Please join us in congratulating this year’s Innovative Young Farmer of the Year, Mr. Jason Farmer. Jason began his career in the sod production industry upon graduating from North Carolina State University in 2009 with a degree in Turfgrass Science. After marrying his wife, Natalie in 2012, Jason returned with her to a full-time farming operation in 2013 at Wester Farms. In February 2020 with the unfortunate passing of Mr. Len Wester, Jason assumed all the day to day operations of Wester Farms.
As part of his operation, Jason farms 200 acres of tobacco, 6 acres of fresh market peppers, 25 acres process market peppers, 85 acres of cucumbers for the Mt. Olive Pickle Company, 550 acres of corn, 245 acres of wheat, 750 acres of soybeans and 20 acres of oats. He also runs a cow calf herd of 600 head and a stocker calf operation of 800 head while cutting about 1200 acres of hay.
In addition to Jason’s farming responsibilities, he is also an avid participant in community organizations that includes a seat as a council member for the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Advisory Council and a member of the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Commercial Horticulture Advisory. Jason also sits on the board of directors for the North Carolina Soybean Association where he serves on the Market Development and Outreach Committee and the North Carolina Ag Foundation where he serves on the Research and Extension Committee.
Along with his wife who serves on the Franklin County Agricultural Advisory Board, Mr. Farmer recently participated in a Franklin County Soil and Water cover crop demonstration that was filmed and shared across the state by the North Carolina Foundation of Soil and Water in order to stress the importance of better soil health and a healthier acre overall. To the man who is often accused by his wife “of loving to talk all the time about Agriculture to anyone he runs into and how important the American farmer is,” Congratulations, Jason Farmer, on receiving this year’s Innovative Young Farmer of the Year award.
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