The Heart Behind FLAG on the Farm

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Rooted in 20 years of farming, FLAG on the Farm was created to share the fruits of that journey with others. It began as a dream — and grew with purpose.

 

The journey began in 2005, when a newlywed couple from Chicago took their first steps into life together in Texas. They dared to imagine a future far different from the one they had known—a vision that eventually led them to purchase a small patch of land. Life on that land shaped them, gradually turning them into the farmers they are today.

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Farm life was full of hard work and its own challenges, but life’s other setbacks didn’t stop. The Mrs.' dad’s health began to fail; yet, through it all, it eventually drew him closer to the heart of the farm too.  As time went on, his health improved, and with renewed strength and a clearer perspective, he started seeing where he could fit in on the farm.  It was then, with his gentle wisdom, that he said, 'Let’s buy a real farm.'  At first, no one quite understood.  But Grandpa had a vision: adding cattle to the mix was the key, shaped by his own experience of having a farm with cattle in his youth.  For that, they needed more land. That’s why he insisted on buying a "real farm".  With Grandpa leading the way in spirit, the family searched until they found just the right place — a bigger patch of land that could handle bigger dreams.

With that move, the last of the "city" was scrubbed off that once newlywed couple from Chicago.  Their claim to being farmers now felt almost laughable, as tending to this larger plot of land transformed them in ways they hadn't imagined.  Their new "real" farm was far outside the city, even beyond the Metroplex—it was in the wide open spaces of the Blackland Prairie in East Texas, where life moved at a slower pace (tractor speed) and the community was so tight-knit it was often reserved for locals only.  Amid the discomfort of moving from an established home to a raw piece of land in need of development, with their teen children and aging father/father-in-law in tow, came the heartache of realizing that rural life was unapologetically raw and unrefined. The constant challenge of being seen as outsiders, treated with suspicion, and even taken advantage of wore them down. To make matters worse, the land was littered with trash left by locals who had little regard for the environment, and those who did farm in the area saw regenerative farming as foreign and unnecessary. Yet, through it all, what truly mattered was honoring Grandpa's legacy and fulfilling his vision.

 

Grandpa passed into God's eternity not long after the move though his presence never left the farm. Today, his ashes rest in a quiet memorial garden on the farm. His spirit lives on in every seed planted, every meal shared, and every life touched by this land.  And his final wish was simple yet powerful: "Make this a farm for EVERYONE, and FOREVER."

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As the pain of the loss slowly faded, they pressed on — not just for themselves but also to carry out Grandpa's wishes.  They also wanted the farm to be a place where other outsiders could connect to farm life, no matter their background, and feel welcome.   It was this vision, this invitation, that drove them forward — and, most important it needed to last FOREVER, as Grandpa wished.​

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So, the invitation went out, and people began to arrive. Among them were the missing pieces needed to fulfill Grandpa’s wish. The tool to bring that vision to life was FLAG. It was these people who helped shape FLAG into what it is today: a welcoming place where anyone can learn the ways of farm life, soak in the beauty of the land, and watch big dreams get bigger.

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And that, in short, is how FLAG on the Farm came to be.

But the full story? Oh, that's best shared in person. Come walk the fields, sit by the fire, and hear the tales that still live in the wind, the soil, and the laughter of those who call this farm home.

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This place is far too special to keep to ourselves.​

Come for a visit and let us share it with you.