N.C. Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Award 2016
For Ryan and Jamie Clark, agriculture is a way of life. The couple – this year’s winners of the N.C. Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award – grew up in the same small town, surrounded by farming and its importance.
The Excellence in Agriculture Award recognizes those who are involved in agriculture but do not currently farm full-time. Participants are judged on their involvement in agribusiness, leadership roles, civic organizations and Farm Bureau.
Both Jamie and Ryan work full-time at the same company, Jamie in human resources and Ryan in maintenance, but they also run Clark Family Farms in Madison. They manage a herd of 30 commercial Angus cow/calf pairs and Simmental bulls on 300 acres of leased land. They also value good land management practices to make sure they produce a high-quality product while taking care of the land.
The couple also works hard to promote farming to consumers in their everyday lives, as well as in their involvement with Farm Bureau programs like Young Farmers & Ranchers. “Promoting agriculture is very critical to us and our lifestyle,” the Clarks wrote in their application. “Most of the time, this is something that comes naturally, and we find ourselves doing it inherently within our actions and conversations.”
