Wilbur Earp’s distinctions in Brunswick County caught up with him again Monday night.
The 84-year-old from Winnabow received honor from the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners for his standing as North Carolina’s “Farmer of the Year,” as named by the Swisher Sweets company this past summer.
“It is no surprise that Brunswick County should recognize this diversified farmer, Wilbur Earp, for his many contributions to the community and to the practice of farming,” a resolution said of the Funston Farms proprietor. His operation–producing beef, pork and row crops–currently covers 4,500 acres, his experience spanning six decades there.
In October, he was a finalist in the 2013 Swisher Sweets-Sunbelt Expo Farmer of the Year competition in Moultrie, Ga., at what was billed as “North America’s Premier Farm Show.” Earp’s place there was, according to one judge, proof that he oversaw one of the finest farms in the southeastern U.S.
“I didn’t do this by myself; I had a lot of help for a good many years,” Earp said at a crowded commission meeting in Bolivia on Monday, according to a release from the county.
He said family, friends and faith have helped him endure and overcome myriad hardships on the farm over the decades, from veterinary mysteries and hurricane damage to the sometimes-tough costs of doing everyday business in fair weather.
Story with details: Funston’s Earp recognized for exemplary farm
“There’ve been times we got knocked down, but we got back up on our feet,” said Earp, as quoted by the county. “I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to make a living doing something I have really enjoyed doing, and I thank God for that.”
The farm, where Earp lives with his wife of 53 years, Mary, has technically been under single-family ownership for 232 years and is recognized as such by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners’ resolution honoring Earp additionally points out his work with the county’s health board, the Cattlemen’s Association, the Cape Fear Farm Credit Board and Zion United Methodist Church in Leland.
Funston Farms is also a destination for students of agriculture; tour groups frequent the operation, which highlights an environmentally friendly approach and is steadily upgrading with technologies to stay current with the market.
Mark Blevins, cooperative extension director for Brunswick County, said the Earps’ dedication is clear.
“They enjoy it and are always looking for new and better ways to improve what they do,” he said in a press release. “It is a pleasure to have agricultural entrepreneurs like the Earps in this county.”
Ben Brown is a news reporter at Port City Daily. Reach him at ben.b@hometownwilmington.com or (910) 772-6335. On Twitter: @benbrownmedia
