Our farm story

The story of VJ Farms begins in 1965 when our grandparents purchased this land with the G.I. Bill, the law that provided a range of benefits for some of the returning World War II veterans. Jiles, our grandfather, served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946 allowing him to purchase 72 acres in Anderson County that would initially serve as the family getaway. They spent many holidays meeting up with family near and far to gather and commune on the land. Grandma Verda was the youngest of 5 children and was very close with her siblings. The Grey/Marshall family reunion took place here on the farm once a year which gave us the opportunity to know and love our grandmother’s sisters, nieces, and nephews. This tradition would continue for 30+ years.

In 1976, after 30 years of service, Jiles retired from the Exxon plant in Baytown, Texas and they decided to move permanently to the farm. Jiles built Verda a modest, yet nonetheless, her dream house. We feel very lucky this gift was passed to us and we feel certain that they would be proud of us today.

We spent all summer and almost every holiday at the farm with our grandparents. We spent hours in the field or shop with Grandpa tending to cows, harvesting potatoes, fixing fences, and “tinking around” as Grandma used to say. Grandpa made sure there was time for a swim in the pond, a few casts from the Jon boat, or a trip down the zipline he installed in the backyard. We spent time with Grandma sewing, cooking, canning, and, of course, playing card games. We knew the farm took a lot of work and there wasn’t much time for sitting around. However, we never fully appreciated the true amount of work that went into the day-to-day operations and upkeep of a farm.

Fast forward several years and here we are all grownup, our grandparents passed on many years ago, and now we had to figure out what to do with the property.

Sweat, a little blood, more sweat, tears, and you guessed it, a little more sweat, and we’ve built ourselves a hemp farm. Not in a thousand years would Verda and Jiles expect their grandchildren to become hemp farmers. But here we are, taking the love, knowledge, and traditions our grandparents instilled in us and sowing them into a new hemp venture.

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