What do you get when you combine a major in Communications Studies and minor in History? For Jamie Carrick, the answer is a farmer! This was the path Jamie took when he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jamie also played football for the Heels, and though his background may seem atypical for a farmer, he was always drawn to agriculture. When Jamie married his wife Jenny, he married into a full-time farming operation called Sunnybrook Farm.
Jamie cares for soybeans, corn, cotton, wheat, hay, and commercial beef cattle at Sunnybrook Farm in Stanly County. Sunnybrook is a century family farm. Jamie and his wife are the third generation to operate the farm, and his son, who is employed full-time, is the fourth generation. Farming is a family affair in North Carolina; as such, Sunnybrook is managed in total by five, full-time members of the family. Jamie was personally drawn to agriculture by the lifestyle, independence, and the continuous challenges of operating a farm. He joined the NCSPA in 2022 and hit the ground running! His background in communications makes him a natural fit for the outreach committee.
One truth Jamie clings to in the agriculture industry is that farmers are the ultimate conservationists. He believes that he and his peers have been entrusted with their land and therefore must strive every day to be a good steward of the resources they have been given. To Jamie, protecting the environment is about setting a good example and preserving both a way of life and a way of business.
Jamie’s favorite snack to munch on in the combine is homemade poundcake and his favorite duty on the farm is harvesting high-yielding cotton.
