Becoming a farmer wasn’t something Aaron Blackmon always aspired to do, but he is thankful for the opportunities agriculture has given him. The North Carolina hog farmer and Extension agent pairs a career of helping others with managing nine feeder-to-finish pork barns, a small cow-calf herd and hay ground.
“My great grandparents had a small farm with some pigs, chickens and a few cows,” Blackmon says. “That was just their way of life. They didn’t look at it as a business, but were able to provide for themselves and their community. It was just how they lived. I knew I enjoyed the farming lifestyle, but I didn’t really see a career in it until high school.”
Joining FFA where he competed on teams, made friends in agriculture and developed leadership skills, provided Blackmon more hands-on experience with possible agriculture careers. At 16 years old he also began working for local hog farmers Isaac and Nina Singletary, disinfecting the finishing barns after the hogs went to market.
“That’s where I was able to make a full connection about how an ag business was run,” Blackmon says.
The idea of being a farmer began to take root.
“Isaac ran a successful business that supported his employees and his family,” Blackmon adds. “Having him take a chance on me, mentoring me, bringing me into his family and teaching me a lot of what I know today has really shaped my career.”
The Singletarys could tell right away Blackmon had good character and work ethic.
“I was impressed with Aaron,” Singletary says. “He didn’t know anything about commercial hog production at the time, but he had his heart and his mind in the right place. He was dependable, dedicated and willing to learn.”
Blackmon hadn’t planned to attend college after high school, as he preferred hands-on learning to being in the classroom; however, he was introduced to the two-year program at North Carolina State University’s Agricultural Institute and earned an associate degree in applied science in livestock and poultry management.
Time of Transition
After graduation, Blackmon worked in the poultry industry and continued part time for the Singletarys. He began receiving job offers but didn’t have a four-year degree to pursue those.
“One day he came to me and said, ‘I want to go back to school,’” Singletary says. “I told him it’s kind of expensive to go, and his remark to me was, ‘I’ve been saving my money.’”
Blackmon went back to NC State and earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management in 2022. He accepted a position with North Carolina Cooperative Extension and began serving as the livestock and forage crop agent for Columbus County. He says working in Extension is rewarding.
“I really enjoy helping people, whether it’s a small-scale farmer, a large commercial operation, the homesteader or hobbyist, and the kids with 4-H projects,” Blackmon explains. “I believe in the concept of lifelong learning because there’s always something that somebody knows that I don’t, and I enjoy working with people who want to learn. They want to see their business grow, and aren’t afraid to try new things.”
During that same time, Blackmon’s interest in farming continued to grow, which he discussed with the Singletarys, who were considering their succession planning options. Their two children had other careers off the farm and would not be coming back. The relationship Blackmon had built with the Singletarys eventually led him to buy the family’s farm in Bladenboro, N.C., and continue the farming legacy.
“We were all committed to make sure that everybody was satisfied and everything was fair to them, to their children and to me,” Blackmon says. “They wanted to make sure they got an appropriate amount for their farm. They also wanted to make sure that I was coming in not trying drain a lake with a straw. They knew what it would take for that farm to be successful.”
Eye on the Future
These days, Blackmon balances running his farm and Extension work with the help of his village that includes his grandpa, one full-time employee and Singletary.
“It takes a team effort, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Blackmon says. “There’s always something to do, and it can consume you if you let it. I consider myself a first-generation farmer. There are a lot of things that I want to do and improvements I want to make. I keep reminding myself these things aren’t going to happen overnight. It’s important to set 12-month goals, five-year and 10-year goals and try to hit them.”
Blackmon says farming is like a bug: Once you get bit, you can’t let it go.
“We’re helping feed people, and we’re stewards of the land,” he says. “We’re making the land productive and taking care of animals.”
He reminds himself that what he’s doing now will hopefully help his family in the future and leave a legacy.
“You don’t see someone like me very often,” Blackmon says. “I hope that will change, and by the time I’m Isaac’s age, it won’t be uncommon to see Black and brown people doing some of this stuff I’m doing. I don’t take that lightly that people look at me. I was always taught you’re not just representing yourself; you represent your family. I feel my family is more than my blood family. I represent agriculture when I go into the community. I try to keep that in mind and do the best I can.”
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