Raised on the Farm

We sit down with Vanna Prestage Johnson to talk about what it’s like to help lead a third generation family farming business while working as both general counsel and director of communications. She shares how legacy, transparency, and people-first culture shape Prestage Farms across hog and turkey production plus meat processing. • growing up in Sampson County while staying close with siblings and cousins in the business • building a life outside work with dogs, hunting, and family traditions • choosing law as a way to serve a family agribusiness from the inside • carrying forward her grandfather's legacy and the pressure that comes with it • communicating daily as a large family team and earning your keep • telling agriculture’s story directly to push back on misinformation • making transparency real by explaining what we do and why we do it • understanding the difference between live production and meat processing operations • learning from women leaders in the family and leading confidently in agriculture • the labor shortage in farming and processing plus what needs to change Remember to subscribe and follow us on Instagram. Have a question or a topic idea? Let us know and join the conversation. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

A spinning PTO shaft. A ripped T-shirt. A moment that could have ended a farm career and a life. We talk through that close call and what it reveals about real farm safety: the shortcuts we justify, the risks of working alone, and the small rules that make the difference when equipment does not give second chances. We’re joined by Dr. Alyssa Spence, executive director of the North Carolina AgroMedicine Institute, to break down what the institute actually does for farmers, foresters, fishermen, workers, and families across North Carolina. We get specific about practical services like respirator medical clearance and annual respirator fit testing for pesticide applicators, plus training that ranges from CPR, first aid, and AED certification to heat stress education and first responder preparedness. We also talk about building a stronger farm safety culture through prevention, cost-share improvements, and programs like Certified Safe Farm that help identify hazards and fund real fixes such as ROPS upgrades and guarding. Then we shift to the part of farm life people avoid saying out loud: farm stress and mental health in agriculture. Dr. Spence shares warning signs that can show up at home and on the operation, why the “sandwich generation” feels the weight of succession planning, and how support works when you need help but do not know where to start. If you need a starting point, the NC Farm Helpline is 844-325-3276. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a farm family, and leave a review so more producers can find these resources when they matter most.Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

We sit down with Tim Evans to trace the path from tobacco warehouses and charity auctions to leading agribusiness insurance work for farmers in eastern North Carolina. We also get blunt about rising premiums and the practical decisions that keep you protected without getting insurance poor. • Tim’s upbringing in Warsaw and early respect for farmers through his dad’s “farmer’s jeweler” roots • Learning auctioneering young and using it to raise money at banquets and community events • Pig pickings, memorable jackets, and the ways family traditions shape leadership • Giving back through Ducks Unlimited, Camo4 Cure, the Masons, and Scouts • Life with three kids and how family needs influence career decisions • The move from teaching and driver’s ed into agribusiness insurance after • What it takes to be effective in farm insurance beyond reading coverages • Why agritourism coverage is becoming a major topic for farms • Why insurance costs rise and how equipment and repair inflation plays a role • Annual policy reviews, equipment schedules, and avoiding gaps or wasted coverage • Replacement cost vs actual cash value tied to goals and succession planning Snipes Insurance wants to change the way you think about insurance. Thankful to them for being a sponsor of Raised on the Farm Podcast. Remember to subscribe and follow us on Instagram. Have a question or a topic idea, let us know. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

We sit down with Ashley Collins, CEO of the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, to follow the peanut from contract to harvest to ballpark snack while hearing how her ag education path shaped the way she leads. We also dig into why peanut acres have climbed, what might be behind shifting demand, and what peanut farmers wish every consumer understood. • Ashley’s path from FFA and ag education to commodity leadership • Why getting out of your zip code changes careers • How the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association is structured and funded • North Carolina peanut acreage and the rise of new growers • Sweet potato rotation and the guava root knot nematode connection • Peanut season basics including inverting and harvest timing • Why peanuts are a contracted crop and what that means for risk • North Carolina’s Virginia type peanuts and where they show up • Supply and demand pressures including possible GLP1 impacts • Where state dollars go: research, public breeding, promotions, advocacy • What we want consumers to know about safe food and farm families Don’t forget to subscribe and follow us on Instagram and if you got a question or a topic you want us to dig into let us know. We want to hear from you. Join the conversation. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

We trade stories about growing up as farm kids and how those memories shape the adults and parents we become. Then we get into what happens when farm life gets misunderstood or even used against a family in a legal fight, and why that feels so personal. • grandparents and parents clearing land, tending livestock, and doing backbreaking work that built today’s farms • sensory memories that stick, from plowed dirt to feed sounds to live hog prices at lunch • early responsibility through real tasks, from welding gates to loading hogs to hauling grain • raising goats and learning to handle loss, grief, and disappointment without sugarcoating life • the “cutting board” herding board debate and why farm language is part of culture • why some of us only appreciate farm life later, especially when facing consumer disconnect • how raising kids around farms looks different now with sports, distractions, and less daily labor • farm kid skills that pay off anywhere, from problem solving to tools to critical thinking • making agriculture an option for our kids without forcing a legacy • a custody battle where farm safety becomes a weapon and why “job site” language dehumanizes family farms • teaching safety with supervision, training, and modern standards while defending the family side of farming Visit Snipes Insurance for your coverage needs. Remember to subscribe and follow us on Instagram have a question or a topic idea let us know and join the conversationFind us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

We sit down with Jake Parker of the North Carolina Farm Bureau to trace how a career in politics and appellate law turns into real protection for farmers. Along the way, we break down how ag litigation works, why unified partnerships matter, and what it takes for farmers to keep their freedom to operate. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

We sit down with North Carolina farmer and drone applicator Preston Cave to hear how a $40,000 leap turned into PAC Aerial Applications and a new way to help growers get more done with less time. We also talk through the hard parts of getting legal, working safely, serving western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, and staying grounded in faith and purpose. • Preston’s background on a tobacco farm and how it builds work ethic • Transition from cattle and grass-fed beef to custom drone application • Buying the first ag drone and learning to fly with real stakes • What these ag drones can carry and why size changes the job • FAA requirements and North Carolina pesticide licensing for drone spraying • Handling restricted airspace and setting safe operating limits • Mapping fields while spraying and planning around obstacles • Year-round services from cover crop seeding to frost protection • The moment a mountain sunrise reframes purpose and direction • Hurricane Helene relief work and delivering supplies with drones Remember to subscribe and follow us on Instagram. Have a question or a topic idea, let us know and join the conversation. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

We talk with Roy Lee Lindsey, CEO of the North Carolina Pork Council, about the winding path from an Oklahoma farm equipment shop to the front lines of pork public policy. We dig into what it takes to defend hog farms, build trust with lawmakers, and keep improving how we produce food. • growing up in western Oklahoma around farming, equipment, and custom wheat harvest • learning leadership through 4-H, Extension, and early career pivots • taking the Oklahoma Pork Council job without a production background, focusing on association management and policy • navigating environmental regulation fights and building an industry image campaign • moving to North Carolina during COVID, adjusting to scale and nonstop opposition • strengthening partnerships across NC agriculture to advocate as one voice • developing leaders through Pork Leadership Carolina and Emerging Pork Leaders • explaining National Pork Board checkoff work versus National Pork Producers Council advocacy • on-farm improvements like digesters, lagoon covers, renewable natural gas, precision nutrient use, and efficiency gains • farm bill delays, Proposition 12, and why federal policy still affects every barn • NC swine general permit status, DEQ rulemaking steps, and the road to 2028 Remember to subscribe and follow us on Instagram. Have a question or a topic idea? Let us know and join the conversation. Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

The farm doesn’t clock out, and neither do the moms who keep it moving. We talk with Lorenda and Betsy about life inside a multi generation family farm in eastern North Carolina, where the operation spans row crops, strawberry ventures, and hog farms . What starts as a simple “tell us about your farm” quickly turns into a candid look at what modern agriculture demands from a family and what it gives back in return.No doubt, farm moms are the backbone of farming operations. Happy Mother's Day to all!Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

We sit down with this year's NC Pork Council's Award winners to hear their stories. This is part 2 of 2 featuring:W.W. Shay Award--Dr. Mary BattrellEmerging Leader Award--Blake FloarsWe weren't able to sit down with the Hall of Fame recipient, Greg Brown, but you can watch this video to hear his story. Congratulations to all award winners!Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm Questions? Email us at [email protected]