TownTalk 04-29-21 Local History With Cathleen Turner, Preservation North Carolina

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Hosts Bill Harris and Mark Pace speak with Cathleen Turner, Piedmont Regional Director of Preservation North Carolina, about the importance of protecting historical properties.

Written story below.

As well, please enjoy full broadcast audio of the show.

Saving historic properties from demolition is but one aspect of Preservation North Carolina’s mission. The preservation of a physical building also keeps alive and relevant the stories that go along with the structure – its place in the community and the families that once lived or worked in them.

Cathleen Turner, Preservation North Carolina’s Piedmont regional director, said the nonprofit organization is a source of information for anyone interested in historic preservation – whether it’s restoration, repair or rehabilitation.

Turner was a guest on Town Talk Thursday and shared some of PNC’s success stories with hosts Bill Harris and Thornton Library’s Mark Pace.

It’s important to keep in mind whether a property is “saveable, buyable and sellable,” she said, as well as its role in the life of the community in which it’s located. “Sometimes the most modest little cottage can reveal a depth of information about the people who lived there or were associate with it.”

One success story has a local connection. Turner mentioned the Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington, a stewardship project of PNC. Pace noted that two Bellamy brothers married two sisters from right here in Vance County. The sisters were Hargroves, members of the family that owned Hibernia near Townsville. The Bellamy home fared far better than the Hargrove home, which is no longer standing. The Bellamy Mansion Museum of History and Design Arts took decades to rehabilitate, and it was turned over to PNC as a stewardship property in 1989.

Not all properties are destined to be restored to its original state, Turner said.

“We use the Secretary of the Interior standards for rehabilitation,” she said, “which are guidelines that we apply on a case-by-case basis.” Many of the buildings’ owners aren’t interested in restoring them to a particular period. “People like their indoor bathrooms and kitchens. And they like their Wifi, too,” Turner added.

The term “rehabilitation” may describe more accurately what occurs with properties. Updating to today’s standards is done thoughtfully, she said, “with respect to repair rather than replace.” If something is missing or beyond repair, then she recommends to replace in-kind. Yesterday’s materials – those old growth forest woods – are hardier than most modern materials.  If the original materials can be saved, that is preferred. “The way we approach rehabilitation is very common-sense and sensible. And smart, from a bottom-line standpoint.”

Another success story is located in the tiny town of Milton, near the Virginia border. It is there that Thomas Day’s home and workshop have been restored. “We had been interested in seeing that building preserved for a very long time,” Turner said. A fire nearly burned it to the ground, but the building was not beyond restoration. She said it probably would have been razed had PNC not stepped in. Visitors can see where the famed furniture maker once lived and worked.

Closer to home is a property known as the Charles Brewer house, located on North Clark Street in Henderson. Houses located in National Register historic districts may be eligible for tax credits, Turner said. “We don’t give grants to private property owners,” she said, but tax credits provide incentives for the repair work and restoration to be completed.

Visit www.presnc.org to learn more about PNC’s projects and programs.

Dylan Gerard Shares How Simple Things Influence His Musical Style

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Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life that bring joy to people’s lives – and Dylan Gerard has created a song that celebrates family and growing up in a small town, two of his “simple things.”

Gerard is an up-and-coming musician whose new single “Simple Things” reached 37th on the Music Row Country Music breakout chart. The 29-year-old Florida native spoke with John C. Rose on Town Talk to discuss how the song and accompanying video came about, artists who have influenced his sound and his appearance on NBC’s talent program “The Voice.”

The lyrics and music came first for the song, he said, and he was just beginning work on the video about the time COVID-19 restrictions locked everything down, so he used the time to go through home videos.

“I thought it was fitting to go through old home videos and just really show people my side of simple things,” Gerard said. “You hear the song and think about your own simple things.”

“On top of it just being something for other people, it was really nice just being reminded of that for myself, especially in (these) trying times…it’s my mom and my dad. It’s my sister and brother, my Granny and Papa,” he continued.

When it don’t make sense and the world’s fallin’ apart. It’s the simple things. I love the simple things.  — from “Simple Things,” Dylan Gerard

Music was an integral part of Gerard’s childhood – both parents sing, his dad plays guitar and mandolin. “I can’t remember a time we didn’t have music going…in the car or the house.” He picked up the guitar in high school and never looked back.

Enjoy the TownTalk Podcast and more below.

 

He since signed with Nashville’s SSM label and said a follow-up single  – “Please Don’t Let Me” – is set to drop in the near future. There’s an album in the works as well, he said.

Gerard appeared on Season 13 of “The Voice.” “That was something else – quite the experience.” He talked about the fascination of seeing the production of the show and all the behind-the-scenes work required to do it. “It was pretty stressful, pretty nerve-wracking, but it was definitely an experience,” he said.

Getting compliments on his music from the likes of judges Adam Levine, Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson didn’t hurt, either. “It gives you some validation, some hope, a little more drive and motivation” to continue pursuing music.

It was Clarkson who helped steer Gerard into the country music “lane,” he said. “She said I had a really good country music voice… a voice that’s not necessarily out there, and I thought that was really cool,” he said. “I think country is kind of in my voice,” he added.

Despite finding a spot in country music, Gerard rattled off a range of artists – past and current – whose music has influenced his sound. From Otis Redding and Frank Sinatra to Bonnie Raitt and the Temptations, it’s the soulful sound that he’s drawn to.

“I’ve always loved soul and I love to hear that passion in someone’s voice,” Gerard said. In fact, when he’d finished his audition for “The Voice,” he said judges Levine and Hudson remarked that although they had listened to others perform that day, his audition was the first time they had felt the emotion emanating from his music. “To get that from them was really nice and really rewarding,” he said.

Find Gerard on social media platforms Instagram and Facebook and at www.dylangerardmusic.com to learn more about him and his music. He invites others to consider what their “simple things” are and then share them in a message to him; “it’s the things that mean the most to us,” he said. “It’s interesting and really nice to hear what those things are and how they differ from person to person.”

TownTalk 04-27-21 VGCC 9th Annual Small Business Summit

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Niche crops, innovative practices and agritourism may not be the first things that come to mind when people think about farming, but participants in an upcoming daylong workshop will learn more about these topics and more.

Vance-Granville Community College will present the 9th Annual Small Business Summit on Thursday, May 20, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will be held outside, at Seven Springs Farms and Vineyards, 332 Axtell Ridgeway Road, Norlina, NC. All CDC-recommended social distancing and mask protocols will be followed.

This year’s theme is Ag Alternatives & Legacy Farms. VGCC’s Tanya Weary and Sheri Jones spoke with John C. Rose on Town Talk Tuesday about the event, which will provide attendees with a day of agriculture education, including discussions of niche farming, agritourism and farm modernization. The workshop will be led by a diverse group of successful farmers and business owners. Attendees will also learn about agriculture-related grants and financing options.

Register by May 10 by visiting www.vgcc.edu. Or contact Jones  via email joness@vgcc.edu or call 252.425.8385. Lunch is included with registration and will be provided by The Meat Up Spot, a regional food truck (a vegetarian option will be available).

It is “quite fitting” to hold the workshop at Seven Springs, Weary said. Agritourism is growing, and Weary said “we’re excited that Seven Springs has agreed to host us, and to share their knowledge with those in attendance that day on what agritourism has done for them and for Warren County.

Jones, director of VGCC’s Small Business Center, said the outdoor venue will allow for social distancing for participants. “The owners have been so cooperative in making sure that everything stays in compliance and will keep everybody safe. It is a beautiful venue and I think people will really enjoy it.”

“Agriculture is an important part of our local economy, with many of our small businesses being involved in food and farming, so we are excited to focus on this sector,” said Weary, VGCC’s Dean of Business & Industry Solutions.

Derrick Jackson of Grass Grazed Farm in Durham will serve as the keynote speaker, discussing “A New Farming Model.” Jackson and his wife, Paige, operate a 60-acre farm, where they focus on sustainable pastured livestock, ethical practices and regenerative agriculture.

Other sessions include a panel on “High Tunnel Production,” led by N.C. Cooperative Extension including Dean’s Greens Farm, Rocky Ridge Farms and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; “Land of Opportunity: Heir Property, Startups, and Finding Your Niche” with Patrick Brown of Brown Family Farms/Hempfinity; a session on “Agritourism, Partnerships and Building Community,” featuring Seven Springs Farms & Vineyards and Lake Gaston Outfitters; and a presentation on “Finding Resources: Cost-Share, Grants, and Financing Your Agribusiness.”

The event is hosted by the VGCC Small Business Center, with co-sponsors including Warren County Economic Development, The Meat Up Spot, Sweet Delights, Grass Grazed, and Seven Springs Farms & Vineyards.

“I think the main goal that Tanya and I have had as a team is to listen and to hear what each community needs that may be specific to their community and we try to meet them there,” Jones said.

TownTalk 04-26-21 NC MedAssist Mobile Pharmacy Visits Henderson April 30

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NC MedAssist is coming to Henderson Friday, April 30 to distribute various types of over-the-counter medications and other first-aid items to residents in a drive-thru event. Online registration continues until noon on Wednesday, and that’s the best way to make sure that individuals get the medicines they need.

Kinsey Luce, mobile events and project manager for NC MedAssist, was a guest on Monday’s Town Talk. She told John C. Rose that the mobile pharmacy will bring about $100,000 in medicines to distribute. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The drive-thru format is a response to COVID-19 restrictions, she said. “We’re so excited to be back” in the area; last summer’s event in Granville County had 1,100 people come out to pick up cough and cold medicines, allergy medicines and other over-the-counter remedies.

The mobile pharmacy will be at the local Salvation Army facility, 2292 Ross Mill Road and is the result of a partnership with Triangle North Foundation.

“We’re still going to do everything we can to keep everyone safe,” Luce said, and added that all participants will be required to use facemasks. “We want to have a safe event and give out tons of free medicine.”

The program is open to individuals and families needing medications. Although no ID is required, participants must be 18 years or older to get medicines.

The advance, online registration will allow participants to choose exactly which medicines they need. “We’ll shop for your order, and it’ll be labeled and ready for you to pick up,” Luce said.

Pre-registration is not a requirement, but it would be helpful to get people in and out quickly.

NC MedAssist can also provide ongoing assistance for qualified individuals and families, she said. The enrollment process has been simplified and guidelines eased to help the uninsured get the medications they need.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

TownTalk 04-22-21 Vaccines, Restrictions, Latest in NC

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TownTalk Broadcast Audio 4-22-21

The base of information for TownTalk 4-22-21 comes from the following press release from the State of North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen.

April 21, 2021 Press Release

Governor Cooper Outlines Timeline for Lifting State’s COVID-19 Restrictions
As vaccinations continue and trends stabilize, NC will lift mandatory social distancing, capacity, and mass gathering restrictions by June 1

Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. laid out a timeline for lifting current pandemic restrictions today. With stable trends and continued vaccination success, the state expects to lift mandatory social distancing, capacity, and mass gathering restrictions by June 1. The Governor plans to issue an executive order next week outlining safety restrictions for the month of May.

“Each shot in an arm is a step closer to putting this pandemic in the rearview mirror,” said Governor Cooper. “North Carolinians have shown up for each other throughout this entire pandemic and we need to keep up that commitment by getting our vaccines.”

North Carolina continues to focus on distributing vaccines quickly and equitably. This fast and fair approach to getting shots in arms is the best way to beat this pandemic, protect one another, boost the economy and make it possible for restrictions to be lifted.

To date, the state has administered over 6.5 million vaccines. 46.9 percent of adults are at least partially vaccinated, and 35.1 percent are fully vaccinated. More than 76 percent of people 65 and older have had at least one shot.

With vaccine now widely available across the state – often with no wait for an appointment, all North Carolinians 16 and older can plan to take their shot. The state anticipates lifting the mask mandate and easing other public health recommendations, once two thirds of adult North Carolinians have received at least one vaccine dose and if trends remain stable.

“We are at an exciting moment. We now have enough vaccine for everyone,” said Secretary Cohen. “If you are 16 and older, it is your turn to join the more than 3.6 million North Carolinians who have already taken their first shot. It’s up to you to get us to the two thirds goal as quickly as possible so we can live with this virus and begin to put this pandemic behind us.”

Gov. Cooper and Sec. Cohen urged North Carolinians continue to get vaccinated and exercise good judgment even when restrictions are lifted. Businesses should continue to follow voluntary health recommendations and North Carolinians should continue to take safety measures in order to boost the economy, keep children in schools and protect each other.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released statistics indicating that North Carolina is among the states with the fewest deaths and fewest job losses per capita.

State health officials are continuing to monitor the presence of COVID-19 and its more contagious variants in North Carolina, which is why it is important to continue to follow the state’s mask mandate and continue to practice safety precautions, including the Three Ws—wear a mask, wait 6 feet apart, and wash hands often.

If you avidly follow the latest information in North Carolina about covid, the following press release from North Carolina came out Thursday, April 22, 2021 AFTER TownTalk was already complete.

NCDHHS Announces Summer Community Get-out-the-Vaccine Campaign
Initiative Aims to Vaccinate Majority of North Carolina’s Adults by Summer

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the Bringing Summer Back get-out-the-vaccine campaign that will engage community organizations across the state to fully vaccinate as many people as possible by summer.

To date, more than 3.6 million adults in North Carolina have been vaccinated with at least one dose. While the state has made great progress in helping people schedule and get to their vaccine appointments, more than half of the adult population is still completely unvaccinated, putting them at higher risk of contracting and spreading the virus.

Being fully vaccinated means getting back to hugging loved ones who are also fully vaccinated, gathering with fully vaccinated friends and family and going to small indoor gatherings with less worry. Getting the majority of North Carolina’s adults vaccinated by summer means getting back to the summer activities we all love — like backyard gatherings with families and friends, public fireworks, outdoor festivals or parades — all without wearing masks.

The Bringing Summer Back campaign is a fun, flexible and community-centered approach that creates a space for every organization and individual to roll up their sleeves and do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19 and get everyone back to the people and places they love. The campaign will run during two weeks in May (May 9–15 and May 16–21) and two weeks in June (June 6–12 and June 20–26), during which organizations across the state will rally together to promote vaccination.

Organizations can get involved in a number of ways:

    • Organize volunteer days: Invite members, volunteers and others to participate in a day(s) of phone banking, door knocking or other forms of outreach to the communities they serve.
    • Distribute resources: Notify communities about efforts to help people get COVID-19 vaccine appointments through emails, social media or other creative ways.
    • Host a get-out-the-vaccine challenge: Create friendly competition. See who can reach out to the most people via phone, door knocking, social media or other ways. Offer an incentive to get people motivated and involved.
    • Get creative: Come up with your own approach to encourage people to get vaccinated.

Organizations that would like to get involved can register to participate and access toolkit materials at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/BringSummerBack (Spanish: covid19.ncdhhs.gov/Devueltaalverano) or by emailing BringingSummerBack@dhhs.nc.gov.

The toolkit offers simple, specific steps everyone can take to navigate people to an appointment, such as calling loved ones who haven’t been vaccinated yet, sharing their experience on social media and asking if anyone needs support in getting vaccinated.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines in North Carolina, visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov or call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center at 888-675-4567. Appointments can be made by visiting myspot.nc.gov. 

TownTalk 04-21-21 Tasker Fleming, Front Porch Bluegrass

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Tune in to WIZS on Sunday, May 2 at 6 p.m. to set your toes to tappin’ as the radio station airs a new program called “Front Porch Bluegrass” hosted by Tasker Fleming. Fleming grew up in the area and spent part of his career in education right here in Vance County.

Fleming sat down – virtually – with Town Talk’s John C. Rose Wednesday and talked about growing up in Vance and Warren counties and how music has been a part of his life over the years.

He spent 36 years teaching math and coaching sports and recently retired in the Albemarle area. He started Front Porch Bluegrass, an hour-long show that airs on his local station WSPC AM 1010 and FM 107.3.

“I just like the story as much as the fast pickin’ ” of bluegrass, he said. This particular genre of music started out as Everyman’s music, he noted, and said he likes to think that his efforts are a way to help preserve the music as well as entertain listeners.

“I invite people to tell me what they like,” he said. Send requests to frontporch21@yahoo.com.

Listeners will hear a mixture of very new music, with additional timeless classics and even some vintage tunes from the ‘40’s and ‘50’s.

Fleming’s interest in bluegrass and other forms of music goes back to his childhood. He ordered his first instrument – a banjo – from the J.C. Penney catalog after attending the Earl Scruggs Revue in Afton, NC.

“I’ve never made a penny with music,” he said, “but I was hooked.”

He picked up the mandolin more recently and, until COVID-19, played with a group of local musicians who entertained at nursing homes near his home. The residents enjoyed the visits from Mountain Creek Connection, listening to familiar bluegrass and gospel favorites. And Fleming enjoyed watching them sing along.

Fleming recalled fondly evenings at Marie’s in the Epsom community – a service station-turned-music venue where locals gathered on to listen and play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. “I grew up there, listening to the music,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun being around the music.”

Fleming’s father turned the old theater in Warrenton into a civic auditorium and gospel groups would play there on Sunday afternoons. Fleming ran the concessions for these events and recalled one time when Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys were scheduled to perform. But Monroe ended up in the hospital in Nashville. Mac Wiseman filled in and did well, Fleming said, adding that he even brought the singer a meal of a burger and fries from the locally famous Burger Barn.

“I was his leg man to get him lunch or dinner – he was just a nice guy,” Fleming said.

Learn more about Front Porch Bluegrass at frontporchbluegrass.com or follow on Facebook.

TownTalk Broadcast Audio with Tasker Fleming, the full and entertaining half hour!

 

Jackson Pleased With Students’ Return, Discusses Upcoming Events, Plans

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Vance County students have been back in school buildings for about a month, and Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson said the two main things the district is focused on – educating children in a safe environment – are going pretty well. So far, there have been no COVID-19 clusters, very few cases in schools and zero spread.

Jackson credits the district’s teachers, administrators and staff, as well as parents and the students themselves for a smooth transition from all remote instruction to face-to-face instruction in classrooms. He spoke to John C. Rose on Town Talk Tuesday about what’s coming up for families and students, including graduations, end-of-year assessments and summer school plans.

If there is a silver lining to pandemic restrictions, abrupt closing of in-person instruction and surge in virtual learning, Jackson said this school year has been a time to allow school districts “to do things differently and more in line with what our kids need.” He is determined to not allow COVID-19 to be cause for any type of punishment for the students in his charge.

Graduations will take place on May 24 at Vance County High School.

“We decided that we could offer something a little closer to a traditional graduation,” Jackson said. The graduations will be ticketed events, he said, and all participants will be required to follow all safety protocols, including wearing masks. The larger classes – Vance County High School and AdVance – will use the stadium for their graduations; Vance County Early College and V3 will hold graduations in the gym, he said.

Jackson said the graduations will be live-streamed for those family and loved ones who are not able to attend in person. Visit www.vcs.k12.nc.us to learn more.

Although students will be taking state-mandated end-of-grade tests, Jackson said the state has said the school district will not be getting the annual report card of overall student proficiency. “We’ll get to see our kids’ proficiency,” he said, which can show learning that did take place, albeit in less-than-ideal circumstances. “We need the data so we can plan instruction for our kids,” he said.

District leaders currently are planning the summer program which will be offered to each student. That extended-learning plan should be ready to give to parents in the next few weeks.

Jackson said the district maintains its focus on clear promotion standards for students, but said it is important to take into account that there may be gaps in learning and loss of time. Flexibility is key, he noted, when discussing promotion and retention. He said shifting certain curriculum standards from one grade to the next may be a way to make sure standards aren’t skipped “We need to make sure we are very intentional to look where gaps are,” Jackson said.

The summer program will be a time to “rebuild and reconnect,” he said, and help students recover that time they lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jackson said the extended-learning program this summer will provide a “robust push” for students to have a chance at recovering lost instructional time.

The V3 school is a model that will be continued as an alternative for parents who want to be more involved in their child’s learning. This model blends personalized learning with school-based learning and may be a good option for parents who want their child to have a personalized pathway, but don’t want to pursue home-schooling.

“There are some children who thrive in a 1-to-1 virtual environment,” Jackson noted, adding that V3 is open to families who live outside Vance County. There is an application process and he said V3 principal Dr. Jessica Perry welcomes inquiries.

 

Kerr Tar Workforce and NCWorks

TownTalk 4-19-21; Kerr-Tar Roundtable Hosts Re-Entry Resource Fair

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An upcoming resource fair in Henderson may be just the spot to learn about services available to help people who are recently released from prison.

The Kerr-Tar Re-Entry Roundtable is scheduled for Wednesday, April 21 at the Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Road. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is designed to provide resources to individuals or family members who need to find ways to help loved ones have a successful return to their community after they have served their sentences in correctional facilities.

James Johnson, program director for the Raleigh-based Family Resource Center South Atlantic, and Desiree Brooks, business services manager for the Kerr-Tar workforce development board, discussed the upcoming event with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk.

Brooks and Johnson said the resource fair is designed for anyone recently released from prison who may need help getting back on their feet, from finding a place to live to getting help finding a job.

“We really want to help,” Johnson said, adding that this is one way to show those with prison records that there is hope for life after prison. “We’re going help you get to where you need to go,” he added.

There’s no need to make an appointment – just go to Aycock Recreation Center to learn about available resources. Lunch also will be provided to all participants.

Johnson’s program can start helping people as much as six months before they are released from prison. Family members can provide basic information to get the process started so there is a support system in place when the prisoner is released.

Brooks said participants also can learn about job opportunities from the Kerr-Tar workforce development resource table.

“We’ll be able to talk to people and let them know about employers that are willing to give them that second chance.” She said there are many employers in the five-county region Kerr-Tar serves that “are re-entry friendly and believe in second chances.”

Johnson’s program, funded by the N.C. Department of Labor, can help with things like purchasing work clothes, as well as paying for CDL certification and OSHA certification through partnerships with Vance-Granville Community College.

“Whatever it takes to get you self-sufficient,” Johnson said, is what he and his program are prepared to do. “We meet you where you are — we understand some people aren’t where they want to be yet, but we’ll meet you there.”

Visit www.kerrtarworks.com to learn more or call 252.438.6129.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

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TownTalk 4-15-21; Traffic, Pedestrians plus Baseball Umpiring

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Thank you for listening to WIZS Radio. Your Community Voice!

TownTalk for 4-15-21

I-85 weird interchanges at all three major exits in Henderson.

Pedestrian dangers.

Plus, a special guest baseball umpire.

Broadcast Audio for TownTalk 4-15-21

MAE Farm Owner Works Hard to Stay Small

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It’s sometimes a stretch for Mike Jones to be a farmer in Franklin County AND manage the farm’s retail outlet at the N.C. State Farmers Market, but it’s a family affair that pays off – for Jones and the customers who buy his pasture-raised meats.

Jones, owner of MAE Farm, was named the 2021 Small Farmer of the Year recently during the 35th annual Small Farms Week sponsored by N.C. A & T State University’s Cooperative Extension program. He’s always looking for ways to improve, but not necessarily looking to compete with large-scale farm operations. “I don’t have to be the biggest there is to be happy.”

He opened his space at the farmers market in 2007 with a card table, a cash box and one freezer. But the business has grown over the years, and now about half the weekly sales comes from other small farmers like himself. “We are your local supplier,” he told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk. “I define ‘local’ as the state of North Carolina.”

Being named the Small Farmer of the Year is an honor that Jones shares with his wife, Suzanne, and his children. Working with family has been a blessing, he said. “I have a wife that bought into my goals and my dreams and my visions,” he said, adding that two of the children majored in business in college because the importance of the family business partnership made a “profound impact” on them.

William Landis, agriculture and small farms agent for Franklin and Warren counties, also was on show and said he and Jones were out at the farm just Tuesday checking on grass improvements in the pastures. Landis said Jones uses innovative pasture practices that help his farm stand out.

“When you decide to have a pasture-based system,” Jones said, “you’re at the mercy of the weather – droughts, flood, wind, heat.  And the soil itself is beat up by the impact of the animals being on the land.” It is critical to pay attention to soil health and do restoration work when needed. Plant roots stabilize the soil and also pick back up the nutrients that animals again consume, which creates an efficient recycling loop on the farm, Jones said.

A well-managed system can lower feed costs while directly affecting the bottom line, he said. Consumers notice improved flavor, he said. “They say, ‘Wow, this is different,’“ Jones said, when they compare his products to those that come from a big box store.

His operation may not be as efficient as larger facilities, but “the economic benefit is the end product. People really prefer the taste and texture of the meats I produce,” he said.

Salted fatback is one such item – it’s a MAE Farm specialty item that folks ask for.

Landis said one of the most exciting things about having Jones recognized for his work “sets a high bar and encourages people to get into the industry. He’s done a lot for agriculture in the region.”

Follow MAE Farm on Facebook or visit www.MAEFarmmeats.com.

Enjoy here the TownTalk Broadcast Audio with Mike Jones.