Princesses and Pig Farms

On a pig farm in Jacksonville, NC, there live two little girls named Kyleigh and Aliza. While no crowns may top their heads, they are most certainly the princesses of the farm, blowing kisses to Nibbles, Elsa, and all the other pigs, riding in their chariot (the tractor), picking flowers, and helping make sure everything is as it should be.

A little over a year ago, Kyleigh and Aliza’s parents, Sarah and Seth Turner bought a hog farm after wishing and hoping to buy one for over a decade.   The wean to finish farm was dubbed K&A Turner Farm after Kyleigh and Aliza. The farm was a dream come true for the whole family.

Both Seth and Sarah had grown up in agriculture. Sarah’s parents owned a hog farm, and Seth’s uncle was a farmer. Seth has worked with chickens, hogs, and row crops.

“I always knew I wanted to do something in agriculture. I’ve always enjoyed it,” said Seth who is now a serviceman for Smithfield.

Seth and Sarah didn’t just want to buy a farm for themselves; they wanted their girls to have the farm experience they did. They wanted them to be able to take care of something and learn what it is to help feed the world.

“I was about Kyleigh’s age when my dad built his hog houses,” Sarah said, “I used to help out, and as a teenager I said I’d never work on a farm again. Now we own a farm.”

While Sarah said she’d never work on a farm again, she loves it and can often be found with the girls, snuggling the little pigs. She’s even had one fall asleep on her shoulder! Sarah and Seth realize that the girls may not always have the same affinity for the farm that they currently do but hope that they’ll learn responsibility and look fondly on it all in the future.

“They may grow to dislike working out here and mowing when they are teenagers, but they’ll learn to appreciate it as did I,” said Sarah, as Kyleigh interjects, “I’ll never get tired of it!”

And, if you ask the girls what they want to be when they grow up, they want to do just what their parents do—be pig farmers. They also want to be a hairstylist like their mom and maybe a dance teacher.

At 9 and (almost) 4, Kyleigh and Aliza have many years before they need to narrow down their career choice. For now, they enjoy being pig farmers, dancing, softball, spending time with family, and popscicles at the farm (blue ones give Frozen powers). Their absolute very favorite things to do are be with the pigs, dancing, and go to Disney World (Aliza said this one). They also enjoy taking care of their miniature donkeys, goats, chickens and helping their grandpa with his cows. As a family, the Turners are active members of Bethlehem Free Will Baptist Church, enjoy going to the beach, and going to Bush Gardens.

Dance Recital

While the purchase of the hog farm is a lot of work and overhead, it has enriched the Turner family’s life. Together they care for the pigs and farm. Seth and Sarah’s dream to own a hog farm came true, and now they are able to watch their daughters enjoy the whole experience. While the affinity for Elsa from Frozen may fade, Kyleigh and Aliza will probably always remain the princesses of K&A Turner Farm.

Photos: M. See Creative

The Bass Family: Raising 3 Sons on the Farm

Knox and Crawford Bass race down the dirt path that runs in front of their family’s hog houses. Crawford, who is currently 5, outruns his younger brother who is almost 3. Not winning any races any time soon is baby brother Zane who is only a few months old.

The Bass boys are right at home on the hog farm—racing, playing in the dirt, checking on the pigs, climbing feed bins. For them, this is what they’ve grown up with and know. This is their element. What they don’t realize, however, are the lessons they’re learning on the farm. Their parents, though, are hopeful that between the dirt path races, tractor rides, and farm play, something bigger is happening in their sons’ lives.

Tyler and Janna Bass met in college at NCSU. Tyler majored in agronomy, while Janna studied business and marketing. Tyler had a clear plan of his future—farming. Janna’s future didn’t have farming in it; that is until she met Tyler.

“When I met Tyler, he said ‘I’m a farmer,” and I remember thinking that I really didn’t know much about that lifestyle and  I had no idea what it took to run a farm and the business aspect behind the operation,” Janna recalled.

Janna grew up right outside of Raleigh in an urban area, and the move to the farm in Sampson County was an adjustment. Even after being married for 10 years, there are times where it is still an adjustment. That’s not to say that she doesn’t like the farm life. She has embraced the farm and the farming community. She actually works with farmers now as the Marketing and Financial Service Manager with Cape Fear Farm Credit, an agricultural lender.

“We assist farmers of all shapes and sizes, new farmers or farmers who have been farming for generations, and we help them obtain the financing they need to start, continue or grow their operation and to ensure its success for the future,” said Janna.

Janna loves her job and working with the agricultural community. She also loves watching the passion her husband has for his job and feeding the world. 

The Bass farm was started by Tyler’s grandad, and later taken over by his dad and uncle. After college, Tyler knew exactly what he wanted to do—come back to the farm. He had always wanted to be a farmer, after all.

“I’ve always wanted to farm ever since I was a little boy. I can remember playing in dirt paths with my trucks and tractors,” Tyler said.

After college, Tyler started to build chicken houses and bought hog houses since then as well. The Bass farm currently grows and raises crops, produce, chickens, cattle, and hogs. Tyler’s favorite part about being a farmer is being outside, watching things grow, and knowing he is helping feed others.

His least favorite part about farming is also Janna’s least favorite aspect—the time it can take away from family. Farming is 24/7, especially when livestock is involved, and the sun-up to sun-down hours can be hard.

“Many a night during planting or harvesting season we are sitting around the table, and he’s not able to be there, or I tuck the children in bed and he’s not home yet because he’s still in the field,” shared Janna.

Janna and Tyler aren’t trying to downplay the good in farming. They are simply acknowledging the hardship that is their reality. And yet, in that hardship and challenge, is a lesson for their sons.

With the long hours and hard work, their sons get a front row seat to lessons on a good work ethic. While it may seem that they are simply playing, young children tend to notice more than we realize.

“I hope they observe the work ethic behind what goes into a farm, the dedication, and just the humility that comes along with it,” Janna said. “Farmers are humble and honest, but they really put serving others in front of themselves. I hope my boys see that and apply that to every aspect of their lives.”

Whether or not Crawford, Knox, and Zane choose to become farmers, they are learning values that transcend the farm. Humility, hard work, dedication, and service are all traits that any parent hopes their child will learn.

And if the Bass brothers want to become the fourth generation to farm, well, the farmers that came before them have and are putting in the work, sun-up to sundown, to make sure that the farm is able to welcome the next generation on to it’s lands.

“If my boys choose to farm, I hope ag will still be able to sustain them and their families in the future. I hope I can continue to build on the farming foundation my dad and granddad set for me, to pass on to my boys – if that God’s plan for them,” said Tyler of what he hopes for his sons. 

The farm is filled with lessons, and for those who are lucky enough to grow up on the farm, they may not even realize that they are learning at the time. It is doubtful that Knox, Crawford and soon Zane Bass realize that as they check on pigs or ride the tractor with their dad that they are learning life lessons.

While family farms are about providing food, fuel, and fiber for the world, they are also all about raising the next generation. Tyler and Janna Bass are striving to do their part,  to raise Godly, kind, humble, hardworking boys on the farm.

And perhaps in 20 years, the Bass brothers will remember a time where they raced down a farm path and climbed feed bins, smile and realize that they learned so much on the farm. 

Friends of NC Farm Families: Eve Honeycutt

Farm families extend beyond the farmer and their immediate family members. It also includes a large network of friends and colleagues that have a part in helping the farmer grow crops and raise livestock. We want to introduce you to some of these “friends of farmers” for three reasons:

1. They work hard and deserve to be recognized and thanked.

2. While farm families are our core, agriculture is a much bigger family. Farming wouldn’t work without our friends.

3. To show just how profoundly agriculture connects us.

We are excited to start this series. If you would like to nominate a “Friend of NC Farm Families”, shoot us a message! For now, though, let’s meet our first highlight: Eve Honeycutt

Even Honeycutt has been an Extension Livestock Agent in Lenoir and Greene Counties for 16 years. When speaking with her, it doesn’t take long for her passion for agriculture and farmers to shine through. She is knowledgeable, passionate, and great with both farmers and youth! Eve assists farmers in their operations, teaches youth, and is a strong advocate for agriculture. During Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, Eve organized a staging area for farm donations. That is so like Eve—always willing to give her talents, time, and knowledge. We are so thankful to call Eve a friend and for everything she does for agriculture.

Did you grow up in agriculture?

Ironically, no. I grew up in Washington, NC and never could seem to figure out exactly what excited me. I loved animals and wanted lots of them, but we lived in a subdivision and livestock animals were not allowed. We did not know any 'farm people'. Finally my mom got me involved in 4-H, and I met some! The closest farm animal was a horse, so I took riding lessons and became involved at a local horse farm that also raised hay and cattle.

Why did you want to become an Extension Agent?

I continued my career in 4-H and competed at the national level in various contests. It was those experiences that got me interested in agriculture, though I still wasn't sure what to do with that interest. My sophomore year of college, I did an internship with my local county Extension office. I fell in love with the idea of combining my passion for helping people and my love of animals.

How do you help farmers?

As an Extension Agent, it is my job to provide educational agricultural opportunities and services to the citizens who need my help. In my area, the most economically important animals are poultry and swine. A big part of managing poultry and swine farms is understanding the regulations that surround the management of their waste. I work closely with farm owners to make sure they know and understand these regulations. I provide technical services such as sludge surveys, irrigation equipment calibration, nutrient management plans, and record keeping.

Favorite and most difficult part about your job?

Favorite: I get to do something different almost every day. Some days I have farm visits all day and never go to the office. I love being outside and helping people at the same time.

Difficult: While I love Extension work, it can be difficult to balance time to dedicate to all the parts of my job and also balance a family life. However, Extension offers a lot of flexibility that I would not have in other jobs.

You've been a fierce agvocate for farmers, especially hog farmers. What pushes you to do that?

I guess it’s because I visit with them all the time. I hear their stories, I see their farms. I see how much they really care about their animals, their land, their community. I go to church with them. Then I see the lies being told about them. It makes me frustrated and angry to think people would outright lie just to push their own agenda, and then the general population believes the lies because they simply do not know the truth.

What ways do you educate others about agriculture?

I work a lot with youth activities such as livestock judging, ag awareness days, and school enrichment. It is amazing how little most children know about their food and how animals are raised. I am very passionate about teaching children (and adults) about agriculture so that I can try to win them over- even if it is one at a time.

Proudest moment as an Extension Agent?

In the spring of 2019, I received the Lois Britt Service Award from the NC Pork Council. Mrs. Britt was a well known and very respected member of the pork industry, as well as a former Extension Agent. To have my name mentioned in the same sentence as hers was an honor I will never forget.

Favorite pork product?

Probably bacon, though I do love a good whole hog barbecue!