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APPLE FESTIVAL: Grower of the year honored

Jerry Laughter's grandchildren, Brynna and Kye Laughter and Chelsie, Trenton and Ashton Hill, nominated him as Apple Farmer of the Year.

By Bill Moss, Published: September 4, 2015

The second largest apple grower in the county in the 1970s and '80s, Jerry Laughter founded Edneyville Packers and helped spark industry growth in the orchards and production side. Besides his own career, he's done something else right. He's kept young members of the Laughter family in business.

Laughter, 72, was recognized on Friday during the opening ceremonies at the North Carolina Apple Festival as the 2015 United Community Bank Apple Farmer of the Year. The Laughter family has operated an apple stand at the Apple Festival for 22 years. The Circle L Farm stand across from the Historic Courthouse was where you could find five Laughter grandchildren selling fresh apples, apple turnovers and fried apple pies.

Jerry Laughter accepts the Apple Grower of the Year Award during opening ceremonies of the 2015 Apple Festival.“He’s employed dozens of people throughout his career,” said his grandson, Kye Laughter, who nominated his grandfather along with his sister Brynna and cousins Chelsie, Ashton and Trenton. “If you ask anybody in Edneyville what they think of Jerry Laughter, he is known for his generosity. He doesn’t judge people based on what they’ve got in their bank account or how they appear. In the farming community I think he set a very good precedent for what the county has done.”
Through packing, he had a very success business. At one time he grew 800 acres of apples in Henderson and Polk counties. Now he grows about 100 acres.

"He is well known for his generosity and humor," said Fair Waggoner, city president of United Community Bank. "No matter the situation, he will always help others succeed and he will always be a proud Edneyville apple grower."