The NC Pork Council award recipients include (left to right): Ben Davis, Emerging Leader; Tammy Peterson, Excellence in Innovation; Jan Archer, Lois G. Britt Service Award; Everett Johnson, Outstanding Pork Producer; Dexter Edwards, Hall of Fame; and Dr. Randy Jones DMV, W.W. Shay Award for Industry Distinction.

NC Pork Council recognizes six outstanding industry leaders

Dexter Edwards inducted into the NC Pork Hall of Fame

RALEIGH (March 10, 2025) — The NC Pork Council recently honored six exceptional leaders for their excellence, innovation and service to the pork industry. The awards, presented at the annual conference in Raleigh, included the induction of Dexter Edwards of Beulaville into the NC Pork Hall of Fame.

“When I think of individuals worthy of the Hall of Fame, I think of those who have earned the respect of our farmers, who serve as trusted advisors for our farmers, and who have worked for years to develop, promote, and defend North Carolina’s pork industry. Dexter Edwards is the walking embodiment of that image,” said Roy Lee Lindsey, CEO of the NC Pork Council. Edwards introduction into the hog business came on his sixth birthday, when his father gifted him a gilt — and the rest, as they say, is history. He has been a force in the pork industry for nearly five decades. Edwards joined Carroll’s Foods in 1976 and later worked for Smithfield, where he managed 420,000 sows and produced 10 million market hogs annually. He served as a Duplin County commissioner, NC Pork Council board member, and Duplin County Farm Bureau president. Edwards was previously named the Outstanding Pork Producer of the Year (1998) and received the W.W. Shay Award for Innovation (2019). Other honorees included:

• Outstanding Pork Producer: Everett Johnson. Johnson has been raising hogs in Surry County with his brother since 1985, operating one of the few hog farms in northwestern North Carolina. His work ethic, passion, and strong sense of community have earned him the respect of his peers throughout his career. Johnson served on the NC Pork Council Board of Directors for 18 years, including as president in 2019.

Jan Archer, a longtime industry leader, praised Johnson as a “servant leader,” always ready to roll up his sleeves and get the job done. “He demonstrates his faith in everything he does.”

• Lois G. Britt Service Award: Jan Archer. Archer, a Wayne County hog farmer, has been a fixture in the pork industry for more than 40 years. She raised hogs in four states and three countries — including Honduras, Guatemala, and Singapore — before settling in North Carolina. For more than 15 years, Archer has advocated for hog farmers, leading education and certification programs to improve animal welfare, food safety, and environmental sustainability. She also served as president of the National Pork Board.

Archer may be best known for her selfless commitment to others. She was a mentor for countless of NC farmers, always willing to share her knowledge and expertise. The Lois Britt Award for Service is a fitting tribute to Archer’s unwavering dedication, mentorship, and passion for advancing the pork industry.

• W.W. Shay Award for Industry Distinction: Dr. Randy Jones, DVM. Dr. Jones of Kinston is a veterinarian who spent more than three decades caring for swine. He graduated from N.C. State with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at a time when the pork industry was flourishing and spent a career working with pork producers in eastern North Carolina. He served as the president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians in 2011.

His philosophy: every animal, no matter how big or small, deserves individualized care. “If customers have 200 or 2,000 pigs, they each get the attention they need,” Dr. Jones says.

• Award for Excellence in Innovation: Tammy Peterson. Peterson is the visionary behind Hubbs Farm, an agritourism destination in Duplin County that provides an engaging way to learn about agriculture and the pork industry.

Through hands-on activities and immersive tours, Peterson brings farming practices and the pork industry to life, helping visitors gain a deeper appreciation of where their food comes from. She exemplifies how creative approaches can make learning about farming informative and enjoyable, while promoting the vital role that agriculture plays in our lives.

• Emerging Leader: Ben Davis. Davis grew up on a family farm and fulfilled a lifelong dream when he purchased a 16-house hog farm in 2021. He converted it into a wean-to-finish operation and is a contract grower for Smithfield Foods. Davis also founded Eastern Environmental Solution, a company dedicated to removing and land-applying sludge from hog lagoons.

Davis has become a strong advocate for the pork industry, participating in the Pork Leadership Carolina program and traveling to Washington, D.C. to meet with elected leaders. Off the farm, he who serves as a deacon at his church, a volunteer firefighter, and a Master Mason with the Masonic Lodge.   About the NC Pork Council As the voice of North Carolina’s pork industry, the NC Pork Council advocates for family farmers and industry partners dedicated to producing high-quality pork in a safe, sustainable, and responsible way. North Carolina’s pork industry is a national leader — ranking third in production — and contributes more than $10 billion to the state’s economy each year. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, the NC Pork Council promotes responsible farming practices and supports the continued success of the industry. www.ncpork.org.