Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Carr.
Hi Julie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It started in the 1860’s when my grandmother’s family the Eime’s moved out into this area and began farming. My grandfather’s family the Mckeever’s moved out here in the 1880’s and began farming a well known subdivision in our community Lake Serene. Once these two families joined (my grandparents got married) the farm became well over 1000 acres. My grandfather also use to farm Robertsville State Park. The last name of the farmer may have changed throughout the generations but our mission has always stayed the same. We raise animals responsibly and with the same amount of care we would give to a family member.
Generational farming is becoming more and more scarce across this country. We see more going bankrupt or the next generation deciding this isn’t the life they want to lead and selling off their families heritage. Under 1% of American farms make it to the fifth generation. Well I am here to tell you we are part of the under 1% as I am a fifth generation farmer.
Frisco Farms LLC isn’t just a business I started, it’s my families heritage and their legacy. I am here to preserve and protect it. I also created an LLC to help me turn this into a more profitable enterprise for my two sons. Times are changing and we have to change right along with them. A typical farmer raises animals and/or crops that they then sell to cooperation’s or sale barns. The problem farmers are now facing is that our input costs are beginning to outweigh our profits. To help balance this am becoming more diverse and we are transitioning to direct to consumer sales.
Farmers markets aren’t just a trend anymore they are becoming community staples. People want to know where there food is coming from and how it is raised. We have all seen the documentaries on how mass production is handled when it comes to animal welfare. Let me tell you that smaller scale local farmers don’t raise animals in that manner. Our chickens are not raised in a barn where they don’t see the light of day. Our cattle aren’t shoulder to shoulder standing in mud and filth. Our pigs get to have their hoofs in mud and not live on a concrete floor. We let animal be animals in the way God intended.
Through time practices have changed…. My husband Ian and I are the first on this farm to raise Cornish Cross Chickens that we butcher and sell direct to consumer. Our birds are pasture raised and get to feel grass under their feet. The chickens are fed from corn we grow right here on the farm. They get to see the sun rise and set everyday. We have also added pigs back onto our property. This is something my great grandfather did before the market slowed down and the local sale barn for hogs went bankrupt. They are also fed grain that is grown here on the farm. However I see that to be versatile and profitable we have to utilize every aspect of farming that we can. But at the same time it’s our community and customers that get to benefit the most.
My husband is a carpenter and wants to be a full time farmer, but his income has allowed me to stay home, raise our children and help to build this farm into what it is. We simply couldn’t afford to lose his income which is the story for most farmers. A lot of farmers now have instagram and tic tok to help bring in extra income which helps when things get tight. I was off social media for over 10 years but sadly knew that to be a successful business I had to get back on… So I did and have we have slowly been building a customer base and have let our products and practices speak for themselves.
Along with farming and being more direct to consumer I have started another business venture called Frisco Farmhouse. This is a locally based farmers market. We sell our products and products of other local farmers, producers, artisans, bakers and more. It has been an incredible experience. I love to meet and talk with everyone that walks through our doors. My goal is to also host events to help people become more self sufficient and learn the ways of my ancestors.
We are proud of what we do and want to share it with our community because “Together We Thrive”.
**I dont know if you want to add this into your artice or not but we are actually neighbors to Crooked Creek Farm in Franklin County that is trying to sell out to a data center developer…. This would be DEVESTATING to our land, animals and our way of life…. But that is probably a whole other story as I have lots of information on the effects of data centers VS animal health/crop health.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My grandfathers brother Arnold Mckeever ( age 28), my Uncle James Mckeever (age 17) and my brother Andy Hubbard (age 17) have all passed away due to tragedies on the farm. Farming is one of the most dangerous career paths and my family can attest to that. These are marks that have been left on this land that will never be forgotten. This is one of the many reasons why this farm means so much to me and why as long as I live it will never leave our hands. I am determined to make this farm something not just for myself and my children but for them….
We also row crop 100 acres which butts up to the Meramec River. This river has flooded our crops more times than I can count. Typically the crops recover if the water comes back down quickly BUT we have had historic floods that have decimated our crops. With the weather becoming more unpredictable and volatile, farm life becomes more of a gamble.
*There’s also the current data center struggles but again that’s kinda a whole other story of what our local farmers are facing today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a 5th generation farmer. I gradutaed Pacific Highschool in 2008, I then went onto stucy at East Central College before realizing the classroom wasnt where I wanted to be. I then went to Technical School to become a Welder. I excelled at welding. During my time at school I entered a competition called Skills USA. I first competed in Districts where I took 2nd Place. I was able to move on and go to the state level competition that was held at Linn Tech where I placed 1st. I was then onto this welding competition at a national level! The year I attended the competition was held in Lexington Kentucky where I placed 22nd. I want mad AT ALL because I was the only female in the competition at that level that year. I was proud of myself.
I was employed as a welder building sand blasting equipment which was actually where I met my husband. I welded for many years until after we got married and decided on building a family. My husband had transition to carpentry and was working 50+ hours a week. I was then a aerospace welder and was consistently working 55+ hours a week. We knew if we had kids and worked these hours plus on Saturdays we really wouldn’t be the ones raising our children. This took a toll on my mental health and our ability to conceive. So we decided I should stay home and focus on farming and family.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I really don’t follow anyone particularly I just watch and learn through the generations that came before me. My father Bill Hubbard is the man that helped me most in life. He has taught me how to repair an engine from a solenoid to a cylinder. He has taught me to operate every piece of equipment on the farm and how to be independent. My mother Janet Hubbard taught me what family truly means and helping your community. Both of my parents were educators my father was a math teacher and my mother went from a French teacher to assistant superintendent of Meramec Valley R3 school district. So above all they have taught me what being selfless and helping other means. To give even if you don’t receive.
Pricing:
- Not really we do have an online store though but we have a wide variety of products and prices on protein change on a yearly basis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.friscofarmsllc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556476859346
- Other: (Frisco Farmhouse FB) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583709306383
