Source:  NC Pork Council, 3/12/10

Craig Moves to New Role

At the NCPC annual conference last month, Tim Craig was named the new president of the North Carolina Pork Council. Tim, who served as vice-president for the two previous years, replaces outgoing president George Pettus. 
 
For years, Tim and his wife Wendy had grown corn silage for a large stocker operation and although Tim had some experience with livestock, it was an extremely dry year in 1993 that led the Craigs to the hog business.

"If it had not been for the river-bottom land we rent from my father, we would have come up short on our silage." said Tim. "That's when we began thinking about hog effluent as an alternative to irrigate and fertilize the silage crop."
 
Once the Craigs got into the hog business, they stayed there. Now they have farms in Harnett and Chatham Counties and along with hogs they also grow corn silage, hay, and other row crops. 
 
Tim also owns and operates Craig & Company, LLC, a grading and construction company originally founded by his father almost 65 years ago.  
 
Tim is a graduate of North Carolina State University and a lifelong member of Cool Springs Baptist Church. He and his wife Wendy live in Lee County with their children Taylor Grace (16), Lucas (14), and Isaac (10).  
 

Veteran Swine Producer Becomes New VP

NCPC also welcomed Ben Outlaw as the new vice president last month. Ben has served on the NCPC board of directors for five years.
 
Ben was born and raised in Kinston and attended NC State University. A third generation swine producer, Ben recalls owning his first hogs at about age 10.
 
Ben has been employed with L.L. Murphrey Co. for 10 years. Prior to his current job, he was an independent purebred producer for about 20 years where he raised stock and sold in 28 states and in at least 8 other countries. Ben also leases his farm to a finishing operation that raises hogs on contract for Prestage Farms.
 
In addition to his service to NCPC as a member of the board of directors, Ben also serves on the NCPC PAC Fundraising Committee and the NCPC Internship and Scholarship Committee. 
 

Pettus Departs 

As we welcome new officers we must also say goodbye to outgoing board president George Pettus.

Never without a warm smile and rarely without a pair of sandals, George served us well during his two terms as president.

Though he exits his office as president, he will still continue to devote time to the industry in leadership roles on the NCPC board and National Pork Board's Environment Committee, among others.

Thank you, George, for proudly standing up for NC's pork industry and for being a great advocate.