Our Story

Jason and Amy Icenhour Douglas founded The Farmers’ Daughter in 2008, with a half acre garden and a partially finished roadside stand. Our children, Lily (17) and Max (15) have grown up right beside us on the farm. Today, we farm about 10 acres of our larger, 108-acre, family farm. We grow 3-4 acres of strawberries and the remaining balance is in mixed vegetables. In 2022, to mark our 14th year of business, we opened our new Country Store and expanded our offerings for our community.

We believe in transparency, sustainability, and faith-driven farming practices. Whether you're picking up farm-fresh produce at our Country Store, participating in our CSA, or visiting for a field trip, we’re proud to share the fruits of our labor—and our land—with you.

Our Family History

Our family’s story began in 1875, when our ancestors settled in the Wittenburg community of Alexander County. The Farmers’ Daughter is part of this larger, 108-acre family farm, which has been in our family for 6 generations. Most of this farm is used for pasture land by Morning Dew Farms; with some being used for vegetable and strawberry production by The Farmers’ Daughter. Amy’s family farm, Morning Dew Farms, raises mixed vegetables and row crops commercially, in addition to having a beef cattle herd. Her parents, Vinson and Mary Ann Icenhour, farmed side by side for 43 years, until Vinson passed away, due to a farm accident in 2017. Today, his legacy lives on through the continued work of Mary Ann, Amy, and her brothers, who carry on the tradition of farming with care and integrity.

Seed to Harvest Integrity

We grow all our crops from non-GMO seeds and transplants, using a blend of sustainable and conventional methods to produce the best-tasting fruits and vegetables.

Responsible Pest Management

Our farm uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach—spraying only when necessary and always following EPA guidelines to ensure the health and safety of our food, land, and customers.

Sustainable Soil Health

We’ve embraced more sustainable methods since 2016, including compost application, cover cropping, living row middles, and the utilization of plastic mulch and low-flow drip irrigation, to build healthy soils and reduce our environmental impact.

Strawberry Picking Field Trip

2 hours • $12+/Student (Free for Teachers!) • Pre-K - 2nd Grade • Late April - Mid May

See our farming practices in action during a 2-hour, immersive tour of our 108-acre family farm, which kicks off with a tractor-pulled hayride to our strawberry fields.

During their visit on the farm, we will introduce students to the importance of supporting their local food shed, eating with the seasons, and caring for the land by seeing our farm in action. After the farm tour, students can enjoy free time at our Barnyard Playground and eat lunch in our private picnic shelter.

To make the day even easier for teachers, we offer a catered lunch from The Farmer’s Daughter Deli, complete with a kid-sized scoop of ice cream (Chocolate, Vanilla, or Cotton Candy). The full experience—including the field trip, lunch, and ice cream—is available for just $20 per student.

Fall Environmental Science Field Trip

2 hours • $12+/Student (Free for Teachers!) • 3rd - 4th Grade

Connect with nature and our 108-acre family farm, during a 2-hour, immersive tour, which kicks off with a tractor-pulled hayride to our hiking trail. Then, we will embark on a nature hike through the different flora and fauna of our upper watershed all the way down to our family pond and introduce students to the importance of caring for the land by seeing our farm in action through a hands-on activity. After the farm tour, students can enjoy free time at our Barnyard Playground and eat lunch in our private picnic shelter.

Spring Planting Field Trip

2 hours • $12+/Student (Free for Teachers!) • 3rd - 4th Grade

We sow our seeds in the spring and now, your students can too! This tour will take your class through our tomato greenhouse and they will also see our transplants (baby plants) in their happy place. During this 2 hour immersive tour, we will introduce students to the importance of supporting their local food shed, eating with the seasons, and caring for the land by seeing our farm in action. They will take home a plant of thier own to nuture. After the farm tour, students can enjoy free time at our Barnyard Playground and eat lunch in our private picnic shelter.

Pumpkin Picking & Feeding the Cows Field Trip

2 hours • $11.95+/Student (Free for 2 Teachers!) • Ages 2+

At the Farmers’ Daughter we carry our love for growing strawberries and seasonal vegetables over into our pumpkin season, by growing our Jack-O-Lanterns and miniature pie pumpkins. Starting the September 16th thru November 1st, 2025, teachers can bring their classes to the Farmers’ Daughter for field trips to the Pumpkin Patch. 

Our field trips depart from our Country Store, between the hours of 9:30-11am and last about an hour minimum, up to 3 hours (depending on how long the class plays and/or if they eat lunch on the grounds). The hayrides depart from our country store and wind their way through our 108-acre family farm to the Pumpkin Patch. 

Each field trip is tailored to the age group (pre-K through high school) and includes educational lessons on the life cycle of a pumpkin plant, photosynthesis and pollination. These lessons will be taught through a “Boots on the Ground” approach by Farmer Amy, in a real Pumpkin Patch. Once at the Pumpkin Patch, students will pick out their very own miniature pie pumpkin to take home with them. 

Upon returning to the country store, students have the opportunity to play in our NEW Barnyard Play Area. The cost of the Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch is $11.95 (tax included) for Students, Parents, Siblings, and Teachers (2 teachers per class are admitted free). Children under the age of 2 are admitted free. However, they do not get a pumpkin.

This field trip opportunity is for school groups of 15 or more. Additional pumpkins are available for purchase at our country store.

To schedule a school field trip, please contact us. Include your preferred date/ time, # of students, and contact information in the email.