Family Roots Run Deep at Louisiana Century Farm, Produce Ridge

RFD NEWS Correspondent Tammi Arender takes us to Produce Ridge, where we meet Louisiana farmer Charles Holley as he continues a family legacy over 100 years old, and teaches his grandchildren the value of working the land.

WEST CARROLL PARISH, LOUISIANA (RFD NEWS) — For the Holley Family, farming is more than a job. It is a family legacy that runs more than a century deep.

Charles Holley of Produce Ridge has a deep connection to his land. He grew up on the farm and learned to cultivate the land from his parents.

“I guess it’s in my blood,” Holley says. “I grew up on this place. We had 2,000 peach trees. Dad did cotton. It became a part of my life.”

In his interview with RFD News Correspondent Tammi Arender, Holley explains that it goes beyond what is grown in the fields and is more about passing down the property to his family. Today, his grandchildren are being taught hands-on lessons not typically offered in a classroom. Right now, they are learning how to plant Ambrosia cantaloupe.

“We’re trying to keep that alive. Continue to grow fruits and vegetables so it doesn’t have to be shipped in from somewhere else.”

Soon, Produce Ridge fields will blossom with peaches, tomatoes, watermelon, broccoli, corn, and even potatoes.

However, the reward is not just in the harvest for Holley and his family. He says that it is in the relationships that grow out of helping the community.

You can learn more about Produce Ridge and upcoming events by visiting the farm’s Facebook page.

Tammi Arrender reporting for RFD NEWS.

Related Stories
Bright Star Ranch continues to offer hope, connection, and healing through its equine therapy programs.
Delaware FarmHER Katie Evans turns “ugly” produce into delicious treats through her nationally recognized brand, The Frozen Farmer
Hop in the cab with RFD-TV’s Tammi Arrender as she embarks goes Rural Road Trippin’ to Farmerville, Louisiana, for the Bayou for the Bayou D’Arbonne Folk Life Festival.
Dr. Mark Svoboda with the National Drought Mitigation Center discusses a new global drought report and resources to help operations increase drought resilience.

Tammi was raised on a cotton and soybean farm in Tallulah, Louisiana. In 1981, she became a TV news anchor and reporter at KNOE-TV in Monroe, Louisiana. She is also an anchor/reporter for RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 on Sirius XM at their Nashville news studio, where Tammi currently resides.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Education efforts give visitors a closer look at dairy farming at the Rodeo Austin Livestock Show with the help of a cute cow named Lucy.
Texas Farm Bureau intern Jazmine Gutierrez-Davila uses her background and bilingual skills to connect kids to agriculture while attending Rodeo Austin’s Livestock Show.
New partnership focuses on rebuilding habitat for quail across the south
Free program connects families to more than 100 farms with a new interactive app experience
Dry conditions remain a concern as Texas farmers prepare for another planting season.
The five-day auction drew up to 6,000 people and saw steady prices throughout the event
Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
Twisted Skillet brings a straightforward, hands-on approach to kitchen television, rooted in food and fire. Hosted by Texas chef Sean Koehler, the series explores open-fire outdoor cooking techniques, regional ingredients, and the people who raise, prepare, and inspire the food found across America.
Brought to you by Gus Arrendale & Springer Mountain Farms, join dynamic bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent as they welcome scores of fabulous bluegrass, country, and gospel music acts as special guests. Loads of laughs, your favorite guests galore, and lots of good times are guaranteed. Don’t miss all the fun!
FarmHER + RanchHER on RFD-TV is working to change how people perceive a farmer by sharing the stories of the women who live and lead in agriculture.
Join popular polka performer Mollie Busta as she hosts the weekly “Mollie B Polka Party” on RFD Network! The one-hour program features the nation’s top polka bands and a wide variety of ethnic styles, recorded on location at music festivals across the country.
The affable and unassuming international singing star Daniel O’Donnell is one of Ireland’s best known performers – from Australia to Alaska.