2024 Co-Small Farmer of the Year Jim Hartman celebrates after cutting a ceremonial ribbon in front of his new honey packaging facility during Small Farms Week’s closing at Secret Garden Bees in Linden, N.C. Looking on (left to right) are South Central District Extension Director Keith Walters, NC State Cooperative Extension; Shannon Wiley, Ph.D., N.C. A&T Regional Extension Director, Urban and Non-Traditional/Underrepresented Audiences; Hartman; Christi Hartman, wife of Jim Hartman; Lisa Childers, Cumberland County extension director; and Faith Phillips, assistant county manager, Cumberland County.


Small Farms Week 2025 Logo

Cumberland County, N.C. – The closing day of the 2025 Small Farms Week was sweeter than honey. Or at least as sweet.

About 90 participants journeyed to Secret Garden Bees honey farm in Linden, N.C., which is owned by 2024 Small Farmers of the Year co-winners Jim Hartman and his wife, Christi. Guests were greeted with biscuits – fresh from a wood-burning stove – with honey and jelly, and welcoming remarks from the N.C. Cooperative Extension and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials.

In its 39th year, Small Farms Week is a weeklong celebration of small farmers organized by N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University’s Cooperative Extension. It offers educational forums, speakers, networking opportunities and, of course, food.

Bellies full and properly welcomed, those attending then toured the newly opened 40-by-40 building where the Hartmans extract, process and pack their honey – and some from other farmers who sell to them.

Two men are standing in front of a presentation screen. One man, wearing a cap and casual attire, shakes hands with another man in a suit, who is holding a plaque with a clock. They appear to be at an NC Cooperative Extension event.

Dr. McKinnie presents Jim Hartman with a clock to mark his successful year as N.C. Small Farmer of the Year. “Your reign may be one year, but the recognition of being N.C. Small Farmer of the Year will last forever,” McKinnie said.

“You know, I’m amazed at how the Lord works in my life,” said Hartman, a U.S. Army veteran of the Iraq War. “We just got this building operational the second week of March, … and four days after we got it operational, Fresh Market dropped its biggest order I’ve ever had in my entire time. There’s zero chance I could have gotten it done out of (our previous) building.”

The guests then traveled to the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Auditorium for lunch and a recognition program. They received a surprise performance by the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division Chorus.

Lisa Childers, director of the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension, also highlighted Soldiers to Agriculture, a five-week program designed for active-duty military soldiers nearing the end of their service, was well as veterans and their spouses. It offers an introduction to the career possibilities in agriculture with training inside and outside of the classroom.

In remarks at the luncheon, M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D., associate dean and administrator of Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T, noted that this time of year is known as March Madness for the college basketball championship battle.

“But I want to change it and say that I think during this particular week of the year … it’s March Goodness,” he said. “We think about the contributions that the state’s small farmers make, and it’s our way of standing in appreciation to them.”

McKinnie presented Hartman with a clock as token of appreciation. “You have been a stellar representation of what it means to be a small farmer and we appreciate you,” McKinnie told Hartman.

Gallery

A group of soldiers in camouflage uniforms and maroon berets sing in front of an audience. A banner reads Small Farms Week in the background. The audience is seated with plates and drinks on the tables. An American flag is visible on the left.

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82nd Airborne Chorus at the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Auditorium during the Small Farms Week Closing Events in Fayetteville, NC.

A soldier in camouflage fist bumps a seated man wearing a cap inside a room with tables and people. The soldier has numerous patches on his uniform, and both appear engaged in friendly interaction.

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2024 Co-Small Farmer of the Year Jim Hartman, left, gets a fist bump from a member of the 82nd Airborne Chorus at the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Auditorium during the Small Farms Week Closing Events in Fayetteville, NC.

Four people stand in a warehouse near stacks of yellow boxes. Two women, one in a red plaid shirt and another in a blue jacket, converse with two men wearing blue jackets and khaki pants. A partially open garage door is in the background.

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Christi Hartman, left, discusses her bottling process with M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D., associate dean and Extension administrator, and Trequan McGee, Ph.D., Extension horticulture specialist.

Several bees are gathered on the rim of a white plastic container, which is slightly tilted. The container is positioned outdoors under sunlight, and the background is blurred grass.

Young bees, March 28, 2025, at Secret Garden Bees Honey Farm in Linden, NC.

Young bees at Secret Garden Bees Honey Farm in Linden, NC.

Soldiers in uniform interact with seated attendees at an indoor event. The room has decorated tables, and several people are clapping. Some soldiers wear maroon berets, indicating they might be paratroopers. Walls display various military-themed decorations.

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2024 Co-Small Farmer of the Year Jim Hartman, left, and other attendees watch the 82nd Airborne Chorus at the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension Auditorium during the Small Farms Week Closing Events in Fayetteville, NC.

A cluster of bees gathers near the entrance of a yellow beehive, with one bee flying nearby. The wooden beehive platform shows signs of wear, surrounded by natural light.

Young bees, March 28, 2025, at Secret Garden Bees Honey Farm in Linden, NC.

Young bees at Secret Garden Bees Honey Farm in Linden, NC.

A wooden sign for Secret Gardens Bees & Honey Farm stands beside a road. The sign is mounted on a wooden frame, with street signs for Laurinburg Rd and Moray St nearby. Trees and a blue sky are in the background. A directional sign points left.

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Small Farms Week Closing Events at Secret Garden Bees Honey Farm in Linden, NC.

A man in a gray shirt and cap is seated and removing biscuits from a vintage black stove outdoors. He wears a red oven mitt. People are gathered in the background near tables with checkered tablecloths. Gravel covers the ground.

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Small Farms Week Closing Events at Secret Garden Bees Honey Farm in Linden, NC.

A man in a cap and casual clothing speaks at a microphone on an outdoor stage. A red ribbon is stretched in front of him. Behind, a crowd stands near tables with checkered tablecloths and a small green utility vehicle in a wooded area.

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2024 Co-Small Farmer of the Year speaks in front of his new honey packaging facility at the Small Farms Week Closing Events at Secret Garden Bees Honey Farm in Linden, NC.

A group of six people stand in front of a red building with two white garage doors. A man in the center cuts a red ribbon, holding large scissors. They are all smiling, and there is gravel on the ground in front of them.

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2024 Co-Small Farmer of the Year Jim Hartman cuts a ceremonial ribbon in front of his new honey packaging facility as (left to right) South Central District Extension Director Keith Walters, NC State Cooperative Extension; Shannon Wiley, Ph.D., Regional Extension Director, Urban and Non-Traditional/Underrepresented Audiences; Hartman, Christi Hartman, wife of Jim Hartman; Lisa Childers, Cumberland County extension director; and Faith Phillips, assistant county manager, Cumberland County, look on at the Small Farms Week Closing Events at Secret Garden Bees Honey Farm in Linden, NC.

A man in a gray shirt and cap speaks animatedly to a group of people gathered around him in an indoor setting. The group includes two women and several men, some wearing hats and casual clothing, listening attentively. An exit sign is visible in the background.

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Co-Small Farmer of the Year, left, explains a process to Hannah Talton, Ph.D. of N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension during a tour of his new packing facility.

A man in a red checkered shirt applies glaze to biscuits on a tray outdoors. Hes at a table with red-checkered cloth, with others in the background. Trees and a tent are visible. A box of Ziploc bags is on the table.

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Connor Peacock brushes biscuits with butter at the Small Farms Week Closing Events at Secret Garden Bees Honey Farm in Linden, NC.

A group of seven people smiling and standing in front of a backdrop featuring NC Cooperative Extension logos. They appear to be dressed for a professional event or gathering.

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Renee Campbell, executive assistant; Mark Blevins, Ed.D., N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension assistant director; M. Ray McKinnie, N.C. A&T Extension administrator; Lisa Childers, Cumberland County extension director; 2024 Small Farmer of the Year Jim Hartman; and Shannon Wiley, Ph.D., N.C. A&T Extension director for regional Extension director, celebrate during Small Farms Week 2025.