North Carolina Farm Bureau honors scholarship recipients, Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement and Excellence in Ag Award winners.
Achievement Award Winner
Second-generation farmer and winemaker Sofia Lilly of Polk County is this year’s North Carolina Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Achievement Award winner. Lilly graduated from Western Carolina University in 2014 before returning to work full time at her family’s farm, Overmountain Vineyards in Tryon. The 70-acre farm includes 18 acres of vinifera grapes, an organic U-pick blueberry patch and flowers. Lilly is a certified sommelier, highly involved in the family business and an advocate for agriculture. She has served as the chair of the Polk County Agricultural Advisory Board and currently serves as the chair of the Polk County Farm Bureau’s YF&R Committee.
Excellence in Ag Award Winners
Dustin and Olivia Haigler of Avery County are this year’s North Carolina Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Ag Award winners. Both graduates of NC State University, Dustin and Olivia have each taught high school agriculture since graduation. After marrying in 2015, the couple moved to Olivia’s family’s Fraser fir Christmas tree farm, Twin Pines Nursery. They both continued their careers in education as agriculture teachers and FFA advisors while helping oversee the tree farm by replanting seedlings, maintaining the trees and harvesting. They welcomed a daughter, Kimber, in 2021.
See more: On the Local Level: Young Farmers & Ranchers
Flake Shaw Scholarship Winners
The R. Flake Shaw scholarship program provides an important service to deserving youth in the state that have a desire to further their education and pursue a career path in agriculture.
Twelve students across the state received this year’s Shaw scholarship, North Carolina Farm Bureau’s top academic award. Since it began in 1967, the program has given almost $4 million in scholarship money to agriculture students.
Elizabeth Marlette Martinez, Ashe County
James Braxton Boyd, Beaufort County
Daniel Patrick Walker, Currituck County
Sydney Elyse Loflin, Davidson County
David Clay Gardner, Harnett County
Chauncey Alberta Barber II, Polk County
Kirsten Riley McDonald, Richmond County
Maggie Jane Love, Robeson County
Hunter Lane Williams Pitt County
Tucker Brandon Smith, Haywood County
Josie Carson Correll, Rowan County
Mallorie Louise Hemric, Yadkin County
[…] met Olivia and Dustin Haigler after I judged the North Carolina Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture award, which they […]