Farming History:
Colby "Bear" Hammonds hails from North Carolina and worked on the family's farm in the Saddletree area of Lumberton (Robeson County), where his grandfather and father also worked with their own hands. Members of the Lumbee Tribe, his parents were deeply engaged in community leadership. His father, Ronald Hammonds, actively participated in the Jaycees and served in various elected roles, including as a member of the Robeson County Board of Education, the Board of Trustees for UNC Pembroke, and as President of the NC Cattlemen's Association. He currently serves on the board of Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation. Hammonds' mother, Linda Oxendine Hammonds, served as an original elected member of the Lumbee Tribal Council and dedicated over 30 years as a public-school teacher.
Growing up, Hammonds participated in Robeson County's NC Cooperative Extension 4H Youth Development programs, joining the 4H Chick to Chicken program at age 9, and the livestock judging team by age 11. He was also an active member of his high school's Future Farmers of America (FFA) club. His early years were filled with hands-on farming experiences; everything from managing cattle, poultry, pork, and horses, to maintaining pasture fences and baling hay.
In 2008, Hammonds purchased his first farm property in Lumberton, which luckily adjoined his parents' farm. His acquisition was part of the government's 2005 tobacco allotment buyout program, enabling him to continue his family's farming legacy. In 2013, Colby and his wife, Nicole, purchased their current homestead in Wake County, where they aimed to raise their children on a farm near their jobs in Raleigh. They were fortunate to find a small, affordable farm about 45 minutes from the city. Once a rural escape, their farm is now bordered by city development on three sides, as all other livestock producers on their road have sold their farms to developers over the past ten years.
Family:
Colby is married to Nicole. They have three children: Elaina (husband Robert & son Tristan), Claire, and Colby Jr, (CJ). The family are members of Hope Community Church in Apex, NC.
Community Service & Memberships:
Hammonds is the owner & operator of Hammonds LLC, dba Hammonds Land & Cattle, with over 30 years of direct farm operating experience. Hammonds Land & Cattle provides pasture-raised beef and pork directly to local consumers. Hammonds specializes in farmland development, environmentally friendly layouts, and process improvements for farming operations. He also works with families looking for homestead properties, and assists farmers in securing state and federal grants to support their farms.
Military Service:
Colonel (retired) Colby "Bear" Hammonds joined the military directly out of high school, serving 33+ years in the Army Reserves and Army National Guard in North Carolina, including five years as an enlisted soldier and 28 years as an officer. He completed two combat deployments; first to Afghanistan as a Commander (2003, Operation Enduring Freedom IV) where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Hammonds' second deployment took him to Iraq (2008, Operation Iraqi Freedom 10) as the Brigade S3 LNO. A rated pilot in AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, he also trained on M1A1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles. Hammonds' military career included roles from platoon leader to battalion commander, as well as Pentagon assignments, and culminated with his position as the Director of Accounting with U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Liberty, NC.
Key Military Career Positions & Highlights:
Education:
Professional Licenses:
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