Our Family
Cyprus Knee Chufa is part of Lassiter Farms, our family farm, which is a 5,500-acre farm in Northampton County located in northeastern North Carolina. We produce cotton, peanuts, soybeans, corn, and wheat. We also have several acres of wildlife plots. As farmers, we have always considered ourselves as stewards of the environment, wildlife, and the land we make our living from.
After returning to the family farm in 2000 -- with a BS and MS degree in agribusiness from NC State University--Donny Lassiter wanted to experiment with new crops in their farming operation. With the suggestion of a college friend, Donny began to research chufa, a crop known to attract and retain wild turkeys and waterfowl.
We started out growing two acres of chufa in 2001. That first year we produced about 5,000 pounds of chufa and have increased our production every year since. Today, we are one of the largest producers of chufa in the USA. We are your source for high-quality, American-grown chufa.
We are committed to providing our customers with high-germination chufa. We take great pride in providing one-on-one, top-notch service.
Read about [PDF] our Cyprus Knee Chufa operation in the Spring, 2007 issue of East Carolina Farm Credit's LEADER magazine
Cyprus Knee Chufa Office and Processing Facility
Mission Statement
Cyprus Knee Chufa is proud to take part in helping preserve wildlife habitats for the future. We feel strongly about this reinvestment in the land and the wildlife that lives upon it.
Cyprus Knee Gives Back
CKC stands behind our mission statement on preserving wildlife habitats and reinvesting in the land and the future by supporting groups that share the same goals.
CKC donates chufa and other wildlife seeds to Hunter's for the Hungry for their annual raffle. The money raised supports their effort to stem the tide of hunger in North Carolina.
CKC also donates chufa and sponsors one young hunter every year to the South Carolina Waterfowl Association’s Camp Woodie program. Camp Woodie is a way to pass down the legacy of our waterfowl heritage, educate our youth, and pass on the value of wildlife conservation through a "classroom" of 450 acres of woods, ponds, and fields.
CKC also donates wildlife seed to local Duck Unlimited chapters and local youth hunting groups for raffle fund raisers.
CKC recently teamed teamed up with the NC Handicapped Sportsmen, Inc. (NCHS) to host a turkey hunt for two members of the 'Wounded Warriors' Battalions.' Read about (PDF) how CKC hosted the turkey hunt and donated food plot seed to NCHS.