Photo credit: Mark Stebnicki

Malarie Thompson of Cleveland County won the 2023 NCFB YF&R Excellence in Ag Award. After graduating from California State University, Fresno with a degree in animal science, Thompson earned her master’s degree in agricultural education from North Carolina A&T State University.

She now works for Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association as a member services and sustainability specialist. Malarie Thompson and her husband, Will, manage 100 cow-calf pairs in and are in the process of expanding their pasture and hay land as well as adding sheep to the farm. They hope to farm full-time one day.

See more: On the Local Level: Young Farmers & Ranchers

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North Carolina Field & Family Spring 2026
Flip through the pages of the Spring 2026 edition of North Carolina Field and Family magazine. In this issue, impress your guests with creative yet easy spring holiday recipes, learn how farmers face challenges planning the future of their farmland, meet some North Carolina beef producers raising the steaks, start your engines with eight reasons to visit Richmond County, get crabby with Sheri Castle’s Deviled Crab recipe and much more.

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