Each year, Top Producer recognizes a female producer who is shining examples for her peers, as well as advocate for agriculture who represents an innovative farming operation. Congratulations to Susan Weaver Ford, the 2022 recipient of the Executive Women in Agriculture Trailblazer Award. Ford was recognized at a ceremony held Feb. 14 during Top Producer Summit in Nashville.
Every decision Susan Weaver Ford makes is focused on family. She is the sixth generation to hold the reins of her North Carolina farm, and the first female. Her goal is to create an environment and business that attracts and excites the next generation.
In Kenly, N.C., Susan and her father, Ray Weaver, grow tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, and cotton across 2,000 acres, 420 of which are family owned. Their team includes three full-time and 11 part-time employees.
Under Susan’s leadership, the farm has added oats, peas, butterbeans and pumpkins. These specialty crops are marketed locally, providing Susan the opportunity to connect with consumers and teach them a few things about modern farming.
While you often see Susan out in the field running equipment or leading her team, her big impact on the farm has been focusing on the financial side — finetuning budgets, marketing grain, negotiating contracts and doing high-level risk management.
Susan and her husband have three children. Her passion for farming is already rubbing off on her two daughters and son. During a tough growing season, Susan’s middle daughter decided she wanted to create a new income stream for the family. Susan’s response: Draft a business plan. That idea pushed this 12-year-old entrepreneur to raise and sell pasture pigs locally.
Beyond inspiring those around her, Susan has received international recognition. Last year she was selected as one of 10 Americans to be a Nuffield International Farming Scholar. This year she will travel the world to explore how females around the world can succeed and support each other.
Take a trip to North Carolina with this video from AgDay:
The Trailblazer Award is sponsored by Pioneer. The winner received expenses paid to this conference and leadership, business or succession planning consulting sessions with Rena Striegel with Transition Point Business Advisors and a DJI Phantom 4 Drone, courtesy of Pioneer.
The Online Top Producer Summit is set for Feb. 22-23 and will include live, on-demand and recorded sessions from the event in Nashville. Register now!
Read more about the farmers honored at the 2022 Top Producer Summit:
Top Producer of the Year Finalist: Enterprises Come and Go As Market Demands Dictate
Horizon Award Honors Husband-and-Wife Team for Their Drive and Focus
