Lead Your FSA: A Veteran of Agriculture and Service

Posted on July 25, 2022 by cassiebable
Thoune Hongphao stands in his sugar cane juice stand surrounded by fresh fruits.

Thoune is the current chairperson for the Honolulu FSA County Committee. Photo courtesy of Thoune Hongphao.

By: Josephine Lealasola, FSA

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee election began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2022. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week meet Thoune Hongphao, the current chairperson for the Honolulu FSA County Committee in Hawaii.   

A Natural Path 

Thoune is a third-generation farmer who immigrated from Laos to the United States when he was in high school. Thoune joined the Army upon graduating from high school and served a distinguished 20-year career, which included a tour in Afghanistan serving as a heavy equipment mechanic specializing in the maintenance of tanks and combat vehicles.  Continue reading →

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Lead Your FSA: A Learning Experience

Posted on July 20, 2022 by cassiebable
Marcia Hoplin kneels in a green field.

Marcia Hoplin currently serves as the chairman of her local FSA county committee in Traill County, North Dakota. USDA Photo.

By: Lindsey Abentroth, FSA

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee election began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2022. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week meet Marcia Hoplin of Traill County, North Dakota, where she currently serves as the chairman of her local FSA county committee.

Getting Started

Marcia has been involved in agriculture her entire life. Growing up, she was her father’s main hand on the farm. Marcia took over the 1,000-acre grain and bean farm when he passed away in 1997 and has been running the farm by herself ever since. Continue reading →

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Living a Generational Legacy in South Carolina

Posted on July 15, 2022 by cassiebable
Pictured left to right are Markel, Warren, and Corey Dixon, standing by a Dixon Farms sign.

From left to right, Markel, Warren, and Corey Dixon own and operate Dixon Farms, a sixth-generation farm in Horry County that has been in operation for nearly 200 years. Photo by Sabrenna Bryant, FSA.

By: Sabrenna Bryant, FSA, South Carolina 

Meet the Dixon Family of Aynor, South Carolina. When speaking to Warren Dixon about his family’s farming operation there is unmistakable pride in his voice. Dixon Farms has maintained continual operation for over 200 years and is still going strong as the sixth generation now emerges to join the family business.

“We’ve been in this area for a long time, and much of the land that we rent is small, minority owned farms,” Warren said. “In the past, much of this land supported 30-40 minority families. The family currently farms 800 acres, our main crops being tobacco, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and corn.” Continue reading →

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Lead Your FSA: Generational Passion for Agriculture

Posted on July 14, 2022 by cassiebable
Chris Naylor, county committee member, stands in the center of the photo next to a big round bale of hay.

Meet Chris Naylor of Sampson County, where he currently serves as chairman of his local FSA county committee. Photo by Alicia Best, FSA.

By: Alicia Best, FSA

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee election began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2022. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week meet Chris Naylor of Sampson County, North Carolina, where he currently serves as chairman of his local FSA county committee. Continue reading →

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Lead Your FSA: Empowering a Community with Urban Agriculture

Posted on June 29, 2022 by cassiebable
Urban COC member Mike Beauchamp stands on the left and is receiving money from a a patron of the farmers market, shown on the right.

Mike Beauchamp is the owner of Know Dat Grow Dat urban farm and a member of the new FSA Urban County Committee in New Orleans. Photo by Anthony Reed, FSA.

By: Anthony Reed, FSA

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee election began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2022. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week meet Mike Beauchamp of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he is the owner of Know Dat Grow Dat urban farm and a member of the new FSA Urban County Committee. Continue reading →

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Lead Your FSA: A History of Public Service

Posted on June 29, 2022 by cassiebable
Photo of producer John Litz with his farm operation in the background.

John Litz is the current FSA state executive director for Tennessee, and a former member of his local county committee in Hamblen County. Photo courtesy of John Litz.

By: Greer Gill, FSA

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee election began June 15 and continues through Aug. 1, 2022. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members from across the nation. This week meet John Litz, the current FSA state executive director for Tennessee, and a former member of his local county committee in Hamblen County. Continue reading →

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Growing Apples and Autumn Traditions

Posted on November 26, 2021 by cassiebable

Eric Behling is a fourth-generation farmer and owner of Behling Orchards. Photo by Lynnette Wright, FSA.

By Lynnette Wright, FSA, New York

Meet Eric Behling, fourth-generation farmer and co-owner of Behling Orchards in Mexico, New York. The farm spans over 800 acres, 200 of which are apple orchards. Those orchards produce 80 different varieties of apples, including many acres of Honeycrisp, their number one seller.

Behling Orchards is owned and operated by Eric, his brother, Steve, mother, Marion, and son, Orion. In addition to apples, they grow a variety of winter squash, pumpkins, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, and much more. Continue reading →

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Growing and Grafting a Dream

Posted on September 20, 2021 by cassiebable

Dick and Jean Hoffman started Hoffman Pecan Farm in 1962 with a few pecan trees and 80 acres. Photo by Kelsey Chambers, FSA.

By Madeline Alewine, FSA, Oklahoma

Meet Dick Hoffman of Hoffman Pecan Farm in Payne County, Oklahoma. Dick and his wife, Jean, started the operation in 1962 with a few pecan trees and 80 acres. Over the course of 58 years, their small purchase has grown into a much larger farm with more than 1,000 trees and over 100 different pecan varieties.

Growing the Business

Hoffman Pecan Farm is a family business operated by Dick, Jean, and their three sons. The family attributes their success to good grafting practices and great business.

Five years after the Hoffman’s initial land purchase, they were encouraged to begin grafting pecan trees. It was in 1981 that Oklahoma State University recruited Dick to provide the grafting wood to other pecan producers around the state. Continue reading →

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Creating Opportunities for Farm and Sea

Posted on August 6, 2021 by cassiebable

Catherine Puckett, a lifelong mariner and seasoned shellfish farmer of Block Island, Rhode Island. Photo courtesy of Block Island Shellfish Farm.

By Leila Naylor, FSA, Rhode Island

Meet Catherine Puckett, a lifelong mariner and seasoned shellfish farmer of Block Island, Rhode Island. She began her journey working for Block Island Shellfish Farm before purchasing the operation 13 years later. A single mother, Catherine continues to grow and diversify her ocean farm with some help from her daughters, Pearl and Luna.

Caring for the Ocean

Restorative ocean farming helped Catherine integrate new ideas into her existing farming operation by growing quahog clams, scallops, and most recently, sugar kelp, to help revitalize the ocean’s ecosystem.

Regenerative ocean farming is free of agrochemicals, fertilizer, or antibiotics. These engineered ecosystems contain kelp and bivalves that filter the water and sequester carbon and nitrogen. The shellfish grown alongside kelp benefit from reduced ocean acidification and provide habitat for juvenile fish and invertebrates. Continue reading →

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Lead Your FSA: Community Connection

Posted on July 28, 2021 by cassiebable

Lisa Taylor of Cassia County, Idaho, serves as the chairperson of her local FSA county committee. Photo by Tracy L. Hansen

By Laura Crowell, USDA Public Affairs Specialist

The nomination period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s annual county committee election began June 15 and continues through Aug. 2, 2021. Throughout the nomination period, we’ll be introducing county committee members across the nation. In our sixth and final installment, meet Lisa Taylor of Cassia County, Idaho, where she currently serves as the local FSA county committee chairperson.

Farming Family

Lisa, her husband Lynn and their two sons farm 8,000 acres raising wheat, barley, sugar beets, potatoes, corn, alfalfa, and beef cattle. They also have a custom farming operation.

Before she and Lynn were married, Lisa had no farming experience. Thirty-six years later she can run every single piece of machinery used in the operation.

“When we were first married, I never saw him because he was always out in the fields, so I thought I better start learning my way around the farm. I started with running with the windrower,” she said. Continue reading →

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