BEHIND THE GRAIN

It all started with a bunch of ducks.

We started Tidewater Grain Co. as means of making the economics work for our small, family-focused hunt club in Eastern North Carolina. Ducks love water and long grass to hide in. Carolina Gold Rice fit the bill and could fetch a higher price at market than other crops like corn. Eastern North Carolina was once a major producer of Carolina Gold in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but hurricanes in the early 1900s nearly wiped out the crop. We resolved to bring it back. Our first crop was planted in 2018 and today, we touch every part of the process — from planting to harvest, from milling to packaging, to direct wholesale and consumer retail, to education and shipping.

And, yes, we're still crazy about ducks.

— Al & Tommy, Founders

Born from a love of the outdoors, fellowship around food, and a penchant for tall tales.

MEET THE FOUNDERS

Al Spruill, Founder

A fifth-generation farmer, Al studied agriculture at NC State University. He started with 600 acres in 1988 and now farms over 4,000 acres of field crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and turfgrass. Al's kids help run the farm today and the seventh-generation is right behind them. He once dreamed of a magical run in the Kentucky Derby as a horse jockey. Realizing his 6’7” frame wouldn’t support this dream, he still copes with the disappointment.

Tommy Wheeler, Founder

After studying physics at Davidson College, Tommy landed in NASCAR. He worked as a team engineer, engineering manager and technical director for teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Evernham Motorsports. He ended his career as operations director and general manager of Roush Fenway Racing in 2021. If you're wondering how a NASCAR engineer became a farmer, so is Tommy.

Meet the Team