College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

Small Farms Week

Get Ready for Small Farms Week 2025!

The 39th annual Small Farms Week -- North Carolina A&T State University’s annual tribute to small-scale agriculture -- is set for March 23-29 and will address the many technologies and best practices that are changing agricultural production on farms of all sizes.

With the theme “Next Gen Agriculture,” Small Farms Week 2025 will look at new technologies and new farming practices designed for environmental sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change. All events will be in-person, with most taking place at the N.C. A&T University Farm and the Farm Pavilion, 3020 McConnell Road.

Read Farmers' Stories

Congratulations, 2024 Small Farmers of the Year!

Small farmers of the year standing with a group of university officials holding giant checks

N.C. Cooperative Extension named Patrick Brown of Brown Family Farms in Warren Co. and James Hartman of Secret Garden Bees in Cumberland Co. as Small Farmers of the Year, part of the 38th annual Small Farms Week, held March 24-30 through N.C. A&T Extension. From left: Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr.; Patrick Brown, with wife Aleah Brown and son Clayton Brown; James Hartman; Interim Dean Shirley Hymon-Parker and N.C. A&T Extension Administrator M. Ray McKinnie made the presentation.

Give a Gift

Be sure to choose the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in the Designation field of the form!

Each year, Small Farms Week highlights the programs and activities conducted by Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University that support limited-resource, small-scale, part-time, and alternative-enterprise farmers.

Grow Small Farms Week! Your Donations Support:

A group of individuals sitting behind a blue table giving a question and answer session

launching the week’s activities, beginning with a luncheon in the home county of the preceding year’s Small Farmer of the Year.

A group of people sitting around a table.

N.C. A&T providing educational outreach for small farmers.

Individuals sitting at a table laughing and enjoying themselves over good food and companionship

honoring small farmers, including the Small Farmer of the Year.

Sponsorship is available at various levels. See below for details on how we can work together:

Platinum, $10,000 - $15,000

You'll get:

16 VIP Tickets
Name on the Program
Social Media
Sponsorship noted on the website
2 tables at the appreciation luncheon (16 people)
Name on sponsor board

Gold, $5,000 - $9,999

You'll get:

8 VIP Tickets
Name on the Program
Social Media
Sponsorship noted on the website
1 table at the appreciation luncheon (8 people)
Name on sponsor board

Silver, $2,500 - $4,999

You'll get:

6 VIP Tickets
Name on Program
Social Media
Sponsorship noted on the website
6 seats at the appreciation luncheon
Name on sponsor board

Bronze, $1,000 - $2,499

You'll get:

4 VIP Tickets
Name on Program
Sponsorship noted on the website
4 seats at the appreciation luncheon
Name on sponsor board

Friend, $500 - $999

You'll get:

2 VIP Tickets
Name on Program
Sponsorship noted on the website
2 seats at the appreciation luncheon
Name on sponsor board

Supporter, $100 - $499

You'll get:

1 VIP Tickets
Name on Program
Sponsorship noted on the website
1 seat at the appreciation luncheon

2024 Sponsors

Platinum
$10,000 and up

Gold
$5,000 - $9,999

Silver
$2,500 - $4,999

Platinum ($10,000 and up):

Gold ($5,000 - $9,999):

Silver ($2,500 - $4,999):

Bronze
$1,000 - $2,499

Friends
$500 - $999

Supporters
$100 - $499

Bronze ($1,000 - $2,499):

Dr. M. Ray Mckinnie
Dr. Fletcher Barber and Dr. Rosalind Renee Barber
NC Soybeans Producers
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Corn Growers Association of North Carolina, Inc.
Mrs. Veronica Godfrey-Robinson

Friends ($500 - $999):

Dr. Mark Blevins
Dr. Rosalind Dale
Mr. Eugene Parker
Dr. Velma Speight-Buford
Ms. Deborah Womack

Supporters ($100 - $499):

Mrs. Bernadette Smith-Murray
Mrs. Valerie Diggs
Ms. Cynthia Knudson
Ms. Lin Zhao
Mr. Larry Atkinson
Dr. Mark Blevins
N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative and New & Emerging Crops Program
Cierra Publishing Co.

For more information regarding sponsorships, please contact C. Renee Foster, Directory of Development

Small Farmer of the Year

Small Farmer of the Year 2024 Co-Winner, Secret Garden Beese

A small farm store labeled

Small Farmer of the Year 2024 Co-Winner, Brown Family Farm

A man wearing a blue cap and gray jacket harvesting a large cabbage in a field. He is bent over, holding the cabbage leaves while standing among rows of other cabbage plants. The background shows a rural landscape with trees and a cloudy sky.

Small Farmer of the Year 2023, J&J Martin Produce

Two women sitting close together outdoors, smiling warmly at the camera. One woman wears a white t-shirt with overalls, and the other wears a pink long-sleeve shirt. They appear to be in a greenhouse or garden setting, with plants and sunlight visible in the background.

Small Farmer of the Year 2022, New Ground Farms

A man and woman standing outdoors, smiling, with their arms around each other. The man wears a red shirt and sunglasses, while the woman wears a blue plaid shirt. Behind them is a sign that reads: "Small Farms Week - Home of the 2022 N.C. Small Farmers of the Year," with additional text for "Cooperative Extension."