(This article first appeared in the July print edition of the Hendersonian.)
In this summer of America’s 250th birthday as we remember our history lessons about patriots, presidents and founding fathers, the name of one local farm producer has a familiar ring to it.
It’s James Madison Acres, owned by JT and Maddie Payne.
And though some people might assume it’s named for the fourth president of the United States and “father of the U.S. Constitution,” as Maddie has learned during her summer at the Henderson Farmers Market, the name for their farm is more personal.
“JT’s legal first name is James and mine is Madison,” she said. “And we loved the sound of James Madison (Acres).”
In addition to sharing naming rights for they farm, they also share a love for the land and a passion for whole foods.
This is the young newlywed couple’s second year at the Farmer Market. Both are educators, and JT also serves Henderson County citizens as their state representative in the Kentucky General Assembly.
Maddie is the North Middle School agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor, and JT is the assistant principal of Henderson County High School’s Career & Technical Education unit. JT started his career as an HCHS agriculture teacher and has always had an interest in traditional small-scale farming, including beekeeping.
James Madison Acres, located near Smith Mills, offers a wide variety of vegetables, micro greens, herbs, fresh-cut flowers and honey. In addition to the market, they offer delivery boxes in Henderson and Union counties and special cut flower events.
“We also have continued raising bees for honey, which JT and his dad started doing a few years ago,” Maddie said.
That pursuit has resulted in other bee-related services, including coming to the rescue of people who have unwanted bee colonies.
“We have the equipment and are happy to take bee swarms off your hands,” Maddie said.
“Bees do more than buzz. They’re the unsung heroes of James Madison Acres,” she related in a social media post. “One out of every three bites of food you eat depends on pollinators like bees. From apples to tomatoes, their hard work keeps our gardens blooming and our crops growing. Without them, biodiversity declines and food production suffers.”
Bees are such welcome guests that their honey was showcased at the Paynes’ wedding celebration this past December.
Though the work of their farm is labor intensive and time consuming, they’re finding the balance.
“It is definitely hard work, but as a teacher, I am able to go to the Famers Market during the week and stay on top of our farm chores on school breaks and weekends,” Maddie said.
“While we both have very demanding careers in public service that require a lot of our time effort all year long, that is actually what inspired us to start James Madison Acres,” she added. “It is something that offers an escape for us and allows us to have quality time together. We both love gardening, and continuously learning about local food production, so it works out that we can do that together.”
Both have come by that love of the land in a natural progression.
“I grew up in Union County on a third-generation row crop farm and have always been around agriculture,” Maddie said. “JT and I were very involved in FFA in high school which led both of us to majoring in agriculture at Murray State University.”
As an agriculture teacher she loves sharing her experiences growing produce with her students.
“Ultimately, we think it is so important that people are educated and connected to where their food comes from,” she said. “James Madison Acres just naturally formed from that.”
The educator said that because of their deep roots in agriculture they have always known about the challenges and rewards farmers face.
“However, being a small producer ourselves really shows you firsthand how challenging it can be with the weather, high input costs, diseases/pests, etc.” Maddie said.
“We are so fortunate to live in Henderson where the community as a whole supports local businesses and values agriculture,” she added. “We have such a deep appreciation for each grower at the market and see how hard they work to deliver local produce to the community.”
The Henderson Farmers Market is open for the season from the first of May until the last of October on Tuesdays, Friday and Saturdays.
Growers and producers set up from 8 a.m. to noon (as long as supplies last). The market includes local and fresh produce, honey, wine, meat, bakery goods and more.
This variety of items and number of producers present at the market are at peak this month.
The market location is the Cates-Porter Farmers Market Pavilion at Henderson County Fairgrounds located on Sam Ball Way at Airline Road.
Follow the Henderson Farmers Market Facebook page for updates about what’s available at the market and news about special activities that take place on select Saturdays during market season.
