On the Local Level Winter 2014-15

Achievement Award Winner

At 5 years old, Lucas Richard bought his first calf from his grandfather for 2 cents, which taught him about investment and growing an operation from an early age.

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“I raised it, and later had a calf that I sold to buy another cow. The next fall, I had two calves to sell,” Richard says. “From this early experience, I learned how to reinvest funds.”

The Newton greenhouse and row crop farmer is this year’s winner of the N.C. Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement Award.

Lucas grows wheat, corn, soybeans and greenhouse products on 2,400 acres, and other than his first calf, he’s earned everything by himself, with some help from his employees.

“I’m a firm believer in reinvesting in the operation first,”Richard says. “This has allowed me to achieve the growth I’ve accomplished over the past 15 years.”

The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers that have excelled in their operations and honed their leadership abilities to superiority. The contestants are evaluated on a combination of their farm’s operational growth and its financial progress, as well as leadership and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations. Judges look for excellence in management, growth and scope of the enterprise and self-initiative that have been displayed throughout the operation, as well as active participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.