My name is Cody Craddock, and I am the new Horticulture Agent for Randolph County. I am a Randolph County native having lived here my entire life. I attended Wheatmore High School and was an active member of the FFA program while I was a student there. After high school, I attended college at the University of Mount Olive and graduated in 2021. Immediately after college graduation, I started working in Rowan County as a Commercial Horticulture Agent. I spent about 14 months in Rowan County as the Commercial Horticulture Agent before moving to Randolph County to serve as the Consumer and Commercial Horticulture Agent.

I am looking forward to growing the horticulture program in Randolph County. Like many, I enjoyed gardening at home and really enjoy perennial fruit crops like peaches, apples, blackberries, and blueberries. When I was a kid, I used to grow a big garden and then walk around neighborhoods selling produce that I had grown in my garden. My favorite things to grow were tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and pumpkins.

Something I believe strongly in is promoting agricultural literacy. Lots of people don’t understand how farms produce food which makes them susceptible to misinformation commonly popularized online. While in high school some fellow students and I started a program where we taught lessons to elementary-aged kids about where their food comes from. At the beginning of the curriculum when asked where their food comes from an astounding number of children respond with “from the grocery store” or “I don’t know”. I look forward to planning and participating in similar programs in my new role.

Agriculture is a silent yet important part of our lives. From clothing to your favorite dessert, you indirectly benefit from agriculture every day. Whether you’re a commercial producer growing vegetable crops to feed a hungry world or a backyard gardener looking to grow some produce it is a pleasure to be your Agent. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me