Chamber honors Culpeper hay farmers

They work long hours baling quality hay and straw for Culpeper businesses and families.

A modest operation with a handful of workers, they supply tons of their product to primarily horse owners and landscaping companies from their 300-acre family farm on Greens Corner Road.

And for the last three decades he's run the show exclusively, until bringing his son on board a few years ago.

They are the Payne family and they received the 2008 Outstanding Agribusiness Award from the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Wednesday on the Payne Hay & Straw Inc. farm.

Several local officials congratulated the father and son team as Dan Williams, chairman of the business development and assistance committee, presented them with a silver plaque.

"It's a fine honor," said F. Dewayne Payne Sr., 60. "It's what we do best."

His son, Dewayne Payne Jr., 27, agreed.

"It's what we know," he said. "It's something we've always done. I was born into it."

With newer and faster technology, the Paynes depend less on hired hands - one full-time helper and a handful of part-timers - and more on the latest tools.

"We invest more in machinery as opposed to a large workforce, especially with the efficient equipment available today," the younger Payne said. "It really doesn't take a lot of manpower."

But there is one thing out of their control: weather.

Last year's drought put a damper on the family business.

"Typically, we would have three to four cuttings where we had one," said the younger Payne. "It was at least cut in half."

The father and son team said they're keeping their fingers crossed for the upcoming summer season.

During the ceremony's closing remarks, Culpeper County Supervisor Steve Nixon congratulated the family.

"It's a very prestigious award and not easy to win," he said. "Agriculture has kind of been the mainstay of this county (since) forever. And you guys are perfect examples of why we encourage agriculture and preserve farmland to keep the industry going."

"And we'd like to thank you for that," Nixon added. "This is an example of a first-class farming operation."

Before he concluded, Nixon said he's surprised that the family only has three people working the farm.

"I can't say that you're helping the economy in terms of jobs," he joked, causing the small crowd to chuckle.

The elder Payne wasted no time with a witty comeback.
"We have subcontractors," he quipped.

Culpeper County Extension Agent of Animal Science Carl Stafford added that the Payne family incorporates innovation, allowing them to operate a successful business.

"They've taken technology and mechanization, inputs of fertilizer, good seed and weed control and made it work," he said. "You're growing a map for hay in this part of the state as a result of your work."

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .