Preserving Farmland for the Future: The Story of Roberts Farm
Spring 2025 | Davidson–Randolph Counties, NC
By Samantha Snyder | Photos by Grace & Cary Kanoy
If you’ve ever driven a familiar backroad and spotted a new subdivision where a farm once stood, you know the bittersweet feeling: more rooftops, less pasture. In southern Davidson and Randolph Counties, one family is working to make sure some of that rural beauty stays untouched — forever.
Meet Lloyd Roberts, a first-generation cattle farmer in Denton, NC. Wearing a green John Deere cap and his farm’s logo, he surveys the land with pride: “They’ve got really good soils here. Really good rolling land, perfect for cattle. So it wasn’t a tough decision to say, ‘I’m going to preserve this farm.’”
From Tractor Sales to Cattle Grazing
Lloyd’s path to farming started in the late ’80s as a John Deere salesman. That career evolved into dealership co-ownership and close relationships with farmers — and eventually, a desire to join their ranks. In the early 2000s, he and his wife Tammy bought 50 acres and dove in, learning from local ag experts and other farmers.
“We were like sponges,” Lloyd says. That journey led them to the idea of farmland preservation — and it stuck.
300 Acres, Permanently Protected
Farmland loss is accelerating, and Lloyd had seen it firsthand. Determined to protect his land, he partnered with Three Rivers Land Trust, placing a conservation easement on the farm. In 2021, they protected 200 acres; in 2023, another 100 — all now safe from development.
“It’s about more than farming,” he says. “It’s about protecting the scenery, the space, and the potential for food.”
A Business Rooted in Stewardship
Cattle farming takes serious capital. Lloyd acknowledges that land preservation doesn’t pay like a developer might, but he’s committed to the long game. With help from programs like EQIP, and through their on-farm store, the Roberts family is building a brand focused on quality beef and community connection.
“Our customers want us here,” Lloyd says. “It’s a relationship.”
A Legacy Secured
Lloyd isn’t sure if the next generation will take over, but he’s okay with that. Thanks to the easement, the land must remain in agriculture — whether it’s owned by family or someone else.
“You can farm it, you can do agritourism,” he says. “You just can’t develop it. This is forever. There’s no going back.”
And with that, Lloyd turns to his herd, grazing peacefully on land now preserved — for good.
Read more about this article on Page 8 of our local food guide.