The latest episode of MDAC’s Freshly Picked podcast, titled “Faith, Trust and a Little Bit of Snow Dust: How to Make Your Christmas Tree Go the Extra Mile,” airs today at 9:30 a.m. Pictured L-R: Teri Wyly, owner La Terre Farms in Kiln; Brittany and Aaron Anderson, owners of Talson Farms in Laurel; and Claude Nash, podcast host and editor of the Mississippi Market Bulletin.
Today (November 28), the public can tune in to a special Thanksgiving Day episode of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s (MDAC) Freshly Picked podcast featuring Brittany and Aaron Anderson of Talson Farms in Laurel and Teri Wyly of La Terre Farms in Kiln.
Within this episode, “Faith, Trust and a Little Bit of Snow Dust: How to Make Your Christmas Tree Go the Extra Mile,” listeners will hear about the diversity of Christmas trees and holiday floral arrangements, as well as personal stories based on new beginnings and hard-earned lessons. All three guests recount their experiences of ending their previous careers to pursue their dreams and start a farm from scratch.
The Andersons purchased farmland in Jones County before even knowing what agricultural commodity they wanted to grow or raise. They say that following a family vacation where they discussed their options, they “jumped headfirst” into the Christmas tree business and haven’t looked back. Brittany says she utilizes her background in business administration and horticulture every day on their farm to grow their trees and develop business strategies for their family farm. For a long time, the Andersons were taught tough lessons through trial and error, but over the years, they have created a thriving farm and agritourism operation visited by families throughout the season.
Similarly, Wyly left her 42-year-long career as an environmental lawyer to pursue a farm with her family in Hancock County. Originally from the West Coast, Wyly has embraced the beauty and fertileness of Mississippi’s ecosystem. She credits her son for having the original idea to farm cut flowers. After a time of educating themselves on proper growing techniques, they grew flowers and eventually started growing Christmas trees as well. True to her roots, Wyly makes a point of paying attention to the pH and acidity levels of the soil to ensure their flowers and trees will continue to grow well. And the fertile, south Mississippi land along Bayou La Terre that she so loves is what inspired the name of her family farm, La Terre Farms, which means “the earth” in French.
Tune in today at 9:30 a.m. by visiting www.msfreshlypicked.com or on any major podcast platform. Find a complete list of Christmas tree farms, as well as tips for caring for fresh trees and practical information, at www.mschristmastrees.com.
The Freshly Picked podcast series, developed by MDAC, will feature 24 episodes and include specialty crop farmers, experts, entrepreneurs and/or chefs as they tell the stories behind their farms, businesses and the unique products they offer. Listeners can find new episodes every Thursday through February 2025 at www.msfreshlypicked.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or other major platforms.