community

West Family Farm: Deep Community Roots

Lee West is the fourth generation to work on his family’s farm. Although, there’s been difficult times, the farm has grown. Through the years, they’ve never lost sight of their deep family and community roots.

Lee’s great-grandfather had a stroke when Lee’s grandfather, Jerry, was only 13. Most of the farm equipment was sold and the farm was rented out. When his grandfather became an adult, he worked in a local manufacturing plant while farming part time. When his manufacturing job told him he’d need to move out West, it was time for a change. Fremont was home, and that’s where he wanted to stay. So, in 1979, he started farming full-time. There were very few acres at the time and only 1-2 tractors. Today, the farm has grown to 6,000 acres where they grow many crops (read part 1 of the West’s story to learn what they grow).

While they’ve grown, their community and heritage are just as important as it was in the 60’s. Their growth wouldn’t be possible without the community.

Of the 6,000 acres they tend, the Wests rent 5,500 of those acres from landowners. Because the county is cut up so badly, they rent from more than 120 landowners. The agreement benefits both parties by providing income for landowners and land for the West’s crops. The Wests are focused on meeting the expectations of landowners. “Each one has their own concerns and how they want things treated,” says Lee. He adds that “you have to agree with your community and share the road.”

Northern Wayne County has been growing for the last 20 years. Lee says that his dad, Craig, talks about how used to you could drive a tractor 3-4 miles down the road before having to pull over for cars. Now they can hardly get out of their driveway. The Wests understand the importance of mutual respect and try hard to do their part in the community.

“Being a good neighbor and being a good person in the community, you hope that your community will work with you and allow you to get to your fields and grow your hogs,” Lee said.

For some, 6,000 acres may sound huge, and hardly a family farm, but Lee says that they are definitely a family farm. He, his dad, his uncle, and other family members are hands-on every day. When asked what it meant to be a family farm, Lee said, “It’s the pride. We all know what’s going on. We can tell you everyone’s name, their kids, and where they’re from. As progression progresses, we have had to tend more acres, buy more equipment, hire more workers, but I still like that smaller family farm mentality we have. We may not be as efficient as other farms, but we take pride in it and do the best we can.”

Lee also wishes that people understood that farming isn’t just about driving tractors. It’s a lot of business. The Wests have a farm office where Lee’s aunt, Lynn, and grandmother, Audrey, handles office reports, payrolls, taxes, and a host of other paperwork. That business is a big part of the local economy, benefiting many local businesses in the community.

For the Wests, business, farming, and the community are combined by taking the time to sit on various boards. In addition to local county groups, Craig is a board member of NC Sweetpotatoes and the Tobacco Growers Association while Brad sits on the board at NC Peanut Growers. Sitting on these boards allows these gentlemen to give not just a farmer’s perspective, but a resident of rural Wayne County. They are voices for and in their community.

Apart from being a good neighbor or business partner with those in the community, the Wests are also passionate about building relationships with their community. Many of those relationships are built over strawberries. In 2013, Lee’s aunt and uncle started a strawberry patch, and in 2019, Lee and his wife, Madison, took it over.

“My favorite part about strawberries is Saturdays. I get to see everybody from all over Wayne County. They bring their kids for the U-pick. Our customers come back week after week and year after year, and I think that’s the coolest part,” Madison said.

The effort is one of the heart, not necessarily for business.

“The strawberries are for the community more or less now,” Lee says. “The strawberries can be tough. They take a lot of time.”

Yet, you can find Madison in the strawberry barn on Saturdays during strawberry season, excited to see those in the community.

“They’ve become family to us too. Community is the biggest part of farming, to me,” Madison shares.

Lee & Madison at the Fremont Christmas Parade

Cape Fear Farm Credit & Prestage Farms Partner with Farm Buddies Community Project

Pictured: John Prestage, Evan Kleinhans, Scott Prestage

Pictured: John Prestage, Evan Kleinhans, Scott Prestage

Cape Fear Farm Credit and Prestage Farms, both are excited to partner together for the Farm Buddies project that takes the extra effort to put food on tables. The project, running during the month of September of this year, combines the efforts of the farmers and team members connected with the two companies to give back to the communities where they work and live.

More than 42 million people may experience food insecurity in America, including a potential 13 million children, an increase in numbers due to the pandemic. Additionally, rural households are more likely to face food insecurity than urban, according to Feeding America. Programs like Backpack Buddies work with community members to ensure that children have the food they need. The organization of Backpack Buddies is serves much of Southeastern North Carolina, similar footprint to Prestage Farms and Cape Fear Farm Credit.

“When we look at the communities where we live, work, and serve, it is our desire to meet others’ needs. The Farm Buddies project gives an additional opportunity for our farmers and team members to fulfill their shared purpose of serving agriculture to enrich the lives of others,” said Evan Kleinhans, CEO of Cape Fear Farm Credit.

The Farm Buddies project mimics what farmers and agricultural professionals already do—feed others. Farm Buddies encourages the farmers and team members of Prestage and Cape Fear Farm Credit to donate food items to help those that need food through the Backpack Buddies program, which ensures kids don’t go hungry when not in school.  

“Our farmers and team members have huge hearts for their community, and this project highlights their passion to nurture and feed others. They are not just growing food. They are cultivating hearts,” said John Prestage, Senior Vice President of Prestage Farms.

Prestage growers and Cape Fear Farm Credit customers that grow with Prestage are encouraged to participate in this project by giving eligible food items or a monetary donation, for food items to be purchased on their behalf, to their Prestage service team member.

Prestage growers and Cape Fear Farm Credit customers that grow with Prestage will receive a co-branded hat for any amount donated above $20.

Cape Fear Farm Credit and Prestage Farms are both sponsors of NC Farm Families. Additionally, many of our farm families grow for Prestage or work with Cape Fear Farm Credit. The Farm Buddies project is an example of the hearts of our farmers and all of agriculture. It also shows just how passionate our farmers are to truly go the extra mile in feeding the world.

 
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Consider Attending the Swine Waste Management Permit Meeting

The Swine Waste Management General Permit meeting is in a few days. This impacts nearly every hog farm in North Carolina. We encourage you to attend this meeting, even if you don't have a comment. Please consider attending to show support for the interest of our farmers and to stay up to date on current events.

Swine Waste Management Permit Meeting

The current Swine Waste Management General State Permit expires September 30, 2019. A meeting will be held to gain public input on the state’s draft general permit (AWG100000). Feedback obtained during the meeting will help DEQ to prepare a final draft permit that will be published publicly for review early next year. To view changes in the permit (marked in red), click here: REDLINE-DRAFT-Swine-General-Permit-11132018

Commenting

Those in attendance may make written or oral comments during the meeting. To make a public oral comment to the group at the meeting, you must register as a speaker by 5:30pm. You can also make written comments. Those written comments should provide a reference to the specific section of the permit and focus on the draft permit.

Details

Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Time: Speaker Registration is 5:30pm; Meeting begins at 6:00pm

Place: Sampson County Exposition Center

          414 Warsaw Road

          Clinton, NC 28328

RSVP to Renee Kramer at renee.kramer@ncdenr.gov or (919) 707-8292