ELLERBE — Lee Berry is hoping to keep his crown as Sexiest North Carolina Collard Farmer — but has some stiff competition this year.
The Facebook page The State You’re In on Tuesday posted photos of the 23 entries in this year’s contest, including the reigning 2023 champion Berry, co-owner of the Berry Patch and former mayor of Ellerbe.
Other entries for the contest are:
- Bullard Farms in Maxton (Robeson County)
- Parrish Farms in Nashville (Nash County)
- Brown Family Farms in Henderson (Vance County)
- Geraldine’s Peaches and Produce in Lumberton (Robeson County)
- Brock Farms in Grantham (Wayne County)
- Robinson Produce Farms in Whiteville (Columbus County)
- Barrett Family Farms in Pinetown (Beaufort County)
- Parry’s Produce and More in Mount Gilead (Montgomery County)
- Moore Farm in Liberty (Randolph County)
- Lumber River Produce in Evergreen (Columbus County)
- Farmer’s Daughter Organics in Mount Ulla (Rowan County)
- Barfield Farms in Lucama (Wilson County)
- Correll Farms in Cleveland (Rowan County)
- Red Beard Farm in Willard (Pender County) (three entries)
- TC Smith Produce in Seven Springs (Wayne County)
- T&S Produce in Pink Hill (Lenoir County)
- The Field in Rimertown (Cabarrus County)
- Robinson Farms in Waxhaw (Union County)
- Daniels Farm Produce in Wilson (Wilson County)
- Family Farm Produce in Lucama (Wilson County)
While most of the participants are men, there are four women in this year’s contest. Administrators of The State Your In said only one farmer will be crowned king — or queen.
The more risque photos, like Berry’s, were posted in the comments — something Berry said was confusing for those trying to vote.
“I am disappointed they did not inform me they would not be posting my picture,” Berry told the RO on Tuesday, adding he was told by numerous people that they scrolled past looking for his photo. “It’s all fun and games, but just a little disappointed in that part of the contest.”
Berry won the contest last year — which only had four other contestants — with more than 60% of the vote for a photo appearing to show him standing in his field in the buff, holding a collard plant in front of him.
This year’s photo features Berry wearing a crown over his cap, holding a collard plant in each outstretched hand, with leaves tucked into his shorts.
When The State You’re In received Berry’s photo on Nov. 11, they posted that the other contestants “are gonna have to step your game up…”
Robinson Produce Farms and Correll Farms took a cue from Berry and also posed seemingly nude.
Collards are typically grown in the spring and fall. The leafy plant in the same family as cabbage, broccoli and kale and originally came from the coastal regions along the Mediterranean Sea, according to a post from the North Carolina Local Food Council.
The Tar Heel State is the third-largest producer of collards, behind Georgia and South Carolina. Collard greens are the official state vegetable of South Carolina.
However, the U.S. is only 10th in collard production worldwide, with the top two nations being China and India, according to Tridge.com.
Administrators say the idea for the contest came from a photo of Daniels Farm Produce last year: “…they way he held them inspired it all.”
The only current prize for the winner is claim to the title, though administrators have thought about having 3-D trophies printed. However, the added that a 3-D model of a collard leaf doesn’t yet exist.
The State You’re In is also considering producing a calendar with the top 12 winners, if they all agree, with proceeds going toward relief efforts in Western North Carolina.
To vote, react to the image reading “The Berry Patch” in the post.
As of 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, Berry was in second place with 831 reactions — but trailing behind Brown Family Farms with more than 2,500 reactions.
Voting runs for week and page administrators say they might wait until Wednesday to reveal the winner.
