Julius Tillery is a 5th generation farmer who helps other farmers in rural communities succeed in their businesses. Julius is a big advocate and supporter of local farmers as well as runs his own business, Black Cotton. Julius graduated in 2004 at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and he earned his B.A in Economics. Find out more about Julius and the work he does on today’s episode!
Key Takeaways:
[:55] A message from Leadership Nature.
[1:40] A quick intro to Julius’s background.
[4:00] How did Julius get into forestry and natural resources?
[6:20] Julius decided to go back to school to further his college education, but after a brief stint, he felt it was better to drop out and get ‘on the ground’ experience instead.
[9:15] Are there a lot of millenials interested in agricultural work?
[14:55] When Julius got his first job, he was 23-years-old, but he was very knowledgeable in his field because he’s been working on the farm since he was 16.
[16:25] What kind of farming did Julius grow up doing?
[19:35] What kind of partnerships has Julius developed over the years?
[21:20] Julius remembers a time where ‘conservation’ and ‘environmentalism’ were bad words for a business.
[23:50] What is Julius most proud of in his career?
[25:45] Why are some minorities hesitant to join natural resources?
[31:25] What is Julius’s business, Black Cotton, all about?
[36:15] Despite Julius’s county being the number 2 cotton producer in his state, his county is still one of the poorest in the country. How is this possible when you have such a big asset?
[37:00] Cotton farmers get pennies on the dollar from cotton, but through local efforts, that can be changed.
[41:00] Look at what’s going on the world and then ask yourself where you see yourself in it that will make an impact, that will make a change for the better.
[45:25] What do young professionals need to know about this field?
[51:05] How important has social media been for Julius and Black Cotton?
Mentioned in This Episode: