A Dying Breed
EDWARDS LAND & CATTLE
ARE AGRICULTURE PROUD.
by Megan Silveira
C
generations, Dexter said. Dexter credits his love for agriculture to his
risply cut grass spans the length of the softball field. The
father, having been gifted a gilt on his sixth birthday. Since receiving
neat rows are disturbed by the marching feet belonging to
that present, Dexter said he has constantly been on the move, working
the parade of heifers being led by young 4-H members. During
to pursue a career in the agricultural industry.
the procession, a single heifer darts away from her young leader,
Dexter started working for Carol’s Foods when he was 23 years
breaking free of his hold before disappearing into the woods
old and has been with the company ever since. When Carol’s Foods
bordering the field.
transitioned into what is now Smithfield, Dexter stayed on to become
Nicholas Edwards said while his 12-year-old self did not find the
the general manager and now has 240,000 sows in his region. In
experience humorous, he can now look back on his first attempt at
addition to his position with Smithfield, Dexter said he kept several
exhibiting a heifer and laugh. Through the application of time and
hog houses of his own and was able to grow his own operation from
effort (along with a dose of maturity and growth), Nicholas said
a single gilt into the 9,260
he transitioned from the
head he manages today.
young boy whose heifer
The years gave way to more
disappeared in the woods at
than
just hogs, however, and
his first county show into the
since taking over his father’s
established cattleman he is
business in 1990, Edwards
today.
Land and Cattle Co. has
“My father, Dexter, and
also been home to a poultry
I currently run roughly 800
operation contracted under
head of cattle spread out over
Butterball Turkey.
three counties,” he said.
If
his
professional
Edwards Land and Cattle
accomplishments were not
Co., based in Beulaville,
impressive enough, Dexter
North Carolina, is home
has also found many ways
to Limousin, Lim-Flex and
to give back to his home
Angus cattle as well as more
county. With both he and
than 12,000 hogs and turkeys.
his wife, Pamela, being born
The Edwards’ operation
has a long and rich history Edwards Land and Cattle Co. has been recognized as Premier Breeder six years
that stems across several in a row at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville.
continued on page 42
• JANUARY 2020
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