Your family garden has finally eeked out a few herbs and veggies this season, hooray! It’s no easy feat to make things grow; we give major props to the folks who go full-fledge farmer and spend their days in the dirt. Take a peek at eight families whose life on the land is a labor of love.

Small’s Family Farm – Walla Walla Valley, Wa

Seth Small and his family have farmed for as many generations as they can trace back; he is the fourth generation to farm in the Walla Walla Valley. In March of 2016, the Smalls started a new venture of making their own flour, both all purpose and bread. Prior to that they sold all their grain in the commodity market.   

For these veteran farmers, the most rewarding part of the business is working side by side with family. Seth grew up working harvest in the summer with his dad and grandpa. His mother runs the grain elevator and his wife and kids are out in the field all the time to visit and ride the machinery. His sister runs the bank-out wagon during harvest. Even when they have to work crazy-long hours seeding and harvesting, everyone still gets to be together.

Mother Nature plays a role in the Small’s success story. The family farms dryland ground and is completely dependant on rainfall for moisture. When it comes to weather and farming everything is a variable: temperature, humidity, precipitation, and the time at which those events occur. The weather is something that they have zero control over, but at the end of the day it has the heaviest influence on their crops!

Seth’s kiddos are three and 15 months and their favorite thing to do is play in the dirt! The eldest is good at relaying messages, and she loves to ride along for flour deliveries. They both love to ride with dad on the combine during harvest, and keep grandma company in the grain elevator. Farm dog "Fly" is out in the field a lot and is great company around the farm; if it has wheels or tracks she wants to be riding in it.

Small’s Family Farm welcomes visitors anytime! The best time for people to come out is when there is a lot of action, when they are seeding or harvesting. The Smalls love to have customers come check things out, whether it’s a baker who uses three thousand pounds of flour a week, or an at-home cook who uses five pounds every six months. Seth says, “People want to know where their food comes from, how it's handled, how it's made, and what the sustainability standards of the farm are. We know that we have the best quality flour products available, the highest standards when it comes to sustainability, and since it all comes from us, traceability. We are very happy to show off what we're all about.”

Online: smallsfamilyfarm.com

Do you have a favorite family farm? Share with us in the comments below!

—Gabby Cullen

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