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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cIt was unique living in a house that had three generations under one roof. My great-grandfather lived with us, too, in the same old house built in the 1700s,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cIt had a huge impact on me and my philosophy of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For McDonald, family is at the heart of everything. His daughter, Sarah, is the fifth generation to work the farm. With a degree in agricultural economics and a master\u2019s in elementary education, Sarah returned to the farm eight years ago to carry on the family tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s a unique kid,\u201d McDonald explained. \u201cShe\u2019s got two kids of her own now, and my grandson, well, he loves anything with a tractor. Maybe he\u2019ll be the sixth generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The McDonald family\u2019s operation has grown far beyond its original 257 acres. Today, they farm across six counties, growing a variety of crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, and their most celebrated produce \u2014 strawberries and watermelons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re known for our strawberries,\u201d McDonald said proudly. \u201cThey stay in the Middle Tennessee area, and we\u2019ve partnered with high-end markets in Nashville and youth organizations for fundraising efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it\u2019s not just the crops that set Catesa Farms apart; it\u2019s the people behind it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is not an award for me,\u201d McDonald said humbly when asked about being named Tennessee\u2019s Farmer of the Year. \u201cIt\u2019s an award for our team here at Catesa Farms. We don\u2019t have anyone working for us \u2014 we all work together.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n He gestured to the pictures on his desk, filled with smiling faces of family and workers alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy mother is 84, and she spends more time in this office than anyone. We\u2019re a tight-knit group.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n McDonald\u2019s passion for agriculture extends beyond his own farm. He\u2019s a vocal advocate for farming across Tennessee, using his platform to educate others about the importance of agriculture in today\u2019s world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re losing about 10 acres of farmland per hour in Tennessee to rural development,\u201d he explained, his tone more serious. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t know about you, but I don\u2019t want to be dependent on other countries for our food. If you control the food, you control the people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s this commitment to advocacy that keeps McDonald engaged despite the demands of running a large operation. He makes time to speak at civic groups and hosts school visits to introduce young people to the realities of farming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t have time \u2014 I make time.\u201d he shared. \u201cBecause we have to be advocating for what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n McDonald\u2019s generosity extends to his community as well. Catesa Farms regularly hosts events like the River City Ball, which raises $20,000 to $40,000 annually for local causes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m a firm believer in giving back,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cIf we cannot give back to these communities that have given us so much, we\u2019re not worth much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As he reflects on the future, McDonald is confident in the hands that will carry on his legacy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy daughter, Sarah, and Kyle, who works with us, are part of the transition for moving our farm forward. I always tell people, \u2018Kyle doesn\u2019t have my blood rushing through his veins, but he\u2019s got my heart in his chest,\u2019\u201d McDonald said with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether it\u2019s through their strawberries in Nashville markets, corn in Chattanooga whiskey, or the community events that Catesa Farms hosts, George McDonald\u2019s impact reaches far beyond the fields he tends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As McDonald himself said, \u201cWe cannot grow if I have to have my finger on everything. This farm is much larger than me.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This story is sponsored content.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SITTING ON his great-grandfather\u2019s land, George McDonald surveyed the fields he\u2019s tended since he graduated high school in 1978. The roots of his farming legacy run deep, stretching back to 1927 when his great-grandfather purchased the original 257 acres of what would grow into Catesa Farms. \u201cI knew I wanted to be a farmer when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":22190,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/lebanon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/2-3-1024x683.png\")
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