Meet Marlowe Vaughan
Today I have the honor of introducing you to someone who I admire greatly. I first met Marlowe Vaughan when she invited me to join the Gate to Plate Tour last year. Since then I have followed her passion for agriculture. I think it is important to showcase farmers who are out there every day getting the job done. Marlowe is one of the many impressive women that I have showcased in the Women in Business Series.
Tell me a little bit about you.
My name is Marlowe Vaughan and I’m a pig farmer in Wayne County.
Tell me about your business.
My brother and I own and operate contract-finishing farms in Lenoir and Wayne County. I am also Executive Director of Feed the Dialogue NC Foundation. This foundation was founded to help consumers better understand farming and where their food comes from.
What struggles have you faced in your business?
As a farmer, my biggest struggle is public perception. That also goes hand in hand with Feed the Dialogue and our mission. Since the average consumer in generations removed from the farm, they have a hard time understanding food production. My goal is to help educate them on why farmers do what they do.
How have you overcome those struggles?
I think my biggest success is providing farm tours and transparency. I love making the connection from the farm to their plate.
Who were your mentors growing up?
That would be a very long list. There are many female farmers who inspire me here locally and on a national level. I have been lucky enough to learn from each of them in different ways. They make me a better farmer and blazed the trail for me. I have big shoes to fill!
If you were to give advice to a woman going into the field you are in what would it be?
To listen—listening has taught me my most important lessons.
Have you found that being a woman in your field is harder or easier? Tell me about the advantages and disadvantages of being a woman.
I don’t look at gender much…I think farming has advantages and disadvantages no matter your gender—that’s just farming.
Have you ever have to overcome a hostile work environment?
Never Hostile…but I have had to think differently.
What made you decide on your chosen field?
I have a true passion for educating people about agriculture. It was a foundation built from watching my father farm.
More about Marlowe
Marlowe Vaughan is a NC pig farmer and Executive Director of the Feed the Dialogue NC Foundation with a true passion for educating consumers about agriculture and where their food comes from. Her roles include communications, content development and promoting the dialogue between consumers and farmers.
In addition to her role with Feed the Dialogue, Marlowe is actively involved in the pork industry through the finishing farm she owns with her brother. She is currently serving on the National Pork Board Marketing Committee & Outreach committee for the NC Pork Council. She has participated in the Pork Leadership Institute and served as a delegate at the National Pork Forum. She also sits on the NC CALS Research Foundation Board and is a US Farmers and Ranchers Ambassador.
Her enthusiasm, passion, and knowledge of the pork industry earned her the Emerging Leader Award, previously known as the Pork All-American, an award also earned by her father, Bob Ivey in 1982.
Marlowe was named 2019 Agriculture Advocate of the Year by the Wayne County, NC Chamber of Commerce.
She resides in Goldsboro, North Carolina with her husband, Matt 6-year-old daughter Kivett & 8-month son Stalls Vaughan.
One Comment