Thomas Porter Jr., a beef, hog and poultry producer from  North Carolina, has been named the Southeastern Farmer of the Year.. Speaking  to a crowd of well-wishers attending the annual Farmer of the Year Luncheon at  this year’s Sunbelt Ag Expo, Porter said it was hard to believe “you could be  honored and respected like this for going out and doing something you love to  do.” Porter says he wants to take part of the money he received from the award  to expand his operation to add more cattle and create an agro-tourism programs  for urban residents.