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L-R: Cowan Johnson, NCPF President; Kay Leigh and Bradley Parker
At their annual meeting in October, the North Carolina Poultry Federation (NCPF) selected Parker’s Island Creek Farms of Rose Hill, NC to receive the trade association’s 2025 Environmental Excellence Award. Bradley Parker, his parents, and his wife Kay Leigh have been chicken farming with House of Raeford Farms for nearly 25 years.
In presenting the award, Cowan Johnson, outgoing NCPF president and House of Raeford executive, described Bradley “as one who understands the environmental impact of farming and actively works to reduce his footprint.”
“It is important to treat all that is entrusted to me—land, animals, and resources—with care, gratitude, and responsibility, “Bradley shared.
After Bradley and his parents lost their family farm to the catastrophic flooding of Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and following the untimely passing of his father a few months later, Bradley and his mother rebuilt their home and farm through faith, hard work, and perseverance.
In addition to managing his own farms, Bradley serves as a subcontractor for Johnson Breeders, a division of House of Raeford, addressing hazardous conditions caused by natural disasters, accidents, and disease. He offers litter removal, total clean-outs, and a range of environmental services.
Parker Family L-R: (Front) Lily, Paisley, Adley; (Back) Sylva, Kay Leigh, Bradley
From a company perspective, Bob Johnson, CEO of House of Raeford, offered these thoughts. “I am an environmentalist, and I believe farmers are environmentalists because they live off the land and they love the land. Long before sustainability became a popular concern, family farmers understood the importance of environmental stewardship. We share their respect for the environment and are building sustainable practices across our entire operation.”
L-R: Jennifer & Cowan Johnson; Sherri Teachey; Kay Leigh & Bradley Parker; Bob & Luanne Johnson; Cathy & Joe Sholar
The Parker family participates with the Duplin County Soil and Water Conservation District in a litter management program, and with careful planning and oversight, full clean-outs of their chicken houses are only needed every two to three years.
Bradley and Kay Leigh also take pride in the appearance of their farms, odor, pest control, and coordinating litter spreading and road upkeep with neighbors to minimize disruption. The farms continue to evolve with new energy-saving measures, strong biosecurity protocols, the installation of composters to manage mortality on-site, and employee training.
House of Raeford is proud to congratulate Bradley, Kay Leigh, and their four children on this well-deserved award and their conscientious decision to protect the natural resources of their local community. We encourage all farmers to adopt similar practices in their operations.