The business model canvas changed the way I think. As a farmer, I am hyper-focused on the production and efficiency of my operation, or the left side of the canvas. Shifting my focus to the right side of the canvas, to the value propositions and thinking about a way to give customers something before they know that they need it inspired me. As a farmer, engineer, and tech enthusiast, I decided to create Flying Farmer LLC to educate farmers about the drone industry and their applications in agriculture. I hope to position myself to provide these services when the industry is ready for them.
Neal Baxley, Owner, Baxley Farms
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Marion, SC
Travis Baxter, Manager, Clayton Rawl Farms, Inc.
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Lexington, SC
Brandon Belch, Owner, MEB Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Conway, NC
Collin, David, and Denise Blalock, David Blalock Farms, LLC.
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Wilson, NC
The Executive Farm Management program was key in getting me to think outside the box and how to diversify my produce business. It was through a lot of these meetings, lectures, or guest speakers that got me brainstorming new ideas to implement on my produce operation.
Eric Bolesta, Sales Manager, Corbett Brothers Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Lake Park, GA
Corrin "Bud" Bowers, Jr., Owner, Corrin F. Bowers and Son
Southeastern Region, 2020
Luray, SC
Corrin Bowers III, Owner, Corrin F. Bowers and Son
Southeastern Region, 2020
Luray, SC
Dawson Boyd, Manager, 3B Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Pinetown, NC
Garrett Boyd, Operations Manager, 3B Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Pinetown, NC
Justin Boyd, Partner, 3B Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Pinetown, NC
Chad Brantley, Farm Manager, A L Baucom Co., Inc
Southeastern Region, 2020
Monroe, NC
Andrew Burleson, Partner, Thurman Burleson & Sons Farm
Southeastern, 2022
Richfield, NC
James Byrd, Row Crop Manager, McLeod Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
McBee, SC
Jose "Pepe" Calderon, Sales Manager, FarmPak Products
Southeastern Region, 2020
Spring Hope, NC
Collan Campbell, Commodity Trader, Palmetto Grain
Southeastern Region, 2020
Ridgeland, SC
Chalmers Carr, Owner, Titan Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Ridge Spring, SC
Blake Carter, Extension Agent, UGA
Southeastern, 2022
Springfield, GA
Richard Chancy, Partner, Manager, Millstream Farms
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Dunn, NC
The insurance-based risk management, and a lot of it is defining trends and market places and learning how to understand other people like employees, relationships, and to find new market places. And try to become more of a price maker rather versus price taker as most people in agriculture are, especially in the farming industry.
Brittany Comer, Office Manager, Lazy "C" Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Vernon Hill, VA
Garland Comer, President, Lazy "C" Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Vernon Hill, VA
Jared Corbett, Manager, Corbett Brothers Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Lake Park, GA
Justin Corbett, Manager, Ken Corbett Farms, LLC
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Lake Park, GA
Ken Corbett, Owner, Ken Corbett Farms, LLC
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Lake Park, GA
Kim Corbett, Owner, Ken Corbett Farms, LLC
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Lake Park, GA
Witte Cribb, Sales Manager, TriEst Ag Group
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Greenville, NC
Jonathan Croft, Agriculture Extension Agent, Clemson Cooperative Extension
Southeastern Region, 2020
Orangeburg, SC
Jay Crouch, Agronomic Crops Program Team Director, Clemson Extension
Southeastern, 2022
Newberry, SC
Matt Cruce, VP/ Managing Partner, John A Cruce Jr Inc / Cruce Family Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Perry, Florida
Blayne Dixon, Manager, BFC
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Wilson, NC
Will Edwards, Manager, Lake Wendell Farming Company
Southeastern Region, 2020
Wendell, NC
Robert Fann, Partner, Fann Farms
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Salemburg, NC
John Fleming, Partner, Fleming Brother's Farm
Southeastern Region, 2020
Halifax, NC
Rob Fleming, Co-Owner, Fleming Brothers Farms LLC
Southeastern, 2022
Halifax, NC
Susan Ford, Owner, Weaver Ford Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Kenly, NC
Sam Fulton, Operations Manager, Z.V. Pate, Inc.
Southeastern, 2022
Laurinburg, NC
Katie Woods Glenn, Ag Risk Consultant, Silveus Southeast
Southeastern Region, 2020
Sumter, SC
Rob Glover, Owner, Rob Glover Farming, LLC
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Bailey, NC
Mark Grant, Board Member, Gaston Cooperative
Southeastern, 2022
Garysburg, NC
Archie Griffin, VP Griffin Farms, Inc.
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Washington, NC
We have been able to properly take a much deeper look into how our company is performing from a financial standpoint, our financial solvency and how we stand compared to others of a similar scale.
Rod Gurganus, County Extension Director, NC State Extension
Southeastern, 2022
Beaufort County, NC
Chris Hall, Owner, Hall Brothers Farms
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Roseboro, NC
Nick Hall, Owner/Operator, Melon DIrect LLC / Hall Bros Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Roseboro, NC
Josh Hall, Operations Manager, Walter P. Rawls & Son
Southeastern Region, 2020
Pelion, SC
Norman Harrell, Director, Wilson County Cooperative Extension
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Wilson, NC
Matthew Hendrix, Owner, Hendrix Farms
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Raeford, NC
Ben Herring, Manager, Herring Farms, Inc. & Gulfstream Produce, Inc.
Southeastern, 2022
Lake Park, GA
Landon Herring, Manager, Herring Farms, Inc. & Gulfstream Produce, Inc.
Southeastern, 2022
Lake Park, GA
Clay Hinnant, Owner, RJ Hinnant & Sons Farms
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Kenly, NC
Morgan Howard, Owner, Down East Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Deep Run, NC
Forrest Howell, Manager, Howell Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Pinetown, NC
Ashlee Hutto, Operator, Lee Newman Farms
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Sumter, SC
Matt Keen, Strickland Farming Group
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Mt. Olive, NC
Brian Knowles, Manager, Bear Ridge Farms, Inc.
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Maple Hill, NC
Donny Lassiter, Owner, Lassiter Family Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Conway, NC
Mark Lassiter, Owner, Lassiter Family Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Conway, NC
Kim K. LeQuire, Manager, Kornegay Family Farms and Produce
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Princeton, NC
Carrie McClain, General Manager, Hart-T Tree Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Grassy Creek, NC
Rachel McCormick, Director of Marketing, McLeod Farms
I’m thinking in a totally different way than I was when I first got here. It’s a combination of things that are making me look at things differently, I guess you’d say.
Kemp McLeod, Owner, McLeod Farms/Mac's Pride
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
McBee, SC
Spencer McCleod, Manager, McLeod Farms/Mac's Pride
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
McBee, SC
Keith Mills, Partner, Mills & Sons Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Trenton, NC
Pattie Mills, Co-owner, J.P. Davenport & Son
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Greenville, NC
We spend so much time in the weeds every day, planning, or getting payroll done, taking care of the everyday business, that getting an opportunity to step away from that and think on more of a strategic level was a huge part of me wanting to take part of this program.
Ellison Moore, Board Member, Gaston Cooperative
Southeastern, 2022
Garysburg, NC
Matthew Moore, Owner, Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms/PorkBerry Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Ivanhoe, NC
Morgan Moore, Owner, Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms/PorkBerry Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Ivanhoe, NC
Emily Ward Morris, Family Member, Ward Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Clarkton, NC
Sean Morris, Field Manager, Ward Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Clarkton, NC
Rafe Parker, Owner, Parker Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Colonial Beach, VA
Sam Parker, President, Gulfstream Produce Inc.
Southeastern, 2022
Wendell, NC
Reid Petway, Finance and Accounting Assistant, Scott Farms, Inc.
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Lucama, SC
Matthew Polk, Sales Representative, TriEst Ag
Southeastern Region, 2020
Greenville, SC
Joseph Reynolds, Owner, Love is Love Farm
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Decatur, GA
Jason Rodgers, VP, Titan Farms
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Ridge Spring, SC
The Executive Farm Management Program was such a great learning experience. They offered a remarkable learning environment that allowed team interactions and decision making, as well as provided one-on-one coaching. This program provided me with the tools and resources to help refine my farming skills as well as help grow our farm with my team. Focusing on the “big picture” is key!!
Charles Rogers, Manager, Rogers Brothers Farm
Southeastern Region 2020
Hartsville, SC
Lee Rogers, Manager, Rogers Brothers Farm
Southeastern Region, 2020
Hartsville, SC
Bryan Salmons, Farm Pak Products
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Wendell, NC
The people who are teaching the workshops don’t necessarily have farming backgrounds – they were mostly in public companies – and that puts a twist on it and makes you think outside the box. I also appreciate getting to meet people who are also working on tobacco and sweet potatoes but have a wide range of other crops.
Dewey Scott, VP, Scott Farms
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Lucama, NC
Linwood Scott, VP, Scott Farms, Inc.
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Lucama, NC
Graham Segars, Segars Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Hartsville, SC
Thad Sharp IV, Farm Manager, Sharp Farms
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Sims, NC
We have learned a lot of new avenues to investigate and to change the way we think about things before we make a decision. To prepare ourselves better by stretching out and learning more about what we’re actually doing and the things that we are providing for our customer. I’ve been farming for over twenty years and you get, not necessarily stuck in a rut, but you become firm in the way you handle things and make decisions.
Curtis Smith, Owner, T.C. Smith's Produce
Southeastern Region, 2020
Seven Springs, SC
Bryant Spivey, County Extension Director, NC State Cooperative Extension - Johnston County
Southeastern Region, 2020
Smithfield, NC
Matt Stevens, Owner, Stevens Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Loris, SC
Scott Strickland, Strickland Farming Group
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Mt. Olive, NC
Brandon and Clint Strickland, VP, Salemburg Gin & Cotton Company, Inc.
The Executive Farm Management Program is an amazing program with benefits that continue well after the program ends. My first thought was I did not have the time to commit to this program, but I am so very thankful to the little voice inside my head that said “Just Do It.” The program is based around a fictional case study called the Brown Family Farm. Weeks after the program ended the Brown Family Farm was still in my head and it still is today. The skills, resources, and learning environment that EFM exposes you to throughout the program provide you with knowledge and insight to see the big picture. This big picture is key to being a successful, sustainable farm in today’s world. So very thankful for EFM, my A Team, Brown Family Farm and the knowledge and growth I received as a participant. I am a better farmer today due to this program. If given the opportunity to participant listen to that little voice inside your head and “Just Do It.”
Jeff Thomas, Director, Scott Farms, Inc.
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Lucama, NC
Francisco Torres, Walter P. Rawl & Sons
Southeastern Region, 2020
Pelion, SC
Jeffery Tyson, President, Tyson Family Farms, Inc.
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Nashville, NC
Linwood Vick, Owner, Vick Family Farms
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Wilson, NC
Owen Wagner, CEO, North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
Brandon Warren, President for the NC Pork Council Board of Directors, WF Partnership
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Newton Grove, NC
The Executive Farm Management Program was a great experience for me. It was great to meet new friends and see how they approach the problems and situations that arose in the case studies presented to us. I felt like the partnership between NC State and ECU strengthened the financial analysis part. They made it very clear and easy to follow. My favorite part was the video conferences we had with people from companies like Amazon and Phillip Morris. It allowed us to peek behind the curtain and find out their strategies for success and also think about possible market opportunities we hadn’t thought of yet.
Brian Warren, WF Partnership
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Newton Grove, NC
Matt Waters, Manager, Harvey's Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Kinston, NC
Matthew Watkins, Sales Rep, Harvey Fertilizer
Southeastern, 2022
Sims, NC
Joseph Watson III, Manager, Jerrold A. Watson and Sons
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Monetta, SC
Phillip Watson, Manager, Fishing Creek Ag Corporation
Southeastern, 2022
Whitakers, NC
Reid Watson, Manager, Watsonia
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Monetta, SC
John Weaver, Owner, John Weaver Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Kenly, NC
Walt Webb, Manager, Lewis Nursery and Farms, Inc.
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Rocky Point, NC
Gary Whitehurst, Manager, Worthington Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Greenville, NC
Wyatt Whitford, Partner, Whitford Farms, Inc.
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Grantsboro, NC
Donna Worthington Williams, President, Worthington Farms, Inc.
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Greenville, NC
Joseph Williams, Manager, B2 Farm Holdings
Southeastern, 2022
North Elizabethtown
Ross Williams, Director of Operations, Titan Farms
Southeastern, 2022
Ridge Spring, SC
Worth Williams, Manager, Worthington Farms, Inc.
Inaugural Southeastern Region, 2019
Greenville, NC
Trey Wilson, Assistant Farm Manager, Ham Farms
NC Tobacco and Sweet Potato, 2017
Snow Hill, NC
Charles "Chuck" Wooten, Bear Ridge Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Maple Hill, NC
Delean Wooten, Owner, Bear Ridge Farms
Southeastern Region, 2020
Maple Hill, NC
Mike Worthington, Vice President, Worthington Farms
The business model canvas changed the way I think. As a farmer, I am hyper-focused on the production and efficiency of my operation, or the left side of the canvas. Shifting my focus to the right side of the canvas, to the value propositions and thinking about a way to give customers something before they know that they need it inspired me. As a farmer, engineer, and tech enthusiast, I decided to create Flying Farmer LLC to educate farmers about the drone industry and their applications in agriculture. I hope to position myself to provide these services when the industry is ready for them.
The Executive Farm Management program was key in getting me to think outside the box and how to diversify my produce business. It was through a lot of these meetings, lectures, or guest speakers that got me brainstorming new ideas to implement on my produce operation.
The insurance-based risk management, and a lot of it is defining trends and market places and learning how to understand other people like employees, relationships, and to find new market places. And try to become more of a price maker rather versus price taker as most people in agriculture are, especially in the farming industry.
We have been able to properly take a much deeper look into how our company is performing from a financial standpoint, our financial solvency and how we stand compared to others of a similar scale.
I’m thinking in a totally different way than I was when I first got here. It’s a combination of things that are making me look at things differently, I guess you’d say.
We spend so much time in the weeds every day, planning, or getting payroll done, taking care of the everyday business, that getting an opportunity to step away from that and think on more of a strategic level was a huge part of me wanting to take part of this program.
The Executive Farm Management Program was such a great learning experience. They offered a remarkable learning environment that allowed team interactions and decision making, as well as provided one-on-one coaching. This program provided me with the tools and resources to help refine my farming skills as well as help grow our farm with my team. Focusing on the “big picture” is key!! 
The people who are teaching the workshops don’t necessarily have farming backgrounds – they were mostly in public companies – and that puts a twist on it and makes you think outside the box. I also appreciate getting to meet people who are also working on tobacco and sweet potatoes but have a wide range of other crops.
We have learned a lot of new avenues to investigate and to change the way we think about things before we make a decision. To prepare ourselves better by stretching out and learning more about what we’re actually doing and the things that we are providing for our customer. I’ve been farming for over twenty years and you get, not necessarily stuck in a rut, but you become firm in the way you handle things and make decisions.
The Executive Farm Management Program was a great experience for me. It was great to meet new friends and see how they approach the problems and situations that arose in the case studies presented to us. I felt like the partnership between NC State and ECU strengthened the financial analysis part. They made it very clear and easy to follow. My favorite part was the video conferences we had with people from companies like Amazon and Phillip Morris. It allowed us to peek behind the curtain and find out their strategies for success and also think about possible market opportunities we hadn’t thought of yet.
