Ron Simmons

Bio

Master Blend specializes in pasture raised pork and proudly distributes superior pork products across the Eastern United States to premium restaurants, high end eateries, and professional sports stadiums. The company is a 3rd generation farming operation located in Kenansville, NC. Their team consists of pioneers, educators, and innovators who believe in preserving a family farm legacy. They are members of the NC Pork Council & recipients of the Certified Safe Farm program. In 2016, Ron won the James Sprunt Community College New Biz Small Business Challenge. In 2017, he was presented with the Martin Luther King Jr. Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In March of 2018, Ron was awarded North Carolina’s Small Farmer of the Year by North Carolina A&T University followed by receiving Duplin County’s Golden Star Award. In January of 2024, Master Blend received the Martin Luther King Jr Legacy Entrepreneur Award followed by the NC Community College Small Business Center Network’s: Center of Excellence Business Success Story: Most Impact alongside James Sprunt Community College.

They continue to work with specialists from multiple learning institutes and Ag nutrition panels to create the ideal environment for their animal’s well-being, production and operation. Master Blend has a mobile food truck that offers meals on location, a farm store that sells pork and other North Carolina made products directly to consumers and has been used as a filming location for major Hollywood film projects. Ron has a strong social media presence and serves as Brand Ambassador for Kubota Tractor Corporation and Kingsford Manufacturing; as well as an Adjunct Business Instructor for James Sprunt Community College and CEO of Master Blend Family Farms. He is working towards a BA in Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations (2017). He already serves on the board of Feast Down East (2020 – present) and the NC Cooperative Extension (2015 – present).