FAMILY // Faith // Farming

ARTICLE BY NILS BORQUIST
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

William and Rebecca Cook, the owners and operators of the Indian Village Harvest Farm, believe in the mantra of “faith, family, and farming.” These are not just empty words, a slogan simply meant to sound nice or sell products. The three pieces of the mantra are lived to their fullest by the Cooks. They embrace them all, hold them closely, loving them, and investing in them. Like the many delicious fruits and vegetables they carefully grow, they understand that all three parts resemble seeds that can be planted, tended, and can blossom into beautiful bounties to be enjoyed by everyone in their lives and community.

While the Indian Village Harvest Farm has existed in its current incarnate for around four years, the Cooks have actually run the farm for close to 25 years. In truth, though, they both have farming roots that run even deeper, extending over many generations. Rebecca grew up on the very farm she calls home today, a special area of fertile soil that has been a cherished part of her family for more than 150 years. During the decades her grandfather oversaw the farm, peaches were the sole crop cultivated, grown, and sold. When he retired, Rebecca’s father took the reins, continuing the tradition of expert peach growing for many years thereafter. Sadly, he passed away in 1997, at which point William and Rebecca made the decision to begin farming on part of the existing family property. Initially, they lived in a home off the property, building a family and working at their respective jobs while also watching over and maintaining the peach trees, a grueling schedule that required tremendous focus, time management, and dedication in order to keep things running. Eventually, though, after 20 years of that precarious balancing act, the Cooks decided to take a chance on making the farm an even bigger priority in their lives. In order to do that, they knew they had to go all in on the farm, pushing all their chips on the table and shooting for the moon. Fortunately, the gamble has paid off, not only for them but also for every person who has had the fortune of visiting their farm and partaking of the fruits of their labor.

Just over four years ago, the Cooks resolved to sell their home in order to move permanently onto the farm, a move that would also require that a new home be built on the property. Knowing that the only way to develop the farm into something that could reach across the state and beyond, enticing new customers and visitors from all over the region, was to make the farm an even bigger priority in their lives, they jumped at the opportunity. Even though at the time William worked in the pipeline industry and Rebecca was a full-time nurse, they thought it was the best decision. Although difficult at first, the move proved to be the right choice, as when COVID hit the area in 2019-2020, many pipeline operations were shut down indefinitely. While Rebecca continues as a nurse, though she does spend a great amount of time in farming and selling operations as well, William decided to devote himself entirely to the farm. Even during his time pipelining, William would take produce to sell at Farmer’s Markets around the area and also participated in “truck farming,” a term used for setting up travelling roadside stands. After COVID, he continues to truck farm, often spending several days a week driving around the state and even into Arkansas to sell the farm’s harvest. Additionally, expansion naturally followed, with the Cooks building their own Farmer’s Market on the farm grounds as well as desiring to branch out into growing fruits and vegetables beyond the peaches they were already so well known for.

Having preserved the established success of peach growing and selling, the Cooks branched out and began devoting space on the farm for planting tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, corn, peas, and watermelon, all crops that have developed into favorites for visitors. However, alongside the longstanding success of their sweet peaches, their most highly demanded produce is undoubtedly strawberries. As a commercially recognized strawberry grower in Northeast Louisiana, the Cook family has taken great pride in their ability to produce stunning strawberries year after year. Although unsure of how prosperous strawberry production would be, their sales have exploded, rivalling that of the beloved peach. Customers have to be watchful of the various seasons the different fruits and vegetables are available, though, in order to purchase the items at the best time. For the Cook Farm, peaches are usually available from mid-May through mid-August, and the strawberries often come from mid-April through mid-June, although this year has seen the plants producing into July, an unexpected treat for summer visitors. Along with the expanding menu of fruits and vegetables, the farm has proven to be a fertile grounds for Zinnia flowers. Visitors to the farm are encouraged to pick some of the colorful blossoms to take home. Pumpkins have also become a favorite during the fall months. After the enormous yield of the spring and summer, the Cooks get a brief break during the middle of August, but pumpkin season rolls around soon thereafter. This season lasts into early November and the burgeoning winter, a time when the family gets to take an extended breather and begin preparing for the next planting period.

In the past four years, not only have the Cooks expanded their farm in terms of the produce grown, they have also implemented a number of special treats for visitors as well as regular events and special events. Beyond the delectable fruits and vegetable favorites, the additions of homemade lemonade and ice cream have brought visitors from miles around. Specifically, the strawberry and peach ice cream, according to William, has emerged as the reason for many visits over the past couple of years. Every weekend, farm-goers can come and enjoy UPICK, the chance to head into the strawberry patch and pick their own berries. UPICK is a tremendous draw for the Cooks as it is not uncommon to have around 500 people show up on any given Saturday to hit the fields. Another regular event is what William and Rebecca have dubbed the “Educational Hayride,” a truly instructive interaction for kids wanting to learn more about farming. On the hayride, kids load up and are driven around the farm where they can help with feeding animals and be taught about the upkeep and care of livestock. The children also visit a garden area to plant seeds, water sprouts, and receive teaching about how to farm or even cultivate their own home gardens. Parents may also get involved by reserving time for birthday parties, and schools are encouraged to bring classes to the farm for field trips, both special events that are becoming more common by the year. One last hope for a future feature of the farm, is the construction of a music venue so that annual events may be held on the grounds.

Even with all the Cooks do and provide their community and the region as a whole, they remain conscious of at least three other important details. First, they have decided that affordability is paramount in order to get families to come out and enjoy the farm. Admitting that they themselves know what it’s like to grow up in lower income households and the difficulties for parents to give their children fun and memorable experiences, the Cooks made it free for kids to come and have fun on their playground, and even the hayrides are supremely affordable at $1.50 per kid. The second important aspect is to support local businesses through buying their products or providing a place for local products to be sold. William stated that after the push in the early 2000’s for the “buy local” agenda, the farm saw a marked increase in visitors. Another boost, interestingly enough, came from COVID, which seemed to prompt people to become more interested in personal health and knowing where their food comes from and how fresh it is. To support other farmers who live nearby, the Cooks encourage them to bring their produce to sell at their on-grounds Farmer’s Market at no cost. The third detail they’ve considered is employing local youth to work in the summers. Such opportunities teach young adults the value of hard work, accountability, and the process of growing food. William said that he loves giving the kids the chance to work there, and even though it’s difficult work, especially in the summer heat, they seem to enjoy the job and the same youngsters come back every year.

William and Rebecca value their customers, their visitors, and the overall local support. They treasure their community, their calling, and the good fortune they’ve had to grow a family on a family farm. They have been and continue to invest in and build a legacy for their children, stating that they “have hopes to pass the farm down to their children one day and that the children keep it going with the same values and principles that they built it on” and that “it be carried on for generations.” For the Cooks, everything comes back around to “faith, family, and farming.” They respect the earth, treat it with love, and appreciate the life it provides for them and those around them, and their joy in providing nourishment for visitors only continues to grow with each passing day.