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In 2008, the North Carolina Pork Council initiated a state environmental steward program with the goal of recognizing a North Carolina producer each year that excels in the area of farm environmental stewardship. The inaugural award was presented at the 2009 NC Pork Conference and tradeshow to Bryant and Debbie Worley, operators of Bryant Worley Farms Inc. in Princeton.
The Worleys believe that farmers were the first environmentalists and they manage their farm under that premise. That sentiment was passed down to them from Bryant’s father who would say, “We do not inherit our land from our fathers, we borrow it from our children.”
With five grandchildren, the Worley’s see the real value in best management practices of soil conservation, water conservation, air quality, waste management, maintaining wildlife habitats, and environmental stewardship. Their efforts have been recognized before as the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation districts honored the Worley’s as the Outstanding Conservation Farm Family in 2005.
The Worleys manage almost 1,500 acres. They produce 15,000 hogs annually, a 30 brood cow herd and 100,000 turkeys annually. In addition, their major crops include cotton, soybeans, hay and wheat.
Along with their efforts to create a farm that conserves natural resources, Bryant and Debbie Worley work to be good neighbors, community leaders and industry representatives.
Bryant has served as Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor and county chairman of the local committee for Neuse River rules. He has been a member of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, the NC Agribusiness Council and the Wayne County Extension Advisory Council. He was selected as the Wayne County Livestock Producer in 1996.
Debbie has served as past chairperson and is the present treasurer of the Golden Leaf board. She serves on the board of the Agricultural Foundation for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State University. She is a board member of the NC Tobacco Foundation and is past vice president and board member for the Wayne County Livestock Development Association. She was name Outstanding Woman in Agriculture for Wayne County in 1993.
In addition to their service off the farm, the Worleys have invited others to tour and study their farm. Their local high school brings classes from the agricultural department. A Wayne Community College class has studied wildlife buffers on their farm. They are also a member and sponsor of the local Quail Unlimited Chapter and have allowed them to use the farm to demonstrate equipment they have for local farmers to use.
The Worleys farm has always been a family affair and as their family has grown, that dedication has as well. Bryant and Debbie have two daughters, Brooke W. Norris and Carmen W. Thomas. Both daughters’ husbands have chosen to join the family farming operation and now the sons-in-law, Kelvin Norris and Ben Thomas, have also formed their own farm, NWT Family Farms Inc.
The Worley’s are the epitome of the Soil and Water motto “yours for life,” and are deserving to be the first recipients of the NC Environmental Steward award.
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