In the Northwest corner of Indiana, two people “made something out of nothing,” to quote one of their customers. David and Bonnie McAfee, who own County Line Orchards, Hobart, Ind., were honored in January when they were named Outstanding Farm Marketers of the Year.

The McAfees are proud to receive this award, and they attribute part of their success to their “orchard family” (staff that returns year after year). As David is often heard saying, “We got something worth doing here.”

The sharing of information and resources within NAFDMA is outstanding. NAFDMA is a wonderful asset for the small family farmer. They understand that all of our hearts are in our farms; it’s not just a business, say the McAfees. “NAFDMA has been the equivalent of a PhD in farm marketing,” says David.

David and Bonnie started planting apple trees in 1988. They had nothing to market and no place to market it from until 1992, when they built their main building and the trees began bearing fruit.

In 1993, with little to sell, and few customers to sell to, someone called asking if they did school tours. “Why not?” they thought. “We needed to sell something to someone!” That year, 4,000 students, teachers and chaperones visited the farm, and the number increased every year. Almost 38,000 people visited the farm in 2005. They are open only in September and October, so all of those tours occurred during those two months.

Through the years, they added pumpkins and animals. The animals are now in the Kid’s Farm. They have several NAFDMA-inspired creations on the farm, including Peter, the pumpkin-eating dinosaur, and the Golden Goat Bridge. They’ve added more buildings, a full commercial kitchen, “spiffy” restrooms and more retail space. They host weddings and other celebrations.

In the words of David and Bonnie McAfee, their story is one of “how two people with average jobs, a vision and minimal capital turned 35 acres of corn and soybean land, renting for $75 per acre in 1987, into County Line Orchard, an enterprise that employs 300 people during the season. It’s been fun for our customers, our employees and us as owners. We firmly believe that what we do is worth the doing.”

To learn more about County Line Orchard, visit www.countylineorchard.com.
 

Tanners Orchard of Illinois receives double honors at farm direct marketing conference 

Tanners Orchard, Speer, Ill., made two trips to the podium during the annual awards banquet.

First, the Tanner family won the Outstanding Newsletter contest, which was part of NAFDMA’s Members’ Choice Awards. Second, Richard and Marilyn Tanner were joined at the podium with their daughter and son in law, Jennifer and Ben Beaver, when they were named a finalist for Farm Market of the Year. Several staff from Tanners Orchard were also on hand to share in the honors.

Tanners Orchard traces its farming roots all the way back to Switzerland. In 1906, Rudolph departed for the “New World” and ended up in Deer Creek, Illinois. Eventually, Rudolph’s son John took over farm and moved the apple orchard for better ground. The new farm had 20 acres of established apple trees and was at the intersection of two highways. John’s two sons returned to the farm after they graduated and then served in the military, and in 1976, they began buying the orchard from their father. By 1990, the partnership had become a corporation.

In 2002, one brother and two of his children bought out the other brother. The original apple orchard had expanded through the years to include pumpkins, squash, gourds and chrysanthemums. School tours bring in busloads of kids. The farm has a unique playground, u-pick apples and pumpkins, barnyard animals, and a two-story tree house for the goats.

The bakery turns out an incredible assortment of items, including pies, donuts, muffins, strudels and breads. They also offer a lunch menu, caramel apples and a fudge kitchen. The gifts department grows every year, and a recently purchased Point of Sale system now tracks sales and inventory. The number of farm employees has grown from 18 in 1968 to 102 today.

“We strive to make each customer feel as if this is their orchard,” say the Tanners. “We feel we have created a foundation for an extraordinary farm visit, lasting memories and wonderful family traditions. Hard work and the blessings of God are indeed very sweet fruit.”

To learn more about Tanners Orchard, visit www.tannersorchard.com.

White House Fruit Farm is named a finalist for Outstanding Farm Market of the Year 

For the second year in a row, White House Fruit Farm Inc., Canfield, Ohio, was honored as a finalist for the Outstanding Farm Market of the Year. Debbie Pifer accepted the award on behalf of her family.

The farm has been in the family since the early 1800s. Five generations after the family first began farming, a descendent, Jerome Hull, purchased 100 acres of the home farm from his uncle.

Jerome and his wife planted the farm’s first apple and peach trees in 1924. In the 1960s, Jeremone passed controlling interest to his son David, the only child to remain on the farm. David and his wife concentrated on fruits and vegetables. In the 1970s, David began attending Ohio Roadside Marketing Conferences and then, to pursue a different farm business model, renovated the 1881 bank barn to house a year-round retail market.

The 1980s brought still more changes to the farm. Two of David’s children returned to the farm and took on different responsibilities that lead to increased fruit production, a growing farm market and vegetable production. The farm now includes 30 acres of apples, 10 of peaches and nectarines, 5 of strawberries, 3 of blueberries and 30 of various vegetables. Customers can pick their own strawberries, peppers and tomatoes.

By 1990, White House Fruit Farm was a year-round retail market with a diverse product mix. Other family members joined in various roles. The latest major addition opened in January 2005. The market, which was 3,200 square feet in 1978 is now 12,000 square feet. In the fall, the family offers school tours, senior tours, a craft show and harvest festival, petting zoo, and horse-drawn wagon rides on weekends.

“Our family hopes to leave a farming legacy to our community and future generations of which we can be proud,” says Pifer. “We will continue to be a working farm that young people can learn from and enjoy visiting.”

Visit www.whitehousefruitfarm.com to learn more about the farm.
 

Pamela Boyar named Farmers’ Market Manager of the Year 

Pamela Boyar, director of the Sunset Valley Farmers Market in Austin, Texas, was named Farmers’ Market Manager of the Year.

Boyar’s foray into the farmers’ market world began in 1997, when she started a small 12-vendor farmers’ market in the People’s Pharmacy parking lot in Westlake. The market quickly outgrew the space. She moved the market to the parking lot of the Westlake High School Annex, and in late 2004 she moved again to the market’s current location at the Toney Burger Center in South Austin. The move brought with it a name change to Sunset Valley Farmers Market.

Boyar’s commitment to the market and to her vendors has led to the market being the highest grossing grower-only farmers’ market in Texas. The market has around 100 booths and between 70 and 120 vendors. Each month, Boyar’s market features a festival or special activities. The market’s lively atmosphere and a diverse, high-quality mix of vendors attracts a growing number of visitors every Saturday throughout the year.

Boyar has been dedicated to the farm community, particularly organic farmers, for more than 25 years. Back in 1980, she started a fresh-pressed juice company, and in 1986 she began distributing organically grown produce directly from farmers to restaurants in California.

To learn more about Sunset Valley Farmers Market, visit www.sunsetvalleyfarmersmarket.org.
 

Rob Leeds of Ohio receives Outstanding Leadership Award from NAFDMA

Rob Leeds, a farmer and extension agent from central Ohio, has received the 2005 Outstanding Leadership Award from NAFDMA.

Leeds, of Ostrander, Ohio, was honored in January at the NAFDMA annual conference, which was held in January 2006 in Austin, Texas. Leeds and his wife, Christy, son, Isaac, and parents, Bob and Gayle Leeds, own and operate Leeds Farm.

Leeds Farm is a small fall produce/entertainment farm catering to families with children under 13 years of age and focusing on the fall harvest. “The main draws to the farm are the farm animals and the children's play barn,” says Leeds.

Leeds has been a leader in promoting farm direct marketing in his home state of Ohio for more than 15 years as an educator for Ohio State University Extension. He serves as an advisor to the Ohio Direct Marketing Association and has been instrumental in mentoring other educators to better serve Ohio’s farm direct marketing and agritourism industry.

Leeds is an active member of NAFDMA and has served on its board of directors since 1997. He has served as the association’s treasurer, has lead the Conference Committee, and continues to serve on the executive committee. Leeds is known among his peers in NAFDMA for his fairness in deliberating issues and unwavering support of the national farming community.

“Rob always has the interests of the hard working farmers at heart,” says Charlie Touchette, executive director of NAFDMA. “He champions their cause internationally, and he shares innovative strategies gained in his travels with his neighbors back home.” 

“Considering the quality of leadership in this industry, it’s a tremendous honor to receive this from my NAFDMA peers across the United States, Canada and Great Britain,” says Leeds.

Learn more about Leeds Farm at www.leedsfarm.com.
 

Karen Watt of New York is inducted into farm direct marketing Hall of Fame

Although she couldn’t attend the ceremony in person, Karen Watt was on the telephone while a friend and former colleague, Brent Warner, announced that she was being inducted into the NAFDMA Hall of Fame.

Watt and her husband, Chris, own and operate Watt Farms Country Market in Albion, N.Y. They began farming in 1980. In 1986, they began retailing their fruit from a $50 used tent and at three farmers’ markets. In 1989, the Watts built the retail market and apple storage facility. The farm has diversified through the years. The Watts now sell a variety of fruit, ice cream, gifts and homemade fudge at the market. They also offer train rides and educational school tours. The Watts grow 250 acres of fruit, which they sell at the retail market and at six farmers’ markets in season.

Watt served two terms on the NAFDMA board of directors, and she also served as president from 1999 to 2001.

Karen, right and Kay Hollabaugh

“NAFDMA was and still is very important to me,” she says. “I know that I can pick up the phone or e-mail any one of the members and get their expertise on a whole variety of issues. Of all the memberships I have, the networking advantages and creativity among the individuals in this association are unlike any other. While we all have problems similar to other retail businesses we also have such unique opportunities that will never be duplicated by the likes of Wal-Mart and McDonald’s. This membership is the best and has directly changed the way we live and work! Our Watt's Orchard Express Train, fall school programs, and so much more have been the direct result of our membership and involvement in NAFDMA.”

Watt’s involvement in the farming community extends far beyond NAFDMA. She is active in the New York Farm Bureau on the Fruit Advisory Committee. Previously she was on the state NYFB board from 2000 through 2004. She’s active in the Lake Plains RC&D Council and the Oak Orchard Health Center Board of Directors. In December 2005, she was reappointed for two more years to the National Advisory Council on Migrant Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration.

To learn more about Watt Farms Country Market, visit www.wattfarms.com.

Roba’s Family Farms, Dalton, Pa wins Outstanding Brochure contest

Farm direct marketers from throughout North America submitted their 2005 brochures to the Members’ Choice Outstanding Brochure Contest. When the voting was done, Roba’s Family Farms, Dalton, Pa., was declared the favorite. The farm is owned by John and Sue Roba, who operate the farm along with their children.

NAFDMA members voted for their favorite brochure as part of the Members’ Choice Contest, which was held as part of NAFDMA’s annual conference in Austin, Texas, in January 2006. Like the other Members’ Choice contests, the Brochure Contest is an important learning opportunity. Each year, the quality of the brochures entered keeps going up and up.

“John and I feel that NAFDMA has been very influential for networking and generating new ideas for the farm,” says Sue.

 Roba’s Family Farms began in 1984, when John Roba purchased a 52-acre retired dairy farm in North Abington Township, Pa. Through the years, John and Sue planted trees and the farm grew to 100 acres. They also diversified the farm to offer plenty of family fun in the fall and winter. Farm activities include campfires, a corn maze, pig races, Bunnyville, a chicken show and the Kiddie Kattle Train. The farm hosts school tours and scout/youth groups as well as birthday parties.  

Learn more about Roba’s Family Farms at www.robafamilyfarms.com.

Carolyn’s Country Cousins, Liberty, Mo wins Outstanding Specialty Brochure contest

Carolyn and Gieselle Fest

Farm direct marketers from throughout North America submitted a variety of their 2005 specialty brochures to the Outstanding Specialty Brochure Contest, and a coloring book by Carolyn’s Country Cousins, Liberty, Mo., was declared the favorite. The farm is owned by Carolyn and Buddy Raasch.

NAFDMA members voted for their favorite specialty brochure as part of the Members’ Choice Contest, which was held as part of NAFDMA’s annual conference in Austin, Texas, in January 2006. Like the other Members’ Choice contests, the Brochure Contest is an important learning opportunity. Each year, the quality of the brochures entered keeps going up and up. This year, the category went far beyond traditional brochures and included rack cards and even a door hanger in addition to the winning educational coloring book.

Carolyn and Buddy opened the farm to the public in 1991 with a corner of the white barn and a garden patch of pumpkins. Last fall, they hosted approximately 15,000 visitors for educational tours, grew 50 acres of pumpkins and offered a play yard, pond and train with a half-mile track. The train is a replica of the 1863 C.P. Huntington train.

Learn more about Carolyn’s Country Cousins at www.carolynscountrycousins.com.

Cagle’s Dairy of Georgia wins Outstanding Web Site contest 

Farm direct marketers from throughout North America submitted their Web site URLs to participate in the Members’ Choice Outstanding Web Site Contest. After more than 40 entries and three rounds of judging, Cagle’s Dairy of Canton, Ga., was voted the winner.

All voting took place before the conference. Like the other Members’ Choice contests, the Web Contest is an important learning opportunity. Cagle’s Dairy’s Web site, www.caglesdairy.com, was featured during a conference session called “Capturing Clicks: The Best of NAFDMA Member Web Sites.”

“Because the award is given out by our peers, we’re delighted to accept this prestigious honor,” says Mark Cagle. “We spend many hours along with our Web designer, SRStudios, to have a top-quality, user-friendly Web site. The success of our efforts is proven each month with the number of hits our site receives, which included 1.8 million in October 2005 alone.”

Cagle’s Dairy traces its origins back to 1951. The farm is today owned and operated by the third generation of the Cagle family, Mark and Kelly Cagle, with assistance from Mark’s brother, Scott Cagle. Their parents, Bernese and Albert Cagle, recently retired and sold the farm to Mark and Kelly.

The farm offers a variety of fun experiences, including a corn maze, garden tours in Papa Albert’s Garden, pig races in Squealer Field, and two farm markets. In addition, the family hosts birthday parties, family reunions and other events on the farm.

Learn more about Cagle’s Dairy and view their award-winning Web site at www.caglesdairy.com.

Click here for more on the web site contest finalists. 

The North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association is the leading farm direct marketing association in the world. It promotes and fosters the growth of farm direct marketing throughout North America. Its members support their family farms by selling millions of dollars worth of farm-grown produce directly to consumers at farm stands, farmers' markets, pick-your-own farms, consumer-supported agriculture, agritourism venues, and other ever-growing innovations in direct producer-to-consumer agricultural marketing methods. NAFDMA’s next convention will be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, from Feb. 12-19, 2007. Find out more about the organization at www.nafdma.com.  

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