Raised on the Farm

We sit down with Tim Evans to trace the path from tobacco warehouses and charity auctions to leading agribusiness insurance work for farmers in eastern North Carolina. We also get blunt about rising premiums and the practical decisions that keep you protected without getting insurance poor. • Tim’s upbringing in Warsaw and early respect for farmers through his dad’s “farmer’s jeweler” roots • Learning auctioneering young and using it to raise money at banquets and community events • Pig pickings, memorable jackets, and the ways family traditions shape leadership • Giving back through Ducks Unlimited, Camo4 Cure, the Masons, and Scouts • Life with three kids and how family needs influence career decisions • The move from teaching and driver’s ed into agribusiness insurance after • What it takes to be effective in farm insurance beyond reading coverages • Why agritourism coverage is becoming a major topic for farms • Why insurance costs rise and how equipment and repair inflation plays a role • Annual policy reviews, equipment schedules, and avoiding gaps or wasted coverage • Replacement cost vs actual cash value tied to goals and succession planning Snipes Insurance wants to change the way you think about insurance. Thankful to them for being a sponsor of Raised on the Farm Podcast. Remember to subscribe and follow us on Instagram. Have a question or a topic idea, let us know. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with Ashley Collins, CEO of the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, to follow the peanut from contract to harvest to ballpark snack while hearing how her ag education path shaped the way she leads. We also dig into why peanut acres have climbed, what might be behind shifting demand, and what peanut farmers wish every consumer understood. • Ashley’s path from FFA and ag education to commodity leadership • Why getting out of your zip code changes careers • How the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association is structured and funded • North Carolina peanut acreage and the rise of new growers • Sweet potato rotation and the guava root knot nematode connection • Peanut season basics including inverting and harvest timing • Why peanuts are a contracted crop and what that means for risk • North Carolina’s Virginia type peanuts and where they show up • Supply and demand pressures including possible GLP1 impacts • Where state dollars go: research, public breeding, promotions, advocacy • What we want consumers to know about safe food and farm families Don’t forget to subscribe and follow us on Instagram and if you got a question or a topic you want us to dig into let us know. We want to hear from you. Join the conversation. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We trade stories about growing up as farm kids and how those memories shape the adults and parents we become. Then we get into what happens when farm life gets misunderstood or even used against a family in a legal fight, and why that feels so personal. • grandparents and parents clearing land, tending livestock, and doing backbreaking work that built today’s farms • sensory memories that stick, from plowed dirt to feed sounds to live hog prices at lunch • early responsibility through real tasks, from welding gates to loading hogs to hauling grain • raising goats and learning to handle loss, grief, and disappointment without sugarcoating life • the “cutting board” herding board debate and why farm language is part of culture • why some of us only appreciate farm life later, especially when facing consumer disconnect • how raising kids around farms looks different now with sports, distractions, and less daily labor • farm kid skills that pay off anywhere, from problem solving to tools to critical thinking • making agriculture an option for our kids without forcing a legacy • a custody battle where farm safety becomes a weapon and why “job site” language dehumanizes family farms • teaching safety with supervision, training, and modern standards while defending the family side of farming Visit Snipes Insurance for your coverage needs. Remember to subscribe and follow us on Instagram have a question or a topic idea let us know and join the conversation Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with Jake Parker of the North Carolina Farm Bureau to trace how a career in politics and appellate law turns into real protection for farmers. Along the way, we break down how ag litigation works, why unified partnerships matter, and what it takes for farmers to keep their freedom to operate. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with North Carolina farmer and drone applicator Preston Cave to hear how a $40,000 leap turned into PAC Aerial Applications and a new way to help growers get more done with less time. We also talk through the hard parts of getting legal, working safely, serving western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, and staying grounded in faith and purpose. • Preston’s background on a tobacco farm and how it builds work ethic • Transition from cattle and grass-fed beef to custom drone application • Buying the first ag drone and learning to fly with real stakes • What these ag drones can carry and why size changes the job • FAA requirements and North Carolina pesticide licensing for drone spraying • Handling restricted airspace and setting safe operating limits • Mapping fields while spraying and planning around obstacles • Year-round services from cover crop seeding to frost protection • The moment a mountain sunrise reframes purpose and direction • Hurricane Helene relief work and delivering supplies with drones Remember to subscribe and follow us on Instagram. Have a question or a topic idea, let us know and join the conversation. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We talk with Roy Lee Lindsey, CEO of the North Carolina Pork Council, about the winding path from an Oklahoma farm equipment shop to the front lines of pork public policy. We dig into what it takes to defend hog farms, build trust with lawmakers, and keep improving how we produce food. • growing up in western Oklahoma around farming, equipment, and custom wheat harvest • learning leadership through 4-H, Extension, and early career pivots • taking the Oklahoma Pork Council job without a production background, focusing on association management and policy • navigating environmental regulation fights and building an industry image campaign • moving to North Carolina during COVID, adjusting to scale and nonstop opposition • strengthening partnerships across NC agriculture to advocate as one voice • developing leaders through Pork Leadership Carolina and Emerging Pork Leaders • explaining National Pork Board checkoff work versus National Pork Producers Council advocacy • on-farm improvements like digesters, lagoon covers, renewable natural gas, precision nutrient use, and efficiency gains • farm bill delays, Proposition 12, and why federal policy still affects every barn • NC swine general permit status, DEQ rulemaking steps, and the road to 2028 Remember to subscribe and follow us on Instagram. Have a question or a topic idea? Let us know and join the conversation. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

The farm doesn’t clock out, and neither do the moms who keep it moving. We talk with Lorenda and Betsy about life inside a multi generation family farm in eastern North Carolina, where the operation spans row crops, strawberry ventures, and hog farms . What starts as a simple “tell us about your farm” quickly turns into a candid look at what modern agriculture demands from a family and what it gives back in return. No doubt, farm moms are the backbone of farming operations. Happy Mother's Day to all! Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with this year's NC Pork Council's Award winners to hear their stories. This is part 2 of 2 featuring: W.W. Shay Award--Dr. Mary Battrell Emerging Leader Award--Blake Floars We weren't able to sit down with the Hall of Fame recipient, Greg Brown, but you can watch this video to hear his story. Congratulations to all award winners! Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with this year's NC Pork Council Award Winners to hear their stories. This is part 1 of 2. Excellence in Innovation--Dr. Christina Phillips Outstanding Pork Producer--Debbie Craig Lois G Britt Service Award--Curtis Barwick nc Don't forget to mark your calendars for Pork Foward on April 15 in Clinton! Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We talk with Neill Westerbeek about Smithfield’s Pork Forward expo. We break down what’s happening on April 15, 2026, including OIC credit hours, technology showcases, and the simple details that make the day easy to attend. Here's a few details: Held in Clinton Free BBQ lunch OIC Credit hours Over 130 vendor booths No registration required For more: https://smithfieldfoods.com/Pork-Forward Do us a favor and make sure you follow us on social media and hit the subscribe whatever you're listening so you don't miss an episode. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

Meet Summer Lanier, the NC Poultry Federation's new Executive Director. While new to this role, Summer is no stranger to the poultry industry. “I feel as if I have spent my life, up to this point, training for this position. Since the age of three, poultry has been the center of my home and professional life and coming to NCPF is a very natural progression in my career. I am thrilled for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take my passion for poultry to the next level and serve this great industry,” says Lanier in a NCPF press release. Raised on a turkey farm, Summer holds bachelor's degrees in both Animal Science and Poultry Science as well as a master's degree in Poultry Science from North Carolina State University (NCSU). She also completed NCSU's Agricultural Leadership Development Program in 2014. Prior to joining NCPF, Summer spent 19 years working for Prestage Farms, Inc. in numerous roles, including Public Relations Director, and most recently, Antibiotic-Free Turkey Production Manager. She lives in Wallace, N.C. with her husband, Matt, and their two children, Cade, 10, and Maesie, 6. Mark your calendars for Pork Forward,the state’s premier swine and agronomy event, happening April 15th at the Sampson County Exposition Center in Clinton. Join more than a thousand producers, industry partners and experts for a full day of learning, innovation, and handson demonstrations. Explore the latest in animal health, equipment and production technology — all in one place. Visit SmithfieldFoods.com/Pork-Forward for more details. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with Adam Caldwell to unpack why Johnston County leads the nation in projected farmland loss, what a UDO really changes on the ground, and how citizen input can shape a better balance between growth, jobs, and agriculture. We cover buffers, bona fide farm status, easements, tax impacts, and the push to bring high-paying jobs closer to home. • why farmland loss in North Carolina accelerates and why Johnston County tops the list • what a unified development ordinance is and how it affects farms and neighborhoods • why early engagement matters • conservation easements and local resources that keep land in production • the cost of residential growth versus the fiscal benefits of ag and commercial uses • strategies to attract high-paying jobs and reduce commuter outflow • balancing property rights with the need to preserve prime soils • farmland preservation as local resilience and national security Don’t forget to subscribe and follow us on Instagram If you got a question or a topic you want us to dig into, let us know We want to hear from you Join the conversation Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with Brandon Batten, a farmer in Johnston County, NC to talk farming, faith, farmland loss/preservation, and the importance of getting involved in our communities. Johnston County is is among the top 5 fastest growing counties in the state and one of the top counties nationally for farmland loss. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

Chad, Marisa, and Marlowe gather round the mic to talk AI...artificial intelligence that is. Does it have a place in agriculture? How are we seeing it being used? What concerns and benefits do we see? It's all on episode 34, the first of 2026. If you’ve got a question or a topic you want us to dig into, let us know—we want to hear from you. Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with Tori Rumenik, a native of Florida, but now, an excited North Carolinian. Tori is the new Executive Director for the NC Ag Partnership. We learn her story, talk NC agriculture, and hear a whole lot of passion for the industry. NC Ag Partnership @NCAgPartnership Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Marisa sits down with Dr. David Monks, Director, NC State Extension and Associate Dean, CALS. They talk about Extension services, North Carolina agriculture, and how these two entities help each other. Be sure to connect with Extension. It's not just for farmers. Find them at: Extension Website Facebook Instagram X YouTube Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Chad and Marisa sit down with Dr. Blake Brown, an Ag Economist. We talk about how North Carolina is a diverse agriculture state, policy, and of course economics. We promise this conversation is anything but dull. NC Farmers Appreciation day is a date set aside to celebrate the state's farmers from mountains to sea. Learn more about NC Farmers Appreciation Day and the Young Farmer of the Year Award at https://www.ncfarmerappreciation.com/ You can also follow NC Farmers Appreciation Day on Instagram and Facebook Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

Marisa sits down with Curtis Smith of T.C. Smith Produce. Mr. Curtis was awarded the 2024 NC Farmer of the Year Award at the inaugural NC Farmers Appreciation Day. NC Farmers Appreciation day is a date set aside to celebrate the state's farmers from mountains to sea. Learn more about NC Farmers Appreciation Day and the Young Farmer of the Year Award at https://www.ncfarmerappreciation.com/ You can also follow NC Farmers Appreciation Day on Instagram and Facebook Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

Marisa sits down with John and Kristen Norwood of Norwood Meador Farm. John was awarded the 2024 NC Young Farmer of the Year Award at the inaugural NC Farmers Appreciation Day. NC Farmers Appreciation day is a date set aside to celebrate the state's farmers from mountains to sea. Learn more about NC Farmers Appreciation Day and the Young Farmer of the Year Award at https://www.ncfarmerappreciation.com/ Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com

Jordan Phasey moved his family from Outback Australia to partner with the communities and farmers of Eastern NC to provide solutions to sludge on pig farms. He founded Phinite and now provides a unique fertilize product. Learn more about Phinite at: Web Facebook Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com