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Mike Ciochetti of Heaven’s Landing

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Mike Ciochetti of Heaven’s Landing

Note: The introduction is at a higher audio level than the actual interview. You will need to turn up the volume to hear the interview.

Mike Ciochetti is a former race-car driver on the ARCA circuit. With that lifestyle came a need to be more mobile. So, Mike became a pilot. The problem was that the nearest airport to his home was 25 miles away. So, he eventually found an area near his home and thought about putting in his own personal airstrip. His original plans were for his own private estate, but he was injured and was no longer able to race. So, he and several investors bought the property where he had originally planned to put his own runway and Heaven’s Landing was born. Heaven’s Landing is a fly-in  gated community that allows owners to either house their planes in hangers built on to their homes, or at a hanger complex near their runway. Places like this give the daily commute a whole new meaning.

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Written Interviews Uncategorized

Sunshine Strawberry Farm by: Arlene Childers (ME Cohort 9)

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Sunshine Strawberry Farm     by Arlene Childers

   Coy Evans, more commonly known as “Buddy”, is a local Rutherford County farmer who has taken advantage of entrepreneurship education opportunities by attending the Sustainable Agriculture Class at Foothills Connect Business & Technology Center, and entrepreneurship classes at Isothermal Community College.  Buddy lost his job as a Facility Manager after the company he worked for outsourced his position.  Buddy now owns and operates Sunshine Strawberry Farm in Bostic, North Carolina, where he raises plasti-culture strawberries using drip irrigation on a raised-bed covered with plastic.  Buddy understands the importance of networking with peers.  He attends conferences and is a member of the NC Strawberry Association. While completing an apprenticeship with a neighboring farmer, Buddy learned how to use drip irrigation, and how to use row cover to protect the strawberries from deer, frost, and insect damage.  Attending classes at Isothermal Community College gave Buddy a sense of direction and helped him develop business skills and confidence.  The advice Buddy would like to share with others is, “You can do anything you want to if you are willing to work for it.”  Buddy’s future plans include growing strawberries in the off season, and expanding his farm to include other agriculture products for year-around crops.

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