Source: Lurah Lowery, BLUERIDGE NOW, 9/3/21


Richard and Mindy Staton, owners of Richmind Co., received this year's North Carolina Apple Festival Farmer of the Year award. The family's 200-acre farm is located off Upward Road in Dana. Richard Staton is a fourth-generation apple farmer. Richard said he was surprised to receive the award and was "tickled" by it. "Praise God. I thank my family," he said. "The apple industry has changed a lot. A lot of it's good and a lot of it's not so good. Times have been tough this year but farmers are resilient people and we'll get through this. For many years to come we're going to keep growing apples."

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