Winterhawk Graphics

05/12/2025

12/30/2024

12/06/2024

As we say goodbye to our H2A men for another season, I thought I would explain a little about how the H2A program works.

Our men are employed through the North Carolina Growers Association H2A program. They come legally into our country on group buses with work visas. We have 5 men that come in March and 4 that come in July. The program is beneficial to us and them. We are required to pay them $15.82 for 2024 and next year they will get $16.16 an hour, with a minimum of 40 hours a week. During peak season, they work closer to 60 hours a week. We also provide them with housing, utilities, transportation, and 2 trips a week into town for them to purchase their own food, wire money to their families, etc. In turn, they cannot work for anyone but us while in America. Having reliable, hard workers was our biggest problem on the farm prior to joining this program.

The H2A program requires them to go home for a period of time each year. So, all of our men go home on this last group of buses going back to Mexico. They can also choose to fly home as well. Since the cost of living is much less in Mexico, they are able to go home, and they and their families live off of what they made during their time here until they return in either March or July. And they have definitely earned some down time with their families!

They are not stealing American jobs, as some people claim. We advertise these positions locally every year, we are required to. And in all the years we've been on this program only once has an American applied and worked for us. He worked one day and never came back even to collect his pay. It is hard work and long hours but even at $16.16 an hour (fyi minimum wage in North Carolina is just $7.25) most, but not all, Americans are not interested in this kind of physical labor. But if any American citizens are interested in picking apples, we will be taking applications at the end of July.

We are so grateful for this program and the men that help make our farm a successful business!!!

11/16/2024

We are a Global Methodist Church in Franklin, NC committed to Jesus Christ and serving others.

09/17/2024

Don’t miss it!!! 1/2 Price Friday, Bag Sale for Missions Saturday PLUS our regular Breakfast and Bakesale too! Doors open at 8 am!!!! Thank you for your continuing support!!! ❤️

06/11/2024

First set of photos since head injury in January! Practice with James Thompson Monday

06/11/2024

My first photos since head injury in January. Music rehearsal Monday at James Thompson's!

07/12/2021

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