Davidson County Farm Tour returns with 10 agricultural operations to visit
Davidson County residents will be able to get up close and personal with agriculture on June 18 during the third annual Davidson County Farm Tour.
More: Davidson County business that helps you preserve your memories set to open storefront
After a two-year hiatus, the farm tour is back featuring 10 farms, six of which are new farms to the tour.
In fact, seven of the farms are first-generation farmers, and among this new generation of farmers, the age ranges from 20-something to 60-something. The tour features the following participating farms: BN Acres, Blu’s Farm, Bumbleberry Farm, Fat Daddy Farms, Gentle Harmony Farm, Klymer Ridge Farm & Homestead, Rierson Farms, Roberts Farm, SandyCreek Farm and Snider’s Dairy.
Each farm is unique from a dairy farm to one that grows organic medicinal herbs, Most of the farms are working farms, which means they are not usually open to the public. This farm tour provides an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of working farms. These production farms raise everything from market vegetables, fruit, bees, pasture-raised livestock and even cut flowers.
Visitors have the opportunity to learn about each farm’s growing practices, the real challenges they face as they build their farms and their resourceful efforts to restore, amend and build fertile soil.
Here's a little info about each farm:
Bumbleberry Farm: This is a century farm run by the mother and son team, Debbie and Michael Dawson. Historically, the family farm was a tobacco farm like many in this area. Today, however, Michael has been rebuilding the soil for almost four years and transitioned the farm to grow market vegetables and cut flowers. Debbie Dawson is a retired school principal and market manager at the Thomasville Farmers Market. The farm is located at 675 Old Thomasville Road, Winston-Salem.
Fat Daddy Farms: This is a first-generation farm in Thomasville. They raise dwarf Nigerian goats and chickens, and .have expanded the size of their gardens experimenting with containers, straw bales, and hydroponics. The farm is located at 107 South Urban St, Thomasville.
Klymer Ridge Farm: Thad Wymer is using his pigs, cows and sheep and practicing regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture is an approach to food and farming system that focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle, enhancing the local ecosystem and as a result, increasing the land’s resilience to climate change. The farm is located at 2151 Kennedy Farm Road North, Thomasville.
Rierson Farms: The Thomasville family farm began with goats and quickly, the farm escalated into a menagerie of animals. This year Zach and Monica Rierson are utilizing their greenhouse and are aiming to have early summer squash. In addition to the garden vegetables and eggs produced here, the Riersons make a line of goat milk soaps and other skincare items. The farm is located at 365 Paul Kennedy Road, Thomasville.
Roberts Farm: A first-generation farm, Lloyd and Tammy Roberts raise beef cattle on pastures that once supported a dairy farm. It is located at 8301 Woods Dairy Road, Denton.
BN Acres: Jeff Boyst's 100-year-old farm raises Charolais cattle mainly. There are also sheep, donkeys, seasonal fruits, nuts and vegetables. The farm is located at 1043 Turner Road, Lexington.
SandyCreek Farm: The farm is known for its blueberries and farm store. In the store, you can purchase in-season blueberries, blackberries, figs, mushrooms, Muscadine grapes, plants and garden supplies, as well as jams, jellies, preserves and sauces made with their berries and figs. It is located at 3160 S NC Highway 150, Lexington.
Snider's Dairy Farm: The family-owned farm consists of a small herd of primarily Holstein ad Jersey cows. The farm is located at 484 Cedar Springs Road, Lexington.
Blu's Farm: Sheila and Lindsey Carlile are a mother-daughter team, who are also called "Keepers f the Daylily." What began as a passion for flowers has grown to an incredible sanctuary and archive of over 500 varieties of daylilies, 80+ varieties of irises, 50+ varieties of dahlias, hosta, and perennials that thrive well in our planting zone. They also offer hand-made goods, including barn quilts. The farm is located at 5574 S. N.C. Highway 150, Lexington.
Gentle Harmony Farm: The Leonards grow USDA-certified organic medicinal herbs on this Yadkin Valley valley farm in Lexington. They have a two-story herb processing barn with an attached greenhouse that was completed in 2013. The farm residence is a conserved 1840s log house with a modern addition. The farm is located at 3554 Friendship Church Road, Lexington.
Attending is by ticket only. Tours can be taken from 1-5 p.m. on June 18. Car passes are $5 if purchased before June 10 and are good for a full carload of people. Passes purchased after June 10 will cost $10. Every farm has its own activities offered. Rain or shine, visitors can choose which farms to visit and can create their itineraries by visiting the davidsoncountyfood.com website which offers planning tips and a map showing the various locations across the county.
Sponsors include Davidson County Cooperative Extension, Small Business Center of Davie-Davidson County, Thomasville Chamber of Commerce, and Thomasville Tourism. Proceeds from the event go to Davidson County Local Food Network in our efforts to improve our local food system and increase access to fresh locally grown food for all residents in the region.
More: Here are 5 events that will allow you to observe Memorial Day without leaving Davidson County
More: Lexington Chamber of Commerce manager leaving post to pursues new career path
- Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items, and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com and subscribe to us at the-dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Davidson County Farm Tour returns after two-year hiatus
