LUMBERTON — Four women were honored last week by the Robeson County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee for their contributions to agriculture during the first Women of Agricultural Excellence Awards luncheon.

Geraldine Herring and Mitzi Powers helped diversify their traditional family farms with strawberries, peaches and vegetables. Both women operate roadside stands and sell produce wholesale.

Georgia Love is an agronomist for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, responsible for seven counties. Sybil Bullard took over operations of J.R. Jones Grain, located near Red Springs.

The event was held in the Robeson County Farm Bureau office in Lumberton and presided over by Women’s Committee President Michelle Shooter. Shooter is a plant specialist with the North Carolina Department of Excellence.

Herring founded and manages Geraldine’s Peaches and Roadside Market located on N.C. 41 Her farm features 3,200 fruit trees with 28 varieties of peaches and a pick-your-own option.

“This is what I am doing in retirement,” Herring said. “I had no idea how much work it is.”

Powers maintains four acres of strawberries and grows other vegetables for the Lumberton Farmers Market and her roadside stand off Barker Ten Mile Road.

“Mitzi is one of the hardest working farmers in Robeson County,” said Melissa Herndon in her introduction. “She has also participated in agriculture education programs at St. Pauls High School and its Future Farmers of America program.”

Both Powers and Herring started their businesses on traditional tobacco and row crop farms at the time the federal tobacco program was phased out. Herring’s family has farmed on the same land for more than 100 years.

Love, who lives near Rowland, is a row crop specialist who troubleshoots nutrient and nematode issues. She has two degrees from N.C. State University and began her career with the Robeson County Cooperative Extension Office.

Love is only the second female row crop agent in North Carolina history.

Bullard earned degrees from Davidson College and Wake Forest University before taking over her late father’s grain and feed mill business. She has grown the grain business from 1.5 million to 15 million bushels per year.

“Sybil is famous for her sound advice to farmers on marketing and production,” said Everett Davis in his introduction. “She knows markets and has a strong reputation for honesty.”

Bullard has served in many leadership positions with agriculture organizations, including the Row Crop Promotion and Agriculture Extension boards. She is a former trustee of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and currently serves on the boards of COMtech and Lumbee Guaranty Bank.

“All of these women have made a huge impact on Robeson County agriculture,” said Davis, who is the retired director of the Robeson County Agriculture Extension Service.

Michelle Shooter, president of the Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, left, with award recipients, Mitzi Powers, Georgia Love, Geraldine Herring and Sybil Bullard. They were honored at a luncheon on Wednesday.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_Women-2.jpgMichelle Shooter, president of the Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, left, with award recipients, Mitzi Powers, Georgia Love, Geraldine Herring and Sybil Bullard. They were honored at a luncheon on Wednesday.

By Scott Bigelow

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