Kenansville farmer aims to educate future generations

KENANSVILLE — Local farmer and owner of Master Blend Family Farms Ron Simmons was a presenter at the North Carolina Commodity Conference, recently held in Durham.

“Being able to be a presenter at the Commodity Conference was a big deal to me because it had been in development for about a year,” said Simmons.

His presentation was based on a talk he had given at North Carolina A&T University, where he discussed the importance of supporting small farms and how the agricultural community must adapt to a rapidly changing world.

Simmons noted the importance of inspiring younger generations to engage in agriculture and the challenges we face with an aging farmer population and shrinking farmland. He stressed the need to expose young people to the various career opportunities in agriculture.

“Let’s inspire more younger people to be involved in agriculture and make them aware that there’s multiple ways that they can contribute to the industry of agriculture,” said Simmons.

Reflecting on his experiences, Simmons commented on how much agriculture has evolved.

“When we were taught about agriculture in the community I was raised in, the possibilities were not as wide as they are today,” he said, adding that technology has greatly influenced the agriculture industry we have now. “Drones are able to fly to fertilize fields now… The device is able to go up in the air and actually spray and get the plants and the crops what they need.

He noted how technology is making agriculture more efficient and less reliant on manual labor, creating a wide range of career opportunities beyond the traditional stereotype. Simmons also pointed out how GPS technology integrated into modern tractors has enhanced precision in fieldwork, enabling operators to remotely control planting or tilling without always needing to be physically present. He highlighted agricultural marketing as another career path.

“There’s several different directions that you can go within the industry of agriculture. It’s not just the silly assumption that you have to get dirty now,” said Simmons.

He highlighted the importance of educating younger generations in farming families and prioritizing the preservation of farmland.

The Duplin farmer shared that he has observed that younger generations who learn about the value of farming from their parents or grandparents are more likely to continue the family legacy and pursue a career in agriculture. In contrast, in some communities that are indigenous, he noticed that younger generations tend to stray away from farming as they seek distance from it. “This often happens because the previous generation was not made aware of the resources that could help them thrive,” he explained.

Simmons stressed the importance of mentoring youth in agriculture and the value of articulating complex agricultural concepts in ways that make them more accessible.

“We can make a difference when it comes to those communities that aren’t getting exposed to what agriculture is or the individuals that had a humble beginning in agriculture. They grow to realize that there’s other ways that they can have a thriving farming operation,” he said.

His experience with Wendell Murphy as a mentor provided him with guidance and is a prime example of how mentorship can shape success in the field. “When I met Wendell Murphy, he gave me so much of the playbook,” said Simmons, emphasizing the importance of seeking out the right mentors and for young farmers to surround themselves with organized, and disciplined individuals who can discuss solutions when challenges arise.

Lastly, Simmons shared practical advice for farmers about creating multiple revenue streams and prioritizing profitability over volume. He also shared insights from a conversation with an economist who emphasized the importance of understanding both fixed and fluctuating costs.

“In farming, I’ve learned the value of creating multiple streams of revenue,” he said, adding that the advantage of farming is that if a farmer establishes multiple revenue sources, they won’t be overly reliant on one source.