College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

Small Farms Week

Congratulations, 2025 Small Farmers of the Year!

Seven people stand in front of an NC Cooperative Extension backdrop. The man in the center holds a plaque recognizing Elvin and Madeline Eaton of Fairport Farms as the 2025 N.C. Small Farmers of the Year. A large ceremonial check for $2,000 from N.C. A&T State University is also displayed.

Elvin and Madeline Eaton, center, of Fairport Farm in Granville County, became N.C. Cooperative Extension’s 39th Small Farmers of the Year this week at the annual Small Farms Week luncheon on the N.C. A&T campus. From left: Interim Dean Shirley Hymon-Parker, of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; Chancellor James R. Martin II; Elvin Eaton; Madeline Eaton; Wendy Tatum, Granville County Cooperative Extension; M. Ray McKinnie, associate dean and administrator, N.C. A&T Extension.

Small Farms Week 2025 Closes with Celebration, Education

More than 400 farmers, growers, educators, Extension professionals and ag advocates came to N.C. A&T and counties across N.C. for Small Farms Week 2025, the annual celebration of small-scale agriculture presented by Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T State University and held each year in March - and a Granville County Couple was named 2025 N.C. Small Farmers of the Year!
Relive - and share - the moments here:
SFW '25 Communications Toolkit

Celebrating Small Farms Week Across the State

Discover the heart of North Carolina’s agriculture! Click to explore our interactive map, where you can find and support local farmers, producers, and agricultural advocates in your community. As we celebrate Small Farms Week, let’s recognize, celebrate, and educate ourselves about the incredible impact agriculture has on our lives.

Explore the map

Grow Small Farms Week! Your Donations Support:

A group of individuals sitting behind a blue table giving a question and answer session

launching the week’s activities, beginning with a luncheon in the home county of the preceding year’s Small Farmer of the Year.

A group of people sitting around a table.

N.C. A&T providing educational outreach for small farmers.

Individuals sitting at a table laughing and enjoying themselves over good food and companionship

honoring small farmers, including the Small Farmer of the Year.

Give a Gift

Be sure to choose the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in the Designation field of the form!

Give a Gift

Each year, Small Farms Week highlights the programs and activities conducted by  Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University that support limited-resource, small-scale, part-time, and alternative-enterprise farmers.

Sponsorship is available at various levels. See below for details on how we can work together:

You'll get:

  • 16 VIP Tickets
  • Name on the Program
  • Social Media
  • Sponsorship noted on the website
  • 2 tables at the appreciation luncheon (16 people)
  • Name on sponsor board

You'll get:

  • 8 VIP Tickets
  • Name on the Program
  • Social Media
  • Sponsorship noted on the website
  • 1 table at the appreciation luncheon (8 people)
  • Name on sponsor board

You'll get:

  • 6 VIP Tickets
  • Name on Program
  • Social Media
  • Sponsorship noted on the website
  • 6 seats at the appreciation luncheon
  • Name on sponsor board

You'll get:

  • 4 VIP Tickets
  • Name on Program
  • Sponsorship noted on the website
  • 4 seats at the appreciation luncheon
  • Name on sponsor board

You'll get:

  • 2 VIP Tickets
  • Name on Program
  • Sponsorship noted on the website
  • 2 seats at the appreciation luncheon
  • Name on sponsor board

You'll get:

  • 1 VIP Tickets
  • Name on Program
  • Sponsorship noted on the website
  • 1 seat at the appreciation luncheon

2025 Sponsors

Platinum
$10,000 and up
Gold
$5,000 - $9,999
Silver
$2,500 - $4,999
Platinum ($10,000 and up):  
Alcorn State University SDFR Policy Research Center Southern Sare Logo
Gold ($5,000 - $9,999):  
North Carolina Farm Bureau First Citizen Bank
Silver ($2,500 - $4,999):  
Syngenta Farm Credit Associations BASF Logo Le Bleu Logo
Bronze
$1,000 - $2,499
Friends
$500 - $999
Supporters
$100 - $499
Bronze ($1,000 - $2,499):  
  • Dr. Alton Thompson
  • Dr. Fletcher Barber Jr. & Dr. Rosalind Renee Barber
  • Dr. M. Ray McKinnie
  • Dr. Montreka Dansby
  • Gift In Memory of Newman & Ethel Inman Howell
  • NC Electric Cooperatives
  • NC Soybean Producers Association
  • Dr. Velma Speight
  • Veronica Godfrey Robinson in memory of Dr. Daniel D. Godfrey, Sr.
Friends ($500 - $999):  
  • Anita L. Wright in memory of Louis Lawson, Sr.
  • Dr. Rosalind Dale
  • Garner Foods
Supporters ($100 - $499):  
  • Albert & Ada Beatty
  • Bernadette Smith-Murray
  • Dr. Mark Blevins
  • Dr. Shameca Battle
  • Larry Atkinson
  • Lin Zhao
  • Tiffany Ross
  • Valarie Diggs
  • Victor Harris
 
For more information regarding sponsorships, please contact C. Renee Foster, Director of Development, at crfoster@ncat.edu or call (336) 285-3032.  To give a gift please visit https://www.ncat.edu/give   

Small Farmer of the Year

Small Farmer of the Year 2024 Co-Winner, Secret Garden Bees

A small farm store with a sign reading 'Sweet Jordan Bees Farm Store' on its roof, featuring solar panels. A woman sits on a white rocking chair on the porch, while a man stands to the right, smiling and gesturing towards the store. The building is surrounded by trees, with a grassy area in front.

Small Farmer of the Year 2024 Co-Winner, Brown Family Farm

A man wearing a blue cap and gray jacket harvesting a large cabbage in a field. He is bent over, holding the cabbage leaves while standing among rows of other cabbage plants. The background shows a rural landscape with trees and a cloudy sky.

Small Farmer of the Year 2023, J&J Martin Produce

Two women sitting close together outdoors, smiling warmly at the camera. One woman wears a white t-shirt with overalls, and the other wears a pink long-sleeve shirt. They appear to be in a greenhouse or garden setting, with plants and sunlight visible in the background.

Small Farmer of the Year 2022, New Ground Farms

A man and woman standing outdoors, smiling, with their arms around each other. The man wears a red shirt and sunglasses, while the woman wears a blue plaid shirt. Behind them is a sign that reads: "Small Farms Week - Home of the 2022 N.C. Small Farmers of the Year," with additional text for "Cooperative Extension."