Shannon Frazier is a trunk of man with a corn cob pipe. His wardrobe varies between bib overalls and a shirt with suspenders. On the surface, his life working a small farm outside Morehead might seem stereotyped, and Shannon does have a real appreciation for his simple lifestyle. But his deep faith and empathy give his actions unusual meaning.
On a crisp fall morning, Shannon prepares for winter. After coffee with his wife, Cindy, he laces his sturdy boots, jumps onto his bright orange tractor, and heads out to his young farm to realize his vision for the fertile land. Today he plants cover crop to replenish and protect the soil during the winter. While farming goes back multiple generations in Shannon's family, his farm doesn't escape moments of adversity. Shannon accepts challenges as opportunities to learn. He gets to be a biologist, engineer and marketer all in the same day.
Cindy grew up in Morehead with a priority, as she says, "to do well in school to get out of here and do better."
After living in Asheville for years, though, Shannon and Cindy moved back to Cindy's childhood home to take care of her mother. While returning to what Shannon describes as a "monoculture" has its downsides, living in Morehead he "couldn't ask for a better neighbor or friend . . . Everyone treats each other like family."
Back on the farm, Shannon sees proof of God's existence in a masterfully trained cutting horse or the way cows line up in the same order to be milked each day. Brimming with gratitude Shannon exclaims, "God programmed that horse . . . We're supposed to use this world and to be stewards."
With an introspective sparkle in his eye Shannon describes the pride he feels looking over a field full of healthy plants he grew. At the moment, two rows of late season lettuce and a few sweet potatoes are the only produce still in the ground. Come spring, though, this small patch of land will be full of a bounty Shannon can be proud of.
