Family Farms in Tyler Continue to Sprout Success

Visit Tyler

Family farms in Tyler have a far-reaching legacy. The present-day caretakers of the region’s agricultural plots have worked hard to maintain family tradition while spreading the wealth in their community. From high-quality wine to Christmas trees, tulips and berries, the bounty grown on these farms can be found throughout Tyler in restaurants, grocery stores and churches alike. 

Great Grapes and Sizzling Steaks

Kiepersol’s unique legacy began in 1998 when founder Pierre de Wet moved from South Africa to start a vineyard in Tyler. Today, de Wet’s daughters, Marnelle and Velmay, run the vineyard alongside a restaurant located on the property. At the Kiepersol steakhouse, the rustic atmosphere combines with a quality menu featuring Kiepersol’s own estate-grown wines. 

“I don’t think it can get more farm-to-table than Kiepersol where the wine is concerned,” says Kelly Doherty, director of branding and marketing for Kiepersol. 

Kiepersol grapes thrive across 63 acres of Tyler soil. The wines, aged in the vineyard’s barrel room, then go out to restaurants and grocers across Tyler. The vineyard also has a tasting room where the wines can be experienced on the rolling countryside in which they are produced. Locals and visitors can tour the vineyard and distillery to get a firsthand experience of the winemaking process. 

“Tyler has a great local community that is very supportive of family-run businesses and has cheered us on from the beginning,” Doherty says. 

Visit Tyler

Strong Sense of Community 

When Marshal and Addie Wiggins first started growing their own produce on land owned by Marshal’s grandparents, they didn’t envision that their farm would soon begin to draw visitors from all over Texas. 

“We wanted to be able to provide our own food for our family and just eat better and healthier,” says Addie Wiggins, who owns the farm with her husband, Marshal. 

Tyler Berry Farm specializes in you-pick strawberries and blueberries, with a crop of sunflowers that blooms throughout the summer. During the warm-weather months, local families can frequently be seen picking berries on you-pick days, while the spectacle of sunflowers at golden hour often draws visitors from as far as Dallas. 

“The community thankfully comes out here, which we’re so blessed for,” Addie says. 

Tyler Berry Farm also sells its products at local markets like the Bluebird Farmstand, a year-round outlet that provides fresh local produce to customers while supporting Tyler farmers. 

Amanda M Reed Photography

Deep Family Connections

Right next door to Tyler Berry Farm is Plantation Pines. The two farms are connected by more than just proximity; Marshal’s sister, Heather Reed, now runs the Christmas tree farm that originally belonged to their parents. When Reed’s parents decided to give up the farm, she took over along with her husband, Burren. 

“The great community is the main reason saying goodbye to the farm wasn’t an option for me,” Reed says. 

Along with Christmas trees, Plantation Pines also specializes in tulips that add a burst of color to their farm and decorate local churches. Fall on the farm consists of pumpkin picking and hayrides, along with seasonal you-pick items. 

Both Plantation Pines and Tyler Berry Farm are enabling a new generation to grow up on their land, allowing their children the opportunity to experience farm life in a safe, close-knit environment. For Reed, the opportunity to continue the legacy of her family’s farm means giving back to the community as well. 

“Our vision for the farm is to be a place families can come and enjoy creation together, to take a break from the busyness and to make lasting memories,” Reed says. 

Fun Factoids From the Farm

Here are a few fun facts about Tyler’s agriculture history and how residents are keeping the industry alive today. 

Agrarian Achievements: The Texas Department of Agriculture annually ranks Smith County among the most profitable counties in the Lone Star State for agriculture, thanks in part to its good climate and excellent soil content. The county’s production numbers are most impressive when evaluating its outputs of beef and dairy cattle, cotton, row crops, and nursery and bedding plants. Another key reason for the high ranking is the continued success of the rose industry in the county seat of Tyler. 

Rose Capital of America: Tyler is nicknamed “Rose Capital of America” for its long history of producing roses of all colors and types. The rose industry has been a major business in Tyler since the 1920s, and today, more than 15 million rose bushes are shipped annually from Tyler to customers throughout the U.S. The city boasts the popular 14-acre Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, recognized as a “national treasure” on the National Register of Historic Places. The garden, adjacent to the Tyler Rose Museum, features 35,000 rose bushes and 500 varieties of roses. The garden serves as the venue for the annual Texas Rose Festival, which takes place on the third weekend in October. 

Revolutionizing Research: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Smith County ensures that local agriculture continues to develop efficient and innovative practices, with research focused on horticulture, natural resources, food safety, water conservation and farm profitability. The AgriLife Extension Service office also provides education programs in 4-H and family and community health, with information on topics like how to use the food pyramid and grow healthy foods. Also greatly involved with the advancement of agriculture in Smith County is the University of Texas at Tyler, which recently received a $191,150 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use drones for imagery and crop monitoring on large farms.

Century-Old Fair: To celebrate the impact that agriculture has on area life, the annual East Texas State Fair welcomes about 250,000 visitors each fall to the East Texas State Fairgrounds in Tyler. The 10-day fair in late September provides an estimated $10 million economic impact to the City of Tyler and Smith County. The fair is a tradition that has been in the making for over 100 years, and as a part of the festivities, 1,500 animals are showcased, including beef and dairy cattle, goats, pigs, and chicks.

– Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.