BURGAW, N.C. (WECT) - There are 43,000 farms in North Carolina and fewer than 2,000 are designated as century farms. Humphrey Farms in Pender County is one of them.A century farm means it’s been run by the same family for at least 100 years.“It’s not necessarily the norm anymore,” said Gina Marasco, the president of Humphrey Farms.The farm started in 1912 when Robert Franklin Humphrey, Marasco’s great-grandfather and John Shackleford Humphrey bought the land.“Great-granddaddy wa...
BURGAW, N.C. (WECT) - There are 43,000 farms in North Carolina and fewer than 2,000 are designated as century farms. Humphrey Farms in Pender County is one of them.
A century farm means it’s been run by the same family for at least 100 years.
“It’s not necessarily the norm anymore,” said Gina Marasco, the president of Humphrey Farms.
The farm started in 1912 when Robert Franklin Humphrey, Marasco’s great-grandfather and John Shackleford Humphrey bought the land.
“Great-granddaddy was more of the businessman,” said Marasco.
In 1969 Marasco’s dad, also a Humphrey, became part of it by raising his own hogs.
“That’s how I became on the land because I was three at the time,” said Marasco.
She grew up and left the farm for a few years before coming back in 1992.
“I worked in the corporate world only to find out entrepreneurism is in my spirit and I longed to come home,” said Marasco.
She took over for her dad about 10 years ago and it looks at little different nowadays. Things really changed after Hurricane Florence in 2018.
“Because of the devastation, we were kicked out of the hog business,” said Marasco.
With North Carolina losing farms hand over fist, Marasco has expanded her workload from corn, livestock, lumber and long leaf pines, to hosting events and even renting Airbnbs on the property.
Not only to make money but keep the legacy growing.
“Farming is vital to our existence but knowing there’s the longevity, that’s just such a true feat for the generations to appreciate,” said Marasco.
Marasco says her granddaughter loves the farm and she’s hoping to possibly pass on the tractor to her some day.
To learn more you can find there Facebook page here.