Published in the Courier-Tribune on July 21, 2011
by Hugh Martin
TROY — On Saturday, the first Sandhills Farm Tour will feature farm operations in Montgomery, Richmond and Moore counties.
Danelle McKnight, horticulture agent for the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Montgomery, is coordinating the tour with agents Paige Burns from Richmond and Taylor Williams from Moore.
The tour will showcase local fruits, vegetables and livestock at the following farms:
• Vang Farm, 189 Beaman Road, Troy.
Touger Vang is experimenting with using high tunnels, similar to large greenhouse structures, to extend his growing season to include the colder winter months. His six-acre farm is loaded with vegetables, herbs and livestock.
• Hilltop Angus Farm, 1708 Pee Dee Road, Mt. Gilead.
Dale and Sharon Thompson raise grass-fed beef on their 170-acre farm.
“We are excited to offer consumers an alternative to conventional beef,” Dale said, explaining conventional beef is fed grain for the last few months of their lives to increase the weight, but he says research shows doing so causes the meat to lose most of its healthy benefits.
• Hope Farms, Pekin community.
Ed and Sheila Menendez and their son live in an 1890 farmhouse.
“We are trying to live as simply as possible,” Sheila said. “We believe in the connection we have with our animals, the land, and ultimately, our food. We do everything as naturally as possible. When you come to Hope Farms you'll see about 100 chickens, five ducks, three pigs, a Dexter Cow, three horses and two herding dogs, but most of all we are just a family.”
• Clayton Orchard, 289 Research Farm Road, Norman.
The farm is operated by Andy and Ann Clayton, descendants of Dr. Carlyle N. Clayton and his wife, Adelaide, who started the farm in the mid-1970s. Dr. Clayton was a plant pathologist at N.C. State University and worked to develop many of the peach varieties grown in the southeastern United States, including Winblo, Norman, Candor and Clayton, which was named in his honor.
• Dewitt’s Game Farm & Dewitt’s Outdoor Sports, 773 Jimmy Carriker Road, Ellerbe.
Chris Dewitt started the business because he said in high school he wished he could hunt for a living. His dream has come true by raising game birds and offering hunts on his 600-acre farm.
• Triple L Farms, 2205 Derby Road, Derby.
Jim and Joe Lambeth operate the farm. Marcia Lambeth handles the sales end and can usually be found working at the produce stand. The Lambeths call Derby the “garden spot of the world.” Their mission is to “keep the family farm alive and to share its products with others.”
Triple L grows vegetables, fruits, berries and flowers. They offer activities on the first Saturday from May through August, including Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Day in Derby on Aug. 6.
• Shadow Hill Farm & Kennel, 1723 Belford Church Road. In February 2010, one of owner Jane Bright’s Shetland Sheepdogs named Shadow Hill’s Star Chaser won Best of Breed at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City.
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The Sandhills Farm Tour takes place from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday. Advance tickets are $10 per carload. On the day of the tour, $15 per carload.
Tickets are available from the N.C. Cooperative Extension offices in Montgomery, Richmond and Moore through Friday. On the day of the tour, tickets may be purchased at any of the seven farms.
For more information, call (910) 576-6011.
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