History of the Farm

John Caldwell established the farm when he bought the property at the Cabell County Sheriff's Tax Sale on July 24, 1986. John and his brother's grew up hunting on the property and he knew what the plot of land had hidden behind the trees and brush across over 220 acres. Over the years, the property that laid north of Howell's Mill Road was parceled out and made into residential lots. Currently, the farm property consists of around 140 acres.

John was always giving back the community and was a supporter of the Cabell Midland FFA club and Cabell County 4-H programs. The farm was the host of many hay rides, community auctions, and family cookouts over the years. Most members of the community remember John and his red truck. John and his wife, Alliene, farmed the land until John's passing in 2013.

In the late 80s and early 90s, you may have visited the farm and picked strawberries. Three acres of tobacco was grown annually and the tobacco barn that was built to dry the leaves still stands on the property. Sweet corn and Limousin cattle were farm staples in the 90s and early 2000s. John was also known for trading horse-drawn farm equipment among the Ohio and Pennsylvania Mennonite and Amish communities of Sugar Creek & Lancaster. In 1991, the farm was the winner of the Guyan Soil Conservation District Farm of the Year award. Throughout these years, there were many people who helped make the farm successful. John's brother's, Carl and Gene, could be found working in the fields or the garden. Forest "Pap" Warden and Greg Kirby were also helping out with the day-to-day operations.

The property was then passed down to John's children, JB & Amy. JB was also an avid auction-goer and could always be found buying and selling farm equipment, but his reach went further thanks to the internet. He learned how to utilize Craigslist and Paypal and was trading equipment from North Carolina to Indiana and everywhere in between. JB grew alfalfa hay and was proud of his Krone bail accumulator and grapple that allowed for fewer man-hours to put up square bales of hay. JB also hunted geese and ducks on the farm. The 6-acre wetland, pond, and surrounding Mud River were always attracting birds to the farm. JB's dog Melli loved the water and was an excellent duck dog. JB and his wife Robin started their own tradition of hosting an Independence Day fireworks show at the farm.

In 2019, JB's daughter, Amanda McClellan, was made a co-owner of the farm. Since JB's passing in 2022, Amanda has worked to create new ways to continue the legacy of the family farm. 2025 will be the first of hopefully many years of sunflowers for the community to enjoy some time on the farm. Amanda and her family can be found at the farm on the weekends working in the sunflower field.

If you have photos or video of you & your family at the farm, please email them to caldwellfarmwv@gmail.com and we will add them to the gallery.