Each year at the Got to Be NC Festival, we recognize three young farmers between the ages of 18 and 40 through our Young Farmer of the Day Program, presented by AgCarolina Farm Credit and AgSouth Farm Credit. These young farmers work hard every single day to further the N.C. Agriculture industry and build upon it as the next generation of leaders. Come out during the Got to Be NC Festival this year, May 16-18th, at the N.C. State Fairgrounds to help us recognize them and say thank you for all their hard work!
In 2022, Oriyoomi Customized Beef was established in the heart of Oxford. Phylicia Barker-Nelson, our Got to Be NC Festival Young Farmer of the Day, and her husband Glenn both grew up on the farm and have a strong love for agriculture. In fact, Phylicia has fond memories of running around the farm with her father at a young age and leading the farm tours. Today, Phylicia works alongside her father to manage and operate Oriyoomi Customized beef. She also works alongside her husband Glenn to help manage her grandparents nonprofit organization, Operation Spring Plant.
Oriyoomi Customized Beef is a cattle and chicken farm that produces 100% grass fed Angus Beef and brown eggs. “My father is a second-generation farmer, so I have learned a lot from him through the years,” Phylicia said. “I’ve always had a strong love for the farm. I left and came back a few times in my younger years, but my passion for this way of life always kept bringing me back.” The farm is currently home to around 40 beef cattle, including calves, and multiple chicken houses. From T-Bone and Sirloin Steak to Stir Fry and Beef Chuck Roast, they offer a variety of beef products for customers in our state, South Carolina and Virginia to enjoy! “We process all of the meat ourselves and sell it online as well as local farmers markets, like the Oxford Farmers Market and the Warren County Farmers Market,” Phylicia said. “At the end of the day, our number one goal is to provide high-quality products to our customers that they enjoy sharing with friends and family.”
In addition to the farming operation, Phylicia and her family also operate a nonprofit called Operation Spring Plant that seeks to help local farmers get started and stay efficient. “We are passionate about helping farmers in our area be the best that they can be,” Phylicia said. “Starting out as a farmer is hard, especially that first year. My grandmother established the nonprofit to help them start out on the right foot and stay afloat in the future.” Through Operation Spring Plant, young farmers can receive grant money to purchase needed farm equipment, get advice from seasoned farmers for their own operations, obtain marketing materials, and more. “The world needs more farmers, which is why we are so passionate about helping those that want to enter the industry,” Phylicia said. “If our efforts can help a business get off the ground and give the farmer confidence to keep pursuing it year after year, then our work is complete.” Phylicia and her husband Glenn also serve on the Young Farmers and Ranchers board with Farm Bureau, and the board of their local farmers market.
Products from Oriyoomi Customized Beef can be purchased at the Oxford Farmers Market, the Warren County Farmers Market, or by contacting the farm by phone or email, which can be found on their Facebook page. Be sure to keep an eye on their social media for updated event listings and market locations. Phylicia is also currently working to start up her own farmers market on-site, so stay tuned for more information and ways to show your support. We are so thankful for all that Phylicia and her father do through Oriyoomi Customized Beef and can’t wait to see where the industry continues to take them!
