Duplin County Farmer
Duplin County Farmer
About Us
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- Galatians 6:9 NIV
Farmer - /ˈfärmər/ - N
(1) a person who owns, rents, manages or operates a farm for the purpose of providing food, fiber, and raw materials to the rest of society.
(2) a steward & conservationist of the land.
(3) a caretaker of the farm family (relative or not), livestock, poultry and family pets that God has placed in his/her care.
Please listen to Paul Harvey's speech on what being a farmer means.
Duplin County Farmer - the nickname that stuck! For many years, my wife and I have listened to and enjoyed contemporary Christian music. We found an awesome local radio station with amazing local people that really stood out to us. We started supporting the station and, from time to time, would call in to talk or make a song request. Early on, since they didn't really know me, I would simply identify myself as the "Duplin County Farmer".
Over the years I have had people come up to me and say "Hey - I heard you on the radio - you're the Duplin County Farmer!" Since then, I have used this name to reach more people by selling products and services that they may need.
A Name With Meaning
What Is a Farmer?
This website is our attempt to keep the ole' family farm going. Fertilizer, farm chemicals, equipment and fuel costs have risen in dramatic fashion. Commodity prices haven't kept up - not even close. My parents fed and clothed themselves and four children off of 7-10 acres of tobacco, corn, soybeans, and some hogs. There's no way you could do that today. So we're trying to adapt to "stay afloat".
I once heard someone say:
"If you're a Christian, thank God for Jesus."
"If you're a Christian and you live in freedom, thank God and a soldier."
"If you're a Christian and you live in freedom, and your stomach is full, thank God, a soldier, and a farmer"
"Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever."
- Ecclesiastes 1:4 (NIV)
Our Purpose
I was blessed to be born and raised on a small family farm in the mid 1960's - early 1970's. My mama (Hazel) and daddy (G.S.), raised four children - James, Ann, David and me. With mama's help and support daddy raised tobacco, corn & soybeans. He also had a large scale "on the ground" hog operation. Mama & us children raised the chickens, managed the garden and the freezing and canning of the garden's bounty.
Life on the farm was good. Looking back, we didn't have a lot, but it seemed like we were rich. Now I realize that in worldly terms, we weren't rich - we were blessed - so blessed!
Today, my wife Sonja and I - along with our daughter Brooke, her husband Trent, their daughter Noa, and our son Scott continue as a third and fourth generation farm family. There was a time when I felt like farming wasn't for me so I pursued other interests. But the old saying "You can take the boy off the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the boy!" - certainly held true for me. Though I worked a public job for over thirty years, I spent most of those years either directly or indirectly connected to the farm. Part of the land I tend has been in our family for over 100 years.