About Sumner Farm LLC

I began working as a farm laborer in Sampson County, North Carolina for local farming families when I was 9 years old to provide an additional income source for my family. I learned to drive farm vehicles by the age of 10 and worked growing, harvesting, grading and marketing tobacco and various vegetable crops with 2 summers experience in Greenhouse vegetable production and distribution before the age of twenty.

During my 23 years of Active-Duty service in the Marine Corps, I purchased all available farm acreage surrounding my childhood home, acquiring 125 acres of mixed Agricultural land (consisting of timber, cropland fields, and some wetland). Following Retirement from the Marines, I began active management of the farm but hired out most work and rented cropland acres while running a small business and focusing on raising my 4 children, but with plans to personally take over full operation of the farm and convert to all conservation practices. Of course, with a Service-Connected Disability as an incomplete Paraplegic, I knew I would have to develop and execute a Business Plan for Adaptive Farming.

Timeline:

2015 Enrolled in first Conservation Contract, into the Market Based Conservation Initiative.

2015-2017 a. 90 acres of wooded acreage inspected as mixed, poor-quality trees by the Forestry Service was clear-cut, prepped, and reconstituted as a Certified Tree Farm for Loblolly Timber Production using available Cost-Share programs.

2017-2018 a. 10 Cropland acres were converted in CRP to Hardwood tracts creating Habitat ideal for Wildlife sustainment. Seeded with fruit and nut trees, wildlife grasses and beneficial nature growth, these tracts are culled and mowed once annually usually in March.

2019-2022 10.5 acres designated to be a large Pollinator field was left dormant to restore from decades of crop farming, prepped, and seeded with a variety of 9 perennial Pollinator Wildflowers and Wildlife grasses again using Cost-Share through CRP

2021 Barn was constructed, Tractor & needed implements purchased and driver modifications added under guidance of a specialized OT and in consultation with NC AgriAbility

2023-2024 Completed Beekeeping Certification through Sampson County Beekeepers Association under the Mentorship of James Dove, a Regional Director in NCSBA, Master Beekeeper and my friend. Enrolled/complete the Semper Fi and America’s Fund Apprenticeship Program. Purchased my first two AZ Hives from AZ Hives North America, housed in Apiary in my backyard. Received Grant assistance from Semper Fi Fund and Work Vessels For Veterans, two exceptional Veteran Non-Profits, toward purchase of my first Prototype Adaptive Beekeeping Mobile Apiary Trailer built by SC Trailers in Kannapolis, NC. Formed Sumner Farm LLC, and initiated Trademark for Sumner Farm Bee Battalions.

2025 First Pollination Service rental at DL&B Enterprises, first sell of 2 Nucleus colonies, and first extraction/sell of Sumner Farm Bee Battalions honey!

Sumner Farm LLC continues with conscientious Timber Production, Conservation and Wildlife Practices that enhance the Natural Environment. Sumner Farm Bee Battalions will produce funding and enable Community Service in this labor of love for Conservation Farming.