The Farmer's Feed

06/11/2026

Some of my favorite snaps from this week>>> my garden and our local farms 🫶 no AI needed!!

06/11/2026

Agriculture has a visibility problem.

Not because farmers aren't working hard.

Not because agriculture isn't interesting.

Because fewer people than ever have a direct connection to where their food, fuel, and fiber come from.

Over the last few years, I've had the opportunity to speak with farmers, tourism leaders, economic developers, students, educators, and agricultural organizations across the country about a question I think matters more than ever:

How do we help the next generation discover agriculture?

That's one of the reasons I launched Raising the Barn.

What started as a podcast has evolved into workshops, conference presentations, and conversations focused on helping farms, agricultural organizations, tourism partners, and rural communities better connect with today's consumers.

Through Raising the Barn, I've had the opportunity to speak on topics including:

🌱 Agritourism and destination marketing
📱 How social media is changing the way consumers discover agriculture
🚜 Building demand for local farms and food systems
🎙 Storytelling that connects farmers and consumers
🌾 Cultivating repeat customers through experiences, not just products
👩‍🌾 The next generation customer challenge facing agriculture

I've been grateful to share these conversations with organizations including:

• SC Christmas Tree Association
• Leadership York County Small Business Therapy
• SC Farmer Resource Rodeo
• Clemson Extension Annie’s Project Retreat
• Blackstock SC Farmer & Agribusiness Association Meeting
• Kansas Food Business Start-Up Summit
• Georgia Grown Conference
• North American Agricultural Marketing Officials (NAAMO) Conference
• SC New & Beginning Farmer Program Advanced Workshop

As I begin planning for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, I'm opening my speaking calendar for conferences, workshops, Farm Bureau events, tourism organizations, economic development groups, commodity associations, and agricultural leadership programs.

The future of agriculture depends on more than who farms next.

It also depends on who understands, values, visits, supports, and buys from agriculture next.

Email [email protected] or send me a message if you'd like to learn more.

06/08/2026

York Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers more than homes.

They help power the farms working every day to protect the land and natural resources across York County.

Conservation looks different everywhere.

At Metrolina Greenhouses greenhouses rainwater is captured, filtered, and reused to help conserve water resources.

Conservation is important to York Electric Cooperative, too. As a member-owned cooperative, they provide at-cost electricity. So helping members use energy wisely isn’t just a best practice, it’s part of their mission.

Harper Farms supports healthier waterways through stream mitigation efforts.

Cherry Place Farm helps the next generation build connections to agriculture through field trips and hands-on learning.

Baker Farm gives wool scraps a second life by repurposing them as natural deer deterrents for gardens.

Five Blossoms Farm farm supports pollinators through chemical-free growing practices and beekeeping.

Since 1941, York Electric Cooperative has powered rural communities across our region.

Today, many of their members are also helping preserve the farms, waterways, and open spaces that make York County special.

06/03/2026

Meet the animals of the Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm

As part of the Ag + Art Tour of York County you’re invited to a special Family Farm Day at the Anne Springs Close Greenway on Saturday, June 6.

Get up close with alpacas, llamas, goats, cows, chickens, ducks, piglets, horses, and even a tortoise while exploring one of York County’s favorite family-friendly farm destinations. Visitors can enjoy hands-on animal interactions, lawn games, photo opportunities, and self-guided tours throughout the day.

Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm | 1046 Horse Rd., Fort Mill, SC
Family Farm Day activities, including all animal interactions: 9 AM–12 PM
Self-guided farm tours: 9 AM–3 PM
Free admission as part of the York County Ag + Art Tour

A few things to know:
• Feed buckets will be available for purchase (limit 2 per family)
• Last entry is at 2:30 PM
• Lead lines will not be available during the June 6 Ag + Art Tour event
• Lead lines are expected to return for the July 4 Family Farm Day, weather permitting
• Animal activities may pause briefly throughout the day to allow the animals to rest

Whether you’re introducing little ones to farm animals for the first time or looking for a fun stop on your Ag + Art Tour adventure, this is a great chance to connect with local agriculture and meet some of the Greenway’s most popular residents.

Tag a friend who would love a farm day.

Visit York County, SC

06/02/2026

Excited to be back in DC with South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation & American Farm Bureau Federation and women in agriculture from across the world. It’s a great week to celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer 👩‍🌾

06/01/2026

I’m excited to share that I’ll be teaching a four-part marketing workshop series at York Technical College this July!

Over the past few years through The Farmer’s Feed, Raising the Barn, and my marketing consulting work, I’ve had the chance to work with farms, small businesses, nonprofits, tourism organizations, and entrepreneurs across the Carolinas. One thing I hear over and over is:

“I know I need to market my business better. I just don’t know where to start.”

That’s exactly why we created this series.

We’ll talk about storytelling, social media, customer relationships, LinkedIn, and how marketing is changing, especially as younger consumers increasingly discover businesses online.

Most importantly, this won’t be a lecture full of buzzwords and marketing jargon. We’ll be doing hands-on exercises and building practical strategies that participants can apply directly to their own businesses.

If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, creative, or community organization looking to strengthen your marketing, I’d love to have you join us.

📍 York Technical College
📅 Wednesdays: July 8, 15, 22 & 29
⏰ 6:00–7:30 PM

Feel free to tag a local business owner who might be interested!

https://yorktech.info/modernmarketing

05/31/2026

Six generations later, Cherry Place Farm continues to evolve while staying rooted in the values that have shaped it for decades.

This year, the farm opened The Social Hall at Cherry Place Farm, creating a new gathering space where weddings, celebrations, community events, and farm experiences can take place year-round.

The addition carries a connection to the farm's history. Bailey Westbrook Edwards shared that her great-grandfather, B.A. Westbrook, loved hosting and gathering with people on the farm. Family members often joked that he wouldn't attend a social event unless it was held there.

Today, that same spirit lives on through a space designed to bring people together on land that has been in the family for generations.

As York County continues to grow, farms like Cherry Place are finding new ways to preserve farmland, strengthen local businesses, and create places where families can make memories together.

"The future of Cherry Place Farm is to continue being somewhere that families can come out and create memories and hopefully have a good time and also learn something while they're here."


Visit York County, SC
York County Economic Development

05/29/2026

Meet Ethan Muggleston. FFA Founding Officer, Catawba Ridge High School.

Ethan has seen firsthand how agricultural education can shape students far beyond the classroom.

Through FFA, he found confidence in public speaking, leadership opportunities, and a deeper appreciation for where our food and resources come from.

Ethan represents another side of the students this arena is being built to serve, young people learning to lead, connect with others, and help their communities better understand agriculture.

The Western York County Agriculture Arena will create more opportunities close to home, bring students together across the county, and help build the next generation of leaders.

Let’s work together to build a brighter future for the youth of York County.

Support the arena: https://ysd1foundation.org/agriculture-arena/

05/28/2026

Summer farm season is officially here in York County.

The Farmer's Feed / Visit York County, SC summer agritourism guide is live and it is packed with ways to spend June and July outdoors. Think peach picking, blueberry fields, flower farms, farm dinners, lamb playdates, markets, Ag + Art, and fresh peach ice cream stops.

Whether you live in York County or are looking for an easy day trip from Charlotte or Columbia, there are so many local farms opening their gates this summer.

A few favorites included:
• Ag + Art Tour of York County
• Blueberry picking at Forlines Farms on Ferndale
• Farm to table dinner at Black's Peaches
• Flower fields at Five Blossoms and Indigo Iris
• Family Farm Days at the Anne Springs Close Greenway
• Markets across Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Clover, and York

Take a look and start planning your summer farm adventures.

https://www.visityorkcounty.com/blog/post/where-summer-grows-york-county-farms-to-visit-this-june-july/

Which farm stop is first on your list?

Summer is when York County farms hit their stride. Peach bins start filling up. Blueberry bushes are heavy with fruit. Flower fields open for picking. Farm markets spill into downtown streets and families head out for evenings with animals, ice cream, and sunset views. It also marks one of the bigge...