Whitaker named NC Farmer of the Year

CLIMAX — Faylene Whitaker has been named the North Carolina Farmer of the Year by Sunbelt Ag Expo. She’s the first woman to be so honored.

“I was nominated by district representatives of the North Carolina Farm Bureau,” Whitaker said. People from Sunbelt came out to interview her and look at her farm. Later, she was told she was the state winner.

In October, Whitaker will travel to Moultrie, Ga., to compete for the Southeast Farmer of the Year. Farmers from eight states will be represented.

Asked what got her the honor, Whitaker said she believes it was her “plan for when I quit farming.” 

She said her late husband, Richard, and she had begun partnering with the next generation to continue production.

“We started with almost nothing in 1975,” she said of herself and Richard, who died Aug. 1, 2023. “When we started, we rented 10 acres. We sold that tobacco crop and bought 36 acres.”

With proceeds from selling tobacco, fruits and vegetables, Whitaker Farms now grows crops on 1,000 acres, 500 of which they own. They are involved in agritourism and have two garden shops, one at the main farm and the other on US 64 at Franklinville.

Whitaker Farms is located at 2991 Providence Church Road, Climax.