On March 17, Alpha Zeta and the Animal Science Club paired up to take an all-day Farm Tour through one of the most agriculturally diverse counties in our wonderful state: Sampson County. Four farms were visited in total:
Salemburg Gin & Cotton Co.: Salemburg, NC
Although Clay Strickland's operation is no longer involved in the cotton business, they actively grow some of the highest quality organic and conventional tobacco.
Barnhill Blueberry Farms: Ivanhoe, NC
Chester Barnhill's 800 acres of North Carolina grown blueberries can be found all up and down the I-95 corridor in the eastern United States.
Crooked Run Vineyards: Clinton, NC
Gavin Thompson's 16 acre muscadine vineyard provides high quality food grapes instead of wine grapes; a much more labor intensive process.
PorkPlus Swine Farm: Turkey, NC
Henry Faison's swine finishing farm is an excellent example of proactive waste management and how this level of the pork industry works.
Our brothers had such a great time meeting some North Carolina farmers and seeing successful agricultural operations. A huge thank you to NC State's Department of Crop & Soil Sciences for paying for the vans on the trip!