCJames Barbour Clayton, NCJohn Barnes Spring Hope, NCCharlie Batten Four Oaks, NCStan Biconish Fuquay-Varina, NCScott Bissette Spring Hope, NCJohn Bizic Wilmington, NCBill Blackman Wilson, NCJonathan Bone Nashville, NCDonnie Boyette Kenly, NCArt Bradley Rocky Mount, NCPhill Bradley Sanford, NCPreston Britt Lumberton, NCTalmadge Burgess Jr. Henderson, NCAndrew Burleson New London, NCDavid Burns Laurel Hill, NCBill Cameron Jr. Raeford, NCKelly Carlton Wilson, NCBilly Carter Eagle Springs, NCW.L. Carter Jr.* Scotland Neck, NCJohn Clapp Greensboro, NCMichael Clapp Gibsonville, NCJody Clemmons Supply, NCEileen Coite Goldsboro, NCRodney Coleman Wilson, NC
went on to place in the Final Four at American Farm Bureau Discussion Meet.
Brittany sees the following issues facing her com-munity: (1) loss of jobs when three major employers closed, (2) need for a balance between protecting aesthetic values of the region with supporting an environment that supports economic development and job creation critical for the future of the area, and (3) affordability of land for farming because the area is popular for second or vacation homes and the county’s land mass is 43% national and state parks and forests.
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James Crews Oxford, NCAmy Dalrymple Sanford, NCTommy Dalrymple Sanford, NCDavid Davenport Greenville, NCCharles Davenport Greenville, NCLawrence Davenport Greenville, NCMax Denning Benson, NCSam Dobson Statesville, NCDennis Durham Four Oaks, NCJack Edmondson Jr. Maury, NCJulie Edwards Bladenboro, NCScott Edwards Bladenboro, NCDave Elkin Warsaw, NCAngelo Enoch Burlington, NCElizabeth Foster Roper, NCAllison Fowler Cornelius, NCDaniel Fowler Roanoke Rapids, NCMike Gaster Sanford, NCWalt Gerard Washington, NCHoward Gentry King, NCSteve Grady Mount Olive, NCMcRay Greene Jr. Walnut Cove, NCBobby Ham Snow Hill, NCTim Hambrick Dobson, NCCharles Harrell Stantonsburg, NCNorman Harrell Lucama, NCNorris Harrell Macclesfield, NCDavid Hartman Walnut Cove, NCDavid Haynes Dobson, NCDavid Heath Dover, NCDavid Hinnant Kenly, NCKenneth Hinnant Kenly, NCRussell Horton Hurdle Mills, NCChase Hubbard Asheville, NCJeremy Hudson Newton Grove, NCPelmon Hudson, Jr. Turkey, NC
James Huggins Clarkton, NCBrent Hunter Yadkinville, NCJohn Isley Reidsville, NCJohn Ivey Mount Olive, NCMajor Ivey Mount Olive, NCRouse Ivey Mt. Olive, NCJennifer Johnson Pikeville, NCKevin Johnson Pikeville, NCTony Jones Mount Olive, NCThomas Joyner Rocky Mount, NCWhitney King Ash, NCKevin Kinlaw Bladenboro, NCDudley Langdon Angier, NCSandy Langdon Dunn, NCJerome Lanier Burgaw, NCAdam Lassiter Conway, NCDonny Lassiter Conway, NCA.K. Leach Jr. Raeford, NCBrent Leggett Nashville, NCSusan Leggett Nashville, NCCody Lewis Fuquay-Varina, NCDan Lewis Orrum, NCSteve Lilley* Williamston, NCDwight Little Durham, NCCraig Lovette Lumberton, NCLex Mann Jr. Washington, NCGregory Manning Nashville, NCBrandon Marshall Engelhard, NCCharlie McClenny Mount Olive, NCAllen McLaurin Laurel Hill, NCJohn McLawhorn Hookerton, NCRoland McReynolds Pittsboro, NCRichard Melton Wadesboro, NCMiles Mercer Jr. Lumberton NCJames Morris Colerain, NCMann Mullen Bunn, NC
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Morris Murphy Albertson, NCPaul Myers Blanch, NCDaniel Nelson Warsaw, NCKelvin Norris Princeton, NCJames Overton Creedmoor, NCDale Parker Pfafftown, NCKeith Parrish Benson, NCJimmy Pate Rowland NCJeff Peed Aurora, NCRaeford Pernell Warrenton, NCStuart Pierce Jr. Ahoskie, NCElbert Pitt Macclesfield, NCTom Porter Rocky Mount, NCRodney Purser Marshville, NCJames Radford Mount Airy, NCMelvin Ray Jr. Whiteville, NCRichard Renegar Harmony, NCJeremy Rhodes Four Oaks, NCAlton Roberson Kinston, NCMark Ross Williamston, NCKenneth Rudd Greensboro, NCLarry Sampson Rowland, NCChris Sawyer Greenville, NCMilton Sawyer Jr. Greenville, NCDewey Scott Lucama, NCLinwood Scott III Lucama, NCZane Sells Kernersville, NCThaddeus Sharp IV Sims, NCThomas Shaw III Henderson, NCClay Shields Scotland Neck, NCGeorge Simpson Beaufort, NCBilly Slade Jr. Bath, NCAnthony Smith Pink Hill, NCGary Smith* Yadkinville, NCBill Smith Cary, NCRandy Smith Deep Run, NC
Arlie Snider Mount Airy, NCBryant Spivey Smithfield, NCSuzanne Stallings Elizabeth City, NCWiley Stancill Ayden, NCMichael “Bo” Stone Rowland, NCManley Stovall Sandy Ridge, NCClay Strickland Clinton, NCReginald Strickland Mount Olive, NCJarman Sullivan Faison, NCJay Sullivan Faison, NCLee Swinson Mount Olive, NCVictor Swinson Mount Olive, NCElizabeth Taylor Whitakers, NCWinslow Tew Albertson, NCMark Tucker Madison, NCRalph Tucker Jr. Greenville, NCJeff Turlington Coats, NCKent Turlington Coats, NCJeff Tyson Nashville, NCKerry Venable Belews Creek, NCKerry Venable II Belews Creek, NCLinwood Vick Wilson, NCBetty Vollmer* Bunn, NCJohn Vollmer Bunn, NCStacy Walker Mocksville, NCKeith Waller Mount Olive, NCBobby Walls Jr. Goldsboro, NCDanny Walters Fairmont, NCDan Ward Clarkton, NCBrad Warren Faison, NCBrandon Warren Clinton, NCBrian Warren Newton Grove, NCMark Wellons Princeton, NCWilliam Whaley Jr. Kinston, NCFaylene Whitaker Climax, NCRichard Whitaker Climax, NC
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Shane Whitaker Climax, NCGarland Whitford Jr. Ernul, NCScottie Whitford Grantsboro, NCJoseph Wiggins Jr. Trenton, NCJay Willard Gable, SCAshley Williams Raleigh, NCErnest Winstead Nashville, NCAlton Wood Elizabeth City, NCAllen Wooten Burgaw, NC Larry Wooten Raleigh, NCBryant Worley Princeton, NCHarold Wright Bladenboro, NC
* deceased
College of Agriculture and Life SciencesAgricultural Leadership Development Program
North Carolina State University
TeamW. K. Collins, Director Blake Brown, Assistant Sheri Schwab, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service Lanny Hass, Facilitator Eleanor Stell, Facilitator Carolyn Bunn, Administrative Assistant Rebecca Kirkland, Photographer Dee Shore, Editor Dale A. Hill, Volunteer, Brazil Study Tour
Agricultural Leadership
Development Program
3610/12—800—DMS
Agricultural Leadership
Development Program
800 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $960, or $1.20 per copy.
This project received support from The Golden LEAF Foundation.
Any opinion, finding conclusion or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the
view and policies ofthe North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.
Made possible by grants fromGolden LEAF Foundation NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission
and support fromAg Carolina Farm CreditBASFBayer CropScienceCape Fear Farm CreditCarolina Farm CreditCarolina Farm Stewardship AssociationCentral Marketing, Inc. Corngrowers Association of North CarolinaMonsanto North Carolina Cattlemen’s AssociationNorth Carolina Cotton Producers AssociationNorth Carolina Farm BureauNorth Carolina Peanut Growers Association North Carolina Pork CouncilNorth Carolina Small Grain Growers AssociationNorth Carolina Soybean Producers Association North Carolina State GrangeNorth Carolina SweetPotato Commission, Inc.Yara North America, Inc. Program Participants