A proud North Carolinian, Anna Stein was born in Surry County and grew up in Greenville and Winston-Salem. Anna has long been a public health advocate and public servant. She obtained her law degree and master’s in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before becoming North Carolina’s First Lady in 2025, she served as an agency legal specialist for more than 12 years at the NC Division of Public Health. As First Lady, she works to end the stigma around substance use and mental health disorders, and she supports improved rehabilitation and reentry programming in our state’s prisons. She also promotes rural tourism to help support the economic vitality of our rural communities. When not traveling the state, she enjoys time with her husband, Josh; her adult children, Sam, Adam, and Leah; and her rescue dogs, Lila and Harper.
Dr. Mary Hemphill
Dr. Mary Hemphill is a human-centered leadership strategist, executive coach, and author with over 20 years of experience. As the CEO & Founder of The Limitless Leader LLC, she equips leaders to drive innovation, impact, and transformation through coaching, consulting, and executive workshops. She has served as North Carolina’s first State Director of Computer Science, Chief Academic Officer, and adjunct professor of Leadership Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Dr. Hemphill is a Forbes contributor and a Senior Fellow at The Center for Model Schools. She has been named one of District Administration’s Top 100 Education Influencers and EdTech Digest’s Top 100 Influencers for 2023-24, in addition to being a 2024 EdTech Digest Leadership Award Finalist. She is also the author of The One-Minute Meeting: Creating Student Stakeholders in Schools, a go-to resource for education leaders.
Her work centers on human-centered leadership and innovation, ensuring professionals at every level lead with purpose, authenticity, and impact.
Dr. Carla Barbieri
Dr. Carla Barbieri is a Professor in Sustainable Tourism and an Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University (USA). She founded and leads the Agritourism & Societal Well-being Lab to investigate emerging issues related to farm entrepreneurial diversification, particularly related to agritourism and food and craft-beverage tourism. Barbieri’s extension program addresses the needs of farmers in their entrepreneurial experiences, seeking to enhance their quality of life and promote the well-being and sustainable development of rural communities. Barbieri’s team has spearheaded agritourism-related projects at state, national, and international levels, resulting in over 100 publications and outreach materials.
Panel 1 Bios
Carol Kline
Carol Kline is a Tourism Professor at Appalachian State University. Her research focuses on animal ethics and animal protection in tourism, and she teaches Animals, Tourism, & Sustainability. She co-directed UPLIFT, a federally funded program than ran for three years, serving rural communities in NC. She recently earned a Master’s degree in Animal Law & Policy from Lewis & Clark University, and founded Where Animals Matter, a nonprofit reshaping tourism sectors upstream to impact animal welfare systemwide.
André Nabors
André Nabors has served as the Partner & Community Relations Manager for the Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) since inception. His role is working with communities through NC, helping with sustainable efforts to market and promote the state’s natural, historic and cultural resources for communities, non-profits, and tourism related entities to improve tourism product and visitation across North Carolina. Along with potential retiree relocation.
Ferdinand Rouse
Ferdinand Rouse serves as the Economic Development Director for the Henderson-Vance County Economic Development Commission, where he leads efforts to attract, retain, and grow business and industry in the community. With a background in real estate, business development, and strategic planning, Ferdinand brings a results-driven approach to fostering investment and job creation. He holds an MBA, and the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential from the International Economic Development Council. Since joining the County in July 2024, Ferdinand has been focused on leveraging the City of Henderson and Vance County’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and collaborative partnerships to position the region for long-term growth and prosperity.
Catherine Hughes
Catherine Hughes is a native of Norfolk, Virginia, and has called the Kerr Lake region home since 2001. She began her career managing marine supply stores and later served as a sales representative for Land ’N Sea Distributing. Following her marriage to Scott Hughes, owner of Satterwhite Point Marina on Kerr Lake, Catherine became involved in the family’s marina operations.
In 2012, Catherine and Scott expanded their business by opening Rudds Creek Marina in Boydton, Virginia. Their son, George, is also actively involved in the operation of both marinas.
Catherine has been actively engaged in the local business and tourism community, serving as a past Chair of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and currently as a board member of the Vance County Tourism Authority.
Catherine and her family are passionate about living and working in the Kerr Lake region and value its natural beauty, quality of life, and tremendous potential for growth and economic development.
Panel 2 Bios
Dr. Wykia Macon
Dr. Wykia Macon serves as the County Extension Director and Family & Consumer Sciences Agent for the Vance County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension. She previously served as Vance County’s 4-H Agent, where she focused on youth development and hands-on learning opportunities.
Dr. Macon is passionate about connecting education, agriculture, local food, and community well-being. In her current role, she works to strengthen partnerships throughout Vance County and expand Extension’s ability to address community needs. She also serves as Vance County’s Local Food Coordinator and has been involved in regional local food initiatives, including efforts supporting farmers, food access, gardening, nutrition, and farm-to-school programming.
Through her leadership with Cooperative Extension, Dr. Macon works to connect residents with research-based education and practical resources while creating opportunities for youth, families, farmers, and community partners to grow and thrive.
Quantes "Q" Randle
Tanya and Quantes “Q” Randle are the founders and Chief Land Stewards of Porte NOIRE Farm and Gardens, a 15-acre farm and cultural destination in Franklinton, North Carolina. Together, they are developing an innovative agritourism model that brings agriculture, arts, education, entertainment, and community resources together in one place.
What began as a working farm has grown into a multifaceted rural destination offering farm and arts education, outdoor cultural experiences, community events, youth programming, mobile learning experiences, wellness programming, venue rentals, team-building retreats, farm-based products, and signature attractions including the Al’Umma Art Walk outdoor museum and the Rolling Karaoke party bus.
Through their work, Tanya and Q are exploring how small farms can diversify revenue, create memorable visitor experiences, support artists and other local entrepreneurs, and serve as catalysts for rural economic and community development.
At the heart of their work is a simple belief: A farm can grow more than just healthy food. It can grow opportunity, culture, connection, creativity, and a stronger community.
Kelly Dixon
Kelly Dixon originally from Stovall, NC and currently living in Oxford, NC. They have four beautiful little girls Eleanora, Emelia, Evelyn and Ezabella. Kelly had a Masters in Agriculture Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education with a minor in Animal Science. Kelly has sixteen years of teaching experience in Agriculture Education. She is a National Board certified teacher, Hunter Safety Instructor, Drones Instructor and VGCC agriculture instructor.
Dixon Farms is a fourth-generation family farm established in 1948. For more than 75 years, our family has been dedicated to agriculture, passing down knowledge, traditions, and a strong work ethic from one generation to the next. We grow a variety of crops, including tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, strawberries, pumpkins and fresh produce. We have been growing strawberries for the past nine years and expanded into fresh produce in 2015 to better serve our local community.
Today, every member of the family has an important role. Jason, Kelly, and the girls focus on growing fresh produce and expanding our agritourism activities, creating opportunities for families to experience life on the farm. Jack and the boys focus on tobacco production and grain crops, helping improve soil health and ensuring the farm remains productive for future generations. All working together to continue the legacy. The greatest blessing of farming is raising our children on the farm. They learn responsibility, the value of hard work, and the importance of faith, family, and love. Watching the next generation grow up with a love for agriculture is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
Our mission goes beyond growing crops. We strive to help feed our neighbors and support those in need, while also educating our community about where their food comes from and the hard work that goes into producing it. We connect with seniors, community members in need and work with specialized programs to help meet the needs of members in our community. We believe connecting people to agriculture is just as important as growing the crops themselves. One of our favorite ways to share the farm is through our fall activities and Christmas events. These seasonal experiences bring families together to make memories while giving them the opportunity to learn about farming in a fun and welcoming environment.
Like any farming operation, we face challenges such as unpredictable weather, changing markets, pests, diseases, equipment repairs, and long hours during planting and harvest. Despite these obstacles, we are grateful to continue the family legacy that began long ago. We are committed to preserving Dixon Farms for future generations while serving our community with pride and making Papa Jimmy Dixon proud. Come see us for produce, pork, strawberries, field trips, birthday parties, canned items, fall decor and Christmas Trees.
Jack Pleasant
Jack Pleasant, along with his wife Sandy, operates Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farm in Roxboro, North Carolina. The farm combines agriculture and agritourism, offering visitors an opportunity to experience a working bison farm through narrated tours, purchase locally raised bison products, and enjoy the farm’s distinctive lakeside event venue.
Jack and Sandy have created a unique agritourism destination that connects visitors with agriculture while showcasing the natural beauty and rural character of the region. Through farm tours, events, and hospitality, Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farm provides an example of how agricultural businesses can create additional opportunities through tourism.
Jack and Sandy’s experience offers valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges of building a tourism destination around agriculture and the potential for agritourism to contribute to local and regional economic development.
Dr. Cindy Bennett
Cindy W. Bennett, PhD is an educator with 44 years of experience, beginning her career as a teacher and most recently serving as a superintendent. Raised on a farm in Columbus County, North Carolina, Cindy developed a lifelong connection to agriculture through working in tobacco and helping with her family’s fruit and vegetable production, food preservation, cattle, and poultry.
A longtime supporter of 4-H, scouting, and outdoor education, Cindy is passionate about helping students and communities understand the connection between the land, agriculture, health, and wellness. Today, she and her husband live and work at Hillside Farms, Inc. in Vance County, where she supports farm management, project development, and the design of day camps and evening gatherings that connect children and adults with the land, plants, and water.
Cindy is also an avid gardener who enjoys needlework, flower arranging, baking, and reading.
Preston Williams, Jr.
Preston Williams Jr. is a U.S. Army veteran, farmer, entrepreneur, and community leader with more than 50 years of experience in construction, agriculture, and business development. He has led and completed numerous residential and commercial projects, earning a reputation for craftsmanship, and innovation. As founder of Seven Springs Farm and Vineyard, he helped grow the property into a premier agritourism destination, overseeing farming operations, infrastructure development, and visitor experience. Deeply rooted in his local community, Preston brings valuable insights on agriculture, entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities that drive regional growth.
LUNCH
Redeem your $15 Voucher at one of the following participating restaurants and food trucks!
Downtown Restaurants
George's Restaurant
View the menu HERE. Your voucher will cover $15 of the cost.
Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant
LACPV – Lunch: rice with chicken and vegetables (peppers, onion, and corn)
