A house RESOLUTION

 

to recognize and congratulate the dixon family of DIXON FARMS IN aynor on being named the south carolina farm bureau faRMERS of the week FOR fEBRUARY 27 THROUGH mARCH 3, 2023.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Warren, Corey, and Markel Dixon of Dixon Farms in Aynor have been selected as the South Carolina Farm Bureau Farmers of the Week for February 27 through March 3, 2023; and

 

Whereas, when speaking to Warren Dixon about his family's farming operation, there is unmistakable pride in his voice. Dixon Farms has maintained continual operation for over two hundred years and is still going strong as the sixth generation now emerges to join the family business; and

 

Whereas, the Dixons have been in this area for a long time, and much of the land they rent is composed of small minority-owned farms. In the past, much of this land, located in coastal Horry County, supported thirty to forty minority families. The family currently farms eight hundred acres, the main crops being tobacco, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and corn; and

 

Whereas, in the mid-1800s, Warren's great-grandfather, Phil, purchased the farm for twenty-five cents an acre. Phil was Native American, which enabled him to own land prior to the Civil War. Passed down over time, Dixon Farms is now in the hands of Warren and his brother, Greg, who farm alongside Warren's son, Corey, and grandson, Markel; and

 

Whereas, the Dixons plant one hundred ten acres of sweet potatoes, the farm's most supported business, using local farmers' markets and roadside stands to market and sell; and

 

Whereas, Warren is well versed in USDA programs and has worked with both its Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service to expand, protect, and improve the farm. He began working with USDA over forty years ago when he obtained his first loan through FSA to purchase a tractor in 1974 and then thirteen acres of land in 1976. Vested in the agricultural community, Warren served on the South Carolina FSA State Committee during the Clinton and Obama administrations for a combined sixteen years, and he was reappointed recently to the same committee for his expertise. He also has served as the Horry County Soil and Water Conservation District commissioner since 1991; and

 

Whereas, the Dixons are a hard-working family with strong generational relationships. When it comes to the youngest member of this farming operation, Markel, there was never any doubt about his future: He is a full-time farmer. Markel, who started working with his grandfather on the farm as a child and fell in love with it, decided to stay on the farm to gain hands-on experience and would like to pass on the farming tradition to his own family one day. In the future, he additionally hopes to follow in his family's footsteps by running for his local FSA County Committee so that he can give a voice to young and beginning minority farmers in his community. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate the Dixon family of Dixon Farms in Aynor on being named the South Carolina Farm Bureau Farmers of the Week for February 27 through March 3, 2023.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Dixon family.

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