Source:  PRESS RELEASE, 2/25/14

Russell Hedrick of Catawba County is the winner of the Innovative Young Farmer Award. The award, sponsored by the Tobacco Farm Life Museum and the Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina, was presented to Hedrick at the Museum's event "Breakfast with the Commissioner" at the Farm Show in Raleigh earlier this month.

Hedrick, 28 and a Hickory, N.C. native, is the owner and operator of JRH Grain Farms, LLC and is also full-time Firefighter. He has about 275 acres in production of soybeans and corn and is planning to grow his operation to approximately 500-600 acres over the next few years.  He is a leader in the Ag Community in Catawba County where he works very closely with NRCS and Catawba County Soil and Water to ensure he is a good steward of his farmland.

Hedrick is a role model in Catawba County for innovative cover-crop rotations. He works with individuals from USDA and NCDA in order to track results and production patterns by using the cover crops and  is currently working with NRCS to hold a cover crops field day at his operation in May.