BOARD MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES
BEN CAUTHEN
Ben and his family operate a third-generation farm in Cabarrus County that includes a small Black Angus cow-calf herd, a Cheviot sheep flock, several garden plots, and fruit and nut trees. Ben is a Professional Engineer and a graduate of NC State University with a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering. Ben has utilized cover crops and minimal tillage across the garden plots since 2011, composting of chicken litter and green waste from their farm, and has recently begun using warm season annuals for supplemental forage. In the near future, Ben intends to implement improved adaptive grazing utilizing warm and cool season annuals, better management of their hay field acreage to reduce external inputs, an improved soil testing program, and rotation of poultry across the garden plots. Ben helped to establish the NC Soil Health Coalition because he enjoys working with and learning from other farmers who value protecting the soil on their farms.
KAREN SCALF
“My passion to partner and share cattle management is rooted in riding along with my dad when he would take cattlemen to the pasture in his old red Ford pickup. He was always willing to talk about cattle; even more importantly, he was willing to share what he knew about cattle production.” And that is just what Mount Olive, NC (Duplin County) farmer and cattleman Karen Scalf continues to do to this day. Karen graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor of Animal Science and Nutrition and has spent the last decade studying soil and the relationship it has with both animal and human health. Now a sought-after Soil Health Advisor she has also served as Vice-President of the Duplin County Cattlemen’s Association, been a participating member of UMO Field Days and Cattle Training, and served as a Board Member for the Duplin County Farm Bureau. Her working farm - KHFarms - is part of the UMO Ag Intern Program and hosts farmers and guests alike nearly every week. She can be found online at www.khfarms.site.
RYAN BATCHELOR
Ryan Batchelor spent his teenage years working in tobacco fields for local farmers and on commercial poultry farms. A graduate of Richlands High School, he didn’t realize that those days spent in the hot sun were also cultivating a passion for farming that extended beyond commercial farming practices. While he continued to dream about a farm of his own he took on a career in Heating and Air to take care of his bride, Megan, whom he married in 2011, and their dream of a family. By 2021 Ryan decided to pursue his passion, though, and together with a like-minded friend, he began Pasture To Plate Farms in Richlands, NC (Onslow County). It was then that they ordered their first chickens and began growing them using pasture-based regenerative methods. Supported by his wife Megan and his two children, Ryan is motivated to provide nutrient-dense, drug-free meats to all of North Carolina. Ryan can be found online at www.pasturetoplatefarms.com.
LISA WILLIAMS
Lisa is a first-generation farmer who with her family operates a small herd of Hereford cattle and pastured layer hens on her husband’s family farm in Johnston County. Lisa is a graduate of Delaware State University with a B.S. in Agribusiness and Agriculture Education. Lisa has been an advocate for agriculture since her time as a state officer in the Delaware FFA, a Public Relations Coordinator for the Delaware Farm Bureau, The Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., and as a military spouse alongside her husband’s Air Force career. Lisa’s focus on soil health as it relates to human health, began when her husband was diagnosed with a rare disease that is relatively unknown for treatment. By being a founding member of the NCSHC, Lisa hopes to collaborate with other farmers using regenerative agriculture practices to improve soil health and keep North Carolina agriculture sustainable (healthy) for future generations.
HARRISON JENKINS
Harrison operates Westward Farms with his family in Stony Point, NC in Iredell County. He grows corn, soybeans, and small grains and operates commercial layer houses that provide manure and compost to support their row crops. He also raises sheep and miscellaneous specialty animals including alpaca and zebu cattle, in addition to hosting events in an event space at their farm. Harrison has utilized no-till and cover crops across his row crop acreage, including planting green into living cover crops. Harrison graduated from NC State University and began working as an agricultural educator and FFA advisor and now farms full-time. He was a North Carolina State FFA Officer and is involved in various agricultural organizations in NC, including serving on the NCFB Young Farmers and Ranchers State Committee for 2023.
JOSH HARRIS
Josh and his Dad, Mike, operate Harris Homeplace Farm, located in Silk Hope, NC. They have used rotational grazing with a focus on soil health since 1998 to raise grass-fed and finished cattle. The drive to improve the soil has directed the operations and decisions of the farm since the late 90’s. Recently, the farm has incorporated pasture poultry and pork as tools on the journey of soil health. Visitors are always welcome to tour the farm and learn about the practices that help to improve soil health on the pastures of Harris Homeplace Farm. Josh firmly believes in their farm motto that shows the connection in the entire system “Healthy Soil, Healthy Pastures, Healthy Animals, Healthy People.” Along with the farm Josh also serves as the Executive Director of the Siler Area Chamber of Commerce.