​Lawyer Wade turned farmer Wade? Well, not exactly. I am a lawyer and I am a farmer, but then again I’m not so sure I’m either, although I do have a law degree and a farm. Even my two beautiful daughters are puzzled. 

 

Be that as it may, if nothing else I am a farmer in spirit and have been throughout my life, inasmuch as a farmer loves the land dearly and has enormous respect for it and its powers. I was an English major in college reading the likes of Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson and found environmental law of particular interest in law school. I spent much of my childhood at my grandparents; my grandmother loved her garden. And, maybe most critically to my love of beauty and plants, in my formative years I had the very good fortune of being around two creative geniuses; their passion happened to be plants. One was half part street fighter and half part fashion designer. His passion was gardening. He was one of my great friend’s father and he grew up in New York City. The other was half part Vincent van Gogh and half part plantsman/garden designer. He grew up in rural South Carolina. Anyway, one way or another the farming seed was planted somewhere along the line, went dormant for a time and has found its place to grow in the earth at Big East Fork.  

 

 

So, how did I find my way to Big East Fork to become a farmer? A very good question. After putting my law degree to some use over 20 years owning an educational business preparing students to take standardized tests for college, law school, medical school and the like, I began a new chapter in my life and made my way to Big East Fork in 2019, thinking I had done so to become a real estate tycoon developing senior living communities in nearby Franklin, TN. Then COVID arrived and senior living development came to a screeching halt. And thankfully so, because I fell in love with the valley, one of the most magical places on earth; Mother Nature gives testament daily. One thing lead to another at Big East Fork and it (the idea to farm) just seemed to emerge out of the earth; being the most natural thing in the world for me to do. Big East Fork Farms was looking for farmers and I said look no further! 

 

So, here I am, as is McKinney Farm. I am amazed by it all.