Born Out of Curiosity
& Determination
How 13-year-old Sam Bainbridge turned a COVID shutdown project into a thriving pasture-raised livestock farm in Liberty, NC.
Growing Up Outdoors in Liberty, NC
Growing up in a big family in Liberty, North Carolina, Sam Bainbridge was always happiest outdoors. From the time he was little, he loved watching things grow—whether it was a watermelon patch, a row of garden flowers, or a flock of backyard chickens.
At just eight years old, Sam raised his very first batch of turkeys for the NC State Youth Market Turkey Show. That hands-on experience sparked a lifelong passion for livestock, animal welfare, and self-reliant farming.
Building a Farm During COVID-19
While many kids spent the 2020 COVID shutdown playing video games, 13-year-old Sam saw a unique opportunity. He decided to turn his childhood passion into a real farm enterprise.
- Built Mobile Coops: Designed and built mobile chicken coops with his dad to rotate poultry on fresh pasture.
- Invested Hard-Earned Money: Purchased laying hens, meat chickens, turkeys, and a used chicken plucker.
- Trial & Perseverance: That very first batch of 25 chickens took the family an entire full day to process by hand!
Clearing Woods & Adding Pigs
The following year, Sam added pigs to the operation. Taking his chainsaw into overgrown woods, he spent long hours clearing timber to create rotational woodland pastures where hogs could forage naturally under forest canopy.
To fund each expansion project, Sam worked for neighboring farms and took on odd jobs around the community. With encouragement from local farmers, trial and error, and unwavering determination, he officially established Green Eggs & Sam Farm.
Married Right on the Farm He Built
In April 2026, Sam married his high school sweetheart, Katie, right on the very farm he had built with his own hands from age 13.
Dreaming & Building Together
Today, Sam and Katie are building their future together—raising happy, healthy pastured animals and providing their North Carolina community with wholesome, ethically raised meat.
The Green Eggs & Sam Growth Timeline
First Turkeys
Raised turkeys for the NC State Youth Market Turkey Show, starting a lifelong passion for livestock.
COVID Startup
Bought laying hens, meat chickens, and turkeys. Built mobile coops and bought a plucker to process the first 25 birds.
Woodland Pasture Pigs
Cleared overgrown woods to establish rotational woodland pastures for hogs while working off-farm jobs.
Farm Wedding
Sam married Katie on the farm he built, embarking on a shared mission to feed their local community.
Farm Photo Memories
Support Local Pasture Farmers
Early Rise Ranch is proud to spotlight hard-working young producers like Sam & Katie Bainbridge. Discover our selection of pasture-raised meats and support local family agriculture in Liberty, North Carolina.