The Gee Family Farm

Gee Family Farms has built its business by navigating challenges, adapting to changing circumstances, and finding new opportunities for growth. Through the years, the family has continued to develop its farming operation while expanding into additional ventures, including Gourmet Sweet Corn, Gee Family’s Fall Daze pumpkin farm, and the Hart of Texas Pecan Orchard. Their willingness to adapt and build on new opportunities has helped Gee Family Farms continue moving forward as a family-owned small business.

Throughout their journey, Gee Family Farms has also received consulting support from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). SBDC consultants worked with the family through different challenges as they navigated the growth and development of their business. This ongoing guidance provided an additional resource as the Gees worked to make informed decisions and continue building a sustainable business for their family and community.

1. When did you start your business?

2014

2. Why did you decide to start your business?

We were looking for some crop that would take less acres and profit more per acre. We had been watching another man raise sweet corn and heard he was retiring.

3. What is your favorite memory in the business?

We think that our favorite memory is the different customers and their relationships.

4. What is the most rewarding part of running a small business?

Seeing the people, family, and purpose grow with the business.

5. What is the hardest part of running a small business?

The hardest part is that you never get to clock out and cannot just walk away when it gets tough.

6. How does the business get to positively impact your community?

Creating a place where families gather, kids experience agriculture, local businesses collaborate, and people connect to where their food comes from.

7. Biggest challenge in the business?

We believe the biggest challenge is growing a quality product and dealing with what "Mother Nature" throws at us.

8. What makes your business different from your competition?

Buying directly from the producer, knowing our customers, and always trying to improve while staying true to our mission.

9. Best tip for others in business?

Don't compare your journey to someone else. In the times when you question everything, keep showing up and learning.

10. What's something you wish someone had told you or that you

wish you had learned earlier?

Enjoy the journey! It may not be an overnight success but stick to it and it will succeed. You don't have to have it all figured out before you begin because it is a learning journey.

11. How did the SBDC help you on your venture?

We are farmers first, but we are also business owners. Sometimes you need someone from outside the farm to help you see the bigger picture. SBDC helped us see possibilities we may not have seen on our own and put structure behind our vision.

12. Fun fact!

Michele's favorite TV series is "Little House on the Prairie."

Tim's best childhood scar is on the back of his head from a 3-wheeler wreck.