To get the most out of their equipment for higher yields and efficiency, farmers used to have to depend on their tractors running only a power take-off or hydraulics. Now tractors can drive themselves, and farmers can make a wide array of changes and functions with just the push of a button.

“It’s just like all of life but especially in agriculture, the technology has come a long way. It’s made us more productive, and that’s a good thing,” says Cabarrus County Farm Bureau President Tommy Porter, who also was named the 2011 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

As winner, Porter received a 100-horsepower Massey Ferguson tractor equipped with the latest GPS technology and more. The tractor complements his stable of John Deere machines that have varying levels of technology.

“It’s much easier to operate. It’s much more comfortable. I wouldn’t want to go back to the way things were,” Porter says. “When something goes wrong, the first thing the mechanic from the dealer does is get out of his truck with a laptop computer. They’ve got to plug that computer into it to tell you what’s wrong.”

While more bushels per acre are what any farmer might want, Porter mentions the technology also lessens some of the physical strain of production agriculture. Some tractor cabs contain air conditioning, an air-cushioned seat and even a place to dock an iPod.

“Now if you sit up there for 10 or 12 hours, you’re still worn out, but you’re not beat to death like you used to be, and with the cab you’re not breathing in all that dust and pollen. It’s much more person friendly, too, once you learn what all those buttons do,” says Porter, who keeps user manuals with the tractor at all times.

Technology advances, such as tractors that have GPS and more, are all a part of what North Carolina Cooperative Extension crop science specialist Ron Heiniger calls precision agriculture.

“The main principle is to try to place the right amount of seed or fertilizer or herbicide at the precise place in the field,” Heiniger says. “Today, you’re trying to do everything more efficiently, use less materials and get a bigger yields.”

Heiniger says his work couldn’t be possible without the technology Porter and scores of other Farm Bureau members use every day.

“Without the technology there’s just no way to approach that goal of putting the right amount in the right place,” says Heiniger, who is stationed at the Vernon James Research and Extension Center in Plymouth in Washington County, where a single field can easily encompass hundreds of acres.

“These fields are so immense and the need to change rates are so precise and coordinated that without the GPS and geographical information systems and the controllers that operate down to the microsecond, we just couldn’t even hope to attempt to do what we’re trying to do here,” he adds.

Heiniger admits the North Carolina farmers must weigh the technology costs against how much return they can get from the field and the market.

“That’s always the issue when you have technology or equipment on the farm, you’ve got to balance what you can return against the investment you’re making in that technology,” Heiniger says he tells farmers. “That really becomes the biggest question for most growers when they’re looking at something; it has to pay for itself. That’s a difficult question to answer.”

Just like how consumer electronics keep evolving, Heiniger sees the technology North Carolina farmers can employ will keep improving, too.

“I used to say that we’ll know when precision agriculture is a viable option when it becomes commonplace. Well, today it’s really happened,” Heiniger says. “It’s not like we’ve reached the pinnacle. We’re still climbing.”

Sessions are broken up into groups of 20 participants ranging in age from school students in grades 7 through 9 to college freshmen to adults 21 and older.

“Each class has a different theme and each class has different activities in which the students are involved,” Loomis says.

While the exotic animals that are the zoo’s permanent residents usually aren’t used in camp activities, participants still get some hands-on work with living creatures. Dogs often are used during practice physical examinations. The instructors have attached a radio transmitter to a box turtle and let participants track down the animal on the zoo property using equipment wildlife biologists would utilize in the field.

Loomis highlighted other activities that have been popular during the four years the camps have been held. They include practice at shooting paper targets with the air rifle used to propel tranquilizer darts. Also, participants perform mock surgeries with stuffed animals and milk bottles that are fashioned to be like CPR dummies.

“It covers a wide variety of different activities,” Loomis says. “We want to let these young people have an idea of what a veterinarian does and hopefully inspire them to want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine or possibly in another field that’s related, such as wildlife biology.”

Loomis and the zoo’s vet staff provide the instruction while students from the N.C. State University School of Veterinary Medicine serve as camp counselors for the sessions that can last either a single day or an entire weekend and run through May, June and July.

After the activities, the camp incorporates time for question-and-answer sessions so camp participants can learn more about the veterinary field and how they can obtain the proper education.
“Most of the kids are really motivated,” Loomis says. “They work hard because they’re in classes or preparing for classes most of the weekend. They’re pretty tired once they’ve finished, as are the counselors and veterinarians who work with them.”

This year, the camp also has additional resources thanks to the NCVMA becoming a sponsor. The association provided a $5,000 donation to the N.C. Zoo Society, and zoo veterinarians intend to use the gift to purchase surgical equipment and instruments, as well as medications for use in the N.C. Zoo’s Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

Since this year’s camp sessions have already sold out, the zoo is building a waiting list for individuals interested in participating next year.

“I think it’s been quite rewarding,” Loomis says about the camps. “We’ve had a number of people who have gone through the camp thinking they want to be a veterinarian and then they know for sure that’s what they want to be. I think we’ve been able to inspire some kids to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. We really feel like we’ve helped them to a certain degree in deciding that veterinary medicine truly is what they want to do.”

Randolph County Farm Bureau member Jake Gilmore simply smiles when he looks at the three gold belt buckles he has won so far in his bull-riding career.

“At the beginning of the year that’s what you set your goal toward, getting that gold buckle,” Gilmore says.

Gilmore is now 22, but he started to practice riding bulls seven years earlier. Rodeo has brought Gilmore happiness both within the sport and beyond. One of those three buckles came as the result of being named the 2008 Mid-Atlantic Rodeo Association Rookie of the Year.

And during a rodeo in North Carolina, Jake Gilmore met Ashley, who now is his wife and mother of their son, Cooper.

“North Carolina is one of the most competitive states to ride. There’s a lot of good competition right here,” Jake Gilmore says.

“He said he didn’t care about winning the money. He just wanted the buckle,” Ashley Gilmore adds.

Gilmore is far from the only Farm Bureau member who competes in rodeos throughout North Carolina. For example:

• Alexander County Farm Bureau President Lee Herman, along with his brother and sister-in-law Richie and Teresa Herman, is a regular rodeo participant.
• Brunswick County Farm Bureau member Marc Green competes in team rope events.
• Buncombe County Farm Bureau members John and Tonya Towles have a 7-year-old daughter, Gracie, who already competes in barrel racing in Southern Junior Rodeo while their teenage son, Houston, rides bulls.

Beyond those members who  compete, the state also boasts the North Carolina High School Rodeo Association. Greene County Farm Bureau member Allan Harper serves as president.

“Out West, they have high school teams. We just have one team representing the whole state, but they’re very enthusiastic,” Harper says about the state association which has about 100 participants who compete in 20 rodeos each season.

The state’s top four finishers in each event advance to the national finals, which take place each year during the third week in July. Harper says this year’s finals are in Red Rock, Wyo., and North Carolina’s best are going to be up against athletes from all 50 states, as well as Canada and Australia.

“The kids work hard and keep their grades up just like any other high school sport. If they don’t have good grades, they can’t participate,” Harper says. “We’re very competitive, very family oriented. It’s the best sport going, I think.”

Gilmore doesn’t disagree, mentioning that almost any day of the week, he can find a rodeo in North Carolina.

“You’ve got to have the heart and desire to do it,” Gilmore says. “You’ve got to be committed to it. You’ve got to practice. You can’t just expect to get on a bull a couple of times and be great. It takes some time.”

While North Carolina’s Tobacco Road might have national notoriety for sports, such as basketball, Harper hopes rodeo in this state is well on its way toward such a reputation.

“It’s just a down-to-earth way of life that a lot of kids don’t get to experience anymore,” Harper says. “You’re working with the animal and you have that responsibility. You’re competing against the other kids, but you’re also competing with your animal against the clock.”

Don’t you just love spring! These three recipes bring the freshness of the season to your table. Use them together to make a great ladies tea, church brunch or family dinner. They’re not only delicious, but they display beautifully and can be made in advance.

Why don’t you make it a truly eventful meal? Find a pick-your-own strawberry farm to visit with the kids on a Saturday morning and use the strawberries to make scones and parfaits in the afternoon.
– Elise Johnson

Roasted Asparagus Quiche

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 bunches asparagus spears
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
• Zest of one large lemon
• 1 dozen large eggs
• 1 cup half and half
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 bunch scallions, chopped
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and set aside.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Cut the bottoms of your washed and dried asparagus spears by approximately 2 inches. Place your spears on a large baking sheet or use the bottom of your broiler pan like I do. Coat your spears with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss well. Bake on the top rack of your oven for about 10 minutes or until your spears are roasted a bit, but still firm. You never want to overcook your vegetables particularly because these will be baked in the quiche.

While your asparagus is roasting in the oven, begin building your quiche by mixing together in a large bowl the eggs, half and half, ground nutmeg, chopped scallions and Parmesan cheese.

As soon as the asparagus is removed from the oven, zest lemons over top.

Cut half of the asparagus into 2-inch pieces. Reserve the whole asparagus for later. Add the cut pieces of roasted asparagus to your egg mixture and pour into your prepared pan.  Place your baking pan in front of you horizontally. Arrange each piece of asparagus on top of the quiche alternating the directions of each piece.

Place pan in preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Yields: One 9-inch by 13-inch pan

Strawberries and Cream Scones

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ cup cold butter, cut into pieces
• 1 cup diced fresh strawberries
• Zest and juice of one large orange
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
• Raw sugar for top of scones

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a food processor combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Pulse a couple of times. Add pieces of cold butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour the mixture into a large bowl.  Toss in the beautiful diced strawberries and the aromatic orange zest.

Tip: Coating dried fruit, chocolate chips or nuts in a little flour will prevent them from sinking to the bottom when baking.

In a measuring cup, combine the whipping cream, egg yolk and almond extract. Add this to the dry mixture and stir with a fork just until combined. Be sure to not over mix. The mixture will appear dry, but is quite wet. Turn the mixture onto a floured board or counter. This is where the fun begins! Gently press the mixture together until it can be easily kneaded. Don’t you just love the feeling of dough? Knead the dough for 2 minutes by folding and gently pressing the dough together until it is nearly smooth. Roll out into an 8-inch circle. Cut into 8 large beautiful wedges.

Place on a greased baking stone or cookie sheet. Sprinkle raw sugar over the top of the scones. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned on top. It is fun for children to watch the scones “puff up” in the oven. When the dry acid in the baking powder is added to wet ingredients, it begins to react and produce carbon dioxide bubbles just like yeast.

Yields: 8 large scones

No Recipe Needed Orange Glaze

• Juice of one orange
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Enough powdered sugar to form a glaze (this will depend on how much juice you yield from your orange)

In a small bowl, combine fresh orange juice and vanilla extract. Add a little powdered sugar at a time until you reach a drizzling consistency. Once the scones are removed from the oven, transfer to a cooling rack with a piece of parchment or wax paper underneath for easy cleanup. Drizzle the glaze over top. This glaze will dry in only a few minutes.

Berry Parfaits

• 2 (8 ounce) packages Neufchatel cheese
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup agave nectar
• 3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoons, or more, of milk
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1 quart strawberries, sliced
• 1 pint blueberries
• 1 pint raspberries
• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 ½ cups red grapes, sliced
• 1 cup of your favorite granola
• Mint leaves for pretty garnish, optional

In a blender, whip up Neufchatel cheese, vanilla extract, agave nectar, milk and cinnamon until smooth.

In another bowl, whip up heavy whipping cream, sugar and almond extract for about three to four minutes or until you achieve a whipped cream consistency.

Gently fold your whipping cream into your Neufchatel mixture.

Begin layering your glasses by placing two tablespoons of granola on the bottom of the glass.  Place a little parfait next, a few of the assorted berries, followed by parfait again. Continue this pattern until you reach the top.

End with a dollop of whipped cream, a couple of berries, a sprinkling of granola and a small cluster of mint leaves!

Yields: 7 large glasses

Keith and Kevin Layne are Rockingham County natives. They remember a time before Eden even existed, a point when it was the three separate communities of Leaksville, Spray and Draper.

Much has changed since the towns eventually consolidated in the late 1960s. Textile mills no longer dominate community activity, but the fraternal twin brothers hope their locally owned pharmacy gives Eden residents the combination of how things used to be with how technology and change can be beneficial.

“It’s about meeting a unique need. When we find a problem, we try to solve it,” says Keith Layne, whose father, aunt and other family members were mill workers.

Located in the center of Layne’s Family Pharmacy is a laboratory that’s both state-of-the-art and a throwback to how a pharmacist specially made drugs for a single patient. The Laynes can make cancer-treatment medicines without the preservative that sometimes causes an allergic reaction in patients because the doses are given either at the hospital across the street or another facility in nearby Reidsville.

After doing business in a smaller location for four years, the Laynes revamped what was an outlet store for Fieldcrest Mills. Instead of racks of towels, sheets and comforters, the facility now contains not only that specialized laboratory, but also an elaborate pharmacy with a complex machine that fills prescriptions accurately because of a special barcode system, as well as thriving respiratory therapy and pediatric care practices.

“If someone has a problem, it’s incumbent on us to solve it for them right here,” Kevin Layne says as he points to a dressing room where a staff member explains to an elderly diabetic patient how to properly wear compression stockings.

“We saw the competition and what everyone else was doing. We decided we could make it better than what was out there,” Keith Layne says.

As an example, the brothers use a former Fieldcrest board room that’s now equipped with video screens and other amenities for community support gatherings and more.

Layne’s Family Pharmacy also delivers medicines to patients who live with in Rockingham County, which is one of the larger counties in North Carolina. The brothers insist it’s all about service. Keith Layne recalled an instance where he personally delivered medicine to a gravely ill patient while snow fell on a Sunday night.

“It’s all about relationships and treating people right,” Keith Layne says. “We don’t get abused on it. But they know if there comes a time in their life when they need exceptional care, you’re going to get it here.”

The twin brothers (Kevin is older by six minutes) are far from a two-man medical operation. The pharmacy has a staff of about 70 professionals and spends what Kevin Layne says is at least six figures for training and other expenses to keep up with the demands of health care.

“We’re big into training to stay up and current, because you have to,” Kevin Layne says. “If you don’t, you’ll get left behind. I’m always working on our procedures and our processes. Those have to be strong. But those don’t replace that one-on-one relationship with the guy at the counter. When you show up and your kid is sick and someone is nice to your kid and takes good care of him, when he gets better, they’ll remember that nice guy down at Layne’s.”

Family and friends of Rowan County Farm Bureau members Joe and Nell Corriher knew their kitchen typically doesn’t look like what they might have seen during a scene in the movie Days of Thunder.

Daughter Tilda Corriher remembers what the movie production crew did at her parents’ dairy operation before the film about NASCAR culture became a theater smash in 1991.

“They made it look like a bachelor house,” Corriher says. “There were beer bottles and stuff everywhere.”

The Corrihers’ kitchen was used in the movie because it contained a window facing south and other critical characteristics. A family member living in Charlotte told movie producers and soon the farm was a movie set for a couple of days.

“It was like a circus,” Tilda Corriher says. “You couldn’t get too close to the movie stars, but Robert Duvall was very nice. He was a farmer, too. He was really nice to talk to.”

Since producers used the Corriher farm, film and television production has risen dramatically in this state. The North Carolina Film Office determined that spending by production companies within the state for 2011 topped $220 million—the most in the history of the state’s film industry.

And just recently, the movie The Hunger Games—which was filmed entirely in North Carolina in the communities of Hildebran, Asheville, Black Mountain, Cedar Mountain, Barnardsville, Shelby, Charlotte and Concord—opened to an astounding $152.5 million at the box office, making it the third-best debut of all time and the best for any film opening outside of summer.

Photo Caption: The Corriher home in Rowan County.

“It was a great year here in North Carolina and even better is that 2012 looks like it is on pace to top 2011,” N.C. Film Office Director Aaron Syrett says. “Not only have we had a record number of jobs created and money spent in the state, we have seen production taking place in all areas of North Carolina.”

In addition to the direct spending, productions created more than 3,300 crew positions and provided in excess of 23,000 talent and background extra opportunities, making for over 26,000 total jobs.
Since 2006, the North Carolina Film Office, which is part of the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, calculated that more than 332 projects have filmed in North Carolina, directly spending more than $700 million and creating in excess of 51,000 job opportunities for crew, talent and extras.

“There are a few reasons North Carolina is an attractive option for the film industry,” Syrett says. “I think the most important reason and sometimes overlooked, is the film technicians. We have some of the most renowned and a great deal of film professionals living and working in North Carolina. This allows North Carolina to have a larger capacity of films going on because of the depth of local professionals. Additionally the N.C. Film Incentive is one of the smartest, most competitive incentives in the country.”

With the combination of so many resources, Syrett says the state should continue to prosper in the film and television industries.

“The future looks good for the North Carolina film industry,” he says. “We are delighted that the industry is once again providing high-paying, quality jobs for our residents and having a big impact on businesses and local communities.”

It’s one of the more famous quotes found in TV commercials and on posters. Smokey Bear points at you with shovel in hand and wraps up the message with, “Only you can prevent wildfires.”

The Smokey Bear wildfire prevention campaign is more than 60 years old, a program started at the federal level that’s also carried out closer to home by the North Carolina Forest Service. Smokey Bear has been a symbol of fire safety and fire prevention since 1944. The purpose of the Smokey campaign is to create and maintain public awareness about the need to prevent wildfires.

“The Smokey Bear Program is extremely useful in emphasizing the dangers of fire to young children in a way they don’t soon forget,” North Carolina State Forester Wib Owen says. “This is evident by the fact whenever you see Smokey out in public he is often flocked by children and adults alike who all know that, ‘Only you can prevent wildfires.’”

While it may be one of the longest running public service campaigns ever, the importance is even greater in North Carolina after what happened a year ago.

The Forest Service determined a total of 5,228 wildfires were responsible for the loss of 21 homes, as well the destruction of nearly 100,000 acres of forestland across the state, especially in the Coastal region. While officials say some of the larger fires last summer started by lightning, Owen says that doesn’t diminish the significance of preventing fires started by people.

In fact, the U.S. Forest Service says nine of 10 wildfires nationwide are started through human negligence.

“This kind of devastation is difficult for homeowners and landowners to recover from,” Owen says. “What is important to understand is that some of the larger fires weren’t preventable, as they were caused by lightning, but those with a good forest management program, including the use of prescribed fire, will typically fare better after a large fire.”

Owen explains most of North Carolina historically experiences low intensity fire that clears out underbrush, opens up areas for wildlife, keeps bug populations in check and generates a number of other environmental benefits.

“What we are striving for in North Carolina is to reintroduce fire to our wildlands but under safe and controlled conditions to imitate the natural fire that used to occur every few years,” Owen says. “This will have the net benefit of reducing the number of catastrophic fires while improving the environmental conditions across the state.”

While North Carolina joined the nation earlier this spring to celebrate Arbor Day, N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging state residents to plant trees throughout the year.

“Trees bring more than scenic beauty,” says Troxler whose office now oversees the state forest service after changes approved by the General Assembly.

“Large deciduous trees provide shade and cool houses in the summer, reducing the need for air conditioning. Evergreen trees can help save on heating bills by blocking the wind in the winter. Trees are also excellent filters for pollution that finds its way into our lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and underground sources of drinking water,” Troxler adds.

Owen explains that landowners interested in planting trees should consider species native to the state, because they typically require less maintenance and are better suited to the local soils and climate.

“As with anything you plant, be sure you are putting your trees in an appropriate and safe location,” Owen says. “We encourage you to follow ‘right tree, right place,’ meaning that before you plant a tree, know what it looks like at maturity and its site requirements.”

Owen adds the more trees that are planted and more adherence to Smokey Bear’s message, the better North Carolina can recover and prevent wildfires.

“Let’s all do our part to prevent any more devastating fires,” Owen says.

Burning Tips for Landowners

If there is brush on your property that can be burned,  the N.C. Forest Service offers several recommendations:

Make sure you have an approved burning permit. Landowners can obtain a burning permit at any N.C.
Forest Service office, a county-approved burning permit agent, or online at ncforestservice.gov.

• Check with the county fire marshal’s office for local laws on burning debris. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours while others forbid it entirely.
• Check the weather. Don’t burn if conditions are dry or windy.
• Consider alternatives to burning.  Some yard debris, such as leaves and grass, might more valuable if composted.
• Only burn natural vegetation from your property. Burning household trash or any other man-made materials is illegal. Trash should be hauled away to a convenience center.
• Plan burning for the late afternoon when conditions are typically less windy and more humid.
• If you must burn, be prepared. Use a shovel or hoe to clear a perimeter around the area where you plan to burn.
• Keep fire tools ready. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, a steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire.
• Never use flammable liquids such as kerosene, gasoline or diesel fuel to speed debris burning.
• Stay with the fire until it is completely out.

Spotfin chub is a federal and state listed threatened species found in the Little Tennessee River basin of Western North Carolina.

Left: Carolina gopher frog is a state threatened species. Their habitat includes dry longleaf pine, mesic forests, wet pine savannas, and small wetland communities in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain ecoregion. Right: Common mudpuppy is a state special concern species and they are found in coolwater riverine communities in the Little Tennessee, French Broad, and New River basins. Photo Credit: T.R. Russ, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Left: Scarlet kingsnake is a wildlife action plan priority species found under rotting logs primarily in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain and infrequently in the Piedmont ecoregion. The scarlet kingsnake is a nonvenomous snake that has a similar color pattern to the venomous coral snake. It can be distinguished by its red and yellow rings separated by black rings and reddish nose; however, it is recommended you not pick up any snake unless you are an expert in snake identification. Right: Carolina northern flying squirrels are a federal listed endangered species. Their habitat is restricted to relatively small areas of high elevation spruce-fir forest in the Southern Blue Ridge ecoregion.

Eastern painted bunting is a Wildlife Action Plan priority species that breeds in maritime forest/shrub habitats along North Carolina’s coast.

“Now,” he continued, “We have a nice house, a new car, a big flat-screen TV, but I have to sleep with a 50-year-old woman. It doesn’t seem fair.”

A reasonable woman, his wife replies “Well, why don’t you go out and get yourself a hot 25-year-old blonde? Then I’ll make sure you will once again live in a cheap apartment, drive a cheap car, have only a sofa bed and watch a 14-inch black and white television!”

Three people were arguing about what profession was used first in the Bible.

The surgeon says, “The medical profession was used first when God took a rib from Adam and made Eve.”

The engineer says, “No, engineering was used first. Just think of the engineering job it took to create the world out of chaos.”

The politician says, “You would have nothing if we didn’t create chaos in the beginning!”

The psychology instructor had just finished a lecture on mental health and had proceeded to give an oral quiz to the freshman class.

The instructor asks, “How would you diagnose a patient who walks back and forth screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then sits in a chair weeping uncontrollably the next?”

A young man in the rear of the room raised his hand and answered, “A basketball coach?”

Eggs are an immense part of Richard Simpson’s family: past, present and what the Union County Farm Bureau member hopes is the future, too.

Simpson’s grandfather first started to sell eggs in Charlotte in the 1930s. After his father took over the business, Richard Simpson joined the team in the 1970s and helped to expand Simpson’s Eggs Inc. into what it is today.

While Richard Simpson now is the operation’s general manager, his son Alex Simpson serves as production manager and son-in-law Jake Simmons is the sales manager.

Simpson’s Eggs currently has 1.1 million chickens on site at its farm in Monroe, shipping out 750,000 to 800,000 eggs each day.

Besides family members, Simpson’s Eggs has about 45 staff members.

“We don’t have a lot of turnover,” Simpson says.

How long does Simpson plan to be in the egg business?

“I think we have a good future,” says Simpson, who has been a Union County Farm Bureau board member. “I think it will be there for the children and grandchildren if they want it. Yes, there are going to be some challenges in it, but they’re going to be able to make it.”

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