Every year the N.C. State Fair thrills people of all ages and backgrounds from across the state for 11 exciting days. Fairgoers get the chance to enjoy exciting rides and delicious new foods. The State Fair is also a time to celebrate N.C. agriculture and the hardworking families who make it our state’s leading industry.
Farm Family of the Day, sponsored by Tractor Supply Co., is a program that recognizes one standout farm family each day of the N.C. State Fair. To honor these families’ accomplishments and contributions to North Carolina agriculture, they are awarded tickets to attend the fair on a day of their choosing, where they will be recognized through PA announcements and signs on the fairgrounds.
A.C. Lee Farms is a ninth-generation family owned and operated farm located in Dunn and is being recognized as the N.C. State Fair Farm Family of the Day, today, Oct. 21st! The farm is run by Christian Lee and his father Cale Lee. As a young farmer, Christian understands that the farming life may not always be an easy one, and even something you must make sacrifices for. Through the ups and downs of farming Christian remains devoted to his family’s legacy and future in farming.
The family grows cotton and soybeans, diversifying their products into both fiber and food, two different but essential crops to the state and country. Through over 200 years and nine generations of farming, family values have remained at the core of A.C. Lee Farms. Christian credits his family, especially his father Cale and uncle Kevin with teaching him what their father T. Lee and generations before taught them.
“I watched the sacrifices my dad made to give me and my family a great life,” Christian said. “I work with my dad when I’m not at school and I cherish everything he’s teaching me to be just like him. Working on a farm not only made me love agriculture but it also taught me responsibilities and priorities at a young age.”
In addition to helping run the family farm, Christian is pursuing two degrees at NC State University, one in seed crop technology and another in agriculture business. Every weekend he still makes time to come home and serve his farm and community. Coming home to the farm every weekend is just a normal part of life for Christian. As he says about farming, “It’s something you’re born with and something they can’t take out of you.”
“It’s never about the money, it’s about the work ethic and the blood line before me,” he said.
Christian is recognized by his community for the impact he makes as a young farmer, his hard work on and off the farm is evidence of his character. His work at school allows him to learn the newest technology and science around farming that he can bring home to his community and combine with the lessons a 200-year-old history of farming has taught him and his family.
One of the lessons farm-life has taught Christian that he holds the highest is the value of the continuation of farming, especially in a day and age where farms are being sold and shrinking.
“My goals are to continue on the family name and make them proud. I hope to have children one day that love agriculture like I do that want to carry it on and become the tenth generation,” he said. “I want to be the best farmer I can be and do the great things that the ones before me have done. I hope things change in the future, and people see that we need farmers to survive.”
To be a young farmer in his generation, it takes not only perseverance, but maturity as well. Christian credits his parents and those around him immensely for making him into the young farmer he is today.
We are honored to recognize A.C. Lee Farms today and look forward to seeing where they continue to expand their farm in the future! If you see them on the grounds at the N.C. State Fair, be sure to congratulate them on this honor and thank them for their hard work in N.C. Agriculture!