Farmers and Evolving Values

Thousand Hills Family Farm  |  Cleveland, TN

Wesley and Denise Skelton

Designated a Tennessee Century Farm in 2024, Thousand Hills Family Farm has been continuously operated by six generations of the Skelton family for more than a century. Founded as a dairy farm in 1904, the farm now specializes in pasture-raised beef, eggs, and farm-roasted coffee. Products are available for farm pickup and at the Ooltewah Farmers Market.

“The word ‘sustainable’ has been trending. While trendy, farmers have always needed to be sustainable in order to survive. The farm we’re operating alongside Wesley’s parents was once operated by three generations before us. Wesley’s grandfather had his own milk route until pasteurization forced many dairies to adapt or close, so he switched to beef production. While this change was necessary, his community lost the ability to have a local product delivered to their door.

We’re passionate about encouraging the community’s desire to connect with farmers – sharing our story, including daily chores, big decisions, and everything in between on our social media and with our clients. When consumers see the work that is put into raising the food on their table, they have a deeper appreciation for it.

These partnerships are vital for keeping local family farms in business during a time when soaring land prices and other inputs have made it difficult for agriculture to be profitable. For farmers to be successful in the future, we need to encourage our communities to connect with and support local farms. By selling our beef directly to consumers, we’re able to focus on providing a superior product, where we control all aspects of how the animals are raised. We’re excited that the current trend seems to have come full circle so that, like Wesley’s grandfather delivering milk to homes, we have the privilege of connecting with the community consuming the products that we produce.”

Rowe Family Farms  |  Cleveland, TN

Dennis and Jenny Rowe

Rowe Family Farms is a family-operated farm, specializing in antibiotic- and hormone-free Black Angus beef, pasture-raised pork, and chicken. Their USDA-approved meats are raised in a low-stress environment and available through home delivery or at Nutrition World in Chattanooga, Abundant Living Health Foods in Cleveland, and Native Kitchen in Dalton. 

“In 2015, Rowe Family Farms was founded on a simple desire: to provide other families with direct access to the clean, naturally raised meats and skin products we produced. My wife and I quickly recognized the growing need for farm-direct-to-consumer meat options. We began by personally delivering these quality products right to our customers’ doors.

Being a direct source for clean meat provides the community with a sense of peace of mind. Our customers value knowing that their food is produced according to high standards of animal welfare and the shared values they expect. Furthermore, we take great pride in educating the community on sustainable agriculture and the benefits of purchasing directly from a farmer. To streamline the ordering process, my talented wife developed our website. Today, we continue to personally deliver across the Chattanooga, North Georgia, and Cleveland areas.

Looking ahead, I believe the most important thing a farmer can do to adapt and thrive is to embrace proven marketing strategies and treat their farm as a profitable business. Sustainability requires financial viability; if a farm is not managed for profit, it cannot remain operational in the long term.”

Quail Run Farm  |  Chattanooga, TN

Joe and Rachel Riley

As a veteran-owned, family-operated regenerative farm, Quail Run uses its 120 acres to work alongside the land’s natural limits and produce ethically grown products. They specialize in raising beef, pork, chicken, and turkey, along with produce and local honey. Guests are invited to visit and tour the farm, interact with farm life, and shop their market.

“One current trend in the agricultural industry is a return to regenerative farming practices. Regenerative agriculture focuses on working with natural systems to restore soil health and long-term productivity. Our farm is built around these practices, aiming to heal the land after years of artificial inputs. By integrating pasture-raised animals with land management, we create a symbiotic system where healthy soil supports healthy animals and livestock and, in turn, improves the land.

Local partnerships play a vital role in strengthening agriculture by building resilience and sustainability in these practices. Collaborating with other farmers, local processors, and community organizations improves access to shared knowledge, resources, and markets, while also giving farmers a stronger collective voice.

Looking ahead, adaptability and local support will be most important for farms to thrive. Farmers must remain versatile in the face of changing climate conditions and economic uncertainty. At the same time, informed consumers who value local food and understand the effort behind it, as well as maintaining the land, will be essential. Their support provides stability and helps ensure the long-term success of local farms.”

Hughes Farm, Farmers Market, Nursery, and Deli  |  Hixson, TN

Kiri Hughes

Specializing in fresh, locally grown produce, Hughes Farm is a family-operated farm and farmers market. Each year, the family cultivates approximately 1.5 million tomato plants for their market and nursery, though strawberries remain a fan-favorite crop. Visitors can shop the market and enjoy home-style meals made with locally sourced ingredients at their family-run deli.

“We’ve seen a rise in demand for more local produce and, with this, the interest in the process of farming. Agritourism – where people visit working farms or agricultural areas for education, recreation, or entertainment – has become popular across the country and throughout Tennessee.

Since the 1980s, our farm has grown and specialized in tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries, but to meet the growing desire to connect with local farmers and farming processes, we plan to open our farm to the public in the spring of 2027 where families can come pick their own strawberries and partake in other farm activities. We will have fun things to do that allow visitors to learn about farming in Tennessee. With a bakery and restaurant featuring fresh produce, guests can also enjoy family favorites in meals and treats that are sourced from and benefit the community where they live, work, and play. 

Partnerships with local communities and other farms allow local farmers like us to succeed, both in selling locally grown and produced products and teaching the future generations about the importance of agriculture in our area.”

Crabtree Farms  |  Chattanooga, TN

Annemarie Gero

Crabtree Farms is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998 that promotes sustainable agriculture through a variety of programs in the heart of the city. As an urban farm, it specializes in vegetables, fruits, and herbs, supplying sustainably grown produce to local food banks and markets. As a nonprofit farm that serves the community, their aim is to connect the community with sustainable agriculture through food and land sharing programs, education, volunteer opportunities, and events.

“In an increasingly technology-driven world, the simple, essential connection between people and the land matters now more than ever. The fertile ground we steward in the heart of the Clifton Hills neighborhood in Chattanooga is a living gift – nourishing bodies, strengthening communities, and reminding us of our shared responsibility to care for one another. At Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga, we believe this land is meant to be shared, and our mission as a nonprofit farm is to ensure everyone has access to the food, knowledge, and community it can provide.

Through our community gardens, Emerging Farmers program, permaculture food forest, and a wide range of volunteer opportunities, workshops, and public events, we aim to be a place where people can come together to learn, grow, and belong. The produce cultivated by our staff and volunteers is distributed in partnership with local food banks, with grant support from United Way, helping bring fresh, healthy food to neighbors across our community.

At the heart of this work is partnership. By collaborating with food banks, schools, community centers, and fellow nonprofit organizations, we are building a resilient network rooted in mutual care and shared purpose. Local agriculture needs supportive policies, dedicated investment in small and nonprofit farms, and continued community engagement to remain vibrant, equitable, and responsive to the challenges ahead. Together, we can cultivate a future where the land feeds not only our bodies, but our collective hope.”

Brown’s Farm and Roadside Produce Market  |  Ringgold, GA

Sandy Brown

Brown’s Produce is a family-operated farm and roadside produce market, specializing in locally grown fruit and vegetables. For more than 35 years, they have farmed the fields behind their roadside market. Visitors are invited to shop fresh, in-season produce throughout the summer and fall months – including additional produce and items sourced from surrounding farms and suppliers. 

“Agriculture has changed a lot over the years. Technology plays a bigger role now, from irrigation systems to crop planning, and there’s more focus on efficiency than ever before. We’ve also seen a shift in how people think about food. Customers want to know where their food comes from and who’s growing it, and we appreciate that connection.

At Brown’s Produce, those trends have encouraged us to be more intentional about how we farm. We focus on soil health, sustainability, and making practical improvements that help us stay efficient while caring for the land. Since this is our family farm, we are always thinking long term.

To help local farms adapt and thrive, community support is essential. Choosing to buy local truly makes a difference. At the same time, farmers have to stay flexible – weather, costs, and consumer expectations are always changing. Balancing tradition with a willingness to learn and adjust is what keeps farms like us going.

We are proud to grow food for our community and grateful for the support that allows us to keep doing what we love.”