Brandon Batten

Brandon Batten is a sixth-generation farmer and partner in Triple B Farms, a 600-acre operation in Johnston County, North Carolina. A graduate of North Carolina State University, he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural engineering. Named the 2017 Innovative Young Farmer of the Year by the Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina and the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, Brandon is recognized for embracing technology, creative thinking and adaptability in modern agriculture.

On the farm, he has implemented auto-steer tractors, cloud-based recordkeeping, drones and innovative equipment modifications to improve efficiency and productivity. He continues to explore new opportunities through field trials and nontraditional crops, including canola, industrial hemp and specialty tobacco.

Brandon also serves on the North Carolina Farm Bureau Farm Labor State Advisory Committee and is a strong advocate for agriculture and the farmers who make it possible. He believes farmers must be willing to adapt, diversify and embrace new ideas while honoring the generations who came before them. As a young farmer, Brandon is committed to helping bridge the gap between agriculture, consumers and decision-makers by sharing the story of modern farming. For Brandon, innovation is about preserving the past, making the most of the present and continually preparing for the future of agriculture.