WHAT FIR! TREE FARM 2005 NORTH CAROLINA
"SMALL FARMER OF THE YEAR" AWARD RECIPIENTS!

Nathaniel and Kirby Maram were the recipients of the
NC Agricultural and Technical State University’s
2005 Small Farmers of the Year Award

Nathaniel and I were thrilled when we were notified that we were selected Small Farmers of the Year. We knew we had been nominated, but no Christmas tree farm and no farm in the High Country had ever been awarded this prestigious honor, so we weren't expecting to win. What a wonderful surprise!

One of the reasons our Choose & Cut Tree Farm was selected is that we strive to be environmentally conscious and to be good stewards of our beautiful land. Working with the NC Cooperative Extension, we experiment with natural methods for pest and weed control, and look for ways to enhance our soil and minimize our use of fertilizer, as well as supporting local agro-tourism through tours and demonstrations on our property.