From Left to Right: Back Row: Wesley, Julie, Wendy, and Jason. Front Row: William, Hudson, and Hadley

The Turner family has called Floyd their home for many decades, and though Turner Family Farms only became an LLC in 2020, the family has been farming in the area for much, much longer.
In the mid 1950’s, Sam and Gertrude Turner purchased a stretch of farmland on Franklin Pike where they started a dairy farm. They also grew a variety of produce. Both Sam and Gertrude were originally from Floyd and wanted to carry on their families’ farming heritage. It wasn’t long till their sons, Marvin and CW, joined them in the barns and the fields, continuing the legacy and making it a true family effort.
Sam and Gertrude continued working on the farm and milking the cattle until the late 1980’s. That’s when Marvin and CW took over.
During the transition, a few changes were introduced. The cattle operation of Turner Family Farms changed from dairy over to beef, with both Marvin and CW owning and working the cattle. CW, however, also continued growing and selling produce to local grocery stores. It was a hard but rewarding life on Turner Family Farms. Marvin even married Rhonda Harris and started a family with two sons, Jason and Wesley.
Sadly, however, Jason and Wesley were still too young to take over the farming operation when their father passed away. As a result, Marvin’s portion of the beef herd was sold. CW managed on his own for a while, but when his nephews were older, he enlisted the help of the boys so the Turner family legacy could go on.
CW, Jason, and Wesley worked as a team until CW’s passing in summer of 2017. In 2018, Jason and Wesley officially took over the farm that their grandparents had started almost seventy years earlier. It was time for the next generation to take the reins, and just like the last transition, the new generation had ideas for changes.
Jason and Wesley decided to start having their cattle processed at a USDA facility so their beef could be sold by the individual cut, and in 2019, the Turner family started selling beef by the pound to local customers. Their pasture raised beef was becoming very popular towards the end of 2019, but it wasn’t until 2020, at the start of a pandemic, that the business really started to grow.
Jason and Wesley had built a small, roadside farm stand on Franklin Pike where they could directly sell their beef and produce. This small stand really connected with local folk, and it helped the Turners to build a strong customer base. The farm stand offered beef and produce, all of which had been raised and grown between the two Turner households. When the lockdowns came and people became fearful of venturing into larger stores, the stand became busier than ever. The Turners could not keep their high-quality beef stocked due to the increasing demand.
The family also began receiving multiple requests for pork. In response, the Turners began raising hogs alongside the beef cattle. They also continued selling produce grown from the same acre garden that CW had started all those years ago.
To prepare for the hogs, the brothers built a shelter and pen surrounded by an electric fence. They also purchased a small hammer mill so they could make their own hog and cattle feed. Wesley’s girlfriend, Julie, took the lead on maintaining the hogs’ daily care.
In 2021, armed with USDA grading and a new line of pork products, Turner Family Farms VA LLC was officially created. Using their roadside stand, equipped with freezers, they continued selling their steaks, roasts, ground beef, sausage, pork chops, and produce. They also sold at the Floyd Farmers Market on Thursday evenings.
Business was going so well that it was soon time to expand once again. In winter of 2021, the Turners began developing the idea for a larger store with more to offer. Construction launched in spring of 2022 at a location on Franklin Pike, just up the road from the old stand. The plan consisted of a larger store where the beef, pork, and produce could be sold, along with goods from other local growers, artists, and more.
The new farm store opened in August of 2022 at 699 Franklin Pike, SE in Floyd. It features the ‘best meat in town’ as well as a generous variety of homegrown vegetables! Wesley’s homemade salsa is also available. Made from ingredients and produce grown on the Turner farm, it has quickly become a customer favorite!
The Farm also features a kids’ play area and plenty of photo opportunities. The Turner family strives to keep their events family friendly as well as cost effective. They want everyone to enjoy what they have to offer.
Seeing an opportunity to add to Floyd’s Fall attractions, the family is also planning a corn maze that locals and visitors can enjoy as part of their Fall activities. The two-acre corn maze features the design of the Floyd Buffalo. It was planted at the start of summer, then designed by Wesley and cut by The Corn Maze Guy out of Pennsylvania in the middle of July. Pumpkins were also planted to round out the aesthetic of the Fall festival! The inaugural opening of the Turner Family Farms Corn Maze is scheduled for September 2022. The Turners hope that the maze can become a family tradition for years to come as there are no others in the immediate area.
Looking toward the future, the Turners are already talking about adding more attractions and events, such as hosting local schools. There are plans for a sunflower patch, food trucks, and more! They are so excited to share their family farm with locals and visitors from near and far. From their family farm to everyone’s family table; they hope to help their customers create delicious meals, as well as memories and traditions to pass down from generation to generation.

Turner Family Farms • Jason and Wesley
697 Franklin Pike, Floyd, VA • 540-250-5152
TurnerFamilyFarmsVA@gmail.com