2010 YF&R State Committee
Chairman - Brian Parker
Brian & Mandi Parker – Cleveland County
www.carolinalimousin.com
Brian and Mandi live on the family farm which Brian farms with his father in Cleveland County. The family farm is a 218 acre operation. They raise poultry, beef cattle, corn, oats, and fescue and have 3 horses. They have been in the poultry business for 35 years. They have 4 broiler houses which produces 216,000 chickens annually for Case Farms. The beef cattle (South Mountain Limousin) is a 97 head operation of registered Limousin Cattle.
Brian also works part-time for Golden P Farms. Brian is a member of Casar Masonic Lodge. Mandi works at Frye Regional Medical Center in radiology. They attend Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Casar, NC. They have two children Ashton and Kadence. Brian is the Chairman of the Cleveland County Young Farmers and Ranchers and is on the Board of Directors of the Cleveland County Farm Bureau.
District 1 - Betsy Morris
2nd Year Member
David Hight, Jr. – Warren County
David resides in Warren County. He works along side his father Mike and his brother Matt with their 1,000 acre farm operation. The farming operation consist of tobacco, soybeans, corn, wheat, hogs and cattle.
David is also involved in his community thru the Macon Fire Department and the Warren County Jaycees. He is also a member of the Macon Baptist Church
1st Year Member
Kevin & Julie Roberts – Perquimans County
Kevin and Julie each come from families deeply rooted in agriculture and worked on farms started by their great-grandfathers in Northeast NC.
Kevin works at Eure Seed Farms, Inc, over the past 23 years Kevin has been involved in every aspect of the operation which includes farming 1250 acres of soybeans, wheat, corn and cotton. He helps oversee 35-50 head of Black Angus/Simmental beef cattle. Most of his time is spent managing the seed production plant where they process 250,000-300,000 units of soybeans mainly for Syngenta Seeds but also for UniSouth Genetics (USG) and AgVenture. They have about 30 to 35 growers growing over 8000 acres of just soybean varieties alone and that number keeps growing each year. The varieties range from late group threes to late group sevens. Eure Seed Farms also grows and processes Agri Pro Coker and USG wheat varieties.
Julie is a National Board Certified Teacher who has teaching grades K-6 over the past ten years. She uses the Ag in the Classroom curriculum and is especially fond of The Farmer Grows a Rainbow. Growing up on Roberts Ridge Farm in Currituck County, she worked at her family owned road side market “famously” known for the hand-picked daily fresh sweet corn. She also helped harvest sweet corn, strawberries, cantaloupes and blueberries. She even helped by driving a tractor/grain cart when her dad and grandfather were harvesting wheat and corn.
They married in 1999 and in 2007 became the proud parents of Jay Ethan Roberts. They enjoy traveling (by motorcycle at times), boating on Perquimans River and worshiping at Evangelical Methodist Church in Elizabeth City. Kevin leads the men’s basketball outreach ministry and Julie is a member of the worship team.
District 2 - Mac Hodges
2nd Year Member
Ruffin & Nicole Prince – Beaufort County
Ruffin and Nicole with their daughter, Madison, age 2, live in Belhaven. Where they grew up loving the “Farm Life”.
Ruffin farms about 200 acres of cotton and corn, which he markets and manages these crops. He also farms with another family, about 4,000 acres of cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat, he assists with all farm operation.
Nicole owns “Shear Elegance”, a salon and spa in Belhaven. She works in the salon 3 days and in the farm office 1 day, the rest of her time is spent with Madison.
In their spare time they enjoy Wolfpack ball, being on the water, and leading the youth at their church.
1st Year Member
John & Sarah McLawhorn – Greene County
John farms with his father and uncle on the family farm, Triple M Farms. They farm livestock including pigs, beef cattle and Tilapia fish. They also farm about 2400 acres of row crops including tobacco, corn, beans, wheat, cotton and oats.
Sarah is a kindergarten teacher and a high school cheerleading coach. They were married in November 2006 and are expecting their first child, a son, in February 2010.
District 3 - Audrey Brown
2nd Year Member
Marc & Blair Green – Brunswick County
Marc and Blair reside in Winnabow, which is located between Wilmington, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
Marc is the General Farm Manager of Funston Farms which includes a farrow-to-wean hog operation, finishing houses, beef cattle and row crops.
Blair serves as the 4-H Youth Development Agent in Brunswick County at the NC Cooperative Extension office. They attend First Baptist Church of Boiling Springs Lake, in their spare time they enjoy horseback riding and team roping. They currently have no children but 5 horses and 2 Australian Shepherds make up their family.
1st Year Member
Nicholas & Kimberly Dupree – Harnett County
Nicholas and Kimberly live in Angier. Nicholas is a graduate of NC State with a degree in Field Crop Technology. He and his father own and operate Dupree Farms, LLC. They tend about 2500 acres including flue-cured tobacco, soybeans and wheat.
Nicholas is a volunteer fireman with the Angier Black River Fire Department and is a Harnett County Farm Bureau board member.
Kimberly graduated from Campbell University and works for Hospira; a pharmaceutical company in Clayton, NC.
They enjoy the company of their animals, 2 cats and 2 labs. They also enjoy hunting, fishing and spending time with family and friends.
District 4 - Jessica Hucks
2nd Year Member
Andrew Gillis – Cumberland County
I am an eighth generation farmer and I farm along side my father, John D. Gillis II, my brother, William J. Gillis, and my mother, Rena Gillis. My ancestors came from Scotland in the mid 1700s. We farm about 2,000 acres, including corn, soybeans, oats and hay. We also raise about 75 head of beef cattle.We also are an agritourism farm. We do school tours from March till November. We operate a homemade ice cream shop and bakery from April to October. I am very active in my church, Cross Creek Presbyterian (PCA). I have been on several missions trips including, the inner-cities of Miami and Atlanta, the town of Merida in Mexico, and to Patrocinio, Brazil where my cousin is an active missionary in a Bible Institute. I actively volunteer in the nursery and am a part of the church's Singles Group Bible Study. I am also a member of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, where I am chairman of the Key Club Committee. I am also very active in several political groups here in Fayetteville. I am currently serving as Chairman of the Cumberland County Young Republicans and serve as an At Large Executive Board Member of the Cumberland County Republican Party.
1st Year Member
Bill & Julie Carmichael – Scotland County
Bill is the president and owner of Bill Carmichael Inc., a contract broiler chicken operation. The operation consists of 8 chicken houses. Bill is also the Farm Manager for WPC Farm an 1100 acre row crop operation owned by his parents. WPC Farms produces cotton, soybeans, wheat and peanuts. The operation includes 120 acres irrigated by center point and 300 acres irrigated by reel type irrigation.
Bill is a 1999 graduate of NC State University with a degree in Agriculture Business Management. Julie is an Accountant at Scotland Memorial Hospital in Laurinburg. Julie is a 2008 graduate of UNC Pembroke with a degree in Business Management.
Bill is Chairman of the Scotland County Young Farmer and Ranchers and serves as Scotland County Vice-president.
Bill and Julie have a 6 year old son, Lane.
District 5 - DeShon Cromartie
2nd Year Member
Josh & Sara Warren – Nash County
Josh and Sara live in Nash County with their yellow lab, Jake.
Josh graduated from NC State University with degrees in Agribusiness Management and Agronomy. He is
Sara graduated from Campbell University with a degree in Exercise Science, she also has a Nursing degree from Nash Community College.
Josh is employed with Universal Leaf Tobacco, in the Lead Department.
They raise soybeans and wheat. They are involved with the youth group at their church and enjoy attending NC State football games.
1st Year Member
Bryan & Lin Kirk – Wake County
www.oldecountryproduceandmulch.com
Bryan owns Kirk Farms, Inc that consists of 350 acres; crops grown are cotton, soybeans, wheat, corn and produce. The farm provides produce to his family owned road side produce store Olde Country Produce and Mulch.
Bryan is employed with the City of Raleigh Fire Department as a Firefighter/Hazmat Specialist. Bryan also is an Auctioneer with Goins Auction, Inc. Bryan serves as a board member for the Wake County Farm Bureau.
Lin is a RN and works at Wake Med. They have been married for 6 years and have 2 daughters, Lindsay and Karleigh. They are members of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Knightdale.
District 6 - Jim Roney
2nd Year Member
Barton & Marion Mitchell – Chatham County
In 2001 we, Barton and Marion Mitchell were wed and moved to Chatham County to start our farming career. We partnered with our parents to create JM Johnson Farm. Now, we have approximately 85 brood cows. We produce our own hay for the livestock and have three broiler houses. In addition, Barton co-owns B&B Fencing, which is an agricultural fencing business. Along the way, Hannah, age 2, and David, age 10 months, have blessed our lives.
Our family is actively involved at Joy Baptist Church. Barton has participated in the community as a member of the Cattlemen's Association, Agribusiness Council, and Ruritans. He served as Vice President of the Cattlemen's Association.
1st Year Member
John & Laura Rumley – Guilford County
John and Laura live in Guilford County where John is owner and operator of Hooper & Rumley Farm. The farm operates in Guilford, Rockingham and Caswell Counties. Hooper & Rumley Farm produces tobacco, soybeans and wheat. This farm is a 6th generation farm operation; John’s family is still part of the farm operation.
Laura is an Assisted Living Administrator with Brookdale Senior Living. Laura enjoys working with the Alzheimer’s Association in her free time. During both their free time they enjoy networking with their other farmers in the community.
District 7 - Karen McKnight
2nd Year Member
Terry & Sue Hoffner – Rowan County
Terry and Sue live in Mt. Ulla. Terry works on the family farm where they milk 200 cows and work 1,100 acres of corn, wheat and soybeans.
They also do custom field work including all silage and manure hauling for a nearby diary farm that milks 160 cows.
Sue works at the Statesville Auto Auction where she has been for the last 6 years.
They have 2 children, Brooklyn, age7 and Katie, age 14 months.
1st Year Member
Jeff Broadway – Union County
Jeff is from Union County, where he currently lives on the family farm owned by his parents. The farming operation consists of 150 acres of owned and rented land. They raise commercial cattle as well as purebred Simmental and Angus cattle to be sold.
Jeff had partnered in a goat dairy until recently, he continues to maintain a small herd of goats on the family farm.
When he is not involved in the farm activities he spends his time as a large animal associate veterinarian serving procedures in Union, Anson, Stanly, Rowan, Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties.
Jeff is a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church and serves on the NCSU-CUM Alumni Board of Directors.
District 8 - Howard Reinhardt
2nd Year Member
Phillip & Dana McLain – Iredell County
Phillip and Dana along with their 2 year old son, Weston are from Iredell County.
Phillip farms with his father and uncle and he also maintains a portion of his cropland. They grow corn silage, corn grain, wheat, soybeans, canola and sunflowers.
Phillip, his father and uncle are also partners in a grain marketing/oil press business. In addition to this Phillip owns and operates an animal waste hauling business.
Dana is a full-time mother and assists with the day to day business at home. They are members of First Baptist church where Phillip serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.
1st Year Member
Adam & Rebecca Stewart – Catawba County
Adam and Rebecca live in Catawba County, NC. Adam farms with his father and grandfather. Adam is part of a 4th generation family farm known as Promise View Acres Farm, LLC. They grow about 700 acres of wheat, 500 acres of corn and 1,200 acres of soybeans.
Adam is a graduate of Lenoir Rhyne University with a BS degree in Chemistry. Rebecca is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a BS degree in Elementary Education; she is a third grade teacher and part time dance teacher.
They are expecting a little girl in May 2010. They attend Cove Church in Mooresville; they also serve on the Cove Kids Team. Adam plays the guitar and sings regularly on the Worship Team.
District 9 - Ronald Hawkins
2nd Year Member
Kevin & Charity Johnson – Avery County
Kevin and Charity live in Crossnore. They farm approximately 400 acres of Fraser Fir Christmas trees, along with a few landscaping plants. Kevin is a 4th generation christmas tree farmer.
Johnson Holler trees has had the prestigious honor of providing the White House with a tree.
Kevin and Charity are members of Crossnore First Baptist Church. They have one daughter, Addison, that is 2 1/2 years old. In their spare time they enjoy hunting, fishing, camping and horseback riding.
Kevin has been a volunteer fireman for 9 years at Crossnore Fire Department.
1st Year Member
Kyle Lindberger – Gaston County
Kyle farms with his father and brother raising commercial beef cattle and custom harvesting around 200 acres of hay.
District 10 - Jimmy Cowan
2nd Year Member
Ronnie & Jessica Ross
Ronnie and Jessica live in Waynesville, where Ronnie runs the family business, H. Dean Ross and Sons Dairy.
Both Ronnie and Jessica graduated from Western Carolina University, Jessica is currently employed at the university.
The dairy milks about 300 head of Holstein and Holstein/Jersey cross. Ronnie is in business with his father, Dean and his brother, Andy. Ronnie mainly focuses on the dairy operation while Dean and Andy grow more than 100 acres of silage corn in NC and 500 acres of corn silage and hay in Morristown, TN. Much of silage grown in Tennessee is sold to dairies in that area. Dean also grows out the replacement heifers on their farm in Tennessee.
1st Year Member
Jerred Nix – Henderson County
Jerred is a 4th generation apple farmer with Wayne Nix & Son’s Farms. He farms with his father and grandfather. Their apples are sold through a direct market at the Farmers Market and fruit stands. There are about 10 varieties of apples from red delicious, golden, romes, gala, fuji, mutsu, granny smith, janagolds, staymans and pink lady’s. All the fruit is fresh not processed and the farm operation does all the packing themselves.
He graduated from NCSU in 2008 majoring in Ag Business Management, and a minor in Ornamental Landscape Technology. He is a member of the NC Apple Grower’s Association and is a board of director with the Blue Apple Growers Association.
In Jerred's free time he enjoys hunting and playing music.
Team Members
- DeShon Cromartie (Team Leader)
- Mac Hodges
- Howard Reinhardt
- Jim Roney
- Jessica Hucks