Debbie Hamrick is Director, Specialty Crops with the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation. She has responsibilities for emerging agricultural enterprises; aquaculture; apiculture; ornamental horticulture and sod; fruit, vegetables, nuts and viticulture; and forestry. Debbie joined the Public Policy Staff at North Carolina Farm Bureau in November 2004.
Prior to joining Farm Bureau, Debbie enjoyed a high-profile career in the ornamental industry with Ball Horticultural Co. Most recently, Debbie served as a member of Ball Publishing’s Leadership Team, as Editor of FloraCulture International magazine, and Manager of conferences. She also was the founding Publisher/Editor of FloraCulture International magazine and set up the joint venture that founded that magazine in 1989. She served as Ball Publishing’s Editorial Director and oversaw editorial development of Green Profit magazine for American ornamental plant retailers. Earlier she was Editor of GrowerTalks, the most respected American trade journal for commercial greenhouse growers. She edited the 15th edition of the Ball Redbook, Vol. II . In addition to writing for Ball Publishing titles, she has contributed many articles and chapters to other agricultural and horticultural journals and books. Debbie also briefly worked for Ball Seed Co. where she had marketing responsibilities in Eastern North Carolina.
Throughout her horticultural career Debbie visited more than 20 countries on five continents and is recognized as an industry leader. She has been a frequent, respected speaker and served as keynote at horticultural conferences in Canada, China, Colombia, Japan, Taiwan, the Netherlands, the Philippines and the United States.
Debbie has been and continues to be active in many state, regional, and national industry associations. Among them, she has served as President (2004-2006) and Board Member, of FloraStar, a North American pot plant trialing organization; and President (2003) and Board Member of the NC Commercial Flower Growers Association. Additionally, Debbie’s board experiences include the Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation Alumni, Ivy Acres, Professional Plant Growers Association, North Carolina Green Industry Council, NC Aquaculture Development Conference Board and the Raleigh Women’s Professional Forum. She is also a member of the JC Raulston Arboretum Advisory Board. As an active member of Raleigh’s International Affairs Council, she regularly entertains out-of-country guests in her home.
In her role with NC Farm Bureau, Debbie interfaces with more than two dozen agricultural, ag-related and sustainable organizations across the state and maintains an active network of agricultural, forestry and specialty crops leaders in the state. She is a frequent speaker at Farm Bureau meetings and industry gatherings across North Carolina.
She is an alumnus of North Carolina State University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Horticultural Science, with a minor in Agricultural Economics. In 2003, Debbie received the Department of Horticultural Science’s Outstanding Alumnus Award. She is also a 1998 graduate of the Illinois Ag Leadership Program.
Debbie spent her high school years in Lumberton, North Carolina and currently resides in Raleigh’s Hayes Barton neighborhood with her partner, Edgar Gaines, and a fabulous sheltie Max.