Innovative Young Farmer of the Year

Presented at the annual Breakfast with the Commissioner benefit at the Southern Farm Show.

By honoring an individual for this award, we seek to present North Carolina agribusiness as a viable and vibrant profession.

Award sponsored by:

2014 - Russell Hedrick, No Till on the Plains

2015 - Payton McDaniel, Billy McDaniel, Phillip Watson, Hickory Meadows

Organics & Fishing Creek Ag Corporation

2016 - Robert Elliott, Cypress Farms

2017 - Brandon Batten, Triple B Farms

2018 - Justin & Holly Miller, Cherry Hill Farm

2019 - Joshua Phillips, Holland Farms, Inc. & Sonlight Farms

2020 - Michelle Pace, Davis Pace Family Farms

2021 - Harrison Jenkins, Westward Farms and Statesville High School

2022 - Jason Farmer, Manager of Wester Farms

2023 - Archie Griffin, Griffin Farms, Inc.

2024 - Sarah L. Carraway, Bryant Lancaster, Derek Lancaster, Vann Lancaster, Lancaster Farms

2025 - Preston Cave, PAC Aerial Applications