The closing ceremony for the 39th annual Small Farms Week was hosted by Secret Garden Bees in the Linden community of northern Cumberland County. The annual celebration was held in Cumberland County in partnership with North Carolina A & T State University.
Small Farms Week was observed March 23 – 29, 2025 with the theme “Next Gen Farmers.”
Secret Bees Garden owner James Hartman was the 2024 Small Farmer of the Year. Hartman shared top honors with Patrick Brown of Warren County – the first time in history there was a tie for Small Farmer of the Year.
Events began with a tour of Secret Garden Bees and a ceremonial ribbon cutting of the farm’s newest honey processing facility. A luncheon was held afterward at the Cooperative Extension I. B. Julian Auditorium in Fayetteville. The U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus performed at the ceremony…