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Pace Family Farms is a local produce farm growing over 30 different kinds of seasonal produce year-round, including raising their own meat to emphasize a true farm-to-table experience for their customers. Located in Clayton, NC, Michelle Pace Davis is a 6th generation farmer who currently runs and operates the farm. For Michelle, the farm business has impacted her life the most in the community she’s been able to build around her. Michelle explains that through social media, “I am able to connect with local women in my community and we can talk about whatever, honestly. I have friends in every...

Little Creek Market offers market baskets filled with seasonal vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Additionally, their farm store offers homegrown meat, flowers and additional farm products, further emphasizing their farm to table goal. The farm operates with every family member taking a role. Two of those getting the work done are Miriam Lewis and Jessica Anderson, Miriam’s daughter-in-law. Although already involved in farming, Miriam and Jessica decided to enter a niche market and fulfill a need within the community by providing products such as pecans, honey, cut flowers, beef, pork, and...

Peyton McDaniel’s operation—Hickory Meadows Organics/Fishing Creek Ag Corporation—hails from Whitakers, NC. Peyton, alongside his brother and cousin evolved their operation from supporting one family to three. Specializing in a variety of crops, mainly tobacco and several varieties of squash, they ship their products across the United States. With each family member being involved in a different facet of the business, this is a family affair. Having grown up around the farming business, Peyton knew that after graduating from NC State University, he wanted to return home and expand upon his...

Williams’ Produce has been distributing local produce to a variety of local North Carolina markets for over 60 years. Started by Leah Williams’ grandfather, this multi-generational farm continued through her father, and most recently to Leah and her brother. Since the age of six, Leah knew she wanted to continue the legacy her grandfather started. “As I became older and was able to be more involved, I often received doubts and negative comments about a woman taking up the position of running the farm, especially at such a ripe age of 22,” shared Leah with tears in her eyes. “I am proud to have...

What started as the drive to create an alternative to cow milk products turned into a major farming operation surpassing the expectations of everyone around. Since 2018, Ithika Acres has operated as a diversified farm, focusing mainly on production of goat milk food products, goat milk health and beauty products, chicken houses, and other produce products such as blueberries. Stephanie Carter is the face of Ithika Acres, mainly managing the Ithika Creamery, which is responsible for lotions, soaps, fudge, cheeses, and soon to be ice-cream. Surrounded by goats since 2005 when the Carter family...

When looking for an example of a successful, young, beginning, and small farmer, a local Duplin County native is just such an example. Ron Simmons has gone from a local store manager to North Carolina A&T University Small Farmer of the Year. He has taken his personal passion of farming and helping others to a higher level than he could have ever imagined. With personal insight, advice, and support from some of the most influential swine producers, Ron advanced his own personal career to continue the legacy his father-in-law began years ago. His goal is to continue his legacy through his...

Delta Dawn Farms in Duplin County was originally started by a first-generation farmer five years ago, but has now evolved further than anyone could have foreseen. What started with AJ Searles has been expanded with the help of wife Krystle, into a large operation consisting of not just row crops, but pumpkins and beef cattle too. Krystle, who has farming in her roots, has taken her love to serve others and spearheaded the farm’s pumpkin and beef cattle operations. Although AJ started Delta Dawn Farms five years ago, Krystle has jumped in to lead areas of interest to her, all while helping...

H & D Farms Inc. is truly a family farm operation. With different operations all running underneath one farm name, the family business continues to run smoothly with different family members overseeing specific aspects of the farm. One of those individuals is Jennifer Daniels. Jennifer mainly oversees the NC Certified Seed Sweetpotato segment of H&D Farms, accounting for approximately 60% of the family’s business. She explains the main goal of her operation is to grow sweetpotatoes that are mainly not used for consumption, but instead as seed for other sweetpotato farmers. Those farmers then...