Within the small city of Clinton, North Carolina, pig farmer James Lamb is the residing embodiment of the outdated TV sitcom Cheers’ theme track, “The place All people Is aware of Your Identify.” With a inhabitants of round 8,300, practically everybody within the city is aware of James Lamb—partially as a result of his farming household has been embedded in the neighborhood for many years, and partially as a result of his mindset of working to enhance the pure sources he’s been entrusted with for future generations in Clinton and past.
“I’ve all the time had this ideology that I like to show good into nice,” Lamb mentioned.
In a small rural farming group, everybody understanding your identify means you’re greater than only a neighbor—you’re a part of a close-knit circle. It comes with a deep sense of belonging, and a delight within the land to make sure that it’s taken care of for the individuals residing round you, now and sooner or later.
A Farm Rooted in Custom
Lamb realized these life classes early on as he adopted his father round their 75-acre household farm in Clinton, craving to study all he may about agriculture. There was little question in his thoughts he would comply with in his father’s footsteps as he rode round on the tractor along with his dad as they labored on their small, however worthwhile farm, that was began by his grandfather and the place they grew cucumbers, okra corn, soybeans and raised pigs together with a small herd of cattle too. All that he realized in regards to the farm from his dad can be put to the check in a grueling method in March of 1990, when his father was killed in vehicle accident, and the duty of operating a part of the household farm was placed on to the youthful Lamb, who was simply a young person on the time.
Whereas nonetheless in highschool, Lamb balanced his research with work on his household farm. After graduating, he continued working weekends on the farm whereas enrolling in North Carolina State College’s Faculty of Agricultural Engineering. He earned his B.S. in Agriculture and Environmental Know-how in 1996. And it was throughout school, that he made a pivotal option to intern with a North Carolina firm referred to as Prestage Farms—a choice that might form his future profession.
Prestage Farms is a multi-generational, family-owned and operated pork and poultry producer and processor. Established in 1983 by Marsha and Invoice Prestage, the corporate is now run by their sons Ron, Scott, and John—who proudly keep it up the household custom of manufacturing the best high quality poultry and pork. At present, a 3rd era can be actively concerned within the enterprise, guaranteeing that the Prestage legacy of innovation and agricultural excellence continues nicely into the longer term. Their company workplace stays in Clinton, North Carolina—a location that’s no accident, however a mirrored image of their deep roots and dedication to their group.
Whereas Clinton could be small in inhabitants, it’s huge relating to pig manufacturing. Clinton is in Sampson County, which is the state’s prime agriculture county. The county ranks #2 in hog manufacturing and performs a vital position in North Carolina’s financial system.
John Prestage is the president of Prestage Farms and takes nice delight within the firm’s dedication to accountable practices inside the {industry}.
“The sustainable factor we are able to all the time do is we all the time must attempt to be higher and get extra environment friendly and take much less feed and fewer sources to show that into meat,” Prestage mentioned. “And that’s nonetheless in my view an important sustainability purpose to have –the effectivity and the execution of that to supply meat affordably.
As soon as his internship was full, Lamb went on to simply accept a job because the surroundings specialist for Prestage Farms in 2003, which was a pure match for Lamb.
“As a child rising up on a farm and in nature, I all the time had a keenness for nature and the surroundings,” Lamb mentioned. “That type of spurred my schooling and past, as a result of I discovered it simpler to study issues I used to be desirous about.”
Defending the surroundings is now a part of his on a regular basis life, in his position as an environmental and manure-management specialist at Prestage Farms. He helps companion growers with Prestage within the Carolinas adjust to state environmental rules, together with practices like recycling pig manure and utilizing it as fertilizer on pastures and cropland. Lamb can be concerned in analysis to seek out methods for pig farms to additional scale back their carbon footprint and recycle vitamins by discovering different makes use of of manure, akin to for power. He additionally helps Prestage contract growers receive and maintain essential permits as nicely.
“James (in his sustainability position) works with individuals, and he doesn’t inform them what to do and so individuals like him extra and respect him extra due to this,” Prestage mentioned.
As an environmental specialist spanning eight counties in North Carolina and one in South Carolina, Lamb has develop into a well-recognized identify within the subject. Alongside the way in which, he’s constructed not only a community of colleagues, however a circle of people that know him by identify—and lots of of them have gone on to develop into lifelong pals.
A kind of he calls a pal, and colleague, is Roy Lee Lindsey, CEO of the North Carolina Pork Council.
“I’ve identified James Lamb for greater than 20 years, going again to our time collectively at nationwide pork {industry} conferences after I was with the Oklahoma Pork Council,” mentioned Lindsey. “From day one, James stood out. He’s devoted numerous hours representing North Carolina’s pork {industry} — domestically, statewide, and nationally — by committee work, public occasions, and coverage discussions.”
Lindsey went on so as to add that, “What units James aside is his deep appreciation for environmental stewardship and sustainability. He speaks with readability and credibility about how at present’s hog farmers care for his or her animals, defend pure sources, and assist feed households not simply in North Carolina, however throughout the nation and the world. His voice carries weight as a result of it’s rooted in expertise — and since he really believes in what our farmers are doing. James is the type of chief who earns respect by laborious work and humility. He doesn’t simply symbolize agriculture — he embodies its values.”
Whereas individuals may acknowledge his identify, it’s the connections and friendships that Lamb has fashioned that matter most to him.
“It’s like my dad used to say, earlier than cell telephones, while you journey, all the time attempt to make a brand new pal,” Lamb mentioned. “Since you by no means know while you may want their assist or will help them.”
Elevating Pigs the Proper Approach: Animal Care Comes First
Serving to others adjust to environmental rules was simply a part of Lamb’s duties when he began at Prestage Farms. The opposite half was studying the assorted levels of pork manufacturing, and he shortly realized he was drawn to the nursery operation aspect of pork manufacturing. He went on to develop into a contract grower for Prestage Farms, ultimately constructing a pig nursery farm on the identical parcel of land close to the place he grew up in Clinton.
He receives weaned pigs at 21 days of age and retains them for seven weeks or till they’re about 50-60 kilos after which sends them to ending farms till they attain their market weight.
He and his household handle the nursery operation and develop corn, soybeans, millet, sunflowers, and Bermuda grass. Through the years Lamb has constructed two swine barns to deal with his animals and added a safety system that screens room temperatures, feed supply, water stress and energy — all of which could be simply checked by way of his cellular phone, so he’s by no means far-off from being in contact with what’s occurring along with his animals. Whereas know-how will help, the human aspect is what takes an excellent farmer to being an ideal farmer, and for Lamb, meaning strolling by the pig barns day-after-day to make sure his animals are wholesome.
Animal welfare for pigs is an important a part of sustainability. Wholesome pigs that reside in a stress-free surroundings and are nicely cared for are the cornerstone to success for a farmer. As well as, wholesome animals strengthen all the meals system, making it extra economically resilient.
“An excellent grower is aware of how every of his animals is doing and in the event you had been to ask James, he would know the reply as a result of he is aware of about every of his animals—he needs to develop the most effective pigs round,” mentioned Prestage.
Lamb enforces a strict biosecurity program on the nursery on his farm, together with air filtration to forestall airborne illnesses, necessary bathe procedures for farm personnel, and disposable boots and coveralls for farm guests. The farm maintains certifications with Pork High quality Assurance, affirming its dedication to implementing finest practices. Lamb Household Farms additionally follows the “We Care” rules, an industry-wide initiative that promotes accountable practices in all areas of farming, whether or not animal well-being, meals security, environmental stewardship or group dedication.
Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Director of the CLEAR Heart, toured Lamb’s farm and noticed firsthand the deep respect and care Lamb exhibits for his animals.
“He’s coping with three-weak-old-piglets. These animals are simply weaned off their mum, and that’s a interval when they’re very prone nonetheless to any type of aggravating situations or illness,” Mitloehner mentioned. “So you need to be very cautious in the way you elevate these animals. It’s very like simply consider a birthing station in a hospital, and people little infants that simply taken off their mum to be handled in a sure method. They must be handled with nice care, as a result of in any other case they’ll get sick in a short time and even die. So, in the event you don’t have that all the way down to the fantastic artwork, you aren’t on this enterprise.”
Mitloehner went onto add, “After I see a farmer strolling the farm within the morning, I see individuals who actually deeply look after these animals. It’s not a factor; it’s a residing being.”
Sustainability Practices in Pig Farming Result in Innovation
In agriculture, conserving sources like water, soil, and power are important elements to sustainability—it’s about farming in a method that protects the land, helps long-term productiveness, and ensures future generations can proceed to develop and thrive. This type of conservation, with long-term targets in thoughts is one thing Lamb can hint again to his dad and mom for instilling in him.
“Nicely, the issues I realized from my household, my dad and mom each grew up, in all probability within the Nice Melancholy period, in order that they used to have a backyard we had massive gardens along with the farm for our personal consumption. And my mom, each summer time, she would protect vegetables and fruit for the winter months. They had been all the time conservative. They’d all the time attempt to discover methods to reuse issues that we had up to now to make use of sooner or later.”
Farmers are the unique conservationists—they’re tied to the land greater than anybody and subsequently they staunchly defend and preserve the pure sources they’re entrusted with and reusing, recycling and rethinking are a part of being a farmer. And for Lamb, and different pig farmers, waste administration and guaranteeing there may be minimal environmental affect on the land is essential for sustaining agriculture, now and sooner or later.
Manure on Lamb’s farm is dealt with in a pit recharge system. Waste falls by slits and is drained weekly by gravity circulation to an anaerobic lagoon. Solids break down by the anaerobic course of, and water is recycled again underneath the pit for the subsequent cycle.
Annually, he pumps liquid from the lagoon and applies it to Bermuda grass fields. The system is designed to have zero environmental affect: the crops take in the vitamins, and when the grass is harvested, these vitamins are faraway from the land. The purpose is stability—making use of solely what the crops can take up, leaving no extra behind within the soil.
Sustainability normally entails maximizing sources and fixing distinctive challenges with intelligent and artistic options. It takes creativity to reimagine what’s doable and problem the norm.
Lamb has used ingenuity to assist develop a instrument which he affectionally calls a “sludge boat.” It’s a remote-controlled boat that’s used to measure the sludge depth in anaerobic lagoons, a measurement that’s required by the state. The boat carrying a sonar gadget just like a depth-finder for fishing and is propelled by a leaf blower. A transducer sends a sonar sign towards the underside of the lagoon, and when it hits the highest of the sludge it bounces again. Utilizing a lagoon depth measurement initially taken with a pole and the present water degree, he can simply calculate the depth of the sludge.
“That is vital as a result of something that’s inorganic, like ash, sand and soil—will sink to the underside and is known as sludge,” Dr. Mitloehner mentioned. “And that sludge builds up and the extra it builds up, the much less workable area there may be for the microbes to really digest the fabric within the lagoon.”
“There’s a minimal liquid degree that should be maintained within the lagoon always, and the sludge degree mustn’t exceed 50%,” Lamb defined.
The boat helps him to measure and monitor this and in North Carolina, they need to do an annual sludge survey the place they calculate the proportion of solids versus liquids in an anaerobic lagoon. Lamb is working along with his alma mater, North Carolina State to create extra of those sludge boats to make sampling waste lagoons simpler and safer.
Via his modern practices that assist to cut back waste, preserve water, and enhance soil well being, he’s setting an instance of how trendy pig farming can assist each productiveness and environmental stewardship. Utilizing creativity to unravel at present’s issues is what Lamb has used as his North Star to guard sources on his farm. That is a part of his life mantra of turning “good into nice” and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Lamb was named “Excellent Pork Producer” in 2016 by the North Carolina Pork Council and in 2020 he was named “North Carolina Farmer of the Yr” by the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation.
“James Lamb is likely one of the most devoted, accountable and visionary pork producers I do know, and all of North Carolina’s pork sector has benefitted from his involvement,” mentioned North Carolina Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding. “He has really been a mannequin of easy methods to look after the surroundings, look after animals and advocate successfully for the wants and way forward for North Carolina pork.”
Grounded in Their Land: Household Retains Pig Farm Going
Whereas Lamb manages the day-to-day workload of the farm at present, it has been a household affair to maintain the farm going. His mother, Thelma, now in her 90’s, at one time dealt with all of the funds of the farm and was a fixture within the pig barns, diligently recording temperatures and the feed of the piglets of their care, day-after-day.
“After I was youthful, I simply cherished being within the barn with the pigs and taking care of them,” she fondly recalled.
And Lamb’s daughters, Maegan and Kensley assistance on the farm once they can, however have additionally solid their very own future, finding out regulation and pharmaceutic research. Lamb’s spouse, Felicia labored in schooling for a few years earlier than semi-retiring and opening a small clothes boutique named, “Nation Threads,” on Fundamental Avenue in downtown Clinton, the place individuals drop in to buy and naturally, ask about James and the farm. Such is life in a rural group, the place everyone is aware of your identify.
And at present the Lamb identify stands because the enduring legacy of a household that’s as carefully tied to their group as to their land. Each of have been formed by years of care and devotion by the household.
“It’s of maximum significance to a farmer like James, that the land that he has management over, which is in his household for generations, that’s his legacy,” Mitloehner mentioned. “And naturally, he needs to guarantee that this land is handed on to the subsequent era. And so that’s actually the legacy of a farmer, and the delight of a farmer to keep up the standard of that land, of that water, of the sources they’ve. And right here is simply a type of examples that the world can see and that exhibits how deeply they care.”
In a small rural farming group, having everybody know your identify means you’re woven into the material of the place—it’s belief constructed over generations, and the quiet delight of being identified and valued for who you’re and the work you’ve completed. And that you simply proceed to do, day-after-day.
Certainly, upholding the Lamb identify means preserving a wealthy legacy; forging a path ahead that’s grounded in custom and resiliency.
“My dad was all the time apprehensive in regards to the household farm and in order that’s what motivates me to maintain going and maintain doing what I’m doing,” Lamb mentioned. “I feel he’d be happy with me.”
Lamb added that “When your job is that factor you sit up for day-after-day, then I feel it’s proper and it’s the appropriate factor for me.”
The CLEAR Heart receives assist from the Pork Checkoff, by the Nationwide Pork Board.
