Farming & Family: The Wilson's
Today's family is a very special family to my family. They live just down the road from us...literally it's maybe 5 miles! Not to mention they are some of the sweetest, most genuine folks I know....and they grow some awesome produce!! I can't wait for you to learn a little more about them...and if you are ever in the neighborhood stop by and visit with them!
I
am JEB Wilson. My wife Jane and I are in
our early thirties and we have one son Mac who recently turned five years
old. Our farm is named Cotton Hills Farm
and is located in upstate SC in the counties of Chester and York Counties. Jane helps with payroll and other farm tasks
but also works in administration at a local Christian school.
2. How did your farm begin?
My
great-great grandfather and grandmother began working the original 200 acre
farm in 1880 as it was given to them as a wedding gift by my great-great
grandmother’s father. They grew cotton
and other row-crops. The farm has been passed down through the generations.
3. What does your farm produce?
My
brother and father also farm along with me. My father focuses on cotton production while
my brother and I focus on growing and selling produce. The produce crops
include strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupes, tomatoes, peaches, and pumpkins. We all work together as needed. We make ½ bushel peach baskets in the winter
time to keep our vegetable labor employed.
We sell these baskets to other farmers. I manage two retail produce
stores in addition to our wholesale produce business. During the fall months we open our farm up to
the public and do farm tours. We try to educate the public about the importance
of agriculture and give them a chance to see what we do on a daily basis.
4. What is the busiest time of year for your farm?
July
is a very busy month for us as the peaches and all other vegetables are at peak
production. September and October are
our busiest months though as we are harvesting pumpkins, giving farm tours and
are picking cotton.
5. How do younger generations help on the farm?
Mac
and my two young nephews, Thomas and Tucker enjoy riding the harvesting
equipment with my brother and me. Mac is
also learning to do chores such as feed the few animals that we keep during
tour season. I think it is very important
to involve children from a young age so that they learn a love of farming.
6. With all there is to do on a farm, are you involved off the farm?
I
am involved with the SC Farm Bureau Federation on the county and state
level. I also participate in the Young
Farmer and Agribusiness Association. My
family also attends our local church where my wife and I serve as treasurer.
7. What's your favorite activity to do together as a family on the farm?
We
enjoy riding the cotton picker together.
We also enjoy getting to have other families tour our farm and talk with
them about farming and agriculture.
8. Why is family important to your farm?
Family
is very important to our farm as it is a mulit-generational business. For the farm to survive the next generation
has to be taught a love for farming and taught how to be successful as a
farmer.
9. What's one thing you want non-farm families to know?
I
want non-farm families to know that we are good stewards of the land and
resources. We try very hard to take good
care of the land that we are entrusted with.
10. Do you have a blog, a farm Facebook page, twitter, etc where people can find out more about you and your farm?
We maintain a website at cottonhillsfarm.com and we can also
be found on Facebook by searching for Cotton Hills Farm.
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